Guyku...Perfect for Poetry Month!

Guyku is a perfect book for poetry month...written by Bob Raczka and illustrated by Peter Reynolds (The Dot and Judy Moody). It is also a perfect book to get boys interested in poetry. This is a MUST for all school libraries. Teachers and children will love this book and the activities provided on the Guyku Haiku website! Here you will find How to Guyku, How to Write a Haiku, Guyku Seasonal Stationary for your own poems, and much more! There is even a place for girls to protest and start their own Galku Gallery. :)
Click here to get started: www.guykuhaiku.com/

The wind and I play
tug-of-war with my new kite.
The wind is winning.

When you’re a guy, nature is one big playground—no matter what the season. Nature also has a way of making a guy appreciate important stuff—like how many rocks it takes to dam up a stream, or how much snow equals a day off from school. So what kind of poetry best captures these special moments, at a length that lets guys get right back to tree-climbing and kite-flying? Why, guyku, of course!

Get Ready for National Poetry Month!

April is National Poetry Month and one of my favorite months in the library! I just love reading and listening to poetry with my students this month! Some of my favorites are books by Shel Silverstein, J. Patrick Lewis, Jack Prelutsky, and Douglas Florian. Florian's newest poetry book is Poetrees. Each of the 18 poems celebrates the wonder of trees, from the giant sequoia (the world’s tallest trees) to the bristlecone pine, one of the oldest trees on earth. I think the children will like this as much as the teachers. Also great to lead into a lesson on plants and trees!

Here is a look inside the book.

Monkey Tree Puzzle
It's said that
a monkey could climb
Up this tree in the
Quickest of time.
But climbing back down
Without cracking
Its crown
Is a puzzle so hard,
It's a crime.

April Fool, Phyllis! by Susanna Leonard Hill

Looking for a good book for April Fools' Day? Well...look no further! April Fool, Phyllis is a sequel (of sorts) to Punxsutawney Phyllis (a Groundhog Day book). Children will just love this story and they will laugh out loud. Very funny but also a good book to lead into discussions on what is and is not appropriate on April Fools' Day.

It might be April Fools' Day, but Punxsutawney Phyllis knows that winter isn't over yet. Her instincts tell her that a blizzard is brewing. Too bad no one will believe her....they all think she is pulling an April Fools prank. Luckily Phyllis uses a combination of common sense and uncommon abilities to lead the April Fools' Day treasure hunters back to safety when the storm comes on quickly. Once again Phyllis gets the last laugh in this buoyant holiday tale.

Race You To Bed by Bob Shea

I LOVE Bob Shea (New Socks) and I LOVE this book! The rhyming, humorous style reminds me of a Dr. Seuss book. This is perfect for bedtime but my kindergarten classes always had a "night time/bedtime" unit and this book was perfect for them. It is a fun read aloud and will become a favorite right away!

Ready . . . Set . . . Go to Bed!
Jet to bed to get to bed!
Don't be fooled or be misled!
I'm gonna beat you, beat you to bed!

Check out the book trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YKXexr765Y
Also- visit amazon.com if you want to purchase this book. Right now the hardcover is a bargain book and you can buy for $6.80.

Panda Kindergarten

Panda Kindergarten by Joanne Ryder. This is a wonderful nonfiction book that will appeal to so many ages. I LOVE nonfiction books and so do toddlers and elementary children...especially when it comes to animals. They just love the books Nubs, Owen and Mzee, and Knut. This book reminds me of those types of true stories. And who can resist a baby panda bear!!!

School is in session! But this is no ordinary kindergarten class. Meet sixteen young giant panda cubs at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda at the Wolong Nature Preserve. The cubs are raised together from infancy in a protected setting, where they grow strong. Under the watchful eyes of the scientists and workers, the cubs learn skills that will help prepare them to be released into the wild.
Follow a day in the life of the cubs. These special cubs have captured the attention of people around the globe. Thanks to dedicated staff and unique resources at Wolong, this threatened species now has a second chance. Here is the true story of their incredible journey toward hope and survival.

One Pup's Up by Marsha Wilson Chall

One Pup's Up by Marsha Wilson Chall and illustrated by Henry Cole. This is a cute new rhyming and counting book to add to your collection. I just love to read rhyming books to Carson so I know she will love this. But Kindergarten and 1st grade students will love as well because they can never have too many puppy books!

1 pup's up.

2 puppies tumble. 3 puppies roll in a fuzzy puppy jumble.

Press Here by Herve Tullet

This is a fun, new interactive book! Younger and older students in elementary school will just love this...as well as our toddlers at home! They get to play along with the book and make the dots move and dance across the pages. Will be a hit and loved by all! And it all started by "pressing here."

Press the yellow dot on the cover of this book, follow the instructions within, and embark upon a magical journey! Each page of this surprising book instructs the reader to press the dots, shake the pages, tilt the book, and who knows what will happen next! Children and adults alike will giggle with delight as the dots multiply, change direction, and grow in size! Especially remarkable because the adventure occurs on the flat surface of the simple, printed page, this unique picture book about the power of imagination and interactivity will provide read-aloud fun for all ages!

Reading Website- Read Between the Lions

Read Between the Lions
http://pbskids.org/lions/stories/

This is a great website for kids! You can find online stories and books to watch...while reading along.
One of my favorite books is on here- A Birthday for Cow by Jan Thomas.
You can also view:
An Egg is Quiet
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
Stone Soup
My Dog is as Smelly as Dirty Socks (this is a good book using similes)
and much more!
Happy Reading!

The Quiet Book and The Loud Book by Deborah Underwood

These books are so wonderful. I even thought The Quiet Book might win a Caldecott Honor award this year. Although it did not...it has received MANY starred reviews! The Quiet Book describes the many different types of quiet. The "first one awake quiet" shows a rabbit doing his morning stretches. In "Right before you yell, 'SURPRISE!' quiet," three animal friends crouch behind a couch. "Making a wish quiet" presents a porcupine sitting on a stool wearing a party hat. A bear and a rabbit playing tag with the waves at the beach symbolize, "Best friends don't need to talk quiet." I think these would be good to read at the beginning of the school year when discussing different types of quiet during a school day. They could also lead to a creative writing lesson...having the kids write and illustrate different types of quiet and loud that they are familiar with!

There are many kinds of quiet:

Quiet can be delicate.
Quiet can be thundering!
Quiet can be sweet,
and cozy,
and can most definitely help you fall asleep.

 BANG!
CRACKLE!
BOO!
Just like there are lots of quiets, there are also lots of louds:
Good louds (HOORAY!)
and bad louds (CRASH!)
And louds that make you feel like you are
the center of attention (BURP!).

LMNO Peas by Keith Baker

LMNO Peas...This is a new favorite!!! I hope the Easter bunny brings this one for Carson because it is too cute! (I think he might!) It is also a 2011-2012 SC Picture Book Nominee. Children will just LOVE this rhyming alphabet book.
It reminds me of Judy Sierra's The Sleepy Little Alphabet! Both of these books are a MUST for home and school collections. Even older children will love to look through the illustrations and find the hidden letter words.

Meet the peas- the alphabet peas!

They're acrobats, artists, and astronauts in space-

They're builders, bathers, and bikers in a race.

Follow the peas- and all that they do- from A to Z!

It's sleepy time in Alphabet Town. But the twenty-six little letters of the alphabet all have something they need—or want—to do before big-letter moms and dads tuck them in. Another fun rhyming book to read aloud!

Here is the illustrator, Melissa Sweet. (Caldecott Honor Recipient)

She signed a copy for Carson last spring at the Dublin Literacy Conference!

Ant and Grasshopper by Luli Gray

A new twist to an old tale. This story has a different ending to the classic fable that we all know and love. Elementary children in all grades will love this version. The illustrations are also beautiful and fun. I would recommend this to any child learning about fables and morals. This book teaches us that while working hard pays off in the end...music and laughter are also important in life! The children will appreciate this lesson.

When Ant spies a carefree Grasshopper playing a fiddle outside on the lawn, Ant immediately criticizes the insect's foolishness and continues to go about his very serious business of gathering his food for the winter. But Ant soon finds Grasshopper's music more catchy than he'd like, and he's distracted by his own rhyming and doodling! When the harsh winter hits and Ant finds Grasshopper cold and hungry in the snow, he can't help but bring him inside. Only after opening his home to Grasshopper does Ant realize that music, dancing, and laughter have their place in his life, too.

The Best Birthday Party Ever by Jennifer Larue Huget

This book caught my eye for two reasons. 1. I LOVE the illustrator- LeUyen Pham. She illustrates one of my favorite chapter books series- Alvin Ho. She also illustrated Bedtime for Mommy, Grace for President, and she wrote and illustrated All the Things I Love About You! I am just drawn to her sweet and simple illustrations.
2. My niece's 5th birthday is this weekend and we are going to Atlanta for her American Girl party. And every time I talk to her on the phone- she gives me a count down to her party and reminds me of everything we are going to do on the trip. She would just LOVE this book. The fun of a birthday party when you are a child is all of the excitement and planning! This book captures that exactly.

My birthday is 5 months, 3 weeks, 2 days, and 8 hours away. Today I'm starting to plan my party.
This little girl is planning her party now. She has to, if she wants to have the best birthday party ever. She'll have the tallest birthday cake in the world, plus camels, elephants, a ferris wheel (of course), and a castle . . . with a moat. Kids will laugh out loud at the girl's wild plans, and love the oh-so-sweet ending, which involves a modest but still..the best birthday ever. Jennifer LaRue Huget and LeUyen Pham brilliantly show what it feels like to be the Birthday Girl!

The Green Mother Goose- Saving the World One Rhyme at a Time

The Green Mother Goose by Jan Peck and David Davis. This is a fun book to read, learn, and start conversations about recycling and saving our planet. Elementary children in all grades will just love this!

"There was a little girl who had a little curl.
On top of her head it glittered.
When she was good, she recycled all she could.
But when she was bad...she littered!"

 

Mother Goose has gone green-and this playful picture book invites kids to join the fun. In these delightful “recycled” rhymes, Old Mother Hubbard shops with cloth grocery bags; Old King Coal is a better old soul, working to keep our skies smoke-free; and Hickety, Pickety is now a cage-free hen!
Carin Berger's stunning and whimsical eco-friendly collages are created from ticket stubs, newspapers, and other reused items.

Roadwork by Sally Sutton...Great for Toddlers!!!

This is a GREAT book for toddlers...especially boys. They will love the rhyming texts, the sounds, and the big machines! Easy read aloud and will hold the attention of those little ones that cannot yet sit for a long story.

“Move the earth. Move the earth. Dig and cut and push. Clear a pathway for the road. Screech! Boom! Whoosh!”

"Load the dirt. Load the dirt. Scoop and swing and drop. Slam it down into the truck. Bump! Whump! Whop!"

There are many big machines and busy people involved in building a road, and this riveting picture book follows them every step of the way. From clearing a pathway (SCREEK!) to rolling the tar (SQUELCH!) to sweeping up at the end (SWISH!), ROADWORK is sure to draw young onlookers with its rambunctious rhymes and noisy fun.

I Wanna New Room

Alex is back! And this time he is trying to persuade his mom to let him get his very own room. The sequel to I Wanna Iguana...this is a funny book that kids will love! And I just LOVE David Catrow's illustrations...another Ohio illustrator.

Ever since their baby sister came along, Alex has been forced to share a room with his little brother, Ethan, and it's a nightmare. Ethan always breaks stuff, snores like a walrus, and sticks crayons up his nose. No hardworking, well-behaved, practically grown-up boy like Alex should have to put up with that!

Writing letters to his mom convinced her to let him get his pet iguana, so Alex puts pencil to paper again, this time determined to get his own room. Though all of his powers of persuasion can't get his dad to expand the house, he does come through with a fun alternative-a tree house!

More Bears! by Kevin Nesbitt

Once upon a time there was a story. It was a lovely story with absolutely NO BEARS in it-not a SINGLE BEAR anywhere.
Then one day...MORE BEARS!

Again...another fun read aloud! The book is about an author who is writing a wonderful story with absolutely NO BEARS in it. But then he hears the voices of children asking for MORE BEARS. He gives in, adding a bear. But no, the children want MORE BEARS. So he adds more and more and more until the pages are overstuffed with bears that surf, juggle, ride tricycles and more.

This book was made for a fun story time!!!! It will probably never sit on the library shelf! But it is also a must for a home collection as well! Kids will love to say, "More Bears" along with the unseen children in the story!

Cat Secrets

Children will love to play along with this book. It reminds me of The Purple Kangaroo...where the characters talk directly to the reader. Three cats are about to open their book of cat secrets and read them aloud when they suddenly become suspicious that somebody other than a cat is around. “It has come to my attention that someone other than a cat may be reading this book,” the tabby cat says. “Shame on you,” the kitten adds. To make sure the audience is only made up of cats- they ask the readers to perform a number of tests (meowing, purring, stretching). You must check out this book as well as The Purple Kangaroo.

I'm sorry—this book is not for you. This book is for CATS ONLY.
What's that you say? You are a cat? Okay . . . get ready to prove it!

In The Purple Kangaroo...a monkey is trying to prove to the reader that he can read their mind. He just knows the reader is thinking about a purple kangaroo!

I LOVE Steve Jenkins!

Three news books by Robin Page- illustrated by Steve Jenkins.
Time to Eat- It’s time to eat! Which animals eat bamboo, can gulp down a whole deer, or swallow rocks to help them eat?
Time to Sleep- It’s time to sleep! Who dozes standing on one leg without falling over, snores while flying, or snuggles together in a big sleepy pile?
Time to Bathe- It’s time for a bath! Find out which animals soak, lick, bake, or spray their dirt away.

Children will just LOVE these books! Fun facts about their favorite animals. These will make great read alouds at school or at home. You will definitely want to add these to your collection!

Bridget's Beret by Tom Lichtenheld

I just LOVE the story and lesson of this book. My niece Olivia would just LOVE it. She loves to draw and color and make sticker art. Her 4 year old class is also leaning about Henri Matisse in school :)
This book is perfect for art lovers and creative children. It would make a GREAT read aloud! It has alot of funny/LOL moments! And of course...beautiful and fun illustrations. From the creator of Duck Rabbit. This is also a SC picture book nominee.

Bridget loves to draw, and she likes to wear a beret for inspiration. So when her beloved hat blows away, Bridget searches for it high and low. She files a Missing Beret Report. She even considers other hats, but none of them feel quite right. It’s no use; without her beret, Bridget can’t seem to draw. How will she overcome her artist’s block?

Make sure to check out Bridget’s notebook scribbles at the end of the book for her thoughts and facts on art!

I Dream of an Elephant by Rubinger

"Jumping and playing the whole morning through! I dream of an elephant whose color is…." 
This is the cutest book and the illustrations are so colorful. In this interactive book, children have to use the rhyming text clues to guess what color elephant they will see next. This is one of the best "color" books I have seen. (Right up there with Seeger's Lemons are Not Red.) I am going to get this for Carson's collection for sure!

I Dream of An Elephant takes readers through a wondrous world where they will encounter elephants of many colorful shades that sing, dance, and play. Each page's descriptive sing-song text leaves out the last word, allowing little ones to chime in and complete the rhyme while learning a range of colors. Amusing color-themed illustrations provide clues for the words that have been left out. I Dream of An Elephant teaches children about colors with a fun, fill-in-the-blank challenge that encourages participation.

Pigs to the Rescue- LOL

I just found another new favorite! This is perfect for a home collection and school collection. Toddlers and elementary children will laugh out loud at this book! It is the sequel to Chickens to the Rescue by John Himmelman. www.johnhimmelman.com. The illustrations of the pigs coming to the rescue are hilarious! And kids will just love the repetitive text that you can all say together..."Pigs to the rescue!"

Farmer Greenstalk and his family have the darnedest luck. Broken-down tractors, kites stuck in trees—they’re always having problems! It’s a good thing they have such helpful farm animals on hand.
This time around, the pigs want to pitch in, and boy, do they ever! The Greenstalks soon find, though, that life might just be a little easier without their help…

South Carolina Book Award Nominees 2011-2012

Here is the link to the SC Book Award Nominees for 11-12. I have not read all of them but I am going to start now. http://www.scasl.net/bookawards/bookawards1112.pdf

Some of my favorites are: My Garden by Kevin Henkes, LMNO Peas by Kevin Baker, Miss Brooks Loves Books (And I Don't) by Barbara Bottner, and The Christmas Genie by Dan Gutman (I LOVE this one!).

Next on my reading list is The Small Adventures of Popeye and Elvis. (Recommended chapter book- grades 3-6.)

Nothing ever happens in Fayette, South Carolina. That’s what Popeye thinks, anyway. His whole life, everything has just been boring, boring, boring. But things start to look up when the Jewells’ Holiday Rambler makes a wrong turn and gets stuck in the mud, trapping Elvis and his five rowdy siblings in Fayette for who knows how long. Then things get even better when something curious comes floating down the creek—a series of boats with secret messages—and Popeye and Elvis set out on a small adventure. Who could possibly be sending the notes and what do they mean?

A MUST for Babies and Toddlers- If I Could Keep You Little by Marianne Richman

My sister gave this book to my niece Maggie this weekend for her first birthday! It is the best book and I could not help but tear up as I was reading it and thinking about my sweet Carson turning 18 months this week. It is a mother's story...she is telling her baby how she wishes she could keep them little forever...except...by doing so she would miss out on all the wonderful things they will do and who they will become. I think this might be one of my new favorites and it makes a great birthday book!

Taking the reader on a journey of memory and expectation, IF I COULD KEEP YOU LITTLE showcases the fleeting little moments that reveal how a child changes and grows.

If I could keep you little,
I'd decide on matching clothes.
But then I'd miss you choosing
dots on top and stripes below

If I could keep you little
I'd cut your bread in shapes.
But then I'd miss you finding
"Hey! I like ketchup with my grapes!"

Fairly Fairy Tales by Codelll

If you like fairy tales, you will love Fairly Fairy Tales by Esme Raji Codell. This is just a fun book! I would definitely add this to my school collection as well as read to my toddler daughter- even though she may not know all of the characters yet. This is a great introduction to fairy tales.

The author also wrote a great book/biography I recommend to ALL teachers and even parents...Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First Year. This is the true story about her VERY difficult first year as a teacher and what inspired her to keep going and never give up on her kids!

Parents and children love to play "question" games: Would you eat spaghetti made with gummy worms? Would you wear your clothes backwards all day? Sometimes the answer is "yes" and sometimes it's "no"--but the fun is in the asking. Gifted writer and educator Esme Raji Codell has written a book that incorporates fractured fairy tales with this kind of parent-child interplay to create a perfect combination of bedtime read-aloud and fairy tales that will delight children and parents!

Pete the Cat: Rocking My School Shoes

Shout out to Mrs. Meta for introducing me to Pete the Cat! Not only does my daughter Carson LOVE Pete's first book I Love My White Shoes....students K-3 at my schools could not stop singing the book! It was NEVER on the shelf! Now get ready for Pete the Cat: Rocking My School Shoes by Eric Litwin. This does not come out until July 26 but that gives you plenty of time to get the first book and fall in love with Pete...and get that song stuck in your head. Here is the link to download the audio of the first book.
http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/kids/gamesandcontests/features/petethecat/

Coming Soon- July 26

Perfect for Toddlers and elementary children!

Goldie and the Three Hares

Whatever happened to Goldielocks after the three bears chased her into the woods? Now you can find out in Margie Palatini's hilarious Goldie and the Three Hares. Children in grades K-3 just LOVE Palatini's books such as Sweet Tooth, Piggie Pie, and Bad Boys. And they will laugh out loud at this one too.

The Hare family—Papa, Mama, and Little Baby Hare—are enjoying a peaceful day in their rabbit hole until they hear a big THUMP outside their door. The thump is Goldilocks herself, who has fallen down the rabbit hole after being chased by the Three Bears.

The Hare family is happy to help the girl, who has hurt her foot. But Goldie is not a very good houseguest. She is tough to please, since every chair is too hard, too soft, or otherwise not just right. But when Goldie is finally comfy-cozy in the Hares’ rabbit hole, how are they ever going to get her to leave?

Little Rabbit by Kevin Henkes

If you like Old Bear by Henkes...you will love White Rabbit. This will make a great Easter present.

One bright spring day a little white rabbit sets out from home on an adventure. What does he find? Look! Everything is new. Anything is possible…"When he hopped through the high grass, he wondered what it would be like to be green." This is a simple and sweet tale for preschoolers and young elementary children. And the illustrations are just BEAUTIFUL.

Say Hello by Rachel Isadora

I just found this book today and I LOVE it. At my schools in Westerville, 2nd grade had a unit on different cultures and this would be a perfect book. One of my schools also had a multicultural night and every class learned about a different country and culture. Again...this book would be perfect to tie the lessons together.

Carmelita loves to greet everyone in her diverse neighborhood. There are people from so many different cultures! They all like to say hello too, so now Carmelita can say hello in Spanish, English, French, Japanese, and many other languages. And her dog, Manny seems to understand everyone, and gives a happy "Woof!" wherever he goes.

Spring is Here by Will Hillenbrand

This is a good read aloud for this time of year! Another fun book by Will Hillenbrand...an Ohio author and illustrator. This book is about Mole trying to wake his friend Bear because spring has arrived. Clues hidden in the illustrations will help children guess how Mole is going to wake up his friend. The stick rapping on the window doesn’t work. Neither does a knock on his door. Finally Mole works hard to wake Bear by cooking a big breakfast for his friend. And by the time Bear finally wakes up for spring...Mole has fallen fast asleep. A sweet, simple tale of the lengths we all go to in the name of friendship…and spring.

A must for school libraries and classrooms!

Manners Mash-Up: A Goofy Guide to Good Behavior. If you liked Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road? (2006) and Knock, Knock! (2007), you will love this! In this book, 14 favorite illustrators present their takes on the good and the bad when it comes to etiquette. Some of the illustrators are: Tedd Arnold, Bob Shea (one of my personal favorites), Peter Reynolds, Kevin Sherry, Judy Schachner and more!



Each spread illustrates a setting from kids' everyday lives and the text emphasizes the right behavior. From the dinner table to the doctor's office, from the playground to the pool, this book will help kids navigate any social scenario with utmost grace.

There's a Dragon in the Library

A book about caring for books. This could lead to good discussions on how to take care of library books and how to act in the library. Written by Dianne de Las Casas, author of The Cajun Cornbread Boy and The Gigantic Sweet Potato. She will be a presenter at the SCASL conference this Thursday and Friday (March 10-11) in Columbia, SC.

Max loves story time at the library. One day he spots a large speckled egg on a bookshelf. No one believes Max when he says a dragon has emerged and is now growing up in the library. Young readers will learn about book care as they follow the dragon's antics.

My Name is Not Alexander

Written by Jennifer Frosberry. "Good Morning Alexander," the father said. "It's time for breakfast, and then let's play ball." "My name is not Alexander!" said the little boy. "Then who is sleeping in my son's bed?" asked the father. "I am Theodore, one of the greatest, grandest presidents who ever was!" "Well Theodore, park yourself here and save your energy for today's game." This is how the day begins for Alexander, an imaginative little boy who explores the innovative men who influenced and shaped the world.
 

 
Travel through history with: Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Edison, Jackie Robinson, Fred Astaire and of course, Daddy! This could be a good picture book to lead into biographies.

10 Easter Egg Hunters- Good for Toddlers and Preschool

An Easter Counting Book by Janet Schulman. My one year old just loves the halloween version- 10 Trick or Treaters.

This rhyming book starts out with the Easter bunny hiding a basket of 10 eggs. The children set out to find all ten eggs before the Easter parade. Just a fun and simple counting book.

Memoirs of a Goldfish

Illustrated by Tim Bowers of Granville, Ohio :)

Day One
I swam around my bowl.
Day Two
I swam around my bowl. Twice.
And so it goes in this tell-all tale from a goldfish.
With his bowl to himself and his simple routine, Goldfish loves his life…until one day…

This is the story of a fish who is frustrated when company is put into his fish bowl. He wants nothing to do with them and prefers to be alone with peace and quiet. However, after he spends time away from he new friends, he starts to see what he may be missing in life.

The Little Red Pen by Janet Stevens

From the author of The Great Fuzz Frenzy and Cook-A-Doodle-Do.

 

 

Poor Little Red Pen! She can't possibly correct a mountain of homework all by herself. Who will help her? "Not I!" says Stapler. "Not I!" says Eraser. "¡Yo no!" says Pushpin. But when the Little Red Pen tumbles in exhaustion into the trash, her fellow school supplies must work together to rescue her. There's no lack of trial and error and creative problem-solving in this mission! Kids—and adults—will never see their school supplies in the same way again. Look for this April 18.

The Book That Eats People by John Perry

If I had to pick the most popular books in my elementary library- this picture book would be right up there with Diary of a Wimpy Kid. After I read it to grades 2-5...it was NEVER on the shelf. It is a very fun book about a book (the book you are reading) that eats people. The kids just love getting into this idea. Before I read the book I tell the kids..."this is a book that eats people. I cannot be responsible if the book eats you so please raise your right hand and repeat after me. I promise...I will not blame Mrs. Horne if this book eats me. She warned me ahead of time and I am reading this book at my own risk." They are just smiling so big and giggling through this whole speech! This is just a FUN picture book to share with older elementary kids, especially around halloween.

Gingerbread Man Loose in the School

Put this on your summer reading list. This version of the Gingerbread Man (written by Laura Murray)comes out on July 7. I know many kindergarten and first grade teacher who would love to add this book to their gingerbread collection. This would also be a great "first week of school" book to read to some of the younger students.

When a class leaves for recess, their just-baked Gingerbread Man is left behind. But he's a smart cookie and heads out to find them. He'll run, slide, skip, and limp as fast as he can because: "I can catch them! I'm their Gingerbread Man!" With help from the gym teacher, the nurse, the art teacher and even the principal, the Gingerbread Man does find his class, and he's assured they'll never leave him behind again.

Life Size...

First there was Life Size Zoo and More Life Size Zoo. Now there is Life Size Aquarium. These books are a hit with grades K-5! All of the photographs show the actual size of zoo or aquarium animals. The photos are beautiful and bright and the kids are just amazed! They also love to read all of the fun facts given for each animals- especially their names and how old they are!

Not content to stay on dry land, the Life-Size phenomenon leaves the zoo for a visit to the aquarium. From the clownfish to the killer whale, sea otter to walrus, young readers will see some of their favorite animals from a perspective than they've ever had before. Life-Size Aquarium brings readers eye-to-eye with 19 different animals, including a leafy sea dragon, a sea turtle, a jellyfish, a spider crab, a sea otter, and more.

If you love Fancy Nancy and Pinkalicious, you'll love...

Shoe-la-la! written by Karen Beaumont. (I just love Karen Beaumont!!!) And fun and colorful illustrations by LeUyen Pham.
Meet four girls who love shoes: SHOE-LA-LA!
"Shoes with zippers, Shoes with straps,
Shoes with buckles, Shoes with taps."

This is a fun rhyming book for fans of Fancy Nancy and Pinkalicious. It also has a sweet message...as the four friends cannot find just the right shoes for the party- they discover the perfect shoes are the ones they can decorate themselves. This could even be a good book to incorporate into a fun art project of decorating real or paper shoes. Girls will just love this book!

New Mo

As you can see by my profile photo...I LOVE Mo Willems. You cannot go wrong with any of the Pigeon, Cat the Cat, Piggie and Elephant, or Knuffle Bunny books. Babies, Toddlers, Students in grade K-2 just LOVE his books! Well he is back with another....

Hooray for Amanda and her Alligator is a book with 6½ stories about 2 surprising friends.

Having a stuffed alligator for a best friend can be surprising. Sometimes Amanda surprises her alligator with books. Sometimes Alligator surprises Amanda by eating them. But what happens when Amanda brings home a special—and not entirely welcome—surprise? The result might be unexpected indeed. Look for this book April 26.

BABYMOUSE CHRISTMAS!

The title of this post is in all caps because I am so excited. I just saw this book is coming out September 27. I know that is 6 months away but make sure you keep this on your radar!

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, except for . . . Babymouse!

I am a big fan of the Babymouse series and they were a hit at my school for students grades 2-5. There is also another Babymouse book coming out on May 10- Babymouse Mad Scientist. In this book, the Holm siblings introduce us to another character- Squish. This book will help launch their new graphic novel series- SQUISH: SUPER AMOEBA. Illustrated in only lime green and black ink, I think this new series will be a hit...especially for boys.

Here is a photo of me with the author and illustrator of Babymouse- Jennifer and Matt Holm!

No Sleep for the Sheep

New rhyming-repetitive book by Karen Beaumont (Ain't Gonna Paint No More and Who Ate All the Cookie Dough). Illustrations by Jackie Urbanovic (Duck Soup and Duck at the Door).

 

One tired sheep wants nothing more than a good night's sleep. All is peaceful until—QUACK! Is that a duck at the barn door? And now a goat? A pig? A cow? A horse? Each new unexpected guest is bigger and louder than the last! How will the sheep ever get this barnyard crowd to quiet down before—COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!

 

This will make a great book for storytime at school or for your little ones at home before bed!