Submitted by Ms. Amanda!
Just One Bite is an exceptional example of narrative nonfiction. I was thrilled to meet author Lola Schaefer at the Maryland Library Association Conference in May. She is charming, and as engaging as her books. When speaking about writing Just One Bite she revealed “I wonder how much animals eat in each bite?” is the question which inspired her to write this book. Ms. Schaefer continued that most of her books start with a question and then lots of research. After that question and painstaking scientific research, she and illustrator Geoff Waring created Just One Bite, which is a volume of informative, easy to read text, and vibrant, life sized illustrations that will enchant readers of any age. It is a life size look at how much an animal can eat with each mouthful. The book starts off with a look at how much a worm can eat – just a tiny spec of dirt – and then explores animals from all over the world. With each page the animals get bigger. The mouths, and bites, and even pages grow till we find a sperm whale… How much can he eat? This beautiful book is a great way to encourage children’s curiosity and get them to ask their own questions like, how much can I fit into a bite? See this book listed in our catalog
Award Winner
A Tree Is Nice
Submitted by Ms. Melissa!
You can swing from a tree, climb a tree, seek shelter under a tree… trees are nice. You can plant one, live next to one, eat fruit from one. Trees are a vital part of our existence. They are everywhere and we couldn’t live without them. A Tree Is Nice by Janice May Udry, is a classic, but is as relevant today as it was when it won the Caldecott award in 1957. Through simple, easy to read text, the author describes the many roles trees have in our lives. Ink and watercolor illustrations by Marc Simont alternate with ink illustrations and allow for bold contrasts and highlight many key phrases in the book. If you go out exploring, or want to teach your child something important about the world we live in, this may be the book for you. See this book listed in our catalog
Gathering Sparks
Submitted by Ms. Tess!
There is a concept in the Jewish religion known as Tikkun Olam which theorizes that doing good deeds fills the world with holy light. In Gathering Sparks, the Sydney Taylor award winning book by Howard Schwartz, illustrated by Kristina Swarner, a loving grandfather tells his grandchild about Tikkun Olam. Being environmentally aware, taking care of our family, and being kind to animals are all ways we can make the world a better place. In the back of the book there is information about Rabbi Issac Luria who is known for popularizing the idea of Tikkun Olam in the sixteenth century. This is a sweet and gentle book, wonderful for a little one fascinated by the night sky. See this book listed in our catalog
Good Dog, Aggie
Submitted by Ms. Jill!
Good Dog, Aggie by Lori Ries. Ben loves his little dog, Aggie. She is a good dog; she runs fast, and she is a good eater. But Aggie does not listen to what Ben tells her. Ben takes Aggie to Doggie School to learn “sit” and “stay,” but Aggie doesn’t learn. Aggie is so naughty that she gets sent home! Next Ben tries teaching Aggie “sit” and “stay” on his own, the same way they do it at Doggie School, but Aggie still doesn’t learn. Aggie jumps up, chases squirrels and cats, and gets Ben into trouble by making a mess. Is Aggie really a bad dog after all? Poor Ben! Poor Aggie! Just when it seems that Aggie will never learn “sit” or “stay,” kind Mr. Thomas helps Ben see what Aggie is good at doing, and that she can learn. She just needs to learn a different way than the way they do it at Doggie School. Once Ben finds out what works for Aggie, their hard work and perseverance start to pay off. Good dog, Aggie! I especially love Good Dog, Aggie because this story reminds me of my own adopted doggie, Oscar. Like Aggie, Oscar wanted to be a good dog but didn’t know how! It seemed like no matter how hard I tried to teach him, Oscar just didn’t learn. But just like Ben and Aggie, Oscar and I found someone to help us, and now Oscar is finally learning to be a good dog too! See this book listed in our catalog or find more stories about Aggie and Ben
Interrupting Chicken
Submitted by Ms. Catherine!
Looking back, I’d say that I was a precocious child. My parents were very patient with me as I asked: if the road sign said 35, then why did Mommy’s dashboard say 47? They were also patient as I insisted on correcting their reading of bedtime stories. There were the books that I had memorized down to the word, and then there were the books that I insisted had to end a certain way (even if the author did not agree). In Interrupting Chicken, by David Ezra Stein, we meet Little Red Chicken, who is very excited about her bedtime story. She promises her Papa that she will not interrupt the story, but when Hansel and Gretel wander up to that little old lady in her candy house, she just has to jump in and stop them! And when Little Red Riding Hood begins to talk to the Big Bad Wolf, Little Red Chicken just has to jump in and remind Red Riding Hood not to talk to strangers! Finally, tired of all the interruptions, Papa chicken insists that Little Red Chicken tell the last story. Do you think Papa might interrupt? This funny book is a great one to read aloud with your child. You can even come up with your own version of the story, and choose which classic stories you’d choose to interrupt! See this book listed in our catalog
The 2010 Cybils Awards
Ms. Tess had the esteemed honor to serve as a judge for the 2010 Cybils Awards, literary awards given each year by the blogging community. She helped judge the Fiction Picture Book Category, and the winner was Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein! The official Kid’s Book Blog review of Interrupting Chicken publishes tomorrow, but Tess would like to take this time to thank her fellow judges, who made the experience so wonderful, and encourage you to visit their blogs! Thank you Becky Bilby, Katie Davis, Melanie Greenberg, Danielle Smith, and our magnanimous Panel Organizer Pam Coughlan! Also, check out the other finalist books, that were so close to winning: A Beach Tail by Karen Lynn Williams, Chalk by Bill Thomson, The Cow Loves Cookies by Karma Wilson, Flora’s Very Windy Day by Jeanne Birdsall, Shark Vs. Train by Chris Barton, and A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip Stead. Oh, and happy Valentines Day everybody!