When the food and money run out, Jack's mother sends him out to find a job. Along the way he swats 10 yellowjackets dead with one whack! of his hat. HWhen the food and money run out, Jack's mother sends him out to find a job. Along the way he swats 10 yellowjackets dead with one whack! of his hat. He's so pleased with himself that he uses berry juice to write FEARLESS JACK KILLED TEN AT A WHACK ON HIS CAP. Jack heads into town, where he meets the sheriff, who tells him their little town is being terrorized by some wild varmints. If Jack can rid the territory of those critters, he'll get $100 reward money.
Now, Jack wasn't planning on confronting those varmints. He's too lazy for that. But those varmints find him, and luck finds him, too. He manages to take care of each one of them and heads back toward home and his mama with pockets full of cash.
This American folk tale from the Appalachians has enough humor to please young readers, and the vernacular adds to the fun (and that's an accent I can surely pull off). I plan to read this aloud in my 2nd grade unit on multicultural folk tales....more
This is an odd one. A young man goes to a fortune-teller because he's unhappy with his life. The fortune-teller offers him predictions that are 100% wThis is an odd one. A young man goes to a fortune-teller because he's unhappy with his life. The fortune-teller offers him predictions that are 100% worthless, but he's not smart enough to realize that. Then when he himself is mistaken for the fortune-teller, he all-of-a-sudden catches on and gives the same type of fortunes to everyone in the village. At least, I think he catches on. Maybe he doesn't. Maybe he just says them without realizing their ridiculous nature. Just...not sure. Either way, it works for him, because he gets a beautiful wife and becomes rich.
As for the old fortune-teller, his fate is...well, a little extreme.
Is there a moral to this folktale? Nope. Not that I can see. Unless it's, "You can get rich off of stupid people." Again, I'm just not sure.
But it's worth a read simply to gaze at Trina Schart Hyman's gorgeous artwork. The woman was gifted....more
The stories are humorous, as are David Catrow's illustrations, but the stories are just too long for a storytime read-aloud, darn it. The stories are humorous, as are David Catrow's illustrations, but the stories are just too long for a storytime read-aloud, darn it. ...more
Wardrobe malfunction. There's a term that didn't exist a few years ago.
After Binky tears his pants at school and accidentally reveals part of his undWardrobe malfunction. There's a term that didn't exist a few years ago.
After Binky tears his pants at school and accidentally reveals part of his underwear, Arthur starts having nightmares about forgetting to wear his pants. It's starting to affect him during the daytime, too. How can stop panicking about these bad dreams?
All kids love Arthur because of the television show (I liked it when my kids watched it), and all kids occasionally worry about something super-embarrassing happening to them. And, of course, occasionally those kinds of things happen in the classroom. This is a good book to read following an "unfortunate incident" at school or just during a discussion about how to deal with embarrassing situations....more
Three little pigs who've had enough of the town bully's huffing and puffing decide to take martial arts lessons in order to protect themselves. Pig OnThree little pigs who've had enough of the town bully's huffing and puffing decide to take martial arts lessons in order to protect themselves. Pig One learns a bit of aikido but before long he becomes bored and quits. Pig Two develops some jujitsu skills but soon decides he's learned enough. Their sister, Pig Three (love that it's a girl doing martial arts), studies the art of karate for months, disciplining herself and earning each belt along the way.
The first little pig is all talk and no action when the wolf comes to his house, and he quickly flees to the house of Pig Two, who does his best to defend them but quickly realizes he is out of his league. When the wolf approaches the house of Pig Three he has no idea that a karate master is waiting for him. By the time the skilled pig demonstrates a few fancy karate moves that wolf is shivering and running in fear.
Dan Santat's illustrations are the perfect match for this fun story. They just look exactly right, like Schwartz had Santat in mind the whole time she was writing. And speaking of the writing, the meter is perfect. I love when a writer is particular enough to get the meter right, and Schwartz has done it. This is a really fun take on the Three Little Pigs, and it's tons of fun to read out loud. I'm using it in my 2nd grade unit on Folk Tales the week we talk about different versions of the same story, alongside Glen Rounds' The Three Little Pigs and the Big, Bad Wolf, Jan Brett's 3 Little Dassies, The Three Little Javelinas, and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Scieszka. It's a terrific contemporary addition to the group....more
April Fools Day books are hard to find. Especially good ones. This isn't the greatest ever, but it's pretty darn cute, and I'm confident kids will getApril Fools Day books are hard to find. Especially good ones. This isn't the greatest ever, but it's pretty darn cute, and I'm confident kids will get a kick out of it. This is going on my list of books to read on those horrible years when April 1 falls on a {{sigh}} school day....more
Three cowboys out on the range grumble and whine about missing the Christmases of their youth while their cook encourages them to get into the spirit Three cowboys out on the range grumble and whine about missing the Christmases of their youth while their cook encourages them to get into the spirit and make do with what's available. Miss your childhood tree? Decorate a cactus with hay and cans of corn! Miss your mama's sugar cookies? Bake your own with what you have! (However, sugar-molasses-bean cookies are not delicious and Christmasy.) And even with twig antlers and red Rudolph noses stuck on, heifers are not acceptable substitutes for reindeer. Darryl, Dwight, and Dub are bummed when Christmas morning arrives and Santy is nowhere to be seen. Or is he?
The cartoon illustrations are colorful and appealing, and the cowpokes' attempts at all things Christmasy are pretty funny. As a read-aloud, though, the fun really begins, with those cowpoke accents. (I'm from Oklahoma. I got this.) ...more
All the pieces of advice you might get when picking out a pet are given here for picking out a pet train. Do you want a freight train (they are found All the pieces of advice you might get when picking out a pet are given here for picking out a pet train. Do you want a freight train (they are found on the frontier, and they run in herds), a monorail (found in the city, and they run alone), or a steam engine (mostly found in museums)? Sometimes you have to catch your train before you can train it. Then, of course, you have to give it a name. (There are some awesome suggestions here if you're having trouble choosing.)
Older kids may catch more of the humor than younger ones, but the littles may just giggle all the way through. The illustrations in this large picture book are terrifically fun as they depict children picking out trains as pets, working with them, training the trains. Great images and lots of smiles in store for kids in this one....more
The Monster at the End of This Book meets Press Here/Tap the Magic Tree.
Larry the monster has one rule for this book: Don't Push the Big, Red Button. The Monster at the End of This Book meets Press Here/Tap the Magic Tree.
Larry the monster has one rule for this book: Don't Push the Big, Red Button. But unlike other books I've read where a character/narrator says not to do something like turn the page, for whatever reason, it's not the reader who defies the rule, really. Curious Larry convinces the reader to push the button, and more than once, with some surprising results.
This wasn't as funny as I wanted it to be, but I do think kids about 4-7 years old will really like it. ...more
Because, in truth, I really did not like this book. Technically, that's the one-star rating, right? Yeah, weI struggled with adding that second star.
Because, in truth, I really did not like this book. Technically, that's the one-star rating, right? Yeah, well...the pictures were fun.
I don't like Neil Gaiman's work.
There. I said it. I guess I am the one, singular person in the universe who does not drool any time Gaiman puts out a new title (feels that way, at least, but I did like Odd and the Frost Giants, for what it's worth).
This isn't even very Neil Gaiman-y, and I still didn't like it. It was like a joke that someone strung out into a really, really looong joke, the kind that makes you stare at the joke-teller with a face that says, "Seriously? You made me stand here and listen to that whole long story for that punch line?" And forever after you are wary of listening any time that person has a joke for you. "This isn't like that really long, stupid one you told me that time, is it? Okay, then. Go ahead. I guess." That's what this was like for me. ...more
Minerva von Vyle is a thoroughly spoiled, disobedient, obnoxious child. She's given everything she wants and has run off fifty-two nannies in fifty-twMinerva von Vyle is a thoroughly spoiled, disobedient, obnoxious child. She's given everything she wants and has run off fifty-two nannies in fifty-two weeks. Nobody wants to hang around this kid. Until nanny number 53 arrives and announces that the Order of Nannies has declared Minerva the "single most difficult child to control". This nanny is here to crown Minerva The Unruly Queen.
Minerva is thrilled with the honor until she realizes that she will spend all her time ruling creatures loathsome and loud, with no dolls, satin sheets, or butlers and maids. But what sort of queen lives with beasts in a cave? she bellows. The sort who never behaves, that's what sort. As the nanny offers more information about the castle on Petulant Peak, the young rebel begins to rebel. Her cushy life with a butler and maids suddenly seems much more desirable, even if she has to behave to keep it. They want a queen who never does as she's told? Minerva decides to go get herself ready for bed. They want a queen who's dirty and smelly? Minerva opts to take a bath. They want a queen with knots in her hair? Minerva brushes until every tangle is smooth. She'll be good all the time, from now on, she decides. The residents of Petulant Peak will just have to crown another child the Unruly Queen. But just in case Minerva reverts to her unruly ways, the fifty-third nanny has one more trick in her bag.
Redmond's destructive little protagonist is deliciously illustrated, as well. Sort of a cross between Gus Grimly's artwork on his wicked fairy tales and Edgar Allan Poe stories and Chris Riddell's The Edge Chronicles. Impish, villainous fun.
A classroom teacher could easily find a week's worth of terrifically fun vocabulary words in this book. The rhyme and meter are both spot on, with nothing forced. "Naughty kids" love Minerva's evil ways, "good kids" like it when she decides to be good, and readers can practice their wicked voice with the nanny. (Me, I tried to sound like Ursula, the Sea Witch, from Disney's Little Mermaid. She's as nasty and oozy as they come.) ...more
Holy cow. Katrina Germein must be my cousin, because this book is so the men in my family. All of them, from my Granddaddy and all my uncles to my ownHoly cow. Katrina Germein must be my cousin, because this book is so the men in my family. All of them, from my Granddaddy and all my uncles to my own husband. Any member of my family could have written this.
Our young narrator is blessed/cursed with a dad who is quick with a snappy retort. You know the kind. You say, "I'm hungry," and Dad says, "Hello, Hungry. Nice to meet you." You've been there. You know this dad. I grew up with this dad. Married him, too.
I have a feeling that if I read this out loud to a class of kids, someone would shout out, "MY DADDY SAYS THAT!" after every stinkin' page. I'd never get through it.
The only thing I don't like about it is the ending. No zip. No zing. No snappy one-liner to end it. Even a, "my dad thinks he's funny...AND HE IS!" would've been better, I think. This ending just kind of lies there and you turn the page thinking there's more but there's not. Still. Kids with a dad or grandfather like this will get a kick out of it. ...more
I appreciate the way Helen Lester can approach behavior-related issues with just the right touch of humor and without being didactic. Read this one inI appreciate the way Helen Lester can approach behavior-related issues with just the right touch of humor and without being didactic. Read this one in your classroom when your kids refuse to take responsibility for their actions....more
Life is hard when you're scared of everything. EVERYTHING. I can't go outside, because something might happen. I can't climb that tree, because somethLife is hard when you're scared of everything. EVERYTHING. I can't go outside, because something might happen. I can't climb that tree, because something might happen. I can't try a new food, because something might happen. This is great book to share with the little scaredy-cats and worry-warts in your life....more
Possibly my favorite of all Helen Lester's titles. I'm a Wodney-wover. He's a true hero for kids everywhere who are battling a speech impediment.Possibly my favorite of all Helen Lester's titles. I'm a Wodney-wover. He's a true hero for kids everywhere who are battling a speech impediment....more
Tacky is a goob. That's just all there is to it. He's an individual. His own penguin, if you will. He does things his own way, and even though they maTacky is a goob. That's just all there is to it. He's an individual. His own penguin, if you will. He does things his own way, and even though they make no sense at all, things seem to turn out right for him anyway. I am not as big a Tacky fan as some, but he is pretty funny. ...more
As kids, we think being first is always best. First in line for the water fountain, first picked for teams, first in the door and out the door and firAs kids, we think being first is always best. First in line for the water fountain, first picked for teams, first in the door and out the door and first everywhere. But Pinkerton Pig finds out that being first is most definitely not best.
Fun and funny, this is a good one to read when you've got a classroom of kids who are so concerned about who "took cuts!" than staying on task....more
This is one of my favorite Helen Lester books. I love the way Buddy "mishears" everything (reminds me of another picture book my daughter liked when sThis is one of my favorite Helen Lester books. I love the way Buddy "mishears" everything (reminds me of another picture book my daughter liked when she was little, Bendemolena, or The Cat Who Wore a Pot on Her Head). I also love the way Buddy responds to the Scruffy Varmint: "Who get the what from the where side of the where what?" This is a fun one to read to classes when they're doing more talking that listening.
And yes, I realize that would be EVERY SINGLE DAY. :)...more
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