Encouraging the doodling in your pre-writer

Do you have an older sibling who can read and write along with a younger sibling who wishes they could read and write like the older one?  Here's the perfect picture book about a younger sibling who wished he would write words  and a story just like his older sibling.  In A Squiggly Story by Andrew Larsen and Mike Lowery (Kids Can Press, 2016), the little brother doesn't know how to spell, create words, or write a story.  BUT his older sister encourages him with how EASY it is by just writing one letter and a bunch of scribbles and doodles.  She then walks him through the process of a story arc, with the beginning, middle, and end.  While brother doesn't fill out an entire sheet of paper full of words, it is OK, because he "wrote" it in such a way that he could tell the story and it makes sense to him.  He then goes on to share his story at school during show-and-tell.  This picture book is spot-on to encourage writing and creativity in emergent writers and to help teach what words, writing, and print is.  And Watch the book trailer on youtube to get a sneak peek of what's inside!

New Books for Arbor Day 2016

It feels like every year I do a post on Arbor Day books.  I can't help myself.  I'm an Oregonian Tree Hugger and I'm not ashamed of it either!  I am so pleased to share even more books about trees...books that are brand new.  So place your holds now so you can be a book lover and a tree hugger (just like me!) this Arbor Day, April 29, 2016!

Secret Tree Fort by Brianne Farley
I LOVE trees and I LOVED building forts when I was a kid.  Here's the story about a tree that is ideal for reading quietly under, plus being the foundation for the most magnificent tree fort.   It also makes for the perfect setting for about squabbling sisters.  So any way you look at it, trees are perfect for any sort of childhood situation.






The Cow Who Climbed a Tree by Gemma Merino
Now this is the silliest tree story that I've ever read!  Who knew that cows could climb trees?  Well, Tina the Cow certainly can!  And when she does, she meets new friends up in the branches.  Her sister thinks her experience is "Impossible! Ridiculous!" and full of "Nonsense!"  Just wait until you read this one.  Readers will be in for a surprise!

From Apple Trees to Cider, Please! by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky
There's an apple festival underway at the farm and lots of work to do to make the cider. This visit finishes with a cider doughnut and a cup of freshly pressed cider. It's DELICIOUS! Told in crisp, action-driven rhymes from a young child's point of view, here's a realistic account of how apple cider is pressed, flavored with the charm and vigor of a harvest celebration.

Little Tree by Loren Long
Little Tree is very happy in the forest, where he is surrounded by other little trees and his leaves keep him cool in the heat of summer, but when autumn comes and the other trees drop their leaves, Little Tree cannot be persuaded to let his go, even after they wither and turn brown.
The Little Tree That Would Not Share by Nicoletta Costa

The Tree in the Courtyard by Jeff Gottesfeld
A horse chestnut tree lived outside of Anne Frank's window.  The tree watched her play, laugh, and write in her diary.  When strangers invaded the city and warplanes roared overhead, the tree watched the Anne peek out of the curtained window of the annex. It watched as she and her family were taken away and when her father returned after the war, alone.  Sadly, the tree died the summer Anne Frank would have turned 81, but its seeds and saplings have been planted around the world as a symbol of peace. Its story, and Anne's story, are beautifully told and illustrated in this powerful picture book illustrated by one of my favorite illustrators, Peter McCarty.

Tree: A Peek-Through Picture Book by Britta Teckentrup
A peek-through hole on the cover of the book continues on each page to the very end in this book where children can view the seasonal changes of a tree..  I really love the bold and vibrant color illustrations.  Plus, this book will be a lot of fun especially for toddlers!

The 52-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths (Juvenile Fiction)
This series started off with a 13-story treehouse, now it has evolved into 52-stories.  Now Andy and Terry must try to solve the mystery of: What happened to Mr. Big Nose? Because it's hard to turn in your next book when your publisher has vanished! 

Yusuke Yonezu Board Books

While working on my last order of Board Books for the library collection, I came across an author who I was unfamiliar with.  After looking more into his works, I was very impressed with what I saw. Yusuke Yonezu from Japan is a very talented book illustrator for babies through two-year-olds.  His book illustrations contain simple thick line drawings with bold color contrasts.  This makes for the prefect combination for infants because their color vision is not well developed at birth.  Books with high-contract pictures are excellent choices for babies because it develops their interests in visual stimuli.

Infants are interested in looking at pictures of things they are familiar with.  Yusuke's books help to meet baby's needs though providing illustrations of familiar objects by pairing them with simple words so they can learn new vocabulary.  These "Concept Books" are perfect little instructional books that help youngsters learn to start labeling and identifying their world, while being entertained at the same time.

Here is a selection of concept books worth checking out. They are all fun books that will engage young children over and over!  They are all interactive and will both educate and entertain. Unfortunately, Tigard Public Library's board books are not available for placing holds, but are available on a first come, first serve basis.  There are some other libraries in the county that will fulfill board book holds and can send them to a library of your choice for pick-up.  And make sure you read to your baby today and everyday!

Fun With Shapes:


Circles
This perfect concept book teaches not only shapes, but also colors, numbers, and words all in one bright and colorful package. All the different sizes of circles in numerous different colors transform into a surprising array of objects when each page is turned.








Moving Blocks
What are you building? What can it be? An irresistible guessing game, this book asks simple questions for identifying objects that move. The vivid pictures can be reinforced through play with building blocks, allowing young imaginations grow.








Squares
Squares and rectangles are everywhere.  Here the shapes and colors found in everyday objects come to life when the pages of the book are turned.

Triangles 
Angles and triangles are everywhere, and the shapes and colors found in everyday objects come to life when the pages of the book are turned.









We Love Each Other
Love is everywhere! And it's not just us humans. From birds to elephants, rabbits to turtles, there is love and togetherness depicted on every page. Very young readers will enjoy the surprises in this cheerfully inventive little book. The bold, colorful illustrations reveal a surprise beneath the flap on every page, with a final delightful surprise on the last page!





Fun With Objects:


5 Little Apples
Here's a lift-the-flap counting book! The flaps reveal the creature that eats an apple in this board book that helps teach little ones about counting backwards. An elephant, a rabbit, and a caterpillar are some of the hungry critters who take apples away. But when there are none left, a surprise awaits!







Bottoms Up!
Name that bottom! We all recognize these creatures, but not from the back. Here's another charming and funny lift-the-flap book. Each flap reveals a new view of the creature whose bottom is featured on each page, with a friendly hello. Duck, monkey, pig, zebra. elephant--each page creates an amusing guessing game for readers young and old.






Guess What?--Flowers
Familiar flowers become surprising creatures with the help of lively lift-the-flaps. Blossoms turn into animals with the lift of a flap. Young readers are encouraged to use their imaginations to guess what animal will be revealed. A tulip becomes a yellow cat; a white daisy turns into a sheep. What will become of a cherry blossom, a dandelion, and a pansy? This book makes for a good conversation starter too!




Guess What?--Food
Carrots, chestnuts, and cheese turn into animals with the lift of a flap. Young readers are encouraged to use their imaginations to guess what animal will be revealed.  Here's another book that will make for good conversation too!








Guess What?--Fruit
Images of different fruits transform into animals with lift-the-flaps. The irresistible guessing game encourages children to imagine the possibilities.









Guess What?--Sweets and Treats
Familiar sweets become surprising creatures with the help of lively lift-the-flaps.  Sweet treats turn into animals with each lift of a flat.  Here's another book where young readers are encouraged to use their imaginations to guess what animal will be revealed. A sweet bun becomes a squirrel's tail, while a chocolate bar transforms into a tortoise's shell. What will the lollipop turn into? 

Bloom

I am absolutely bursting to tell you about Bloom, written by Doreen Cronin and illustrated by David Small!!!

With mud in her hair, dirt in her teeth, and heavy footsteps that leave cracks everywhere she steps, Bloom is not your typical fairy. She makes such a mess that the citizens of the glass kingdom are relieved when she moves into the forest. But as the years go by, the glass slowly crumbles and the king just does not know what to do. He remembers that magical creature from many years ago and seeks her out in the forest. When he finds her to ask her advice for how to repair the crumbling kingdom, she sets a bucket of mud at his feet. Because the only explanation for that behavior is that she must be intimidated by his royal highness, he sends the queen, who may be more approachable. But again, Bloom leaves a bucket of mud at her feet. Finally, the king and queen send an "ordinary" girl, Genevieve, to ask Bloom for her ideas of saving the kingdom.

So what is "ordinary," anyway? Is there even a such thing? Will just an "ordinary" girl be able to solve the kingdom's problem with help from a strange little fairy?

Like lovely little Bloom herself, this lovely little (or, actually, it's pretty big!) picture book is not your typical fairy tale. This charming, empowering story is my favorite that I've read in quite awhile!

Amber's Favorite Seek and Find Picture Books

To celebrate the end of Picture Book Month, I wanted to share some of my favorite picture books that have a seek-and-find element to them. You've probably seen the I Spy books. But have you seen In the Town, All Year 'Round? For every season, there are characters to spot and story lines to follow. Turning the pages brings you through each part of town, from the country to the town center. You can watch the kindergarten building being constructed, the pond at the park ice over for skating, and friendly relationships forming over time.

When I was a kid, there was nothing more absorbing than a thorough read of Professor Wormbog in Search for the Zipperump-a-Zoo. Nobody knows environmental print better than Mercer Mayer, who inserts biplanes creating "brush your teeth" skywriting and flashy signs advertising one way tours the edge of nowhere at every brushstroke.

And if lovely artwork is what you need to make it through another search for a hidden object, check out Britta Teckentrup's spotting books. They are packed with cute animals and soft, rich colors. Happy hunting!

Back to School Blues?

School is starts a week from today.  I can't believe summer is coming to an end.  Wow, time sure does fly!  Do you have some kiddos at home dreading going back to school in September?  Well, here's some fun picture books that just might help them get back into their regular school routine and make them excited to go back to class!



Planet Kindergarten by Sue Ganz-Schmitt
A young child imagines going off to Kindergarten as a journey to another planet

Edda: A Little Valkyrie's First Day of School by Adam Auerbach
Edda, the littlest Valkyrie, leaves the magical land of Asgard to attend school in hopes of making a friend her own age, but feels like an outcast until she finds her courage and learns that being different makes her special.

The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School by Deborah Diesen
Mr. Fish recalls how, on his very first day of school, he anxiously went to one classroom after another watching students do things he could not, until Miss Hewitt showed him to the room that was right for beginners.

A Big Day for Migs! by Jo Hodgkinson
Migs' first day of school gets off to a rough start, but he overcomes his shyness to ask for help from his new classmates and makes the day special for everyone.








Dog Days of School by Kelly DiPucchio
Tired of school, Charlie envies his dog and wishes he could be a dog, too, but when his wish comes true he discovers that his life was not all bad.









Ninja Boy Goes to School by N.D. Wilson
A little boy explains what it's like to go to school--when you're a ninja.










My Teacher is a Monster (No. I Am Not) by Peter Brown
Bobby thinks his teacher, Ms. Kirby, is horrible, but when he sees her outside of school and they spend a day in the park together, he discovers she might not be so bad after all.








On My Way to School by Sarah Maizes
Livi imagines herself as an elephant, a Sherpa leading an expedition up Mount Everest, and a movie star signing autographs as she tries to avoid going to school.

Little Lola by Julie Saab
After climbing aboard a school bus, a curious cat spends an enjoyable day at school.

Tractor Time

 

It seems like tractors have been growing in popularity these days, along side the other popular pieces of machinery like trucks, planes, and trains.  This popularity has resulted in a number of tractor picture book stories that is sure to please the youngest of readers.  Check out some of these new and older titles:

Following the Tractor
by Susan Seggall
Follows the story of a tractor as it plows, sows, and harvests the fields throughout the course of a year, with a little help from some other farm machinery.

Big Tractor
by Nathan Clement
For kids who really like looking at tractors more close up, this book is for them.  Readers can watch the farmer drive his tractor, named "Ol' Partner" working on farm chores around the farm such as planting, cultivating, and harvesting.





Otis
by Loren Long
When Otis was first introduced back in 2009, I was very impressed to learn of a character who is a tractor.  Years later, he has become one quite popular literary piece of machinery.  So in this first Otis the friendly little tractor  tale, he gets cast away behind the barn when a big new yellow tractor arrives.  But when trouble occurs, Otis is the only one who can help and save the day!
 


Stanley the Farmer
by William Bee
It's going to be a busy day down on Stanley's Farm, as Stanley the hamster and his friends Shamus and Little Woo have a lot to do!  They've got to work on plowing the field, planting seeds, and harvesting the wheat.

The Rusty Trusty Tractor by Joy Cowley
Mr. Hill of Hill's Tractor Sales bets Micah's Grandpappy that his rusty old tractor won't make it through another hay season.  But Micah learns that Grandpappy's tractor, like an old friend, doesn't let him down!

Calling All Elephant and Piggie Fans!

We all know Mo Willems is an absolute genius for creating the Elephant and Piggie books, many of which that have won notoriety and awards for beginning readers.  No other books for beginners can stand even close to the books, as Mo knows how to write for this crowd and keep them interested in reading.  For years I've been trying to wrap my fingers around books that would come close in comparison to satisfy early readers who crave more books like Elephant and Piggie.  After all this time, I have FINALLY found the book!  Let me introduce you to Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret by Bob Shea!  Bob has published a number of picture books over the years, which have appealing characters and humorous plot lines.  Now BFF's Ballet  Cat and Sparkles the Horse present to readers their humor and wide range of emotions in dialogue shown in speech bubbles that is quick-witted and fast-paced.  They are sure to satisfy Elephant and Piggie fans and will leave them wanting more.  Three cheers for Ballet Cat and Sparkles!!! Hip-hip-hooray! Hip-hip-hooray! Hip-hip-hooray!

Go Bananas!

Ok, let's admit, we all go a little bananas sometimes.  Here's some fun books about bananas that will be certain to tickle your little one's funny bone...and maybe encourage them to eat some fruit for a snack too!



Banana! By Ed Vere
Colorful illustrations and brief text show how two monkeys learn to share when there is only one banana between them.  A perfect book for learning the difference between exclamation points and question marks too!

Betty Goes Bananas by Steve Antony
Betty gets upset when she can't peel a banana.  When Tucan comes along, he can peel it, but Betty gets upset again because he could do it and she couldn't.  This is a perfect book for learning that one can't always get their way and that one doesn't need to always throw a tantrum.  Plus, it combines nutrition for your body as well as your little one's soul!





The Monkey Goes Bananas by C.P. Bloom
Monkey, having spied a banana tree across the water, will stop at nothing to get a snack.  What a silly monkey!


Once Upon a Banana by Jennifer Armstrong
Everyday signs serve as captions for this pictorial tale of what happens after a man tosses a banana peel into the garbage can and misses.










Pete the Cat and the Bad Banana by James Dean
Pete the Cat bites into a bad banana and vows never to eat bananas again, even though he generally likes the fruit.





And here's a fun action rhyme you can do with your little one.  And be sure to chant the words in a steady rhythm while acting out the actions! Click HERE to watch a video of the action rhyme before trying it out!

Form the Orange

Form the orange,

Form, form the orange.

(Hold hands apart in half circles, slowly bring together)

Peel the orange,

Peel, peel the orange.

(Keep thumbs together, slowly separate finger-tips)

Squeeze the orange,

Squeeze, squeeze the orange.

(Give yourself a great big hug)

Form the banana,

Form, form the banana.

(Slowly bring palms together over your head)

Peel the banana,

Peel, peel the banana.

(Slowly separate palms)

Go bananas,

Go, go bananas!

(Dance any way you please)

Don't be a Sick Simon!

Need an extra immunity boost? Simon learns how to be health-conscious during cold and flu season in Sick Simon by Dan Krall.  Illustrations will help define what germs really are and how bad they can be, making this an excellent choice for little ones to understand what they can not see, in addtion to learning the importance of covering you coughs and sneezes.  But the biggest lesson of all is this: Don't be a Sick Simon!!!

STEAM Saturday

Are you looking for a charming and funny non-fiction picture book about...um...disgusting critters?
Well, they're only disgusting because of their bad reputation, because these guys are important!
Find out why when you read Elise Gravel's Disgusting Critters series.

While reading aout The Worm, I learned that there is a worm that can grow to be over 98 feet long!
It's called the Ribbon Worm.

STEAM Activity:
Take a tape measure out and mark off 98 feet! How many inches is that? How many centimeters does that equal. How many meters is 98 feet?
You can let us know what your results were by leaving a comment.

Hooray for Unicorns!

Kids today are so incredibly lucky that so many wonderful books have been published within recent years that cover a multitude of topics.  I remember growing up thinking that Unicorns were special creatures containing a lot of magic and mystery.  Unfortunately there were no books available on the subject of unicorns (that I was aware of) that shared this same sense of wonder.  But now, I am pleased to share some fun and AWESOME unicorn books that do just that!  Check these out today!  (You'll be glad you did!)

  Unicorn Thinks He Is Pretty Great (Picture Book)
by Bob Shea
If you've got a youngster at home who loves unicorns and rainbow colors AND sparkles, this is the perfect book! At first, Goat envies Unicorn because he goes around acting like a show-off.  But then Goat Admires Unicorn and eventually the two become friends.

Uni The Unicorn (Picture Book)
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Uni the Unicorn believes that little girls are real, despite her unicorn friends and family insisting that don't exist.  Fun retro style illustrations mimic that of vintage Golden Books while giving Uni beautiful grace.

Phoebe and Her Unicorn: A Heavenly Nostrils Chronicle (Juvenile Graphic Novel)
by Dana Simpson
Phoebe has no choice, but to believe in unicorns in this brand new and adventurous graphic novel. Lots of reviewers are comparing this friendship to that of Calvin and Hobbs.  I couldn't agree more!







Lily The Unicorn (Picture Book)
by Dallas Clayton

Lily the unicorn teaches her new pal, Roger the penguin, that it's fun to try new things.  Dive right in to experience a lot of fun!