Submitted by Ms. Tess!
What would you do if you were just walking through the zoo, minding your own business, and the animals started talking to you? That’s the premise of Pssst! by Adam Rex. A little girl is wandering past the gorilla habitat when she hears “Pssst!” It’s the gorilla! And he needs a favor. Could she get him a new tire? His swing is broken. Get two. Just in case. And he’s not the only animal in need. The javelina needs trashcans, the bats want flashlights, the penguins would like bright colored paint, the sloths yen for bicycle helmets, and the turkeys desire corn (but not to eat. to turn into clean-burning fuel). Luckily, there’s a store across the street that happens to sell all of these things, and she’s provided money by the baboon and tortoise (the peacock fishes the coins out of the fountains every night). But could these animals have ulterior motives? What else could they do with tires, lights, paint, helmets, and fuel… Find out when you read Pssst! See this book listed in our catalog
Anybody Home? and In My Backyard
Submitted by Ms. Melissa!
Spring! It’s time to escape the house and go exploring. Here are some books to help you break free from winter captivity. Breathe in some fresh air and enjoy.
Anybody Home? by Aileen Fisher is a classic rhyme about animals and their homes. Use this as a bed time story under the stars, or before a walk in the woods. The detailed black and white illustrations by Susan Bonners are accurate depictions of animals in their habitats. If going on a nature walk, children can search for these same animal dwellings, and make up stories about who lives in them and what season or time of day an animal would use them. See this book listed in our catalog
In My Backyard by Valarie Giogas, with illustrations by Katherine Zecca, is a book about baby animals you may find in your very own backyard. There are many interactive read along activities suggested in the back of the book. Children will learn that baby skunks are named kits, and baby raccoons are called cubs! You can count along from 1 to10, play a memory game, or seek and find the baby animals. Tips on what to do if you find an injured animal, and caring for wildlife are also mentioned. See this book listed in our catalog
Cooking with Henry and Elliebelly
Submitted by Ms. Catherine!
A few months after my parents brought my new baby brother home from the hospital, I asked when he’d be going back. And while I might not have thought so at the time, I now know that my life would have been much less exciting without my younger brother. In Cooking with Henry and Elliebelly, written by Carolyn Parkhurst, and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino, we meet an older brother who is experiencing just how interesting life can be when a little sister tags along. Henry is determined to make a good pretend cooking show that will be just right. He will have chef hats, and the right ingredients, and the right directions. Anyone who has a little brother or sister knows that things might not go quite right for Henry. With pirate hats instead of chef hats, and a certainty that pizza is a key ingredient in waffles, Henry’s little sister drives him up the wall! But by the end of the book, Henry has decided that playing with his little sister isn’t all that bad. This is a great book if you have an older sibling at home that is sometimes frustrated with the new addition in the house, or if you just think that cooking shows can be improved with pirate hats. If you do, come back next week for Pirate Cooking with Henry and Elliebelly! See this book listed in our catalog
All Change
All Change by Ian Whybrow and David Melling is a story about a tiger who is very upset because he didn’t get a present for his birthday. Miss Lollipop tries to cheer Tiger up by taking him for a birthday ride. First they travel by car, then train, then boat. They even travel by whale! Each time they change mode of transportation, they add passengers who travel along with them, and they all shout “All change!” At the end of their journey they shout “all change” one last time, and they all change into their pajamas, and jump into their bed! Tiger ends up having a fun birthday after all. This book is great for showing children different kinds of transportation in a funny way. See this book listed in our catalog
I Want My Light On
Submitted by Ms. Sue!
I Want My Light On, written and illustrated by Tony Ross, is a little princess story. The little princess loved a bedtime story, but when her dad turned out the light… “I WANT MY LIGHT ON!” SHE SAID. “Why?” asked her dad. The little princess goes on to explain about the ghosts in the dark that are probably under the bed. “Don’t be silly, there are no such things as ghosts” is what she is told, not only by her dad, but the admiral, the doctor, and eventually the maid. But what the maid tells her helps a little, since, after all, she is not so much afraid of the dark, she’s more afraid of the ghosts. The maid’s explanation at least helps her to be able to turn off the light, but then when she hears a noise that sounds very much like a ghost, she hides under the bed. Find out what is under her bed, and enjoy this little princess picture book. See this book listed in out catalog