Publisher Close Up: Barefoot Books

Many of my friends ask me for board book recommendations for their toddlers (specifically 18-36 months). These parents are looking for more sophisticated content but know their children cannot hold back the temptation of ripping thin paperbacks. I am constantly suggesting board books published by Barefoot Books and decided to showcase them for all my readers today (conveniently just in time for gift-giving season)! They have amazing titles to choose from, all with appropriate texts and vibrant illustrations that are sure to be your new go-to books for story time. Here are some examples that have become staples in my own home:

Alligator Alphabet

By: Stella Blackstone

Before you even begin to go through the names of animals in alphabetical order, take a look at the end papers of this board book. They are so colorful and inviting they are sure to excite any toddler about the alphabet! The text and illustrations are simple and rhythmic, the perfect combination for a little one learning letters and names of animals. As a parent and educator (of sorts), I appreciate the presence of both the capital and lower case letter on each page right next to each other for children to see both forms of the letters. The book also lends itself to singing when you get to the last page. So now that you know about this version of the ABCs, next time won’t you read this book with your toddler?

One Moose, Twenty Mice

By: Clare Beaton

While counting all the different animals on each page of this board book, there is a little game of hide and seek to be played that is sure to excite and engage the reader. This counting book is rare in that it counts from one to twenty and really pushes the idea that children can absorb anything, so why stop counting at ten? Children will clearly be able to identify the number as well as the spelling each number on each page and will also have a great time telling you what kinds of familiar items the illustrator used to add character to each item on the page. Clare Beaton has a unique illustration technique in all of her books. She sews fabric and uses beads, buttons and sequins for detailing. It is always bright and inviting for children of all ages. Go out and get counting!

Big and Small

By: Britta Teckentrup

Teaching the concept of opposites is extremely popular during the toddler years. Big and Small has an interesting approach to the typical book about differences. Everything in the book is either big or little but the connections to understand the two pictures lends itself to a much bigger educational opportunity. For example, on one page there is an apple and next to it is a seed. Obviously the apple is the bigger object and the seed is the small one, but a child will notice the seed is inside a cut-up apple and this also gives the reader the opportunity to teach that seeds are planted and then grow into apples. Pretty sophisticated for a toddler board book! The book is filled with colorful, bold illustrations and has far more to offer than just building vocabulary and itemizing things that are large or small.

Bear About Town

By: Stella Blackstone

By the time a child turns two, they are usually familiar with places they go to most often. The street of the park before they actually see the swings, when you turn the corner on to the block you live on, usually the child will verbalize they are aware of their surroundings. This book has the reader tag along with Bear as he shows us where he goes on a weekly basis. While some places may be more familiar to a child than others (the playground vs. the movie theater), this book has a map of Bear’s town on the last page that makes this a remarkable teaching tool about a neighborhood. A child can literally trace Bear’s daily journeys and see how he gets to each place every day. It may even inspire you to create with your little one your own map of the popular places you go to together. (My son personally uses it as a road for his toy cars to drive on, to each his own!)

Elusive Moose

By: Joan Gannij

This is definitely not your typical animal story. Set in the North woods, a narrator is searching for a moose. Can you spot one each page? Clare Beaton illustrates this book in her typical fashion of felt, beads and buttons and encourages readers to explore a region they may be very unfamiliar with. An opportunity to teach about different types of footprints and Northern wildlife stem from this beautiful little book.

    

Clare Beaton's Rhyming Series

Clare Beaton combines popular and not as familiar verses in all of these beautifully illustrated board books. They are fun to read and inviting to look at. Our personal favorites are Animal Rhymes and Bedtime Rhymes. Children will definitely start chanting these rhymes over and over! 

Hanukkah Titles You Want This Holiday Season!

As the holidays roll around, gift giving is on everyone's mind. In the spirit of the holidays, give the gift of a wonderful holiday themed book! Here are two new ones they are sure to love!

Simon and the Bear

By: Eric Kimmel

The Hanukkah story is full of miracles. A small group of Jews defeating a large army of Greeks and oil for burning candles that should have only lasted one day that lasted for eight are just two of the many wonders that occurred. In Simon and the Bear, Simon is reminded that Hanukkah is coming just as he begins his voyage to America from the old country. His mother’s last words are; “You may need a miracle on your long journey”. Thus begins Simon’s adventure and his own small miracles. He receives the last ticket for the boat and when the boat hits an iceberg, Simon is left stranded and finds his prayers for salvation answered by a large white bear.

It is always refreshing to read a new holiday tale that reinforces the belief that small miracles can happen to anyone anywhere. Simon’s story is that of the Maccabees. In the face of hardship, he does not lose his faith and is saved in the most miraculous way. Children of all ages will enjoy this story and want to read it all year round. Mathew Trueman illustrates the book beautifully. He does a wonderful job depicting day and night and highlighting the candles in the darkness. The reader is connected with Simon on his entire frightful journey and the artwork on the last pages defines what Hanukkah is truly about: Family, presents and latkes (potato pancakes). (Just Kidding!) Family, tradition and appreciation for the small miracles in our lives every day.

The Night before Hanukkah

By: Natasha Wing

For any Jewish child that wanted their own version of The Night before Christmas, the book has arrived and it does not disappoint! Join this young brother and sister as they highlight all of the traditions celebrated on this holiday over the course of eight nights. They play Dreidel, open presents, and eat latkes (potato pancakes) and jelly donuts. The family retells the miraculous story of the Maccabees, eat chocolate coins and of course, light the Menorah for eight days. With vibrant pictures of a real-life Hanukkah experience, this book is sure to bring a smile to every reader. A Happy Hanukkah should be had by all, and to all, a good night! 

BLIZZARD

  

BLIZZARD

By: John Rocco

As the Winter weather approaches, the most fitting book of the season is Blizzard by John Rocco. In case you are unfamiliar with John Rocco and his work, I highly recommend you take a look at Blackout. Yes, above is a picture of me with the author at Book Expo America 2014!

Blizzard is the story of the major snowstorm that hit New England in 1978. People were home-bound for days and one brave boy heads out into the freezing cold to buy food and supplies for his family and neighbors. The store is over a mile away from the boy's house and with tennis rackets on his feet the boy successfully helps his town survive the storm. Readers of all ages are truly going to love this journey. Anyone who has ever gone through a blizzard can relate to the story and the pictures. The most exciting pages in the book are fold-outs of the route the boy takes from his home to the store. It is beautifully and perfectly illustrated with stops the boy makes along the way and footprints in the snow as well as the driveways that are shoveled. John Rocco knows how to take a moment in history and make it relevant and exciting to revisit over and over again. I am sure as we head into our first school closings because of snow this will be the go-to read-aloud in many classrooms! I know it will definitely be read in all of mine!

Keep A Look Out For These Upcoming Picture Books!

Get excited for some of these upcoming picture books, you definitely do not want to miss them!

FROG AND FLY 
By: Jeff Mack

It is a common fact that Frogs eat flies and this book is a reminder of just how much. The simple and bright illustrations along with the thought and talking bubbles make this a thoroughly enjoyable read-aloud and a wonderful easy-reader for beginners. The book is broken down into six short interactions between Frog and Fly and though Frog seems to take the win the end is sure to make you smile when you see how Fly gets the last laugh. Frog’s expressions truly bring this story to life and is the perfect tie in to a unit about frogs, amphibians or the food chain. It is sure to be a crowd pleaser for all children.

READY RABBIT GETS READY

By: Brenna Maloney

Anyone who has ever encountered a morning with a toddler can relate to this book. As a parent or caregiver who needs to get out of the house to get anywhere on time is sure to run into the problem of the toddler having more important things to do and Ready Rabbit is no different. Ready Rabbit is well aware that he needs to get up and get ready for the day but he really needs to build space ships and ride his motorcycle because that is much more important than eating breakfast or brushing his teeth. Young children will immediately connect with Ready Rabbit and find they have similar morning routines and the same adventurous interests. What is most appealing about Ready Rabbit is the illustrations on every page. Rabbit himself is a sock puppet and the pictures of the toys around his house are toys children all own including Legos, dinosaurs, animals and more. Rabbit’s imagination is sure to spark creativity to all is sure to be fans, so be prepared for the newest excuses of why your own toddler is not ready for school on time!

LITTLE BABY BUTTERCUP

By: Linda Ashman

If a toddler could write up a summary of a typical day in her life, this book would be the result. Ashman does not miss a beat highlighting daily toddler routine. Starting with morning breakfast she moves on to playing before heading outdoors in rain or shine. Ashman highlights the most popular parts of the playground and the way toddlers love to “help” with chores. Ashman reminds adults that despite a little mess from time to time, a parent truly loves every minute spent with their little one no matter what. Byun’s illustrations are bright and lively and go hand in hand with the text. This book is the perfect read aloud to share with your little one, especially if they are old enough to verbally express the shared similarities between the book and their own everyday routine. I personally cannot wait to share this book with my own children!

BY MOUSE AND FROG

By: Deborah Freedman

Mouse is trying to write a story and his friend Frog has better ideas of what should be happening in Mouse’s tale. A lesson in collaboration and friendship, By Mouse and Frog is the perfect read-aloud for any preschool class. The most entertaining part of the story is when Frog gets carried away and starts quoting other famous children’s books. Children will love spotting lines from the Pigeon series by Mo Willems, Goodnight Moon, Chicken Little, Are You My Mother and more! The pictures compliment the dialogue perfectly making this sure to be an instant favorite that parents will not mind reading over and over.

Picture Books To Get Kids To Explore Writing...

With new core curriculum standards changing what children are learning in the classroom, it is important to make sure every boring element has something fun and exciting to look forward to. I am sure no kid thinks reading a paragraph and writing a response to it is any fun, but maybe if a class reads a book about writing, it may prompt a different sentiment towards a response assignment. Here are three great examples of books that can go far beyond a read-aloud and would make for excellent follow up writing assignments.

The Day the Crayons Quit - Drew Daywalt

Duncan wants to color but unfortunately his crayons have other plans for him. They believe they have some “issues” that must be resolved before Duncan can be free to outline and draw. Readers of all ages are going to fall in love with this book and insist it be read over and over again. The “complaints” of each crayon actually seem justified and anyone who has ever used a crayon will understand where it is coming from whether you are five or fifty-five. Oliver Jeffers does an amazing job illustrating this picture book and truly brings these crayons to life. If you have not already invested in a copy of this book, now is the time. It should be a staple when teaching the colors in preschool and early elementary school classes, as it lends itself to going far beyond the book to color, create and really use one’s imagination. You can even get ideas of how to utilize this book in a class setting from the Penguin Educator’s Guide: http://www.penguin.com/static/images/yr/pdf/CrayonsGuide.pdf. #SavetheCrayons !

Ten Thank You Letters - Daniel Kirk

Dear Mr. Kirk,

Thank you for reminding us all about the power and beauty of the thank-you note. There is no greater feeling than appreciation and no better way to show it than through words expressed on a piece of paper. What a wonderful way to weave together proper etiquette and writing lessons into one fun package at school, a library or at home.

Love,

Francie

Pig is an adorable character who is trying to write a thank-you note to his Grandmother for a gift he received but is continuously interrupted by his friend Rabbit who is inspired to write a few thank-you notes of his own. Rabbit’s letters are hilarious, specifically who he is writing to and why he is thanking them. However, Pig’s letter really sends the message home on how to write the perfect thank-you note. What an amazing book to open the door for each reader to write a thank-you note of their own!

The Book With No Pictures - BJ Novak

Have you heard of BJ Novak? He is famous from the hit television show The Office. Therefore, there is no person more fitting to write a children’s book than a comedic writer with really famous friends like Mindy Kaling. In all seriousness, this is a really fun book to read to an audience of young children. The concept is simple, there are no pictures in this book and it is simply made up of words, (if you can call them all “words”). BJ Novak creates the perfect opportunity for a child to laugh out loud while hearing a book be read to them. Even though there are no illustrations, the funny words and phrases are written in different colored texts and different fonts so the book does not even look like something that could be remotely boring with just text. The end-papers are decorated with his silly new vocabulary words that are guaranteed to take on a world of their own. Everyone will want to read this book over and over again. This book is a great tie in to an assignment of writing your own book, as it truly demonstrates that anything you put down on paper can be a “story”. BONK.

Happy Reading and even happier writing!

Favorite Board Books These Days...

Here are my favorite board books that have been recently published. Both you and your youngest reader are going to love them!

    

Spot Goes Shopping - Eric Hill

Who doesn’t love Spot the puppy? He is on an adventure with his mother to the grocery store and what fun it is to watch them shop! The different groceries are easily discernable and the text lends itself to really expand a child’s vocabulary about different things bought in a supermarket. A great example is when Spot’s mother holds orange juice and asks Spot if he would like to buy it and he holds oranges and says “Can we make our own?” The oranges are next to lemons and grapes and when I read this to my three year old I asked him what would be made if Spot held the grapes and my son deduced it would make grape juice and the lemons would make lemon juice. The only thing better than the bright pictures and Spot’s enthusiasm is the opportunity this book creates for a child and their parent to create a shopping list of their own and go on their own shopping expedition!

Who's My Baby - Sassy

I am always on the lookout for great board books for babies and toddlers. My criteria is that the book must be engaging for both the child and the reader, educational and worth reading over and over again. Who’s My Baby is exactly this kind of book. It has vibrant pictures, large, sturdy lift the flaps and a mirror in the back for the child to get excited to see themselves. The book has few words but gives the reader the opportunity to say things like “These are cats, their babies are called kittens”. It is a great book to teach the names of animals and their young and you will always find the cutest baby at the end!

Baby's ABC - Sassy 

With sturdy pages, vibrant illustrations and excellent depictions of words, this is a really fun way to learn the alphabet. I love that the book shows both the capital and lowercase letter on each page and it is an easy engaging board book to jumpstart baby's vocabulary!

JUMP!

This week I bought a box of Cheerio's and I received a copy of the book JUMP! by Scott M. Fischer. If you never read it, I highly recommend you search your local supermarket to get your own personal copy (plus this version comes with a Spanish translation!) This a book I usually use in action/exercising themed story times because it goes through the animal kingdom and when an animal feels threatened by another they jump away for safety and I highly encourage children to physically jump when I read that word in the story. it is quick and has a cute rhyming scheme and very easy to get into. It is extremely entertaining for everyone and it always ends with children set up for the perfect movement song to follow (like Shake Your Sillies Out).

This time of year is the best time for jumping outdoors. The weather is getting warmer (in New York) and being outside is a great conversation starter and a great opportunity to build vocabulary skills in a really fun setting. Blowing bubbles on a park bench is a great place to teach words and expressions in addition to plenty of giggles and "jumping" to pop the bubbles. Taking a walk and stopping to point out flowers, trees, stop signs, traffic lights, school buses, police cars etc. is so easy and you do not even need a destination! I highly encourage using this occasion to teach your child about your neighborhood, the people and places that make this place your special home. So why are you still sitting around? Jump up and get outside!