Reading Ahead - Books for Ages 0 to 4 (September/October 2008)

There were few, toddler-preschool books that really stuck out these past two months. There are a number of picture books for the 5 to 8 year-old audience that will be fun for this audience. Those book bags are coming up next! In the meantime, we have two new books we're looking forward to reading.

South written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell. Wordless books are such a wonderful way to explore reading in its purest form: storytelling. McDonnell has paired Mooch with a bird (and some falling leaves) for this one. (Little, Brown and Company, 2008)




Broccoli, Carrots, and Beans by C. B. Chrismas, illustrated by Dan Cooper. Brightly colored illustrations and repetitive text work together to encourage kids to eat their veggies. Will it work? We don't know yet. (AuthorHouse, 2008)

Read more!

Reading Ahead - Books for Ages 0 to 4 (September/October 2008)

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2008/10/reading-ahead-books-for-ages-0-to-4.html

The Book Bag, books for Ages 0 to 4 (July/August 2008)

There weren't many standouts for this audience this time. Both Bee & Me and Too Many Toys set the bar pretty high! Thanks to Andrea and Mark at Just One More Book, we were able to fill out the collection with some podcast reviews.

Bee & Me by Elle J. McGuinness, illustrated by Heather Brown. When a bee comes into his house, a young boy gets the chance to overcome his fear and learn about all the things bees do for us. This book employes Ani-motion™ panels that bring action to the story and will engage pre-readers in thumbing through this sturdy boardbook for hours. (Accord Publishing, 2008)


Too Many Toys written and illustrated by David Shannon You name the toy, Spencer has it. And now mom and dad have had it. So Spencer and Mom look at each and every toy, negotiating which ones will go in the give-away box. "The author makes the process (and getting the message across) fun. Everyone can enjoy this story about kids and their toys. Together, the illustrations and story will give you plenty to share! (The Blue Sky Press, 2008)

If you haven't visited Just One More Book lately, be sure to stop by and look at their Love of Reading Gallery. It is filled with great illustrations about reading-- from the zany to the sublime!



Contagious Wordplaygious: The HICCUPotamus written and illustrated by Aaron Zenz. Frantic antics and logically nonsensical rhyme make this hiccup-halting tactic extravaganza an addictive pick for preschoolers and poets alike. (Dogs in Hats Publishing, 2005)

Flipped Fundamentals: A isn't for Fox (An Isn't Alphabet) by Wendy Ulmer, illustrated by Laura Knorr. Smiling eyes, tumbling rhyme and richly illustrated mischief take centre stage in this roundabout romp through the alphabet. (Sleeping Bear Press, 2008)

Crackerjack Crankiness: I'm Not Cute! written and illustrated by Jonathan Allen. Caustic scowls and harried helplessness take turns on the face of an overtired owlet in this hilariously endearing tale of naptime nastiness and unconditional love. (Hyperion, 2005)

Read more!

The Book Bag, books for Ages 0 to 4 (July/August 2008)

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2008/08/book-bag-books-for-ages-0-to-4.html

News You Can Use

Here's some news that was sent to me courtesy of a weekly WashingtonPost email subscription.

The Partnership for Reading is offering a free 40-page booklet to help children become better readesr. The Partnership for Reading is a collaborative effort of the National Institute for Literacy, the US Department of Education, and the National Institute for Child Health and Development. As written in the eMail:

"The booklet will give you activities that you can do with your children, ages five to ten years, to help them read better."

Each family can receive one free copy. To order multiple copies, call 1-800-228-8813 or visit this Web site: http://www.edpubs.org/webstore/Content/search.asp.

Click here to get your copy of A Child Becomes a Reader: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Read more!

News You Can Use

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2008/03/news-you-can-use.html

The Book Bag, Books for Ages 0 to 4, January/February 2008

We've been very busy reading these past two months. If you search January 2008 or February 2008 you can see all of the titles we've reviewed. You'll need to search the site, not the catalog.

For our Book Bag feature, we've selected some of our favorites, separated by age group. We had very few books for the infant/toddler audience.

I Wonder ... by Harriet Fishel Life would certainly be different if our favorite numbers from 1 to 5 went away. What would our hands and feet look like? Is a triangle still a triangle without three sides? And what about life on the farm. Where would we get blankets if not for sheep's wool? how would we grow without milk? These are the questions ... but what are the answers. This rhyming picture book explores the what ifs of life without the "basics." (American Literary Press, 2007)

Read more!

The Book Bag, Books for Ages 0 to 4, January/February 2008

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2008/02/book-bag-books-for-ages-0-to-4.html

The Book Bag, Books for Ages 0 to 4, November/December 2007

This year, we have spent lots of time culling through our kids toys checking for recall notices. So for the coming holidays, why not pick a gift that isn't likely to be sent back to the manufacturer?

Farmyard Jamboree by Margaret Read MacDonald. This book is inspired by a Chilean folktale. A young boy sings and dances his way from one family member to another, receiving new pets from each family member he meets. This is a cumulative story, in the vein of The House that Jack Built. "Kids have fun learning the names of adult and baby animals; the repetition through the song helps reinforce the learning. The Music CD is a real plus." (Barefoot Books, 2006)

The Little Elephant with the Big Earache by Charlotte Cowan, MD. Eddie's birthday party is just days away, but he has an earache. Dr. Hippo knew just how to help Eddie feel better! This picture book walks children through a visit to the doctor's office and offers comfort (and a pamphlet) for dealing with earaches! "This is a story that every parent and child will appreciate. Rare is the child who hasn't suffered not one earache. The Parent's Guide in the back is a HUGE bonus!" (The Hippocratic Press, 2007) You can also hear a podcast interview with the author at Just One More Book!

The Prince's Bedtime by Joanne Oppenheim. The King and Queen have tried EVERYTHING to make the prince go to sleep, but nothing worked. Then one night an old lady came to the gate. Does she have the answer to this problem? This picture book is a royal version of an every-day dilemma for many families. "As an adult, I enjoyed sharing this story. As a children's librarian, I loved the ending!" (Barefoot Books, 2006)

From Just One More Book ...

May I Pet Your Dog? by Stephanie Calmenson. Three adorable dogs and plenty of vicarious petting cleverly disguise the delivery of essential, clearly stated instructions for dealing with dogs — friendly and otherwise. If only instruction manuals were all so thrilling.

Read more!

The Book Bag, Books for Ages 0 to 4, November/December 2007

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2007/12/book-bag-books-for-ages-0-to-4.html

The Book Bag, Books for ages 0 to 4, September/October 2007

This is a new book bag, starting this month. New subscribers have asked for books in this target audience, so from here on out, we will have a third Book Bag every two months! Normally the Book Bags comprise the short-list of our favorite reads in the previous two months.

For the new subscribers in this group, I would also like to include a link to a list of Favorite Books for Preschoolers. Cathy Puett Miller, the Literacy Ambassador created this list to help parents of our youngest readers-to-be get excited about the reading to come.

Animal Boogie by Debbie Harter Read and dance your way through this book that introduces kids to jungle animals, flora, and fauna in their natural habitats. (Barefoot Books, 2005)

The Coziest Bed in the World by Sheryl Kravitz. Anna wants to sleep in mommy and daddy's bed "just one last time." When she fell asleep that night, she set off to find the coziest bed in the world. As she traveled the earth, she met lots of animals who shared their perfect sleeping place. Which would she choose? This picture book story is for children struggling with sleeping in their own bed. (Little House Publications, 2006)

The Great Princess Contest by Stephanie Walsh. Morning is here. Time for breakfast! Today we have cereal ... with a princess tiara in the box! The magic tiara takes us to the Kingdom of Bannanz, where there is a princess contest. As it is finishing up, a fire-breathing dragon interrupts the contest. This is a personalized picture book where your child stars as a princess who handles a dragon with a temper tantrum. (Aardvark Adventure Stories, Inc., 2005)

A Halloween Story by Alberto Fernandez. Our young narrator (who is also the seven-year-old author) is climbing in to bed on Halloween night. What is that noise? a scary spider? a vampire? or not. At the end of the book you can name the characters and even create your own stories about them. Fun for pre-readers and kids working on their Level 1 sight words. (Maroma Books, 2007)

I Went to the Party in Kalamazoo by Ed Shankman. What are you doing ten years from today? Well, we are all going to a party, where we'll meet amazing people (and animals), and anything can happen ... as long as it's fun. This rhyming picture book invites kids to participate in celebrating life. "This was fun to read ... even a couple times in a row. It will remind you of reading a Dr. Seuss book, but it is unique, too." (Two Kids Productions, LLC, 2007)

Read more!

The Book Bag, Books for ages 0 to 4, September/October 2007

https://thereadingtub.blogspot.com/2007/10/book-bag-books-for-ages-0-to-4.html