We did a bit of an experiment today with a VERY LONG but excellent book about how robins grow and develop, so we used that book as our first TWO book sessions, with a song at a good stopping place, and then read one final short book at the end. It worked ok, the kids are a bit young for this, and we had some talkers, but such is life.
Robins! How They Grow Up
Eileen Christelow
ISBN: 9780544442894
Really Really Really Really long and wordy. There was a lot of paraphrasing and eliding. However, there are ALSO two sections where an egg is stolen and eaten by a squirrel, and a fledgling is stooped on and carried off by a hawk, and I did NOT skip those sections. They were written matter-of-factly, and so I just carried on. I think one mommy was a bit scandalized, but kids don't care and they just want to know how things work. Very informational, good illustrations, SOOOOO wordy.
I'm a Duck
Eve Bunting
Will Hillenbrand
ISBN: 9780763680329
Really cute rhyming couplets show off this water-phobic duck, and how he used his friends and his smarts to develop skills and confidence to eventually go swimming with his family. Cute, sweet, and OH SO SHORT.
Showing posts with label Will Hillenbrand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Will Hillenbrand. Show all posts
Thursday, April 4, 2019
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Tuesday Storytime: Valentine's Animals
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Our trainee has moved on to different roles in a different location, so I'm back to the primary storytime presenter for now, with the hope of sharing the load evenly with our eventual new person.
For now tho, I had a lovely first day back in the groove with sweet valentine's day books and an actual craft for once (creating valentine's day cards for in-patient children at a nearby hospital).
Thank You Bear
Greg Foley
ISBN: 9780670061655
Bear finds a present for Mouse, but a slew of "friends" aren't very nice about the present. Is it good enough?
I love this because it's very clear and obvious that the friends aren't being friendly, and what impact that has on the poor Bear. In the end, Mouse is delighted with the gift, and the nay-saying others are forgotten or disregarded, as they should be.
Like Likes Like
Chris Raschka
ISBN: 0789481898
Poor cat is alone and lonely in a world of couples and groups. Then he finds a "like" animal to like.
This cat seriously has the saddest facial expressions I've ever seen in my whole life. He's SOOOO SAD! He wanders around lonely, sleeps lonely, and his world, even in a bed of roses, is sad and lonely. Then he finds another like him, and everything springs into happiness. Is it trite and cliche and simplistic and perhaps a bit too cloying at times? Yep. But is all of that par for the course around valentine's day? Absolutely. This one is sweet and happy-hearted, and I love it.
Bear in Love
Daniel Pinkwater, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
ISBN: 9780763645694
I have gushed about this one before in person, but I don't think it's been listed here yet.
Bear finds a series of gifts (mostly edible) left outside his cave, and begins to reciprocate for his mysterious admirer friend. Eventually after a long process of exchanging gifts, the two meet and a sweet love story blooms. There is even a bit of subversive subtext as the bear's admirer is a bunny, and we never see any sign of gender. It's cute, but be aware that the bear "sings songs" nearly on every spread, which for me are sing-song little cutesy things, but might give some storytellers or readers hives, or make them nervous.
For now tho, I had a lovely first day back in the groove with sweet valentine's day books and an actual craft for once (creating valentine's day cards for in-patient children at a nearby hospital).
Thank You Bear
Greg Foley
ISBN: 9780670061655
Bear finds a present for Mouse, but a slew of "friends" aren't very nice about the present. Is it good enough?
I love this because it's very clear and obvious that the friends aren't being friendly, and what impact that has on the poor Bear. In the end, Mouse is delighted with the gift, and the nay-saying others are forgotten or disregarded, as they should be.
Like Likes Like
Chris Raschka
ISBN: 0789481898
Poor cat is alone and lonely in a world of couples and groups. Then he finds a "like" animal to like.
This cat seriously has the saddest facial expressions I've ever seen in my whole life. He's SOOOO SAD! He wanders around lonely, sleeps lonely, and his world, even in a bed of roses, is sad and lonely. Then he finds another like him, and everything springs into happiness. Is it trite and cliche and simplistic and perhaps a bit too cloying at times? Yep. But is all of that par for the course around valentine's day? Absolutely. This one is sweet and happy-hearted, and I love it.
Bear in Love
Daniel Pinkwater, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
ISBN: 9780763645694
I have gushed about this one before in person, but I don't think it's been listed here yet.
Bear finds a series of gifts (mostly edible) left outside his cave, and begins to reciprocate for his mysterious admirer friend. Eventually after a long process of exchanging gifts, the two meet and a sweet love story blooms. There is even a bit of subversive subtext as the bear's admirer is a bunny, and we never see any sign of gender. It's cute, but be aware that the bear "sings songs" nearly on every spread, which for me are sing-song little cutesy things, but might give some storytellers or readers hives, or make them nervous.
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Tuesday Storytime: Valentines Day
I think this was my favorite trio of Valentine's Day books yet. Very happy with how they flowed together, and two of the three got checked out afterwards by attendees - that ALWAYS makes me feel warm and happy inside.
A Short History of Valentine's Day
Sally Lee (consulting editor: Gail Saunders-Smith, PhD)
ISBN: 9781491460986
Excellent nonfiction resource for the very youngest. Part of a series (Thanksgiving reviewed here, and Christmas reviewed here.)
Nicely presented, with a focus on the history rather than the religious background. Explains who Valentine (probably) was, the origin of thinking of Valentine's Day for romantic love (birds pairing off in the early spring), the dates when cards, then flowers, then candy were given, and when commercial cards became popular. Exceedingly short, direct, and factual.
The Best Thing About Valentines
Eleanor Hudson, illustrated by Mary C. Melcher
ISBN: 0439521092
Gentle pastel-colored animal children celebrate creating, sending, and receiving valentines in rhyme.
This is exceedingly similar to The Day it Rained Hearts, but this one is both more straightforward and a little bit more cutesy with short (occasionally awkwardly paced) rhyming couplets. Our furry childish friends are busy creating, sending, and getting valentines in school, and the story goes into decent detail for the length, both in illustrations and in wording.
Bear in Love
Daniel Pinkwater, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
ISBN: 9780763645694
The MOST adorable book. Bear gets a series of anonymous gifts, and leaves presents in return.
Hillenbrand has a special gift of making the most adorable illustrations. In this story, a bear and bunny share a cautious and largely anonymous courtship of gift-giving, but we focus mostly on the bear and his feelings about being given presents and of having an admirer. It's sweet and innocent and full of the delicious anticipatory and excited happiness that comes from feeling loved.
A Short History of Valentine's Day
Sally Lee (consulting editor: Gail Saunders-Smith, PhD)
ISBN: 9781491460986
Excellent nonfiction resource for the very youngest. Part of a series (Thanksgiving reviewed here, and Christmas reviewed here.)
Nicely presented, with a focus on the history rather than the religious background. Explains who Valentine (probably) was, the origin of thinking of Valentine's Day for romantic love (birds pairing off in the early spring), the dates when cards, then flowers, then candy were given, and when commercial cards became popular. Exceedingly short, direct, and factual.
The Best Thing About Valentines
Eleanor Hudson, illustrated by Mary C. Melcher
ISBN: 0439521092
Gentle pastel-colored animal children celebrate creating, sending, and receiving valentines in rhyme.
This is exceedingly similar to The Day it Rained Hearts, but this one is both more straightforward and a little bit more cutesy with short (occasionally awkwardly paced) rhyming couplets. Our furry childish friends are busy creating, sending, and getting valentines in school, and the story goes into decent detail for the length, both in illustrations and in wording.
Bear in Love
Daniel Pinkwater, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
ISBN: 9780763645694
The MOST adorable book. Bear gets a series of anonymous gifts, and leaves presents in return.
Hillenbrand has a special gift of making the most adorable illustrations. In this story, a bear and bunny share a cautious and largely anonymous courtship of gift-giving, but we focus mostly on the bear and his feelings about being given presents and of having an admirer. It's sweet and innocent and full of the delicious anticipatory and excited happiness that comes from feeling loved.
Thursday, February 26, 2015
New Arrivals: Wordless Picture Book: Snowman's Story
This one is a real sweetheart, very retro.
Snowman's Story
Will Hillenbrand
ISBN: 9781477847879
Soft-edged pastels? watercolor pencils? lead us through a wordless tale of theft, ingenuity, and forgiveness.
This is a very sweet book to look through, and I wish I had the talent to use wordless books for storytimes.
Forest animals have gathered all the necessary ingredients for their magic, and they've made a Snowman to read them a story this wintry evening. After everyone's asleep, rabbit has a sneaky idea - and off he runs with the book! Snowman and furry friends in hot pursuit, they solve a series of "going on a bear hunt" level obstacles, and chase down rabbit at home, where the book is being enjoyed by a slew of rabbitlings. Awww. The book is returned, forgiveness granted, and a new set of animals (including the rabbit family this time) snuggles around Snowman for another story.
Snowman's Story
Will Hillenbrand
ISBN: 9781477847879
Soft-edged pastels? watercolor pencils? lead us through a wordless tale of theft, ingenuity, and forgiveness.
This is a very sweet book to look through, and I wish I had the talent to use wordless books for storytimes.
Forest animals have gathered all the necessary ingredients for their magic, and they've made a Snowman to read them a story this wintry evening. After everyone's asleep, rabbit has a sneaky idea - and off he runs with the book! Snowman and furry friends in hot pursuit, they solve a series of "going on a bear hunt" level obstacles, and chase down rabbit at home, where the book is being enjoyed by a slew of rabbitlings. Awww. The book is returned, forgiveness granted, and a new set of animals (including the rabbit family this time) snuggles around Snowman for another story.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Tuesday Storytime: We're Beary Beary Sick.
I've had my annual sinus infection for the last two weeks, and I was actually going for a general "sniffles" theme. I was amazed that there are three good story-time appropriate books featuring sick bears. I suppose I shouldn't have been, and I couldn't resist the wordplay.
Sneeze, Big Bear, Sneeze!
Maureen Wright, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
ISBN: 9780761459590
Bear is wandering the fall woods, and the personified Wind is messing with his mind by blowing things away every time he sneezes. Poor bear insists that it's his sneezes, and tries to fix the damage (tacking leaves back on trees with hammer and nails, stacking fallen apples on branches) while the Wind grows more and more upset with him, finally chasing him back to his cozy den.
Bear Feels Sick
Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman
ISBN: 9780689859854
I love all of these books, Chapman's illustrations and Wilson's rhymes just fit so perfectly together into a happy warm fuzzy place where nothing bad ever happens. In this one, Bear is, obviously, sick, and his friends pull together to help him feel better. In the end, Bear is better, but the friends have all caught the bug, and now need care themselves.
The Sniffles for Bear
Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton
ISBN: 9780763647568
Poor bear here looks almost rat-like at times, with his dolorous red schnozz and his weakly curled hands as fate and illness are bemoaned and overacted. I'm just tickled by the pictures. This Bear is DRAMATICALLY SICK. Perhaps DYING. Unfortunately, mouse is not suitably impressed by this terrible news, and insists on mundane comforting advice and companionship. What's a drama-bear to do? Perhaps DIE... or maybe just a nap. The ending here, like Bear Feels Sick, makes a point that the caretakers usually end up sick themselves, just when the sick-ee is feeling better.
Sneeze, Big Bear, Sneeze!
Maureen Wright, illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
ISBN: 9780761459590
Bear is wandering the fall woods, and the personified Wind is messing with his mind by blowing things away every time he sneezes. Poor bear insists that it's his sneezes, and tries to fix the damage (tacking leaves back on trees with hammer and nails, stacking fallen apples on branches) while the Wind grows more and more upset with him, finally chasing him back to his cozy den.
Bear Feels Sick
Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman
ISBN: 9780689859854
I love all of these books, Chapman's illustrations and Wilson's rhymes just fit so perfectly together into a happy warm fuzzy place where nothing bad ever happens. In this one, Bear is, obviously, sick, and his friends pull together to help him feel better. In the end, Bear is better, but the friends have all caught the bug, and now need care themselves.
The Sniffles for Bear
Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton
ISBN: 9780763647568
Poor bear here looks almost rat-like at times, with his dolorous red schnozz and his weakly curled hands as fate and illness are bemoaned and overacted. I'm just tickled by the pictures. This Bear is DRAMATICALLY SICK. Perhaps DYING. Unfortunately, mouse is not suitably impressed by this terrible news, and insists on mundane comforting advice and companionship. What's a drama-bear to do? Perhaps DIE... or maybe just a nap. The ending here, like Bear Feels Sick, makes a point that the caretakers usually end up sick themselves, just when the sick-ee is feeling better.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)