Wild Boars Cook

Wild Boars Cook by Meg Rosoff

In this funny picture book, award-winning author Meg Rosoff brings back her characters from Meet Wild Boars. This time the boars are HUNGRY, HUNGRY, HUNGRY, and are willing to eat anything. They CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH candy and hot dogs, and MUNCH, MUNCH, MUNCH on pickles and old boots. That is, until they find a recipe for a delicious, yummy, massive pudding! 

But even after they devour the pudding they are still hungry! In the end, they find another recipe for a massive cookie! Children wont actually see the boars make this one but are instead left with the directions and the possibility of making it themselves!

I loved this book and think children will too. It's funny and the illustrations by award winning Sophie Blackall are fabulous. This book could be used with mini lessons on food, good manners, or just for fun! I would recommend this book for ages 3 and up, and think it's a positive addition to any home or school library. School Library Journal gave it a starred review, stating: 

"These wonderful hijinks with the endearing boars are pictured in wildly imaginative illustrations, including endpapers that look like boar hair. Libraries should not miss out on this fun title..."

This is a book trailer that I made for the book.

Happy Reading.

~Claire

Doctor De Soto- By William Steig

Doctor De Soto, a favorite book from my childhood, tells the story of a mouse dentist who works with his wife to outsmart a fox. Doctor De Soto is a well respected dentist who treats animals of all sizes. Doctor De Soto typically stays away from animals who are dangerous to mice, however one day when a fox comes to Doctor De Soto’s office crying and begging for help, Doctor De Soto decided to take a risk and take the wolf on as a patient. While Doctor De Soto was working in the wolf’s mouth to help fix his toothache, the wolf realized how delicious the mouse would taste. That night, the De Sotos figured out a plan as to how they would keep the fox from eating them the next day when he comes back for his appointment. The clever De Sotos used a special formula in the fox’s mouth that would keep him from

opening his mouth for a day. Therefore, the fox would not be able to eat the De Sotos.

William Steig not only wrote this fantastic children’s book, but he illustrated it as well. The illustrations are simple yet clever and really help to bring the story alive. The illustrations have a cartoon-like quality to them, which would definitely appeal to children of all ages.

This is a great book to have in the classroom and to have at home. Doctor De Soto is a great read aloud book because it would interest tosuch a wide range of children and it is also a great book to read to children at home.

Click here for some classroom activities that could be used after reading Doctor De Soto

A new edition of a book from the past: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Pop-up book!

Roald Dahl’s infamous story Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has been reinvented once again! Quentin Blake’s pop-up, pull-tab, and lift-the-flap book makes reading this well-loved story an interactive and visually stimulating experience. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has been a classic for generations because of its unique dynamic between an incredibly creative story line and the common underdog concept. Charlie Bucket is a little boy who comes from nothing, but wins the opportunity of a lifetime to see Willy Wonka’s amazing chocolate factory. With his winning golden ticket in hand, Charlie and his Grandpa Joe go to the factory with four other children and their parents to have the most bizarre yet exciting adventure of their lives.

Quentin Blake has illustrated the majority of Roald Dahl’s stories, and I often associate Blake’s distinct style with Dahl’s books that I remember reading as a child. This pop-up book is no different as many of the characters and scenes look almost exactly as they did in the original book. There is a lot of text on each page, but the organization of the text along with the interactive pull-out/lift-the-flap components on every page make it a fun, enjoyable read.

Blake does a fantastic job of making the classic story come to life in this picture book. The reader has the opportunity to step inside the story and explore Willy Wonka’s factory for his/herself.

If you would like to see some of the pop-up spreads, click this link below!

http://www.puffin.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780141328874,00.html

The Story of May

Most children seem to have that one story that they want to read over and over again before bed. For me, this was the gorgeously illustrated book, The Story of May by Mordicai Gerstein. The young month, May, lives with her mother, April, who teaches her how to be a proper spring month.

“May skipped into the morning. She sprinkled periwinkles at the edge of the woods. She spun round and round, tossing dandelions, bluets and violets everywhere. She welcomed the warblers and listened to their gossip of foreign places.”

May becomes so caught up in the wonders of being a spring month that she wanders too far from home. Luckily, her aunt June is there waiting to welcome her. June tells May of her father, December, and so begins May’s journey through the year to meet the man that is her father. On her adventure, May meets her relatives each personifying his or her own month. Her uncle July is a large sun burnt man with a watermelon, while October wears a cloak of colorful leaves and carves pumpkins.

In addition to the cute story and beautiful illustrations, The Story of May also serves an educational purpose. In addition to teaching children the months of the year, The Story of May subtly teaches children about each month. Instead of explicitly stating that it snows in January and is windy in March, May’s uncle January skis and her cousin March is a kite.

This is book that I loved as a child and hope others enjoy it as much as I did.

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith

A personal favorite from my childhood, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, is a silly and entertaining book that children of all ages will enjoy! This picture book is a compilation of classic stories that many children love and have heard multiple times . What makes this book so different and fun are the variations that are taken in the retelling of the story. Instead of reading about The Boy Who Cried Wolf, children get to read about The Boy Who Cried "Cow Patty." Other variations include Chicken Licken (Chicken Little), The Really Ugly Duckling (The Ugly Duckling), and The Princess and the Bowling Ball (The Princess and the Pea).

From the very first pages of the book...

To the back cover...

The book provides comedic value unlike many other children's books.

Each story lines follow its own unique transformation that is sure to both surprise and entertain children. The story of The Really Ugly Duckling begins the same as most other versions in which there was one duckling who was much uglier than all of his brothers and sisters, however, "he knew that one day he would probably grow up to be a swan and be bigger and look better than anything in the pond."

......

Each story has fantastic illustrations that perfectly match the oddities found in the text. The images span the entire book and provide wonderful variations among each story, contrasting light versus dark, using collage-like images, and unrealistic portrayals of characters, especially the Stinky Cheese Man. The main story of the book. The Stinky Cheese Man, is a variation on The Gingerbread Man,

"Run run run as fast as you can. You can't catch me. I'm the Stinky Cheese Man!

The little old lady and the little old man sniffed the air. 'I'm not really very hungry,' said the little old man. 'I'm not really all that lonely,' said the little old lady. So they didn't chase the Stinky Cheese Man."

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales is not about morals. It's not about lessons. And it is surely not about making a point. Unlike the classic versions of these stories, this book is purely about good, sarcastic, fun; and that is exactly what is provides for all of its readers.

CLICK HERE for a fun reading of The Stinky Cheese Man

-Alex Rogers

Marvelous Picture Books: Old Cricket by Lisa Wheeler

"Old Cricket woke up feeling cranky.

And crotchety.

And cantankerous."

What can a day like this have in store for him? Not fixing the roof! To escape his task, Old Cricket comes up with a plan. "I woke with a creak in my knee, dear wife." he says. So, his wife sends him along to see Doc Hopper.


Once he is free, he runs into his cousin , Katydid, who is busy picking berries for the winter. Will Old Cricket help Katydid? Not with a creak in his knee and a crick in his neck! And Old Cricket continues on his way.


He soon comes across his neighbors, the ants, who are harvesting corn kernels. Will Old Cricket help his neighbors? Not with a creak in his knee, a crick in his neck, and a crack in his back! And so Old Cricket walks on to find a comfortable spot for a nap. But who should he run into next but Old Crow? Will Old Cricket make it home without becoming lunch? He just might. After all,

"You don't get to be an old cricket by being a dumb bug."

With its charming story and large, eye-catching illustrations by Ponder Goembel, this picture book is truly a delight for young readers.


~Ruthie

Pete's A Pizza by William Steig

In this fun story by William Steig, Pete is disappointed that the rain has washed out his activities for the day. To help cheer Pete up, his family decides to play a game where they make Pete into a pizza. Pete’s dad uses

“Some oil generously applied. (It’s really water.)”

and “Then some tomatoes (They’re really checkers).” to make a perfect pizza out of Pete.

This story allows children to use their imagination and have an interactive experience with both the book and the person reading it to them. Children will love to play a similar game on a rainy day or make up their own food to be made into. This book is guaranteed to make any child giggle just like Pete. The interactive nature of the story is also highly enjoyable for children with disabilities. Because they can get involved in the story, they are more likely to comprehend it.

The illustrations are very fun. They are detailed but not overly done, so younger children will enjoy their whimsical nature. There is lots of white space surrounding the drawings to focus the eye on the image. The text itself is presented in a way that resembles a recipe. It is clearly printed and easy to locate on the pages keeping the book organized and in the style of a cookbook.

This wonderful,whimsical story and the fun title will certainly have readers coming back for seconds (and maybe thirds or forths!)

To purchase this book click here.

Happy Friday and Happy Reading!

Maryphyllis

Amelia Bedelia

This classic childhood book follows a maid, Amelia Bedelia, on her first day of work. When she arrives her bosses, Mr. & Mrs. Rogers, go out leaving her a list of tasks to complete. Before getting started on her jobs, she bakes a lemon meringue pie as a surprise for the Rogers’ return. The list asked Amelia Bedelia to:

Change the towels in the green bathroom

Dust the furniture

Draw the drapes when the sun comes in

Put the lights out when you finish in the living room

Measure two cups of rice

The meat market will deliver a steak and a chicken.

Please trim the fat before you put the steak in the icebox.

And please dress the Chicken

Amelia Bedelia performs all the tasks as she understood them to be stated. She pulled out a measuring tape and measures two cups of rice.

“-it measured four and half inches.”

She dresses the chicken in cloth and placed it in a box all pretty. As Mrs. Rogers opens her mouth to fire Amelia Bedelia, the lemon meringue pies saves her job.

This fun tale demonstrates the double meaning of simple tasks and a funny tale of how a maid was confused.It is a great book for a child to understand how sometimes it is alright to be confused and an all around enjoying for them to read with a parent or on their own.

This original Amelia Bedelia was first published in 1963 by Peggy Parish and illustrated by Fritz Siebel. Now there are around 30 books in this series. When Peggy Parish passed away in 1988 her nephew Herman Parish continued the series again in 1995. Later HarperCollins has transformed these books into an I Can Read series, which notifies children of differing level books that are appropriate for their reading level. Click here to see more of its kind.

Enjoy!

<3 Deirdre

Marvelous Picture Book Monday: Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco

This story is one of a little girl Trisha, who is so excited to learn to read when she starts kindergarten, but who soon realizes that the process of learning to read is so much harder for her than she thought. She sees all of her classmates around her learning to read and enjoying the books, and she just cannot grasp the words. Trisha turns to art to escape and she has a true talent there. Whenever she is called on in class she tries to find ways to get out of having to read because the other students all make fun of her. School becomes a place of anxiety and stress very quickly for Trisha. Trisha's grandparents, especially her grandmother, were a source of relief and support for Trisha and when they pass away, school gets even harder. Soon thereafter, Trisha's mother gets a new job in California, and the family has to move. Trisha doesn't realize it in the moment, but that move will be the beginning of her journey to finally love school and learn to read. She meets her new teacher, Mr. Falker, who becomes her advocate when the other children makes fun and who recognizes both her beautiful talent in art and her difficulties with reading. Mr. Falker starts to work with Trisha every day after school and after finally something clicks inside her and she is able to read!

At the beginning of the book, right before she was going to be starting Kindergarten, Trisha's grandfather did a ritual that he had done with all of his grandchildren before:

The grandpa held the jar of honey so that all the family could see, then dipped a ladle into it and drizzled honey on the cover of a small book.
The little girl had just turned five.
"Stand up little one," he cooed. "I did this for your mother, your uncles and now you!"

Trisha is then asked to taste the honey from the book and responds to her grandfather that it tastes sweet. Her family replies to her,

"Yes, and so in knowledge, but knowledge is like the bee that made that sweet honey, you have to chase it through the pages of a book!"

At the end of the book, this scene is remembered again when Trisha finally is able to read. We see her holding the book that her grandfather had put the honey on, realizing that she finally could chase through the pages like he had dreamed for her. The repetition of this scene both at the beginning and the end of Trisha's journey shows how important this part of her journey is. The illustrations on each page are so clearly and intentionally places to assist and support in the telling of this story, and that is what makes this book so special. They are classically beautiful and contribute to the story as much if not more than the words themselves.


"Thank you, Mr. Falker" is a beautifully told, emotional story that many children can connect with. The story gives hope to the readers who may have a hard time in school and it can also be used to teach tolerance to children who may not have the same struggle of learning to read that Trisha has. When Trisha is sad, the sadness is made more apparent in the illustrations of her and this really helps the reader to visualize and connect with her feelings even more. When Trisha is happy because reading is starting to click, the reader is taken from her sadness to her delight not only through the words but through the picture of Trisha finally reading with a joyous expression. The story itself is wonderful, but the illustrations in this book truly help the reader to connect with the emotions that come along with this book. The flow between the story and the illustrations is very apparent. This is largely due to the fact that Patricia Polacco not only writes her books, but illustrates them as well.


We find out at the end that this story is one that is very close to the author's heart. It is the story of when Patricia Polacco was a young girl and how after years of getting through school without being able to read, one teacher, Mr. Falker, changed that all for her. She writes at the end, "The rest of the year became an odyssey of discovery and adventure for the little girl... I know because that little girl was me, Patricia Polacco. I saw Mr. Falker again some thirty years later at a wedding...I told him who I was and how he had changed my life so many years ago. He hugged me and asked me what I did for a living. 'Why Mr. Falker, I make books for children... Thank you Mr. Falker. Thank you."


I grew up reading Patricia Polacco books. I remember many of them and their illustrations as well. She has been a very successful children's book author since she published her first book in 1987, "The Keeping Quilt." I would highly recommend this book to teachers, parents and caregivers. It has many valuable lessons and the story and illustrations alike help to teach these and instill them in the children reading this book! A must read!

Picture Books from the Past: Oh, The Places You'll Go!

“Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!”

In this classic story by the fantastic Dr. Seuss, the triumphs and trials of life are clearly portrayed in a way that a younger audience can understand. It begins with the narrator praising the main character who turns out to be the reader. The story goes on to show the great successes that one will have but then points to the realization that sometimes, things don’t always work out the way we hope.

Published in 1990, this book is a fantastic gift for any child or for someone about to graduate high school or college because they are entering into a new chapter of their life. The message is motivating but also realistic.

“Except when you don’t. Because, sometimes, you won’t.”

It recognizes that no one is perfect and everyone, whether they are five-, fifteen-, or fifty-years-old has hard times when they do not succeed. You will go through “Bang-ups and Hang-Ups,” but in the end “you will succeed!” The overall message of the story is encouraging however, and promotes the need to pursue your dreams and desires and to never give up.

The illustrations are nothing short of extraordinary. Thehwhimsical nature and bright colors certainly draw the eye of the reader. They are wonderful two page spreads that draw the reader’s eye from left to right. The text of the story does not impede on the illustrations or vice versa. The classic rhyming of Dr. Seuss’s language adds an upbeat tempo that carries the reader through the story. Young children will absolutely love the rhythmical nature and with it, be able to gain valuable life lessons.

Overall, this is a fantastic book for readers of all ages and remember… “Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So… get on your way!”

For activities visit the Seussville website!

To view a reading of the book click here!

Happy Reading!

Maryphyllis

Marvelous Picture Book: The Sea of Sleep by Warren Hanson and illustrations by Jim LeMarche

This picture book follows a mama otter and her child floating through a sea, The Sea of Sleep. It begins with the otters returning to the sea after a long day and shows the progression of the bedtime process. The illustrations and words foster a safe environment for the otters as a technique to project these feelings onto a child at bedtime. Bedtime can be a very stressful as well an anxiety filled process for a child. A resource such as this book creates a calming environment wherein the child can relax. This book is not only great at bedtime though, through the illustrations and focus on a safe environment it can be used simply as a calming book. Jim LeMarche conveys comfort and the process of falling asleep through the watercolor illustrations, portrayal of the otters falling asleep, as well as the interactions with nature. The color palette of the whole book follows what would be expected of the sea, light blues and calming purples. The whimsical brushstrokes enhance these effects by creating movement of the water. The book repeats the same paragraph three times within the book, accompanied by illustrations of the baby otter growing more tired.

Drifting. Floating. Lightly gliding

On the Sea of Sleep tonight.

Rocking. Swaying. Slowly sailing

On toward the morning light.

The repetition not only brings familiarity, but also sets the tone for sleep. It visually portrays another child (even if it is an animal) growing sleepy along with the child. The pictures also represent a safe and loving home through the otter’s home within the sea. The two otters float by dolphins, the moon, and families of fish all of whom make up their home.

This is a great read for children who do have a hard time calming down. Joy initially bought this book as a gift for someone she nannies for. She loved the story and thought it would be a good tool for nighttime. Without fail this book has proved her correct. Results have been seen first hand and this book is strongly recommended not only because of its story, but more importantly the marvelous illustrations.

Here is a link to watch Deirdre read this book.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Wip9SQmgs

enjoy! <3 Joy and Deirdre

Alphabet by Matthew Van Fleet

Van Fleet takes alphabet books to a whole new level with this work. Children can explore the letters of the alphabet through a full sensory experience including touch, sight, and even smell!

Throughout the book, different animals (beginning with each letter of the alphabet) are described and depicted. Almost all of these descriptions incorporate some sort of interactive sensory experience which helps get children excited about exploring the letters and also helps them build conceptions of different adjectives and animals. From "wrinkly gray elephants," "bristly yellow bees," "octopuses sticky," to "smelly green stink bugs" (yes, readers can actually smell the stink!) children will not grow tired of this book easily!

While at first glance, the pages may seem cluttered, every single

aspect of the bright, busy illustrations serves a purpose. At the end of the book, a list of 3 more plants and/or animals that begin with each letter is given. Readers are encouraged to search for them as they revisit the pages of the book. Therefore, this exciting and interactive picture book can be used with readers of all different ages to teach many different skills and concepts.

When I first encountered this book I had so much fun exploring all of the different surprises within! I hope that you and your young readers will find this book just as engaging!

~Katharine

Some Extras:

This is a video review of this book. The video is great for seeing all of the different enclosed interactive sensory aspects of the book!

Here is an interview with author, Matthew Van Fleet.

Picture Books from the Past: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

A mouse can be a rather time-consuming houseguest!

While they may mean well, sweeping the house and washing the floors, mice get distracted quite easily. Laura Joffe Numeroff’s children’s classic describes a day’s events in the life of a boy and the mouse that came to visit. While the visit starts with the mouse’s simple request for a cookie, the boy quickly begins to see that even small favors can lead to a considerably exhausting day of running back and forth.

But, wouldn’t you do the same for an exuberant little mouse in overalls?

Since 1985, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie has been loved by readers of all ages (although the suggested ages are 4-8 years). While it doesn’t contain much of a lesson to teach children, parents (and anyone that has ever interacted with a child, really) are liable to relate to the generous young boy as he scrambles after the zealous mouse. The endearing characters of the boy and his fuzzy friend will keep children asking for this bedtime story for a long time. However, if you get tired of repeating the same story, not to worry! Laura Joffe Numeroff has written a dozen other books featuring the energetic mouse and other animals in her If You Give A series.

"Then he'll want to look in a mirror
to make sure he doesn't

have a milk mustache."

The text and illustrations of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie are wonderfully incorporated and make the story come to life. Felicia Bond’s interpretation of the narration through her pictures adds so much to the delightful story, it’s no wonder the book has been a favorite for over 25 years! The bright colors and amount of detail within the illustrations captures the attention of the readers and keeps them excited for each new page.

Also, the size of the mouse in comparison to the objects around him gives a wonderful change of perspective. When I first read this as a child, I loved how the mouse took a nap in a box for face powder and used the fluffy brush as a pillow, and I thought it was too funny that the crayons he drew with were bigger than his entire body. Felicia Bond’s animated drawing of the mouse and the boy breathe life and humor into a story that I hope will remain on bedside tables and bookshelves everywhere for years to come. In fact, when readers look at the pictures, they may get so excited that they want to draw one of their own (just as the mouse does)!

If you’re looking to find some resources for using If You Give a Mouse a Cookie in the classroom or just to have some fun at home, the official If You Give A series website has tons of fun activities and items that can put a fresh spin on a classic. Just click here!

Happy Reading!

-Jill Dona

Marvelous Picture Books: All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon

This week’s marvelous picture book is entitled All the World, written by Liz Garton Scanlon and illustrated by Caldecott Honor medalist, Marla Frazee. This story depicts the daily lives of individuals from the same community. From morning to night, the beach to the garden, and sun to rain, this book highlights the importance and value of everything the world has to offer. The pages alternate from descriptive words about particular situations to a more general theme about the world...

“Rock, stone pebble, sand

Body, shoulder; arm, hand

A moat to dig, a shell to keep

All the world is wide and deep”

The book follows an AA BB rhyme scheme, and when read aloud sounds much like a poem. The descriptive words are known and relatable to all children and connect to the deeper theme about the world.

“All the world is old and new”

“All the world goes round this way”

“All the world can hold quite still”

“All the world is you and me”

The illustrations paired with the descriptive words allow for an easy understanding for children while still conveying the larger conceptual message.

On this page the image depicts an old man and young children. The children are climbing on a large, fully grown tree, while the old man is sitting with a new tree that has yet to be planted. This contrasts the ideas of old and new in a simple way for children. All of the other pages follow this depiction in a similar manner.

The illustrations are very literal, perfectly matching the text; any word that appears on a page is represented with an image. Colors are slightly subdued and fade into the edges of the page. The layout of the illustrations vary, some pages are a full page spread, while others have multiple and separate illustrations on the same page, all relating to each other.

Not only is this book an enjoyable read, but it also provides several educational aspects. This book has a wide range of vocabulary, spanning from body parts, to fruit and vegetables, to action words, all which serve as means to define and reinforce words that all children should have in their vocabulary. An overarching theme to this book is that all plans do not go perfectly and that it is important to understand that it is simply a part of life. This is a valuable lesson for all children to learn. Finally, this book demonstrates how all people live, work, and interact together, coming together to create the whole world.

“Everything you hear, smell, see

All the world is everything

Everything is you and me

Hope and peace and love and trust

All the world is all of us”

~Alex Rogers and Olivia Steinberg

Click here to watch a movie trailer for this book.