Submitted by Allana from Leonardtown!
Library Mouse: A Friend’s Tale by Daniel Kirk is a delightful fantasy for listeners and readers alike! When Tom realizes that he has no partner to help with his “Writers and Illustrators Club” project, Mrs. Forrester tells him she will help out. Tom doesn’t really become inspired to either write or illustrate for his project, until he finds a tiny notebook left behind by a secret writer named Sam. When he shows this to Mrs. Forrester, she isn’t surprised. Someone named Sam has been leaving little story books around the library for children to read. Is it a coincidence that all the stories are about mice? Tom wants to find out who Sam really is, and possibly meet him, and as the tale unfolds we discover that one young boy learns a valuable lesson about team work and friendship, and another shy fellow realizes that he also can have a friend, and that maybe he doesn’t have to be so anonymous. See this book listed in our catalog
Friendship
Tarra & Bella
Submitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
I am a sucker for true stories about animals overcoming odds, and because of this Tarra & Bella the Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends really pulled at my heartstrings. Tarra the elephant used be a star of stage and screen, but has since retired to an elephant sanctuary in Tennessee. There are several other elephants there, all of which have a best friend. But Tarra did not have a best friend. Until Bella showed up. Bella was a stray dog that surprisingly was not intimidated by Tarra’s huge size. They started spending all their time together! They ate together, played together, and slept together. But one day something awful happened. Bella was hurt! She had to be taken away to a veterinarian, who said she would probably never walk again. Tarra waited at the spot she last saw Bella for days, then finally went in search of her friend. She amazingly walked right to the barn where Bella was recuperating! Bella howled for her friend, and finally the zookeepers carried her downstairs. The friends were reunited, and you know what? Bella got better! To this day Tarra and Bella are still best friends! See this book listed in our catalog
Two of a Kind
Submitted by Catherine from Charlotte Hall!
In the world of elementary school, being cool is more important that one might think. Two of a Kind, by Jacqui Robbins and Matt Phelan, tells the story of two friends, Anna and Julsia, who are not afraid to be themselves. The girls know they aren’t the cool girls in class, like Kayla and Melanie, but they are happy being friends with each other. Until one day Anna gets invited to join the cool girl clique, who spend their recess making fun of Anna’s best friend. Anna has to decide if she would rather be part of the “in” crowd and sad, or happy, if a bit uncool, with her true friend. Told through an authentic sounding voice of the third grader, Anna, this book tells a story that many kids have experienced. This is a great book for any child who is dealing with the idea of cliques in school for the first time. See this book listed in our catalog
The Secret Plan
Submitted by Amanda from Lexington Park!
The Secret Plan by Julia Sarcone-Roach. Milo, an elephant, and Henry, Harriet, and Hildy, three cats, are next door neighbors and friends. They have all kinds of fun together, but always seem to get interrupted. They are interrupted most often by bedtime. They come up with lots of plans to avoid going to bed, but they always get caught… until they come up with a super sneaky plan! They pretend to go to bed, and then sneak to the attic to play together. Their plan works until they all get too sleepy to keep playing and have to sneak back downstairs to their beds. Milo is almost asleep when he hears Harriet tapping out another super sneaky plan for another time. In this tale of avoiding bedtime, the characters’ unusual friendship makes for a cute backdrop. See this book listed in our catalog
The Lion and the Mouse
Submitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
Okay. I’m going to come right out and say it: The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkey is my favorite children’s picture book of 2009. This (mostly) wordless, beautifully illustrated, re-imagining of Aesop’s fable has a special place in my heart. A mouse dares hide from an owl in the mane of a jungle king. The lion spares the mouse’s life, and it scurries home to its large family. In the meantime, the majestic cat is trapped by hunters! When he ROARS for help, who shows up? His fated mouse friend, who chews him free, enabling him to return to his pride. It pays to be charitable, in the case of the lion, and corageous, in the case of the mouse. The art in this book is spectacular, and the lesson it provides will hopefully ring true with your child. It may also inspire you to learn more about the wildlife depicted in the story! I will gush no further, except to say I truly love this book and encourage you to check it out post haste! See this book listed in our catalog
Do Unto Otters
Submitted by Allana from Leonardtown!
Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners by Laurie Keller. A great way for preschoolers to learn about manners, being friendly, and a good neighbor, is by reading this really fun book. Mr. Rabbit comes skipping along, minding his own business, and singing his “Doo de doo” song. Suddenly he is FACE TO FACE with his new neighbors, three otters, and the look on his face is priceless. DONK! Mr. Rabbit certainly seems worried about the new neighbors, but when his wise friend explains about treating “otters” the way you would want them to treat you, he begins to understand how being a good neighbor works. In a very amusing way, we learn how Mr. Rabbit would like to be treated, for example, politeness, co-operation, (or co-otteration) and kindness. “Everyone appreciates a kind act, no matter how bad it smells,” (the otters may present him with some stinky fish). Mr. Rabbit can say “please,” “thank-you,” and “excuse me,” in 5 different languages! He talks about sharing, forgiveness, and teasing. We get the impression that the Otters and Mr. Rabbit will get along well, and Mr. Rabbit can sing his “doo de doo” song with no complaints, and the Otters won’t laugh at his bad “hare” days, or his extra large swim fins. See this book listed in our catalog