Submitted by Carol from Charlotte Hall!
Big Chickens Fly the Coop is written by Leslie Helakoski and illustrated by Henry Cole. The story is about four chickens whose dream in life is to see the farmhouse, but they are afraid of what may be outside of their nice, safe chicken coop. One day they decide they are going to take the chance, and try to fulfill their dream. They find themselves being chased by a dog, almost ran over by a tractor, and stampeded by horses. Will they give up and return to the safety of their coop, or be brave and continue the search for the farmhouse? You have to read this hilarious book to find out . You never know! What you’re looking for may be right in your own backyard…
Birds
Put It on the List!
Submitted by county youth coordinator Janis!
Put It on the List by Kristen Darbyshire. Have you ever wished that Mom would buy that special something from the grocery store? Consider putting it on her grocery list. This book is an upbeat look at what happens when a graphic chicken family forgets to put things on their shopping list. When they realize the consequences of forgetting to write things on the grocery list, they do better at keeping the list up-to-date. Imagine peanut butter with no jelly, or milk with no cookies! The results are eye opening for the kids!
Just How Long Can a Long String Be?!
Submitted by county youth coordinator Janis!
Just How Long Can a Long String Be?! by Keith Baker. Ant wants to know, just how long can a long string be. Bird answers the question by showing Ant different ways a string can be used: a yo yo, a way to hold a balloon, a top, a mop, a puppet, a hair, a kite, a nest… At the end of the book Ant says, “Thank you, Bird! Now I see a string’s just as long as I need it to be.” This would be a great book to use as a prop story, with a ball of string to retell the book. After reading the story, find other ways to “use” the ball of string. This is a perfect way to promote the Early Literacy Skill of Print Motivation/Vocabulary. Having fun with books is important! It helps your child enter school ready to learn!
A Penguin Story
Submitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
In A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis we meet Edna, who is tired of the lack of diversity in the palette of her Arctic home. Everything is either white (like the snow and ice), black (like the night or the feathers of her friends), or blue (like the ocean and the fish that swim in it). There must be more to life than things which are white, black, or blue! So Edna goes in search of a different color, and boy does she find it: orange! As in the orange of scientists and their jumpsuits, tents, and equipment! Edna realizes the world is much bigger than the small glacier she inhabits, and wonders what other colors could be out there.
Chicken and Cat Clean Up
Sumitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
It is obvious from the beginning of the adorable wordless story Chicken and Cat Clean Up by Sara Varon, that Chicken and Cat our two title characters are very different. Chicken is up early making breakfast, when Cat is just rolling out of bed. Cat is daydreaming about getting the perfect pet. Chicken is reminding Cat it’s time to go to work. Chicken and Cat have a house-cleaning business, however Cat seems to lack focus. Cat would rather dance or eat than clean. And Cat’s kind of clumsy. But Cat is good at something, something that might help save the day!
The Clouds Above
Submitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
I love The Clouds Above by Jordan Crane. It could be Where the Wild Things Are for a new generation. Simon, and his cat Jack, while trying to avoid their despicable teacher “Missus Poe,” find a mysterious staircase leading to seemingly no where from the roof of their school. Of course, they decide to climb it, and at the top they find a cloud named Perch (the birds named him). Perch decides to fly them somewhere warmer, and so begins their adventure. This is a really fun story for any fans of weather, cats, and running away from school!