This Little Chick

A multilingual chick! This resourceful tyke leaves the nest to explore the world. In order to have a more satisfying adventure, the little chick learns how to communicate with friends from other cultures. For instance, what does he do when he finds himself in the midst of three pigs and their mother? He grabs a tail, hangs on, and oinks! He tests the waters with his outlandish orange feet when he meets up with a family of ducks. They quack. He quacks. A quacking grand time is had by all. At the end of the day, our diminutive, yellow prodigy has learned five languages! (Pig, Duck, Cow, Frog, and Sheep.) Mother Hen is bemused and pleasantly surprised, but his siblings cover up their ears when a cacophony of barnyard sounds erupts from his tiny beak.

John Lawrence must have had a "whole lot of fun" writing and illustrating This Little Chick. His detailed woodcuts portray the surprise, joy, and exuberance of all the animals chick encounters throughout his busy day.

Take advantage of this story to encourage young children to engage wholeheartedly in the exploration of their communities (accompanied by appreciative adults, of course).

Mighty M

How Rocket Learned to Read

Rocket is a typical little dog…he loves to run around and chase and chew things, and hasn’t given a thought to reading until a little yellow bird arrives out of nowhere and pronounces herself his teacher.  Rocket will have none of it, and tries to ignore her until he overhears her reading a story about a dog named Buster who has forgotten where he buried his bone.  The bird has ignited Rocket's interest!  She cleverly saves the rest of the story for the next day, leaving Rocket wanting more.  Like reluctant readers everywhere, Rocket just needs the right story, and someone to read it to him, to spark his interest in reading.  If you like How Rocket Learned to Read, check out its sequel, Rocket Writes a Story, coming this July.  Both books are by Tad Hills.

Other wonderful stories about books and reading include Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I don’t) by Barbara Bottner, Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein, Otto the Book Bear by Katie Cleminson, The Wonderful Book by Leonid Gore, and Wolf! By Becky Bloom.  And, if your child would like to read (or pretend to read) to a dog, check out our Read-to-a-Dog program at many library branches in Pima County.

Duck Goes Potty (And So Can You!)

Potty training looms large in the world of toddlers and their parents. With the exception of certain wonder babies (seemingly born potty trained, walking and speaking three languages), children typically start showing signs of readiness between the ages of two and three.  Books about "going potty" and "big kid undies" are naturally of great interest to toddlers, since they relate directly to their everyday experiences.

Your library has many fun and engaging picture books and board books about toilet training.   Duck Goes Potty is one such book.  Once Duck's mommy tells him "No more diapers," Duck is introduced to the Potty Chair.  A few mishaps ensue, but Duck takes them all in stride. When he finally gets it right, Mommy announces, "You're a big duck now!" 

Karen Katz has written  My Big Boy Undies and its companion, My Big Girls Undies, which were both published in February of this year.  Her bright, bold illustrations are just right for catching a toddler's attention, and her cheerful text is reassuring and encouraging.

Books that depict potty training are not only inherently interesting to toddlers, they can also help with the training process.  They introduce toileting vocabulary and concepts.  If a child is a little intimidated by toilet training, reading a book about it can help reduce that fear by building familiarity and setting expectations. Furthermore, the characters in the books model the behavior that leads to success.

Just like adults, children love to read and talk about things that are relevant to their lives. Engage your toddler with a good "potty story" and, while you're at it, check out some of the great parenting guides to toilet training which are also available at your library!

Miss Robin

One small act of love

I have planted kisses...on the top of my child's head, on tiny baby toes, and on the tip of a turned up nose...but never in the garden. Who would think to actually plant a kiss? A child of course. The kind of free spirited child conjured up in the imagination of one brilliant author, Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Plant a Kiss speaks volumes about caring, kindness and love using just a few rhyming words per page. If you've ever planted a garden you know it takes water, sunshine, and lots of waiting before seeds sprout and bloom. Imagine the faith and patience it takes to wait for a kiss to sprout. Rosenthal's determined Little Miss begins to doubt then pout but just when you think she might give up, turn the page and there is the sprout! Magical, sparkly kisses grow and children gather to stare and stare. And what will happen if you share? Will the garden go bare? Our little gardener decides to spread her kisses everywhere. Award winning author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds has created the perfect images to express all the emotions Little Miss feels in this charming picture book. Passionate. Poignant. Perfect for all ages, young and old.

Miss Julie

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Last week, I rediscovered The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. It was a book I already knew and loved for the bright colors and charming story, and this time around I realized it also offers parents a perfect opportunity to talk with their kids about one of the most important ways we take care of ourselves: healthy eating.

Our little caterpillar starts as an egg, becomes a hungry caterpillar, eats his way through a variety of fruit, and then eats his way through so much cake, ice cream, candy and pie that he doesn't feel well at all. The next day he feels better again after eating a nice green leaf. Having eaten so well he's now ready make his cocoon and become a butterfly. Kids are obviously not so different from this caterpillar since they too need lots of good, healthy food to grow to their fullest potential.

There is more to this book than a lesson in healthy eating; kids will get a chance to count, learn the days of the week and to consider the "butterflies" that they are becoming. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a book you'll enjoy reading with your children again and again.

Miss Kate

The Easter Bunny's Assistant

'Tis the season for the great rabbit multiplication phenomenon via those ubiquitous dyed eggs! And the perfect book to illustrate this EXCITING process is The Easter Bunny's Assistant by Jan Thomas.

The Easter Bunny proceeds to give detailed instructions regarding the decoration of otherwise boring white eggs. As the lesson progresses, the assistant, a skunk, gets very EXCITED. The poor rabbit is getting increasingly nervous as the skunk's excitement escalates to the point of his inevitable expulsion from the kitchen.

An expediently placed clothespin on the rabbit's nose, allows the skunkus non grata to assist in the hiding of the eggs.

Jan Thomas, author of Rhyming Dust Bunnies, obviously enjoyed depicting the interaction between these two friends. Bright colors and the use of large print, invites the child to predict what will happen when the skunk loses control in a small kitchen.

Mighty M

Never Too Little to Love

If you are Tiny Too-Little, how far would you go for a kiss? Would you stand on a thimble? A watermelon? How about a cabbage? As the pile grows steadily higher and precariously unstable, Tiny Too-Little's courage and perseverance are challenged. After all, he is w-a-y down here and his friend is w-a-y up there. What to do? Is our diminutive mouse friend too little to love?

Jeanne Willis' cut-away-page book is an engaging format for adult and child to flip through as our intrepid rodent constructs a tower that is almost tall enough to reach his friend.

The illustrator, Jan Fearnley, has a deft touch throughout this very sweet book. Her watercolor renditions of the trembling mouse atop a "ladder" of produce and household items will have both young and old rooting for the satisfying solution.

Each item used in the pile is labeled, providing a vocabulary enrichment opportunity for your favorite young reader.

Mighty M