Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Marley Messy Dog- I Can Read 2

Another fun reader about the beloved dog Marley. And yes...his high energy gets him into trouble in this book as well. Kids love the Marley picture books and like to read these readers all by themselves. This is a good gift for my neice Olivia who loves the Marlet books but is starting to read herself.


When Mommy decides to surprise Cassie with a newly painted bedroom, Marley wants to help. But by the time he's done, the messy dog is in need of a little help himself! Based on the real dog- Marley. By John Grogan.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Purple Little Bird by Greg Foley

Purple Little Bird by Greg Foley (Don't Worry Bear). This is a great book for Carson, toddlers, and younger elementary students. They will just LOVE the illustrations. Very appealing. Little bird lives in a perfect purple world. But it isn't until he ventures out into the world that he discovers there is more to life than just purple.


Purple Little Bird lives in a very purple world:
He has a purple little house and a purple little garden.
But somehow, it's just not quite perfect.
So Purple Little Bird sets off to find the perfect place for him—and discovers it in a most unexpected way.

Clink by Kelly Dipucchio

Clink, a new book by Kelly Dipucchio (Grace for President), is a VERY cute book that children will love. It reminds me of Toy Story and Corduroy. Elementary children will love this book as a read aloud! Could lead to good discussions on technology then and now and how new technologies change our lives.


Clink was a state-of-the-art robot with the dazzling ability to make toast and play music at the same time. But that was many years ago.
Now kids want snazzier robots who do things like play baseball and bake cookies. So day after day, Clink sits on a shelf and sadly watches as his friends leave with their new owners. He almost gives up on ever finding a home—until the day Clink spies a boy who just might be able to be the right one for him. . . .

Tyrannosaurus Dad

What's forty feet long, fifteen feet high, and wears a tie? Tobias's dad of course! This is a cute book for Father's Day that elementary boys will like. This is a funny story about a boy's dad (a tyrannosaurus) who shows up to ump for the Field Day baseball game. He saves the day when no one wants to disagree with his calls. :)



Tobias’s father is a lot like other fathers—he likes corny jokes, and doing magic tricks, and works really hard at the office. But there the resemblance ends.  He has teeth as sharp as steak knives, is forty feet high, and weighs as much as a locomotive.  He is, in fact, a tyrannosaurus.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Last Day Blues

Not that I am counting but...with only 5 days left of school- this would be a great story for any classroom this time of year.
It's the last week of school and Mrs. Hartwell's class is excited to leave for summer vacation, but they don't want their teacher to miss them while they're gone. They picture that their teacher will be sad and lonely all summer- without anything to do. They decide to cheer her up by thinking of the perfect present to give her so she will not be so sad on the last day. Children, teachers and parents will love this book- especially the ending when they get to see how the teachers really react :)

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

First Garden: The White House Garden and How It Grew

This is a great new book for teachers to use in their classrooms when teaching different units- healthy eating, national buildings and symbols, and plants. It could work for all of these subjects. Children will love the illustrations and learning about what is new and modern at the White House. (Recipes Included)


The White House garden, part of Michelle Obama’s campaign to encourage healthful eating, was established in 2009. This book tells the story of Mrs. Obama’s garden, as well as the story of the White House grounds, the other gardens (including Eleanor Roosevelt’s Victory Garden in World War II) that came before, the White House children who have played there, and the teamwork, involving local children as well as the Obama family and White House staff, that led to the garden now flourishing on the South Lawn.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Happy Hippo, Angry Duck: a book of moods

Another great book by Sandra Boynton. Carson just LOVES all of her books and now- so do I!

Are you HAPPY AS A HIPPO?
Or ANGRY AS A DUCK?
Maybe SAD AS A CHICKEN?
(Can you sadly say "CLUCK CLUCK"?)


Bestselling author Sandra Boynton is back in this all-new board book about moods. Boynton's clever animals exemplify a wide range of emotions in this hilarious story about different feelings. Young readers are sure to giggle as interactive text asks them if they are "grumpy as a moose or excited as a dog?" Maybe they're "worried as a rabbit or contented as a frog?"

Friday, May 20, 2011

Put these on your lists for the future...

I love looking around for new books that just came out and books that are coming out in the next season or two. Here is a list of some books that I found that are coming out this summer/early fall that you may want to add to your list for the future and be on the look out. I not previewed or read these...this is just a list from authors and illustrators that I love!

1. Llama Llama Home with Mama by Anna Dewdney- August 23


2. Where's My T-R-U-C-K by Karen Beaumont. Picture by David Catrow- September 1

3. If You Give a Dog a Donut by Laura Numeroff- October 4

4. The Little Bitty Bakery- Pictures by Betsy Lewin- August 30

5. The Sniffles for Bear by Bonnie Becker- September 13. (I love this series!)

6. Back to School Rules by Laurie B. Freidman (Like Thanksgiving Rules)- September
7. Every Thing On It- Shel Silverstein's unseen/unpublished work- Sept. 20

8. Stuff by Margie Palatini- Sept. 20

9. Jonathan and the Big Blue Boat- Philip Stead (A Sick Day for Amos McGee)- June 7

10. E-mergency by Tom Lichtenheld- October 19

11. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by Jerry Pinkney- October 19

12. Ten Little Caterpillars by Bill Martin Jr. and illustrated by Lois Ehlert- August 30

Billy Bully: A School-Yard Counting Tale

This is a good book for young elementary school children to learn about bullying. In this counting story- Billy learns that bullies lose friends one by one. It is not until he realizes how to be a good friend that he starts to gain them back...one by one.


In this funny counting book, Billy Bully learns what it means to be a good friend.
"When Billy Bully comes to play
he always takes the fun away."
As Billy Bully does one rotten thing after another, his friends dwindle to zero.  With a little effort, Billy Bully realizes that a real friend doesn't think only of himself.  Kids will love to count down--and most importantly--back up, as Billy Bully makes it up to his friends and gets the whole gang back together!

Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton

I have seen this book a few times before and just never picked it up....which I do not understand because of course boys would LOVE this book about sharks and trains. However- I read it today and it is a new favorite of mine for sure!!! I might start giving this book to boys I know for their birthdays...it is that good. The author is Chris Barton (The Day-Glo Brothers) and the illustrator is one of my faves- Tom Lichtenheld (Duck Rabbit and Bridget's Beret). In this book- the readers see who will win- the shark or the train. However...they will soon see that it depends on the situation. Of course swimming in the ocean the shark will win...but in a marshmallow toasting contest- the train would win. Kids will LOVE this book and laugh out loud! (I did!)


Shark VS. Train! WHO WILL WIN?!
If you think Superman vs. Batman would be an exciting match up, wait until you see Shark vs. Train. In this hilarious and wacky picture book, Shark and Train egg each other on for one competition after another, including burping, bowling, Ping Pong, piano playing, pie eating, and many more! Who do YOU think will win, Shark or Train?

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

When a Dragon Moves In

This is a cute new book by a new author (Jodi Moore) and the illustrator from I Need My Monster (Howard McWilliam). Kids will be drawn to the cover...a boy having fun on the beach with a fire breathing dragon...it just looks like an instant hit. It is a little long for little little kids but it is a great read aloud. It sort of reminds me of the beginning of How I Became a Pirate and the flow of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.


On a beautiful day at the beach, a young boy brings his bucket, shovel, and imagination, and builds a perfect sand castle. Right away, a dragon moves in. The boy decides to befriend his dragon and they spend time roaming the shore, flying a kite, braving the waves, defying bullies, and roasting marshmallows. However, no one believes the boy when he tries to share the news of his new friend. That’s when the mischief begins, and the dragon becomes a force to be reckoned with. Children will laugh out loud as the dragon devours every last sandwich, blows bubbles in the lemonade, and leaves claw prints in the brownies. Maybe the dragon really is running amok on the beach, or maybe it’s a little boy’s imagination that is running wild.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Splish, Splash, Splat!

Coming out this Tuesday- 5/17- Splish, Splash, Splat! by Ron Scotton. This is a very popular series with kids! (I would recommend for ages 3-8.) This is a fun book for summer reading!


In this book- Splat does not want to have a playdate with Spike. Spike will break his toys and eat all of his candy fish! And he does not want to learn how to swim—water is horrible, scary, and wet! He's sure that this is going to be the worst day ever. But when the rest of their classmates rush straight into the pool, Splat and Spike find that they may have more in common than they thought. Will Splat overcome his fear of water and get into the pool?

Friday, May 13, 2011

Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

This is a new favorite of mine for sure!!! Everyone will love this book...but especially toddler and preschool and kindergarten boys. This is a wonderful story about friendship and being nice to others. Children will also love the truck and farm animal noises.

Horn went Beep! Engine purred. Friendliest sounds you ever heard.
Little  Blue Truck came down the road. Beep! said Blue to the green big toad.


Sheep said Baaa! Cow said Moo! Oink said a piggy. Beep! said Blue.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Meet Blue. A muddy country road is no match for this little pick up--that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. And they're willing to whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road.
Filled with truck sounds and animals noises, here is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others.


The Wonderful Book

The Wonderful Book by Leonid Gore is such a cute book. Children will love the story and cute animals Teachers and librarians can use it to start discussions on taking care of books and treating books right. This reminds me of the book Petunia where the goose doesn't know what to do with the book she finds in the woods.

In this book- a rabbit finds a mysterious object (a book). "What is this?" he asks. "It looks like a wonderful house for me." And he wriggles inside for a nap. Later he hops away and a bear comes by and finds the book. "What is this?" the bear asks. "It looks like a wonderful hat for me." And he puts it on his head. One by one different animals find the object and transform it into whatever they need it to be.
Finally, a boy comes by and finds the book and he knows exactly what to do- open it up and read it. And...It's a wonderful book! Soon, all the animals gather around to share the wonderful story that's inside.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

From the Babymouse Team....Squish

From the creators of Babymouse...we now have Squish- a cute little amoeba. (yes, a little weird and interesting character choice for young readers but they will still want to read!)
Readers will love this series...especially when they see it sitting next to Babymouse books.


Introducing SQUISH—a new graphic novel series about a comic book-loving, twinkie-eating grade school AMOEBA trying to find his place in the world (or at least trying to make it through a school day). Squish has to navigate school (bullies! detention! Principal Planaria!), family (dad: Hates to wear a tie. Secretly listens to heavy metal in the car), and friends (Peggy-rainbows! happy all the time! and Pod . . . who's . . . well, you just have to meet him).
 
 
 
We first meet Squish in the new Babymouse book- #14 Babymouse Mad Scientist. (Squish is like the spin-off.) Here- Babymouse enters the school science fair! Will her amazing discovery win 1st place? Will it become a successful spin off series? Find out in Babymouse: Mad Scientist! Mad Scientist is the 14th graphic novel in the award-winning series and the Babymouse that begins the amazing adventures of SQUISH: SUPER AMOEBA!
 

Monday, May 9, 2011

How to Clean Your Room in 10 Easy Steps

Got a messy room? No problem...this is the book for you! Kids will laugh out loud as they read this book. Readers are getting advice on how to clean their room. Except...it might not be the best advice!
1.  Always wait until your mother hollers, "GET UP THERE AND CLEAN YOUR ROOM—NOW!" using all three of your names. Once she does, you'd better get moving.



From dumping out drawers and dividing stuff into piles to arranging all eight zillion of your stuffed animals, here's the kind of advice on room tidying that everyone can relate to.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Bring on the Birds by Susan Stockdale

I HAVE to buy this for my 5 year old niece Olivia. She loves birds!!! She will say "the blue jay is my favorite bird" and "the ostrich is my favorite bird that does not fly." This is the perfect book for her or any young bird lover!


Birds come in all sorts of interesting shapes, sizes, and colors and many of them can do amazing things as well. Can you imagine...

Dancing birds,
Diving birds,
Hanging birds,
Hiding birds...

They're all real!

In her latest book, Susan Stockdale introduces young readers to both exotic and familiar birds in energetic rhyming text. The bright, bold colors and crisp, clean lines of Stockdale's birds, depicted in their natural habitats, can't help but grab your attention. An afterword identifies each animal and tells a little bit about it and where it lives. Olivia will just love to learn more about each one!

I'm a Shark by Bob Shea

I just love Bob Shea! His other books include Race You to Bed, New Socks, and Dinosaur vs. Bedtime. This is his newest book and it will be SOOOOO popular...especially with boys. Boys come into the library everyday and ask for new shark books. They can't get enough and they will just love this one!!!!

Shark's not afraid of anything.
The dark?
Nah.
A big mean bear?
Don't make him laugh!
But there is one thing that even Shark fears. . . . Can you guess what it is?


Also....It doesn't come out until Sept. 27 but be on the lookout for Dinosaur vs. the Library this fall.


Dinosaur is going to one of his favorite places: the library! On the way, he encounters a series of animals--a cow, some baby chicks, a lonesome turtle, a sad owl--and shares his roars with each. When he reaches his final destination, he faces his biggest challenge yet: Storytime! Library wins! Well, okay, they both win when Dinosaur settles down to listen with his animals friends.

Leap Back Home to Me by Lauren Thompson

Lauren Thompson is the author of the adorable Mouse's First series. This is the perfect book for Mother's Day or a big event like the first day of school. It is so sweet and children will love the little frog. Mothers will love the mommy frog :).
A little frog’s first leap out into the world is a big, scary thing. But luckily, mama is always there to catch him when he comes home. As the leaps get bigger, frog gets braver—and before he knows it, he’s soaring out to the moon and beyond!
This loveable little frog will hurdle his way into your heart. Come leap along, and see what it’s like to shoot for the stars . . . and always have a landing pad ready to catch you.

The Underpants Zoo by Brian Sendelbach

Ok- so I am getting to that stage where I need to read Carson books about the potty and underpants. Since I will be home with her this summer...this is something we are going to start working on. I found this cute new book that I need to get for her- The Underpants Zoo. It is very cute and funny and would be a good companion book to The Tushy Book which we already own. This rhyming book goes through the zoo and shows what kind of underpants all of the animals wear...the leopards wear spotted underpants of course! I think Carson will like this because of the animals and as she gets older she will find the different types of underpants funny!


 
"There's a new zoo in town,
and here's what I've heard . . .
THE UNDERPANTS ZOO
is completely absurd."

What kind of underpants does a lion wear? What about an elephant? The answers to these questions will have readers laughing and turning the page to find out more!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Not New... But A New Favorite At Our House

Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs! by Sandra Boynton is an older book but this is the first time I have seen it. I read it at Barnes and Noble and had to buy it for Carson because it was so fun to read! Here is a sample of this opposite board book.

Dinosaurs Cold.
Dinosaurs Hot.
Dinosaurs Cute and Dinosaurs Not.
Dinosaurs Early.
Dinosaurs Later.
Dinosaurs crammed in an elevator.
Dinosaurs Plump.
Dinosaurs Lean.
Dinosaurs Red, Blue Yellow, and Green.


 

Carson just LOVES this book!!! Sandra Boynton is the best!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

My Mommy Hung the Moon

My Mommy Hung the Moon by Jamie Lee Curtis is another great book. Although I do not usually like books by actors...Jamie Lee Curtis is an exception and she has such cute books- I'm Gonna Like Me, It's Hard to be 5, Tell Me Again About the Night I was Born. This is a cute book about a child's love for their mommy!




My mommy hung the moon.
She tied it with string.
My mommy's good at EVERYTHING.

This is a celebration of unconditional love between mother and child. Mommy is the best at everything: Not only does she carpool, untangle kites, steal bases, and bake cookies, she also seems to light up the sun with her love. So grab the little one you love, and rejoice as the ordinary moments of everyday life become extraordinary because of the magic of mother love.

Bedtime for Mommy

Bedtime for Mommy by Amy Krouse Rosenthal is a perfect Mother's Day read. Toddlers will think the mommy is acting so silly and older readers will understand the humor in the reversal of roles in the bedtime routine. Just a fun book to share!!!! One of my favorite authors and favorite illustrators!!!


When it's Mommy's bedtime, she begs her little girl --
Five more minutes?
Ok, but then brush your teeth!
But then Mommy wants another glass of water…another story…luckily this little girl is very patient!
A hilarious reversal of the classic bedtime routine in which a little girl puts Mommy (and then Daddy) to bed.