First it was QUIET...then LOUD!!

In 2010 Deborah Underwood and Renata Liwska published The Quiet Book which describes all the things that are quiet...such as(these are some of my favorites)...

Right before you yell "SURPRISE!" quiet.
First snowfall quiet.
First one awake quiet.

Now I will admit I read this book when it first came out and loved the illustrations but did not give it much thought....until I have read it again, and again, AND AGAIN! And it all makes so much more sense. I love the snowfall one as that is one thing I do love about Ohio winter. Well, actually take the last two from above. I am usually the first one up, in our whole neighborhood (I get up at 4:30 am) and especially on those winter mornings when there is snow on the ground and it is so light outside because of the reflection - you can HEAR the quiet.


And now, for the opposite!! We have had tons of fun with this...the NOW 3 year old and I have been reading it this week and he cracks up at some of the examples....and argues about some of the LOUD examples!

Some of my favorites:
Candy wrapper loud (picture is in a movie theater)
Spilling your marbles in the library loud (they have never been in my library - ha!)
Ants loud (pictures a little girl animal holding an apple covered with ants...her crying!)

Both of these are very enjoyable and great discussion starters with any age. I would love to see what 5th graders could come up with to add to either book in comparison to 1st graders or kindergarteners.

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

For more information about the author and illustrator:
Deborah Underwood
http://www.deborahunderwoodbooks.com/

Renata Liwska
http://www.renataliwska.com/

Red Wagon by Renata Liwska

Let me first explain when I saw this at Barnes and Noble the other day, I HAD to stop and read it. There is a story, really more of a legend, about my first Christmas. According to those that were there, I spent that first Christmas day at my aunt's in a red wagon. Furthermore the legend states that my nana guarded me, apparently afraid the other 3 kids would "break" me! So of course I had to read this book.

Lucy is so excited to have a brand new red wagon. She can't wait to start playing with it. BUT Mom instead wants her to go to market to buy vegetables for dinner. Her trip to the market takes an interesting turn as she rides the waves in the high sea, takes off into space, through a circus and construction site. Lucy is however able to complete the task for Mother.

Story: 5 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 5+ Buckeye Leaves (Love them! Best word to describe them is "sweet")

Cars Galore by Peter Stein

Black car, green car,
nice car, mean car.
Near car, far car,
Whoa! Bizarre car!

And so a new adventure in fun and rhyme begins. There was no doubt when I saw this book at the library, we would need to take it home!! All kinds of cars, all shapes, all sizes, all colors and described in this rhyming, fun text will make any child laugh. Every time you read it, and yes, we have read it QUITE a few times already, you see something new in the illustrations. Soon to be a library favorite, it already is a favorite at our house!!

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves (Great endpages too!)

Animal Antics A to Z

I read Hanna Hippo's Horrible Hiccups by Barbara deRubertis from the Kane Animal Antics A to Z series. In this book Hanna Hippo is battling a horrible case of hiccups. Hanna is hungry and hopes to have one of Homer Hog's huckleberry muffins. So you can see where this is going. I have read another from this series as well and as I have warned before, PREREAD because this is a tongue twister to read aloud! Each of the books in this series takes one letter, creates a character, and sends the character on an adventure, connected to their letter. I can already hear my kindergarten and 1st grade classes giggling at these books, or at least giggling at ME as I try to read them aloud! If I could find them all in paperbacks, I would purchase them for my schools as well as our house! The soon to be 3 year old thought it was quite funny and was really able to tell me the H sound after reading this!

For more information about the series:
http://www.kanepress.com/intro-animal.html

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

The Fantastic 5 & 10 Store J. Patrick Lewis

J. Patrick Lewis, resident of Westerville, Ohio - yahoo!, newest book is written as a rebus, will certainly delight children of all ages. I found it to be quite fun to read. I am anxious to see how the younger readers would do with this type of book because there are so many drawings used throughout the text. (The full poem is written at the back end page)


Story: 5 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye Leaves (great end pages too!)

Author site:
jpatricklewis.com

Some of My Favorite ABC books....

Living with an almost 3 year old, I am constantly looking for new and FUN ABC books. These are some of my favorites (as well as LMNO Peas that I mentioned in earlier post - see March 17th).

The Zoo I Drew by Todd H. Doodler

ABC book where each letter of the alphabet is a different letter which provides a mix of both fiction and nonfiction information in a fun rhyme.


The Sleepy Little Alphabet by Judy Sierra

A great bedtime story. All the lower case letters are going to bed. Great endpages, filled with letters, are a bonus!!

Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC by: June Sobel

The same soon to be 3 year old also is on a pirate kick so I am embracing it to find more books to hook him. Each letter that is mentioned in the rhyme on that page is also hidden within the picture

Where's Walrus? Stephen Savage

In this wordless picture book the walrus has escaped from the zoo and the zookeeper is in hot pursuit! The walrus hides throughout the city in hopes of finding a new "occupation". Young kids will find the walrus's choices funny as they guess where he will turn up next.

Preview video is available at bn.com

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustration: 5 Buckeye leaves

Don't Read This Book! by Jill Lewis

Although I think younger kids would enjoy, Don't Read This Book! I am more excited to share it with my older elementary kids. They will "get" the humor the best. I thought it was hilarious. I love the illustrations. The illustrator created the illustrations to look just like the king is tearing through the pages and carries the idea of a construction site with graph paper background and various "workers" working on the book. Throughout the king threatens the reader not to read any farther. The king is trying to guess the title of this under construction book as he sees mattresses carried in, a pea, a queen and a prince. Great fun!!

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

Gigi in the Big City Charise Mericle Harper

I LOVE Charise Mericle Harper's books....and this is no exception. It is so fun! I would definitely, which I do not like to do, put this in the category as a GIRL book. Gigi is spending the day in the big city. While she is there she visits many neat stores, meets new people, and goes to many museums. Children will love the pulling tabs, lifting flaps, turning wheels, etc. Great interactive book.

Visit Barnes and Noble.com to see a video of the book!
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Gigi-in-the-Big-City/Charise-Mericle-Harper/e/9780375842351/?itm=1&USRI=gigi+in+the+big+city

Story: 5 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye Leaves

Author's Website:
http://www.chariseharper.com/SITE/HOME.html

Shout! Shout it Out! By Denise Fleming

Younger kids will love the latest book from Ohio favorite, Denis Fleming. From numbers to colors kids will love the invitation to SHOUT, not that most kids need an invitation!!! It has a certain rhythm to the text that even after reading it, Adam and I were saying the words. Love Denise for my little one!

Story: 5 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye Leaves

Goldilocks and the Three Bears: A Tale Moderne by Steven Guarnaccia

I admit I love a good retelling of a story - folk tale, fairy tale, tall tale, whatever. I happened to come across this one after I had read this author's Three Little Pigs book. I love the freshness of these books. Something different. Of course it is close enough to the original that kids will be able to relate the two easily. I LOVE the endpages. I try very hard to get ALL my students to really look at those endpages as they often provide "clues" about the story of some kind. These endpages show all the "moderne" pieces from the book and provides the name of the artist, year, etc. Will kids miss that? Probably unless it is pointed out to them. I missed in on the other book.

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Check It Out! By Patricia Hubbell

Yahoo!! I know what my beginning of the year book is for 1st grade is for fall!! Through this new book readers will be introduced to some of the many tasks of a librarian. It is written in simple enough text that young students will be able to understand these responsibilities. This book would obviously be perfect for beginning of the year lessons by the librarian as well as lessons in classrooms about different occupations.

Story: 3 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 3 Buckeye leaves

Happy Birthday, Big Bad Wolf by Frank Asch

We are prepping at our houses for TWO big birthdays this Friday, April 1st....one is turning 3 years old (that would be my son Adam) and the other is well, she might not want me publishing her age but also my mom's bday! Yes, both on April 1st. So when I saw this birthday book and the author's name, I had to grab it. Adam was GLUED to it. When the Big Bad Wolf shows up at the Pig house, Little PIg mistakes his parent's intentions and thinks they are having a surprise birthday party for Big Bad Wolf. Momma and Poppa Pig play along with the surprise birthday party idea and the Big Bad Wolf softens as he receives chocolate cake, a present, and games. A twist on the usual Big Bad Wolf stories which all ages will enjoy.

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye Leaves

Curious George Plants a Tree

"George was a good little monkey and always very curious."...and so begins another Curious George adventure. And to not be out done by other furry book characters, he is going GREEN!!! On a trip recent trip out, George learns that the science museum will be sponsoring a “Green Day” dedicated to recycling and planting trees. George wants to help out but in true George style, he takes it a bit far. Young and old that knew George growing up will be delighted to see him back in this latest adventure.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: "Illustrated in the style of H. A. Rey"

Can't Sleep Without Sheep by Susanna Leonard Hill

"Ava had a hard time falling asleep. Her mind was always so busy!" I laughed when I saw this beginning line in Can't Sleep Without Sheep..I am guessing most adults reading this book can relate to this. I found this books to be hilarious though, I am not sure the almost 3 year old got all the humor. The sheep are tired of visiting Ava every night and trying to help her go to sleep. The sheep propose having other animals take over their responsibilities in helping her go to sleep. A number of other animals, chickens, cows, pigs, hippos, etc, "apply" for the job and try their hand at jumping over Ava's fence. Ava and the sheep soon realize the best "animal" for the job is the sheep and things return to normal.

Illustrations are adorable and funny. Love the endpages with the sheep in night hats! Cute!

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye Leaves

Kindergarten Day USA and China/China and USA

In its "flip me over" format by Trish Marx and Ellen B. Sensisi, Kindergarten Day USA and China (or China and USA...depending on which way you start from) examine the ways in which each classroom, a half a world away are similar and how they are different. The book looks at two kindergarten classes, one in Beijing, China and one in the New York. The book includes great photographs that correspondence with the text. Chinese words for different activities, along with easy pronunciation guides, are provided on the Chinese side of the book. I, of course, had a special interest in this book as we continue to wait for a referral to adopt from China, but I think most children will find this book to be very interesting.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves.

Zoo Borns! Andrew Bleiman & Chris Eastland

The book Zoo Borns, which began as a blog, covers a variety of baby animals from the cute to the zany, from around the world. Ever seen a baby aardvark or baby crowned sifaka? By reading Zoo Borns! readers will meet seventeen different animals babies, including the aardvark named Amani that lives in Michigan and the Tahina the crowned sifaka that lives in France. I know the kids will LOVE this book....baby animals ALWAYS get a big thumbs up from the kids. Teachers and parents will love the additional information at the back of the book including where each animal featured lives and a little bit about them. Of course, MY students will love the first animal in the book - Beco the Asian elephant that lives at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium!

The blog: http://www.zooborns.com/

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves (photographs)

Little Mouse's BIG Secret by Eric Battut

Little Mouse as a secret. He has found an apple and does not wish to share. So in order to avoid sharing, he buries the seeds. Each friend that comes by knows he is hiding something. As the book progresses, Little Mouse's secret "grows" behind him until there is a large apple tree. This is a very simple book, simple text and simple illustrations. In some ways it is a nice change from the ordinary. The book has a nice "simple" message about sharing.

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves - fits the story very nicely

Fandango Stew by David Davis

Warning: before you read this aloud to kids, you might want to practice because the "western" twang is a bit of challenge yet very important to the story. Fashioned similar to the folktale Stone Soup, two cowboys convince a town to provide the supplies to make "fandango stew". I really enjoyed the book and thing the kids will like how they trick the town. I plan to use this book with our third graders that studied Stone Soup earlier this year.

Story: 5 Buckeye Leaves - the western "twang" is awesome
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye Leaves (and the endpages are awesome)

The Three Little Pigs: An Architectural Tale

I have always enjoyed reading fractured fairy tales. In this particular version of the three little pigs by Steven Guarnaccia, the pigs design their homes based on the designs of three famous architects, Frank Gehry, Phillip Johnson, and Frank Lloyd Wright. Just as the traditional three pigs, wolf shows up, wolf huffs and puffs, and the houses fall down until the last one, the Wright house. Then the persistent wolf comes down the chimney, and to fire. I loved the Frank Lloyd Wright house illustration, having been to Falling Water as well as Taliesen West in Scottsdale. The endpages are covered with different items from various designers. Although most, if not all with the exception of those with parents that are designers or architects, children always seem to like other version of fairy tales and will enjoy this version as well.

Story: 4 buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye Leaves

Crabby Pants by Julie Gassman

Roger gets crabby so to solve his problem, he cuts his pants. He thinks this is a logical solution as there is no such thing as crabby shorts! His mother is not so worried about him that. i
Story: 4 Buckeyes leaves
illustrations: 5 uptdt

Headin' South

Two books, one of which I have been sharing with some of my classes this week, come from the same author and illustrator team.


The first one is The Cajun Cornbread Boy. Of course, this is a new version of the Gingerbread Boy set down on the bayou in the heart of Cajun country. We have a couple of grade levels that study different versions of gingerbread boy. As in the gingerbread boy, the cornbread boy pops out of the oven and takes off running. A different twist at the end of the story makes this a nice version to include in the compare and contrast activities.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 3 Buckeye leaves


The book we have been using this week is The Gigantic Sweet Potato. This book is adapted from the Russian folktale The Giant Turnip. (There is also a version called the Enormous Potato.) Ma Farmer has a "hankering" for some sweet potato pie but she must plant a sweet potato to be able to make it. From there the story unfolds with everyone trying to pull that "big...huge...gigantic" potato out of the ground.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves



Author's Website: This is an EXCELLENT site. I love when authors/illustrators do this!! I got flannel pieces (above) to use with the kids as we told the story. For the older kids we got the readers' theater script which they LOVE doing. Yeah for authors/illustrators that help teachers and librarians out!! We love you!
http://www.storyconnection.net/

Fortunately, Unfortunately

Milo's mother sends him to his grandmother's house to return her umbrella. Through a series of unusual events, Milo is sent on a wild adventure that involves aliens, pirates, and a whale. It is definitely silly and students will enjoy the silliness of it. Students could write their own "fortunately, unforunately" stories.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 3 Buckeye leaves

More Bears! by Kenn Nesbitt

Once upon a time a writer was writing a story when...MORE BEARS! Every time the before mentioned author attempts to write the story, he hears...MORE BEARS! So he finally breaks down and adds some bears. But soon the bears are out of control. This book reminds me of Chester by Melanie Watt and is equally funny. The author expertly creates a variety of text to be different from each other and also funny.

Author's Poetry website:
http://www.poetry4kids.com/index.php

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

Cat Secrets by Jef Czekaj

Cat Secrets by Jef Czekaj reminds me of Scaredy Squirrel. Like Scaredy Squirrel, it is another of those picture books that you can use from small kids (the soon to be 3 year old was laughing) to older kids. Three cats have secrets BUT you must pass the "cat test" before the secrets can be revealed. The entire story is told in speech bubbles and the three cats attempt to talk to the reader. Kids love the stores that have the speech bubbles.

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves (not much to the story, but fun, silly book!)
Illustration: 5 Buckeye leaves

Big Cat, Small Cat

Big Cat, Small Cat by Ami Rubinger was actually published in 2008 but I found it because of her book I Dream Of An Elephant. Not a cat person here but this book is great for little ones. Ami really has little ones figured out. Each page is a rhyme with missing word that rhymes with one of the other lines. All the illustrations coincide with the words as well. For example, "This cat is dirty. This cat is clean. This cat is nice. This cat is..." Missing word MEAN fits the rhyme both in definition as well as the rhyme aspect. Of course I tried this out tonight post-dinner with the soon to be 3 year old. He did well and was able to add each appropriate word with the exception of about 3. I plan to try this book out on Kindergarten next rotation.

Note: Ami Rubinger is to have another book out 3/29/2011 - Dog Number 1, Dog Number 10

Story: 4.5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves (really great pics to portray the proper words)

Dream Big Little Pig! by Kristi Yamaguchi

Did you read that right? Yes, you did. Now I am a little skeptical when I first see a "famous" person with a book out. I just get a little bent out of shape when someone "famous" is able to publish a book that is not really any good at all but because of their name, they get published. (Ok, maybe a little bitter) So I laughed when I saw this book online but I do like the illustrator (Tim Bowers...yeah, for local Ohioan) so I decided to reserve it because I knew SOMEONE would ask me if I had read Kristi Yamaguchi's book. Well, I LOVED it. She has not only a good, solid message for kids but also great language, FUN language throughout the book. It is truly DARLING! Poppy Pig has lots of dreams but just does not seem to be very good at anything. Lucky for Poppy she has some great cheerleaders, her mother, grandparents, and best friend. Poppy finally ends up on the ice, big surprise, where she truly shines. I think it is obviously a great message for KIDS to "dream big" like Poppy but also for parents, family, and friends, to encourage youngsters to not give up. Loved it!!

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations 5 Buckeye leaves

Pigs...pigs....and more PIGS! Oink!

Pig story number one: Little Pink Pup by Johanna Kerby. The cover will grab you right away. First time I saw it, I had to do a double take...A bunch of dachshund puppies and....a little pink piglet! I can hear the ooohhhsss and aaahhhsss from my kids already! Of course, gotta check those endpages and I am happy to report they are so cute with the dachshund pawprints and the piglet pawprints. This book is in the easy section of our public library but is based on true events that happened on the author's farm in Elizabeth, West Virginia. (Side note: Elizabeth is a town with a population of 994 and I have been there!! I have pictures to prove it. My Grandpa was born and raised not far from Elizabeth in Pee Wee, West Virginia so seeing this is where the author lives connected me even more to the story!) Pink the piglet is the runt of the litter. The Kerby family did not think he would survive in the barn so they brought him in the house and he was "adopted" by Tink the dachshund, mother of new puppies. Kids love animal stories and the love TRUE animal stories more. There is a message in this book, one that many people, adults include, could stand to learn...acceptance of those who are different. That you do not have to be the same "animal" to be a family. Love it.

Author's http://www.johannakerby.com/
*Note: I have not looked through the author's entire blog.

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves (photographs are great but I wish I could have seen more of the farm, where the pigs live, etc.)



A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea by Michael Ian Black
I will admit right off I had to read this book more than once to really "get it". Part of it was because I was trying to read it to the soon to be 3 year old and was trying to feed him while I read and was not focused on the book. (Yes, that is how we get him to eat some days....we read and he forgets he is eating and he will open and shut his mouth for us.) Basically if you have ever thought of organizing a pig parade - DON'T DO IT!! Those pigs...they just DO NOT cooperate! They do not like floats, other than rootbeer floats, will not march, and don't even try the uniforms! I have not read it to kids yet (at school) so I am anxious to see what they say about it - it is on the plan for 2nd grade this week!

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

The Best Birthday Ever! By Charise Mericle Harper

I love Charise Mericle Harper's CUPCAKE book so I was quite happy to find this book. The girls at both of my schools love her Fashion Kitty series so I am guessing this book will be quite popular as well! RIght off - I LOVE the endpages! Stripes, balloons, flowers, so cute! Lana Kittie(little sister to Fashion Kitty) is ready to celebrate her birthday! In HER book Lana Kittie explains 10 steps to having a great birthday celebration. I love Harper's journal like style with notes throughout the book. Cute book for birthday gift!

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 buckeye leaves

Pick A Pup by Marsha Wilson Chall

Sam is living the dream....getting a pet dog BUT how will he know which pup to pick?? As he travels to the shelter he and Grandma check out the different dogs they pass. This part of the book reminded me of Deborah Heiligman's books Sun Dog, Fun Dog and Cool Dog, School Dog. Kid's love dogs and books about dogs always go over well so I am sure the kids will love this book as well.

Story: 3 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 3 Buckeye Leaves

Fancy Nancy Aspiring Artist by Jane O'Connor

If you are around a little girl long, you have probably heard of Fancy Nancy. Well, she is back again in her latest ART adventure. I am not always a huge fan of series books but Fancy Nancy has done a nice job of going beyond some of the earlier "girl" topics and on to things that are a little more educational. Of course I also like the mere fact that Jane O'Connor exposes kids to such "fancy" (yes, I had to say it) vocbulary into the books and offers synonyms (standardized testing scores will benefit...)! In this book Fancy Nancy is stuck at home over spring break. In order for Fancy Nancy to still have a fun break, her mom, a "splendid parent" indeed, buys her glitter markers. With glitter markers in hand, Fancy Nancy takes on the art world and studies various artist on the way. I love how the illustrator incoprates some of the actual art work of the various artist mentioned into the book.
note: There is a difference between the Fancy Nancy books and the I Can Read Fancy Nancy books.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

OK GO by Carin Berger

I had read this a year ago or so (copyright 2009) and was pulling Earth Day/recycling/environmen books for teachers today and grabbed it to "reread". Simple book in that there is no much to "read" but some children may find this even more difficult. Begin of the book all the cars are "going" but with each passing page, there are more cars thus more and more exhaust. Suddenly they are instructed to "STOP" and a 4 page spread lists ways of going GREEN and recycling.

Story: 3 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 3 Buckeye leaves

Spring Is Here by Will Hillenbrand

Mole smells it in the air...the smell of spring! Bear continues to sleep through it. When all his efforts to wake bear fails, Mole tries a different approach, which ultimately wakes Bear up but tires him out. Short and simple text, paired simple pictures, makes this a perfect book for little ones, Youngsters will enjoy the fun language such as tap, tap, tap and squish, squish, squish along with bear's snore. Lends itself nicely to student participation.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

A Dazzling Display of Dogs

A Dazzling Display of Dogs, written by Betsy Franco and illustrated by Michael Wertz, is a follow up to A Curious Collection of Cats poetry books from the same team. This fascinating books is a collection of concrete poems about dogs. Kids will love this collection of inventive poems. My personal favorite was "Emmett's Ode to His Tennis Ball" which starts off "Slobbery, sloppy, slimy sphere..." Can't go wrong with that!! Great example of unconventional poetry. Yes, I will be ordering both books for both of my schools.

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves - the illustrations make the book

Six Sheep Sip Thick Shakes....

Say that 6 times fast!! Brian P. Cleary is out with another book and this time he is tackling TONGUE TWISTERS! Each page of the book is a stand alone tongue twister. Older kids, the ones I am always struggling to find things to do with, will enjoy the challenge of reciting these tongue twisters. I enjoy Brian P. Cleary's other books - mostly focused on parts of speech as well as other language skills, which are always hard to find things to use to teach them, much less FUNNY book.

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves (fun and something NEW)
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Update: The kids loved it....granted it was 4th and 5th graders but I bet the younger ones would enjoy it as well!

Piggie and Elephant are BAAACKKK!!

First off - I am a BIG Mo Willems fan. That being said, the most recent Piggie and Elephant books have really topped even my expectations. Kids love to read them together, taking on the character of Piggie or Elephant. They contain "leveled" humor - meaning younger kids think they are funny....and the older kids think they are funny...but it may not be the same things they are laughing at.


We Are in a Book!
A 2011 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book
Piggie has uncovered the TRUTH. She and Gerald are IN A BOOK! Piggie and Gerald have lots of fun with this new discovery until Piggie realizes that the book will soon END! (Gasp!)
Story: 5 Buckeye leaves

And now for my newest FAVORITE....for now....

I Broke My Trunk
Gerald has a problem. He broke his trunk. But how he broke his trunk, or rather what he did BEFORE he broke his trunk, is what makes this story so funny. This Piggie and Elephant book definitely got the best reactions from my students (grades 1-5). The kids thought they had the whole thing figured out....they were wrong. Kids and adults will enjoy this one. Hope Piggie is ok....As soon as this is in paperback, we will be adding it to our collection.

Story: 5+ Buckeye leaves

Note: And the next Piggie and Elephant book, Should I Share My Ice Cream, is due out June 14, 2011!!