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