friday book review: stuck

i used to write on here about some of our favorite books we were reading.
then i stopped.
we didn't stop reading,
but i stopped writing.
we recently found a book that we LOVE,
so i'm writing another friday book review about it so we can remember it.

Stuck
by Oliver Jeffers

Chaos ensues when a young boy gets his kite stuck up a tree. He throws up his shoe to knock the kite down, but that gets stuck too. That is just the beginning of his troubles. In his attempts to knock down his kite he comes up with some pretty absurd (not to mention hilarious) solutions. Each page will leave you and your child laughing and wondering how on earth he came up with that. The surprise ending is just as quirky as the rest of the story.


i love every oliver jeffers book we've read.
i just love his quirky, creative style.
for whatever reason this one really made an impact.
how can you not love a book who the main character's name is floyd!?
be forewarned, this is not a book with a feel good message or a built in life lesson.
it's just funny,
and it will make you and your child laugh.
and we do laugh.
however, i get extremely confused by his use of the ladder.
will loves the lady in the house.
he is always studying her face and trying to figure out what she is thinking or what she is going to do.
maggie just laughs because will laughs.
i think the best ages for this book are 4-6 year olds;
they are in that stage where they question things that don't make sense,
and a whole lot of things in this book don't make sense.
the only thing i didn't like about this book was the font for the text.
it looks like sloppy handwritten cursive,
so it is a little harder to read and would be harder for a beginning reader to decipher.
other than that,
we love it.
read it.
you might love it, too.

someday

by alison meghee and peter h. reynolds

someday is a mother's heartfelt wish for daughter- that she will grow up healthy, experience joys, and someday have a family of her own. the book traces significant moments in a girl's life from infancy through adulthood, chronicling both achievements and heartache along the way. the simple illustrations add to the emotion of the book just as much as the simple text. it is a tender read for a mother, and the illustrations will draw even the youngest listener in. this is a nice, sentimental book to keep on your daughter's shelf or to pass along to your mother as way of thanking her and admitting how much you can relate to her now.

there are several reasons i'm thinking about this book tonight:

1. my sister-in-law gave me this after maggie was born, and mag & i have started it reading it together lately. i didn't think maggie would take to it so young, but she often picks it by calling it her "baby" book.

2. i have spent the evening alone with just maggie, and that can be a rare delight. with this book fresh on my mind, i couldn't help but better see the childhood joys that she is experiencing as well as the hope that i feel for her life to always be so full. as we pulled into home from our cookie date, i was reminded of a line from the book ("someday you will look at this house and wonder how something that feels so big can look so small"). that's the home i hope to create for all of my children, no matter where that home ever is.

3. mother's day and my birthday will be on the same day this year. this book somehow makes me feel really special that i was born on mother's day. i would have liked to have a mother's day baby.

friday book review: the mixed up chameleon

the mixed up chameleon

by eric carla

suggested reading level: ages 4-8

this is a story of a chameleon who does not like that he changes color to match his surroundings. he notices a zoo and all the unique animals there, and he begins to wish he could be like the animals. he finds his wishes coming true as he becomes tall like a giraffe, handsome like a flamingo, smart like a fox, and on and on. the more he wishes, the more he changes. he turns into a mixed up little chameleon as he takes on parts of all the animals. he soon discovers that the parts look great on the original animals but don't do very well together. he wishes to be himself again so he can reach a fly to eat. this book sends the message that being yourself is always the best, and that the grass is not always greener on the other side.

this book was read the first week of will's preschool,

and he is wanting to read it constantly ever since.

his teacher did a cute activity with a picture of a clear chameleon.

will has played with that chameleon almost everyday since.

he loves putting it over everyone's clothes to see it change.

i can imagine how this book must resonate with him;

he is our child who is already so comfortable in his own skin.

friday book review: late for school

late for school
by mike reiss
suggested reading level: ages 4-8

smitty, who lives in the city, has never been late for school. But on one particular day, after waking up late, he misses his carpool. as the morning progresses, his problems grow bigger. strange weather phenomena, prehistoric glitches, aliens, and snowmen are some of the obstacles he faces on his mission to school. as smitty faces one outrageous problem after another, he becomes more determined than ever to make it to school on time. what happens when he finally arrives at school delivers an unexpected twist.
children & parents alike will be drawn in by the grossly exaggerated illustrations and funny situations,
and the rhyming sequence. whether timely or tardy, many school age children can recognize some of the scenarios. however, the surprise ending throws everyone for a twist.

this is the first book sam checked out from the school library.
library time has been a hit for him,
and this book came out instantly when i picked him up from school that day.
this choice of book is rather fitting for sam.
he hates to be late for school!
i'm grateful for that trait,
and thankfully we have not been late for school.
yet.
even after today's morning adventures.
we normally walk to school,
but this morning i let the boys sleep in because i knew they needed it.
i knew we would be driving.
we went to the van in plenty of time to get to school,
but the van battery was dead.
quick thinking,
and i realized pete rode his bike instead of driving.
i ordered everyone to the black car while i got the keys.
well, there were no keys.
perhaps pete took them to school???
we were doomed to be late.
there was no way we could walk to school and make it on time at this point.
sam was facing his worst school fate.
he was going to be late for school.
thankfully as we started on our journey our friend jamie came down the street in her car.
she stopped,
we asked for a ride,
which she gladly gave,
and sam still made to school on time.
i felt like this book,
one catastrophic event after another.
whew!

*interesting side note... the author of this book was also a writer for The Simpsons

friday book review: weird parents

weird parents
by audrey wood
suggested reading level: ages 5-10

this young boy thinks he has the weirdest parents on earth! why else do they laugh out loud in movies when no one else does? or show your friends how to do the "funky chicken" dance? or blow huge kisses to you when you are leaving on the school bus? their flamboyant and eccentric style is always embarrassing him. however, he knows his parents definitely love each other, and he does enjoy their doting on, so he is eventually able to forgive his parents of their annoying idiosyncrasies. the exaggerated & humorous pictures are full of quirky details that portray how "weird" parents can really be.

i think this book is hilarious!
my children don't think i'm weird just yet,
but i am anticipating the day when they think i am.
and when they do we will be reading this book.
that will probably make me weird,
right?

friday book review: the night before kindergarten and preschool

the night before kindergarten
the night before preschool
by natasha wing
suggested reading level: ages 3-6


each of these books are set the night before kindergarten and preschool. each book discusses the typical emotions a child and a parent might be feeling the night before school starts. the cute rhyming text and simple illustrations capture the fears and excitements that are experienced with such a big new beginning. the character in each book has a positive experience and can't wait to go back to school the next day.


my mom got my boys these books,
and they are by far the cutest books about the 1st day of school that i have read!
my boys LOVE them!
they want to read them all the time,
and it has gotten them very excited about starting preschool and kindergarten.
i even think it identified their fears and excitements that they were unable to express with their own words,
but this book captured it beautifully for them.
in the kindergarten book there was a part with the moms & dads crying about leaving their kids at school for the 1st time.
after reading that page,
sam looked at me with worry in his eyes and made me promise i would NOT cry at his school.
i promise i won't cry on the outside.
it gave me the opportunity to explain to him that moms & dads cry because they will miss being with their kids all the time and they cry because they are so proud of them.
it provided the perfect chance for me to express to him how much i will miss him because we have always been together and to tell him how happy i also am for him to start kindergarten because of all he will learn and how much fun he will have.
will has been excitedly indifferent to preschool.
in the preschool book the children have to take naps.
will was confused because he does NOT want to take a nap at preschool.
i explained that is not how his preschool will be,
and we talked about all the fun things he will do there.
sam, with his arm around will, told him that some kids cry at preschool but that's ok because miss angie will help them.
i think they are both pretty prepared,
and i am very hopeful they will have a fantastic time.
i am excited for their new adventures,
even if i feel a tear inside from time to time.

if you are looking for these books,
don't be surprised if everywhere you look is sold out.
i couldn't find them on amazon or barnes and noble.
my mom got these at smiths market place,
and they are only $3.99.
i don't know if they have anymore.
the kindergarten book also has a companion sticker book story that is fun.
there is also a night before 1st grade book if you don't have a preschooler or kindergartener.

friday book review: but not a book this time

family tree cd

by Frances England

England's cd is a blend of folk, indie, and old time sounds to explore themes of family life, animals, friendship, and empowerment. this is a children's cd, but it is truly music the whole family can enjoy.

to preview the music please click here.

for quite some time i have been putting my boys to bed with calming music playing.

it started out as primary church songs,

and then went to lullabies,

and then to the audio books like "where the sidewalk ends",

and now we have been on a musical kick.

(their favorites are oliver & wicked for kids).

we check out such a variety of music cds at the library,

load them to iTunes,

and burn cds of our favorites for our collection.

we hit the jackpot with the Family Tree cd that will picked out at the library.

i knew i would be hooked simply by looking at the cover,

and once i heard it,

i was hooked.

my boys are hooked.

they love listening to it day and night.

their favorite is "i scream, you scream".

i feel like a seed is planted every time i expose them to something like a variety of music,

and the way we feel listening to this cd is a feeling i would happily authorize exposure to.

so, check the library for this cd,

but i will keep our copy until the due date just because i love the album cover so much.

friday book review: picture books everyone should know, part 2

for those of you trying to squeeze last minute summer reading,
i thought i would post the rest of the picture book list.
it will be long,
but it will be finished.

COME ALONG, DAISY,  Jane Simmons
CORDUROY, Don Freeman
CURIOUS GEORGE, H.A. Rey
DINOSAUR ROAR!, Paul & Henrietta Stickland
DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS!, Mo Willems
DUCK ON A BIKE, David Shannon
FIRE TRUCK, Peter Sis
FREIGHT TRAIN, Donald Crews
FROGGY GETS DRESSED, Jonathan London
THE GARDENER, Sarah Stewart
GEORGE AND MARTHA, James Marshall
GO AWAY, BIG GREEN MONSTER!, Ed Emberley
GOIN' SOMEPLACE SPECIAL, Patricia McKissack
GOOD NIGHT, GORILLA, Peggy Rathmann
GOODNIGHT MOON, Margaret W. Brown
GOSSIE, Dunrea Olivier
GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY, Allen Say
HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON, Crockett Johnson
HARRY THE DIRTY DOG, Gene Zion
HENRY HIKES TO FITCHBURG, D.B. Johnson
HORTON HATCHES THE EGG, Dr. Seuss
HOW DO DINOSAURS SAY GOODNIGHT?, Jane Yolen
I KISSED THE BABY!, Mary Murphy
IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE, Laura J. Numeroff
IT COULD ALWAYS  BE WORSE: A YIDDISH FOLKTALE, Margot Zemach
JOHN HENRY, Julius Lester
JULIUS, Angela Johnson
KITTEN'S FIRST FULL MOON, Kevin Henkes
LILY'S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE, Kevin Henkes
THE LINE-UP BOOK, Russo Marisabina
THE LITTLE RED HEN: AN OLD STORY, Margot Zemach
LON PO PO: A RED RIDING HOOD STORY FROM CHINA, Ed Young
LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE, Bernard Wager
MABELA THE CLEVER, Margaret Read MacDonald
MACHINES AT WORK, Byron Barton
MADELINE, Ludwig Bemelmans
MAISY GOES SWIMMING, Lucy Cousins
MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS, Robert McCloskey
MAMA CAT HAS THREE KITTENS, Denise Fleming
THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN THE TOWERS, Mordicai Gerstein
MARTHA SPEAKS, Susan Meddaugh
MIKE MULLIGAN AND HIS STEAM SHOVEL, Virginia L. Burton
MILLIONS OF CATS, Wanda Gag
MISS NELSON IS MISSING!, Harry Allard & James Marshall
MR. GUMPY'S OUTING, John Birminghan
MURARO'S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS: AN AFRICAN TALE, John Steptoe
MUNCHA! MUNCHA! MUNCHA!, Candace Fleming
MY FRIEND RABBIT, Eric Rohmann
THE NAPPING HOUSE, Audrey Wood
NO DAVID!, David Shannon
OFF TO SCHOOL, BABY DUCK!, Amy Hest
OLD BLACK FLY, Jim Aylesworth
OLIVIA, Ian Falconer
OWEN, Kevin Henkes
PAPA, PLEASE GET THE MOON FOR ME, Eric Carle
PIERRE: A CAUTIONARY TALE, Maurice Sendak
THE POLAR EXPRESS, Chris Van Allsburg
PUSS IN BOOTS, Charles Perrult
ROUND TRIP, Ann Jonas
RUMPELSTILTSKIN, Paul O. Zelinsky
THE SNOWY DAY, Ezra Jack Keats
SPOTS, FEATHERS AND CURLY TAILS, Nancy Tafuri
THE STORY OF FERDINAND, Munro Leaf
THE STRAY DOG, Marc Simont
STREGA NONA, Tomie De Paolo
SWIMMY, Leo Lionni
SYLVESTER AND THE MAGIC PEBBLE, William Steig
THE TALE OF PETER RABBIT, Beatrix Potter
THE BEACH, Faith Ringgold
TEN, NINE, EIGHT, Molly Bang
THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY, Simms
THE THREE BEARS, Paul Daldone
TRASHY TOWN, Andrea Griffing Zimmerman
THE TRUE STORY OF THE THREE LITTLE PIGS BY A WOLF, John Scieszka
TUESDAY David Wiesner
UPTOWN, Bryan Collier
THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR, Eric Carle
THE WHEELS ON THE BUS
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, Maurice Sendak
WHERE'S SPOT?, Eric Hill
WHISTLE FOR WILLIE, Ezra Jack Keats
THE WOLF'S CHICKEN STEW, Keiko Kasza
YOKO, Rosemary Wells
ZOMO THE RABBIT: A TRICKSTER TALE FROM WEST AFRICA, Gerald McDermott

friday book review: picture books everyone should know

i'm always searching for the list of children's books that my children shouldn't miss.
alas! i have found the list!
in sam's kindergarden packet there was a list of 100 picture books everyone should know.
this list was selected by the new york public library.
many of the books we are already familiar with,
but there are many i look forward to reading.
our summer reading goal this year has been to read every book on this list.
i will review the books that we LOVE,
and in the meantime i will share parts of the list if you are interested in some children must reads.
enjoy!

1. ABUELA, Arthur Dorros
2. ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY, Judith Viorst
3. ANANSI AND THE MOSS COVERED ROCK, Eric A. Kimmell
4. ANDY AND THE LION, James Daugherty
5. BARK, GEORGE, Jules Feiffer
6. THE BOSSY GALLITO: A TRADITIONAL CUBAN FOLK TALE,
7. BREAD AND JAM FOR FRANCES, Russell Hoban
8. BROWN BEAR, BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE, Bill MARTIN
9. BRUNA MUNARI'S ABC, Bruno Muranri
10. BUZ, Richard Egielski
11. CAPS FOR SALE: A TALE OF A PEDDLER, SOME MONKEYS AND THEIR MONKEY BUSINESS, Esphyr Slobodkina
12. THE CARROT SEED, Ruth Krauss
13. A CHAIR FOR MY MOTHER, Vera B. Williams
14. CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM, Lois Ehlert
15. CLICK, CLACK, MOO: COWS THAT TYPE, Doreen Cronin

friday book review: alexander, who used to be rich last sunday

alexander, who used to be rich last sunday

by judith viorst

suggested reading level: 4-9

Anthony has two dollars and three quarters and one dime and seven nickels and eighteen pennies. nicholas has one dollar and two quarters and five dimes and five nickels and thirteen pennies. and alexander has bus tokens. grandma betty and grandpa louie gave alexander a dollar, which he was going to save for a walkie talkie. but saving money is hard especially for a kid tempted by bubble gum, a snake rental, a garage sale, and all kinds of other things to spend money on.

quickly alexander finds himself with nothing more than just bus tokens. 

the lesson of money management is made clear to young readers by watching alexander go from being rich to being poor. as alexander comes to realize, if you are absolutely positively going to save your money then you have to get money to save.

this was an instant hit at our house with sam.

sam loves money,

and he loves spending money.

any savings go out the window when the buying impulse strikes.

sam loves collecting stuffed animals. 

he can't go to a yard sale without aching for one.

i've tried every reasonable way to teach him about moderation, saving, and savoring what he already has.

lesson lost pretty much every time.

this book drove the lesson home.

he related to alexander at the yard sale when he was buying the stuffed bear.

sam saw himself,

and as soon as the book was over sam said "i'm going to save my money."

point made.

for now.

he requests this book over and over,

so maybe the lesson will stick.

it is certainly not an easy one to learn,

even as a grown up.

friday book review: where the sidewalk ends

where the sidewalk ends

by shel silverstein

suggested reading level: ages 5-12

where the sidewalk ends is a collection of 130 silly children's poems about topics ranging from "dancing pants", "dirtiest man in the world", hug wars, and hippopotamus sandwiches. silverstein has a funny way of reaching kids with silly words and simple pen-and-ink drawings. each of the 130 poems are touching in a different way. some may be a bit disgusting or joke about naughtiness, but they are all subjects children can relate to. since the release in 1974 four and a half million copies have been sold, making it the bestselling children's poetry book ever.

i'm sure this is a book that will take us back to 2nd or 4th grade!

i remember very well sitting in my 2nd grade and listening to Ms. Martin read this book.

i must admit that "hug-o-war" was my favorite,

and it has always stuck in my head.

i'm sure we've all heard about how important poetry is for children to assist with learning about rhyming, expanding the imagination, and how it is an important first step in learning how to read.

we introduced this book into our family about 1 year ago with a fun tradition.

sam was very sick,

like in bed with a high fever sick,

and i found myself laying with him often for comfort.

i pulled out this book for something different to entertain him.

i wondered if he was too young,

but he loved it!

now whenever anyone is sick,

they get to lay in my bed, snuggle, and read where the sidewalk ends.

sam was recently sick again,

so out the book came.

it was so entertaining that will joined us,

and the book has had to stay out.

it is their book of choice every night at story time.

they each pick 4 poems,

and they want more after.

i recently checked out the cd at the library,

and they like listening to it in bed as they fall asleep.

they think these poems are hilarious.

let's face it,

what's not funny about captain hook picking his nose,

or getting buried with spaghetti instead of confetti,

or hector the junk collector,

or getting eaten by a boa constrictor,

or losing your head and not being able to find it even if you are sitting on it?

this book has most certainly opened sam and will's imagination,

and it has been a pleasant reminder of my childhood memories.

get the book,

if you don't already own it.

if you own it,

then pull it out again.

friday book review: that's not my princess

that's not my princess

by fiona watt

suggested reading level: baby-preschool

this is one of many of the usbourne touchy feely board books. it is a delightful story with a simple and repetitive storyline. the illustrations are bright and cheery, and each illustration has a textured item to make it fun for little hands. on each page you discover all things princess. however, her fan is too fluffy, dress is too thick, and sash too velvety to be the reader's princess. it isn't until the end you learn what makes the princess just right.

it is about time i start thinking about books for maggie.

she received this book for her birthday,

and it has been the 1st book that she wants to read and look at.

i leave it on the floor most of the day because she will always flip through it every time it is near.

her favorite page is definitely the thick dress page.

she loves it so much she tries to tote it with her wherever she goes;

no matter if she is crawling or walking the book is almost always in tow.

even my boys like hearing it.

they have already memorized it and can be found reading it to maggie.

if princess is not your theme,

there are many others with the same story line and textures about teddy bears, kittens, bunnies, puppies, and dragons.

the best baby board books i can recall seeing in quite awhile.

friday book review: diary of a worm

diary of a worm

by doreen cronin

suggested reading level: 4-8

this is the diary of a worm. this worm lives with his parents, plays with his friend spider, and even goes to school. the life of this worm is very different from the life we live. he never has to take a bath, he gets to eat his homework, never goes to the dentist, and he has to spend his time trying to not get smashed by children playing hopscotch or escaping from people digging for fishing bait. this is a funny picture book that hysterically describes the happenings of a silly, little worm in a big worm world.

this is a pretty cute book.

my boys enjoy reading it for very different reasons.

will loves to read it backwards (like starting with the last page and finishing with the first).

it actually reads well that way, too.

sam loves it because he also loves writing everything down.

since reading the book,

sam has been turning any paper he can get his hands on into a journal.

kind of like the one below.

one page is of us in our van in the parking lot almost getting backed into by another car.

(a true traumatic experience.)

the other page is of our beach house in oregon.

i'm going to love any book that inspires creativity in my children,

ESPECIALLY journal writing.

i must admit, i'm a huge fan of journals.

so much so i even loved reading the journal of a worm.

friday book review: christina katerina and the box

christina katerina and the box

by patrica lee gauch

suggested reading level: ages 3-8

christina katerina loves all types of boxes but especially big boxes, like the one that arrived with her mother's new refrigerator. this box becomes all kinds of wonderful things for her and her friend fats watson, including a castle, a clubhouse, and a car. just when you think this box is heading to the trash christina has another idea for it. christina katerina is a sweet, daring, and scruffy girl who makes her adventures seem real. and who can argue with a girl whose best friend is named fats watson? the illustrations are simple, but they truly capture a child's world.

i don't buy books often,

but this one is in my cart on amazon.

this is a timeless classic that we have all enjoyed.

my boys want to read it over and over.

it's even my 1st choice of books to read to them.

this book has sparked so much creativity in my boys.

after reading it the 1st time they went right to work with the milk and orange boxes that we had.

after days of creating skyscrapers, beds, and trains,

i tracked down 2 washer & dryer boxes at a local appliance store.

let's just say that has been such a treat that i've allowed these boxes to remain in my front room for 2 weeks,

and we still have a whole set of adventures left with these boxes.

we have had many playhouses, pirate ships, secret agent hideouts, race cars, sleeping tents (yes, they really slept in them), spiderman skyscrapers, and on and on.

this story is most definitely my style of book,

and i love the simple message of creativity in children.

love, love.

friday book review: bone soup

bone soup

by cambria evans

suggested reading level: ages 4-8

skeletal finnigin, a friendly feasting traveler, is known far and wide for his ravenous appetite. in his travels he is sure that he will be treated to a halloween feast somewhere. unfortunately the ghoul packed community catches word of him, so they all quickly pack away their prized stewed eyeballs and bat wings. although they turn him away, he is undeterred, and he cleverly begins to brew a soup with his magic bone. one by one, each creature emerges to investigate. they are gradually convinced to make awful additions like spider eggs, dried mouse droppings, toenail clippings, dandelions, and other items to the yellow-green soup.

the story is engaging and a little quirky. the illustrations are whimsically scary and in keeping with good halloween spirit.

we have been trying to get with the holiday spirit.

i haven't done a ton of decorations or halloween activities,

but i have been trying to read some fun, festive books.

and there are a lot of halloween books out there.

we enjoyed this story;

both sam & will were obsessed with the eyeballs in the soup.

they both came up with crazy ideas for their own soup.

the story has even inspired some silly dream dust about trying to make soup and all kinds of fun things appearing (like kittens, monkeys, and puppies).

if i were more on the ball i would try to come up with some creative way to make bone soup around here.

but since i'm not up for that this year,

we will just have to keep enjoying the story.

friday book review: the giving tree

the giving tree

by shel silverstein

suggested reading level: ages 4-8

"once there was a tree... and she loved a little boy." this is the beginning of a story of the gift of giving and acceptance of another's capacity to love in return.

the story is about a young boy who would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk; this made the tree happy. as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave.

this is a tender story of unforgettable perception, touched with sadness and joy. the illustrations are simple yet entertaining.

i have always loved this book.

i was emotional after reading it to sam the 1st time 4 years ago,

and i find myself feeling the same way reading it this many years later.

i particularly feel the emotion now as i'm desperately hoping for my children to experience the joy of friendship in their preschool & playgroup.

i hope that even in their young years they will have a friend,

but i hope even more that they will learn the skills now that will enable them to be a friend & have a friend in their futures.

and i hope, like the tree in the story, that they will always enjoy giving.

yet i also hope that they can be like the boy at the end of the story...

content with what a friendship offers,

and not constantly needing to want and to take.

i know that phases of life are lonelier than others,

but i hope they always have at least one true friend that will always walk their road with them.

and perhaps they always will...

they have brothers and a sister and cousins. :)

friday book review: chicks and salsa

chicks and salsa

by aaron reynolds

suggested reading level: ages 4-8

the chickens on farmer nutatcher's farm are tired of chicken feed. luckily the rooster is smarter than the average barnyard animal; he has been watching cooking show over the farmer's wife's shoulder. he gets some ideas of how to spice up their food; he begins with chips and salsa. soon the ducks are inspired to give up their fish for guacamole, and the pigs go for beans and chiles. with all of the southwestern cuisine, the farm yard turns into a fiesta.

this is not one of my favorite books necessarily,

but sam LOVES it.

thank goodness for my children's attention to detail.

they are the ones who figured out where the animals were getting there ingredients.

you must pay close attention to the clever illustrations if you want to learn where they are getting the food.

it is a cute book, with a silly idea.

it has a smooth pattern and humorous illustrations.

the recipes at the back of the book have become staples around here.

sam & will love making "quackamole",

and i have to admit that i don't mind it either.

friday book review: dear zoo

dear zoo

by rod campbell

suggested reading level: birth-4

this flap book begins with a simple letter to the zoo requesting a perfect pet.

as the child gets several pets the flaps reveal that most the animals are inappropriate.

eventually the child gets the perfect pet... you'll have to read it to see it!

this is a clever & entertaining story.

the illustrations are simple yet colorful,

and the flaps add a creative mystery to the story.

we have owned several copies of this book.

this has been one of our favorites since sam was a baby.

will is really loving it now, too.

lately it has been read several times a day.

we love pretending what we would do if we had each of the animals at our house.

last night we decided we would keep the elephant outside to eat all of our apples off the ground since we don't have any peanuts.

there are lots of fun ways to engage preschoolers in the discussion of this book.

i even found this great coloring story to go along with it that we had fun doing.

click here to print one for yourself.

a MUST HAVE for any child book collection.

friday book review: llama llama red pajama

llama llama red pajama

by anna dewdney

suggested reading level: 3-8

a sweet rendering of the trials of bedtime & separation anxiety,

a familiar theme with younger children.

after baby llama gets all tucked in he gets worried after his mama leaves.

when he calls her and she doesn't come immediately he begins to wail.

mama llama has to reassure him that she's always near even if she's not right here.

this story has a simple rhyme scheme and boldly colored pictures.

we love this book!

it is a great representation of what happens at bedtime often around here.

both of my boys enjoy reading it over & over.

it's one i like reading, too.

we talk often about why this baby llama is scared;

that gives my boys the chance to substitute what they are really scared about at night.

it's also a sweet reminder that i am always here for them, too, and that it's ok to go to sleep.

alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day

we read lots of books around here.

i love the story they tell of how we spend our time around here.

i always enjoy re-reading book review posts that i've made in the past.

it has a way of taking me back in time to that stage,

the stage that always passes so quickly.

i'm going to start a friday children's book post from a recent favorite,

and i know i will be grateful for the reminder in 10 years when i re-read all these old posts.

the book that was hot on the list this week was alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day by judith viorst.

it is a story about a little boy who has such a bad day he just wants to move to australia.

every thing was going wrong for him

like gum in his hair, tripping on his skateboard, dropping his sweater in the sink, lima beans for dinner, and kissing on TV.

it makes you think about what you would do on a day like that

and if it's really worth moving to australia.

this book seemed to fit the kind of week we were having around here.

nothing seemed to go quite right the majority of the time.

i think we all wanted to go away at one point.

it provided us a great opportunity to talk about how to handle situations when things don't go our way.

sam really was into the book;

i think it is best suited for 4-6 year olds.