Port Moody Public Library New Preschool Books

Picture Book: Ernest

2011-12-29T16:11:00.001-08:00

This sweet title is very meta. Ernest the moose is too big to fit inside the pages of the book: He scrunches and squeezes, but can't get all of himself into the book at once. His little chipmunk friend has a big idea, and together they cobble together an extra-large fold out page. Finally. Moose can fit!

The "can't fit" idea isn't new (Mo Willems did it with Big Frog Can't Fit In") but it's always a winner with kids. The story is very straightforward, with none of the tongue-in-cheek humour or puns that characterize Big Frog. Still, younger preschoolers will thoroughly enjoy the gentle tension of the story, and the novelty of a giant fold out page at the end. Canadians will also appreciate the use of a native animal.

Picture Book

Ages 2-4

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Picture Book: Princess Super Kitty

2011-12-29T12:05:00.000-08:00

Preschoolers love to pretend. They love acting like animals, superheroes, and cartoon characters. This is a good thing, because it gives kids a chance to try out many roles, practice empathy, and exercise their imaginations.

Sometimes, like Antoinette Portis' protagonist, they create a hilariously nonsensical mashup of all their favourites. Maggie starts off as an ordinary kitty, but she adds in the best parts of superhero and princess.

Superheroes help people, and save the day: princesses demand obedience, but bestow their favours on lucky subjects (aka siblings). When bathtime strikes, one more personality joins the mix: Maggie becomes Water Lily Hula Porpoise Princess Super Kitty of the Sea! Meow.

This is a fun title with attractive pictures: it's sure to spark some ridiculously cute costume parties in your house. Get your dressup box ready!

Picture Book

Ages 3-5

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Picture Book: I Want My Hat Back

2011-12-29T11:25:00.001-08:00

Picturebooks depend on the interplay between text and images: that's what makes them a picturebook, rather than simply an illustrated story.

John Klassen's super-simple title is a perfect example of a true picturebook: obvious text and design clues reveal that somebody in the book (two somebodies, actually) are lying.

Preschoolers, with their keen sense of justice, will be thrilled when they figure out who stole bear's hat, and will be even happier when the thief gets his comeuppance.

Bear and the other forest animals are drawn with stylized watercolours. The images are so simple that Bear (and others) show no expressions: readers must infer their emotional state from the one or two lines of text on the page. This results in some hilariously deadpan scenes where readers are in the enviable position of knowing whodunnit, while Bear is calmly oblivious.

Best for ages four to six, and most highly recommended for parents!

Picture Book
Ages 4-6
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Picture Book: Wow! Said the owl

2011-11-29T20:32:00.001-08:00

Tim Hopgood has created a lovely concept book about colours.

Little owl takes a long nap, and wakes up right at dawn. With the sun comes a rainbow of beautiful colours that she's never seen before!

Preschoolers will love the gentle story, and the repeating refrain will have them chanting along with Owl. A wonderful, simple book for younger readers, and a perfect readaloud for groups.

Concept Book

Ages 1-3

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Board Book: Where is My Baby?

2011-11-29T20:25:00.001-08:00

This bright, die-cut board book is a very simple introduction to the most common farm animals and their babies. Using the familiar "where's my baby?" theme, each full page spread depicts a worried parent asking for their baby. Turn the half-page, and the joyful animal is reunited with their infant.

This is a successful riff on a popular toddler theme, particularly well suited for preschoolers of 9-18 months. As an added bonus, author Harriet Ziefert uses the correct terminology to describe each animal baby. The pig finds her piglet, the goat her kid, the cow her calf, and so on.

A great offering with whimsical, bright pictures.

Board book
Ages 0-3
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Halloween Book: What 's in the Witch's Kitchen?

2011-10-27T15:21:00.000-07:00

Fans of pop up and lift-the-flap books will go bonkers for Nick Sharratt's newest holiday title. With his trademark clever rhymes, English idiom, and bright, cartoony pictures, this title is a holiday winner for storytimes and read-alouds.

There's plenty of grossness this Halloween in the witch's kitchen: open the flaps one way, and you'll find delicious treats, like tasty cheese and crunchy brown toast. Open them the other way, and it's bats with fleas, or a grumpy burnt ghost!

Parents be warned: there are some extra gross pages, with treats like the teapot full of goblin wee, and the jar of rabbit plops. Most kids will find this kind of humour hysterical, but it might send you off your tea for a few days.

Halloween Book
Ages 2-6
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Picture Book: You Will Be My Friend!

2011-10-27T15:09:00.000-07:00

Oh dear. When Lucy decides she's going to make a new friend that day, NOTHING is going to stand in her way. Brimming with optimism, Lucy can't see how her plan to befriend one of the forest's critters could possibly go wrong.

Except... that it does. Again, and again, and again. Lucy tries to be patient and optimistic, but it's difficult when all her efforts just seem to be backfiring! She didn't mean to eat the bee's house at her tea party, and she just can't make herself enjoy chomping on trees when she hangs out with Beaver.

Lucy eventually resorts to threats (complete with hilarious one-liners, like "Come back here and have fun with me!") before she realizes that you just can't force a friendship. Fortunately, somebody who needs a friend arrives just as she's given up all hope of making a buddy. Whew!

There's a couple of messages here: first and foremost, you can't make somebody be friends with you. Despite your best intentions, there has to be willingness on both sides, or things will work out very badly indeed. Second, finding a friend is a bit like finding your prince: you may have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find that perfect match! Despite the hilarious presentation, the message behind this book is a good one for any child who has ever felt lonely, left out, or friendless in a crowd. There's a friend waiting out there somewhere: just stay hopeful, be yourself, keep putting yourself out there, and that perfect person will connect with you in the end.

Picture Book
Ages 3-6
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Picture Book: Goyangi Means Cat

2011-10-27T14:55:00.000-07:00

This gorgeously illustrated book about adoption and displacement, with a deeper message about the difficulty of adjusting to new environments. Any parent or child who has encountered new situations that are not entirely within their control will find that this book resonates with authentic emotional responses.

Soo Min is adopted as a preschooler from Korea. When her parents bring her home, there is a great deal of learning to be done on both sides. Her parents only know the korean words for bed, eat, rice and house: Soo Min has to teach them what's important to her, and quickly.

She makes a special connection to the cat, goyangi, and is disraught when he is nowhere to be found one day. With his return, Soo Min begins the slow process of integrating her previous life in Korea with her new home and loving family.

This is the kind of book that unfolds with repeated readings, as much of the story is implied in the emotional reactions of the characters. The text is very minimal, and readers will need to exercise their empathetic muscles to imagine the confusion and disruption that Soo Min is feeling in her first few days. The gorgeous art creates a blend of Asian and North American by mixing patterned prints with the warm, soft-realism illustrations: the impression is of a hidden world, and a subtle sens of the exotic permeates the full page spreads. The Korean text echoes the English story, a great touch that underscores the sense of a dual but overlapping reality.

There is rich material for discussion here, and the message about adjusting to a new and unfamiliar environment is relevant to children in all kinds of new situations, not just adoptees. With plenty of opportunity for reflection and gentle discussion, most children will be able to relate to Soo Min's sense of displacement and loss, and take courage from her willingness to start anew with her loving adoptive family.

Ages 2-5
Picture Book
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Wordless Picture Book: Bee & Bird

2011-10-27T14:49:00.001-07:00

This wordless picture book is an exercise in changing perspectives. From angles, sizes, and positions, nothing is as it seems!

Each bold, digitally created spread shows Bee and Bird from some perspective, using blocky graphic lines and stylized shapes. As the visual angle changes, readers are forced to readjust their concept of space and relationships to accommodate the new information in the illustration. Every page is a discovery, and there will be much turning of pages back and forth as readers seek to reconcile their visual assumptions with the the new perspectives.

There's little story here, and so this book is primarily useful as a visual feast, or a prompt for an art activity. An attractive book, best suited for thoughtful readers with the maturity to understand the impact of perspective and angle.

Wordless Picture Book
Ages 3-7
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Picture Book: Dear Tabby

2011-10-27T14:27:00.000-07:00

Older presch0olers and early elementary kids will love the feisty Tabby D. Cat, author of the "Dear Tabby" advice column. All the animals in Critterville know that if they're in a pinch, Dear Tabby will help them out with advice, all for the low, low price of table scraps or cat food.

The advice column format is best suited to four through eight year olds, as it requires some background print knowledge to understand. The snarky, sardonic humour is great for kids who are ready to read between the lines, and the text and art are often in counterpoint: observant kids will notice details that add to the message contained in the written content.

Tabby gives great advice that addresses the feelings behind the letters: a bored dog is told to start his pursuit of happiness by chasing his tail, a talkative parrot is given a listening lesson, and the over-coddled Boots is encouraged to find freedom in the hills.

A quirky and hilarious book, this would be a fantastic title for early elementary classes that are ready for a prompted writing exercise.

Picture Book

Grades k-5

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Picturebook: Little Wizard

2010-11-24T17:21:00.000-08:00

Wizards, knights and dragons most often make appearances in fantasy novels and other fare for school-aged children. But littler ones (especially boys) under five often want in on the action and Kazuno Kohara's Little Wizard is a stellar choice for the youngest fantasy fiends in your life.

This is the story of a burgeoning wizard who just can't learn to fly. Lonely and ground-bound, the little wizard meets a helpful dragon who befriends him and attempts to show him how to fly. Despite his best efforts, the tiny wiz still can't get up in the air and is left alone to sulk. But when the little wizard meets a dragon-hunting knight, he knows he must learn to fly to save his friend.

The cover shows the only three colours inside the book: black, purple and green. Kohara is able to do more with three colours than most artists can do with a whole palette. The effect is striking, engaging, and utterly original. These high-contrast illustrations will be especially appealing to very young children who are better able to process pictures with bold, sturdy outlines. More than an attractive package, the story's themes of friendship and perseverance are perfect for the preschool set.

Fans of this book will also want to check out Kohara's winter tale, Jack Frost and the hilariously spooky The Haunted House.

Picturebook
Ages 3-6
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Picturebook: Little Owl Lost

2010-11-09T20:00:00.000-08:00

Continuing in the tradition of P.D. Eastman's Are You My Mother?, Little Owl is on a hunt for his matriarch. When he falls out of his nest (with a Bump...Bump...BUMP!), Little Owl must team up with Squirrel to find his way back home.

Little Owl knows a thing or two about his mama - she's big, she's got pointy ears, and she's got big eyes. Unfortunately, many forest animals meet that same criteria. After encountering a bear, a rabbit, and a frog, Little Owl finally makes it back to the warm wings of his mommy.

While the concept may sound tired, Little Owl Lost is fresh, vibrant, hilarious, and perfect for reading aloud. Young children can play along with the action, making their own big bear arms, pointy rabbit ears, and big frog eyes. Sparse text and frequent page turns should also help capture the attention of the squrimiest listeners.

The colour palette is bright and delightfully imaginative. Squirrel is fuschia, the trees are crimson, and the sky is green. With such crisp colours and deliberate shapes, this is an ideal selection for very young children. Infants and toddlers find it easier to focus on blocks of colour and Little Owl definitely delivers in this department.

Picturebook
Ages 2-4
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Picturebook: A Penguin Story

2010-11-04T13:30:00.000-07:00

As the weather turns chilly, there is no better pick than Antoinette Portis' A Penguin Story. Although this book was published in 2009, it has a gentle, vintage, 1950s-esque style reminiscent of Goodnight Moon.

Edna has a thirst for colour. She is tired of the neverending white, black, and blue, blue, blue that surround her in her permanently winter world. But one day Edna discovers something absolutely magical - orange!

Orange comes in the the very friendly form of some researchers, decked out in neon orange parkas and living in neon orange tents. When Edna finally has to bid goodbye to her newfound friends, she keeps a very special orange souvenir.

This book is a pure joy, and quickly became one of my all-time favourites. Besides being a touching, quirky story, little ones can participate in naming the colours and shapes; with Edna's circle eyes and triangle beak, the square icebergs, and the half-circle tents, the possibilities are endless! A perfect lap reading for a two to four year old and an ideal Kindergarten read-aloud.

Antoinette Portis has several other stellar titles including Kindergarten Diary and Not a Box all available for check out at the Port Moody library!

Picture Book
Ages 2-6
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Picture Book: Todd's TV

2010-09-10T11:27:00.000-07:00

This cautionary tale is primarily aimed at parents and older elementary aged kids who are keenly aware of the debate surrounding television's deleterious effects.

Todd loves his parents, but he loves his TV too. Todd's parents are busy, busy people who argue over who will take Todd to events, appointments, and other necessary functions. When they can't agree on who should parent their only child, Todd's TV steps in to take over his parenting (including tucking him in and giving him sage advice on life).

Slowly, Todd's parents begin to realize they've made a mistake. Their attempts to reason and negotiate with the TV for more time with Todd are rebuffed, until (aHA!) they discover the off switch. All is well in the family...until Todd gets a computer.

Kids will laugh at the TV's over-the-top antics, but parents will likely take a sober second look at the amount of time their own little Todds are spending in front of the tube: this is, of course, exactly what author James Proimos desires. Perhaps a bit preachy for those who are in the know, but a useful book for teaching kids about media awareness.

Picture Book
Ages k-4
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Picturebook: What If?

2010-09-10T11:19:00.000-07:00

With a grand total of six words in the entire book, Laura Vaccaro Seeger's newest title explores the concept of social play and inclusivity through deceptively simple art.

Two seals are playing with a ball in the water, when a third seal appears on the beach looking for a friend. Rather than show a structured outcome, the author provides three different options, and shows the probable result of each.

In option one, the seal in the water is left out when the two on the beach begin to play. Option two also sees a seal left sad and alone, when the two original seals return to the water to play. But in option three, all three seals play together: nobody is left out, and nobody feels sad.

Kids will definitely need some help to figure out the non-linear structure of this book. Once they understand that three different social options are being presented, kids will clearly understand that leaving someone out of play can result in hurt feelings and sadness. (and who can resist a sad seal?) Getting kids to apply this abstract lesson to their actual play will take a bit of coaching, as the situation depicted (seals on the beach with a ball) may not translate immediately into playground practicalities.

PictureBook
Grades k-2
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2010-09-10T11:14:00.000-07:00

Get ready to dance when you read this stomping, creeping, tripping, thumping book about dancing animals. Fantastic collage art illustrates each page, where familiar animals dance to their own beat.

Single stanzas encourage participation with repetetive rhymes, and a question/answer format. The title practically begs for a dramatic group reading, where the tiny, quiet ladybugs are followed by the huge, thumping elephant! This readaloud would be a perfect segue into an action song or rhyme as part of a motion unit or storytime.

Picturebook
Ages 2-4
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Picture Book: We Planted a Tree!

2010-09-10T11:03:00.001-07:00

This eco-tale is a simple explanation of how one small act -planting a tree- can bring change to the world.

Bob Staake's stylized illustrations follow trees and families all over the world as they watch their tree grow from a seedling to a tree that provides food, shade, visual pleasure, and clean air.

These concrete examples of how a tree can help improve the environment will provide much-needed context for younger kids, who may not see the connection between a tree and the green movement. This is an effective and attractive title, and would work well in a preschool or kindergarten classroom setting as part of an ecology unit: just be ready to deal with a whole bunch or kids eager to go out and plant trees of their very own!

PictureBook
Ages 4- grade 3
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Picture Book: Erroll

2010-09-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

When Bob finds a talking squirrel named Erroll inside his package of nuts, he can hardly imagine how a squirrel could have snuck inside. A gracious host, Bob offers Erroll a peanut butter sandwich, which trips off a crumby, peanut-buttery chase through the house and up a nearby tree.

When Bob's Mom finds the mess, she doesn't believe Bob's talking squirrel story: at least, not until Erroll politely introduces himself. Sensibly, Mom decides that Erroll must return to the woods (with a triple-decker peanut butter sandwich to keep him going, and a promise to visit soon).

The next morning, Bob opens up his package of Monkey Munch...can you guess who's inside?

Though the story is a bit stilted, energetic boys will immediately identify with Bob and his ability make the most of an unbelievable situation. The large type will invite new readers to try this book on their own, while the complex artwork will encourage kids to pore over the pictures as they follow Erroll's journey through the guys of the nut factory, or the disastrous path of the chase through the house.

Great for boys in grades 1-4, particularly reluctant readers or those who depend on pictures for motivation.

Picture Book
Grades 1-4
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Picturebook: Pink Me Up

2010-09-10T10:39:00.001-07:00

Are you ready for an explosion of pink sparkles and frilliness? Little bunny certainly is. Today is the 3rd annual Pink-nic, and bunny is all set to rock the party with her equally pink Mama.

Unfortunately, Mama wakes up with a bad case of (pink) chicken pox. Uh-oh. Mama's too sick to go: today is the WORST DAY EVER!!!

Of course, there is a stand-in available...Daddy? Little bunny carefully informs Daddy that (ahem) he's a boy, and therefore is most decidedly not pink. However, Daddy (being secure in his manhood, and rather a good sport) ransacks his closet and finds one pink tie.

Inspired, Little bunny and daddy set to work on pinking daddy up: they draw pink polka dots on his shirt, tape pink stripes to his pants, and generally pinkify his wardrobe. Little bunny kindly holds Daddy's hand on the way to the pink-nik (after all, he's not used to this excess of pink) and soaks up the praise and applause when all the other Mama's see his remarkable outfit.

Little girls who are obsessed with pink, fairies, princesses and the like will eat up the text, while more jaded adults will stifle our hysterical laughter when the cartoon-like art shows Daddy's ambivalent expressions, and little bunny's master plan to pink up the universe. A wonderful and smart title that pokes holes in standard gender roles through gentle humour.

Picture Book
Ages 4-6
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Picture Book: Chalk

2010-09-10T10:25:00.001-07:00

This wordless picturebook is very much in the style of David Wiesner, whose classic titles (Sector 7, Tuesday) have inspired kids to create their own stories based on his detailed and fantastical works of art.

In Bill Tompson's excellent title, three elementary aged kids find a bag of chalk at the playground, and proceed to draw amazing things into reality. Of course, when one of the kids draws up a dinosaur, much chasing and fleeing ensues. The solution? Quick, draw a rainstorm to wash all that chalk away! The simple plot is built around an engaging, if familiar premise. Kids who are newcomers to the wordless format will be able to immediately pick up on what's happening without too much effort. Because of this accessibility, Chalk would be a great choice for a reluctant reader.

The art in this title is the real standout. Crystal clear, photo-realistic images of engaging multi-ethnic kids will captivate readers. The unique perspectives and spot-on expressions lend interest to the simple plot. The sheer beauty of the illustrations will certainly capture the interest of most kids instantly.

As with many wordless picturebooks, the title would shine as the subject of a group discussion, particularly for boys or reluctant readers. The story invites questions like "What will happen next?" and "what would you have drawn?". Wordless picturebooks are always a great way to build engagement and print motivation, but this title is especially well suited to rambunctious grade k-3's.

Wordless Picturebook
Grade k-3
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Picture Book: What's the Matter, Bunny Blue?

2010-09-10T10:20:00.001-07:00

Poor Bunny Blue! He's lost his granny, Boo hoo hoo!

With this rhyming refrain, even the youngest kids can read along as a wide and wonderful variety of animals try to figure out where poor Bunny's granny could be.

With very simple, soft images on an uncluttered page, this title would be suitable for very young toddlers. The familiar theme (losing a loved one) will resonate with most preschool kids, and of course there's a happy ending when Granny and Bunny are joyously reunited.

Aside from the occasional scanning difficulty with the rhymes, this is a wonderful, warm readaloud that would work for individual reading or groups. A great opener for discussions about what to do when you get lost, too!

Picturebook
Ages 2-4
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Picture Book: I'm Your Bus!

2010-09-10T10:13:00.000-07:00

Marilyn Singer's rollicking, rhyming picturebook comes just in time for back-to-school.

With just one or two bouncing rhymes per page, this tale of a dedicated schoolbus is perfect for readalouds and storytime. The bright, cartoon-like art is friendly and large enough for big groups to view clearly.

This would be a great title for kids who are feeling a bit nervous about being at school all day: the schoolbus is shown as a dependable friend who picks them up from the safety of home, takes them wonderful places (like zoo field trips, farms, etc) and then waits patiently until it's time to scoop them up from school and get them safely home again.

Best for preschool groups or older kids with a special interest in vehicles. It really would be a shame not to use this excellent title as a "back to school" storytime opener.

Picturebook
Ages 2-5
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Picture Book: The Heart and the Bottle

2010-09-10T08:57:00.000-07:00

With his trademark minimalist style, author Oliver Jeffers has written another picturebook that explores the roots of human emotions. When a curious little girl loses her beloved grandfather, she protects her heart by placing it into a glass jar.

Once grown, she realizes that she misses the wonder and magic in the world, and so she enlists the help of a small, curious girl (much like her younger self) to extract her long lost heart from it's hiding place.

Within this seemingly simple plot, there are many layers of complexity. The spare, evocative art is a perfect companion to the text, which conveys the message about living with a vulnerable heart with the bare minimum of words.

Jeffers' titles always seem to be aimed at a general audience, rather than specifically at preschoolers: his titles are as relevant to adults as they are to the diaper set. Though the protagonists and situations feature children, younger kids will definitely need a sensitive adult to guide them through the complicated emotional message of this title. Best for kids aged 5 and up, and certainly recommended as an adult/child one-on-one read.

Picturebook
Ages 5-7
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Picture Book: Bye-bye Baby!

2010-04-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

Felix is not impressed with his new baby sister. He's off to a bad start when he's banished to the playground with his sitter during her birth: It gets worse when his sister goes to bed late, and wakes everyone up early. Felix votes for taking her back, but it seems that the only one on his side is Pancho, his beloved stuffed grey donkey.

When his baby sister is old enough to walk, the family visits the zoo. It's amazing! There are elephants that could sit on his sister, Hippos that could eat his sister, and Giraffes that could lift her high into the trees, where he would "never have to see her again!"

When it's time to leave the zoo, Felix is distraught. On the ride home, he cries. and cries. and cries. Nothing can make him feel better, until his sister reaches over, and hands him Pancho. With one small gesture, Felix finds that his sister might, just might, not be such a dud after all. His parting words? "I guess I can call off the hippo."

This short book clearly shows the disgust and alienation that older siblings might feel with a younger addition. Unlike many other titles in this genre, the issue isn't resolved within a week or two: it takes years until Felix's sister is able to relate to him in a way he can understand. This would be a great title to couple with a discussion about siblings, where you remind older sibs that their younger brother or sister might take a long time to start interacting with them. Patience is the key!

Picture book
ages 3-5
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Wordless Picture Book: Treasure Bath

2009-10-22T16:39:00.000-07:00

I love wordless picture books, and this one is a great example of the genre. After helping his mom bake a cake, a little boy is marched off to the bathtub for a scrub. He's rather despondent at first (not at all anxious to wash off the chocolate stains!) but the he sees that there are fish in his bath! And suddenly, the bath is the ocean, and he finds a map that leads him to a treasure chest.

Uh oh...just soap and shampoo in the chest. An octopus (mom?) grabs him, and scrubs him from top to toe. When he's released from the sea creature's grasp, he finds that he's back in the tub, clean and bright. Into pajamas, and then...cake!

Wordless picture books really give kids room to exercise their imagination. This one is rather simple (they could have done so much more with the pictures of the ocean and treasure!) but all the same, it's a great way to encourage kids to pretend.

Wordless Picture Book

Ages 3-5

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Picture Book: Itty Bitty

2009-10-22T16:33:00.000-07:00

This is a sweet, light tale that will appeal to kids who love baby animals or tiny things. Itty Bitty is a tiny, tiny little dog. He is pleased when he finds a bone that he can chew on, and he gnaws it until he's made a nice little house!

The bone is a bit roomy, though, and Itty Bitty needs some furniture. This sparks a journey to the furniture department in town, where kids will recognize Itty Bitty's problem: everything is much too large!

Fortunately, the store has a Teeny Weeny Department, where Itty Bitty finds the perfect sofa, rug and table. His house furnished, Itty Bitty settles in with - you guessed it - a teeny tiny book!

Clear and attractive art is a selling point for this book, but mostly it's a cute story that will appeal to kids who are used to navigating an adult world.

Ages 2-4
Picture Book

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Picture Book: Moon Rabbit

2009-10-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

This picture book tackles the unusual idea of *not* living happily ever after! little rabbit lives in the city, where she is very happy on her own. She has a favourite cafe, a nice place to stay, and she likes how the city has so many things to see and do. But sometimes, she wishes there was someone else, jsut like her, that she could be friends with.

Cue Brown Rabbit! When little white rabbit goes for a picnic in the country, she meets Brown Rabbit. Together they spend many happy days, playing and frolicking in the park. But one dark night, white rabbit is reminded of her beloved city when she sees the bright lights glowing in the distance. Nothing Brown Rabbit tries makes the little rabbit happy, so she decides to go back to the city; back to her home. I found this a little sad, but sure enough, little rabbit makes certain that her new friend will stay close...she invites him to visit her the very next day!

A touching tale about how friendship doesn't need to mean ownership, and one that emphasizes the importance of listening to our own feelings and preferences.

Picture book

Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: Crictor

2009-10-01T11:48:00.000-07:00

This classic picturebook was out of print for several years, and we're very glad it's back! Crictor is the story of Madame Louise Boodot, a french schoolteacher who receives a surprising present from her Herpetologist son!

Of course, Crictor is a giant boa constrictor, and he becomes Madame's special friend and pet. Kids will love how Crictor goes to school with Madame, and learns how to make letters and numbers with his body! But there's a robber in town, and Crictor might just have to do something heroic to keep Madame safe.

This book makes a lovely tell-aloud tale, as well as being a fantastic picture book. A fun read for older kids too.

Picture book

Ages 3-7

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Picture Book: All Kinds of Families

2009-10-01T11:39:00.000-07:00

This interesting concept book explains the idea that objects, animals and other things have families...just like we do! Using concrete examples and whimsical pictures, the authors shows how things can be grouped into families by use (forks, spoons knives), genealogy (human families), location (stuff in your fridge), and likeness (eggs in a carton). There are many fun examples, and the book's clever rhyming refrains reinforce the idea that human families are changed when someone is born. Here's an example:

As soon as you're born, you make a new grandma

or maybe a grandpa, that's what you might do,

You might make a cousin, you might be a cousin,

An uncle or aunt might be made just by you!

What a great way to start the explanation of how families are made, and why we call the people in our families (aunts, grandmas) special names! A useful and unique title.

Picture book

Ages 4-6

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Picture Book: Big, Bigger, Biggest!

2009-09-30T11:27:00.001-07:00

This is the second book I've reviewed with this title, and I'm pleased to say it's as appealing as the first one! Author Nancy Coffelt has written a great book about comparisons, synonyms and antonyms. The best part is that you won't know you're learning when you read it, because it's so fun!

Clear, cartoon pictures of animals are feature on each page, with a bright contrasting background. Each animals makes a statement: the hippopotamus says, "I'm big." The dinosaur says, "I'm biggest!". The bunny says, "I'm small". And so on! Each group (big, small, fast, slow, hungry, slimy, sleepy) has three animals, each with their own statement. (big, bigger, biggest, etc.)

Underneath each animals' statement, there are three synonyms that give kids other ways to say the word. For example, the hippo ("I'm big!") is also large, huge, and jumbo. The tortoise ("I'm slow!") is also plodding, languid, and ponderous. What a wonderful way to learn new words! The pictures give kids a concrete sense of each word, so that they really make sense. Parents can encourage kids to use these words for fun! Kids will get a kick out of a parent saying, "Don't be so ponderous" when they send kids off to bed. A great pick for vocabulary building.

Picture Book

Ages 4-8

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Poetry: Button Up!

2009-09-30T11:21:00.000-07:00

What a fun book of rhymes! This poetry collection, by Alice Schertle, is all about the clothes we wear. The fun and quirky rhymes are written from the point of view of kids' clothes. My personal favourite? Bob's helmet! Here's a sample:

Bob's on his bike

and i'm on Bob.

I'm Bob's helmet.

I'm on the job.

Bob burns rubber.

Bob climbs hills.

Bob does wheelies.

Bob takes spills.

Jack's Soccer Jersey is also a winner, as is Bill's Blue Jacket. These are wonderful poems, great for a read aloud, and sure to make you giggle. Lots of boy appeal too, which is rare with poetry! These poems would be great for classroom use as well as at home; reading poetry together is a great way to support kids' literacy learning. A fun book for those who thought they didn't like poetry!

Poetry

Ages 4-8

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Nonfiction: Join In and Play

2009-09-30T11:11:00.000-07:00

This book is extremely useful for any parent or caregiver of a preschool or young elementary child. It tackles the difficult subject of playing with friends.

It's hard for young children to know how to join a group of other kids who are already playing. Asking to join in is a learned skill, and a very important one! This book makes suggestions about these situations in language that kids will understand.

Suggestions include, "When I see someone I'd like to play with, I can walk up and smile as I say hello." or, "I can invite someone to play with me." It sounds simple, but these play skills are learned behaviours that many kids have trouble mastering!

The book uses clear, friendly and multicultural artwork that can also help kids identify what to do when a situation doesn't go their way. For example, "Sometimes I lose a game, or get picked last, or don't get a turn. I can still have fun. And things might go better next time". The author also shows kids how to help others who are having a hard time: "When things don't go well for someone else, I can say something kind.".

This book is a very useful and accessible title for many kids, and would be great as a shared read in daycares and preschools as well.

Nonfiction

Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: The Three Robbers

2009-09-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

Parents might remember this classic, award winning picture book from their own childhoods! Published in 1963, the Three Robbers is a childhood standard, for good reason.

From the opening "once upon a time", right up until the fairy tale ending, this is a sneakily charming tale about three bad robbers who end up being very good indeed.

The best part of this book is the strong, bold artwork. Every page makes great use of negative space, with black backgrounds and distintive silhouettes. As the robbers become reformed (courtesy of a small girl who takes over their hearts) the pages become lighter, with more greens, reds, and othe colours creeping in. The iconic art is the kind that kids will remember for years to come. A wonderful book with a great message and wonderful illustration. Highly recommended.

Picture book

Ages 3-6

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Nursery Rhymes with CD: Playtime Rhymes for Little People

2009-09-08T14:07:00.001-07:00

Barefoot Books is immediately recognizable as the publisher of this book, because their trademark fabric and stitchery illustrations are all over the bright, attractive cover.

Inside, kids will find a wonderful selection of over 40 well known or classic nursery rhymes and songs. Some will be familiar to all (I'm a little teapot, Head and shoulders) and some are delightfully older songs or rhymes that have fallen out of favour (Five litle peas, Wind the bobbin up, Hinx Minx). Each rhyme has a colourful fabric illustration to support the text.

Best of all, this book comes with a CD that will help parents and kids learn (or remember!) the tunes to these fun rhymes and songs. The track titles don't match up exactly with the pages of the book, so some page flipping will be necessary to figure out what song is playing, but overall the inclusion of the CD is extremley helpful.

I would use the CD more as an aide to help me learn to sing the songs myself; the music is not particularly to my taste. As a learning tool, however, it's more than adequate.

Nursery Rhymes with CD
Ages 0-4
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Picture Book: Not All Animals are Blue

2009-09-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

This book's tagline is "a big book of little differences". Each page has a picture of an animal group on the right hand spread, with some pointed questions on the left hand side.

For example, the picture of "Five Brand New Babies" shows an alligator baby, a penguin, an owl, an ostrich, and a turtle, all in a row. The questions ask, "why is she wearing pajamas?" "Who's having a drink first?" "She seems very sad". and "she's wearing her eggshell as a hat".

These questions (and comments) act as conversation starters, getting kids and parents to look closely at the details of the art. Some questions spur discussion (She seems very sad) and some invite speculation and factual conversations (do alligators really come from eggs?).

The true value of this book is that it inspires dialogic reading, or reading where parents and kids have a conversation about the book. Talking about books while you read them is a very effective way to maximize the early literacy impact of shared reading, and build kids' vocabulary, narrative and comprehension skills. You can do this with any book, but "Not All Animals Are Blue" is a wonderful help for parents who are not sure about dialogic reading.

A great quiet book for bedtime or other peaceful moments.

Picture Book

Ages 3-5

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Picture Book: Lines that Wiggle

2009-07-20T19:37:00.000-07:00

Lines That Wiggle is an intriguing book by author Candace Whitman. This stylishly illustrated picture book asks kids to interpret the different lines on each page using visual cues and minimal text.

For example, the "Lines that Wiggle" page shows a monster cozying up to a wiggly snake; the "lines that trap" page has a monster stuck in a spiderweb. Every page features a different monster, which will really tickle kids!

As kids visually and physically follow the lines through this book, they will build a really important set of early literacy skills. They'll work on spatial awareness (both 2d and 3d), which helps kids understand shapes in space and on paper. This will assist kids when they begin forming letters, and when they do simple math.

Kids will also learn to rely on visual cues when interpreting text. This is another important decoding skill; it's especially helpful for beginning readers, who use pictures to help them decode words, and for nonfiction reading, where images support the information gained through the text.

Most of all, this is a fun and engaging book that invites kids to participate in reading and understanding. With appealing, retro illustrations and charming monsters on every page, this book will appeal to most preschoolers.

Picture Book

Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: Hidden Hippo

2009-07-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

Hidden Hippo is one of those books that has appeal for kids of all different ages. Very young children will love looking at the fabric art pictures of african animals; they're bright, colourful, and charming! Older kids will be ready for the challenge of looking for Hippo.

The rhyming text leads us through the landscape, and mentions the flamingos, giraffes, leopards, and other animals that wander crowd the pages. In every scene, hippo is hiding somewhere in the background or the water. Kids will love scoping him out, until he bursts forth from the water at the very end!

School aged kids might like to check this book out for the final pages, which have brief descriptions of each animal mentioned in the book. Some informatino is given about the animals' characteristics and habitats. A faboulous book for all kinds of reasons!

Picture Book

Ages 2-6

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Picture Book: Hello Tilly

2009-07-07T19:56:00.000-07:00

I've just discovered the Tilly and Friends series, and I think I'm in love! These charming picture books are a UK import, and they have the whimsical pictures and storyline that characterize English books for children.

Tilly and her animal friends all live together in their little yellow house. Tilly is reading one day when Tiptoe the bunny comes by, and askes if she wants to play band with him. Of course she does! Doodle invites them to a feast, then chicken Pru starts a dress up party. When everyone has a little too much fun, they settle down to listen to Tilly's story, and the tale ends where it began.

With very simple words and little plot, this is a perfect book for very young children. Kids will love the silly fun that Tilly and friends get into, and they'll find themselves in at least one of Tilly's very different group of friends.

Picture Book

Ages 2-4

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Picture Book: This is the Firegighter

2009-07-07T19:50:00.001-07:00

This is a great new addition to the plethora of firefighter books that are already available in the library. The simple, cartoony pictures are complemented by clear rhyming text, with just one idea or piece of information per page.

The text format is repetetive as well as simple. The "This is the firefighter, this is his hose" format gives younger preschoolers a very clear understanding of what firefighters do. As if they needed any more reasons to love the guys in red!

Picture Book

Ages 2-4

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Picture Book: Little Beauty

2009-06-29T16:52:00.001-07:00

Based on a true story, this picture book tells a simple tale of a captive gorilla who asks his keepers for a friend. They bring him Beauty, a tiny kitten who loves the gorilla as much as he loves her. A sweet tale of empathy and friendship that will charm readers, despite it's short length.

Picture book

Ages 2-5

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Wordless Picture Book: Wave

2009-06-29T16:46:00.000-07:00

Wordless picture books provide excellent support for beginning and pre-readers. They encourage kids to use their own storytelling skills, and act as a springboard for conversations between parent and child. They often use sophistocated visual design standards, and are just plain fun to look at!

Wave is the story of a young girl and the waves on the beach. As we all have done, she threatens the receding wave, then flees from the crash of the incoming wave after it. She plays in the sand, is chased by seagulls, and in the end, leaves the beach with her mother.

A simple, fun wordless book, great for younger kids.

Wordless picture book

Ages 1-4

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Picture Book: One Boy

2009-06-29T14:35:00.000-07:00

One Boy is a fantastic new picturebook by Laura Vaccaro Seeger. It's die cut pages reveal an image with simple supporting text on one side; when you turn the page, the die cutout changes the text to tell you more about the picture that is revealed.

For example, One Boy becomes All Alone on the next page. Four Monkeys turn into Held the Key. Not only is this a fantastic early literacy support, it's also a great counting book! Clear, cartoonlike pictures will appeal to babies right through preschoolers, and early readers will really benefit from the playful text features. A great choice!

Picture Book

Ages 3-7

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Picture Book With CD: I Got Two Dogs

2009-06-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

Kids will love this fun picturebook about two exuberant dogs, complete with catchy CD tune! Listen to it once, and you'll be singing along as dogs Fanny and Blue chase squirrels, get belly rubs, and shake mud all over EVERYTHING!

Picture Book with CD

Ages 2-6

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Picture Book: Katie Loves the Kittens

2009-06-24T16:56:00.001-07:00

If you're a dog lover, this adorable picture book will have you sitting up and begging for more. Katie is sooooo excited when Sara Ann brings home three cute little kittens. She's so excited that she just can't help herself! Whenever she sees them, she howls with glee, and runs over to play with them. But the kittens are very tiny, and they're terrified of poor Katie.

Katie finally learns that she must moderate her excitement if she wants the kittens to trust her; a happy ending for all. The best part of this book is the spot-on illustration. Those who love dogs will recognize several classic behaviours: the unstoppably wagging tail, the embarassed curl-up on the dog pillow, and the head-off-the-dog-bed exhausted sleep. The pictures of the kittens are equally funny, and author/illustrator John Himmelman captures the ninja-kitten position perfectly as the kittens fly through the air after Katie's indiscretions.

Picture Book

Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: Never Talk To Strangers

2009-06-23T20:31:00.001-07:00

I love the illustrations in this book; they look like they're straight out of the sixties, with their curly lines and textured wallpapers. The message is just as good, and perhaps a bit more timeless!

In funny, rhyming verse, this book exhorts children to ignore and avoid strangers who try to get their attention. For example:

"If you are hanging from a trapeze/ and up sneaks a camel with bony knees,/ remember this rule, if you please -/Never talk to strangers!"

The other pages are just as fun, with grouchy bears knocking at your door, spotted leopards leaping in a store, rhinoceri waiting for a bus, and bees riding their bikes. All these weird and wonderful animals are rebuffed with the refrain, "Never Talk to Strangers!"

The best part of this book, however, is its second half. In the later pages, kids are given examples of when talking to a stranger is perfectly ok. If your father introduces you to a kangaroo, or your teacher introduces you to a llama, they're not strangers...because your father/teacher knows her! A fun book with a great message.

Picture Book
Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: Big Kicks

2009-06-23T20:26:00.000-07:00

Biggie Bear is a quiet bear who plays jazz, collects stamps, and enjoys time alone. One day, the town soccer team knocks on his door; they want to recruit him for the team, sure that his size will give him a competetive advantage!

It turns out that Biggie Bear is not the next David Beckham. As the book puts it, "Maybe being big and being good at soccer are not the same". But everyone has their special talent, and it turns out that Biggie is a rock-star party thrower. When his team wins the game (courtesy of an accidental header from Biggie) they decide that their large friend definitely belongs on the soccer field...as the chief cheerleader, from the sidelines!

Picture Book

Ages 4-6

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Picture Book: Night of the Moon

2009-06-23T20:22:00.000-07:00

This gentle Ramadan story is full of beautiful illustrations and information about the important Muslim holiday. Told from the point of view of a little girl, Ramadan is a magical time of fasting, family, feasts and traditions.

Perfect as a read-aloud for kids who want to know more about Ramadan, Eid, and Chaand Raat, this book is aimed at elementary kids who are interested in holiday and traditions around the world.

Picture Book

Ages 5-10

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Picture Book: Big Rabbit's Bad Mood

2009-06-23T19:24:00.000-07:00

Everybody's had one. A bad mood...one that follows you around, and sticks like glue. Big Rabbit's bad mood is a hairy, rabbit sized guy that cheerfully follows him around everywhere he goes. It does annoying things, like tap on the desk, or flick the light switches. It even eats the houseplants and the CD player when Big Rabbit tries to cheer himself up with some music!

Finally, Big Rabbit tries making a path of arrows to show the Bad Mood the door. He's so busy making and moving and doing that he doesn't notice the bad mood disappear! To top things off, all of Big Rabbit's friends show up at his door, ready to celebrate.

I thought that it could have been made more clear that a bad mood can be dispelled on your own; many kids will connect the birthday party and presents with the bad mood's departure. But the whimsical pictures and cute text are so delightful that i'm inclined to forgive this book any weaknesses! Definitely a great readaloud for anyone who's ever had one of THOSE moods.

Picture Book

Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: The Doghouse

2009-06-23T19:19:00.001-07:00

Author Jan Thomas has done it again, with this hilariously tongue-in-cheek picture book. Mouse, Cow, Duck and Pig are playing ball in a sunny field when their ball rolls staight into THE DOGHOUSE! Mouse proceeds to volunteer his friends for retrieval duty, and the tension builds as, one by one, they don't come out. What's going on in there, anyway? Can Mouse swallow his fear and find out?

The text is very, very minimal, making this a perfect choice for beginning readers. A wonderful readaloud for kids who are old enough to get the interplay between the text and pictures; kids will be howling with laughter when the spooky words are juxtaposed with the silly, slapstick pictures. A short, fun read!

Picture book

Ages 3-5

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Picture Book: Pirates, Ho!

2009-05-20T11:36:00.000-07:00

Bright, cartoon like art will appeal to kids of all ages in this swashbuckling pirate tale. The rhyming quatrains are complex enough to appeal to older kids, while the rhythm and repeating refrain of "Pirates, Ho!" will keep younger kids engaged.

In the end, this is a pleasant but not outstanding addition to the cohort of pirate picture books already on the market. Kids aged 3-6 will certainly enjoy it, especially those who adore rascally pirates!

Picture Book

Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: There are Cats in This Book

2009-05-20T11:32:00.001-07:00

This funny and original book uses die cut pages to add visual appeal. On page 3, we flip back a blanket to meet three purring cats. They're ready to play, and they want you to play too!

Kids will love helping the cats play with string, boxes and fish. They'll even have to rescue the cats from a flood, when the fish come with an underwater tsunami. The cats ask kids to do fun things like turn pages, open flaps, and blow on them to dry them off. The art is adorable! At the end, the cats ask to be tucked in, and request a re-read...really soon. This book is wonderful for encouraging kids to be part of the story.

Picture Book

Ages 2-6

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Picture Book: Dinosaur Vs. Bedtime

2009-05-20T11:07:00.001-07:00

Nothing can stop Dinosaur, as he goes head to head with a pile of leaves, a bowl of spaghetti, a bunch of talking grownups, and even bathtime! But can Dinosaur defeat his nemesis, Bedtime? Maybe not!

This picture book is light on words, but little boys will love art. Angry, toothy Dinosaur is like a tiny WWF wrestler as he tussles with those everyday tasks that kids love to hate. Try reading this book using the voice of a NHL or WWF MC; it's hilarious! A perfect quick read before playtime. (not recommended before bedtime!)

Picture Book

Ages 2-5

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Picture Book: Come Back, Cat

2009-04-17T13:25:00.001-07:00

Steven Kellogg's art is immediately recognizable in this friendly tale of kids and cats. A preschooler learns that chasing after a cat will never work: cats are independent creatures, and would rather come to you!

The simple tale can be clearly applied to other types of relationships and friendships. As the little girl in the story interacts with the cat, she learns that she must watch to see what he likes or doesn't like. When she learns to put herself in the cat's shoes (paws?) she is able to sit quietly, and let the cat come to her. This is a powerful tale for building empathy, and learning about how to be a good friend.

Picture Book

Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: Posy

2009-04-17T13:19:00.000-07:00

The art in this short, rhyming picture book is definitely the star of the show. Kitten Posy is drawn with scribbly squiggles that perfectly illsutrates her constant energetic movement. With only four words per page, author Linda Newbery and artist Catherine Rayner manage to capture Posy in typically cute kitten pursuits. She's a "Whiskers wiper/Crayon swiper/Spider catcher/Sofa scratcher!"

Large amounts of white space give Posy room to shine, and the soft, earth coloured tones are very appealing. This book is a pleasure to read, particularly if you love cats.

Picture Book

Ages 0-3

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Picture Book: The I Love You Book

2009-04-17T13:14:00.001-07:00

Todd Parr has done it again, creating a hilarious yet charming picture book in his signature bright cartoon style. With clear, easy to interpret pictures and very simple text (I love you when you are silly/I love you when you are sad), this book will appeal to the youngest of children.

The best part about this book is how it speaks to an adult sense of humour even while it delivers a reassuring message of love to children. The adults in the book retain a consistent cartoon smile, despite the varying expressions of the kids. (e.g. the baby in the "I love you when you share" frame is none too happy!) Definitely worth a look.

Picture Book
Ages 0-4
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Picture Book: The Surprise

2009-04-17T13:07:00.001-07:00

Wordless picture books invite kids to use their own imaginations, and make up the story as they go. There's no better way to support narrative skills, one of the most important parts of literacy.

The Surprise is a lovely story about a sheep who is making a present for his friend Giraffe. Kids will wonder what's happening in the first few pages, as Sheep checks his fleece in the mirror, and goes off on his red scooter to the dye store. Some might even want to dye their own hair, just like Sheep does; it takes him a long time, but finally the bright red wool is spun and knitted into a beautiful scarlet sweater. It's just the right size for Giraffe, who rewards a blushing Sheep with a kiss.

A very simple tale of friendship, and an illustration of how the most thoughtful gifts are those that we make ourselves. Suitable for older preschoolers and younger grade schoolers.

Wordless picture book
Ages 4-7
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Picture Book: Doctor Ted

2009-04-17T13:01:00.001-07:00

Poor Ted! He bumped his knee one morning, and there were no doctors available in his house. What to do? Well, why not just become the doctor himself!

Ted proceeds to search out patients in his home and in his kindergarten class. Unfortunately, his bedside manner is somewhat lacking. His mom's measles turn out to be freckles, and his teacher's mumps are just her chubby cheeks. When the principal comes to talk to him, Ted prescribes him a shot and a full body cast for his gingivitis and bad breath. Ted went home early that day.

But when an emergency happens, the whole school is very glad to have Ted around. Mission accomplished, Ted packs up his stethoscope, ready for the next adventure. The cartoony, fun pictures are perfect for preschoolers, but kids up to grade two will love the slapstick humour of Ted's missed diagnoses and social blunders. A charmer!

Picture Book

Ages 3-7

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Picture Book: The House in the Night

2009-04-17T12:52:00.000-07:00

Susan Marie Swanson has written a simple yet richly detailed picture book, where the calm, repetetive story (Here is the key to the house/In the house burns a light) is offset by the black and white woodcut illustrations. The only colour is the vibrant gold that accents key images: the key, the light, the sun and stars.

This book is based on a old nursery rhyme. It is beautiful in it's simplicity, and provides a reassuring order to the world, with a dash of dreamlike imagination. This would be a wonderful going-to-sleep book for younger kids.

Picture Book

Ages 2-4

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Picture Book: There Once Was a Camel

2009-03-11T09:57:00.000-07:00

This simple picturebook has some of the most beautiful illustrations I've seen in years. Part Aesop's fable, part nonsense rhyme, the simple text tells the story of three animal friends. Their gentle silliness is illustrated with vibrant, soft watercolours in jewel bright tones.

The style evokes the heat and richness of a middle eastern desert night; beautiful enamel and brocade backgrounds make a reader want to reach out and touch the silk tents and soft clouds. Readers will want to spend hours gazing dreamily at these pages, pondering the wisdom of the author, famous Canadian poet P.K. Page. Highly recommended as a bedtime or quiet time read.

Picture Book/Poetry

Ages 3-7

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Picture Book: Octopus Socktopus

2009-02-05T11:10:00.001-08:00

This hilarious lift-the-flap book is filled to the brim with everyone's favourite ocean animal. Clever flaps and moveable parts illustrate all different kinds of octopuses. (Octopi?)

From Socktopus to Goldilocktopus to Toffee Choctopus, each hilarious image shows an octopus in disguise. This kind of silly punning is wonderful for supporting kids' language learning. Even better, it's just plain fun!

Nick Sharratt's cartoonish pictures will appeal to all ages of kids, but the more complex puns (Punk Rocktopus?) will be lost on the younger ones. Have a good laugh with your kindergarten kids; they'll love it.

Picture Book
Ages 3-6

Picture Book: Come Rhyme With Me

2009-02-05T10:47:00.000-08:00

Hans Wilhelm has created an alphabet book with huge literacy punch. On every page, the rhyming text leads kids to a flap that covers the final word in the sentence. Kids will use the picture and rhyme clues to guess the final word, and then confirm their guess by lifting the flap.

What a fantastic way to support phonological awareness! Parents can help kids read through the sentence, and can prompt with beginning sounds for some of the more difficult rhymes. Most four and five year olds will be very ready to guess the endings, but children younger than this will need prompting.

The bright, cartoony images give lots of information to assist kids as they read the text, and everyone will laugh when Gorilla picks his _ _ _. With humour, great visuals, and lots of literacy impact, this book is a winner!

Picture Book

Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Waking Up?

2009-02-05T10:28:00.000-08:00

The soft watercolour pastels of this picturebook provide a lovely counterpoint to the repetetive, rhyming text. Kitty cat is slow to wake up, and there are so many distractions as she gets ready in the morning! A tiny mouse adds interest, as readers will watch eagerly to see when Kitty will notice her little shadow.

Perfect for reading aloud, the story will be familiar to any young child who likes to dawdle on their way out the door. The rhyme and cumulative repetition will grab attention; I recommend this book for storytimes and readalouds.

Picture Book

Ages 2-4

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Picture Book: The Foggy, Foggy Forest

2009-02-05T10:10:00.000-08:00

This superb picturebook is a fantastic excursion into an enchanted forest. Each spread depicts a fantasy scene, such as elves or fairies, in black and white silhouette; turn over the page, and you'll see the scene in full colour.

The very simple text invites children to guess at what lies behind the silhouette. Kids will love flipping through the tranlucent pages. The candy coloured pictures are drawn in Nick Sharratt's trademark cartoon style, and they pose a nice contrast to the pervasive greys and blacks.

This is a charming book, and it's fantasy focus is rare in books for young children. The question and visual answer format is very engaging, and kids and parents alike will enjoy this quick read.

Picture Book

Ages 3-5

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Picturebook: Old Bear

2008-11-17T23:23:00.000-08:00

Beloved author Kevin Henkes has written another winning picture book. Like his award winning "Kitten's First Full Moon", "Old Bear" is drawn with thick lines and a cartoon style. The art is beautiful, with just a touch of abstract in the full colour spreads.

This is an excellent themed pick for Fall or Seasons units. Old Bear goes to sleep in the fall, and dreams about the changing seasons through the year. When he wakes up, it's spring...and it looks just like his vibrant dream! Old Bear can hardly believe he's awake. The extremely simple text and plot mean that this book is suitable for very young children: however, older kids will enjoy playing seek and find in the detailed depictions of the seasons. A lovely book, suitable for all ages.

Picturebook

Ages 1-4

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Picturebook: Who Ate All the Cookie Dough?

2008-11-17T23:17:00.000-08:00

This rhyming picturebook has a snappy beat, and a sure-bet premise. Kangaroo can't figure out who ate all her cookie dough, so she asks each of her friends in turn:

" monkey, monkey, do you know/who ate all the cookie dough?"

"I don't know, it wasn't me! Maybe Hippo. Let's go see."

And so on, until it's clear that the culprit is hiding...right under Kangaroo's nose!

With a fun flap at the end and a refrain that really encourages participation from kids and parents, this book is a great choice for readalouds and storytimes for the younger crowd.

Picturebook

Ages 2-5

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Picturebook: Poor Puppy

2008-06-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

This sequel to the alphabet book "Bad Kitty" is a fantastic counting book for older preschoolers. Poor Puppy really really wants to play with Kitty, but Kitty is just not interested. Instead, Poor Puppy romps with an ascending number of toys, from one airplane to twenty six zoo animals. After all that fun, Poor Puppy curls up for a nap with Kitty's toy mouse. He dreams of playing 26 different games with Kitty (from Apple bobbing in Antarctica to running Zig Zags in Zimbabwe), and when kitty wakes him up trying to steal back the mouse, Poor Puppy is ready to play again. A fun alphabet/counting book with lots of detailed illustrations.

Picturebook

Ages 2-5

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Picturebook: Llama Llama Mad at Mama

2008-06-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

Ah, the dreaded grocery shopping trip. Every parent will recognize the warning signs early in this book: the bored whining, the pout, the missed nap...and sure enough, little llama has a massive meltdown at the Shop-o-rama when Mama llama takes too long with the shopping. Somewhat improbably, little llama stops his tantrum after a stern warning and a kind hug, and finishes the shopping trip by helping to push the cart and find the car. If only it was that easy! The best part about this book is the clever rhyme scheme, and fans of the prequel, Llama Llama Red Pajama, will definitely want to give this book a look.

Picturebook

Ages 2-4

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Picturebook: Who's Hiding?

2008-06-13T11:41:00.001-07:00

Japanese graphic artist Satoru Onishi has created an amazingly clever picturebook in "Who's Hiding". This book is a memory puzzle, where kids see the same two page spread of cartoon animals throughout the book, but must look closely to discover "who's hiding?" or "who's angry?". This book requires children to pay close attention to each picture on the page in order to discern small differences between the animals. The art is cartoonish and colourful, and preschoolers will love this seek and find book as much as older kids love the classics like "Where's Waldo?" and "I Spy".

Picturebook

Ages 4-7

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Picturebook:Yo, Jo!

2008-06-13T11:33:00.000-07:00

Rachel Isadora has used collage art to create a vivid book about a boy's afternoon in an urban african american neighbourhood. Two brothers wait outside their home for their grandfather to come home for dinner, and as they wait, they interact with kids, adults and animals in their neighbourhood. A warm and lively depiction of an inner city community where everyone knows eachother, and nobody is a stranger. Kids and adults alike will appreciate the sense of easy belonging that this book projects.

Picturebook

Ages 2-5

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Picturebook: Overboard!

2008-06-13T11:28:00.001-07:00

Overboard! is author Sarah Week's adorable, rhyming tale of a baby bunny who loves to toss things. Every parent will recognize this stage, where baby chucks toys, food, diapers, and everything else over the side of the stoller/highchair/crib, just to watch it crash on the ground. The best part about this attractively illustrated book is the clever, rhyming text; a book most suited to babies, but certainly a pleasure for parents to read over and over again.

Picturebook

Ages 0-18 mos

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Picturebook: Follow the Line Through the House

2007-09-26T16:50:00.000-07:00

This award winning book is a graphic masterpiece. A single black line creates most of the shapes through the whole house, and kids are invited to start on the first page, and follow the line as it bends and angles through the kitchen, basement, bedrooms, bath and more. The sharp illustrations are reminiscent of 50's art, and kids will be challenged to trace the line's tangled path through the rooms. A very engaging and unique book, probably best for 4 year olds and up, and definitely a good choice for building eye sequencing and fine motor skills.

Picturebook

4-8 years

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Alphabet Book: Bad Kitty

2007-09-26T16:45:00.001-07:00

Bad Kitty used to be a good kitty. That is, until her owner ran out of cat food, and all there was left to eat was Asparagus, Beets, Cauliflower, Dill, Eggplants, Fennel, Garlic, Horseradish...well, you get the idea. Not the first choices for a finicky cat. So Bad Kitty decided to be bad, and she Ate my homework, Bit grandma, Clawed the curtains...again, i'm sure you see where this is going! Bad kitty wreaks havoc all the way through the alphabet, but has an ABC change of heart when her owner brings home some lovely alphabet treats from the grocery store. A very appealing introduction to the alphabet! Sequel Poor Puppy is coming soon...

Alphabet Book
Preschool-Kindergarten
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Poetry: Rumble in the Jungle

2007-09-26T16:41:00.001-07:00

Another poetry book to build rhyming skills, but this time Giles Andreae has created an oversized menagerie to enchant kids who love animals. The silly rhymes are very short, but they are perfectly suited to reading aloud in groups or one on one. If you like this one, make sure you check out the companion book, Commotion in the Ocean!

Preschool

Poetry

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Poetry: Ook the Book

2007-09-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

As well as providing 24 pages of silly fun, this nonsense book builds phonemic awareness skills by emphasizing the rhyming parts of words. Preschoolers and kindergarten kids will howl with laughter when you read the silly rhymes, and anyone who likes Dr. Seuss is sure to enjoy this slim volume. Here's an excerpt:

I am ook,

Ook the book.

Do you see me

In my nook?

Will you stop and take a look?

You will see, I'm one good book!

Poetry

Preschool-Kindergarten

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Picturebook: The Bunnies Are Not in Their Beds

2007-09-26T16:18:00.000-07:00

Three little bunnies are not sleepy at all, in this clearly illustrated picturebook from Marisabina Russo. Bright paper collage illustrations are offset by lots of white space, and kids will sigh with recognition as the bunnies find many things to do in their bedrooms after they are supposed to be sleeping. The night ends with mom and dad asleep in their beds, and three tired out little bunnies piled on the couch!

Picturebook

Preschool-Kindergarten

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Board Book: Skippyjon Jones Up and Down

2007-08-01T17:34:00.000-07:00

This book is a great introduction to opposites, as Skippyjon zooms back and forth, up and down, over and under, and in and out. Based on the wildly popular picturebook series for preschoolers, this short version for babies and toddlers is brightly illustrated and sure to please.

Board Book

Ages 6 mos to 3

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Picture Book: City Signs

2007-08-01T17:29:00.000-07:00

Zoran Milich's simple book of signs is a great I spy book for kids when they travel around town. Many ordinary street signs are left out of this book, but signs like "rail crossing" "taxi" and "construction" are sure to be familiar. Clear, attractive photographs allow kids to easily identify the sign with its object.

Picture Book

Ages 2-4

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Picture Book: The Growing Story

2007-08-01T17:20:00.000-07:00

First published in 1947, this classic story has been beautifully reillustrated by Helen Oxenbury. A boy, and his puppy, and some chicks are all very little. In the spring, the boy notices that the flowers and the grass are all growing: "Will I grow too?" he asks his mother. "Of course!" she replies. The story progresses through the seasons, and by fall the little boy despairs of every growing bigger. He is only convinced when he puts on last winter's warm clothes, and lo! They're too small! The real joy of this book is in the lovely, delicate watercolour illustrations. It took me twice as long as it should have to read this sweet story, because sometimes I just stared at the pictures for a few minutes!

Picture Book

Ages 3-6

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Picture Book: I.Q. Gets Fit

2007-08-01T17:10:00.000-07:00

This adorable nod to healthy living starts when Mrs. Furber's class signs up for their school's Health Month competition. I.Q. is the class pet, and he knows right away that he wants to pass the fitness test, and win a gold ribbon! When I.Q. doesn't do as well as the other students on the fitness test, he's worried he won't pass; but as the month goes on, I.Q. learns about healthy habits such as eating a balanced diet, exercising, and getting enough sleep. At the end of the month, I.Q. takes the fitness test again, and after a moment of suspense, it turns out that he's won the award for most inproved student! The pictures of the tiny mouse exercising his heart out are so endearing; you'll be cheering so hard for I.Q. that you won't even notice you're learning as you read.

Picture Book

Ages 4-7

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Picture Book: Museum Trip

2007-08-01T17:00:00.000-07:00

Wordless picturebooks are one of my favourite formats, and Museum Trip doesn't disappoint. There's plenty for older preschoolers to talk about in this simply drawn tale of a boy's class visit to the museum. A boy is separated from his group when he stops to tie his shoe, and his solitary wanderings lead him to a secret room filled with mazes! Your child will enjoy tracing the path through the maze almost as much as they'll like the surprising ending.

Talking about the wordless illustrations really supports your child's narrative skills; every page is an opportunity to ask, "what's happening here?" It would be fun to read this book before or after your own family's museum outing!

Wordless Picture Book
age 4-7
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Picture Book: I Love Trains!

2007-08-01T16:53:00.000-07:00

For kids who are train obsessed, Philemon Sturges classic picture book provides a very simple, rhyming introduction to the different types of cars and what they carry. The subject matter alone makes this book very popular!

Picture Book

Ages 2-5

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Nonfiction: Jump into January: a journey around the year

2007-03-09T09:53:00.000-08:00

Jump into January is a calendar I-Spy book with a glorious double page spread for each month of the year. The relatively simple gouache pictures have lovely colours, and show friendly kids doing seasonal activities. Along the bottom of the pages, there is a list of things kids can look for in the month's spread. Kids will enjoy finding the objects, and parents will have a great conversation about what other things their family or school might do or find during the month. A great concept book.

Nonfiction

Preschool to Kindergarten

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Picture Book: The Great Graph Contest

2007-03-09T09:43:00.000-08:00

This book is packed with great information about graphs! Although the book is written as a story (Gonk and Beezy have a contest to see who can make the best graph) the information is communicated clearly.

Gonk and Beezy each make three different types of graphs. This gives kids a great survey of some of the basic varieties they might encounter in elementary math. The appealing pictures and storyline add interest to the lesson. This book would fit in very neatly with units on graphs up to grade 4 or 5. I have to admit, I learned some things about graphs from the "make your own graphs" section at the back of the book!

Loreen Leedy has authored several other books about math concepts, and they are definitely worth a look.

Picture Book/Nonfiction

Grades 1-5

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Picture Book: When Daddy's Truck Picks Me Up

2007-03-09T09:23:00.000-08:00

This is a great picturebook for preschoolers or early elementary kids. The little boy wakes up excited, because today is Daddy's day to pick him up from school. Even better, Dad is a tanker truck driver! The rhyming text and pictures show the day alternately through the eyes of father and son, as they both go about their daily activities. At the end of the day, Dad picks up his son (just a little late because of a traffic jam) and they go zooming off in the big red tanker truck, just as promised.

Although I occasionally found the rhymes in this volume forced, I loved it for many other reasons. The dad depicted is not the clean cut, vapidly grinning dad of most picture books; he's a grease stained, tattooed, ponytailed truck driver who nevertheless loves his son like crazy and keeps his promise to pick him up. What a great stereotype to shatter! Also, this book would work very well for boys in split families who may not see their dads as often as they would like. The boys excitement about his day with dad is really realistic, and would reflect the experience of many kids. Finally, it's a truck book! A very strong choice for families to read.

Picture Book

Preschool to grade 2

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Picture Book: Tippy Tippy Tippy Hide!

2007-03-09T09:14:00.000-08:00

This new picturebook is the sequel to Candace Fleming's very popular "Muncha Muncha Muncha!". Summer is over, and Mr. McGreely is pleased that he won't have to share any more carrots with those three tricksy bunnies. He conscientiously prepares his house for winter, but as soon as he plops himself down in his easy chair...knocka knocka knocka! three teeny bunnies want to come in where it's warm!

The rest of the book follows the format of the first. Mr McGreely erects increasingly bombproof barricades around his house, but the little bunnies always manage to find a way in! The pictures are very funny, and attentive kids will be shouting to point out the bunny ears poking up in most frames. In the end, Mr. McGreely does manage to keep the bunnies outside in the snow...but soon spring breaks, and he finds that what he has really done is barricaded himself in! Kids will like the satisfying ending, and yes, the bunnies do forgive grumpy Mr. McGreely.

Picture Book

Preschool to kindergarten

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Picture Book: Celebrity Cat

2007-03-08T16:51:00.000-08:00

This picture book is quite a chameleon. On the surface, it's an engaging tale of Felissima, a cat who decides to take action after she finds no cats in the paintings at the Art Gallery on Cat Visiting Night. Felissima is a talented artist, and she paints cats into many of our most famous artworks. Her work is lauded by cats worldwide, and Felissima becomes a celebrity cat. But, at the end, she comes to understand that cats are not in the pictures because they choose not to be. (how catlike.)

The illustrations in this book are amazing. Felissima and her fellow cats are painted in vibrant hues, while the real-life paintings (such as the Mona Lisa and Van Gogh's Chair) are faithfully recreated. This book would be a wonderful jumping off point for conversations about art in history.

Picture book

Preschool to grade 2

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Nonfiction: Birdsongs

2007-03-08T16:33:00.000-08:00

Birdsongs, by Betsey Franco and Steve Jenkins, is a counting-down picture book about the sounds birds make. On the first page, the red-capped woodpecker is working on a hole-pocked pine tree. Tat tat tat tat tat tat tat tat tat tat! The gorgeous collage illustrations lead kids on a fascinating journey through ten other birds, giving just a little bit of information about each one. The text is concise but poetic, and lends itself to a hushed reading. At the end of the book, once all the birds have settled down to sleep at dusk, a two page spread gives a little more information about each bird. This lovely book would be at home in either a picturebook or easy nonfiction collection, and is an excellent numeracy support.

Nonfiction

Preschool to grade 1

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Picture Book: Llama Llama Red Pajama

2007-02-20T14:38:00.000-08:00

"Llama Llama Red Pajama" is the rhyming story of a young llama who is not so good at waiting for his mother's attention. Although baby llama goes to bed on time, he finds that he misses his Mama. This starts off a hilarious chain reaction, where Mama's absence produces a series of increasingly agitated reactions in the baby llama. The rhymes are well crafted and the incredibly accurate expressions in the illustrations will enchant kids. The alliteration in this book lends itself very well to phonemic awareness exercises, and kids who are learning to read will find it an excellent choice (after they ask you how to pronounce "llama", that is!).
Picture Book
Ages 3-6
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Picture Book: Smash! Mash! Crash! There Goes the Trash!

2007-02-19T17:02:00.000-08:00

Children who are obsessed with large machines will absolutely love this book. The bright illustrations follow a garbage truck as he smashes and crashes through his trash route. The catalogue of moldy dinners and stinky garbage will revolt and fascinate children, and the onomatopoeic rhyming text invites noisy participation from listeners. My favourite part is the expression of greedy anticipation on the garbage truck's face as it opens wide to chomp up a broken chair. Although there is absolutely no underlying message in this book, it will prove a wildly popular choice for kids who love noisy, enormous machines.
Picture Book
Ages 3-6
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Picture book: Silly Suzy Goose

2007-02-19T17:00:00.000-08:00

Suzy goose looks just like all the other geese in her flock. "I wish I could be different," she thinks. The simple text follows her as she imagines hanging upside down like a bat, splashing like an elephant, swimming like a seal, and roaring like a lion. Inspired, Suzy tries out a "Rroarrrhonk!" on a snoozing lion, and races back to the flock just in time to blend in with her identical friends, and escape being eaten. She ends the book by deciding that sometimes it's nice to be like everyone else; but not always.
The simple text and large amounts of white space in this book make it an excellent choice for toddler read alouds. Kids will enjoy looking at the cartoonish paintings of familiar (and not so familiar) animals, and the message is a good one. Definitely a fun choice for storytime.
Picture Book
Ages 2-5
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Picture Book: My Father the Dog

2007-02-19T16:58:00.000-08:00

This picture book is aimed at a slightly older reader, as the joke is a somewhat sophistocated. A little girl provides the reader with evidence of the similarities between her newspaper fetching, sore-losing, napping, ball chasing dad, and their dog. The bright cartoonish illustrations are very attractive, and older kids will giggle as dad and the dog both pee in the bushes, and drink from the hose at the same time. It's a good thing mom says the family can keep him.
Funny and simple, this book is a lightweight read that most kids will really enjoy.
Picture Book
Ages 4-7
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Picture Book: Carrot Soup

2007-02-19T16:56:00.000-08:00

"Carrot Soup", by John Segal, is an excellent picture book for Spring or Easter themed storytimes. Spring is rabbit's favourite season, and he plans his garden (full of only carrots) very carefully. The delicate watercolour illustrations follow his hard work as he plants and tends the garden, until he finds that there are...No Carrots!?
It's clear someone has stolen them, so rabbit goes and asks all his friends in turn if they have seen the missing harvest. Of course, every animal denies any knowledge of the theft. Attentive kids will notice that in the background of every spread, rabbit's friends are wandering around with wheelbarrows full of the missing carrots, and party supplies galore. All this leads up to a surprise party for rabbit at his burrow, where the meal of honour is, you guessed it, carrot soup. An excellent picture book with a warm ending, and kids will love being in on the joke as rabbit searches for his carrots in vain.
Picture Book
Ages 4-7
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Picture Book: Mr. Pusskins

2007-02-19T16:51:00.000-08:00

This delightfully sour faced cat is Mr. Pusskins, a pet who has absolutely no appreciation for his loving owner. Emily adores Mr. Pusskins, but he barely tolerates her thoughtful brushing, praise and bedtime stories. In fact, he becomes so bored with her constant "Blah-de-blah blah blah" that he nips out the cat door one night, and does lots of naughty cat things on his own.
At the end of the night, however, Mr. Pusskins finds himself alone and cold, missing Emily dreadfully. He comes across a missing cat poster with his own face on it, and dials up Emily, meowing piteously into the phone. Of course, Emily comes and scoops him up, and he realizes how lucky he is and reforms.
The text is just a little bit saccharine, but the absolutely hysterical illustrations more than make up for this. It was a shame that Mr. Pusskins had to reform so absolutely, but kids will appreciate the message that sometimes you don't realize how lucky you are until you lose something. Older readers might prefer another bad cat in Rotten Ralph, a very easy First Fiction book about a cat who never does reform.
Picture Book
Ages 3-7
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2007-02-19T16:48:00.000-08:00

As you can see, Milo is just a little bit different than the other bunnies. His enormous size and general goofiness make him a laughingstock with all the fluffy little white bunnies, and Milo's dearest wish is that he could do something to fit in. When he sees a contest for an Easter Bunny Helper, Milo springs into action! During the contest, his best efforts go sadly awry, and Milo slinks home in defeat.
On Easter morning, Milo just stays in bed depressed. Suddenly, there's a knock at the door! The Easter Bunny needs Milo's help to make his deliveries in the huge storm that has blown up. In a sweet ending, Milo saves Easter, and finds his place in Bunny society.
The stylized pictures are wonderful, and the message that everyone has a talent and a place is well delivered. A great book.
Picture Book
Ages 4-7
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Picturebook with CD: Skippyjon Jones in the Dog-House

2006-12-15T10:20:00.000-08:00

Skippyjon Jones is a siamese kitten who wants, more than anything, to be a chihuahua. When mom sends him to his room for a time out, Skippyjon assumes his alternate ego: El Skippito!

Skippyjon lets his enormous imagination take him to a shack (his closet) where his Chihuahua friends are yipping and yapping and hiding out from the Bad Bobble-ito, who has taken over their doghouse. How El Skippito chills the Chihuahuas and banishes the Bobble-ito will make more amigos for this endearing and irresistible rascal who made his first appearance in Skippyjon Jones. A fun story, with adorable illustrations!

Picturebook with CD
Ages 3-6
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Picture Book: Will and Squill

2006-12-13T22:34:00.000-08:00

Another lovely book from an author guaranteed to warm your heart. Will and Squill may be different species (a boy and a squirrel), but nothing can keep these two best friends apart! They grow up doing everything together, even though Squill's parents think that Will is a "nasty dirty boy!" and Will's parents think Squill is a "nasty, dirty squirrel!" But one day, Will's parents buy him a kitten, and Squill get's jealous. After a falling out, the boys must learn to apologize in order to regain their friendship. This author has many other wonderful books that focus on friendship and responsibility in a fun, humourous way.

Picture Book
Ages 3-6
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Picture Book: Scaredy Squirrel

2006-12-13T12:55:00.000-08:00

Scaredy Squirrel, by Melanie Watt, insists that everyone wash their hands with antibacterial soap before reading his book. Scaredy squirrel never leaves his nut tree because he just can't deal with the possibility of meeting up with any of the several things that terrify him out in the big wide world. These things include, but are not limited to, tarantulas, poison ivy, green martians, germs, sharks, and killer bees. But one day, Scaredy Squirrel's comfy routine gets wrecked by an event that not even his carefully stocked emergency kit can save him from! A killer (ahem) bee approaches, and as he flails around wildly, he falls right out of his safe tree. Actually, he glides from his tree to a bush where he scares himself so much he plays dead for 2 hours, then climbs back up. Scaredy Squirrel ends the book by making some big changes to his safe little life. Kids who are nervous about new situations will definitely appreciate this book, and adults will be rolling around on the floor laughing. Highly recommended.

Picture Book
Ages 3-6
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