My Grandma's A Ninja by Todd Tarpley

Ethan's grandma is not like other grandma's.  Ethan's grandma is a ninja.  Ethan thinks his grandma's ninja skills are awesome, and so does his classmates.  But a ninja and a soccer game is not are good combination and Ethan, and his teammates, end up being very upset with grandma.  Ethan tells Grandma he does not want her to be a ninja. Fun and silly ninja book that kids will find amusing.

Text:  4  Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations:  3 Buckeye leaves

Bedtime at the Nut House By Eric Litwin

It is bedtime….parent's favorite part of the day, after it is over!  Mama Nut is trying to get Hazel and Wally to bed.  Wally and Hazel are not ready for bed and would rather do anything BUT go to sleep.  Eric Litwin, one of the original Pete the Cat duo, is sure to sing his way into the hearts of kids everywhere with his catch too.  Be sure to go to www.TheNutFamily.com

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

Deck the Walls: A Wacky Christmas Carol by Erin Dealey

A new twist to the widely known Christmas carol, Deck the Halls.  When cousins are together to celebrate the Christmas holiday, all things can happen.  The kids provide a new spin on the celebration from mashed pototoes flying, snowmen made from tomatoes, sneaking cookies, and fun in the snow.  Kids will enjoy, but hopefully not attempt themselves, this new twist on the classic.  Can't wait to share this with thing 1 and 2 at home....thought I am hoping they do not get any ideas!!

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves (adroable!)
 

One Special Day by Lola M. Schaefer

Spenser is a happy, active little boy.  He was "as strong as a...." (see picture above).  He was "funny as a....(monkey)."  He was many things and more.  Then one day he became something more.  Spenser became a big brother.  This book is a new way of looking at becoming a big brother (or sister).  It offers up all the things that the child already is....and that he/she is more now.  Very cute book for that new "big" budding sibling.

We have been reading LOTS of books with this theme since May.  And in a few short weeks our best boy will become a BIG BROTHER when his sister FINALLY comes home from China.  Many changes ahead for this little one (as well as the little one on the other side of the world waiting for us) but I hope that some of the books we have read as well as the discussions we have had as a result of our reading, will help ease him into being a BIG BROTHER.  So posting may be slim over the next few days as we make final preparations for  our trip as well as prepare him to go to his "camp" with his aunt and uncle while we are gone.  Still have a few books to post before we leave but time....and packing will dictate that!

Chloe, Instead by Micah Player

Molly always wanted a little sister.  Molly wanted a little sister just like HER but instead got....Chloe.  Chloe is NOT like Molly at all.  Molly colors with crayons but Chloe eats them!  Molly loves books and so does Chloe.....to destroy them.  Molly certainly was not expecting a sister like Chloe.  But is Chloe so bad?  A simply written book for big sisters, as well as big brothers, dealing with the arrival of a younger sibling.

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves
Endpages:  5 Buckeye leaves (Shows Chloe up to no good...tee hee hee hee!)

How to Babysit Grandpa by Jean Reagan

Grandpa is covering over.....he needs a babysitter again!  While babysitting Grandpa, you must remember to take him for a walk, draw a picture for him, etc.  A great book for introducing any babysitter to a child. Funny book that will be enjoyed by children as well as their adult reader.

Text:  5 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves
Endpages:  5 Buckeye leaves - ADORABLE!  Check it out!

Home For Christmas by Jan Brett

Rollo a little troll, who still has his tail since he has not performed good deeds required for it to fall off, decides he will run away rather than help his parents and sister. Rollo lives with an owl family, family of bears, some otters, a lynx and finally a family of moose before he decides he misses his family and needs to return home. On Christmas Eve, the family gathers to enjoy the holiday and realize Rollo has finally lost his tail. Another enjoyable story with incredible illustrations, that you really must look at more than once. Great story that falls in the categories of family and responsibility.

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

Love, Mouserella by David Ezra Stein

From the creator of the Caldecott Honor Book, Interrupting Chickens, comes a new, creatively designed, picture book Love, Mouserella. When Grandmouse is gone, little Mouserella misses her and decides to write a letter to her, complete with pictures! At first she can not think of anything to write but that soon changes and she can't stop. From her exciting news about Willy, her former caterpillar and now a chrysalis, to her trip to the air conditioned museum, with corresponding photo, Mouserella fills in Grandmouse with everything she has missed since leaving. A sweet book, with unique format which will hook children from the beginning to the end. Classroom possibilities for this one is endless.

Text: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves
Endpages: 5 Buckeye leaves

I Believe In You by Marianne Richmond

Looking for a good tear jerker, gift book....Marianne Richmond books usually deliver! Her newest one is no exception. I barely made it through the first page before the lump formed in my throat...

"You came into our family with a big, BIG job to do, the one of growing up into the one and only you!"

If you can manage to get past this page, each page you encounter new words of wisdom, words often uttered by parents who have been there themselves, to their children. Words from those who know that some days are good, some are challenging, but regardless you must continue to believe.

"When the day dips up and down like a roller coaster ride, I believe in your quick laugh to love the lows and highs."

A great gift book - graduation, parent/grandparent/special friend to child, etc. Love all Marianne Richmond's books.

Text: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

I selected this book today, October 20, 2011.....in honor of an event that took place 3 years ago today, in Karaganda, Kazakhstan.....when a baby boy, dressed in pink, was carried into a room, one of nine babies in that room that morning, yet there was no doubt in my mind then, or now, that he belonged in our family. Even 3 years later, I remember many details of that day.....about the day I held my son for the first time.

October 20, 2008 - Karaganda, Kazakhstan


October 20-ish, 2011 - Columbus, Ohio

M.O.M. (Mom Operating Manual) by Doreen Cronin

This one is dedicated to al the MOMS!! Written for children to read to help them understand their moms, though I do not think children (or DADS) can truly appreciate this book. Complete with a table of contents, diagrams, and safety alert symbols, this book is a guide to understanding MOM! Topics covered in this "manual" include: daily care and maintenance, grooming, and troubleshooting. So Moms....go to the library, check it out, take it home....wait till kids are in bed and send Dad to the store for milk.....and cozy up with this book! Enjoy a good laugh. THEN you can try it with your kids the next day!

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves - again very funny to me, as a Mom of 3 years, but not sure kids will truly get the humor!....at least not yet! Cranky Pants song is quite catchy....complete with warning for Dad's NOT to try singing it to Mom...only Kids!!
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves - some are quite funny. Those I think anyone can appreciate! Hard to decide on my favorite - the 4 series illustrations of Mom trying to get something from the backseat (mainly this is because my constant trying to make Mr. 3 1/2 year old here understand I do not have super long arms to reach in the back seat on the OTHER side of his carseat...) OR the Cranky Pants song illustrations...

WHAT! Cried Granny: An Almost Bedtime Story by Kate Lum

This one wins the prize (I think) for the oldest copyright on my blog thus far: 1998 (in Great Britain). Gasp! But I found it to be hilarious....and I am not sure KIDS would find it nearly as funny as ADULTS! Patrick is spending the weekend at his Granny's house. As bedtime neared Patrick points out to Granny that he does not have a BED! Uh oh! So Granny, being obviously SUPER GRANNY, heads outside to cut down trees and then heads to workroom to construct a bed. Life is good until Patrick points out he also does not have a PILLOW! Granny heads to the henhouse to collect feathers before heading to her sewing room to make a pillowcase. Things continue in the same manner for quite some time until all is perfect for Patrick to go to bed BUT.....it is MORNING! Pretty funny to those of us that have tried to convince a child to go bed....Kids may also find the whole exaggerations involved in Super Granny's many talents, from sewing to woodshop, quite a amusing.

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves
Endpages: 4 Buckeye leaves (decorated....but I am not sure what the connection between the book and the design is....)

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith

Grandpa Green's great grandson takes a trip through a garden, full of memories, created by Grandpa Green. As he travels through the garden, he is also collecting Grandpa Green's things he left behind: glasses, watering can, lunch box, gloves, etc.

"After high school his wish was to study horticulture, but he went to war instead. He met his future wife in a little cafe. When the war was over, they were married."

A book that truly needs to be read more than once and as one site argued: Is it a book for children or a book for adults to read to children? The text and illustrations have layers to them, layers that I doubt even having read twice I have seen them all. I would love to see how a class of elementary students would respond to this book. Having read last year's Caldecott book, A Sick Day for Amos McGee with students from 1st grade thru 5th, one major complaint was the lack of color. I wonder if they would notice the same thing in this book! Oh an one more thing...one article I was reading was discussing that this book might be under consideration for that BIG picture book award in January.....just saying!

Click here to see the youtube trailer for this book!

Pirate Boy by Eve Bunting

I am a day late...this would have been perfect for Talk Like A PIrate Day BUT.....

After finishing a book about a pirate, Danny asks his mom a series of questions which seems to test her on the extent of her love for him. From riding on the back of a dolphin to fighting sea monsters and a group of pirates, Danny's mother passes all his "tests" with flying colors...now for her next test, will she follow him to the moon? This books reminds me alot of the Runaway Bunny as the mother bunny was also being tested to what she would do to find her baby. The topic of pirates will appeal alot to kids right now, especially boys. (Thank you Disney and Jake and the Neverland Pirates - I can sing the song if you like...)

Text: 3 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 3 Buckeye Leaves

Big Brothers Don't Take Naps by Louise Borden

Little brother Nicholas realizes all the things his big brother James can do as well as something James does not have to do. James gets to ride the school bus, he can write his name, call Pop Pop and mimi, etc. and of course James does NOT take naps! James wants to be his big brother and there is a secret that may just give him the chance. Cute, simple book to introduce the idea of a new sibling to young children.

Text: 3 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

My Side of the Car by Kate Feiffer

Daughter, Kate Feiffer, and father, Jules Feiffer team up in this new picture book based on a real event that took place in Martha's Vineyard when the author was "eight or nine or ten". On the a trip to the zoo father points out the large amount of rain yet on her side of the car, the daughter claims there is no rain. They continue on to their destination, daughter still insisting it is sunny on her side. Daughter must finally admit that maybe it is raining...a little. I think some younger kids will have trouble understanding what is really going on in the story while the older kids will get a good laugh from the exchange between the father and daughter.

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves (I like the fact it was based on a real event in their life.)
Illustrations: 3 Buckeye leaves

Flora's Very Windy Day by Jeanne Birdsall

On a very windy day Flora gets the opportunity that MANY big sisters dream about: the chance to give away their pesky little brothers. As Flora and Crispin fly through their adventure Flora decides that maybe her little brother is not quite as bad as she thought. A fantasy adventure with a morale for children about family.

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves