Daddy Daughter Day: Beatrice Doesn't Want To by Laura Numeroff

It is hard to believe, but this is my 10th Daddy Daughter Day post. It seems my daughter might share my addiction to books. Today's book is Beatrice Doesn't Want To by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. We ordered this book through our daughter's day school, it was one of those programs where the school receives free books when so many are purchased.

Henry is in charge of looking after his sister Beatrice. When Henry has to complete a report on dinosaurs, he takes his sister along to the library for some research. Beatrice does not want to go and says that she does not like books. Henry, needing to get some work done, takes Beatrice to story time. At first she does not pay attention, but once she learns the story is about roller skating, she listens to the whole story.

This is a fun book with the overall theme being that children can find books that interest them. Appealing to the need to have things repeated, throughout the book Beatrice says "I don't want to." I always read this in a really drawn out voice and my daughter giggles. Once Beatrice discovers that she does like books, she repeats her catch phrase at the end of the book.

The illustrations are top notch. Munsinger was able to portray human emotions with her characters, which are actually dogs. There are bright colors, but the thing I noticed most, was the detail. Not many childrens' books are illustrated to this level.

We all like this one and I recommend it for your little ones.