Does your family have a favorite book that you check out of the library over and over again? When our girls were little, Me Too! Me Too! by Harriet Ziefert was just such a book for us. We would check the book out and return it, only to look for it again on our next trip to the library.
It is hard to say how long this cycle would have continued had we not accidentally damaged the book beyond repair. I sheepishly returned it to the library, fully prepared to pay for the damage that had occurred. As I handed over the cash, a joyous though occurred to me: “Since I am paying for this book, may I keep it?” My delight was deep when the librarian’s answer was a resounding yes. We pieced the book back together with a little bit of clear packing tape on both the front and back covers. And the book was joyfully added to our collection where it remains to this day.
Me Too! Me Too! by Harriet Ziefert
So, what makes Me Too! Me Too! so special? Harriet Ziefert writes a simple story of two little sisters who are trying to occupy themselves on a rainy day. As girls often do, they turn to the pastime of playing dress up. When Molly, the older sister, declares what she is going to do, Jenny, the younger sister, chimes in with “me too!”
Eventually, the rain lets up enough for the girls to head outside in their raincoats and rain hats and rubber boots. Mommy presents them with a surprise to take outdoors, and the book ends with Mommy getting in on the act and exclaiming, “Me too! Me too!”
Karen Gundersheimer’s illustrations play a big role in the charm of Harriet Ziefert’s story. The drawings are rich with detail, including patterns on the home furnishings and wallpaper, children’s drawing hanging on the walls, and intricate designs on the pieces of clothing. The colors are soft pastels, which contrast with the bright yellow of the raincoats and the vivid red of the rubber boots.
Chocolate Mud Cake
The fun with Molly and Jenny continues in Chocolate Mud Cake by Harriet Ziefert. Molly and her little sister Jenny are visiting Grandma and Grandpa. While Grandma is busy in her flower garden, Molly is busy baking. Molly is making a chocolate mud cake, and she is sure that it is going to be yummy. With great care, Molly and Jenny mix the dirt with water to create the batter. The cake bakes in the sun, and then Molly calls to the others to come and see. Grandpa and Grandma are both eager to have a large piece of cake, but Jenny is not so sure. You will have to read Chocolate Mud Cake to see what Jenny wants instead.
I will always try to make sure that the books that I recommend are readily available. Me Too! Me Too! by Harriet Ziefert, and its companion book Chocolate Mud Cake, are both out of print. I offer this recommendation with the hopes that you will be able to find them either in a library or through a used book sale. These books are just too good to be missed. While you search for these two books, you can start with another book by Harriet Ziefert. A recommendation for A New Coat for Anna can be found here.