Betty's Books: One City, Two Brothers; Little Pea & More!

One book to spark a dialogue, one to get your grandchild giggling, and a classic

Any grandparent can use Chris Smith's One City, Two Brothers (Barefoot Books, 2007) as a springboard to dozens of captivating grandchild-centered conversations. The book itself is a delightful story-within-a-story that appeals to children of all ages. But, oh, there is much more than a feel-good story beneath its cover — bits of history and geography, some nuggets on diversity and culture, and an emphasis placed on the value of sharing. If your conversation about the book goes deep enough, there's an even larger lesson about peace that can be explored.

Opening the story, King Solomon, who is arbitrating a dispute between brothers, relates an ancient tale of another brother who placed the well-being of his sibling above his own.

The brothers he refers to lived in separate villages but farmed together. The older had fathered many children; the younger, a bachelor, was destined not to marry. One year, the older brother, concerned that his sibling would have no one to care for him in old age, secretly deposits part of his harvest in his brother’s storehouse. But the next morning, he found that none of his grain was missing. The mystery repeats itself the next night as well. On the third night, the mystery is solved when the two brothers meet each other half-way between their houses. It's on the very spot where they meet, so the folktale goes, that Jerusalem was eventually built.

This is not a religious tale. But, with Easter having just passed and Passover arriving on April 20th, it's certainly a time-appropriate one. Children will easily grasp the message of brotherly love that permeates the story. Some adults may be tempted to read more into it — seeing the brothers as stand-ins for Jews and Muslims today — which, to me, is a stretch. This is really just a sweet story about sharing and giving that both grandparents and grandkids will enjoy.

Clever Twists & Hilarious Turns

For lighter fare, crack open Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Little Pea (Chronicle Books, 2005). There is not a toddler in the world who would not love this book and want it read over and over again. With its delicious illustrations and slight handful of pages, it makes for a perfect bedtime story at the end of what could be, for some grandparents, a long babysitting day.

One clever reversal makes this book so appealing: If Little Pea doesn’t eat all of his dinner sweets — five pieces of candy — he will be deprived of his favorite dessert, a big bowl of spinach. When little tykes recognize the switch they'll crack up with laughter. Who knows? This cute story might even inspire a bit of dinner negotiation in tough-minded kids.

Friendship at its Best

At the recommendation of McLean & Eakin, the online children's bookseller, I picked Beverly Cleary’s The Mouse and the Motorcycle (Harper Trophy, 1990) as this month’s classic read without realizing it was first published the year one of my kids was born: 1965. Good heavens! My son will hate to hear this, but it won’t be long before the book, and by extension, he, will be a half-century old.

The story chronicles the friendship that develops between a young boy, Keith, and a mouse, Ralph, when they share a shiny, red toy motorcycle. The comradeship blossoms during the few days that Keith’s family resides in the hotel where Ralph the Mouse and his family live. Since the boy and mouse can somehow communicate — yep, like any endearing Disney character, this little rodent talks — Keith grows to adore the adventurous Ralph. In turn, Ralph is crazy for Keith’s mouse-size motorcycle.

When Keith allows Ralph to use the motorcycle at night, the little mouse finds the freedom of which he's always dreamed. He soon learns that with freedom comes making choices, and some exciting escapades.

It’s a terrific chapter book: funny, imaginative, and in spots, a real cliff-hanger. Will Keith forgive Ralph for losing his motorcycle? Will someone find it? Will Ralph survive his journey to the lobby in search of aspirin for Keith?

Beverly Cleary is a children’s book industry unto herself! I'd urge all grandparents to consider building a “BC” library for your grandchildren. While I think Ralph the Mouse is a brilliant creation, Cleary’s Ramona the Pest series still ranks as my favorite. The Ramona the Pest character kicked off the collection when she started kindergarten. In 1999, at the age of 83, Cleary finished up the series with Ramona entering fourth grade in Ramona’s World. What's more amazing is that these books we read to our kids still appeal to our grandkids. Enjoy the journey back to parenthood!