Home

A house truly becomes a home when there's someone to share it with. Olaf the elephant and his best buddy Venus the mouse fill a house with happiness, as they eat cheese, splash in the tub, and snuggle up to sleep. The beauty of Pierre Pratt's series for babies and preschoolers is its simplicity. Young readers can make up the story as they go along or just enjoy the lovely illustrations and one-word pages. In Home, Olaf seems lonely in his armchair ("chair") until he picks up the phone ("telephone") to call his friend Venus, who quickly shows up ("door"). Younger readers will love the bright, grainy colors and the unlikely friendship between an elephant and a mouse. Slightly older kids will practice their early reading skills and can elaborate on the story they see in the pictures. The Very Busy Life of Olaf and Venus series includes Park, Shopping, and Car. (Baby to Preschool) --Emilie Coulter