Tuesday Storytime: Summer Reading Program: Heroes!

We're in June, and the Summer Reading Program has started (even if the programs for older kids don't start until after school lets out on the 16th).  I'm starting the local Heroes themes early for my Storytime kids, because if I'm going to be doing Storytime anyway, I might as well have it be themed for the summer.  :)

Without further ado, Heroes!

Superworm
Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
ISBN: 9780545591768
Silly rhymes and sillier illustrations, with a Wizard Lizard and a community of creeping creatures.

Superworm helps out his friends in lots of ways - he's long and stretchy and imaginative.  Sadly, his do-gooding draws the attention of the grasping Wizard Lizard and his hench-crow, who put him to hard labor digging "treasures" from the dirt.  Sadly, no treasures are forthcoming, so Superworm is set to become crowfood, unless his friends can rally and rescue him.  I love that despite the title, most of Superworm's saves are of the mundane and silly variety, while the un-super friends are the ones to make the wild plan and defeat the big bad.  This one is on the list for the big kids later in the summer as well.


Chickens to the Rescue
John Himmelman
ISBN: 9780805079517
SC Picture Book Award for 2008-2009 school year.  Saturday-morning-newspaper comic style.

LOVE this book and the rescue chickens.  It's so deadpan and perfect, and the illustrations are just wild.  It's like the less talkative version of The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate The Wash in that really all I have to do is show the page and everyone gets what's going on instantly.  Lots of laughs from kids and adults.  On my permanent favorites list, and it's fun to have the chickens recognized as heroes.


Fireman Small
Wong Herbert Yee
ISBN: 0395689872
Colorblocks and smudged edges work with repetitive rhymes to keep the mood light and smooth.

I've used this book for lots of themes, usually firemen or other "community hero" ideas.  It's really sweet, it's an excellent book for the end of storytime, and it's a very sweet and low-key introduction to the concept of firefighters and what they do, and how a kind community treats them.