My mother taught me that writing thank you notes was very important, and I have tried to teach my children the same thing. This adorable Elephant and My mother taught me that writing thank you notes was very important, and I have tried to teach my children the same thing. This adorable Elephant and Piggies book will help young children begin to understand the importance of writing Thank You notes.most readers will figure out who Gerald is referring to before Piggies does, but that takes nothing away from the story. There is a Thank you card in the back of the book that kids can pull out and give to someone - - maybe the person who made a gift of the book? ...more
While there's nothing really original here with Judy & Stink, I appreciate the way Judy really commits to something. The repeated historical informatiWhile there's nothing really original here with Judy & Stink, I appreciate the way Judy really commits to something. The repeated historical information about Sarah Hale may help kids remember her story, and they'll certainly enjoy the kid-humor and sibling rivalry between Judy & Stink. ...more
One Sunday morning after church, when all the adults were still gathered below the church steps, chatting about the service or their families, I sidleOne Sunday morning after church, when all the adults were still gathered below the church steps, chatting about the service or their families, I sidled up next to a tall man in a dark suit with deeply-tanned skin and slipped my hand into his. I looked up to discover the hand belonged to the music director and not my daddy. My stomach flopped and I was mortified to the point of tears.
So I can genuinely appreciate our hero's situation here. Mistakes happen. Sometimes we can erase them like an incorrect math solution, and sometimes we have to live with the public humiliation they bring (however short- or long-lived it may be). Audrey Vernick knows how kids think. As adults we view accidentally calling a teacher "Mommy" no big deal. To the child who does that, though, it can be traumatic.
The illustrations are a perfect match for the story. The slightly messy lines reflect the narrator's anxiety over his mistake.
This is a fantastic book for helping new first graders calm their school-related worries. ...more
The funny chapters are really funny (especially the section on fashion) but sometimes the serious chapters seemed repetitive and preachy. I didn't necThe funny chapters are really funny (especially the section on fashion) but sometimes the serious chapters seemed repetitive and preachy. I didn't necessarily disagree with any of it, the repetition just got old. (And man, does this girl love her wine, or what? I don't think there's a single chapter without some mention of it.) Regardless, she really is a funny writer, and I wanted to reads parts out loud to other people so they could laugh with me.
This is a fun and meaningful read for people who grew up in church. They'll find themselves nodding their heads in agreement for much of it. ...more
One scene left me laughing so hard tears were rolling down my face. I've already passed this on to a friend who loves to laugh. :)One scene left me laughing so hard tears were rolling down my face. I've already passed this on to a friend who loves to laugh. :)...more
For a celebrity-authored title, this was a pleasant surprise. It's clever and full of onomatopoeia and noisy fun, not to mention musical instruments gFor a celebrity-authored title, this was a pleasant surprise. It's clever and full of onomatopoeia and noisy fun, not to mention musical instruments galore. If you have a musician-child, introduce him or her to Farkle. They'll be fast friends....more
Very Little Red Riding Hood is going to Grandmama's house for a sleepover. "I go see Gramma with cakes," she says, in her toddler voice. She meets a wVery Little Red Riding Hood is going to Grandmama's house for a sleepover. "I go see Gramma with cakes," she says, in her toddler voice. She meets a wolf along the way but isn't afraid: "I NOT scared!" From her speech we can tell Red is an assertive 3- or 4-year-old in this version, something we have to understand in order to really get the humor in the story, and kids should have no trouble at all getting it. This is an adorable twist on the old folk tale and I think kids of all elementary ages will get a kick out of it.
Now, some readers will say, "Why is that mother letting that tiny girl go off all by herself?!?" (I did) but we have to remember this is just a fun bit of alternative folklore and roll with it. ...more
Master Edgar Dreadbury finds Halloween utterly boring until he happens on a machine called a "Monsterator". For just one dime, he gets a lifetime of eMaster Edgar Dreadbury finds Halloween utterly boring until he happens on a machine called a "Monsterator". For just one dime, he gets a lifetime of excitement!
With the back several pages cut into horizontal quarters to allow readers to create 625 different monster combinations, I don't think this book will last long in the library, but I'll bet it won't sit unread for one day!...more
I love Mr. Putter and Tabby. All of Rylant's books about them are cute and entertaining. Mr. Putter and Tabby are excited about going to the public liI love Mr. Putter and Tabby. All of Rylant's books about them are cute and entertaining. Mr. Putter and Tabby are excited about going to the public library for a special Story Time, where they get the chance to read books to the children. Mr. Putter is afraid he's made a mistake, though, when he tells his neighbor Mrs. Teaberry about the Story because he knows she will want to go and take her dog, Zeke, who is always making messes. Luckily for everyone (especially the librarian!) Zeke is behaving better than he usually does, and everything turns out just fine. Is this is my favorite in the series? I'm not sure, but it's a really good one!...more
I had a set of Uncle Wiggily books when I was little girl, and my mother was terrific at reading them aloud. This one, Uncle Wiggily and the Red SpotsI had a set of Uncle Wiggily books when I was little girl, and my mother was terrific at reading them aloud. This one, Uncle Wiggily and the Red Spots, was my all-time favorite. I'm not sure why, I think just liked seeing the red spots all over. I loved Uncle Wiggily!...more
The Paddington stories remind me of Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh stories, only shorter and less clever. I still liked them, but not the way I love Pooh.The Paddington stories remind me of Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh stories, only shorter and less clever. I still liked them, but not the way I love Pooh....more
A 700-year-old woman and an 800-year-old man go looking for their missing Halloween pumpkin and meet several ornery spooky critters along the way.
I'mA 700-year-old woman and an 800-year-old man go looking for their missing Halloween pumpkin and meet several ornery spooky critters along the way.
I'm always looking for new Halloween stories to share, so I picked this one up. While it's not the greatest, I think kids will laugh at the old-man's tricks, and the silliness that goes along with the chase. ...more
While this didn't have me in stitches, it did crack me up with some surprising jokes. Kid Sheriff has his own way of dealing with the Terrible Toads, While this didn't have me in stitches, it did crack me up with some surprising jokes. Kid Sheriff has his own way of dealing with the Terrible Toads, a family of brothers who would "steal your gold, kiss your cattle, and insult your chili". That's pretty bad. His solution? Blame everything on dinosaurs. He figures the terrible Toads can't stand watching someone else get credit for all their hard work, and turns out he's right.
Funny and surprising, this one will be a hit if it's read-aloud in some terrific cowboy/varmint voices. ...more
Pretty sure I would love a restaurant menu if Meschenmoser designed it. Or a sale flyer. Or a funeral bulletin. Doesn't matter. He's brilliant. Every Pretty sure I would love a restaurant menu if Meschenmoser designed it. Or a sale flyer. Or a funeral bulletin. Doesn't matter. He's brilliant. Every tiny line means something, and together they make genius.
When a wheel of cheese falls off a wagon and manages to wind up in squirrel's tree, he's pretty sure he's going to be arrested for stealing it, even though he's perfectly innocent. (His imagined jail scene with the tiny toilet is pretty awesome.) He has to find a way to get the moon back into the sky! Results = fantastic. ...more
27th President of the United States, William Howard Taft was the only president to serve as chief justice of the Supreme Court. (He also gave us the f27th President of the United States, William Howard Taft was the only president to serve as chief justice of the Supreme Court. (He also gave us the federal income tax, but I'm trying to overlook that.) But if you ask most people what they remember about William Howard Taft, it’s usually only that he was our largest president, weighing in at over 300 pounds.
I’m pretty sure that’s not what I would want to be remembered for, but there are some memorable stories to go along with it. This funny new picture book by Mac Barnett and Chris Van Dusen immortalizes the day President Taft got stuck in his bathtub (or did he?). The illustrations are colorful and robust, the story is told well, and I guarantee kids will get some laughs out of the President’s embarrassment in the pictures.
The Author’s Note of the back includes a photograph of the Taft’s actual bathtub with four men seated inside and room for more. There’s also a list of facts pertaining to President Taft and bathtubs, and speculation as to whether he ever really was stuck in the bathtub or not. No newspapers, letters, or diaries confirmed that he ever was really stuck in the White House tub, but it sure makes an entertaining story.
Whether or not it’s actually appropriate for us to be laughing at a very personal moment in the life of a President can be debated. It’s easy to see how some people would find this book offensive and degrading. I’m trying to look at it from the other point of view: is there a way to use this book in the classroom?
As I read the book I kept being reminded of Audrey Wood’s King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub. There are several similarities here, including the stream of people being brought in in an attempt to get the big men out of the tub. Each suggestion is either rejected or fails. The simple solution turns out to be the best in each case, and the men in the bathtub are not spared embarrassment in either book. I think these two titles would pair fantastically well for a compare/contrast lesson that would have the kids really giggling. Whether or not it fits into the curriculum, outside of just learning to use compare and contrast, I couldn’t say, but it sure would be a lot of fun. ...more
Well, I can guarantee you this: if you read this book to a group of preschoolers, you’re gonna get a lot of giggling.
Here’s the problem: there is thisWell, I can guarantee you this: if you read this book to a group of preschoolers, you’re gonna get a lot of giggling.
Here’s the problem: there is this really cool pair of giant underwear, and two fuzzy bears who both want to wear it. They refuse to share the underwear. So one bear is left yelling out, “This is not fair!” The book continues in a like fashion. There are three items, for example, and four animals who want them, so three animals take them, and one animal is left out and unhappy. It is not until we reach ten twisty slides and 20 pigs who want to slide that we meet some animals who are capable of sharing and working together. The pigs’ solution of riding down piggyback (how else?) allows everyone to enjoy the fun of sliding, and encourages the other animals to share the items they had previously taken, all the way back down to the two fuzzy bears sharing one big pair of underwear.
The illustrations are produced in an adorable cartoon style that has a lot of appeal to children, and there is humor in each illustration, as well.
My two fears (and I am not kidding) is that sometime later this week we will hear reports of pre-k kiddos [1] trying to go down the slide piggyback, and [2] creating havoc and hysteria in the bathroom by trying to share their underwear. They are pretty literal! ...more
I know I was supposed to like this one. Everybody told me I would like this one. It had lots of fun pictures in it. I just didn’t like it. While I canI know I was supposed to like this one. Everybody told me I would like this one. It had lots of fun pictures in it. I just didn’t like it. While I can certainly understand Dory’s plight at being the youngest who was left out by her brother and sister, and I appreciated the fact that she has a very active imagination, I sort of found her as annoying as Violet and Luke did. And if I was her mother at the doctor’s office, there would have been some serious consequences for her refusal to speak to the doctor like a human being rather than a dog.
Kids may enjoy this, and that would be terrific. It’s just not my cup of tea. ...more
I’m not sure how much geometry readers are actually going to get from this book, as much as general concepts of near, far, higher, lower, and things lI’m not sure how much geometry readers are actually going to get from this book, as much as general concepts of near, far, higher, lower, and things like that. The humor is strange, the illustrations are awkward, and it just did not appeal to me. ...more
Missy loves that her librarian, Miss Brooks, has started a story time before school begins, but to get there, Missy has to get past Billy Toomey, who Missy loves that her librarian, Miss Brooks, has started a story time before school begins, but to get there, Missy has to get past Billy Toomey, who teases her by stealing her hat and threatening her with taunts of, “I'm gonna get you!”
When Missy arrives for story time one morning, Miss Brooks has changed storytime to storytelling time, and before long Missy is sharing an imaginative tale of an ogre who torments innocent children. This is a really fun story for sharing when you're talking about storytelling, beginning, middle, and ending, or even how to handle bullies. Terrifically fun illustrations, as well. ...more
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