The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall

304 pages
Published 2011
by Knopf Books for Young Readers 


The Penderwicks at Point Mouette is the third in a coming-of-age series about the Penderwick family (a widower dad and his five daughters) by  Jeanne Birdsall.

I first discovered the series in 2008 when I read (and thoroughly enjoyed) The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy. The next year I read the sequel, The Penderwicks of Gardam Street, which made me fall even more in love with the series. And so when I learned that the third book would be published in May 2011 I was quick to put in a request for a copy at my local library.

The Plot: 
The Penderwick family is going to be split up for summer vacation for the first time ever! Rosalind is off to the beach with friends, which leaves Skye in charge as OAP (Oldest Available Penderwick),  which terrifies Skye. Thankfully the girls' friend Jeffrey is joining them so it looks to be a fun summer after all... And it definitely is a fun summer filled with all sorts of adventures and a few discoveries that will change the lives of all involved. There are moments of laughter and of tears, but most of all it's the type of summer no one will soon forget (including the reader)! To learn more check out the full summary on Jeanne Birdsall's website.

My Thoughts:
The third installment in the Penderwick series does not disappoint. It is just as delightful, charming and fun as the two preceding books and at the same time it is a completely fresh story with new adventures for each member of the family.

As is the case with Mrs. Birdsall's previous two Penderwick books the writing remains simple, but clear and creative all the while keeping the story believable and enjoyable not just for her young readers, but for adults too.

If you are looking for an entertaining read that also gives you a feeling of nostalgia (for books of yesteryear) and yet still relevant to today's kids then look no further than The Penderwicks At Point Mouette... Although I will suggest you start at the beginning of the series if you've not yet read them.

According to her website, Mrs. Birdsall plans to write two more books for the Penderwick series. I look forward to the next edition and as she is one of my favorite modern authors I also plan to keep my eye out for any of her other future works.

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Related Links:
Jeanne Birdsall's Website 

The Penderwicks (reviewed)
The Penderwicks of Gardham Street (reviewed)

What Cabrillo Found by Maud Hart Lovelace

180 pages
Published in 1958
by Thomas Y. Crowell Company
New York, NY

Perhaps students of California history are familiar with the name Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, but having spent my school years on the east coast, I was not.

So who exactly was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo and why did Maud Hart Lovelace write a book about him?


What Cabrillo Found by Maud Hart Lovelace is a little known children's book about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, a Portuguese explorer who is most noted for his exploration of the west coast of North America during the early 1540s.

Cabrillo lived during a time of great exploration. All around him men sailed off in search of new lands to conquer in the name of their King or Queen. And sometimes in the name of "Christianity" -- though not always with a true desire of spreading the gospel, but rather to gain fame and wealth. Cabrillo was an exception to the latter. He was a man of courage and kindness, who explored, gave names to new lands in honor of the King of Spain, but remained honorable to the natives he encountered along the way. His goal was not to get rich, but to explore the unknown and along the way he made some incredible discoveries that have impacted the world as we know it.

I believe for this reason (and also simply because Mrs. Lovelace spent her later years living in California and called it home) she felt it was vital that Cabrillo's story be remembered and thus she wrote this little book.

The only problem with What Cabrillo Found is that Maud Hart Lovelace had very little research material on which to base her book. There is hardly anything on record about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in spite of his importance to North American history. There isn't even a known portraiture or etching of his likeness! Because of this, What Cabrillo Found is generally considered historical fiction, but I think it could be argued that this book could also be categorized as non-fiction and biographical in nature simply for the fact it was written from all the information about Cabrillo that was available at the time.

Still, What Cabrillo Found was an interesting read. Intended for children it reads simply and quickly. It's not one of Mrs. Lovelace's best works, but it was a worthwhile read and one I'd recommend to anyone curious to learn more about this explorer or those who, like me, are curious to read all of Mrs. Lovelace's works.

Overall I am glad I took some time to read this book as it has expanded my interest in North American history.


(Note to those looking for a copy of this book to read: I would suggest checking with your library and library's Inter-Library Loan program first. I found my copy online and paid just a few dollars for a decent hardback minus the dust-jacket. There are still a number of copies available online, but prices vary from as little as $10 to as much as $100.)


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Related links:

• Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo Monument - The National Park Service
• Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo - San Diego History Center, Wikipedia Bio
• What Cabrillo Found: Biblio.com

The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton

184 pages
First published by Newnes in 1939 
Reprinted by Mammoth in 1997.
London, England

"They unlatched the gate and stood in the lane. they could see the trees in the wood, and hear them talking their strange tree-talk: 'Wish-wisha-wisha-wisha!'

'I feel as if there are adventures about,' said Jo. 'Come on! Over the ditch we go-- and into the Enchanted Wood!'"

The Plot:
"Jo, Bessie and Fanny move to the country and find an Enchanted Wood right on their doorstep! And in the wood stands the magic Faraway Tree where the Saucepan Man, Moon-Face and Silky the elf live. Together they visit the strange lands which lie at the top of the tree, and have the most exciting adventures -- and narrow escapes!" (Summary courtesy of the publisher.)

My Thoughts:
I first learned of Enid Blyton and The Enchanted Wood series from Australian author Kate Morton. They are listed on her website as some of her earliest literary influences. Curious as to why these books are so dear to Ms. Morton I decided I needed to read them myself. Because they were originally published in England and Australia I found they were a little difficult to locate within my library system here in the United States. But eventually I was able to track down two versions -- one, an omnibus, that contained all three books under one cover and then through ILL a single volume of the first book, The Enchanted Wood. Further research revealed that the books are still in print and available for great prices through online stores like Amazon.

My intial thought upon finishing The Enchanted Wood was that I wished I had discovered these books as a young reader when my imagination was actively creating my own make-believe worlds. Sadly, I believe a little of this magic is lost when one becomes an adult -- and even more so if as an adult you read The Enchanted Wood for the first time.

Still, I found The Enchanted Wood a charming, entertaining, very imaginative... and yes, at times very silly read that I will gladly share with my own daughter in a few year's time. Which brings me to my next point, because The Enchanted Wood was written and published more than 70-years ago there is a level of innocence that is lacking in many middle-reader children's books today. This innocence gives a feeling of nostalgia to the adult reader, but not in a disruptive way so that in the end I believe the books can appeal to more than one generation -- so long as the reader has a love for fairy-tales, far-away magical lands, and just simple fun.

So Who Exactly Was Enid Blyton?
Enid Mary Blyton (also known as Mary Pollock) was an English author of children's books who lived during the first half of the last century (1897-1968). She is considered one of the most successful children's authors of the 20th century and is currently listed as the seventh best-selling fiction author of all times alongside the likes of William Shakespeare, Agatha Christie, and Dr. Seuss.

Unfortunately, as can sometimes be the case with some authors (i.e. Myrtle Reed), Ms. Blyton's personal life was at times far from the happy and peaceful stories she wrote about in her children's books. From what I've read about Ms. Blyton she may not have always been the nicest of people, but she definitely had a gift for story-telling and creating worlds that children could escape to and in the end that has become her legacy.

I believe that fans of books like The Enchanted Castle by E. Nesbit, The Tune is in the Tree by Maud Hart Lovelace, and The Racketty-Packetty House by Frances Hodgson Burnett might likewise enjoy The Enchannged Wood. I plan to finish reading the series, but will probably wait to read them when I share them with my daughter in a few years. I am glad I took the time to explore this author and hope that some of you will too.


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Related Links:

• A Complete List of Books by Enid Blyton
• The Enid Blyton Society
• An Unofficial Enid Blyton Website
  

Kids Pick of the Week: Pink Me Up by Charise Mericle Harper

The Plot:
"Violet is looking forward to attending the 'Pink Girls Pink-nic' with her mom. Dressed from head to toe in her favorite color, she thinks about the crafts they will make and the games they will play. All that changes when her mom wakes up that morning covered with pink spots. The only other female in the family is the cat, but Pinky can't take her. Fortunately, Violet's dad doesn't mind wearing pink for the day, and, of course, he's the hit of the party." (Summary courtesy of Amazon)

My Thoughts:
If you have a 3 to 5-years old female living in your house chances are you hear a lot about the color pink. I realize that there are exceptions, but from my experience most young girls (at some point in their childhood) claim pink as their favorite color.... Although, to be honest my own daughter is split in her choice. Of late when she is asked what her favorite color is she will respond, "Pink AND purple!"

So when I came upon Charise Mericle Harper's book, Pink Me Up, I knew I had to bring it home. It was an instant favorite and declared "very silly!" by my daughter. I have a feeling we'll be reading it quite a bit in the weeks ahead.

Pink Me Up comes recommended to anyone with a little girl who loves pink!

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About the book:
Pink Me Up was published in February 2010 by Knopf Books for Young Readers, a division of Random House. It is 40 pages long and intended for children ages 4-8 years, though clearly a few children at 3 years will enjoy it just as much.

About the author/illustrator:
Charise Mericle Harper

Musing Mondays

This week's musing at Should Be Reading asks...

Do you have a favorite children's book? Either one that you loved as a child, or one that you discovered and still enjoy? Tell us about it!

What a difficult question! I have so many favorites, but if I had to pick one it would be:

Caps For Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business by Esphyr Slodbodkina.

Close runners up would be: The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf (currently in it's 75th year) and Corduroy by Don Freeman.

I have actually previously reviewed all three of these books and you can read more about them on my blog posting from July 2008 if you follow the link.

My love for children's books continues to grow as an adult, especially now that I am daily reading aloud to my daughter. My current favorite author/illustrator is Lisa McCue who has written and illustrated two books about a bunny rabbit titled: Quiet Bunny and Quiet Bunny's Many Colors.

"Little Bunny discovers the importance—and pleasure—of dancing to your own kind of music. More than anything, Quiet Bunny loves the sounds of the forest: the birds chirping, the wind whispering shhhhh through the leaves, and, especially, the night song all the rabbits listen to. But, one day, he wonders: how can I join in? Bunny wanders the woods asking animal after animal—but he just can’t ch-cheet like the cricket, ssssss like the hissing snake, or o-uuuu like the howling wolves. But nothing feels just right—until Quiet Bunny finds the wonderful beat that’s his and his alone." (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

"Quiet Bunny loves the bright colors of spring: the yellow ducks, green frogs, and blue jays-everything but his own brown, wintry white fur. It takes the help of a wise old owl for Bunny to realize that it's the rainbow of colors-including his own-that makes the world so beautiful." (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

While I loved both of these books (especially the illustrations), I think Quiet Bunny's Many Colors is my favorite. I love all the colors and it's the perfect book to read aloud as we enter the natural beauty of spring!

If you've not yet read any of these books I highly encourage you to look for them at your local library or bookstore!

Have a favorite childhood read? Leave a comment and let me know what you've read and loved or head on over to Should Be Reading and leave a comment for Musing Mondays: March 14.

Books to Movies: Mr. Popper's Penguins

Perhaps I'm behind the times, but I just learned this morning that Jim Carrey will be starring in a 2011 adaptation of Richard and Florence Atwater's children's book: Mr. Popper's Penguins.

I am not yet certain if this is good or bad news for the book. Mainly because I have mixed feelings about the movies Mr. Carrey stars in. Some are surprisingly good and far too many (especially those from the 1990s) are too crass for my liking. I can see Mr. Popper's Penguins (the movie) going one of two ways -- either it'll be cute and charming and a fun family film.... or the original story will be destroyed by a run of crude jokes and crass humor. Guess we'll have to wait until June to see.

In the meantime, check out my review of the book: Mr. Popper's Penguins which I re-read and reviewed in April 2009. If you haven't read this book, be sure to do so before you watch the movie.

Monday Children's Picks of the Week

The following are just three of our recent reads. During the last few weeks I've tried to focus a portion of our books on Autumn and Thanksgiving. Now with that holiday behind us and another one on its way (plus the change of seasons) I am on the look out for books about Winter, Christmas, Snow, and the like.

Our library is only a few months shy of moving into a brand new (and much larger) building. Because they will be growing in space they are starting to add to their collection, particularly in the children's department. The new release/newly purchased shelf has become my first stop when we arrive at the library. There are some great books out there. One such new release is:

All the Seasons of the Year by Deborah Lee Rose is one such new release (Published by Abrams Books, October 1, 2010). Beautifully illustrated by Kay Chorao this story tells how children are loved and cherished while incorporating some of the favorite moments of each season of the year. As we approach winter I've been discussing season changes with my daughter. I found All the Seasons of the Year to be an adorable story and a fun way to discuss the change of seasons. She loved the little kitten and the pretty pictures.


"I'm not Santa!" by Jonathan Allen is a funny and festive read-aloud that was published in 2008 by Hyperion Books for Children (a division of Disney). In "I'm not Santa!" Baby Owl is playing in the snow when he is mistaken for Santa Claus by Baby Hare. An argument ensues and it isn't until Santa himself arrives that Baby Hare and Baby Owl are finally set straight as to who-is-who. Personally I don't like to put too much emphasis on Santa during the Christmas season, but this story was really funny and I couldn't pass it up. My daughter has really enjoyed it and I've heard her "reading" it aloud several times. I've since noticed that Jonathan Allen has written at least one other book about Baby Owl, so I'll have to look for it during our next library visit.

Another old, but good read is The Big Snow by Berta and Elmer Hader. Published in 1948 by Macmillan Publishing Company this story won the 1949 Caldecott Medal and has since been reprinted several times, including the most recent edition by Scholastic in 1990. The Big Snow tells the story of animals preparing for winter and the first Big Snow. The illustrations are a mix of color and black and white and have that charming style characteristic of books from the mid 20th century. My daughter loves all the animals and it is a delightful read for us as we learn about winter and look forward to our first big snow.


That's it for this week. I hope to be back next Monday with another list of books we have enjoyed together.

Happy reading!

Hundreds of FREE audiobooks for children

I've known for some time that there are free audio book downloads available for specific classics; but I had no idea to what extent audio books have now become available to the traveling reader. Tonight I stumbled upon a post by Budget Saving Mom that linked to hundreds (!!!) of free audio books for children.

To save time and give credit where credit is due I am only listing the main links. If you want to see the entire collection of links that Budget Saving Mom has listed or view some of the titles available at these websites I definitely suggest you head over to Budget Saving Mom's website.

Websites that offer FREE audio books for children:

• Light Up Your Brain
• Kiddie Records
• RobertMunch.com
• Books Should Be Free
• Audio Books Corner
• StoryNory
• Kids Audio Books

Thanks Budget Saving Mom for passing on this great money-saving deal!

The Tune Is In The Tree by Maud Hart Lovelace

177 pages
Published in 1950 by
Thomas Y. Crowell Company
New York, NY

The "tune is in the tree,"
The sceptic showeth
"No, sir! In thee!"
~ Emily Dickinson

Most readers who recognize the name Maud Hart Lovelace know it for her stories of Betsy, Tacy, and Tib. But in addition to the ten books in the Betsy-Tacy series, Maud Hart Lovelace also wrote three Deep Valley books, a countless number of short-stories and 11 other novels (ranging from children's stories to novels for adults).

The Tune Is In The Tree is one of these lesser-known eleven novels. Published the same year as Emily of Deep Valley, The Tune Is In The Tree is a children's fantasy story. It tells the story of a little girl named Annie Jo who spends the early months of one summer living with the birds while she waits for her father and mother's return.

The attentive reader will be rewarded by recognizing this story plot as one Betsy Ray decides to write in the final Betsy-Tacy book, Betsy's Wedding: "I think I'll write a story about a little girl going to live with the birds." While it's left to the reader to know if Betsy ever writes the story, Maud Hart Lovelace did in 1930, though it wasn't published for another two decades.

The Plot:
It all begins one evening when Mr. R. B. Robin discovers Annie Jo in the garden outside her cottage crying. Mr. R. B. Robin soon learns that Annie Jo is alone and uncertain of her parent's return. Her father, who earns his living as a pilot, has gone missing and her mother has left to find him. A neighbor was expected to come and take care of Annie Jo during her parents' absence, but a sprained ankle has kept the neighbor at home and now Annie Jo is alone. However with the special assistance of Miss Ruby, a hummingbird and a little magic straight out of a fairy-tale, Annie Jo is shrunk and given a pair of wings which permit her to go and live with Mr. R. B. Robin and his family and friends.

My thoughts:
The Tune Is In The Tree is a charming children's story that weaves subtle lessons in ornithology and nature with a fairy-tale perfect for any bedtime reading. The reader cannot help but cheer for Annie Jo as she learns to fly, or feel badly for the birds as they must face the "perfidious Mrs. Cowbird", and of course readers will wait with anticipation for the Oriel's Midsummer ball. The story's sweetness is only increased by the inclusion of black-and-white illustrations by Eloise Wilkins.

I first became familiar with the works of Eloise Wilkins as a child as she illustrated over 100 children's books, including several Golden Books. Her beautifully detailed and realistic drawings and paintings always seem to capture the essence of the story. And although the pictures within The Tune is in the Tree are all black-and-white they are just as delightful to the eye as any of her other works.

But then there's the bad news. As is the risk that must be run when reading an author long gone there is almost always a book or two that is out of print and difficult to locate. The Tune Is In The Tree is one such book. As far as I can tell it has been out of print for over fifty years and the only copies currently available range from $50-$250 a copy. And the value only increases as sellers realize the value of a Maud Hart Lovelace/Eloise Wilkins book. (Big sigh.) What a shame because this book is a treasure. But thanks to Inter Library Loan I was able to borrow a first edition copy to read. I can only hope the library will hang onto it long enough that I will be able to borrow it again in a couple years when my daughter will be old enough to enjoy it for herself.

In Summary
The Tune Is In The Tree is a delightful story for any young child, but especially those who have a love for fairies, animals, and make-believe. If you are so lucky as to have a library (or ILL) that possess a copy I highly recommend that you add it to your list to borrow and read.

As for me... I'll keep looking and wishing and hoping that one day it can be added to my own personal library. Who knows, maybe one day a publisher will reprint this work of art just as HarperCollins Publishers did with the Betsy-Tacy and Deep Valley books.

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Other Maud Hart Lovelace reviews

Kids' Picks - September

Looking for some recommended reading for you and your children? Check out this month's Kids' Picks at 5MinutesForBooks. I linked up my post from yesterday, but there are several more links to other bloggers with book recommendations for the very young who have to be read to on up to the child who can read to themselves.

Of course, if you've recently read something to your child or your child has gotten really excited about a book they've read and you've blogged about it, be sure to leave a link to your post.

Happy reading!

Monday Children's Picks of the Week

I am sorry to say I have a bad case of "the Mondays." I'm already behind in my list of To-Do for the week, but I didn't like missing a post about some of our favorite reads of late so here I am for the weekly pick of children's books.

As I've mentioned before, my daughter is 3 years-old. She's not yet ready for a structured preschool, but I thought it might be fun if we started doing something fun each week. You know a craft here, a special trip there, etc. As part of this we joined a casual group of moms and preschoolers who meet twice a month to have a lesson, craft, snack, game and Bible verse followed by a field trip. Each month is planned around a specific theme. September's theme is farm animals with the field trip being a trip to see all kinds of farm animals at the county fair.

We are both enjoying this opportunity to learn more about animals. We've done a few crafts, we've sung some animal songs, we've talked about animals and the sounds they make, and best of all we've read lots and lots of animal and farm books.

Two favorites that I want to highlight this week include:

Cock-a-Doodle-Quack! Quack! by Ivor Baddiel. (Published by David Fickling Books in the UK and by Random House Books in the US in 2007) This book is a great read-aloud for children ages 3-8.

In the story a baby rooster is born. Eager to begin his job on the farm he asks the other farm animals what he should say to wake them up each morning. He tries "cock-a-doodle-oink-oink" and "cock-a-doodle-moo-moo" to no avail. Finally the farm cat suggests the baby rooster go speak with the wise old owl. The wise old owl gives him a mysterious suggestion, which baby rooster chooses to follow. The result. At long last he learns the exact words he has to say to wake up the farm.

We learned about Cock-a-Doodle-Quack! Quack! from another mom/daughter in our co-op. It is both cute and funny, the perfect combination for a preschooler to enjoy. The illustrations by Sophie Jubb add to the delight of this book. Definitely put this one to your library list. A must read.

While browsing for non-fiction books about animals I discovered a collection called First Step Nonfiction Farm Animals by Robin Nelson and published between 2008 and 2009 by Lerner Publications Company of Minneapolis, MN. Each of these little hardcover books run approximately 20-25 pages and highlight a particular animal with photographs and short and simple sentences. "What lives on a farm? chickens live on a farm. A female chicken is a hen. A male chicken is a rooster." and so on and so forth. I picked up the books on Cows, Chickens, Horses, Pigs, Goats, and Sheep. I am hoping the author or publisher will expand this collection to include ducks, rabbits, and some of the other farm animals and pets. They are fun to read and touch upon enough information my 3 year old enjoys them and comes away knowing more than she did before we read. Again, great read-aloud books. I can't wait to refresh by visiting these animals at the fair!

Happy reading!

Monday Children's Picks of the Week

My daughter and I have hit the jackpot for great reads during our recent library visits. I had a difficult time deciding which to post first and in the end settled on these three for this week, with a special post for the remaining books next week.

Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes. (Published by Greenwillow Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers in March 2004.)

This charcoal and cream colored illustrated story is aimed at toddler to preschool aged children. It is the story of a kitten who mistakes a full moon for a big bowl of milk. When she opens her mouth to lick the treat she catches a fire fly on her tongue. When she reaches out with her paw to catch a hold of the bowl she ends up tumbling down the stairs. Again and again she tries to quench her thirst with this giant bowl of milk only to be thwarted in her efforts again and again. Finally, giving up, the kitten returns home thoroughly exhausted and discouraged and very thirsty. Much to her surprise she finds her persistence has paid off as there is a big bowl of milk awaiting on the front porch.

I was intrigued with the fact that Henkes found his inspiration for Kitten's First Full Moon from a line in one of his earlier books: "The cat thought the moon was a bowl of milk." Apparently he took that line and expanded it until it became it's own story.

My daughter since she was a year old has expressed a love for animals, especially dogs and cats. She loved this story of the "poor kitten who thought the moon was milk." She also loves looking at the moon and stories about the moon, so this story really was the best of both worlds.

Kitten's First Full Moon won the 2005 Caldecott Medal for Henkes' illustrations and I can see why. I loved the simplicity and sweetness of the charcoal and cream colored pictures. I confess, a good percentage of the time when I am picking books to read to my daughter I am drawn by the illustrations before the title or story plot grab me. Henkes' illustrations are soft and muted and fit well with this sweet little story.

Please Say Please! Penguin's Guide to Manners by Margery Cuyler. (Published by Scholastic Press in April 2004.) This is another older book, but it is a good one for toddler to preschool aged children. If you're looking for a fun way to introduce manners to your child -- or as in my case remind your child of their importance in a practical way, Please Say Please! is a fun story to read aloud.

In Please Say Please! Penguin has his friends over for dinner. On each page one of the animals commits some etiquette faux pas, which provides the reader with a statement such as, "When hippo sits down for dinner, she should put her napkin on her head." Turn the page and the reader discovers, "No! That's wrong." and then learns the correct action that should be taken (i.e. "When hippo sits down for dinner, she should lay her napkin in her lap. That's better.")

This format gives plenty of laughs for the child as well as the opportunity to interact, it doesn't take long before they figure out what's wrong and what's right. Before my daughter learned to speak we were teaching her sign language for "please" and "thank you" and once she was able to get up from the table on her own we began with "May I please be excused". Most of the time she's good about remembering these phrases, but from time to time we need to remind her to chew with her mouth closed. Don't talk with your mouth full. Ask to be excused from the table, etc. This book made for some entertaining reminders and a unique way to introduce some new manners.

If I Were a Jungle Animal by Amanda Ellery. (Published by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing in May 2009). This story is intended for young readers ages 4-8, but makes for an entertaining read aloud to preschoolers.

As the story opens we find a young boy named Morton playing baseball. Morton is bored. He thinks baseball is boring, at least when you're the outfielder and the ball never comes your way. Morton starts to imagine what could be more exciting than baseball... Maybe being a wild animal in the jungle, like a lion.... or a monkey... or a hippopotamus!

If I Were A Jungle Animal is an action packed story funny story. My daughter loved the hilarious illustrations (Morton as a lion wearing his baseball cap, Morton swinging from trees and getting tangled in the vines, etc.) And she laughed out loud at the moments when Morton realized maybe being a specific animal wasn't such a great idea: like when the cheetah is chasing him or the crocodiles are nipping on his hippopotamus toes, "Yikes!"

All in all this is a great read for children who love stories about jungle animals or just love to laugh at funny stories.

Monday Children's Picks of the Week

A little over a month ago I participated in several book give-aways online. Low and behold I actually won one of these give-aways over at Reading to Know!

My prize was a set of seven books called "Modern Art for Babies" published by Tundra Books. Personally I don't consider this set of books for babies. While they could be read aloud to an infant they are much more suited for a toddler or preschooler.

Each of the seven books were written by Canadian author Marthe Jocelyn and illustrated by her husband, Tom Slaughter. What I like so much about these books is connected to the joint efforts of this husband and wife team. The text of the books explore everything from the alphabet and counting to shapes and simple concepts a child might encounter any given day. I also enjoyed the "modern art" illustrations. They are warm with colors drawn from the primary color pallet and are also simple and crisp and easy for a child to identify. Together with the text (be it letters, words or numbers) the illustrations provide interesting and fun visuals for a young child who is looking at the book on their own.

While some of the titles are self-explanatory here is a brief summary of each book from most newest to oldest in the set:

Which Way (Published in 2010) This book opens with the question: "How do we know which way to go?" and proceeds to explore the concept of directions, directional signs and what they mean, as well as how we travel (eg. by foot or by plane, etc.)

Same Same (Published in 2009) This book is a fun one to read aloud because it compares items and creatures that are similar or have similarities. For example on page one you begin with the shape "round" and how it is similar to objects like the Earth or a tambourine. Then the focus shifts to compare objects by what they do, like a tambourine makes music as does a guitar and a bird. From here the reader is directed to actions such as birds fly, as do planes and bees. Eventually the story comes full-circle by ending with the same apple that was seen on the first page of the book.

Eats (Published in 2007) As might be guessed by the title this book examines the concept of food and how each creature eats a particular type of food. A worm eats an apple, a bird eats a worm, a squirrel eats acorns, etc. ending with a question of who eats ice cream.... leading the child to cry out: "Me!"

ABC x 3 English * Espanol * Francais (Published in 2005) Again as is evident from the title this book the topic studies not only the alphabet, but how the alphabet fits into language and not just one language, but the three specific languages most commonly found in North America. First the reader begins by noting the letter of the alphabet in both upper case and then lower case (eg. Ff). Next a picture of something named with that letter is illustrated (eg. flower), and last the object is spelled out in English, Spanish, and French (eg. flower, flor, fleur). It is up to the reader whether only one language (the child's own) is taught or whether the other two are included.

Over Under (Published in 2005) This book compares opposites such as over and under, big and small, square and round, or light and dark. Each word is paired with a picture.

One Some Many (Published in 2004) This book dives deeper into the world of counting, growing beyond counting items from one to ten and actually exploring when you have "one" of something or "some" of that, or "many" of those. This might be an introduction to very simple math for a pre-schooler.

1 2 3 (Published 2003) This book, published a year prior to the aforementioned One Some Many, covers basic counting from one to ten as well as counting one to ten objects on a page. This is a great picture book to help a child who is learning to count.

Overall I am very pleased with this collection of books. My daughter has already spent countless hours over the last month flipping through the books and "reading" them aloud to herself. Although I've not taken any time this summer to read these particular books to her I plan to make much use of them in the coming months as her thirst for learning and her ability to sit still expands.

If you haven't checked out Marthe Jocelyn and Tom Slaughter's books before I highly recommend that you start with your local library. They are definitely worth checking out and sharing with your preschooler.

In closing I'd like to thank Tundra Books for giving away this set. I believe they are definitely an asset to my daughter's personal library. I would also like to thank Carrie at Reading to Know for the opportunity to win such a set. Thank you!

Monday Children's Picks of the Week

It was a very busy start to the week and I almost didn't think I'd get a chance to post my "picks" of the week from the books my daughter and I have been reading. But here we are.

I have an interesting mix this week and most of the books have been out for sometime, still I thought they were worth mentioning.

Up first, What's in the Meadow? by Anne Hunter. My daughter, now three years old, is curious about everything. I've discovered some early-readers/children's books at my library that cover everything from the stars in the sky to the bugs in the meadow or the fish in the sea and everything in between. The latest edition is What's in the Meadow? Published in 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. The book is small, about the height and length of a pen and with 26 pages, half with beautiful illustrations and the other half with a small amount of text explaining what you see in the picture. I'm hoping to find more by this author as I just love her illustrations.

Another fun one is also an older story. Published in 1984 by Newfield Publications, Inc., Moongame by Frank Asch is a cute story about Little Bear, his friend Little Bird and the game hide-and-seek. Little Bird teaches Little Bear how to play the game and later that night Little Bear plays with the full moon. Since my daughter loves stories about animals, playing hide-and-seek, and is fascinated with the moon this was pretty much a hit from page one.

"I am your parent; you are my child. I am your quiet place; you are my wild..." You Are My I Love You by Maryann Cusimano is one of the sweetest books I've read in a while. It tells the story of the average day of a parent bear and their little cub. The illustrations are adorable and the rhyme is sweet and yet true. Although published in 2001 by Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers I only just discovered this book while browsing the children's section of our local B&N. I'm hoping to find more by this author. I just love this story.

Last and a little bizarre is Crazy Like a Fox: A Simile Story by Loreen Leedy. This book has some silly pictures and that's pretty much what my daughter enjoys. The theme of using similes to tell a story is very clever, which is why I added it to this week's list. It is a little over my daughter's head, probably better aimed at a child of 5 or 6, but still I love any opportunity to stretch her mind and teach her something new. Crazy Like a Fox was published in 2008 by Holiday House, but I only learned of it because it was a new purchase by my local library.

Monday Children's Picks

Looking for some fresh and fun books to read aloud to your children (or grandchildren, nieces/nephews, etc.)? Here are two favorites selected by my 3 year-old daughter during our recent library visit:


The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark by Ken Geist. (Published by Scholastic, Cartwheel Books, 2007) This story is a very colorful and cute retelling of the The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf. This book has been a regular read for our house; even my daughter is "reading" it to her dolls. I have more than once overheard her, "Not by the skin of my finny fin fin."


Delicious! A Pumpkin Soup Story by Helen Cooper. (Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007) The story of three friends: Cat, Squirrel, and Duck and their quest for a "Scrumptious", "Nutritious", but most of all a "Delicious!" substitute for pumpkin soup. Again, cute and colorful with an entertaining subplot involving some bugs. I've noticed there are more stories about these three friends and now that I have discovered how fun this read is I'll be looking for the others.

Monday Children's Picks of the Week

Today was story time and it was also definitely time to refresh our reading options with some new picks. Interestingly enough this week's picks included some old favorites, a couple I've mentioned before and another I thought I had, but haven't.

Itty Bitty by CeCe Bell and Jump! by Scott M. Fischer were two I've mentioned. My daughter loved these two books and upon seeing them today she insisted and begged that we bring them home to read again. I actually really enjoyed Itty Bitty and had hoped there might be more stories about this little tiny dog, but there isn't. At least not yet! CeCe Bell, if you're out there and you see this -- please write more Itty Bitty stories!

Another repeat, though not to this blog is Little Ballet Star by Adele Geras. Lately my daughter's favorite reads have been anything ballet related. She's even told us her name is "Tilla" a variation on the name Tilly, which is the little girl's name in Little Ballet Star. Other favorite ballet reads have been the Ella Bella Ballerina books (Ella Bella Ballerina and Cinderella and Ella Bella Ballerina and The Sleeping Beauty by James Mayhew). To be honest, even though I enjoyed that series I was glad to move on to something a little less wordy-heavy like Little Ballet Star. Reading aloud a wordy-heavy book isn't so bad... until you have to read it every day for a week or two. I'm currently looking for other ballet books that will free me from repetitive readings of Little Ballet Star. It's a cute book, but almost time for something different.

I'm sure I will have found something by next week. Oh and for the curious out there, this ballet phase is not necessarily permanent, though I don't suppose I'd mind if it was. My daughter's interests are quite wide. In addition to the ballet books she's expressed a desire to read about trucks -- semis, construction trucks, farm trucks, etc. Currently we have two truck books borrowed from the library. This follows the Fancy Nancy phase (we've now read all the available Fancy Nancy books multiple times) and also the Poppleton phase.

Which reminds me, I don't believe I've mentioned Poppleton before which is a shame as the books are great! A series of eight "I-Can-Read" books the Poppleton books by Cynthia Rylant are stories about a pig named Poppleton and the adventures he has with his friends. The stories are short, fun, and the pictures very cute. If you haven't read the Poppleton books be sure to check them out.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

200 pages
Published 2006, First Edition
Candlewick Press
Cambridge Massachusetts

I'm trying to remember when I first discovered The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. I think it must have been shortly after the book was published in 2006 and I think I saw it on a shelf at B&N. At any rate I remember the cover art distinctly as it interested me and the plot summary printed inside was very intriguing... And yet, for some reason I tucked the book away as a "I'll check this out another time." And then I promptly forgot all about it.

I was reminded of it when I picked up The Tale of Despereaux last year, but once again I filed it away to read at a later date.

And then... As "chance" would have it one day during story time I looked up at the bookshelf above where my daughter and I were sitting cross-legged on the floor and there it was: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. I remembered how much I had enjoyed The Tale of Despereaux, so I had high hopes for Edward Tulane when I got it home and began reading. I was not disappointed.

The Plot:
"Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good reason: he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who treated him with the utmost care and adored him completely. And then, one day, he was lost." (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

My Thoughts:
I just loved this book. Perhaps I'm a softy when it comes to anything rabbits. As a child I had several pet rabbits, a rabbit puppet and some stuffed animal rabbits. But I had nothing like Edward Tulane.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane is such a touchingly beautiful tale of love, friendship, sacrifice, and humility. Kate DiCamillo has received numerous awards for her children's novels and from what I've read I believe they are well deserved. DiCamillo is a gifted storyteller. As with The Tale of Despereaux I found Edward Tulane a creative and unique story. It was fun to read and had beautifully corresponding illustrations. It taught morals without being preachy or passe. It was charming and cute and yet also addressed some darker aspects of life in a delicate manner that made the book an appropriate read-aloud even for young children. I find that there's something about DiCamillo's storytelling that make the stories seem to have come from the early part of the last century -- and yet, they don't feel old or out of date. There's something almost magical about this book. It's certainly not Watership Down, but then it's not exactly The Velveteen Rabbit either. It's a fantsy with charm and it's a delightful read.

One thing is for certain, this book is going on my "Wish List" and I am adding it to the ever growing list of books I want to read aloud to my daughter. If you have not given this or any of DiCamillo's books a chance I'd highly recommend you begin with The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Of course it might also be fun to read The Tale of Despereaux, especially considering there's an animated adaptation available to watch after reading the story, but that... is for another review, which can be read here.

DiCamillo has three other children's novels I have yet to read, but having enjoyed these two so immensely I am adding the others to my TBR list and hope to get to read them within the next year.

Monday Children's Picks of the Week

My daughter and I have had another fun week reading books. Our three favorite reads from last week's library visit included:

Shrewbettina's Birthday by John S. Goodall (1977). The Shrewbettina books were recommended to me by the lady sitting next to me on a recent business trip. She was a retired day care provider and had shared them with "her" children over the years. They are beautifully illustrated wordless books about a little shrew named Bettina. Unfortunately they were rather difficult to track down. In the end I could only find this one book through ILL, but it was worth the trouble. My daughter enjoyed the pictures and telling the story to herself through the illustrations. I will definitely keep my eyes out for more of John S. Goodall's work.

Rabbit Ears by Amber Stewart (2006). As many parents know bath time can sometimes be a trial, especially when you're bathing a child afraid of water or soap. Recently my daughter decided she didn't like to have her hair washed (afraid of soap in the eyes). Thankfully we were able to work through this fear and find a solution that made her happy yet still included clean hair. And so when I came upon this book in the library I knew she could realte to it. It's a cute story about a little boy rabbit who doesn't like to have his long ears washed, but in the end finds that it's actually fun to be a big boy and learn to wash them himself. The illustrations by Laura Rankin are cute and I recognized the style from another of our recent reads, Fluffy and Baron.

No! That's Wrong by Zhaohua Ji and Cui Xu (2008). A humorous story about a rabbit who finds a pair of lacy red underpants and unsure how to wear the article of clothing tries it on first as a hat. Throughout the story he's told it's the wrong way to wear them, but in the end the rabbit decides they fit best over his ears rather than his tail. This was a fun book to read as my daughter has recently discovered she can dress herself. She laughed at the silly pictures of the rabbit wearing the underpants on his head.

Check back next week when I post our favorite finds from this week's library visit.