Latest and Greatest From Penguin!

(Me and Harlan Coben - check out his first picture book below!)

This past Thursday I had the opportunity to go to my son’s four year old nursery class and talk to the children about how books become books. From basic art and text to a folded and gathered copy and finally bound and ready for purchase, the children had a great time comparing a book in a flimsy state to a final hardcover copy. I showed them some up and coming picture books and easy readers and now I will share them with you too. Happy Reading!

New Board Books:

   

Corduroy’s Colors, Corduroy’s Numbers

I love that this series incorporates the concept being taught in a sentence. Whether Corduroy is playing in green grass or counting three pigs, it helps a child understand in context what they learning. There are so many objects on each page to help build vocabulary skills, from different flowers and fruits in the garden in Corduroy’s Colors to the many different farm animals in Corduroy’s Numbers.

New Non-Fiction:

 

Astrid Lindgren – Johanna Hurwitz

The newest addition to the Women of Our Time Series, Lindgren is most famous (to me) for being the author of the Pippi Longstocking series. I loved learning that the character started off as someone Lindgren made up in stories she told her daughter and after she was home bound after breaking her ankle she decided to write the stories down and send them to a publisher. What a fortuitous mishap for young children everywhere!

 

The Buzz on Insects – Gina Shaw

This Level 3 reader dives into the world of six legged, two antennae bugs that fill our world (for better or for worse). The photos of ants, caterpillars, ladybugs and others are vivid and beautiful (if also a little gross) and science terms are explained in the glossary on the last page.

 

The Moon – James Buckley Jr.

Ever wonder if the moon is really made of cheese or a man lives there? This Level 4 reader goes through the history of studying the moon from Galileo to Neil Armstrong and all the details discovered along the way.

 

Curious About Fossils – Kate Waters

Sometimes all you need is a picture of giant sloth poop to get kids excited about a science topic like fossils. In this book, you will learn about famous fossil collectors, dinosaurs, how fossils are handled and so much more. This book is perfect for dinosaur lovers who want to go beyond the types of dinosaurs that roamed the earth and a glossary in the back explains key concepts.  


Curious About Snow – Gina Shaw

Snowflakes have different shapes but they all have six sides. Billions of snowflakes fall in every snowstorm. An avalanche is a moving mass of snow that slides down a mountain. Want to learn more fun facts? Pick up a copy of this book, filled with amazing photos of snowflakes you did not know you needed to see.

 

Baby Orca - Mary Batten and Chris Rallis

I first learned about Orcas from the Disney show Octonauts. Baby Orcas are also known as killer whales and are the top predators in the ocean - even sharks are scared of them! Orcas come to life in this easy to read book that takes one on a journey from baby Orca to mother with beautiful photos and illustrations.

Easy Reader Fiction:

 

Get a Hit Mo – David A. Adler

A baseball book for reluctant sports fans in early elementary school, this book teaches the importance of perseverance and never giving up. Trying your best can end in a home run! This is a level 2 reader, perfect for children starting to read on their own.

Picture Books:

 

The Huey’s in What’s the Opposite? – Oliver Jeffers

Oliver Jeffers is a master at making concept books exciting for adults to read to their children. Of course the opposite of up is down, but every parent wants to share that the opposite of half full is half empty (with the exact same glass of juice). The illustrations of the lovable Hueys make this a fun read for all, and there is no better way to entertain a child than through entertaining their adult. This book is also available in board book format.

 

The Magical Fantastical Fridge – Harlan Coben

Every good mom displays her children’s artwork on their fridge, right? What better way for a boy to get out of setting the table for dinner than to “fall” right into his own drawings on the fridge and then has to use his imagination to get himself out. This books is definitely a fresh interpretation on the age old adage, “There’s no place like home”. While the illustrations aren’t really my style, they are loud and fun for an older child (kindergarten – first grade) who can understand the concept. Adult fans of Coben will be excited to expose one of their favorite authors with their children and prep them for his YA novel Shelter.

 

Snappsy the Alligator (did not ask to be in this book) – Julie Falatko

There is something hilarious about a protagonist talking back to the narration in a book. Poor Snappsy feels he needs to defend his actions and decisions and is pressured to make his story “less boring” even though he does not want to be a part of a story, he just wants to have a regular day. This is definitely a story parents will not mind reading over and over with their children.

 

Ten Kisses for Sophie – Rosemary Wells

Sophie fans rejoice! Sophie is back, this time helping her mother make chocolate kisses for dessert for a party. Sophie gets nervous there will not be enough for everyone but she luckily has the best grandmother to come and save the day! Your youngest readers will understand Sophie’s angst about maybe not getting the dessert they have been awaiting for days and learn a great lesson giving to others.

 

A Recipe for Bedtime – Peter Bently

Does this sound like a familiar night routine to you? Undress baby -> bath time -> pajamas -> milk -> bed -> kiss goodnight -> leave room -> come back to room -> sing baby to sleep. If this resonates with you, this is your new bedtime story for your little one. You are sure to love the illustrations and the rhyming text and any parent of a baby or toddler can relate to this book.

 

The Importance of Being 3 – Lindsay Ward

My two and half year old is convinced this book was written just for her. After all, she is about to be three and she is learning to draw letter and shapes, play independently in the playground and make friends. Throwing tantrums and spills are still guaranteed in three year old life, but the new adventures for a growing toddler are exciting and endless and this is a sure to be appreciated gift for any child turning three.

Little Bitty Friends – Elizabeth McPike

Simple rhyming text connects little children with the little critters in nature. Ants, baby rabbits, baby turtles, caterpillars and more all interact with young ones on the pages. This adorable story is an easy way to instill an early love of the great outdoors to the young ones in your life.

 

Super Jumbo – Fred Koehler

Being a super hero is not always easy, but someone has to look out for the neighborhood! Even though he always means to do the right thing, sometimes Super Jumbo’s helping hands go a little awry. There is no better book to inspire children to be the most super version of themselves than this adorable tale of a baby elephant wanting to better the world. This is an absolutely delightful book to read and share with children at home, at story time and in school settings.  

Middle Grade Fiction:

 

Jack and Louisa (Book 2) – Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Kate Wetherhead

Theater nerds rejoice - Jack and Louisa are back! (If you missed their first book, it is a must read for any fan of Broadway.) Act 2 takes us on a trip to the Big Apple and on a new adventure in how serious school plays really are. This is such a fun, fast-paced read whether you are a guy or a doll you will love the next installment of these two friends’ theater adventure.

The Story Of Diva and Flea

If you ever read a book by Mo Willems you are probably aware that he appreciates a good, solid friendship. Elephant and Piggie, Trixie and Knuffle Bunny, Cat the Cat and her friends, City Dog and Country Frog all know the true definition of best friends. This topic is also displayed beautifully in his newest (and I believe first) chapter book, The Story of Diva and Flea. If I have ever helped you in the library, you know that I am the first to suggest any book by Mo Willems for your child(ren), so I am obviously ecstatic that Mr. Willems has ventured into chapter books!

The book is the perfect choice for a first chapter book for an independent reader. It is definitely the appropritate next step for children who have graduated from Willems’ picture/easy reader books but isn’t ready to say goodbye to Willems’ writing or characters. I read it to my kids since it was so easy to understand and follow along (it was also a learning experience for me as I have never read a chapter book to my children before) and they absolutely loved it. The story is about a little dog named Diva and a cat named Flea who come from different backgrounds and form an unlikely friendship in Paris, France. It is based on animals Mr. Willems met when he was living in Paris. Tony DiTerlizzi does a beautiful job illustrating the book and young readers will love reading Willems’ latest tale of two friends who roam the streets of Paris together and always come home for a delicious, filling meal. I love the idea of exposing my kids to what life is like in other cities and this story is a great spring board to compare life in New York and life in Paris. (My children noticed they have apartment buildings and a subway system just like us!) Be sure not to miss the Author and Illustrator notes in the back, it will make the story more meaningful.

Happy Reading!

Moms Don't Get Sick Days...

This cartoon has been hanging on a bulletin in my parent’s house for as long as I can remember and I never really understood it until I became I mother myself (sorry mom!). Unless you are fortunate to have 24/7 help, chances are if you are a mother and you’ve ever gotten that terrible cold or flu, morning sickness when you also have to take care of other children, a migraine or just “coming down with something” then you KNOW that as sad as it is, the last thing you want to do is cook, bathe, change and worst of all - play with your children.

During the winter months when it is too cold to go to the playground after school, I try very hard to show my children attention during that time until I have to start preparing dinner and do whatever they want, which is usually painting, playing with play-doh, cutting with scissors,baking, or anything else they can think of that will make a huge mess and big clean up job for me and I am okay with this because otherwise they would sit in front of the tv or their iPads from the time they come home from school until they go to bed. However, when I get sick, (which thank Gd isn’t very often, but when it hits it is the WORST), I cannot bring myself to do any extra clean up, sometimes I do not even want to get off the couch. On those days I do turn on the tv and hand each child an iPad but it is always with extreme guilt and sometimes the worst happens – my kids still want to have an after school activity even though Blaze and The Monster Machines is on! This made me evaluate my children’s capabilities and toys to come up with a list of after-school fun that does not require mommy to be a participant (unless she is feeling better). I am sharing this list with you – maybe you have some go-to ideas that work for you, or maybe you have a basement or designated play area so this doesn’t even apply to you because the play table isn't also the dinner table or the mess just isn't as "in your face", but I have found that my kids would sometimes rather me be their audience anyway than fellow participant.

I hate reading to my children when I have a sore throat or am so tired that I can barely see straight, so if they request story time after school I tell them to save the books for bedtime when Daddy comes home or look at the book yourself (which often translates to: this is no longer book time) and that is okay. I often offer coloring books or blank paper and crayons and tell them to color pictures since they clean up the crayons when they are done and I am happy to display their artwork on the wall. If I am really lucky I can get a full fifteen minute coloring session. If it isn’t a headache I am suffering from, I encourage my children to take out their instruments and sing me songs. Band time is the best – they play (bang) their pianos, guitars, drums and recorder and I sit on the couch with my feet up enjoying the ridiculous verses my creative children come up with. I always suggest playing with Legos or puzzles but sometimes a full clean up job doesn’t happen on its own (especially when 1000 Legos are involved). There is nothing like having an apartment full of toys and your children telling you they have “nothing to play with”. I like to use my “sick days” to remind my children of their train sets, doll houses, pretend food and kitchen and when they are bored of all of these ideas, I simply tell them “Mommy is sick and needs a checkup”. Nothing heals you faster than a Fisher-Price Band-Aid from a two year old doctor.

Hang in there moms – spring is almost here and that lingering cough will disappear and our kids will stop bringing home ear infections. Until then, do what it takes to get through those hard weeknights, whether it is extra TV or iPad time, coloring, building or singing. (And if you are ever offered an extra set of hands – TAKE THE HELP!! You are already your child’s hero – take that nap if Grandma is offering babysitting time!) One more thing, if you do know a fellow mom suffering from a winter cold, you can surprise her and send her a free tissue box from Kleenex.com. 

 

And if you’ve never seen the amazing : "Moms don't take sick days" DayQuil commercial.