by: Lynley Dodd
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| courtesy www.amazon.com |
Recommended Age- 2-K
Hairy Maclary's Bone
Hairly Maclary's Bone
by: Lynley Dodd
Lynley Dodd has a host of mischievous characters but at our house these three books are the tried and true favorites. Hairy Maclary's Bone is basically a reverse of Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy with a slight twist. The repetition is so popular here that it's not uncommon for both books to be requested on the same night, read back to back. Warning! In Bone you'll either have to add a bit of a NZ/Brit/Aussie accent to make one of the rhymes work or just accept that in Yank English it doesn't rhyme.
Recommended Age- 2-K
by: Lynley Dodd
Recommended Age- 2-K
Slinky Malinki Open the Door
Slinky Malinki Open the Door
by: Lynley Dodd
Lynley Dodd has another series that includes the naughty cat, Slinky Malinki. Slinky gets into all kinds of trouble one day by opening doors all throughout the house. If you find some of the wording awkward, remember the author isn't writing in American English ("tips out the pillowslips") but is from New Zealand where you are more likely to hear pillowslips than pillowcases. Nice rhymes and repetition and fun, fun illustrations.
Recommended Age: 2-K
by: Lynley Dodd
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| courtesy www.amazon.com |
Recommended Age: 2-K
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy
by: Lynley Dodd
In the heat of summer, while everyone's on vacation, we'll highlight some of our favorite series of books. Straight from New Zealand, Lynley Dodd and our favorite dog, Hairy Maclary.
Hairy Maclary has a bevy of canine pals that follow him all around town. It's not the dogs that are in charge though, watch out for the giant cat, Scarface Claw!
Recommended Age: 2-K
by: Lynley Dodd
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| courtesy www.amazon.com |
Hairy Maclary has a bevy of canine pals that follow him all around town. It's not the dogs that are in charge though, watch out for the giant cat, Scarface Claw!
Recommended Age: 2-K
Possum Magic
Possum Magic
by: Mem Fox
Possum Magic is my second favorite Mem Fox book ("Where is the Green Sheep" is my first) but as our son gets older I suspect the two will change places. Green Sheep is great for younger kids, I know the magic in Possum Magic will grow on him as he gets older.
A wise grandmother possum turns young Hush invisible to protect him from the wild. Being invisible is great fun, most of the time. When Hush decides it's time to become visible the two possums have a culinary adventure across Australia to find the magic to turn him back. If you know your Aussie geography and snacks you will have a wonderful time reminiscing while you read this book. If you don't, have no fear, you'll still be charmed by the magical possums and their grand adventure.
Recommended Age: Preschool-Grade 2
by: Mem Fox
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| courtesy www.amazon.com |
A wise grandmother possum turns young Hush invisible to protect him from the wild. Being invisible is great fun, most of the time. When Hush decides it's time to become visible the two possums have a culinary adventure across Australia to find the magic to turn him back. If you know your Aussie geography and snacks you will have a wonderful time reminiscing while you read this book. If you don't, have no fear, you'll still be charmed by the magical possums and their grand adventure.
Recommended Age: Preschool-Grade 2
Cindy-Ella
Cindy-Ella
by: Tom Champion
While in Australia we did a lot of business at the post office. Periodically the post would have books on sale. They would be all sealed up in plastic so you couldn't leaf through them to see exactly what it was you were getting. The prices were good, though (books in Australia are much, much, much more expensive than here in the US) so it was generally worth taking the chance. Once, I got a pack of books that included Cindy-Ella.
Cindy-Ella has become a favorite bedtime story around here, and honestly it's a fantastic version of Cinderella. You all know the story, and this is full of Aussie twists. Cindy is the youngest step-sister and she has to her sisters chores like "Feed the budgies, Cleaning the dunny. Cooking the meat pies for tea. Hanging their undies on the line." The ball is a sheep shearers mingle, her fairy godmother is a god-nanna with a wattle branch for a wand, and her glass slippers are thongs (flip flops to us Yanks).
This book is full of the Aussie colloquialisms, some of which we used to hear on a daily basis, some we hardly heard at all. All of which we're glad to preserve in a story for our son to remember his days in the land down under.
Recommended Age: Preschool - 8
by: Tom Champion
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| courtesy Google Books |
Cindy-Ella has become a favorite bedtime story around here, and honestly it's a fantastic version of Cinderella. You all know the story, and this is full of Aussie twists. Cindy is the youngest step-sister and she has to her sisters chores like "Feed the budgies, Cleaning the dunny. Cooking the meat pies for tea. Hanging their undies on the line." The ball is a sheep shearers mingle, her fairy godmother is a god-nanna with a wattle branch for a wand, and her glass slippers are thongs (flip flops to us Yanks).
This book is full of the Aussie colloquialisms, some of which we used to hear on a daily basis, some we hardly heard at all. All of which we're glad to preserve in a story for our son to remember his days in the land down under.
Recommended Age: Preschool - 8
Diary of a Wombat
Diary of a Wombat
by: Jackie French
When our son was very young we lived in Australia for about two years. We purchased a number of Australian children's books so he would something to read about the country he most likely won't be able to remember.
Diary of a Wombat is about a pesky but charming wombat that moves in with a family. The life of a wombat is just packed and you can follow along as she goes through her daily routine. The endearing illustrations juxtapose with the destructiveness of the silly wombat who pesters her human companions who happily seem only slightly bothered by the wombat in their midst. Sure to bring a smile to your face, this book will make your child ask you for a pet wombat.
Recommended Age: Preschool-Gr 2
by: Jackie French
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| courtesy www.amazon.com |
Diary of a Wombat is about a pesky but charming wombat that moves in with a family. The life of a wombat is just packed and you can follow along as she goes through her daily routine. The endearing illustrations juxtapose with the destructiveness of the silly wombat who pesters her human companions who happily seem only slightly bothered by the wombat in their midst. Sure to bring a smile to your face, this book will make your child ask you for a pet wombat.
Recommended Age: Preschool-Gr 2
Barnyard Dance
Barnyard Dance
by: Sandra Boynton
This book is a performance book. A lot of Boynton's books scream to be sung, and this one is no exception. Not only sung, but you really have to just get up and dance along. One by one the entire farm yard joins in to a simple square dance, and if you don't know the moves just fake it. Your kids will love you for it.
Recommended Age: 1-Preschool
by: Sandra Boynton
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| courtesy www.amazon.com |
This book is a performance book. A lot of Boynton's books scream to be sung, and this one is no exception. Not only sung, but you really have to just get up and dance along. One by one the entire farm yard joins in to a simple square dance, and if you don't know the moves just fake it. Your kids will love you for it.
Recommended Age: 1-Preschool
Fuzzy Fuzzy Fuzzy
Fuzzy Fuzzy Fuzzy
by: Sandra Boynton
This oversized touch book will be the last board book to leave our bookshelves. It was also the first board book I got when I was pregnant with our son. Periodically we clean out our bookshelves and pass along or store books that he's outgrown but he absolutely refuses to part with this book. He's moved well beyond the age range for this book, but it will live on and on until peer pressure makes him move into basement storage.
This book is very simple, each page spread has a single animal on it with a touch description, "fuzzy, fuzzy, fuzzy," or "incredibly smooth." Extra large touch spaces are easy for tiny, wobbly hands to grab for.
Recommended Age: 0-Preschool
by: Sandra Boynton
This book is very simple, each page spread has a single animal on it with a touch description, "fuzzy, fuzzy, fuzzy," or "incredibly smooth." Extra large touch spaces are easy for tiny, wobbly hands to grab for.
Recommended Age: 0-Preschool
Moo Baa LaLaLa
Moo Baa LaLaLa
by: Sandra Boynton
I've been a Boynton fan since I was a kid. I bought her book about chocolate and mailed out Christmas cards with Boynton animals on them, and when my friends and family started having kids I gave them Boynton books. You can bet we have a stack of them at our house, but not all have struck a chord with our son. This week, his top 3.
Moo Baa LaLaLa is an animals sounds book. Great for babies, it's come around again with learning to read because it's obvious to our son that the Cow should say Moo and the Sheep should say Baa.
Recommended Age: 1-Preschool
by: Sandra Boynton
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| courtesy www.amazon.com |
Moo Baa LaLaLa is an animals sounds book. Great for babies, it's come around again with learning to read because it's obvious to our son that the Cow should say Moo and the Sheep should say Baa.
Recommended Age: 1-Preschool
Animailia
Animailia
by: Graeme Base
Animalia will be the alphabet book that will outlast all other alphabet books on your bookshelf. It holds appeal for everyone from about age 2 to adults. It will, however take you all night, every night, for a week to read it you aren't careful.
Base's incredibly detailed illustrations are chock full of items starting with the selected alliterative letter, "Great Green Gorillas" for example. You'll easily find the Gorillas, as well as hundreds of other both mundane and bizarre items all starting with the letter. Younger children will find the easy items and move on quickly, older kids will delight in the challenge.
Recommended Age: 2 and up
by: Graeme Base
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| courtesy www.amazon.com |
Base's incredibly detailed illustrations are chock full of items starting with the selected alliterative letter, "Great Green Gorillas" for example. You'll easily find the Gorillas, as well as hundreds of other both mundane and bizarre items all starting with the letter. Younger children will find the easy items and move on quickly, older kids will delight in the challenge.
Recommended Age: 2 and up
Alpahbetter
Alphabetter
by: Dan Bar-el
There are plenty of ABC books and everyone has their favorites. Alphabetter has a twist. Twenty-six kids, all with names from A-Z all need something that the next kid in the alphabet has. An example from the book - Alberto had an alligator but he didn't have a bathing suit. Benoit had a bathing suit but he didn't have a clarinet. And so it goes. It takes teamwork and getting the alphabet all in the right order to sort everyone out. Watch for the hidden letters!
Recommended Age: Preschool - Gr 1
by: Dan Bar-el
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| courtesy www.amazon.com |
Recommended Age: Preschool - Gr 1
Alphabet Animals
Alphabet Animals
by: Sue MacDonald
I'm actually going to show you two images for "Alphabet Animals", because words won't do it justice. MacDonald does such clever drawing with her animal letters and then you slide out a page and peek at the real letter and word to go with it.
by: Sue MacDonald
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| coutesty www.amazon.com |
We got to a critical point when the "baby" ABC books were deemed, well, too baby by our son but he wanted to start to read the ABC's on his own. I wanted him to learn his ABC's on his own but as beloved as it is, "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" just isn't intended for a child on the cusp of learning to read. This book is great. He sounds out the letter sounds, pulls the slider, and then "reads" the word. Now that we've had the book for several months he actually reads the words, but in the early stages matching the sound/picture/letter was his first step to beginning reading.
Recommended Age: Preschool-K
Recommended Age: Preschool-K
365 Penguins
365 Penguins
by: Jean-Luc Fromental
The chaos, the mayhem! Over the course of a year one family receives one penguin a day. How many penguins is that? Yup, 365. This book spans some basic counting, days of the week, months, and the idea of a whole year. There is even a little bit of addition and subtraction that we gloss over now but we'll kick back in when it's appropriate.
Penguins seem to still be popular and I think every kid I know likes them, especially cute ones named Chilly with blue feet. There is a short environmental lecture at the end and I'm not thrilled about the suggestion that exporting species is a good idea, but it's a cute book about a big mess and right now I think that's all my child reads into it.
Recommended Age: K-Gr4
by: Jean-Luc Fromental
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| courtesy www.amazon.com |
Penguins seem to still be popular and I think every kid I know likes them, especially cute ones named Chilly with blue feet. There is a short environmental lecture at the end and I'm not thrilled about the suggestion that exporting species is a good idea, but it's a cute book about a big mess and right now I think that's all my child reads into it.
Recommended Age: K-Gr4
A Million Dots
A Million Dots
by: Andrew Clements
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| courtesy www.amazon.com |
Today a million gets used a lot. So much that we're probably getting a bit immune to it. I mean, when I was a kid and someone got ransomed for A MILLION DOLLARS! that was a big deal. But really, how many is a million? I'm not sure I really, really got it until I read this book.
I think this is a good book even if you don't have kids. When the news tosses out that $7.5 million in damage was done, or 370,000 miles from here to there do you really know how many that is? I thought I did, but after reading "A Million Dots" a few times I realize I didn't have a very good grasp of truly enormous numbers.
The reading level of this book is 4-8 but while our son enjoyed listening to this book he is still too young to absorb the concept. Booklist suggests Grades K-3 and I'd say older grade schoolers would gain more understanding from this book than younger children, although it's written in a way that younger kids will still enjoy the 'story.' Just don't expect to be able to quiz them at the end about how big a million is (I'm still working on it!).
Richard Scarry's Best Counting Book Ever
Richard Scarry's Best Counting Book Ever
by: Richard Scarry
Somehow along the way we got stuck counting just up to 10. I count beyond 10, but I noticed that pretty much every single book on the face of the earth counts only to 10. And in our house Mom can talk and sing and teach until I'm blue in the face but if I read it out of a book, well, for some reason then it sticks.
So, I hunted and scoured and found books that go beyond 10. And this one is great. It goes beyond counting to some simple addition and subtraction. It's a long book, so with younger kids you might need to break it up and read it over a couple of nights.
Recommended Age: 4-8
by: Richard Scarry
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| courtesy www.amazon.com |
So, I hunted and scoured and found books that go beyond 10. And this one is great. It goes beyond counting to some simple addition and subtraction. It's a long book, so with younger kids you might need to break it up and read it over a couple of nights.
Recommended Age: 4-8
Puff the Magic Dragon
Puff the Magic Dragon
by: Hal Leonard
This beautiful book doesn't hold any surprises, if you know the song you know exactly where the book is headed. It's repetitive, just like the song, so be warned. You might find yourself singing along instead of just reading the words. It's beautiful, though, and remember, kids love repetition. I'm a huge fan of the current big you-know-what dragon movie/dvd that's still heavily merchandized right now, but "Puff the Magic Dragon" is a nice change of pace for all you dragon fans.
Recommended Age: 4-8
by: Hal Leonard
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| courtesy www.amazon.com |
Recommended Age: 4-8
That's Not My Dragon
That's Not My Dragon
by: Fiona Watt
The "That's Not My..." series of touch books were the very first books that our son interacted with when he was just a few months old. He would wave his little wobbly fists out toward the brightly colored pages and paw at the generously sized touch places with glee. As new parents who both love to read it was thrilling that reading was suddenly a legitimate two way street.
Years later, the "That's Not My..." books are still a perennial favorite. Now we're moving into having our emergent reader read them to us, but he's sometimes distracted by trying to read the words and touch the touchy parts all at the same time. Nonetheless, still a treasured part of our library.
Recommended Age: 0-up
Reading Level: 4-8
by: Fiona Watt
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| courtesy www.amazon.com |
Years later, the "That's Not My..." books are still a perennial favorite. Now we're moving into having our emergent reader read them to us, but he's sometimes distracted by trying to read the words and touch the touchy parts all at the same time. Nonetheless, still a treasured part of our library.
Recommended Age: 0-up
Reading Level: 4-8
Hush Little Dragon
Hush Little Dragon
by: Boni Ashburn
by: Boni Ashburn
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| courtesy amazon.com |
Hush Little Dragon is an interesting take on the traditional lullaby. The classic cadence of Hush Little Baby is reworked to tell the story of a Mamma dragon wrecking havoc on a village to bring her baby bedtime snacks. It's clever and funny, but some readers may not enjoy the quirky, irreverent style of humor here.
Recommended age: 4-8
Tyrannosaurus Reg
Tyrannosaurus Reg
by: Dan Crisp
This GIANT book is one of the top 5 favorite books of all time at our house. I'm terrified to think what will happen when it wears out. And wear out it will. I'm not going to give away any spoilers here, but the tagline on the cover says "A story to make you tremble!" and I'll admit the first time I read this cute book I did indeed jump out of my seat.
Tyrannosaurus Reg is a small dinosaur in a big dinosaur world. He's a little bit scared at first, but works his way through dino-land to solve his problem. And solve it he does.
This book appears to be out of print, so the links above send you to info but not buying options. If you ever find a new copy of this book, send it to us. Seriously. I'll pay for postage and the cost of the book.
by: Dan Crisp
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| courtesy Scholastic.com |
Tyrannosaurus Reg is a small dinosaur in a big dinosaur world. He's a little bit scared at first, but works his way through dino-land to solve his problem. And solve it he does.
This book appears to be out of print, so the links above send you to info but not buying options. If you ever find a new copy of this book, send it to us. Seriously. I'll pay for postage and the cost of the book.
Stomp, Dinosaur, Stomp
Stomp, Dinosaur, Stomp
by: Margaret Mayo
When our young son first started getting really interested in dinosaurs he had trouble distinguishing between all the different kinds if the illustrations were too accurate and scientific. If they were too cartoony and colorful the books usually didn't bother to specifically name the dinosaurs and boy, suddenly he wanted to know. We checked Stomp, Dinosaur, Stomp out at the library to help out.
It might be tough to keep younger readers interested in the BIG WORD dino names. Older readers will be turned off by the silly, cartoony looking dinos when they've moved on to the books which depict what we think of as more accurate looking dinosaurs. I think this is a good book for just the right age, and you will know when to fit it into your nightly reading routine.
Recommended Age: 4-8
by: Margaret Mayo
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| courtesty amazon.com |
It might be tough to keep younger readers interested in the BIG WORD dino names. Older readers will be turned off by the silly, cartoony looking dinos when they've moved on to the books which depict what we think of as more accurate looking dinosaurs. I think this is a good book for just the right age, and you will know when to fit it into your nightly reading routine.
Recommended Age: 4-8
Dinosaur Train
Dinosaur Train
by: John Steven Gurney
Not quite like the TV show, this Dinosaur Train picks up a young boy who dreams only of dinosaurs and trains. Right away we knew this would be a popular book with our son. The boy goes on an all night adventure on the dinosaur run train line that mysteriously appears outside his bedroom window. The story was a bit ho-hum for me, but a dream come true for my train-and-dinosaur loving preschooler.
by: John Steven Gurney
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| courtesty amazon.com |
Not quite like the TV show, this Dinosaur Train picks up a young boy who dreams only of dinosaurs and trains. Right away we knew this would be a popular book with our son. The boy goes on an all night adventure on the dinosaur run train line that mysteriously appears outside his bedroom window. The story was a bit ho-hum for me, but a dream come true for my train-and-dinosaur loving preschooler.
Dinosaurs!
I'm a bit behind, it's been a busy week around here and the next couple will follow suit.
How about some Dinosaur books? Next week will be all about dinosaur books, good ones, scary ones, funny ones, and ones that make a lot of NOISE! Stay tuned after the holiday for some great books from way back when.
How about some Dinosaur books? Next week will be all about dinosaur books, good ones, scary ones, funny ones, and ones that make a lot of NOISE! Stay tuned after the holiday for some great books from way back when.
Frog on a Log
Frog on a Log
By: Phil Roxbee Cox
I'm always on the lookout for early reader books with a little pizazz and a bit of a storyline. I've got a kid who is just dying to start reading ALL BY HIMSELF. Anything I can find with lots of repetitive, rhyming words that are well connected by the illustrations works for us. Frog on a Log is a winner.
While not a great 'story' book, don't expect a thrilling read here, what this book is great for is early word recognition and word prediction.
Recommended Age: 4-8
By: Phil Roxbee Cox
While not a great 'story' book, don't expect a thrilling read here, what this book is great for is early word recognition and word prediction.
Recommended Age: 4-8
One Lighthouse One Moon
One Lighthouse One Moon
By: Anita Lobel
Sometimes I need a book to teach a concept I just can't. The days of the week were like that here. For some reason nothing I did could get them to penetrate and everyone was getting frustrated. Finally, we were saved by our favorite library who recommended "One Lighthouse One Moon".
It's a simple book of poetry, not a book I'd select off the shelf, but it sure did the trick. The author covers days of the week, months of the years (plus seasons), and numbers from 1-10. Each is broken up into a separate story so you can read one as a stand alone if you need a quick story night.
Recommended Age: Preschool - K
By: Anita Lobel
It's a simple book of poetry, not a book I'd select off the shelf, but it sure did the trick. The author covers days of the week, months of the years (plus seasons), and numbers from 1-10. Each is broken up into a separate story so you can read one as a stand alone if you need a quick story night.
Recommended Age: Preschool - K
Hieronymus Betts and His Unusual Pets
Hieronymus Betts and His Unusual Pets
By: M.P. Robertson
Hieronymus has an amazing collection of truly unusual pets. And they are Disgusting. And Gross. And each gets worse and worse and WORSE until you meet the ULTIMATE - his little brother. This humorous book pokes fun at sibling relationships and is appealing even if you don't have a little brother. Have no fear, the two brothers take off together to chase a fearful pet rabbit at the end of the book.
Cleaver illustrations and fun rhymes will mostly appeal to boys and girls who don't mind a little bit of ick.
Recommended Age: Preschool-Grade 1
We Planted a Tree
By: Diane Muldrow
Each family is different, not only in where they come from, but in their group make up as well. Some are big, some are very small, some live in the city, some in the country. If you are inclined there are lots of themes to discuss.
Recommended Age: 4-8
Max's Dragon Shirt
Max's Dragon Shirt
By: Rosemary Wells
It's hard as a parent to read the same story over and over and over sometimes, but to my surprise Max and Ruby stories stand the test of time for me. Lovable Max gets his way every time and patient and sometimes clueless Ruby steadfastly smiles and, well, is unendingly patient, until the end every single time.
Max's Dragon Shirt is the favored Max and Ruby story by the younger set at our house, perhaps because boys like dragons and anytime you can escape from a store with a dragon shirt and ice cream instead of new pants it's a good day.
Recommended Age: Preschool - Grade 2
By: Rosemary Wells
Max's Dragon Shirt is the favored Max and Ruby story by the younger set at our house, perhaps because boys like dragons and anytime you can escape from a store with a dragon shirt and ice cream instead of new pants it's a good day.
Recommended Age: Preschool - Grade 2
What Are You So Grumpy About?
What Are You So Grumpy About?
By: Tom Lichtenheld
Not every book we read sits right with me. A book looks good, sounds good, gets great reviews. "What Are You So Grumpy About" is a great example of that. This book is great. It's cute, funny, and clever. But so many of the things that make the kids in the book grumpy just don't apply around here. Our son was puzzled and confused, and kept asking "why does that make him/her so grumpy?"
Turns out this made this a pretty good book for us after all. Instead of being a straightforward read it gave us a chance to talk about other kids and their feelings. And about how not all of us are the same and we don't feel the same about the same things. It was a bit eye opening for a nearly 4 year old in a very good way, just not the way the author intended.
*after I read this book at naptime today I snuck in my daily dose of internet time and found a link to this article about Books to Help Your Child Think Outside the Box by Savvy Source in my email. What timing!
Recommended Age: 4-8
By: Tom Lichtenheld
Not every book we read sits right with me. A book looks good, sounds good, gets great reviews. "What Are You So Grumpy About" is a great example of that. This book is great. It's cute, funny, and clever. But so many of the things that make the kids in the book grumpy just don't apply around here. Our son was puzzled and confused, and kept asking "why does that make him/her so grumpy?"
Turns out this made this a pretty good book for us after all. Instead of being a straightforward read it gave us a chance to talk about other kids and their feelings. And about how not all of us are the same and we don't feel the same about the same things. It was a bit eye opening for a nearly 4 year old in a very good way, just not the way the author intended.
*after I read this book at naptime today I snuck in my daily dose of internet time and found a link to this article about Books to Help Your Child Think Outside the Box by Savvy Source in my email. What timing!
Recommended Age: 4-8
Big Words for Little People
Big Words for Little People
by: Jamie Lee Curtis
It's tough being a kid in a grown up world, and Jamie Lee Curtis gets this so well. In Big Words she lays out in straighforward kid language the ins and outs of grown up words like "respect," "privacy," "cooperate," "appropriate", and "family." It's a great introduction to those really big concepts which are tricky for young minds.
Preschoolers yearn to please, and around here my husband and I often assume our child understands exactly what we mean. Boy, I assume my husband understands exactly what I mean and that's not true all the time! Putting some of the big words we take for granted into kid context might get us closer to operating in the same place.
by: Jamie Lee Curtis
Preschoolers yearn to please, and around here my husband and I often assume our child understands exactly what we mean. Boy, I assume my husband understands exactly what I mean and that's not true all the time! Putting some of the big words we take for granted into kid context might get us closer to operating in the same place.
Skippyjon Jones
Skippyjon Jones
by: Judy Schachner
Ay Carrumba! It's El Skipptio the great sword fighter! Do you like mice and beans? The day some friends and I sat around the dinner table tossing out Skippyjon Jones quotes instead of discussing wine vintages we knew we were squarely in the throes of parenthood.
This book is overflowing with imagination, wild characters, and song and dance. Beware, you too must be able to overflow with all of these things to appreciate Schachner's books. To read these books aloud you must be able to 1) sing 2) clap 3) pull off a gringo Spanish accent. If you can do these things I promise your child will be delighted. We have to limit the SJJ readings here, one book a night, no more, it's just too much!
by: Judy Schachner
This book is overflowing with imagination, wild characters, and song and dance. Beware, you too must be able to overflow with all of these things to appreciate Schachner's books. To read these books aloud you must be able to 1) sing 2) clap 3) pull off a gringo Spanish accent. If you can do these things I promise your child will be delighted. We have to limit the SJJ readings here, one book a night, no more, it's just too much!
A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee
A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee
by: Chris Van Dusen
Spring is in the air, and camping season is just around the corner. Let's go camping with Mr. Magee! Wait, maybe not. Mr. Magee and his little dog Dee get into all sorts of trouble on their camping trip, including a runaway camper and a near-sighted bear. The intrepid travelers survive the day with style, as they always do, and make it home safe and sound. Chris Van Dusen's Suess-ian rhymes and eye-candy illustrations delight again.
Recommended Ages: 4-8
by: Chris Van Dusen
Recommended Ages: 4-8
Even Monsters Need Haircuts
Even Monsters Need Haircuts
by: Matther McElligott
A young boy, whose father is a barber, ventures out once a month during the full moon to give haircuts to local monsters. Well of course, someone has to don't they?
The monsters, while identifiable, are carefully drawn and are not scary. The story is so matter of fact that it's taken in stride that it's normal business to have the Wolfman show up at the shop for a trim and Medusa to get her 'hair' set. This would have been a great Halloween book had I found it then, perhaps next year.
Recommended Age: 4-8
by: Matther McElligott
The monsters, while identifiable, are carefully drawn and are not scary. The story is so matter of fact that it's taken in stride that it's normal business to have the Wolfman show up at the shop for a trim and Medusa to get her 'hair' set. This would have been a great Halloween book had I found it then, perhaps next year.
Recommended Age: 4-8
How Rocket Learned to Read
How Rocket Learned to Read
by: Tad Hills
Rocket's a decent book, for a pretty narrow audience. If we'd come across this book a year ago we would have passed right over it. Rocket is a dog who meets a teacher bird. The bird teaches him about letters, spelling, and the basics of reading. Readers follow right along with Rocket, so young children spell right along with the dog. Since our preschooler is an emergent reader and we spend many, many hours of the day spelling out words right now, this book was a big hit. For more accomplished readers it could be a bit basic and for non-readers the storyline might not be as enticing. However, if the timing is right this book is perfect.
Recommended Age: Preschool - Grade 2
by: Tad Hills
Recommended Age: Preschool - Grade 2
Shark Vs. Train
Shark Vs. Train
by: Chris Barton
by: Chris Barton
OK, I'll be totally honest, this isn't my favorite favorite book to read. It's a bit competitive, but the silliness of it gets me in the end. This is a boy book. I mean, really, it's Shark Vs. Train! Two boys dig in their toy box and pull out a Train and a Shark. And they go at it. Sometimes the Shark has the upper hand, sometimes the Train. And then, like I said, it just gets silly.
Recommended Age: Preschool - Age 2
Hot Rod Hamster
by: Cynthia Lord
Recommended Age: Preschool - Grade 1
Children's Book Week
I had no idea there was such a thing as Children's Book Week until our library posted fliers, bookmarks, and various other paraphernalia all over the place starting about two weeks ago. Sure enough, this week is Children's Book Week!
The BEST part of CBW? Endless lists of great kid books to read! We've got a great back-log of picture books to delve into now, plus we've started reading some simple chapter books with a quick pace. After seeing the movie preview for "Mr. Popper's Penguin's" our son is ready to hear all about the mad adventures of those penguins. We'll see if we make it through the book before the movie gets here.
The BEST part of CBW? Endless lists of great kid books to read! We've got a great back-log of picture books to delve into now, plus we've started reading some simple chapter books with a quick pace. After seeing the movie preview for "Mr. Popper's Penguin's" our son is ready to hear all about the mad adventures of those penguins. We'll see if we make it through the book before the movie gets here.
The Gruffalo
The Gruffalo
by: Julia Donaldson
by: Julia Donaldson
The Gruffalo was a book that was prominently displayed in almost every bookshop in Australia when we lived there. It came in every imaginable configuration, including with stuffed Gruffalo and mouse toys. I read the book in the store several times and thought, 'Hey, this sounds a little scary...perhaps later?' Several friends recommended it, but still I waffled, thinking my poor, sweet, delicate boy might be frightened.
Hah! I'll eat my words right now. We arrived back in the US, flashed our newly minted library cards, and took "The Gruffalo" home with us. After three renewals, nine weeks checked our, "The Gruffalo" was a fast favorite of my son and he was loathe to return it. In fact, Gruffalo Crumble and Scrambled Snake are regular items on our menu around here (think mac and cheese and scrambled eggs). The story of the clever and fearless mouse isn't nearly as scary as I made it out to be and like all good children's books the repetitive nature of the prose is appealing to kids who like to anticipate.
Recommended Age (Publishers Weekly): 4-8
The Seals on the Bus
The Seals on the Bus
by: Lenny Hort
When you're ready for a new spin on the classic song, "The Seals on the Bus" is for you. This clever adaptation of the song has a whole menagerie riding the bus by the end of the book, with each animal making all kinds of noise as it boards the bus. This is a great read for very young kids just learning animals and their sounds and will entertain older readers who will understand the play on the original song.
Recommended Age (School Library Journal): Preschool-Grade 2
by: Lenny Hort
Recommended Age (School Library Journal): Preschool-Grade 2
If I Built a Car
If I Built a Car
by: Chris Van Dusen
OK, hold onto your seat. This is big news. I am not a Dr. Seuss fan. I know, I know, he did amazing things for children's literature, but I get creeped out by his illustrations and annoyed by rhymes completed with made up words. I read Dr. Seuss and share with my son, but it's pretty low on my list of favorite night time reads.
Enter Chris Van Dusen. My modern day, non creepy Dr. Seuss. "If I Built a Car" was our first introduction to Van Dusen's work and I was hooked. The rhyming couplets will remind you of Seuss' pace and rhythm but the illustrations are like eye candy. This book has particular appeal for me since I, too, continue to dream of building my own car...just ask the GMC dealer who had to make all the tweaks on our most recent car :)
Kids will enjoy the fantastical out of this world items that our protagonist, Jack, imagines for his car. They'll also enjoy filling in the blanks as you read along as the coupled rhymes are easy to guess.
Recommended age (School Library Journal): Preschool - 2nd Grade
by: Chris Van Dusen
Enter Chris Van Dusen. My modern day, non creepy Dr. Seuss. "If I Built a Car" was our first introduction to Van Dusen's work and I was hooked. The rhyming couplets will remind you of Seuss' pace and rhythm but the illustrations are like eye candy. This book has particular appeal for me since I, too, continue to dream of building my own car...just ask the GMC dealer who had to make all the tweaks on our most recent car :)
Kids will enjoy the fantastical out of this world items that our protagonist, Jack, imagines for his car. They'll also enjoy filling in the blanks as you read along as the coupled rhymes are easy to guess.
Recommended age (School Library Journal): Preschool - 2nd Grade
Hello Baby
Hello Baby
by: Mem Fox
Illustrated by: Steven Jenkins
I'm not sure I've read a Mem Fox book I didn't like. I'm not always a fan of the illustrator she and her editor choose, almost every book has a different one, but "Hello Baby" was a winner. Steven Jenkins illustrations are actually made with paper, and then printed onto the page, so each has a dimension that's different than say ink or other traditional medium an illustrator would use. It's tactile without being a "touch" book. Even though the recommended reading age is 4-8 babies and toddlers will love this book.
by: Mem Fox
Illustrated by: Steven Jenkins
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| www.memfox.com/hello-baby.html |
I'm not sure I've read a Mem Fox book I didn't like. I'm not always a fan of the illustrator she and her editor choose, almost every book has a different one, but "Hello Baby" was a winner. Steven Jenkins illustrations are actually made with paper, and then printed onto the page, so each has a dimension that's different than say ink or other traditional medium an illustrator would use. It's tactile without being a "touch" book. Even though the recommended reading age is 4-8 babies and toddlers will love this book.
Cowboy Small
Cowboy Small
by: Lois Lenski
I stumbled upon Lois Lenski when I was researching neighborhood schools. One of our elementary schools is called Lenski and I soon discovered it's namesake was a famous author. Of course I then had to find some books by her and quickly fell in love.
Cowboy Small is one of many characters Mr. Small takes on in Lenski's series which includes a fire fighter, police man and pilot. Cowboy Small and his horse Cactus ride the range, eat from the chuck wagon, and sleep under the stars. This book taught my son and I all about the gear that a cowboy and his horse need, with terms as specific as girth and spurs. Look for the labeled drawings of Cactus and Cowboy Small in the flyleaf, these turned out to be a favorite for us.
Large print, rhyme, and rhythm make this a good early reader book.
The only downside to Cowboy Small, my three year old now thinks he's Cactus.
Recommended Age: 3-8
by: Lois Lenski
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| image-www.amazon.com |
Cowboy Small is one of many characters Mr. Small takes on in Lenski's series which includes a fire fighter, police man and pilot. Cowboy Small and his horse Cactus ride the range, eat from the chuck wagon, and sleep under the stars. This book taught my son and I all about the gear that a cowboy and his horse need, with terms as specific as girth and spurs. Look for the labeled drawings of Cactus and Cowboy Small in the flyleaf, these turned out to be a favorite for us.
Large print, rhyme, and rhythm make this a good early reader book.
The only downside to Cowboy Small, my three year old now thinks he's Cactus.
Recommended Age: 3-8
Two Little Trains
Two Little Trains
by: Margaret Wise Brown
image-Harper Collins
When you need a break from Thomas and the Island of Sodor, "Two Little Trains" will satisfy your train hungry child and you'll get to enjoy the beatiful illustrations from Two-time Caldecott Medalists Leo and Diane Dillon. The author, Margaret Wise Brown, is much better known for her book, "Goodnight Moon", which has never been as popular at our house as this one.
What little boy, and a number of little girls for that matter, doesn't love a good train book? Two trains, a shiny new steam liner and an old, toy train, both head west through the night. They puff and chug and encounter all kinds of adversity and finally make it to the West.
The parallel journeys are cleverly illustrated and repetitive phrasing is appealing to the younger set without being annoying for the adult reader. Each time we read this book it spurs some discussion, be it about rain, tunnels, cacti, or the "Black man singing in the West."
(One note, there is a reference to "a black man singing in the West." This brought up some good discussion at our house about the different colors that people can be, but reading some reviews on www.amazon.com it turned some people off.)
Recommended age: 3-6
On the Moon
On the Moon
by: Anna Millbourne
With cartoony illustrations mixed with actual photos of the moon surface it uses simple languge to describe the first moon landing and our realtionship to the moon. There isn't anything too deep or serious, but the very basic facts are there and they are that, facts. A nice introduction to the beginnings of science. It's part of a whole series of fact/science books and we have enjoyed all of the ones we've read.
by: Anna Millbourne
Image-amazon.com
Do you think you'll go to the moon? This question at the end of "On the Moon" is always answered with a resounding "YES!" at our house. This delightful, age appropriate, fact filled book is just the right speed for preschoolers.
With cartoony illustrations mixed with actual photos of the moon surface it uses simple languge to describe the first moon landing and our realtionship to the moon. There isn't anything too deep or serious, but the very basic facts are there and they are that, facts. A nice introduction to the beginnings of science. It's part of a whole series of fact/science books and we have enjoyed all of the ones we've read.
Recommended Age: 4-8
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
The Three Billy Goats Gruff
by: Paul Galdone
image - amazon.com
Trip, Trap, Trip, look out for the Billy Goats! There aren't any literary surprises in this classic tale but the illustrations are great fun. The rainbow haired, blue nosed troll with amazing toe nails is a favorite at our house along with the goat licking his chops in anticipation of the green, green grass on the other side of the bridge. Paul Galdone has illustrated numerous classic tales, but this one is by far our favorite.
Recommended age - Preschool-Grade 2
The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out (Big Time)
The Eensy Weensy Spider Freaks Out (Big Time)
by: Troy Cummings
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| image-barnesandnoble.com |
The Eensy spider gets frustrated by the water knocking her out of the spout and gives up climbing. Her perky pal, Polly the ladybug, convinces her that perhaps she should try again. Eensy's not so sure, and won't climb spouts, but agrees to give something smaller a try. This clever twist on a classic rhyme is all about reaching to new heights and the power of good friends.
Publishers Weekly recommends ages 3-5
Once Upon a Time
Once upon a time there was a Mom who liked to read to her little boy. The little boy had a Dad who liked to read to him, too. In fact, everyone in his family liked to read!
They read, and read, and read, and some of the books were good and some were not so good, and the boy wanted to share the good books with all the kids he knew so everyone had good books to read. He shared all kinds of books, new ones, classic ones, in-between ones, picture ones, wordy ones, and even a few non-fiction ones.
Sometimes he read in the morning, sometimes he read in the afternoon, but he and his family always, always, always read at nighttime, right before bed. So now we begin, with our favorite Nightly Reads.
They read, and read, and read, and some of the books were good and some were not so good, and the boy wanted to share the good books with all the kids he knew so everyone had good books to read. He shared all kinds of books, new ones, classic ones, in-between ones, picture ones, wordy ones, and even a few non-fiction ones.
Sometimes he read in the morning, sometimes he read in the afternoon, but he and his family always, always, always read at nighttime, right before bed. So now we begin, with our favorite Nightly Reads.
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