Submitted by Ms. Catherine!
When I was growing up, I was constantly finding new ways to play pretend. I was always imagining that I could travel to a new place, and that I had some sort of magical ability. In Suzy Lee’s beautiful new wordless book, Shadow, we meet a girl with a delightfully vivid imagination. Playing in her attic, where the light makes lots of shadows on the wall, the girl’s imagination creates an entirely new world. The left side pages show the attic in its original form, while the right side pages show how the girl’s imagination changes her surroundings. Eventually, the magic of her imagination invades the real world in the form of a darker creature. But taking charge of her own make-believe, the little girl is able to conquer her fears, and play with the creature, who turns out to be a friend. The ending is reminiscent of Where the Wild Things Are, when the call of “Dinner!” brings the make-believe to an end. This is a great book to look at with your child and talk about what you see. You can pick out the animals the girl imagines, and identify what real objects create the shadows. You can also discuss what imagination is, and why make-believe can’t hurt anyone. See this book listed in our catalog
Tanka Tanka Skunk!
Submitted by Ms. Tess!
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The Monkey with a Bright Blue Bottom
Submitted by Ms. Tammy!
In The Monkey with a Bright Blue Bottom by Steve Smallman, a young monkey sits watching the birds, as they fly past, with their beautiful feathers that look like a rainbow in the sky. He thinks it’s not fair that all the animals around him look dull, with no color like the birds. After finding a paintbox with some brushes, he decides to brighten up the animals with the paints as they take an afternoon nap. Children will be delighted as they see the leopard get his spots, Giraffe get his brown squares, and Zebra get his black stripes! Just as Monkey is finishing up, Bear wakes up and starts yelling. Monkey finds himself surrounded by all the creatures he has painted with his new paintbox. The story ends with Bear painting the monkey’s face red, white, and blue. He also paints the monkey’s bottom a bright blue! See this book listed in our catalog
Laurie
Submitted by Ms. Amanda!
Laurie by Elfi Nijssen and Eline van Lindenhuizen is a great story to help kids adjust to hearing aids, or to understand why someone they know uses hearing aids. Laurie doesn’t hear well, and that makes it hard for her to have friends, because she often has to ask them to repeat themselves, and look at her when they speak, so that she can read their lips. Kids often make fun of her, because they do not understand, and she often has to play alone on the playground. That makes her feel like she doesn’t belong. Laurie has a dog who is her friend. He doesn’t care that she doesn’t hear well. They understand each other just fine. One day, Laurie gets “hearing computers” to help her hear well. Now Laurie can hear kids on the playground, she doesn’t have to ask them to repeat themselves, and can hear everything around her just fine. Laurie is lucky, because now she can hear well, thanks to her hearing aids. Now she has friends, and feels like she belongs! See this book listed in our catalog
Stanley’s Little Sister
Submitted by Ms. Amanda!
Have you ever wondered what your pets are thinking? In Stanley’s Little Sister by Linda Bailey you get to see how the dog Stanley feels about a new cat that his people bring home. Stanley really wants to be friends with the new cat, but they just don’t speak the same language. Literally! Stanley speaks dog to the cat, and she just doesn’t understand, and neither do Stanley’s people. He tries to say “Hi” to the cat, and she bats him in the nose. He tries to give the cat some of his toys, and she runs away. He knows he isn’t supposed to chase her, but for some reason he just can’t help it! He tries to lie on the couch with his people, and the new cat, but he gets in trouble, and is put out on the porch. Stanley even meets up with his doggy friends at the dog park to get their advice on how to make friends with the cat. In the end, making friends with her turns out to be very simple, and Stanley finds he likes having a new little sister! See this book listed in our catalog
Feivel’s Flying Horses
Submitted by Ms. Allana!
Feivel’s Flying Horses by Heidi Smith Hyde. For many children who love the wonder, pleasure, and excitement of riding a carousel, a book about “flying” horses is indeed a treasure. I am partial to carousels, and the beautifully crafted horses that adorn them, so I instantly took to this book. This is a story about a man’s love for his family, and his desire to make a better life for them. With wonderful ink line and water color illustrations by Johanna Van Der Sterre, the story of Feivel and his new life in America captures the heart, as the woodcarver strives to make enough money to send for his loved ones. He carves a special feature into each horse, to remind him of every member of his family. It’s a very touching and uplifting story, suitable for Kindergarten age and up. See this book listed in our catalog