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Charlie the Ranch Dog

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Submitted by Ms. Janis!

Come along as Ree Drummond, “The Pioneer Woman,” introduces us to her beloved short-legged friend Charlie the Ranch Dog. While Charlie, a sleepy basset hound, tells about the busy life of a ranch dog, his best friend Suzie, a Jack Russell terrier, is getting the work done. Charlie loves his breakfast, and loves living in the country. But truth be known, Suzie is the one chasing the cows out of the yard, and keeping the critters off the porch and out of the garden, all while Charlie naps! A chipmunk appears on each page–see if your child can find it! See this book listed in our catalog

Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp!: A Sonic Adventure

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Submitted by Ms. Tess!

Squeak, Rumble, Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! is billed as “a sonic adventure,” by jazz musician, composer, and advocate Wynton Marsalis, and illustrated by artist Paul Rogers. It is a celebration of all the “music” we hear (and probably take for granted) on a daily basis. The “noises” we hear as we go about our day, from the squeak of a door (or a mouse), to the rumble of a truck (or your tummy), have a beautiful musicality to them, if you take the time to appreciate it. What else makes great sounds? The knife across your bread as you butter your toast? The nails on your shirt when you scratch an itch? Marsalis also treats us to the sounds of music being made on instruments you might hear: violins plucking, trombones sliding, trumpets blaring… The world is truly full of beautiful music! Read this book with the child in your life, and then go listen to, or better yet make, some music of your own! See this book listed in our catalog

Dream Big Little Pig

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Submitted by Ms. Carol!
Dream Big Little Pig by Kristi Yamaguchi is a book about a pig named Poppy. Poppy was a pig who loved to dream and she dreamed big. She wanted to be a big star. Poppy tried everything. She thought she would try dancing. Maybe she could be a ballerina. But Poppy was very clumsy. Dancing was not for her. Poppy’s family told her to dream big, and always follow her dreams, so Poppy decided to try out singing. She always wanted to be a singer, but Poppy couldn’t carry a tune. Still her family and friends always believed in her, and continued to tell her to follow her dreams and dream big. She decided to keep trying. She had always wanted to be a supermodel. But Poppy wasn’t the model type. She even tripped on her gown. Modeling just wasn’t for her. She was about to give up when she remembered what her family said: “Just follow your heart and remember, we love you no matter what.” And so she decided to try ice skating. She slipped and fell, but she didn’t give up. She was a persistent pig. Poppy learned to do all kinds of tricks, and she finally felt like a star. This is a cute story with a message. It shows how you should always believe in yourself and follow your dreams. What will Poppy try next? Whatever she decides, she will never stop dreaming. See this book listed in our catalog

When I Grow Up

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Submitted by Ms. Carol!
When I Grow Up by Al Yankovic is a very humorous story about a little eight year old boy who has dreams of being lots of things when he grows up. It’s show-and-tell in Mrs. Krupp’s class today, and the children are to tell everyone what they would like to be when they grow up. Billy is so excited he even goes first! Billy says he would like to be a great chef, who makes unusual dishes, such as toast on a stick or twinkies au gratin. Of course Billy doesn’t stop there. He has many ideas. Maybe he’ll be a snail trainer, or a professional pickle inspector. He could milk giraffes and make giraffe cheese. Maybe a gorilla masseuse, a rodeo clown, or a tarantula shaver. Billy has quite an imagination. Billy’s grandpa just turned one hundred and three, and he has had many jobs, but he still doesn’t know what he wants to be, so of course Billy has time to do decide, and maybe he can do all these things! This is a cute story about growing up, and the pressure of deciding what you want to be. It’s okay to not know, and to take your time and just see what the future brings. See this book listed in our catalog

Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters

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Submitted by Ms. Tess!
Of Thee I Sing is a children’s book by President Barack Obama. Now, where President Obama found time to write a children’s book, I’m not sure. He strikes me as a busy, busy man. But I am not going to complain. Because this book is scrumptious. It’s full of inspirational prose, and beautiful illustrations compliments of Loren Long. Of Thee I Sing is actually a letter to the president’s daughters. It begins, “Have I told you lately how wonderful you are? How the sound of your feet running from afar brings dancing rhythms to my day? How you laugh and sunshine spills into the room?” (Do you need a tissue yet? I did.) The president goes on to list the attributes of his daughters, along with examples of multicultural figures who embodied those attributes. They are creative like Georgia O’Keeffe. They are brave like Jackie Robinson. They are strong like Helen Keller. Because ultimately, as the president eloquently puts it, “America is made up of people of every kind” and “Have I told you that they are all a part of you? Have I told you that you are one of them and that you are our future? And have I told you that I love you?” (Where are those darn tissues?!) Of Thee I Sing is definitely worth checking out. I think it’s an absolutely lovely tribute from a parent to a child, and hope you will think so too. See this book listed in our catalog

A Pig Parade Is a Terrible Idea

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Submitted by Ms. Tess!
“Like most children, you have probably thought to yourself at one time or another, I bet a pig parade would be a lot of fun.” Lucky for us, we have Michael Ian Black and Kevin Hawkes to teach us exactly why A Pig Parade Is a Terrible Idea. For one thing, pigs don’t like to march. They prefer to snuffle, which is like walking, but with your nose. And they down right refuse to wear majorette uniforms (even though absolutely everybody looks sharp in a majorette uniform). And if you give them band instruments, do you think they’d play a spirited marching song? They wouldn’t. Because pigs only listen to sad, sad country music. These are just some of the many reasons A Pig Parade Is a Terrible Idea. I suggest you check this book out today, and educate yourself, before you try organizing hundreds of pigs to march down the finest boulevard of your home town… See this book listed in our catalog