Great Children's Books With Hidden Easter Eggs!
These 5 books will give your kids a reason to keep their peepers plastered to the page.
Hey there, a dad here, and welcome to our lucky number seventh edition of A Dad Reads! Thanks for being here!
I was really feeling last week’s newsletter, the one where I lobbed out some suggestions for getting your kids more involved when you read together? Of course you checked that one out. Obviously. Well, this week I wanted to expand on one of the suggestions, specifically the “Have them point out things” bit.
Ever since I started reading to my kids, I’ve always enjoyed books that add a little extra to their illustrations. My absolute favorite thing is when artists add book-spanning Easter eggs to look out for.
It’s so fun watching the kids search each page for hidden somethings and then seeing their excitement at spotting a particularly tough find. Sure, the excitement wanes on subsequent reads, but then it becomes a part of the book’s ritual, and that’s a different kind of special.
Pro tip: Watch out if you have multiple young ones “I spy”ing at a time. Things can get heated if one kid, an older sister for instance, spots everything way faster than her little brother. I’ve found the trick here is to give them each their own alternating pages to scope out, and if anyone gets stuck, I’ll gently suggest where the Easter egg might be. Oh, and I always keep a firm, “Let him find it on his own!” at the ready.
But enough about me, let’s talk about this week’s books, why they’re awesome, and what you’ll be looking out for!
Goodnight Moon
First on the list is a timeless American classic that has been in print for almost 80 years, been translated into 15 languages, and sold an estimated 48 MILLION copies. I have memories of reading Margaret Wise Brown’s “Goodnight Moon” with my parents, my wife and I have read it to all of our kids before bed, and if we’re blessed with grandkids, I’ll read it to those little ones too. It’s the quintessential bedtime book.
If you’re familiar with “Goodnight Moon” and Clement Hurd’s illustrations, you might already know that in every page that features a colored picture of the room, you’ll find a small mouse. He can be right sneaky if you don’t know what you’re looking for, hiding amongst the toys and books of Rabbit’s room, but he’s always there, and it shouldn’t be too hard for young readers to pick him out.
I have nothing but good things to say about “Goodnight Moon,” and I’m willing to bet that if you’ve read this one before, you’ve already found the mouse. However, have you noticed that the moon moves on every page it’s in too? Just a little extra something for the kids to spot next time around, eh?
Unicorn Night
Our second, and last, bedtime book in this list takes us on a magical romp through fantastical lands brimming with colorful magical creatures, among them the titular unicorn. We’ve already featured one of author Diana Murray’s books in the newsletter, “Ned the Knitting Pirate” from last week, but this is an entirely different fairy tale.
Gone are the sea shanties, swords, and planks; this time we’re winding down with a blessing of unicorns. Btw, a blessing is a group of unicorns, like a murder of crows or a shrewdness of apes. Accompanying Diana’s fabulously fun verse are Luke Flowers’ inimitable illustrations, which I promise will pierce straight to the heart of any unicorn-loving child.
What you need to watch out for in this one, besides the cute unicorns and their precious woodland friends, is a sly little dragon who’s hiding on every page until they reveal themselves. Then of course you’ll need to sing a good chunk of the rest of the book, but you’ve been practicing, right? Right?
Little Burro
Jim Arnosky’s “Little Burro” is a sweet story about the good things that can happen when you try something new, which isn’t always easy for a stubborn young donkey. This was another Friends of the Library bookstore pickup for us and a great grab in general, and if you ever see it on the shelves, don’t hesitate to take it home.
The Little Burro is a cuddly and adorable ball of fluff, the desert is sparse but beautiful, and I really like that even the illustration’s borders feel like the American Southwest, with simple, colorful designs that evoke an almost Native American aesthetic.
As the Little Burro heads into the unknown, not realizing she’ll soon discover a new favorite place, you might notice that every step of the way she’s accompanied by two hummingbirds. On one page they might be perched on her ears, on others they could be flitting through the air, but wherever the Little Burro is, they are too. Without them, I think the book would feel a fair bit lonelier, so see if your kids can spot the Little Burro’s even littler friends.
We’re Different, We’re the Same
If you’ve been paying attention to A Dad Reads, you know I like books that champion diversity, and “We’re Different, We’re the Same’s” mission is to remind us that despite our differences, we’re all human. I’d expect nothing less from a Sesame Street book, and author Bobbi Jane Kates does a wonderful job reinforcing this idea with some wholesome rhymes about our bodies.
I really like how the book is set up too. First, there’s an acknowledgement that we are different, with snapshots of unique noses, hair, and skin. This acknowledgement is then followed by a verse explaining how these body parts are the same for every person: “Our eyes are the same. They see, they blink, they weep, they wink.” It’s simple stuff and perfect for little kids.
Joe Mathieu’s illustrations do a really wonderful job of showcasing a huge diversity of bodies, both for humans and for the Sesame Street characters. His group shots are filled with so much life and energy, and there are a few pages so jam-packed they almost feel like a “Where’s Waldo?”
While you’re enjoying all the action on the double-page spreads, keep your eyes peeled for Elmo. He appears in each one, ready to capture the moment with his camera. There are also a host of popular Sesame Street characters that your kids will be able to pick out of the crowds, as well as other folks who appear multiple times throughout the book. Honestly there’s a lot to look for in this one.
Richard Scarry’s Busy Town Seek and Find
I was on the fence about including this one, it’s really just a look-and-find title where every page has 12 different things to look out for. However, within Scarry’s charming artwork and amidst the cavalcade of cats, mice, pigs, dogs, and other assorted anthropomorphic creatures, Lowly Worm hides on every page. Think of him as a fun little bonus on top of everything else you’re looking for.
If you’re not familiar with Richard Scarry’s work, this is a great opportunity to check it out. It’s equal parts cute, charming, and whimsical, and this book features more than a few pages with a pickle car. And pickle cars make everything better.
Get Your Kids Involved!
If these books seem like fun, or your kids are hitting an age where they are looking for extra stuff to do while you read, don’t hesitate to pick them up. Also, don’t forget about “Diggersaurs Explore” or “Night Night, Groot” which I’ve talked about in previous newsletters. Both of them have fun Easter eggs on every page too.
Hope your summer’s going great, you’re fighting the good fight, resisting however you can, and reading some awesome books!
Sincerely,
Ben, a dad
