Fathers and birds - a few fine books

Because I Am Your Daddy  by Sherry North

  "Because I am your daddy, I would do anything for you." This last line in the book says it all. This daddy would take his daughter surfing, if he was a surfer, or fly her to school, if he was a pilot. The illustrations have a very retro feel to them, and do not overpower the simply stated text.

Preschool - 2nd grade

The Fathers are coming home  by Margaret Wise Brown

"It is nighttime and the fathers are coming home." begins this lovely book. We expect the story to be about human fathers, so it is a surprise to see father fish on the next page we turn to. Bug father, rabbit father, pig father and more fill the pages until, finally, the boy's father, a sailor, comes home.

Preschool

My Father Knows the Names of Things  by Jane Yolen

I love reading everything Jane Yolen has written, and this book is extra special. Here is a father who is naming things for his child - exactly what parents should do every day. This naming begins with simple things, dog and cat. As children get older we expand that naming, to dalmation, terrier, persian, and siamese.

Read this book as a reminder to you and your child, of all the naming you can do together.

Preschool through 2nd

An Egret's Day  by Jane Yolen

See, I told you I like Jane Yolen! This is her latest poetry book, and her son did the photography for the book. The poetry is great and there is an added bonus of egret information on each page, separate from the poetry.

Poetry and nature study rolled into one! Don't miss this book.

Great for preschoolers learning to play with and enjoy language, through upper elementary who are learning to write poetry and studying birds.

Mouse and Mole: Fine Feathered Friends  by Wong Herbert Lee

Pikes Peak Library District has this as a 'D' Level reader - solid 2nd/3rd grade reading.

I picked this as another bird book that is fun to read. Mole loves to birdwatch, and Mouse goes, too, though she singing and frightening the birds. The four chapters tell about how the two friends struggle and work to watch birds, then write and draw about their experiences.

Friendship and birdwatching, two fine things to read about!

Two weather stories

Stormy Weather by Debi Gliori


This is a bedtime story that includes the sentiment of a parent keeping a child safe, no matter what the weather. Rain, snow, wind and storms – you as a child are safe with me. The illustrations are exceptional. Animal parents protect their children, reading them bedtime stories, tucking them into a nice little bed, or holding them in their wings/arms. Pay attention to the end papers in this book, too, for a little more of the story.

Ages 3-6

I love these illustrations!  Melody

Groundhog Weather School by Joan Holub

Learn about famous prognosticators, or in this case, hognosticators, as we learn about groundhogs and groundhog day. Lots of text in this book make it better for school age, 6-8.

Four for the first day of summer

Puffling  by Margaret Wild, illustrated by Julie Vivas

A pulling is a baby puffin, of course. How many books have you read about puffins? Probably not very many. Make sure you read this one. The author has included, just before the title page, all the information about puffins you will want to share with your young reader before starting the book. Now you will know a little about puffins, and more about families and being brave.

The illustrations are done in watercolor and pastel, and are delightful. They are both puffin like and also show the affection between parents and child.

This books was first published in Australia.  Ages 3-6

Little Devils by Robert J. Blake

Speaking of Australia, how about a story with Tasmanian Devils in it? This little book features the animals as themselves, growling, fierce and protective. The author included information at the end of the book. The story itself revolves around the mother not returning from a hunting trip and her pups coming looking for her, finding her in a trap and helping her escape.

Ages 5-9

Sugar Cookies: Sweet Little Lessons on Love by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

The illustrations alone are reason enough to borrow this book from the library. On the second reading, the reader can discover a vocabulary building book for little guys and girls. Long words like ‘compassionate’ and ‘tenderness’ are explained in cookie language that little people can understand, even if the concepts are rather abstract.

Ages 4-6

My Heart is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall

And here is one last vocabulary building book for little guys. ‘Eager as a beaver, steady as a yak, hopeful as a hungry heron fishing for a snack …’These concepts are much simpler, as are the illustrations. Don’t forget to look for the hearts on each picture!

Ages 4-6

 

Cinderella and a princess of unusual ability

Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal: a Worldwide Cinderella  by Paul Fleischman
  What a delight this multicultural Cinderella story is! The author and illustrator (Julie Paschikis) have worked together to create a book that is informative and fun to read. Each country's version is labeled, in the border art. The Cinderella changes in appearance from country to country, too. The end papers have a world map and the countries that appear in this book are labeled.
 





Princess Hyacinth: the Surprising Tale of a Girl who Floated  by Florence Parry Heide

  I love this book! Princess Hyacinth is not your average princess. She has this little problem ... without a heavy crown, or being tied down, she will float away. She is not bothered by this idea in the least. When she finally finds a way to float outdoors, she loves it. The little boy with the kite is instrumental in helping her return to earth each day.
  The text is unusual for a picture book. Different font size and colors of text blend with unusual word placement.
  I am still smiling about this Surprising Tale, hours later.  - Melody

A few animal stories

Pretty picture books

It is Monday. And here are a few fun picture books.

Melody

All Things Bright and Beautiful - words by Cecil Frances Alexander
This is my favorite - gloriously colorful cut paper illustrations carry the hymn Mrs. Alexander wrote in the 1800's. The music itself is in the back of the book, so you can play, sing and enjoy this book over and over.

Ages 4-10

Art; music; history (read about the author!)





Stormy Weather by Debi Gliori

Sweet bedtime story of love, safety and protection with animal mommies protecting their babies, the illustrations are to be enjoyed again and again.

Ages 3-7

Science (weather); geography (where do the animals live);



Polo and the Magician by Regis Faller

I love the Polo books. Almost no words are used, yet intricate stories are told. And each one is worth 'reading' again, and again.

Ages 5-10

Great for preliteracy - narrative skills - have your child tell the story.

Sweet, moving and mysterious - chapter books for 10 and older

I do like kid's chapter books. I can finish one in a day, and you can't beat that! Here are a few of my current favorites:

Wishing for Tomorrow by Hilary McKay

This is a sequel to one of my favorite books when I was eight or ten or twelve. In those olden days Scholastic was marketing the book with the title Sara Crewe. The story was written in 1905, and the original title is A Little Princess and the author is Frances Hodgson Burnett. Maybe you recognize her name from one of her very famous books, The Secret Garden.

But I digress. Wishing for Tomorrow was published in 2009, and I was interested in reading this sequel. When I finally had it in my hands, I realized I really liked Hilary McKay's books, so this should be good. And it is. Sara Crewe leaves the school and the girls, and we were left hanging for 104 years. The author has kindly brought about nice things to these girls, who mostly missed Sara Crewe, as well as the spinsters who ran the school. And who is the red-haired boy next door?

Heart of a Shepherd by Rosanne Parry
This is an astonishingly moving story of the youngest son, 11 year old Brother, who is left at home with his grandparents when his father goes to Iraq. His older brothers are off at boarding school, or beginning military careers. Brother wants everything to be just the same for his father when he returns, but an 11 year old cannot control the world. This is a ranching family, and the life and work are hard. Even with a hired shepherd, it is difficult.
Brother is not like his older siblings. Soldiering does not appeal to him. Gradually, his calling comes into focus. His grandfather is Quaker, and his grandmother Catholic; a living faith is a pillar of this family's life.

Being the youngest, Brother has not had to deal with a host of things his older brothers have always done - now he must step up and face fears.





The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline by Nancy Springer
Book 5 in the Enola Holmes series

These are strong girl, historical fiction mysteries. The time and place are historically grim at times, so these are not for the very young or very tender hearted.

Enola Holmes, Sherlock Holmes' little sister, does NOT want to go to girl's boarding school, then a finishing school, and host teas the rest of her life. Neither did her mother, who ran off, leaving Enola alone, when she was 14 years old. Her mother did leave clues, ciphers, indicating why she left. Enola has a knack for disguises, like Sherlock, and flees the family home to hide in the bustle of London. She also has a talent for solving mysteries. This series is all about her adventures as she tries to evade her brothers, who are certain she is nothing but a delicate, weak female who needs to be taken care of.

In book five, she meets Florence Nightingale, another strong minded woman for the times.

These are also great stories in the audio format.

You MUST read these in order!
1 - The case of the missing marquess : an Enola Holmes mystery
2 - The case of the left-handed lady
3 - The case of the peculiar pink fan
4 - The case of the bizarre bouquets
5 - The case of the cryptic crinoline

Let's get a pet

There are so many great stories about pets. Here are a few of my favorites.
Melody


I don't Like Gloria! by Kaye Umansky
This predictable pet story is told from the dog's point of view. The family got a cat, and they did not ask him. She eats his food, she sleeps in his basket, they forget to take him for his walk. And he gets in trouble for barking at and chasing the cat. Poor Calvin. Then a box arrives. With a pet rabbit - now Gloria AND Calvin are ignored, and now they agree on one thing... they really do not like that rabbit!

Ages 3-8 Dogs, cats, rabbits, jealousy




What Pet to Get? by Emma Dodd

Jack wants a pet, and his ideas are highly impractical. An elephant, a lion, a polar bear, a Tyrannosaurus Rex and many other ideas until he finally things of a dog for a pet! Big bold pictures and ridiculous choices make this a silly, fun book to read.

Ages 3-8 Pets


Really Rabbits by Virginia Kroll

Parents, this is a book about the ideal pets ... rabbits that get out of their cage at night and clean the house! The rabbits are doing little tasks that children could do, and perhaps children will get an idea from the story. If not, parents can dream!

Ages 4-9 Rabbits, chores, happy families


My Pup by Margaret O'Hair

Great book to read with a beginning reader, as the word 'puppy' is repeated three times on each page. And this is a very happy puppy who plays in the mud, gets a bath, plays fetch and more.

Ages 3-6 Puppies




Peanut by Linsas Alsenas

Mildred is lonely, until she finds Peanut. Peanut does not act much like other dogs, though. He is handy when it is time to water the pets. But one day, a man from the circus stops Mildred in the park. "Madam, you have found our missing elephant." and Peanut goes back to the circus. Mildred is lonely again, until she finds ...

Ages 3-8 Elephants, silly stories



The Birthday Pet by Ellen Javernick

This fabulous new books has great rhyming text and features a boy who wants only a turtle. His family isn't listening, though, and gets him other animals. Your kids will catch onto the phrase that Danny keeps saying to his family, "All I really want is a turtle."

Ages 4-9 Turtles, pets, families with pets



Dino-Pets by Lynn Plourde

What child does not want to hear a story about the possibility of having dinosaurs for pets? None that I have met so far. The story begins before you get to the text - make sure you start with the title page. The text is fairly short, but has great rhythm and rhyme to it. Each dinosaur this child goes home with gets away. Finally, there are no more dino-pets at the dino-pet store. The child goes home sad, sad, sad and discovers all the dinosaurs had gone back to the child's house, too.

Ages 4-10 Dinosaurs!

Bridget Fidget and the Most Perfect Pet by Joe Berger
This new and eye-popping red book is about a little girl who wants a unicorn for a pet. When a box arrives, she assumes it is her unicorn. But the box is too small, and filled with 'snow' (packing peanuts) and a smaller box is inside all of that snow. Eventually we find the box holds a cuckoo clock, which isn't what Bridget had in mind for a pet. Then a ladybug flies out of the side of the clock and Bridget has an 'ah-ha' moment. The ladybug is better than some other pets, you know!

A little of this, a little of that

This odd smattering includes a simple picture book, another with a flashy, eye-catching cover, history in several, and a book with a DVD (watch the DVD first!) I really enjoyed each of these diverse findings, and I hope you do, too!

Melody



Night Lights by Susan Gal
Night has fallen. Mother and daughter are home from their shopping trip. It is dog's birthday. That is the setting. All of the words in the book have to do with lights that you would see at night. The first two pages read, "streetlight headlight porch light."
Let your non-reader tell you the story.
Ages 3-7 story telling, vocabulary


Muktar and the Camels by Janet Graber
Muktar is the boy who loves camels, understands camels and has no camels. As an orphan, he is no longer working with camels as he did when his family was still alive. And on day, the camel library arrives, and this visitor does not understand camels like Muktar. Set in Africa, on the border of Kenya and Somalia, this picture book gives us a glimpse into life in the region. The author has added very brief notes about what is true in this book.
Ages 6-10
Africa, Somalia, camels, and alternative libraries


One Shoe Blues by Sandra Boynton
First of all, there is a DVD with the book. Watch the DVD first. It is five minutes of calm, soothing singing by B. B. King about a missing shoe. And we, the viewers SEE his missing shoe is on his foot. Then watch all the 'making of' specials. THEN read the book.
Ages 2-102
Cuddle up with a preschooler and watch this. All ages will enjoy the music, the visuals and the sock puppets.


Child of the Civil Rights Movement by Paula Young Shelton
History, biography, and beautiful illustrations by Raul Colon - how many more reasons do you need to read this book? The author tells us that the story is based on her memories, and those of her family, and takes place when she is four years old. If you know lots about the Civil Rights Movement, or very little, this is a great kids book with which to start. The author includes biographical information in the back of the book about some of the people included in this story.

Ages 6-10

American history, 1965; Civil Rights Movement



You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?! by Jonah Winter

The flashy cover will grab your attention - tilt the cover and see Sandy Koufax throw the ball!

Picture book biographies are so easy and fun to read, and this is no exception. Learn about Sandy Koufax - Jewish during a time where very few players were Jewish, a wild pitcher for years until one day. This is the story of personal perseverance.

Ages 6-12

Baseball, prejudice, perseverance

Three new chapter books

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin



2010 Newbery Honor winner

This book is as delightful to hold in your hands as it is to read. It is a set of stories within a story, of a little girl who tries to find a better life for her family. As she travels on her quest across the land, Chinese folktales come to life, and Minli is both clever and kind to those she meets. The author's illustrations are rich and beautiful.

Ages 8-12 Folk tales, fantasy

Extra Credit by Andrew Clements

First of all, I have to tell you that I read everything Andrew Clements writes. He is a good story teller, and children enjoy his books even more than I do!

This book is about an extra credit project assigned to a not-so-good student who does not want to repeat a grade at school. Her project ... write to a pen pal. The country she picks ... Afghanistan. Once she has written her letter, another story unfolds. The best student in the Afghan village is a boy, and it would be unwise, in the eyes of the village elders, for a boy to be writing an American girl. In the end, his sister is responsible for writing the letter that is in fact dictated and added to by this same boy.

Ages 8-12 School story, multicultural - a fast read

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

2010 Newbery Honor winner

I love this book! It is long (340 pages), and I was sad to finish it. The time is 1899, the place is Texas. Calpurnia, the only girl in the seven siblings, begins to look at the wild world around her and to ask questions. Her grandfather, an avid, reclusive naturalist, pays no attention to any of the children until Calpurnia one day audaciously asks a question of him. It turns out the two make wonderful science companions, as they go on walks, collect insects and plants, and work on grandfather's continual experiment - to distill a decent alcohol from pecans. Calpurnia is 11 and is expected to marry, and raise a family. She is learning about herself, her interests and is thinking that maybe she wants to go to college.

Ages 10-16 Science, history, and reminders of what girls can do today that was unthinkable not so long ago.

Australia, the Arctic and South Africa ...

Wombat Walkabout by Carol Diggory Shields

What a fun story to read aloud! This is a counting backwards story, as six woolly wombats go on walkabout. A dingo spies them and as one by one they fall back, they end up in the dingo’s sack. Of course, all ends happily. The rhythm and rhyme are a delight. I will be using this at story time until it wears out.

Ages 4-8 Australian animals, Australian words




Ocean’s Child by Christine Ford and Trish Holland

Enjoy this peaceful bedtime story, set in the far north. David Diaz illustrated this book; reason enough to borrow it from your library. A mother and child paddle through the cold ocean waters, seeing otter, walrus, dolphin, beluga and more. As they pass each animal, they bid them good night.

Ages 4-8 Animals, art



Adventures of Riley: Safari in South Africa by Amanda Lumry and Laura Hurwitz

The Adventures of Riley series combines on-site photos with watercolor illustrations for a fun field trip. One of the truly remarkable parts of each book is how the author integrates information from particular scientists; a text box on the page has both the information AND a watercolor of the scientist. This will be fabulous for kids. That bit of information came from a real person, here is his/her picture. And just think, you could be a scientist someday, too.

Ages 5-10 Science, geography

One, two, three more books

Higher! Higher! By Leslie Patricelli

This exuberantly happy book is all about a little girl on a swing who wants her daddy to push her higher. Each time she goes higher, she progresses from being the same height as a giraffe, skyscrapers, a mountain top, an airplane, over the earth, as high as a rocket in outer space – where she meets a little alien girl, also swinging higher. The two high five each other, say, ‘Bye!’ and the little girl and her father are shown on the last page where we see her saying, ‘Again!’

I have read this several times. The cover makes me happy every time I come across the book. Read this to your playground happy, swing happy, happy-happy little one.

Ages 4-8 Fun



Bear Feels Scared by Karma Wilson

Have you read Bear Snores On or any of the other Bear books by Karma Wilson? There are over one million in print, and for a very good reason. The books are all great fun to read. In this book, Bear is out late and Bear gets scared. His friends come and find him and help him to calm down. Then all is right with the world and they all go to sleep.

Ages 3-8 Fun



Ron’s Big Mission by Rose Blue and Corinne Naden

This fictionalized version of a true story seems amazing to read in 2010, but not that long ago (1959) our black neighbors were not allowed in the public library. This is the story of astronaut Ron McNair who walked into the public library all those years ago and insisted on checking out some books. I like the illustrations – they feel contemporary, as if it took place not that many years ago, and that really is an important part of the story.

The author includes information about Ron McNair in the back of the book.

Ages 5-10 American history, Civics

One winner

This week the winners for a myriad of awards in Children's Literature were announced. I was delighted to see that one of my favorites was given a Caldecott Honor Medal. Now there are twice as many reasons to read All the World.

All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon
I love, love, love this book. The text is soothing to read. I keep reading it. The illustrations by Marla Frazee so beautifully match the text that they seem to be one and the same – I read the words and see the pictures; I see the pictures and hear the words:

Rock, stone, pebble, sand
Body, shoulder, arm, hand
A moat to dig, a shell to keep
All the world is wide and deep

Treat yourself to a delicious delight of a book – read All the World to someone you love, or enjoy it alone.

All ages

Winner of a 2010 Caldecott Honor Medal

History, science, math and fun

Monsters Don't Eat Broccoli by Barbara Jean Hicks

The catchy rhyme makes this a fun read aloud. The monsters in this story are happy eating rocks and tractors and such, but not broccoli. That is, until they eat broccoli, thinking they are eating trees.

Ages 3-7 Picture book, health






Sir Cumference and All the King's Tens by Cindy Newschwander
There are six books in the ‘Sir Cumference’ series, and all are math based.
In this story, Sir Cumference is trying to figure out how many
people have come to a surprise party for the king. Counting by
tens and grouping those tens into hundreds and thousands
was the key.

Ages 6-10 Math




Butterflies and Moths by Nic Bishop

This latest book is as good as the previous titles, Frogs and Spiders. These are all photo essays, with fabulously magnified views of caterpillars, butterfly wings and more. The photos are labeled so you know what species AND how much the photo was magnified.

Ages 4-12

Science

Cromwell Dixon's Sky-Cycle

In 1907, Cromwell Dixon was 14 years old. He built an amazing flying machine; this is his true story.

The cartoonish pictures might let you think this is a made up story, but the author has a picture of the original Sky-cycle in the back of the book!

Ages 6-10 History

Mostly animals, some counting, and all picture books

There Was an Old Monster by Rebecca, Adrian & Ed Emberley

This sing-along book invites you to download the music for free, though the story is fine to read and giggle together. This old monster swallowed all kinds of things and jiggled and scratched and felt sick. Wouldn't you feel sick if you had swallowed a tick, and some ants, a bat and a lizard?

The authors are three generations of the same family!

Share this with your monster loving 4-8 year old.

New Old Shoes by Charlotte Blessing

Social activism is alive in children's books. Some books are heavy handed, but not this one. The reader follows the 'life' of a pair of red sneakers, from new, to worn, to being shipped to Africa for another child to wear. There is a brief note about the organization Soles 4 Souls in the back of the book, should you want to donate your gently used shoes.

5-10 year olds

The Missing Chick by Valeri Gorbachev

Valeri Gorbachev is one of my favorite picture book author/illustrator. Her pictures and stories always make me smile.

In this book, Mother Hen was hanging out the laundry with her seven chicks. Of course, your child will need to count the chicks, and when they are counted ... oh, no! There are only six there. Mother Hen and all of the neighbors begin looking for the missing chick. They look and look and look, and finally, someone notices there is something moving in the clothes basket. The missing chick! Before the book is done, the chick goes missing again.

For preschoolers and anyone working on counting skills.

Hello Baby! by Mem Fox Illustrated by Steve Jenkins

And I love Mem Fox, too. Her stories are soothing to read aloud. Steve Jenkins is a fabulous illustrator, and makes all of the animals in the book from cut paper.

This is a great preschool book, a book to read to one that you love and treasure. We see a baby's hand at the beginning of the book, and then the writer asks, "Who are you?" and we see lots of different animals -"Are you a monkey with clever toes? Perhaps you're a porcupine, twitching its nose."

Share this with your favorite toddler/preschooler, and enjoy hearing them say, "No!" on each page, as they affirm their unique human status.

The Big Storm: A very soggy counting book by Nancy Tafuri

Here is another fun animal book to read to your learning-to-count preschooler. A big storm is beginning and all the animals race to a little cave for shelter. Once all ten are in they sleep the night away. But when morning comes, they discover they are sleeping in the bears' den! Out they all run, into a warm sunny day. Can you find them now?

Another fun books for those learning to count.