Some cute, sweet, and slightly off-kilter stories about animal friendships.
Emma Kate
Patricia Polacco
ISBN: 0399244522
The narrator does everything with Emma Kate, and the illustrations cover everything; a rambunctious girl with a bright red dress and pigtails, and a pretty nearly life-size elephant go around doing all sorts of mundane things - going to school, riding bikes, playing sports, even spending time in the hospital for their tonsils to be taken out. At the end, savvy readers (and lookers) won't be TOO surprised when they realize why only one of the characters is in color.
Gaston
Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Christian Robinson
ISBN: 9781442451025
Mrs Poodle is very proud of her four kids: Fi-Fi, Foo-Foo, Ohh-La-La, and Gaston, even though Gaston doesn't quite fit the mold. All of them are sweet kids and Gaston especially tries hard and has a sweet attitude. When Mrs Poodle meets Mrs Bulldog at the park with HER four kids, Rocky, Ricky, Bruno, and Antoinette, things become much clearer, but also complicated. The solution is a bit pat (especially for anyone who has dealt with foster or adoption issues) but the sentiment is sound, and everything comes together (literally) in the end.
Elmore
Holly Hobbie
ISBN: 9781524718633
I've been holding on to this book for nearly a year, trying to figure out what angle I wanted to take with the themes in it, and I finally decided just to keep it simple and go with friendship, but there's a lot to unpack in this simple, sweet book about a lonely porcupine who just wants to have some friends, but his needles and spines seem to make things impossible. A kindly uncle and a new perspective (and very open and friendly neighbors) help to smooth things over, and at the end, Elmore has developed his own very particular method of starting friendships.
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Tuesday Storytime: Zoo Animals
Last week's storytime books were selected by my coworker, and they're a riot of wild animal fun.
1 Zany Zoo
Lori Degman, illustrated by Colin Jack
ISBN: 9781416989905
As one kid slips from the school field trip line into a secret gate into the zoo, he's witness to some wild and wacky shenanigans that his schoolmates will NEVER believe. A counting book with some zing to it.
Hilda Must Be Dancing
Karma Wilson, illustrated by Suzanne Watts
ISBN: 9780689847882
When the jungle thumps and bumps and things fall from the trees, it must be because Hilda is dancing. She loves dancing, but the jungle animals would really like some peace and stillness. All is well when the rambunctious hippo is introduced to water ballet.
Never, EVER Shout in a Zoo
Karma Wilson, Doug Cushman
ISBN: 0316985643
If You Give A Mouse A Muffin meets If I Ran the Zoo, with zany consequences and fun rattle-trap sentences.
1 Zany Zoo
Lori Degman, illustrated by Colin Jack
ISBN: 9781416989905
As one kid slips from the school field trip line into a secret gate into the zoo, he's witness to some wild and wacky shenanigans that his schoolmates will NEVER believe. A counting book with some zing to it.
Hilda Must Be Dancing
Karma Wilson, illustrated by Suzanne Watts
ISBN: 9780689847882
When the jungle thumps and bumps and things fall from the trees, it must be because Hilda is dancing. She loves dancing, but the jungle animals would really like some peace and stillness. All is well when the rambunctious hippo is introduced to water ballet.
Never, EVER Shout in a Zoo
Karma Wilson, Doug Cushman
ISBN: 0316985643
If You Give A Mouse A Muffin meets If I Ran the Zoo, with zany consequences and fun rattle-trap sentences.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Tuesday Storytime: Celebrate Reading
I had a collection of spring books all selected, but apparently this is "last surprise winter" week, so instead I'll save those for next time and use this cute trio of books about reading and libraries.
Bear's House of Books
Poppy Bishop, illustrated by Alison Edgson
ISBN: 9781680100389
This is such a cute book. Four childhood friends share their one picture book every night, even though it's worn out and sticky from use, until they go on a search for a new book, and discover an entire library owned by a slightly grumpy Bear. Bear is upset at first about others using his books (especially with sticky paws and when they use a sandwich as a bookmark) but when he realizes that they only have ONE book, he quickly develops a solution. Really sweet and heartwarming.
Llama Llama Loves to Read
Anna Dewney and Reed Duncan (or should that be the other way around...) illustrated by JT Morrow
ISBN: 9780670013975
The standard llama llama rhyming scheme works its magic with the process of reading - from letters to sounds to words, sentences, songs, books, stories, and reading informational signs. Not much depth, but accurate and uplifting, acknowledging that sometimes words need to be memorized, and sometimes words are difficult to read or learn. Not as inspiring as some of the other more emotional llama llama challenge-facing books, but a solid introduction to the concept of learning to read as a process.
Our Library
Eve Bunting, illustrated by Maggie Smith
ISBN: 9780618494583
(minus the last three or four pages because I had a young and very wiggly crowd - I ended on the "library on the grassy meadow" spread.)
I will say, the grownups in the group really enjoyed the VERY SPECIFIC book titles that were checked out of the library in order to help the children solve their problems and overcome their difficulties. Mrs Goose made everyone sad when she revealed that the library was old and dingy, with a bad roof, and no money, and that the landlord (a weasel of course) wanted the land back, but with some judicious checking out of VERY SPECIFIC BOOKS, and a lot of hard work and effort, and a dramatic confrontation with an elderly and grumpy Beaver, the library was saved - all with the help and instruction provided by the library books.
Bear's House of Books
Poppy Bishop, illustrated by Alison Edgson
ISBN: 9781680100389
This is such a cute book. Four childhood friends share their one picture book every night, even though it's worn out and sticky from use, until they go on a search for a new book, and discover an entire library owned by a slightly grumpy Bear. Bear is upset at first about others using his books (especially with sticky paws and when they use a sandwich as a bookmark) but when he realizes that they only have ONE book, he quickly develops a solution. Really sweet and heartwarming.
Llama Llama Loves to Read
Anna Dewney and Reed Duncan (or should that be the other way around...) illustrated by JT Morrow
ISBN: 9780670013975
The standard llama llama rhyming scheme works its magic with the process of reading - from letters to sounds to words, sentences, songs, books, stories, and reading informational signs. Not much depth, but accurate and uplifting, acknowledging that sometimes words need to be memorized, and sometimes words are difficult to read or learn. Not as inspiring as some of the other more emotional llama llama challenge-facing books, but a solid introduction to the concept of learning to read as a process.
Our Library
Eve Bunting, illustrated by Maggie Smith
ISBN: 9780618494583
(minus the last three or four pages because I had a young and very wiggly crowd - I ended on the "library on the grassy meadow" spread.)
I will say, the grownups in the group really enjoyed the VERY SPECIFIC book titles that were checked out of the library in order to help the children solve their problems and overcome their difficulties. Mrs Goose made everyone sad when she revealed that the library was old and dingy, with a bad roof, and no money, and that the landlord (a weasel of course) wanted the land back, but with some judicious checking out of VERY SPECIFIC BOOKS, and a lot of hard work and effort, and a dramatic confrontation with an elderly and grumpy Beaver, the library was saved - all with the help and instruction provided by the library books.
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Tuesday Storytime: Spring is Coming
South Carolina is weird. There's a joke floating around the internet about all the different seasons "false spring" "second winter" "mud season" "ice week" and that's been true here - but despite it all, the flowers are starting to bloom and the temperatures are starting to consistently creep upward, even if the graph looks a bit bi-polar about it from day to day.
These books were picked out by my coworker.
Something to Crow About
Megan Halsey Lane
ISBN: 0803706987 (library binding)
Randall and Cassie are chicks together in the barnyard, and Cassie is just about perfect. She struts better, she scratches better, she can even find worms better. Poor Randall just wants to find SOMETHING he can be good at. When he finds it, both Cassie and Randall are surprised!
When Spring Comes
Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek
ISBN: 9780062331397
Sweet vignettes of the colors and sounds and sights and activities (by people and by plants and animals and nature in general) of spring. Really sweet, very good for the center position, because there's no real plot to it, but it just flows gently along through sweet and colorful scenes.
If You're Hoppy
April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic
ISBN: 9780061566349
Along the rhythm and pattern of the original song, this jubilant book runs through all the various happy and exuberant animals that one could be if one were "hoppy" or "sloppy" or "flappy," from the standard storytime fare to some that are way more exotic or unexpected.
These books were picked out by my coworker.
Something to Crow About
Megan Halsey Lane
ISBN: 0803706987 (library binding)
Randall and Cassie are chicks together in the barnyard, and Cassie is just about perfect. She struts better, she scratches better, she can even find worms better. Poor Randall just wants to find SOMETHING he can be good at. When he finds it, both Cassie and Randall are surprised!
When Spring Comes
Kevin Henkes, illustrated by Laura Dronzek
ISBN: 9780062331397
Sweet vignettes of the colors and sounds and sights and activities (by people and by plants and animals and nature in general) of spring. Really sweet, very good for the center position, because there's no real plot to it, but it just flows gently along through sweet and colorful scenes.
If You're Hoppy
April Pulley Sayre, illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic
ISBN: 9780061566349
Along the rhythm and pattern of the original song, this jubilant book runs through all the various happy and exuberant animals that one could be if one were "hoppy" or "sloppy" or "flappy," from the standard storytime fare to some that are way more exotic or unexpected.
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Tuesday Storytime: Flu Season
Everyone has the sniffles, either from the flu, or the horrible cold going around, or the weird weather this winter, or just the wintertime blahs. Instead of Valentines, here's my love-letter to the common cold.
The Sniffles for Bear
Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady McDonald Denton
ISBN: 9780763647568
Bear is the MOST dramatic, and I feel a special kinship with this particular brand of woe-is-me melodrama. This time around, Bear is QUITE SICK and doesn't feel that his friend Mouse appreciates the gravity of the situation: reading happy books, singing cheerful songs, playing a banjo! Just disgraceful. If only Bear had the energy to explain to Mouse how wrong he is. Take heart, after a nice nap, Bear is feeling much better, and now it's Mouse's turn to feel just a bit droopy and sniffly.
Don't You Feel Well, Sam?
Amy Hest, illustrated by Anita Jeram
ISBN: 0763610097
Little bear Sam gets a cough at bedtime and a patient Mom walks him through taking his cough medicine, before settling down in a warm kitchen with honey tea and a comfy chair to wait for it to snow.
Bark, George
Jules Feiffer
ISBN: 9780062051851
George's mom is very confused. She keeps asking George to bark, and he makes noises... but they all are from the wrong animals! A trip to the vet clears up the problem, but does leave one lingering issue to be discovered on the last page. This one is always a kid-pleaser.
The Sniffles for Bear
Bonny Becker, illustrated by Kady McDonald Denton
ISBN: 9780763647568
Bear is the MOST dramatic, and I feel a special kinship with this particular brand of woe-is-me melodrama. This time around, Bear is QUITE SICK and doesn't feel that his friend Mouse appreciates the gravity of the situation: reading happy books, singing cheerful songs, playing a banjo! Just disgraceful. If only Bear had the energy to explain to Mouse how wrong he is. Take heart, after a nice nap, Bear is feeling much better, and now it's Mouse's turn to feel just a bit droopy and sniffly.
Don't You Feel Well, Sam?
Amy Hest, illustrated by Anita Jeram
ISBN: 0763610097
Little bear Sam gets a cough at bedtime and a patient Mom walks him through taking his cough medicine, before settling down in a warm kitchen with honey tea and a comfy chair to wait for it to snow.
Bark, George
Jules Feiffer
ISBN: 9780062051851
George's mom is very confused. She keeps asking George to bark, and he makes noises... but they all are from the wrong animals! A trip to the vet clears up the problem, but does leave one lingering issue to be discovered on the last page. This one is always a kid-pleaser.
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Tuesday Storytime: Nontraditional Bears
I love a good off-beat theme. These fun bear books were selected by my coworker.
Harold Loves his Woolly Hat
Vern Kousky
ISBN: 9781524764685
Harold's woolly hat has been stolen by a crow, and Harold is willing to trade just about anything to get it back.. until he realizes WHY the crow is so attached to it. I'm not super thrilled about the subtext of "stealing is ok if it's for an important reason" but I'm just going to hope that it's above the kids' level.
Bamboo and Friends, The Rainy Day
Felicia Law, illustrated by Nicola Evans
ISBN: 1404812806
Panda bears are totally bears. A rainy day gives a chance for friends to share stories and learn more about nature and the water cycle.
Goodnight Already!
Jory John, illustrated by Benji Davies
ISBM: 9780062286208
Poor bear is exhausted, but his neighbor Duck is a night-owl, and an awfully persistent one. Will Bear ever get his sleep? (Maybe don't read this to very new parents - it's a "sad" ending for the Bear.)
Harold Loves his Woolly Hat
Vern Kousky
ISBN: 9781524764685
Harold's woolly hat has been stolen by a crow, and Harold is willing to trade just about anything to get it back.. until he realizes WHY the crow is so attached to it. I'm not super thrilled about the subtext of "stealing is ok if it's for an important reason" but I'm just going to hope that it's above the kids' level.
Bamboo and Friends, The Rainy Day
Felicia Law, illustrated by Nicola Evans
ISBN: 1404812806
Panda bears are totally bears. A rainy day gives a chance for friends to share stories and learn more about nature and the water cycle.
Goodnight Already!
Jory John, illustrated by Benji Davies
ISBM: 9780062286208
Poor bear is exhausted, but his neighbor Duck is a night-owl, and an awfully persistent one. Will Bear ever get his sleep? (Maybe don't read this to very new parents - it's a "sad" ending for the Bear.)
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Tuesday Storytime: Fishies
I'm sick of cold and winter and snow, and it's supposed to rain cats and dogs later this weekend, so FISH!
Poor Little Guy
Elanna Allen
ISBN: 9780525428251
Pufferfish revenge is pro revenge.
Mister Seahorse
Eric Carle
ISBN: 0399242694
Fish daddies are super cool!
Not Norman: A Goldfish Story
Kelly Bennett, illustrated by Noah Z. Jones
Fish are boring pets, and this kid definitely doesn't want... well maybe... ok fine goldfish are awesome.
Poor Little Guy
Elanna Allen
ISBN: 9780525428251
Pufferfish revenge is pro revenge.
Mister Seahorse
Eric Carle
ISBN: 0399242694
Fish daddies are super cool!
Not Norman: A Goldfish Story
Kelly Bennett, illustrated by Noah Z. Jones
Fish are boring pets, and this kid definitely doesn't want... well maybe... ok fine goldfish are awesome.
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