TABITHA MARION EVELYN (Tabby Toodles) - A Book of Opposites

By Mary Lambert Productions
Price $9.99
Age 4-6 yrs.

This charming book delights readers with its exuberant illustrations, engagingly playful storyline and, most of all, with its loving depiction of the title character, a sweet, headstrong child named Tabitha Marion Evelyn. The writing is top-notch, with deeply satisfying rhymes and a natural-feeling rhythmic flow that effortlessly carries readers forward and keeps them wanting more. The exceptionally playful language follows a songlike ABABA form in which the A sections describe various aspects of Tabitha Marion Evelyn's personality and physical traits, while the B sections get maximum mileage (smileage, really) out of the interplay between opposites: black/white, day/night, yes/no, stop/go, and so on. As playful and humorous as these visual and verbal elements are, they also movingly express a mother's love and appreciation for her daughter and the mutually adoring bond they share, making this a joyful read for parents and children alike.