New babies can be a fraught experience, and we've got several storytimers who are going through that process right now, so a small break from Halloween gives us some cute takes on new siblinghood.
The Baby Tree
Sophie Blackall
A cute compilation of all the different prominent American cultural myths about "where babies come from" from storks to cabbage patches to hospitals (vaguely) to the baby tree of the title and cover. At the end, the confusion is cleared up by a medically accurate but child-appropriate explanation of how the baby is made from a seed and an egg, and grows inside the mom until it's old enough to be born. Cute AND useful!
Baby Can
Eve Bunting, Maxie Chambers
Sibling rivalry starts early, and here we have an older sibling who is just a mite jealous of all the attention baby is getting for accomplishments that he can do just fine, but doesn't seem to get noticed or praised for! An attentive and complimentary (and distracting) family good-naturedly accomodate his need for attention in a positive and child-centered way, and by the end, the baby and brother are celebrating their successes together.
Bobo and the New Baby
Rebecca Minhsuan Huang
Bobo is an adorable dachshund, and he lives very happily with the Lees, until they bring home a baby. Suddenly everything Bobo wants must take second place to the baby - all the time! Despite that, Bobo is determined to be helpful and tries to kill a bee in the house, and initially gets yelled at, but when the Lees realize Bobo was trying to protect the baby, they formally introduce the two, and Bobo once more feels like an integral part of the family. (Hardcore echoes of Lady and the Tramp here, but that's probably because it's in the news with the new movie right now.)
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Tuesday Storytime: More Creepy Fun
These were picked out by my coworker for a morning of spooky sillyness.
Click, Clack, Boo!
Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin
The book sticks to the classic format, but here we're substituting creepy and silly halloween sounds into the mix. Funny and light.
Me and My Dragon: Scared of Halloween
David Biedrzycki
The irrepressible boy and his bright red pet dragon (who may or may not be imaginary) navigate the sometimes scary rituals and proceedings of a traditional American-style Halloween, and discover the fun behind the scary costumes and dark nights out.
Little Blue Truck's Halloween
Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry
A cute "lift-the-flap" book features Little Blue Truck and friends as they head into a cozy Halloween night. Very good for kids hesitant about the whole deal, or parents trying to navigate the line between religion and culture.
Click, Clack, Boo!
Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin
The book sticks to the classic format, but here we're substituting creepy and silly halloween sounds into the mix. Funny and light.
Me and My Dragon: Scared of Halloween
David Biedrzycki
The irrepressible boy and his bright red pet dragon (who may or may not be imaginary) navigate the sometimes scary rituals and proceedings of a traditional American-style Halloween, and discover the fun behind the scary costumes and dark nights out.
Little Blue Truck's Halloween
Alice Schertle, illustrated by Jill McElmurry
A cute "lift-the-flap" book features Little Blue Truck and friends as they head into a cozy Halloween night. Very good for kids hesitant about the whole deal, or parents trying to navigate the line between religion and culture.
Tuesday Storytime: Pumpkin Time
It's October and that means Halloween! Getting into the spirit early with a trio of pumpkin-related stories.
Ten Orange Pumpkins
Stephen Savage
A fun, slightly spooky, counting book - watch out for the enormous spider towards the end!
Pumpkin Cat
Anne Mortimer
Cat and Mouse prepare all spring and summer for a pumpkin, and when it's finally grown in the fall, Mouse has a final surprise for Cat.
Boo! Haiku
Deanna Caswell, illustrated by Bob Shea
This "guess who" format is fun with the haiku rhythms, and the guesses aren't too hard, as long as the adults are willing to offer additional clues - even then "skeleton" was a bit over their heads. Overall tho, very satisfactory as a creepy fun call and response book.
Ten Orange Pumpkins
Stephen Savage
A fun, slightly spooky, counting book - watch out for the enormous spider towards the end!
Pumpkin Cat
Anne Mortimer
Cat and Mouse prepare all spring and summer for a pumpkin, and when it's finally grown in the fall, Mouse has a final surprise for Cat.
Boo! Haiku
Deanna Caswell, illustrated by Bob Shea
This "guess who" format is fun with the haiku rhythms, and the guesses aren't too hard, as long as the adults are willing to offer additional clues - even then "skeleton" was a bit over their heads. Overall tho, very satisfactory as a creepy fun call and response book.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Tuesday Storytime: Family is Cozy
These three books highlight the kindness of families and friends and the feelings of belonging and comfort you can find with others.
Bunny in the Middle
Anika A. Denise, illustrated by Christopher Denise
This is a sweet story about the unique trials of the middle child, presented in a relentlessly chipper tone as opportunities to be BOTH the younger (being cared for and helped) AND the older (being the helper or the teacher) child in a family or group.
Rabbit Listened
Cory Doerrfeld
Such a sweet perfect book. When a terrible accident befalls their block city, other stuffed animals and friends stop by to commiserate, sympathize, or offer advice. But the rabbit is the only one who gets it right, and just sits and listens as the child pours out their sadness. At the end, all the commiseration and sympathy and advice are helpful also - just that there needed to be that time of acknowledgement and space to feel the feelings first. Very psychologically accurate and sweetly presented.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Jamie A. Swenson, illustrated by David Walker
On a dark and thundery night, all of the stuffed animals and pets jump one by one in this "10-in-the-bed" variant until the blankets are stuffed to the edges and the bed finally gives out. A few abandon ship, and the rest snuggle down in the now somewhat crooked bed, finally able to sleep for the night.
Bunny in the Middle
Anika A. Denise, illustrated by Christopher Denise
This is a sweet story about the unique trials of the middle child, presented in a relentlessly chipper tone as opportunities to be BOTH the younger (being cared for and helped) AND the older (being the helper or the teacher) child in a family or group.
Rabbit Listened
Cory Doerrfeld
Such a sweet perfect book. When a terrible accident befalls their block city, other stuffed animals and friends stop by to commiserate, sympathize, or offer advice. But the rabbit is the only one who gets it right, and just sits and listens as the child pours out their sadness. At the end, all the commiseration and sympathy and advice are helpful also - just that there needed to be that time of acknowledgement and space to feel the feelings first. Very psychologically accurate and sweetly presented.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Jamie A. Swenson, illustrated by David Walker
On a dark and thundery night, all of the stuffed animals and pets jump one by one in this "10-in-the-bed" variant until the blankets are stuffed to the edges and the bed finally gives out. A few abandon ship, and the rest snuggle down in the now somewhat crooked bed, finally able to sleep for the night.
Monday, October 21, 2019
Tuesday Storytime: Elephants on Parade
There are so many good picture books featuring elephants. It's really just astounding. Here are three of my perennial favorites:
Elmer
David McKee
Elmer is a patchwork-colored elephant - the only one in his herd. He always feels just a little bit out of place, so he plays the prankster and joker and always cracks the other elephants up, but when he thinks that they ONLY like him for his jokes, he sets off to try to become normal elephant color to fit in better. When he realizes that he's liked for himself, and that his patchworks mean that he is individual in a way the other elephant's can't be, he becomes a bit more accepting of his differences.
Tweak Tweak
Eve Bunting, illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier
A cute "growing up" story by Eve Bunting gets even more adorable with soft-edged and fluffy illustrations by Ruzzier. A mama elephant takes her baby out on a walk and they talk about what they see, and what's possible for baby elephants to do, or not to do as the case may be. Very cute, and a fun way to introduce the idea that not everything is right for everybody, and that families and people may be different and have different abilities.
Small Elephant's Bathtime
Tatyana Feeney
Sweet short story about Small Elephant, who really doesn't like bathtime, but when DAD starts having all the fun in the bath, now we can't have that, can we? It's a cute twist on the "wait til your FATHER comes home" trope (which is hopefully becoming more of a thing of the past) and an adorable family with good problem-solving skills.
Elmer
David McKee
Elmer is a patchwork-colored elephant - the only one in his herd. He always feels just a little bit out of place, so he plays the prankster and joker and always cracks the other elephants up, but when he thinks that they ONLY like him for his jokes, he sets off to try to become normal elephant color to fit in better. When he realizes that he's liked for himself, and that his patchworks mean that he is individual in a way the other elephant's can't be, he becomes a bit more accepting of his differences.
Tweak Tweak
Eve Bunting, illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier
A cute "growing up" story by Eve Bunting gets even more adorable with soft-edged and fluffy illustrations by Ruzzier. A mama elephant takes her baby out on a walk and they talk about what they see, and what's possible for baby elephants to do, or not to do as the case may be. Very cute, and a fun way to introduce the idea that not everything is right for everybody, and that families and people may be different and have different abilities.
Small Elephant's Bathtime
Tatyana Feeney
Sweet short story about Small Elephant, who really doesn't like bathtime, but when DAD starts having all the fun in the bath, now we can't have that, can we? It's a cute twist on the "wait til your FATHER comes home" trope (which is hopefully becoming more of a thing of the past) and an adorable family with good problem-solving skills.
Monday, September 30, 2019
Tuesday Storytime: Fun Clothes
It's getting to be VERY SLIGHTLY cooler weather, which means a lot of outfit changes and fraught clothing decisions to be made, so a storytime about all sorts of clothing conundrums is a fun take on the topic.
Ella Sarah Gets Dressed
Margaret Chodos-Irvine
Ella Sarah wants to wear a VERY SPECIFIC set of clothing, that, to be completely honest, is just totally over the top. Her family takes it in turn to suggest alternatives, but Ella Sarah remains insistent on her chosen outfit, which ends up working perfectly for her afternoon plans.
A Hat for Minerva Louise
Janet Morgan Stoeke
This series of books almost makes me like chickens. This time around, Minerva Louise is enjoying the winter weather, but it IS a little cold out. A hat would make it much more bearable to go exploring outside, but she keeps having troubles finding one that works out. Kids love identifying the various items, and parents enjoy that their kids can yell out stuff about the book without having to "shush" them.
Have You Seen My New Blue Socks?
Eve Bunting, Sergio Ruzzier
A cute little green duck(ling?) is wandering around pathetically looking for his new blue socks in this nearly-offensively rhyming story that thankfully is over before the rhyme scheme drives anyone utterly mad. There's a quite obvious twist ending, and other than the rhyming, it's sweet and cute and a familiar scenario to anyone with a toddler (or frankly anyone with too much on their mind or a forgetful nature).
Ella Sarah Gets Dressed
Margaret Chodos-Irvine
Ella Sarah wants to wear a VERY SPECIFIC set of clothing, that, to be completely honest, is just totally over the top. Her family takes it in turn to suggest alternatives, but Ella Sarah remains insistent on her chosen outfit, which ends up working perfectly for her afternoon plans.
A Hat for Minerva Louise
Janet Morgan Stoeke
This series of books almost makes me like chickens. This time around, Minerva Louise is enjoying the winter weather, but it IS a little cold out. A hat would make it much more bearable to go exploring outside, but she keeps having troubles finding one that works out. Kids love identifying the various items, and parents enjoy that their kids can yell out stuff about the book without having to "shush" them.
Have You Seen My New Blue Socks?
Eve Bunting, Sergio Ruzzier
A cute little green duck(ling?) is wandering around pathetically looking for his new blue socks in this nearly-offensively rhyming story that thankfully is over before the rhyme scheme drives anyone utterly mad. There's a quite obvious twist ending, and other than the rhyming, it's sweet and cute and a familiar scenario to anyone with a toddler (or frankly anyone with too much on their mind or a forgetful nature).
Friday, September 27, 2019
Tuesday Storytime: Scaly Shenanigans
A fun trio of books featuring alligators, dragons, and dinosaurs, selected by my coworker.
Gator Dad
Brian Lies
Celebrates an anthropomorphic gator dad and his kids having a delightful summery "do nothing" sort of day, where somehow an awful lot of things get done, and memories get made. Really suprisingly sweet and innocent and wholesome-hearted.
Me and My Dragon
David Biedrzycki
A boy and his dragon go to the beach, where lots of things get all messed up, and of course it is always the dragon's fault. The shame-faced dragon reforms when things go a little bit too far, and peace is restored... or is it?
If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur
Linda Bailey, illustrated by Colin Jack
This is a very helpful how-to book on what you can do to keep your particular type of dragon happy and employed, or at least occupied, in a manner that suits both the dragon and you. There are dragons that like to blow leaves around, and ones who love to vaccuum, and ones who will scare away the neighborhood bullies, or conveniently eat your homework for you! Cute and tongue firmly in cheek.
Gator Dad
Brian Lies
Celebrates an anthropomorphic gator dad and his kids having a delightful summery "do nothing" sort of day, where somehow an awful lot of things get done, and memories get made. Really suprisingly sweet and innocent and wholesome-hearted.
Me and My Dragon
David Biedrzycki
A boy and his dragon go to the beach, where lots of things get all messed up, and of course it is always the dragon's fault. The shame-faced dragon reforms when things go a little bit too far, and peace is restored... or is it?
If You Happen to Have a Dinosaur
Linda Bailey, illustrated by Colin Jack
This is a very helpful how-to book on what you can do to keep your particular type of dragon happy and employed, or at least occupied, in a manner that suits both the dragon and you. There are dragons that like to blow leaves around, and ones who love to vaccuum, and ones who will scare away the neighborhood bullies, or conveniently eat your homework for you! Cute and tongue firmly in cheek.
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