Book Review: Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great by Bob Shea

Having just witnessed a little girl in a unicorn costume run through the Himmel Park Library, I couldn't think of a better book to review than Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great, written and illustrated by the glorious Bob Shea.  You really can't miss this book, as the cover features a delightful display of cupcakes raining down from the sky.  And, you really can't forget this book, for that image is the stuff of dreams...  Okay, okay, enough about the cover.  Bob Shea's latest story begins with Goat who is happily swinging, biking, and making marshmallow squares.  Then, Unicorn shows up.  Unicorn has it all: he can fly, he can prance, and he can turn stuff into gold!  Best of all, he has a horn.

Sing-Along Songs

Are you looking forward with trepidation to a long road trip with your tykes?  Music might be the answer. Singing songs beats the boredom blahs by stimulating your brain in multiple ways.  It's a great way to introduce new vocabulary and other concepts to your child in a way that's both fun and memorable.  Advertisers have long known the power of a jingle for subliminally planting a "remember me!" seed in the minds of consumers. Syncopation and melody can do the same for helping your child learn and remember new words and can spark new conversations between you.  Just try listening to catchy songs like Baby Beluga by Raffi or Mother Gooney Bird by Dr. Jean and see if you don't agree.  Other artists who are perennial favorites in Storytime include Hap Palmer, Sarah Barchas, for songs in English, and Jose Luis Orozco and Hot Peas n' Butter for songs in Spanish. The library owns a number of titles by each of these artists.    
Singing also gives you the opportunity to introduce numbers and math concepts in a super-fun way before your child even enters preschool.  Songs like Five Little Ducks, Monkeys on the Bed, Chocolate, or This Old Man are great examples.  And who needs to learn about sequencing when you can internalize the concept by singing She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain or Spider on the Floor. Whatever you sing, don't worry about your voice...just have fun.

-Miss Meg

You are the Pea, and I am the Carrot

Sometimes two things are just made for each other, there can be no denying it! Just like Tucson and Sunshine, Librarians and Cardigans, the University of Arizona and Basketball, peas and carrots go together. You are the Pea and I am the Carrot, written by J. Theron Elkins and illustrated by Pascal LeMaitre, is the sweet story of a girl and a boy who just know they are meant to be together.

Like peanut butter and jelly or a hamburger and fries, this story compares their close relationship to a wide variety of silly food combinations which will have you and your child laughing all along the way. The adorable illustrations make this a book to revisit! Please share it with someone you love, of any age!

~ Roller Derby Librarian

The Nowhere Box

Being the eldest of four and the sister of two brothers, I totally empathized with this set upon older brother in Sam Zuppardi's The Nowhere Box. George, our long-suffering protagonist, cannot get any serious play time without the destructive intrusion of Sib 1 and Sib 2.

Various attempts to ditch the persistent duo (not even the bathroom is sacrosanct), are foiled. Meanwhile, in the chaotic background, Dad gleefully accepts delivery of a new washing machine. The box becomes our hero's salvation.

He promptly declares he is going "Nowhere" (sans the terror twins), and the adventures begin! Zuppardi's corrugated cardboard collages and child-like drawings capture the boy's exuberance as he savors the freedom of SOLITUDE. Thanks to the various nifty knobs, buttons, and switches scrawled on the cardboard conveyance, he swoops on a rollercoaster, plunges through space, and plows through the waves on a pirate ship. But something's off--WHERE ARE THE VILLAINS???

Zuppardi perfectly captures the plight of the older sibling desperately in need of some alone time. But in the midst of all his fun, George soon realizes that, as is the case with many fulfilled dreams, there can definitely be "too much of a good thing." He quickly presses the "Home" button. Maybe his younger brothers aren't so bad after all...

MightyM

Book Review: The Read-Aloud Handbook

A few months before my daughter was born (1983) my sister called to tell me about a very inspiring lecture she had attended by Jim Trelease, author of The Read-Aloud Handbook.  Fired up by her enthusiasm I went right out and bought a copy, and to this day it ranks high on my list of recommended "parenting" books.  Now in it's seventh edition the million-copy bestseller has been completely revised. As my daughter prepares for the birth of her daughter 30 years later, I am delighted to pass on this new edition for the new addition in our family.

The Read-Aloud Handbook is both a treasury of great read-alouds ranging in ages from birth to 6th grade, and a very well written, research based handbook on the importance of reading aloud. Chapter one begins at the beginning with Why Read Aloud moving on through Do's and Dont's of Read-Aloud, Digital Learning: Good News and Bad, and one just for dad's, Dad: What's the Score?  The treasury of books begins with a list of wordless books followed by picture books, short novels, full-length novels, poetry, and more.   I like the short descriptions as well as the recommended ages Trelease suggests for each title.  Wondering when to start reading novels to your child? Or why he wants the same book read over and over? Or what exactly makes a good read-aloud? You'll find helpful and thoughtful discussions on all these questions and many more.

I think the best thing about the Read-Aloud Handbook is that even if reading aloud to your children is a daily practice this book will reinforce the benefits, rewards, and importance of reading aloud.  And if you are not in the habit of reading to your children Trelease will inspire you to begin!

"This book is about more than reading aloud.  It's about time that parents, teachers, and children spend together in a loving, sharing way." ---The Washington Post

You can find out more about Jim Trelease on his website www.trelease-on-reading.com.

Miss Julie

Book Review: Friends by Eric Carle

Like a Jane Austen novel, Eric Carle ends his latest picture book with marriage.  Friends not only ends with a wedding, it also has action, adventure, mystery and the numbers 1 through 10.

The scene opens with a sweet depiction of two friends who play, run, dance and share secrets with each other.  Sadly, fate intervenes and one of the friends is moved far away. The little boy who is left behind is lonely and so he resolves to find his missing friend, but first he counts to ten.

Book Review: Mo's Mustache by Ben Clanton

Now that we are in the thick of "Movember" or Mustache Month, I'm seeing staches everywhere: on wrapping paper, logos, jewelry, library users, and even in children's books! Ben Clanton's newest picture book, Mo's Mustache, honors this ragingly popular facial hair trend with a short, sweet story about individualism and acceptance.  Mo is a stylin' monster who gets a beautiful, curly mustache to wear around town.  "Everybody likes Mo's mustache," so all the monsters get mustaches: big ones, small ones, pink ones, squiggly ones, and even mustaches on sale!  Mo is not happy with this at all.  He decides to send back his "nose neighbor" and tries on a scarf, instead.  As you might expect, all the monsters jump on the scarf bandwagon, too, "Even Imp (the invisible monster) has a scarf (also invisible)."

LOOK! Do You See It?

What could be better than a good story for motivating your child to open a book?  Well, for some children, or some moments, the perfect book is one that doesn't offer much story at all.  I'm talking about the highly interactive books that allow the two of you-(or better yet, a whole group of you), to become involved in a search for things.  Books like Walter Wick's popular I Spy or Joan Steiner's creative Look Alike books are well known.  Here are a few other worthy titles to discover and enjoy together:

• I Spy on the Farm by Edward Gibbs turns the book into a fun game by coupling a spy hole cut-out and a verbal clue to entice your audience to guess the animal that's hidden on the next page.  The large, spare type and big, colorful pictures make this book suitable for very young children as well as older ones. 
• Not All Animals are Blue by Beatrice Boutignon, invites you to spot the differences between animals in a group, by color, movement, attitude, and other criteria.  It's a fun exercise in "same" vs.
  "different", and just might result in a rich conversation with the child or children you're reading to.
• I Spy Colors in Art by Lucy Micklethwait, one of several similar books-(see also I Spy Shapes in Art, I Spy an Alphabet in Art, and I Spy Two Eyes: Numbers in Art) makes a wonderful introduction to fine art.  As your child examines a particular masterpiece to locate something interesting, he's also taking the time to peruse the work as a whole, developing a healthy habit for enjoying art even before his first trip to a museum.

These books, and others like them, are a great way to develop your child's ability to focus and pay attention to detail, but mostly they're a wonderful way to spend time together between the covers of a book.  Enjoy!

-Miss Meg

Kitchen Dance

CRASH! "Hush!" SMASH! "Shush!" CLANG! Perhaps, as a kid, you were lucky enough to have been
woken up by your folks gearing up for a dish towel-snapping cha-cha.

Maurie Manning catches the magic of a midnight merengue in Kitchen Dance. The parents try to be quiet, but it's so hard to wash dishes while singing love songs into a wooden spoon. Their two sleepy children tiptoe down the stairs. They crane their necks around the kitchen door for a better look and catch Dad bending Mom backward over his arm. Cheek to cheek, their parents tango the tamales to the fridge. A samba. A rumba. And then Dad flings open the door.

Busted! Mom and Dad each lift a child with open arms. Soon everyone is singing into wooden spoons and twirling in a flash of pajamas and aprons. Step by step the dance slows and the children are danced back up the stairs. After a shower of goodnight kisses, eyes flutter shut to the soft words of a love song trailing off into the night...

This is one of those tender books that successfully avoids being either too sweet or maudlin. Every child should have the experience of being whisked off to bed on the tails of a kitchen dance--and a good story.

MightyM

Book Review: Seasons by Marie Greenwood

This beautiful boardbook explains in simple terms with emphasized vocabulary, the details of what happens when the seasons and weather change.  With bright colors, it first describes the seasons, and then continues through each, describing events, such as new animals being born and flowers growing, as well as possible activities for that season.

Seasons by Marie Greenwood is a wonderful blend of science facts and new vocabulary for those parents who want something more for their children.  Learning is fun for the very young!

Enjoy this book available at your public library.

Guest Post by Sheila

Book Review: Some Monsters are Different

     David Milgrim dedicates his picture book Some Monsters are Different  to  "...everyone who, like myself, has ever felt a little different."  Although the concept behind this book isn't new, the message is a good one that bears repeating:  Some people/monsters may be different, but they're also "... completely, perfectly wonderful ...just the way they are!"

Book Review: Secret Pizza Party by Adam Rubin

Pick up the phone and order in some pizza, because after you read Secret Pizza Party by Adam Rubin, you'll want to have your very own secret pizza party!  Rubin tells the sad tale of Raccoon, who only wants pizza in life.  Just pizza.  He's a simple creature; he doesn't ask for much.  Yet, unkind humans are constantly swatting him away with their prickly yellow brooms.  Happily, Raccoon gets a brilliant idea--he's going to host a pizza party of his own...in secret.  Everyone knows that secret things are special and regular things are boring (see page 9-12 for a detailed diagram of why this is true).

Shaggy Dogs, Waggy Dogs

Dogs! Who doesn't love them? It can be overwhelming the variety of dogs there are in the world, and Shaggy Dogs, Waggy Dogs by Patricia Hubbell and illustrated by Donald Wu, trys to showcase them all!

The illustrations are beautiful and we are reminded that each dog has their own unique personality. Many breeds are displayed in this book, which is great because it's delightful to see all of them as well as important for breaking up stereotypes. Our dogs are our companions. They can be our finders of lost things, kissers of boo-boos, listeners, sled pullers, and our feet warmers. But most of all, they give us love. Shaggy Dogs, Waggy Dogs doesn't let us forget it!

Read this with your child and enjoy!

~ Roller Derby Librarian

Faster! Faster!

Sometimes it's hard to remember who you were before you brought forth that vortex of manic energy euphemistically called "A CHILD." You were cool, well-dressed, an amazing conversationalist... ("Who me?" I hear you ask). Now, at the drop of a hat, you surge forward to the command of, "Giddyup!" Storming the house with a three-year-old gripping your head or neck, you neigh, snort, and paw the ground to the whooping delight of the real boss of the house.

Leslie Patricelli has perfectly captured your little adrenaline fiend in her book, Faster! Faster! The poor dad. He's a horse. A dog. A rabbit. But no matter how fast he goes, his darling, laughing little despot shrieks, "Faster! Faster!" Finally, out of gas, the tuckered out parent (tongue protruding) collapses.

Your audience will love to see how handy a purple dotted tie can be when racing the wind or riding the waves. As the merciless imperatives give way to the halting interrogatives, a ice-cold glass of lemonade might be in order for both the rider AND the mount.

MightyM

How To Experience the World from a Child's Perspective

 In this "how to" book you can share with your child some familiar, as well as, unconventional ways on how to make a sandwich; how to wash your face; how to be brave and happy and so much more.  The words are few, but coupled with the pictures will take you to a somewhat nostalgic world where children play outdoors, where time slows, and modern technology is absent.  Julie Morstad's pastel drawings are large, well defined and charming.  This almost wordless picture book lends itself easily to talking about what is happening. Ask your child to describe in her own words what she sees and encourage her to try some of these how to's. Some pictures will surprise.  Some will make you laugh. My favorite is the illustration for "how to stay close."  Morstad's children are drawn with sweet, if somewhat doll-like expressions.  But it is what they are doing in a natural, uncomplicated world that will draw you in. Find How To  at your local library and discover for yourself just how to experience the world with your child.

If you like this book you might also like When you were small and When I was small written by Sara O'Leary and illustrated by Julie Morstad.

 Miss Julie

When Less is More

Poor Magpie has a problem. His nest is empty, and having nothing is making him feel sad. To cheer him up, his friend Mouse brings him something, a marble, and Magpie instantly perks up. If something is good, more must be better, right? Magpie embarks on a wild gathering spree. Soon we see he has even had to build extra nests to store all of his cool new stuff!

Magpie's collection would be attractive to any preschooler. He has keys, toys, a bottle opener, a postage stamp ... the list goes on and on. Alas, now Magpie has a new problem:  hoarding.

Duck! Rabbit!

A simple line drawing of a duck--or is it a rabbit (?)--offers loads of fun for children and adults in the beloved picture book, Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld.  Two narrators, constantly at odds with one another, propel the story forward by arguing about what they see on the pages of the story.  It's a delightful twist on the classic optical illusion that provides kids with the opportunity to defend what they see, but also to try and see another's perspective.

Touch It!

Want to really engage your tyke with a book? Try a touch & feel book. Children naturally learn through their senses, and one of the most important senses for infants and toddlers is the sense of touch. No need to buy these because the Pima County Public Library has a bucket load! Try some of my favorites:              
  

•  Baby at the Farm 
• Hugs & Kisses    
• Things That Go

These books are great because they stimulate baby's focus and attention while giving their ever-moving mitts something else to do besides grabbing at or pounding on the book you're holding.  An added bonus is that they're a natural conversation starter.  Each patch of fur or fabric prompts you to say something about it.  "What does it feel like?", "What else feels like that?", etc.  

To find all of the touch and feel books in our collection, simply type in "touch and feel" in the open box on the library's catalog page. The board books that are appropriate for your child should be obvious. If they're not available at your neighborhood branch, just reserve them and have them sent to the branch of your choice. If you have any questions, ask a librarian!    Have fun sharing these books with your child.

- Miss Meg

Little Mouse

I fell in love with Alison Murray's Little Mouse the first time I saw the cover. It has a simple story line that starts out with a child listening to her mom read her a story. "Sometimes, when I'm being very quiet and cuddly, my mommy calls me her little mouse." But this little girl isn't always her mom's little mouse, sometimes she is as strong as an ox! Or waddles like a penguin! With this child, you never know what to expect until you turn the page.

Everything about this book is charming; the retro style drawings, the use of imagination, and the realness of the activities the child is performing makes it a book that parents and children alike will enjoy reading.

Identifying animals is one of the first things a child really learns and enjoys talking about! Reading Little Mouse with your little mouse is a great way to have a child identify animals, help them compare the child's actions/traits to the animal's actions/traits, and get quiet and cozy, cuddly and dozy...just ready for bed!

Enjoy!

~Roller Derby Librarian

The Things I Can Do.

If you have never had the privilege of watching a child in the midst of a creative frenzy, you're in for a treat. Jeff, our exuberant and irrepressible protagonist, uses a warehouse-worth of stationary supplies: tape, glue, paper; tape, crayons, lined paper; tape, popsicle sticks, construction paper; tape... Well, you get the picture--he uses LOTS of tape and LOTS of paper to create: The Things I Can Do. This amazing chronicle of a preschooler's jubilant foray into independent living will have you skimming itchy fingers over the multi-layered collages in an attempt to smooth out the crinkles and rough patches on each incredibly detailed page.

Jeff Mack both wrote and "built" this marvelous exploration into the joys of discovering that, yes, you CAN pour milk by yourself (okay, so most of it lands on the floor); yes, you CAN fix any of your toys (if you have enough glue); yes, you can brush your own teeth (if you don't mind covering half of your face in toothpaste); and yes, you CAN wipe your own nose (so what if you smear every inch of your sweater's sleeves with snot).

Boys and girls in the process of launching themselves fearlessly into the world of self-sufficiency will clamor to share their own triumphs (and Jeff's) with their favorite adults.

MightyM

Sugar Cookies

Recently, I was helping a mom find books on teaching her young children about manners. There are a handful of  books in the library that get the point across and elicit some giggles at the same time. A few are listed at the end of this post. However, my favorite to share (although not exactly a manners book) is one by Amy Krouse Rosenthal with charming illustrations by a mother/daughter duo Jane and Brooke Dyer called Sugar Cookies: sweet little lessons on love. I like it because it teaches children simple lessons about life and love without using those two little authoritative words do & don't. I like it because of the vocabulary and big, descriptive words like endearment, compassionate, uncondtionally, and many more that children may not hear everyday...unlike "do" and "don't".  I like it because Rosenthal takes the experience of baking cookies and translates it, using rich language, into the best ever etiquette book for kids and the big people in their life. I like it because the illustrations perfectly and sweetly describe the meaning of the words. Check it out, please and thank you!

Other kids books on manners:
Mind your manners! by Diane Goode
Don't slurp your soup! by Lynne Gibbs
Whoopi's big book of manners by Whoopi Goldberg

Summer Fun with Beach Feet!

Beach Feet is a great summer read for the five-and-under set.  Kiyomi Knonagaya has written a fun, first person stream of consciousness narration that spotlights a little boy's day at the beach.  The pastel illustrations by Masamitsu Saito are attractive and cheerful, focusing on the little boy's chubby feet. 

What's nice about a book like Beach Feet is that by discussing the sensations that the little boy feels during his day at the beach, children develop vocabulary to discuss their own observations and sensations.  The illustrations and text combine to evoke the very experience of standing barefoot in the sand while the tide washes over your toes.

Read Beach Feet with your child before your trip to the ocean to build excitement and prepare him for what to expect, and then read it again after to relive your fun trip and compare your child's experience with the experience of the boy in the book.  If you can't make it to a beach this year, you can have fun with sand and water trying to recreate the beach experience in your own backyard.

Stop by your local library for this and other great summer reads.   

Miss Robin

The More We Sign Together!

Teaching sign language to children, regardless of hearing ability, has become very popular among parents eager to communicate with their little ones even before they are able to say their first word.  We already use many American Sign Language signs in our everyday gesticulating, so it can be very simple to start learning (and teaching) sign language to little ones. 

Let's Play Pretend!

Nurture your child's imagination by encouraging them to play pretend.  When children use their imagination for pretend play they're using abstract thinking, and that's essential for school learning, for creative thinking, and for problem-solving throughout life.  You can get your child started by providing any of these terrific props:

• Dress-up clothes
• Puppets
• Art materials

Fuel your child's imagination by showing them how it's done.  Children learn better and have more fun when parents play along.

• Make a fort out of a blanket and a card table
• Use a wooden spoon as a magic wand
• Play dress-up with them or stage a puppet show
• Read them a story where the characters play pretend. 

Some of my favorite books featuring characters that pretend include the following, all available through the Pima County Public Library:

It's Me! by Eric Drachman
The Treasure Bath by Dan Andreasen
Pretend by Jennifer Plecas
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Abuela by Arthur Dorros
Doctor Ted (also Firefighter Ted and Artist Ted) by Andrea Beaty
Faster, faster by Leslie Patricelli
My Name is not Isabella by Jennifer Fosberry
Traction Man is Here by Mimi Grey
Meeow and the Big Box by Sebastien Braun
King Jack and the Dragon  by Peter Bently and Helen Oxenbury

Not a Stick (also Not a Box) by Antoinette Portis

Have fun!

- Miss Meg

Flip, Flap, Fly!

One commonality among babies of all kinds and shapes is the compulsion to MOVE! Wiggling, squirming, kicking, creeping...well you get the idea. This snappy little book piggybacks, sorta kinda, on the iconic rhyme, Over in the Meadow: "'Swim!'" blurps the baby fish./Deep down dim./So the mama helps the baby fish/splish/splash/swim."

Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers will enjoy the guessing game prompted by the roly poly baby animals whimsically illustrated by David Walker. Phyllis Root has a deft hand with meter and rhyme, and she uses her jaunty verses to hint at what animal awaits at the turn of the page. In Flip Flap Fly!, the language is simple but action packed, encouraging family participation.

At a time in their cognitive development when children are learning to match specific attributes to the appropriate animal, this fun, bright book offers much in the way of visual reinforcement and vocabulary building. Check this charmer out for some entertaining lap times.

MightyM

Favorites

As the mother of an only child (now grown) I never had to answer the question that surfaces among siblings about who is the favorite child.  If faced with that question I would have been very relieved to have had this delightful book on my parenting bookshelf, You're All My Favorites by Sam McBratney.  When mama and papa bear tuck their cubs into bed they tell them, "You are the most wonderful baby bears in the whole wide world." But one day each baby bear begins to wonder if they are as special as the other two.  After all, two have patches and one does not and maybe mommy likes patches best. Two were boys and one was a girl and maybe daddy likes boy bears more then girls. And the littlest wondered if he was as likeable as the bigger bears. So the three gang up on daddy one night and ask the inevitable question, "Who is your favorite?"  These wise, tender, grown up bears will win you over as surely as they did their three bear cubs. Their answers are honest and convincing, highlighting each of the cubs unique and special qualities. The language is kind and sweet and perfect.  Anita Jeram's illustrations will make you smile and warm your heart.  Share it with your parenting partner. Share it with your kids.  Share it even if you have an only child.

Miss Julie

Learning to Read with a Wordless Book

Spring has sprung!  Now that winter's over, the child from author and illustrator Lita Judge's Red Sled is in for another surprise in Judge's follow up book, Red Hat.

The story opens with a thorough "swish swash swish swash" washing of the titular red knit hat.  The child then hangs the hat on a clothes line to dry.  Soon,  a bear cub spies the hat with a familiar "Hrmmm?" and the baby bear wastes no time in snatching the hat from the line. (Could this be the cub of the curious bear from Red Sled?) As baby bear runs along, more baby forest animals join in the fun and the hat begins to unravel. This nearly wordless book leaves a lot of room for spontaneous discussion that won't interrupt the flow of the story.  On each page the action is highlighted with a simple sound effect that's often quite funny.

Wordless picture books are a great way for children to enhance their visual literacy skills. Being able to extract clues from pictures is a valuable skill in and of itself, and it is also a great strategy for emergent readers first struggling with text.  The give-and-take feedback that comes from discussing the illustrations builds vocabulary since the discussion will likely include words that would not normally come up in everyday conversations.

Judge gives her tale a comforting wrap-up.  The child's reaction to discovering the ruined hat is puzzlement rather than anger or sadness, and the next scene shows the child contentedly re-knitting the red strand of yarn.  The child models a great response to a potentially stressful situation, and the book provides an opportunity to talk with your child about some strategies for handling life's inevitable upsets.

You can borrow Red Hat along with other titles by Lita Judge and also other wordless picture books at your local library branch.  Happy reading!

Miss Robin

Friends Forever--or Snack Time?

For a "fintastic" story about overcoming bias and stereotypes, Nugget and Fang by Tammi Sauer and Michael Slack, is at the top of the food chain.  Through expressive illustrations, hilarious diagrams, and well-placed aquatic puns, children will learn that differences can make a friendship richer. 

Nugget and Fang are best friends beneath the sea:  "They swam over. Glug.  They swam under. Glug-glug. They swam all around. Glug-glug-glug."  The two pals do everything together, despite the fact that Nugget is a minnow and Fang is a shark (with an exceptionally toothy grin). When Nugget starts school at Mini Minnows, Nugget begins to learn about the food chain, about predators and prey, and about how sharks eat minnows!  Nugget returns to Fang and explains how they can no longer be friends: "Shark are toothy.  Sharks are scary.  Sharks and minnows can't be friends."  Fang embarks upon a series of misinterpreted gestures to get his best friend back, but to no avail.  Even his mermaid costume goes unnoticed! 

Friendship stories like Nugget and Fang encourage children to consider and talk about their own behaviors and interactions with others, which can help with social development.  And, there is no shortage of friendship stories at the public library.  Another favorite of mine is Penguin and Pinecone, the story of a curious bond between an animal and a tree!  At least there is no perceived danger of one friend eating the other in this one.  Enjoy!

-Miss Ashley

Celebrate Moms

Here are some wonderful children's books that celebrate moms of all kinds from all over the world.  Don't wait for Mother's Day to enjoy, however.  These stories, like the moms they celebrate, are good every day of the year.

Love to Mama: a tribute to mothers, edited by Pat Mora, presents loving, funny, and colorful reminiscences of mothers and grandmothers by 13 Latina poets, some known, some new. Bright, exuberent illustrations by Ecuadoran artist Paula Barragan, adorn each story.

My Mother's Sari by Sandhya Rao is simple enough for a toddler and rich enough for older children.  Written from the point of view of a little boy or girl, each page gives a special reason why the child loves his mother's sari, and how it represents her love.  Illustrations inside the book's front and back cover show how a woman wraps a sari, clearing up a fundamental question for the curious.

Little Rabbit and the Meanest Mother on Earth by Kate Klise is one of the funniest books about mothers I've ever read.  Little Rabbit's calm, loving mother has a surprise in store for her little bunny who would rather join the circus than clean his room. 

Some of my favorite books featuring adoptive mothers include:  A Mother for Choco by Keiko Kasza, Our Twitchy by Kes Gray and Mary McQuillan, and Guji, Guji by Chih-Yuan Chen. 

And for grandmothers, give these a try: Sleepover at Gramma's House by Barbara Joose, Grandma Francisca Remembers by Ann Morris, and Piglet and Granny by Margaret Wild.  All of these titles are avilable from the Pima County Public Library, but don't be surprised to learn that the story your child loves the most is the one you tell from your heart.    Enjoy! - Miss Meg

Ernest the Moose Who Doesn't Fit

Moose. What can you say? They're not cute and cuddly--well unless you're a mother or father moose. They're a bit awkward and BIG--have you seen the size of those antlers? So how do you fit a moose into a book? It's going to take a lot of brain power to solve this conundrum.

Mmmm, let's see. If you spread him across two pages, his antlers and legs get lopped off; so that's not going to work. And his behind is rather (cough, cough) w-i-d-e. What is a chipmunk to do? It seems that Ernest's diminutive assistant has some ideas...

Catherine Rayner's illustrations for Ernest the Moose Who Doesn't Fit will have children of all ages joining in the ruckus. The text galumphs hither and yon across the graph paper background as the two friends finally come up with a satisfactory solution (no duct tape was harmed in the making of this book).

Problem solving has never been so much fun. The chuckle-inducing vocabulary encourages a light-hearted introduction to onomatopoeic alliteration (say that fast five times). A great book to share with anyone--including a goal-oriented moose.
MightyM

Green

Laura Vaccaro Seeger is an award winning author and illustrator who has written, among other things, First the Egg, One Boy, and Dog and Bear:  Two Friends, Three Stories. 

Open This Little Book

 

Yes, please do, Open This Little Book and read about Ladybug and Frog and Rabbit and Bear and "Oh, no!" a GIANT! Little hands will delight in turning the pages as you read the few words of this cleverly designed and beautifully illustrated "little" picture book by Jesse Klausmeier and Suzy Lee. At first glance this book appears to look like any picture book, i.e., standard size and shape. Yet, when I first picked it up I have to say it didn't feel right. It felt, well, almost empty.  Maybe there was a publisher or printing error. But then I opened it and oh what a surprise! For a book with very few words there is much to discover and talk about. And when your child asks you to read it again and again, you will both discover more things and more ways to talk about the characters and the joy of books. Check it out at your local branch library.

Miss Julie

Underground

As tiny feet, big feet, and all sizes in-between feet spring on the spongy grass or slough through the mucky mud, there lurks, burrows, or tunnels a myriad of strange, furry, slimy things--UNDERGROUND. Deep among the "squirm-ways and worm-ways" an entire world opens up to the eager readers who "dig into" this fascinating and exceptionally illustrated tale of exploration.

Cross section scenes give peeks into the lives of many a multi-legged creature such as a trapdoor spider, a cicada nymph, and even a shy little fox. Denise Fleming's large, sparse text rhymes its way across each page. A creature identification chart awaits at the end of the adventure as both a chipmunk and a mole work themselves up to the surface.

Fleming's earth-tone palette combined with her signature cotton fiber "pulp paintings" enliven each scene and invite the curious child to identify both the critters and the scattered, long-buried keys, toys, and tools.

MightyM

Little Tug

Little Tug might not be the tallest, fastest or biggest boat in the harbor, but he is certainly the most helpful.  He pulls, pushes and guides other boats and ships to safety.  At the end of his busy, helpful day, Little Tug runs out of steam and so the boats he has been helping return the favor by tucking him in for the night.  The tall sail boat gives Little Tug a sail for a blanket, the fast motor boat “hums him a lullaby” and the big ocean liner give him a “great big hug.”

This book is just right for toddlers.  The story is simply told and easy to follow and the illustrations are clean and engaging.  Your own little helper will be able to see a bit of himself or herself in Little Tug, and the story has a cozy all’s-right-with-the-world feel.

Stephen Savage also wrote and illustrated the picture book Where’s Walrus?  and illustrated the picture book  Polar Bear Nights.  Check them all out at your library!

Miss Robin

Two Little Blackbirds

I have a vague memory of my mother reciting this classic rhyme to me when I was a young child. Her version, however, used the term dickie birds instead of blackbirds.  According to Wikipedia this English language rhyme was first published in Mother Goose Melody in London around 1765.  In this version the birds were given the names Jack and Gill.  In modern versions published in the 19th century (the one my Irish Catholic mom preferred)the birds were named after the apostles Peter and Paul. Whichever version you choose, your baby or toddler will catch on quickly to the act of putting one, then the other finger behind their back. I recite the following rhyme near the end of all my baby storytimes at the library using bird finger puppets made with felt in black, blue, red, and yellow.  Pointer fingers work just fine, but simple, colorful finger puppets attract and hold their attention throughout the recitation. Give it a try.  And get ready to recite it over and over.  Babies love repitition.

Two little blackbirds sitting on a hill          (hold pointer fingers up in front of you)
One named Jack, the other named Jill.     (make small motions with fingers)
Fly away Jack, fly away Jill.                    (put one, then the other finger behind you)
Come back Jack, come back Jill.             (bring each finger back to front)

Two little blue birds sitting on a gate
One came early, the other came late.
Fly away early, fly away late.
Come back early, come back late.

Two little yellow birds sitting on a cloud
One came soft, the other came loud.
Fly away soft, fly away loud.
Come back soft, come back loud.

Two little red birds sitting in the snow.
One came fast, the other came slow.
Fly away fast, fly away slow.
Come back fast, come back slow.

Miss Julie

Learning Letters Starts with Shapes

Before we can learn to read, we have to learn our letters.  And before we can learn our letters, we have to learn our shapes.  Not only does learning our shapes give us a vocabulary for talking about what each letter looks like, it also helps highlight the sometimes very slight differences between letters.  Learning to talk about the difference between a circle and an oval, or a square and a rectangle, for example, can pave the way for talking about the subtle differences between letters like b, d, p and q.

So how do we learn our shapes and have fun?  We share excellent books, of course!

Color Zoo by Lois Ehlert uses layers of colorful shapes to make various animals.  As you turn each page, you remove one shape from the animal, and a new animal is revealed below.  This book is lots of fun to read together and kids enjoy discovering each animal as they turn the page.

Another great book, My Heart is like a Zoo by Michael Hall takes one shape, the heart, and uses it to make a variety of animals.  You and your child will both be amazed at how versatile the heart can be!

And finally, Dot by Patricia Intriago is a study in how small changes to the shape of a dot can completely change what it means to the viewer.  Teaching your child to focus on the small cues that make shapes different from each other will be helpful to them as they begin to sort out which shape belongs to which letter.

And when you're done reading, be sure to take your shapes on the road. Discovering them here, there and everywhere is fun for everyone!

Miss Kate