Submitted by Chad from Charlotte Hall!
Banjo Granny by Sarah Martin Busse and Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Barry Root. This book is dedicated to “grannies everywhere…and to grandbabies everywhere.” It is a sort of tall tale. Granny, our banjo pickin’ hero, encounters a number of obstacles on her way to visit her grandson, Owen (who loves bluegrass music). These obstacles are in the form of natural barriers, such as a river, a desert, and a mountain. Granny overcomes them with the aid of her banjo and, of course, her love for her grandson. The river, desert, and mountain are personified as Granny invites them to listen to the song of her grandson “who goes wiggly, jiggly, all-around giggly, and tip over tumble for bluegrass music.” We catch glimpses of Owen when visiting birds inform him of the progress of his granny. When Granny and Owen are united in person, they sing “wop-a-doosy, lap-a-daisy doo!” The book includes lyrics and music to “Owen’s Song,” in the bluegrass style.
Birds
Duck Soup
Submitted by Carol from Charlotte Hall!
Duck Soup written and illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic. This is a very entertaining story about Duck, who loves to cook, mainly soups. He cooks for his friends and does not always make the most appetizing meals, such as cracker barrel cheese and marshmallow soup, and fish soup with curry and pickled lemon. One day he decides he wants to create his very own soup with his very own special recipe. He wants to be a great chef. His friends arrive and they can’t find Duck. They look in the kitchen and they see the soup Duck is preparing and there is a feather floating on top. OH NO!!!! Did Duck fall in? His friends panic and are determined to find out. They rush and get out the strainer. Join the fun as Dakota, Brody and Bebe try to rescue Duck. Will they succeed or will Duck become Duck Soup?
Elmo’s Alphabet
At first glance, the Sesame Street book Elmo’s Alphabet by Michaela Muntean, illustrated by Richard Walz, may not seem extraordinarily blog-worthy, but I have had the pleasure of reading it aloud the many children, and it’s always a hit. One day Elmo is walking home, singing the alphabet song, when he runs into his friend Big Bird who suggests they play their alphabet game: thinking up their favorite words that begin with each letter of the alphabet. Elmo picks “airplane” for his favorite “a” word, and imagines himself as a pilot, flying high is the sky. Big Bird picks “boat” for his favorite “b” word and imagines himself in a kayak on a peaceful stream. This book offers many opportunities for children to act out what Elmo and Big Bird do on each page, while familiarizing them with the letters of the alphabet!
City I Love
City I Love is a love letter to the city. Which city? All of them! Eighteen poems by Lee Bennett Hopkins are skillfully illustrated by Marcellus Hall to take you on a whirlwind international journey. Hopkins and Hall praise the skyscrapers of New York, the traffic sounds of Paris, and the neon lights of Tokyo. The heat of Rio and Cairo, and the brisk temperatures of Moscow and Toronto. Landmarks like the The Golden Gate Bridge of San Fransisco and the Millennium Wheel of London. Subways, and taxis, even gondolas (oh my)! I hope you enjoy this urban romance as much as I did. It’s a great conversation starter–a fabulous lead in to discussion with your child about how people live differently in different parts of the world. One can never be to young to develop an appreciation and tolerance for foreign culture.
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy
Meet arguably the most precocious bird in children’s literature, in Mo Willems’s The Pigeon Wants a Puppy, the latest in the ongoing saga of The Pigeon and multiple things he’d like to do. In this book the pigeon would like you to give him a puppy. He’s wanted one forever (or at least since last Tuesday). He promises to water it once a month. Don’t you want him to be happy? You better give him one before he throws a huge temper tantrum! But what happens when the pigeon actually runs into a dog? AAAAHHH!!! “The teeth! The hair! That wet nose! The slobber! The claws! I mentioned the teeth right?” I wonder what he’ll want now instead…
Duck for President
Duck for President by Doreen Cronin, and illustrated by Betsy Lewin, was incredibly popular around election season (check outs were usually accompanied by clever parents commenting that the duck seemed like a good candidate), but it’s a great story for any time of the year. Duck lives on Farmer’s Brown’s farm. He and the other animals all have chores, but Duck doesn’t like chores, so he decides to hold an election, which he subsequently wins. But running the farm is hard work, so he begins his campaign for governor. Soon Duck is head of the state, but this job too is extremely difficult. So Duck pulls out all the stops and runs for President (eventually retiring to write his memoirs). Duck for President is one of my favorite books! It’s a kid-friendly commentary on politics that hopefully everyone can enjoy.