Splish, Splash, Splat! by Rob Scotton

Oh no! Splat wakes up to the news that he has a playdate with Spike! Spike will break all his toys and eat all the candy fish. Can this day get any worse? Yes, it can, and DOES get worse! Today at Cat School Splat's class is learning to swim! Splat does not like swimming because it is "horrible, scary, and wet"! But what Splat does not expect is to learn something he and Spike have in common!!

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves - probably my favorite Splat book
Illustrations - 4 Buckeye leaves

To visit Splat the Cat's own webpage, cut and paste:
http://web.mac.com/rscotton/www.splat_the-cat.com/Home_of_Splat.html

I Don't Want a Posh Dog! by Emma Dodd

I like Emma Dodd's books for their simple story lines but fun use of words. She always makes great word choices. This was another 1/2 Price Books find this am. This was another book we borrowed from the library and did not take back for a LONG time. The little girl wants a dog....but she knows what kind of dog she does NOT want and explains it through her very precise choice of words.

"I don't want a posh dog. A blow-dry-when-washed dog."
"I don't want a snooty dog. A fancy, attitudey dog."

The dogs to match her words are hilarious and so fitting to her her words. She also has since published the "cat" version of this book, I Don't Want a Cool Cat! Great fun!

Text: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

10 Little Penguins by Kate Toms

Adam and I came across this cute book this am at 1/2 Price Books. I love the illustrations - so cute! When I find a book about counting that I can use at home and potentially at school, I like to grab it!....did not hurt that their prices are reasonable! The book starts with 10 penguins and on each page, one goes off for one reason or another.
"7 busy penguins each bake a tasty cake...1 penguin eats too fast and now has a tummy ache!"
The cupcakes are adorable and kids could try to make their own cupcake using lots of different "scrap" materials around the house.
Kids will love the silly penguins.

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

Mrs. Spitzer's Garden by Edith Pattou

Not new (2001) but this time of year, as another school year starts to wind down and also given the political and public out cry against teachers (hey, I live in Ohio...it is BAD), I thought this was appropriate. Every year Mrs. Spitzer waits for Mr. Merrick to bring her a packet of "seeds", Once the packet has been delivered, Mrs. Sptizer starts to work, armed with her tools. She plants, waters, cares for, tends to, etc. those seeds and eventually they begin to grow. Some grow quickly. Some take more time and more attention to grow. It is because Mrs. Sptizer is such a talented, caring, and educated "gardner" that her plats bloom. Definitely a tear jerkers. Everyone has a "Mrs. Spitzer" that helped them "bloom".

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye Leaves

Meow Said the Cow by Emma Dodd

I am a big fan of Emma Dodd and actually did not realize when I read this book after getting it from library last night, that it was hers. Dodd's books are always a little silly and always with lots of fun words and rhymes. This would be no exception. Cat is upset because the farm is TOO LOUD! He decides to use his powers to mix up the sounds of the animals....this plan backfires, to put it mildly. The other animals have the last laugh...or moo as the case may be. Fun for little ones that like to particpate with animal sounds of their own! I am excited to share it with the 3 year old at our house tonight!

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Bye-Bye, Big Bad Bullybug! by Ed Emberley

I am looking for a "buggy" book for kindergarteners....and this is not new (2007) BUT Ed Emberley always amazes me with his creative books. I don't think this is as much about the story, though it is funny, but the cut out illustrations that makes it fun and enjoyable. A space ship like flying object arrives and the little bugs are unsure of what it is....but they fear the worst...BIG BAD BULLYBUG!!! Ahhh!! The conversation then begins between the Big Bad Bully Bug and the two little bugs as another body part is revealed - mean green eyes for scaring itty-bitty baby bugs; two nasty pinchers for pinching itty-bitty baby bugs; etc. Thank goodness BIG FOOT comes along....


Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye Leaves

Ed Emberley site: http://www.edemberley.com/pages/main.aspx?section=home

My Dad, My Hero by Ethan Long

Since I was late with Mother's Day, thought I better try to be on time for Father's Day. This is a great book for Father's Day! The boy starts off stating that his father is NOT a super hero. Continuing on in this manner, the boy narrator explains all the reasons why his dad is not a superhero - cannot leap buildings in a single bound, does not have super strength, cannot fly, etc. In the end the boy admits what his dad "is". The illustrations are funny and add more humor to the story. Great book to share with the kids and dads!

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves - It is simple, to the point and the youngest sons/daughters will understand it!
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves - I like the comic strip feel! It is something different!

Professor Garfield Website

Yes, as in Garfield the Cat! This is a pretty neat website - and fun - for kids! I wanted to remember it so I am recording it here. The site has a few features that I checked out.

Toon Reader - There are some graphic novels it will read to you OR you can opt to read it to yourself. I like the fact that if it is reading it to you, it highlights the box it is reading in red so you can follow along.

The Reading Ring - It does have a "boxing" theme so you may want to skip it if that is not approriate for your child. I personally got past the boxing issue when I realized what it was...I actually did this the OLD FASHIONED way when I was teaching in the classroom! There are 3 (or maybe more the higher you go. I only did a couple) boxes from a comic mixed up. The reader must read and put them in order. Then questions are generated about the comic strip.

Brain Buster - crossword puzzles, Sudoku, code buster, etc

Comic Lab - create a comic strip using the prompts. This is cool. Younger kids could do this very easily.

There are some other links but these are the ones I got to look at. The link is below to cut and paste...I still can't figure out how to link it even after 4 years of blogging on a few different blogs!! Enjoy!


http://www.professorgarfield.org/pgf_home.html

That's How! by Christoph Niemann

That's How! by Chrisoph Niemann provides a very creative way to look at machines and how they "work", at least through the eyes of a young boy. Readers of all ages will enjoy Niemann's fantastical items, from plane to steamroller to train. However unlike how these items look on the inside "for real", these drawings show ANIMALS powering and operating the inside of the machines. Very creative and provides kids with illustrations that they really have to LOOK at.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrator: 5 Buckeye leaves

Stubborn as a Mule and Other Silly Similes by Nancy Loewen

So this is not one I would necessarily read to the 3 year old, he would be really confused as we are still in the literal stage, but this is a great book for older elementary. Having struggled to find materials that were somewhat entertaining, while still teaching content, this one hits the nail on the head. I also like the sidebar information either further explaining that simile or information about its origin further to expand knowledge about language. I think this is a great book for kids in mid-to-upper elementary.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 3 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

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker

A little boy's DREAM....and we have been waiting for this one!
It is bedtime at the construction site and all the trucks - from crane truck to cement truck to dump truck and on - must finish their job and go to sleep.
"He lowers his bed, locks his gate,
Rests his wheels; it's getting late.
He dims his lights, then shuts his doors,
And soon his engine slows to snores.
Shh...goodnight, Dump truck, goodnight."
A great bedtime story for the truck loving boys in your life - this will probably be a purchase for our house! Tom Litchenheld, as always, creates wonderful illustrations, creating great faces for the trucks.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves (Be sure to check out the endpages....day at the front and night at the back!)

On the First Day of Grade School by Emily Brenner

Another oldie (2004 - when did 2004 become old??) but so cute...

"On the first day of grade school, my students gave to me
A python that didn't squeeze me."

And so begins the school version of Twelve Days of Christmas. This funny version will have kids, an adults, laughing the whole way through as students bring in rats, buzzing bees, prancing ponies, skating monkeys, and burping goats to name a few.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves (A great beginning of the year book!!)
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves (Hilarious pictures! Be sure to check out the pictures!!)

Sadly I just went to "add" to my order for fall....it is out of print! :(

Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit: A Book of Changing Seasons by IlSung Na

In this short, to the point book, the reader learns about some of the ways animals prepare as winter approaches.
"Some fly away from the cold. Some have a long, cozy sleep where they live."
Then as winter comes to an end, spring comes and again the animals prepare for a new season.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves (great for younger readers)
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

My Cold Went On Vacation by Molly Rausch & Nora Krug

I am not sure the 3 year old really "got it" but I found this book to be quite funny. The narrator of the story begins by explaining that the last few days he has had a "cold" and as a result, a day by day account of the effects. Luckily by Sunday, the cold was gone! BUT where did it go?....He then shares that the cold has been many places, from Iowa where his aunt lives, to Las Vegas where his grandma is. Again, I am not sure how much children will understand the story, without it being explained to them.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 3 Buckeye Leaves (great endpages...the "cold" is a little scary/strange looking....but I have never seen a cold before so...)

Cock-A-Doodle Quack! Quack! by Ivor Baddiel and Sophie Jubb

Baby rooster has a VERY important job. He must wake every one up in the morning. The problem is he does not know what to say. He decides to ask the pigs what they say. So of course when baby rooster tries to wake everyone up staying, "Cock-a-doodle-oin-oink!! noone wakes up. It continues in this way as baby rooster asks each animal what they would say and leaves the young readers/listeners, rolling on the ground laughing. Another older book, copyright 2007, but we love this book at our house. I think I have had it checked out for over 4 months. The three year old loves all the silly sounds, and young children will too!

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

I Spy With My Little Eye Baseball photographs by David Milne and text by Brad Herzog

I Spy With My Little Eye Baseball (there is also hockey) is another among many books being published recently where the "reader"
must examine two seemingly similar pictures for differences. Each page has a "clue: as well. Some of the "picture puzzles: are more challenging than others. Baseball fans of all ages will love this baseball themed book.


Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations : 5 Buckeye leaves

The Very Fairy Princess Takes the Stage by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton

Gerry wants more than anything to be the fairy princess in the spring performance of The Crystal princess her ballet class is performing, after all she IS a princess. Instead of being the fairy princess, she is cast as the court jester, a role that comes with a silly red and yellow outfit that is very short, a silly hat and pointy shoes with bells on it. The night of the big performance, a series of mishaps ultimately end up with Gerry saving the day of the princess.

Story; 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations 4: Buckeye leaves

The Three Little Gators by Helen Ketterman

Helen Ketterman's version of the three pigs, The Three Little Gators, cracked me up...maybe it is too late in the day! Obviously instead of pigs we have gators. And two of the gators decide to take the easy way out and make their houses of sticks and sand while the third pig works hard to make a house of rocks. Soon the Big Bottomed Boar shows up with a BUMP, BUMP, BUMP!! You can guess where it went from there. Kids love different versions of familiar tales like this one. And yes, I will admit, I enjoy them as well!

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

My Dog Lyle by Jennifer P. Goldfinger

My Dog Lyle by Jennifer P Goldfinger is not a new book but was one I found in our library that I really liked. I have been sharing it this week with kindergarteners and 1st graders and they seem to enjoy it as well. Lyle is based on the author's own dog, Lyle, and some of the things she mentions in the story, actually happened to her dog, including they BOTH were sprayed by a skunk. Lyle is a "snuggly, smart, howling, burping, slurping, stinky-pink..." dog. What I loved about this book was the great words that she uses...and that she builds on the words to describe Lyle. What the kids liked was that Lyle sometimes wears a tutu around his neck, drinks from the toilet, and runs into glass doors, and the pictures to go with these events are even more funny! Fun read aloud!

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

There's A Dragon in the Library by Dianne de las Casas

Max loves stories so it is no surprise when he tries to tell various people that there is a dragon, that keeps growing, in the library that noone believe him. Over and over he tells his story and in the end...there is no longer a dragon IN the library but rather...

A great book to introduce kids to the library and books in general. Will be filing this one away as a possible beginning of the year book! Dianne de Las Casas has a GREAT website for teachers. Lots of activites for kids to do and enjoy! Check it out before sharing this book with kids...I know you will find something to use!
http://www.storyconnection.net/?content=dragonLibrary

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 3 Buckeye Leaves

Monsters, Mind Your Manners by Elizabeth Spurr

Look out, here come those mischievous monsters!! The monsters do not know how to act at all - no manners! From drawing on walls to eating with mouths wide open to playing marbles with their peas, these monsters are horrible. Great way to discuss the CORRECT, POLITE way to act with children!

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 3 Buckeye leaves

What Does Peace Feel Like? by Vladimir Radunsky and children from around the world

Peace. Vladimir Radunsky asked children from around the world what peace feels, tastes, sound, look and smells like and this is a record of their words. From a bouquet of flowers in a happy family's living room to a growling bear of war who gets shot by a love arrow and the fighting stops, the words of children provide a different look at peace, through the eyes of children.

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

A day late and dollar short....

....or I prefer, better late than never!! These two little gems are great for NEXT year's Mother's Day Celebration!!

Poor Douglass....he just wants a HUG! He tries a tree, a rock, a bush - that moves! Huh?, but nothing seems right. Then he comes upon a rabbit that helps him find his way to the biggest, warmest arms, his Mommy, of course! The book is funny, the 3 year old here thinks it is hilarious, especially the moving bush, and the illustrations adorable. We have also spent lots of time examining the last page with the rabbit and sheep demonstrating lots of different hugs: sandwich hug, upside-down hug, solo hug, etc. I am bummed that I missed this one in Scholastic book order earlier this year as it is a purchase item for sure.

Story: 5 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves



Another Mother's Day book is Mother's Day Surprise by Stephen Krensky. Violet (the snake) is watching all her friends prepare something special for Mother's Day. She is sad that she an not as she has no arms or legs. Finally she comes up with a great gift for her special mom. She must practice, practice, practice. When the big day arrives, Violet is able to give her mom the special gift, and receives one in return. Sweet story to share in preparation for Mother's Day that reminds the reader about the true meaning of giving.

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

A Pet for Miss Wright by Judy Young

Miss Wright is an author. Being an author can be VERY lonely, so Mrs. Wright decides to buy a pet. First she tries a mynah but instead of talking to her, the bird imitated the keyboard clicking. She takes the bird back and brings home a monkey, which did not work out any better for her. She continues through a long list of animals trying to find the perfect animal for herself. She finally finds a pet that is perfect, both as a friend and as an editor.

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves (Very detailed with beautiful color choice - nice endpages!)

Charlie the Ranch Dog by Ree Drummond

Charlie is a ranch dog. Charlie's best friend is Suzie. Together they must take care of many things on the ranch for all to run smoothly. Charlie works so hard that many times.....zzzzzzzz......he just falls asleep. Who is really doing the work on the ranch? I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as well as the illustrations, but I wonder how many younger children will understand what was really happening with Charlie and Suzie. Children would need to examine the pictures closely to uncover the truth behind Charlie's :work


Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves (my favorite is a picture of Charlie trying to make it over the fence, looking quite tired, and Suzie coming behind him, boing! Boing!)

Mo and Friends...

More LOVE for one of my favorites: Mo Willems!!
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/04/books/review/childrens-books-hooray-for-amanda-and-her-alligator-mo-willems.html

Hide and Squeak by Heather Vogel Frederick

It is time for bed but Baby Mouse has other ideas. As he runs and hides, Daddy must chase after him and search for his next hiding spot. Daddy gets closer and closer until he is finally able to catch him by mouse baby's tail.

Story: 3 Buckeye leaves - rhyming
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves - I especially enjoyed the mice's face

RRRALPH by Lois Ehlert

Very funny!! An amazing dog that can talk? Ralph CAN talk! For every question asked, he has an answer. "Ralph, what's on that tree?" and Ralph answers, "Bark! Bark!" How amazing is that? Ralph continues to answer questions like these throughout the book. Preschoolers - 2nd graders will enjoy this book.

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves - short but funny and kids will enjoy the little "jokes" throughout
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye Leaves - love that kids could do their own version of the illustrations

Hey Diddle Diddle by Eve Bunting

A cow playing a trombone? A whale playing a drum? A lion playing the flute? All these and more combine to make a very unique orchestra led by a shaggy dog with a spotted bow tie. Through rhymes, using some nonsense words, this special orchestra reveals its true self as part of a wind up...
Great for preschool/kindergarten age children.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 3 Buckeye leaves

Otto: The Autobiography of a Teddy Bear by Tomi ungerer

David, Oskar and Otto, the Teddy Bear with the purple splotch on his eye, are best friends until a war (World War I) tears them apart. David is sent with his family are taken away with "other people wearing yellow stars". Oskar and Otto must continue, just the two of them, until again the war steps in and separates them as well. From there Otto travels many miles and across an ocean. Told from the perspective of Otto, one of the darkest chapters of world history is told with a softer, more positive outcome, which of course I can't reveal here..... :)

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 3 Buckeye Leaves (Some of the pictures may be upsetting for younger children)

NOTE: Please preread this before sharing with your child or class. It is always a good idea but due to the content of the book, it may be especially important. I will not be sharing this book with my 3 year old now...when he hits about 3rd grade then I probably will because I think it is an excellent book just not age appropriate for him!

Oh, How Sylvester Can Pester! And Other Poems More or Less About Manners by Robert Kinerk

Robert Kinerk has carefully constructed poems that teach the all imporant manners and how to act. Characters such as Sammy T. Sardy, a boy that is never on time, or Eleanor Ickity, a very picky eater, introduces readers to some of what you should not do! The colorful characters are paired with equally amusing illustrations, by Drazen Kozjan, will leave a positive impression of children to do the right thing. My person favorite from the collection, "At the Movies", suggests, "There ought to be armies of top-notch, trained booers protesting those loudmouths distrubing us viewers." Fun poetry for all ages, especially first grade and up.

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

I'm Me! by Sara Sheridan

A special day for starts off with Auntie Sara asking Imogen, "Do you want to be..." and Auntie Sara begins a long list of possibilities for pretend play. Each one suggested, Imogene flatly refuses. No to naughty monkey. No to beautiful princess. No to astronaut. That what does Imogen want to be? "...ME!" Imogene replies! Cute story that depicts a special relationship not often highlights in books and the message that sometimes it is fun to just be yourself!

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow? by Susan A. Shea

"If a kid grows and becomes a goat, can a sweater grow and become a coat?" This is just one of the many thought provking questions presented to the reader in the book Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow? by Susan A. Shea. And I will just say, I LOVE THIS BOOK!! What a great concept. The three year old and I read this tonight after picking it up at the library and had a great time with it. Each page presents you with a "grown up" animal and the "baby" version. Then on the opposite page there is a nonliving item - car, stool, cap, etc - and the question is raised will it become.... - truck, chair, hat, - and shows the nonliving item's "grown up" version on a flip out page. Not only does this book reinforce animals and the baby's names but also helps them begin to understand living vs nonliving in a simpler, somewhat silly, manner. We will be purchasing this book for our school library for first grade to use with their living and nonliving study and I would love to get it for our OWN library at home :)

Story: 5 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

LIttle Baseball by Brad Herzog

Little Baseball by Brad Herzog, is an introduction to baseball for the toddler age child. Each "fact" in the book is presented in the form of a rhyming riddle with picture clues to the answer in the background. Reader's turn the page to reveal the answer. For example: "Round and white and full of stitches, this is what the pitcher pitches." My three year old was able to get most of the riddles (except umpire) on the first run through and we don't stress baseball in our house...not like football at least! ha! And yes, there is a Little Football available as well.

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves (though I wish there were more riddles....we were having fun!)
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye Leaves

Swim! Swim! by Lerch

Everybody needs a friend!! Lerch searches high and low in his bowl for a friend but the pebbles, plastic scuba man, and bubbles, do not want to be his friend. Finally a "matchmaker" also known as a cat, decides his name is Lunch and introduces him to Dinner (or Dinah as she calls herself). Told almost entirely using speech bubbles and resembling a Sunday comic strip, Swim! Swim! Will be enjoyed by many and leave some wondering will there be a Breakfast and if so, will the cat eat them all or is he really just playing matchmaker??

Story: 4 Buckeye leaves - 2 thumbs up from the 3 year old. He cracks up the whole time you read it to him...
illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves - I love them.

Amanda & Her Alligator by Mo WIllems

OK, yes....I mentioned in the previous posts one of my favorite authors....well, this is another one - Mo WIllems. Mo's latest book is a little different than his others. This book is a "chapter" book in the simplest terms. It has "6 1/2 surprising stories about 2 surprising friends". Amanda and he "pet" alligator, which is really her stuffed animal, spend alot of time trying to surprise each other. Amanda is a huge fan of books - and has lots of fun reading to complete throughout the book. In true WIllems style, the book is simple and clean with kid and adult friendly humor. And as always, be on the look out for that determined Pigeon, as well as some more Willems' friends!

Story: 5 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

This Plus That: Life's Little Equations Amy + Krouse + Rosenthal = Writer

LOVE IT....LOVE IT....LOVE IT....DID I MENTION I LOVE IT?!!?? OK I admit it. I am a HUGE Rosenthal fan. I love how she is able to portray big ideas and lessons in very simple books, using simple words. (Side note: I was star struck in February when I got to see her and go to one of her sessions at the Dublin Literacy Conference. She is so very down to Earth and relaxed.) So anyways, enough gushing.....as the title hints, this book contains lots of "equations". I tried to pick my favorite as I was reading....yeah, that did not work well because each page I would find a NEW favorite. That being said, here are some of my top choices:
"practice + practice = learning" AND on the same page "practice + practice + practice = mastering"
"good days + bad days = real life" AND on the same page "once upon a time + happily ever after = pretend"

There are so many more "favorites" but YOU need to get your hands on this book yourself to truly enjoy! I think kids would love making up their own equations. Some of her other equations had subtraction, multiplication, and division. Again words are simple yet really make you think. The illustrations, Jen + Corace = Artist, match perfectly with Amy's style, simple and clean. Great book that I cant wait to share with kiddos!


Story: 5 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

Perfect Square by Michael Hall

I grabbed this one quickly today off the "new" shelf at the library. When I have reserves to pick up, which is quite frequently, I try to run past and see if there are any new books that are 1. good for school OR 2. good for Adam. I try to find shorter ones for Adam for post meals at the table. We read a few, or alot depending on both our moods, after meals. This was one I knew we could read and really look at the pictures and discuss. The book starts with a red PERFECT square. From there the square is transformed into a variety of objects: fountain, river, park, etc. Since I sit diagonal from Adam when we read at the table, as opposed to at nap and bed time where I am behind him, I get to watch his reaction and watch his eyes as they move across the page. He was captivated by these pictures. He really examined the pictures, almost like he was getting ready to challenge that the picture in front of him could have been created by the original square. (I know....shocking! A 3 year challenging anything!!) This book would be good for varying levels because of what each level might take from the illustration. I can also see this book being used in the art classroom in some capacity, which I am sure any art teacher could come up with better ideas than I could, so will leave it to the experts! Fun read with the possibility for the reader to try their own response to the book through art.

Story: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye Leaves

Note: Hall also wrote/illustrated My Heart Is Like a Zoo - another of my favorites!

The Night Before Mother's Day by Natasha Wing

I am a sucker for holiday books. We read so many books at our house that when I have a chance to read something new, such as holiday books, I get a little excited. In Adam's closet there is a book case and the bottom shelf is all the holiday books that we pull out at the appropriate time of year. Yes, he is allowed to get them out any time of year, but I think even he likes the excitement of the "new" books as the holiday approaches. Natasha Wing has created a series that fits about every holiday or first experience there is, though I am still waiting for the Night Before My Birthday! This particular book, as with all in the series, follows the same pattern and rhyme as the Night Before Christmas. In this book, Dad and the kids are preparing for a special Mother's Day surprise for Mom. Mom will be treated like a queen, as she should, on Mother's Day. There are not many books about Mother's Day, so this is a nice addition to your collection. You might even try reading it to dear husband, just to drop hints, though I usually just mark the page and hand it to dh!

Author's Website: http://www.natashawing.com/
*Just remembered when I looked at her site, The Night Before Preschool is out now!!

Happy Mother's Day!!

My reason Mother's Day is so special...I am one VERY lucky mom.

Born Yesterday: The Diary of A Young Journalist by James Solheim

This book is a favorite of mine....but maybe not my 3 year old. Main reason: I really think some of the humor in this book is above most preschool/kindergarteners heads, and possibly early elementary. That being said, I still find this book to be a great example of journaling and memoir. Kids LOVE journals, yes, the powerful hand of Diary of a WImpy kid still lingers! Told from the perspective of a baby, the reader experiences first impressions of the world and everything that goes on it, beginning with birth where the baby reveals the embarrassment of being born naked. Baby soon begins to learn things: ability to grab things, not to bite own ankles, that people grow, and a new high-chair workout. The baby so badly wants to earn the friendship of the "worldly super chick that knows everything", also known as, the sister! Cracking up just thinking about it! If you need a good laugh, and you don't have alot of time, grab this picture book to read. You might even decide to share it with your kiddos!

Story: 5 Buckeye leaves *Preread to be sure it is appropriate for your audience!
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves

Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns About Bullies by Howard Binkow and Susan F. Cornelison

You can truly never have too many books about bullying. Every book you read to kids is just one more example of what the definition of bullying IS and how to handle it! In this book the victim of bullying is Howard. He can't sleep and spends lots of time trying to come up with ways to a void the constant attacks from the Snorton Twins. The bullying comes in all forms, from eating his lunch to taking his jacket. A little voice in his head keeps repeating, "Be Brave, Be Bold, A teacher must be told!" Howard knows he needs to put a stop to this bullying but he is also afraid of being labeled a tattle tail. Reading stories like this, starting class discussions will help students learn about bullying and how to put an end to it, either by themselves or with the help of an adult.

story: 4 Buckeye Leaves
illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves