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Snoozefest

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Submitted by Ms. Tess!

Snoozefest by Samantha Berger is like Coachella for the preschool set. It’s about a sloth named Snuggleford Cuddlebun, and she is the sleepiest sloth in Snoozeville. That’s why she can’t wait to go to Snoozefest, the festival for all the hippest sleepers. It takes place at the Nuzzledome. When she gets there, she scopes out the best hammock. All the cool nappers are there. Some of them have vintage blankets, some have rare first edition pillows. Everyone has on their most stylish pajamas. And the acts at Snoozefest, like Chamomile Rage, and Deep Hiber-Nation, can’t be beat. Snuggleford is such a hardcore sleeper, she’s the last one to wake up when Snoozefest is over! When she gets home, she puts on her souvenir sleep mask, and dreams of next year’s fest! If you want to have the most rad bedtime ever, be sure to read Snoozefest to the little hipster in your life. See this book listed in our catalog

Maria Had a Little Llama

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Submitted by Ms. Tess!

Maria Had a Little Llama by Angela Dominguez is a Peruvian take on the old stand by “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” The song is adapted for a new, South American setting, and translated into Spanish, making the book bilingual! Maria has a little llama, whose fleece is white as snow, and, you guessed it, Maria’s llama likes to follow her everywhere! We watch as Maria and her llama walk through the beautifully illustrated roads of their village in Peru, all the way to escuela, school, where llamas are not allowed! So the llama waits, and waits, until school is over, to see Maria again! “Why does the llama love Maria so?” the other children ask. Because “Maria loves the llama, you know,” answers their wise teacher. This lovely book shows how people live in Peru, including traditional clothes and musical instruments. It’s wonderful story to read, and sing, with your favorite niños and niñas. See this book listed in our catalog

The Whole Night Through

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Submitted by Ms. Allana!

The Whole Night Through by David Frampton is a beautifully written and illustrated rhyming book for young lap readers or preschoolers. The woodcut pictures are captivating and full of detail and wonder. The tiger doesn’t want to fall asleep, and he visits all the other creatures in the jungle as “The moon’s sweet lullaby of light falls softly through the jungle night down past the leafy bongo tree.” The rhino, the crocodile and the cockatoo, to name a few, are the beautifully carved images which grace the pages of this book. The color and tones are simply mesmerizing. There are so many interactive elements of this book that can be shared with a child, and can be used for different aspects of early literacy. For example, “How many birds are on this page? Or how many stars do you see?” I think my favorite is the monkey dreaming of bananas. I don’t know why I am just discovering this picture book, but now I hope many more of you will. See this book listed in our catalog

Rabbityness

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Submitted by Ms. Tess!

Rabbityness by Jo Empson is a book about being special and being remembered. It’s about Rabbit, who likes to do ordinary rabbity things. Rabbit likes jumping, and washing himself, and burrowing. But, he also likes to do a few… unrabbity things. Rabbit loves to paint! And Rabbit loves to make music! He fills the forest with color and sound and, most importantly, happiness. Doing things Rabbit loves makes him happy, and his happiness is contagious! He makes all the other rabbits in the woods happy too. But one day Rabbit is gone. The other rabbits can’t find him anywhere, and they are sad. Rabbit leaves behind a dark hole. But he’s also left behind his gifts of art and music. The other rabbits are inspired to do their own “unrabbity” things, and the woods are filled with happiness again. We should always strive to do good, and work hard, and be someone worth remembering, just like Rabbit. Embracing our special talents and interests makes us happy, and as Rabbit teaches us, happiness is contagious. Teach your child that they can make the world a better place just by being themselves, like Rabbit! See this book listed in our catalog

Halloween Hustle

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Submitted by Ms. Carol!

Halloween Hustle by Charlotte Gunnufson is a Halloween story about a skeleton who loves to dance. There is going to be a Halloween party hosted by Ghost on Halloween night and Skeleton is invited along with many other scary monsters. Skeleton is very excited because there will be a dance contest at the Halloween party. He begins practicing his dance moves doing the “Halloween Hustle” on his way to the party. While dancing, he trips on a crack, and his bones scatter everywhere. Luckily he is able to put himself back together with the help of some rubber bands. He continues on his way to the party with his monster friends, but along the way he falls apart again after tripping on a black cat. He finally reaches the party and does the Halloween Hustle, but he trips over Zombie’s foot and his bones scatter everywhere again! This time his skeleton friend is there to help him by gluing him back together for good with super strong glue. Now he can dance the night away and not have to worry about scattering his bones everywhere. See this book listed in our catalog

Skeleton Cat

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Submitted by Ms. Sue!

Skeleton Cat by Kristyn Crow, illustrated by Dan Krall. Crash! Zap! Skeleton Cat wakes up, gives his bones a shake, stretches, and goes Rattle, Yawn. “Rattle. Rattle, Clink. Tip top. Purrrrrrrrrr. Ka-plink, ka-plink, ka-plink.” Some bats zip by, and the ghosts are moaning, when Skeleton Cat says “Where am I?” He sees that he is all bones as he jumps around. Just then a gust of wind blows a flyer by that says there’s an audition for a drummer. Skeleton Cat has been dreaming all his nine lives about becoming a drummer. Well, the ghosts and the owls start laughing. A drummer in the living world? “You’re a spook! A ghoul! A phantom cat!” But Skeleton Cat is not deterred. He hurries on his way, all the while going “Rattle, clink. Tip top. Purrrrrrrrrr. Ka-plink, ka-plink, ka-plink.” Along the way, kids clap to the rhythm. Then he runs into trouble. A dog tries to bite him and a rat tries to chew him. Finally, he makes it to the audition! Find out how Skeleton Cat performs as he drums his way with rhythm and chills. See this book listed in our catalog