Picture Book From the Past: "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle

Written in 1969, The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle is a classic picture book from many of our childhoods. With colorful illustrations that are sure to engage young children of all ages, Carle describes a story about the metamorphosis of a caterpillar who eats his way through the days of the week and transforms into a beautiful butterfly. On Monday, he ate one apple, on Tuesday he ate two pears, on Wednesday he ate three plumbs, and each of the days following he ate one more piece of fruit than the day before. No matter how much fruit he ate, the very hungry caterpillar was still hungry…until Saturday.

“On Saturday he ate through one piece of chocolate cake, one ice-cream cone, one pickle, one slice of Swiss cheese, one slice of salami, one lollipop, one piece of cherry pie, one sausage, one cupcake, and one slice of watermelon. That night he had a stomachache!”

The caterpillar was finally ready for his transformation. After making himself a cocoon and staying there for two weeks, the very hungry caterpillar emerged, no longer hungry and no longer a caterpillar. He was now…

a beautiful butterfly.

This seemingly simple picture book is a phenomenal educational story, incorporating the days of the week, numbers, and the stages of a butterfly’s life. This book provides a great foundation for the lessons that all children will learn throughout their early education. We both have vivid memories of the caterpillar unit in elementary school in which we learned about the same cycle of transformation that Carle describes in this book. Having read The Very Hungry Caterpillar, we already had a basic understanding of the life of a caterpillar.

Click here to listen to and view The Very Hungry Caterpillar

-Olivia Steinberg and Alex Rogers

Marvelous Picture Books: Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

Simms Taback's Joseph Had A Little Overcoat tells the story of a resourceful man who alters and reuses his tattered and worn overcoat. Through the clever use of dye cuts, Taback allows children to share in Joseph's experience as his overcoat becomes a jacket and then a vest and finally a button. Taback's message to readers is that “you can always make something out of nothing.”

Taback's story is enriched by its Caldecott Medal-winning illustrations. Beginning with the endpapers, Taback collages bright photographs with illustrations, creating a patchwork of fabrics. On every page there is a playful mix of photography and illustration. No single drawing is one color, but rather, each picture is decorated with many textures and patterns. Every character has distinguishable features and characteristics carefully chosen by Taback. Minute, easy to miss details infuse this story with a sense of warmth and tradition. We share in the familial and congregational love of an old European Jewish community complete with a Yiddish newspaper, Menorah, and didactic wall hangings.

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat was adapted from Taback's favorite childhood song, “I Had a Little Overcoat.” This love for the song is apparent in the warmth he creates within his story. Joseph Had a Little Overcoat is a wonderful story for children of all ages about the importance of making due with what we have and finding satisfaction with our lives. Children and adults alike will treasure Taback's use of color, texture, and die cut techniques to enrich the story with a playful spirit.

To see an animated video of Joseph Had a Little Overcoat click here.

Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Sleep

A child’s first experience with literature generally occurs at bedtime. So why not read them a story about going to bed? Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Sleep, written by Joyce Dunbar, is a great bedtime story. A young bunny, Willa, is really tired and wants to go to sleep, but is unable to fall asleep for fear of having a bad dream. After tossing and turning she seeks advice from her older brother, Willoughby, who suggests, “Think of something happy, then you wont have a bad dream.” Willa tries to take her brother’s advice, alas she cannot think of something happy. Willa once again turns to her older brother for advice, “Tell me something happy before I go to sleep.” Willoughby takes his sister through their house showing her many happy things, such as: her rooster slippers, the breakfast that they will share in the morning, and her basket of toys. Willa finally becomes tired and ready for sleep. The story ends with the following exchange:

“And when the morning comes and wakes me up, will you still be here?” asked Willa.

“I’ll still be here,” said Willoughby,

“Good,” said Willa. “That’s the happiest thing of all.”

This is a fantastic bedtime story for young children because the actions of the characters in the story parallel their own. It also highlights the bond that siblings share and the love that they have for one another. Lastly, it gives the child something happy before he or she goes to sleep.

Picture Books From The Past: The Little Engine That Could

The Little Engine That Could is a very famous children's story that first appeared as far back as 1906. This version, written under the pen name of Watty Piper and illustrated by George & Dorris Hauman, was published in 1930. For more information on the different editions of the story, and the history of its origins, you can visit the penguin group's website for the book.

The story begins with a train filled with toys and good food for the little boys and girls who live on the opposite side of the mountain. When the train breaks down, all the toys on board fear that the children will not get their toys or good treats before sunrise! Many trains pass by, but all refuse to pull the broken down train over the mountain. Finally, a Little Blue Engine comes by, and the toys all ask for help. Even though the Little Blue Engine wants to help the toys get to all the good boys and girls on the other side of the mountain, she doesn't know if she can.

"I'm not very big," said the Little Blue Engine. "I have never been over the mountain."

Ultimately, the Little Blue Engine decides to help, and she tells herself that she can do it the entire way over the mountain, and she succeeds. This book is the perfect lesson in optimism and trying your best. It is written for readers of all ages, and it is perfect for kids just learning to read on their own. The watercolor illustrations in the 1930 edition are timeless, and the message of the story is one that is valuable for children of any age.

To watch me reading The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper, click on the video below:

I hope you love this picture book from the past!

-Annie

A Second is a Hiccup by Hazel Hutchins Illustrated by Kady Macdonald Denton

A Second is a Hiccup by Hazel Hutchins introduces children to units of time in a playful and child-friendly manner. Hutchins goes through each unit of time from the second all the way to the year relating each measure to childhood experiences. For example, Hutchins says of the minute, “if you sing just one small song/Chorus, verses, not too long/That's just enough to fill/A minute.” The story proceeds in a question and answer format allowing children to focus on the particular measure and also invites them to relay their own conceptions of time.

Hutchins utilizes rhyme within each line of her story. Rhyme adds a sing-song quality to the text and captures the child's attention. In order to preserve the rhyming style, Hutchins places only a few words on each line of text. This formatting is more appropriate for young audiences. Additionally, text is placed in different locations on each page, which helps to add a playful quality to the story. Colorful pictures further add to the warm and inviting feel. On many pages, several different illustrations are shown, each displaying children in various settings which sends the message that all children, regardless of background have the same system of time.

One of our favorite parts of this story is that it both begins and ends with the message that every second of every year, children are loved by their parents. Many illustrations depict children interacting with their parents or caregivers further reinforcing this message. We hope that families can share in this story's message and enjoy the time they spend together.

To preview this book, click here.

Wonderful Books from the Past: Madeline and the Bad Hat

"In an old house in Paris
That was covered with vines
Lived twelve little girls
In two straight lines."

Madeline. These words have been familiar to me since I was a child. Madeline and the Bad Hat by Ludwig Bemelmans is a classic that will always delight children everywhere! In this book in the series, a surprise is in store for Madeline and the other girls when the Spanish Ambassador moves in next door. Will his little boy, Pepito, be a new friend? Madeline knows trouble as soon as she sees it. "It is evident that this little boy is a Bad Hat!" she tells Miss Clavel. Pepito is a naughty, mischievous troublemaker. Will he ever learn his lesson? Children will find out as they enjoy this story and Bemelmans' colorful artistry.

A Classic Picture Book: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle's Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? has all the characteristics of a marvelous picture book. The rhythmic tone of this wonderful book has been delighting young audiences since 1996 and is truly a must read for all children.

The tissue paper used to create the delicate images adds an artistic element to this book that both children and adults will enjoy. The tissue paper creates rich colors and textures that make the characters vibrant and alive. However, the story gets it's warmth from the innocent expression of the Brown Bear. The wide eyes and soft gaze of the Brown Bear will remind adult readers of their own child hood and the magic they saw in the world around them.

Click on this link to hear author Bill Martin read Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdHCYgO9zh8