Great Picture Books: Mother Bruce

Bruce is a grumpy bear.. He does not like sunny days, rain or cute little animals.

Bruce does love to cook. He loves eggs and enjoys making fancy recipes from the Internet. When he finds a recipe for hard-boiled goose eggs drizzled in honey salmon sauce, he can hardly wait to prepare this delicacy.

But Bruce is in for an unpleasant surprise, When he gets distracted from boiling geese eggs, he finds himself with four baby goslings that won’t go away. In fact, they decide that Bruce must be their mother. Bruce does his best to resist the ducks but in the end, they form a most unusual family.

You can read Mother Bruce and many other books on Libby https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby/ or check your library’s web page for more information about e-books.

Hear Mother Bruce read aloud by Jaqueline Mitchell

Get Mother Bruce printables from Disney/Hyperion ONLINE-ACTIVITY-SHEETS.pdf

More ideas for Mother Bruce Activities with Literary Hoots http://www.literaryhoots.com/2016/10/15-extension-activities-for-mother-bruce.html

Click to access BRUCES-BIG-MOVE-ONLINE-ACTIVITY-SHEETS.pdf

More Rhyming Books

“The Measured Mom”    blog shares five ways that rhyming stories and songs benefit children.

1. Rhyming teaches children how language works. It helps them notice and work with the sounds within words.
2. Rhymes help children experience the rhythm of language.
3. When children are familiar with a nursery rhyme or rhyming book, they learn to anticipate the rhyming word.  This prepares them to make predictions when they read, another important rhyming skill.
4. It can help children understand that words that share common sounds often share common sounds with common letters.
5. When listening to rhyming songs and poems, children create a mental picture, expanding the imagination.
6. Because rhyming is fun, it adds joy to the sometimes daunting task of learning to read.]

http://www.themeasuredmom.com/why-is-rhyming-important/

Here  are some books that combine rhymes with fun stories and encourage children to predict the outcomes of the story:

Baby Danced the Polka-Karen Beaumont, illustrated by Jennifer Plecas

This is such a perfect read aloud for the very young.  In this story of a baby who refuses to nap, Karen Beaumont skillfully uses rhyme to encourage children to guess the animals hiding under the flaps.

Is Your Mama a Llama? by Deborah Gurarino, illustrated by Steven Kellogg

This book will conjure up memories of Dr. Seuss and P.D. Eastman, author of Are You My Mother?. as a young llama asked questions all the  animals nearby.  Children have the opportunity to use their rhyming skills to answer the questions.  This book will be quickly memorized.

Mrs. Brown went to Town by Wong Herbert Yee

Mrs. Brown lives in the barn out back

With a cow, two pig, three ducks and a yak.

These animals are nothing but trouble for Mrs. Brown, but it’s clear, she loves them anyway.  Children will be too busy laughing at the silly antics of the animals to take this story seriously.

Move Over Rover by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by Jane Dyer

Rover is sad and lonely until a thunderstorm arrives.  Suddenly all the animals are seeking shelter from the storm in his doghouse.  Children will enjoy chanting,  “Move Over Rover.”

Good Rhymes Make Good Readers

Children love poems.  Rhyming words help children develop pre-reading skills.  Research shows that children well versed in rhyme will have an easier time mastering reading. www.themeasuredmom.com/why-is-rhyming-important/

Here are a few of my  favorite rhyming books:

The Nonsense Show by Eric Carle   

Eric Carle created this colorful picture book  to teach young children about surrealism.  Youngsters may not care about that but they will love the silly rhymes and illustrations of birds swimming, fish flying and a boy in a kangaroo’s pouch.

 

 

Louella Mae, She’s Run Away by Karen Beaumont Alarcon, illustrated by Roseanne Litzinger

Louella Mae,  She’s run away!

Look in the cornfields!

Look in the hay!

Where, oh where is Louella Mae?

When Louella May runs away, the family goes on a frantic search to find her.  Rhyming words provide clues to the action on the next page.  Predicting results is another key reading skill.  I love reading this aloud with a southern accent.

 

 

Tumble Bumble by Felicia Bond

A tiny bug went for a walk.

He met a cat and stopped to talk.

They fell in step and strolled a while,

And bumped into a crocodile…

The bug, the cat and the crocodile continue to make new friends as they travel and revel in each other’s company.

 

 

 

Shoe Baby by Joyce Dunbar, illustrated by Polly Dunbar,

There once was a baby who hid in a shoe,

and had learnt how to say ‘How do you do?’

In a shoe you might think there is not much to do,

but this very same baby went to sea in that shoe!

A baby goes for an adventure in a flying shoe.   He heads to the sea, stops by the zoo, and meets the King and Queen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Random Readalouds for Preschoolers

 This Book Just Ate My Dog by Richard Bryne

When Bella takes her dog for a walk, strange and unusual things happen. This is one of the best read aloud books ever.

Duck on a Bike by David Shannon

When a duck decides to ride a bike, the barnyard animals have various reactions until they all have a chance to ride for themselves. Children love the silly illustrations.. The large pictures make this a good choice for a large group of children.

The Super Hungry Dinosaur by Martin Waddell

Hal and his dog Billy save his family from the super hungry dinosaur. The dinosaur apologizes for his rude behavior and then stays for dinner.

Lola at the Library-Anna McQuinn

Lola looks forward to Tuesday when she and her mom visit the library, attend story time, choose books and have a snack. The special day ends with a bedtime story.

Toot and Puddle by Holly Hobbie.   Toot and Puddle live together in Woonsock Pocket.  Toot loves to travel but Puddle is a homebody.  Toot travels around the word sending postcards back to his best buddy.   They reunite in December when Toot return. This is the same Holly Hobbie of the bigheaded dolls but her pigs are infinitely cuter.  Don’t be surprised if you like this better than your children.  Try to avoid the cheaper knockoffs by National Geographic Press based on the TV show.  These are usually done by other authors.  National Geographic Press does an amazing job with nonfiction but these books are a poor imitation of Hobbie’s books.

The Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort, illustrated by Brian Karas

In this great sing along to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus,   Noisy animals board the bus.  All goes well until the skunks arrive.

 

 

 

 

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Diverse Books-What we really need!

There is a big movement within the library community called “We Need Diverse Books.”

If I were leading the movement, I would call it,  “We need more diverse books that children like.”   We have many award winning multicultural books that lack child appeal.

 Award winning books are often what librarians call “shelf sitters.”  They will be purchased by books sellers and librarians but not read much.  They are the brussels sprouts of the library’s book collection. (I remember the first time I enjoyed Brussels sprouts, it was last Thanksgiving at cousin Jane’s.)

 We  need  contemporary books about multicultural children.  Since I find it hardest to find diverse books for our youngest readers, I have chosen four books for preschoolers and primary students:

Lola Reads to Leo by Anna McQuinn, begins with Lola, her pregnant mom, and dad sharing a bedtime story. When her new brother is born, Lola picks out a special book for Leo. Dad shows Lola how to hold the baby. Lola delights in being a big sister helping her mom by running errands and attempting to entertain the baby. It ends with the new family gathered on the sofa for a bedtime story. Rosalind Beard’s illustrations are delightful.

 

 

 

Big Red Lollipop by  Rukhsana Khan is a story about Arab  Americans in  Canada.

Rubina is delighted when she is invited to a birthday party. Birthdays aren’s part of her family’s tradition. She sulks when her mother insists she must take her younger sister along. At the party, Rubina is the only one with her little sister in tow. Sana embarrases her when she cries during musical chairs.  She is not invited to another party for a long time.

Several years later when Sana receives a birthday invitation, Her mother insists that she take her youngest sister, Maryam. Rubina steps in and takes Sana’s side winning her younger sister’s admiration. This book is illustrated by one of my favorite illustrators, Sophie Blackall, winner of the Caldecott Award.  I love her signature use of colorful patterns.

In Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman, Grace loves stories of all kinds.  When her class begins planning a production of Peter Pan, Grace plans to audition for Peter. A classmate informs her she’s can be Peter because she’s a girl. Another declares that Grace can’t be Peter because she’s black. Grace’s mom and aunt encourage Grace to try out. Her Nana takes her to see a ballerina from Trinidad.  Grace auditions and amazes her classmates when she performs as Peter Pan.

In Splash, Anna Hibiscus, we meet Anna and her extended  family spending a day at an African  beach.

Everyone is busy at the beach but no one wants to get wet.  Her grandparents are reading the newspaper. Mama and the aunties are braiding their hair. Her female cousins are playing in the sand, the boys play soccer. Only Anna Hibiscus wants to go swimming.  In the end, we see a loving extended family enjoying themselves in the waves.

Children of many cultures have enjoyed these delightful stories of childhood.  We need more diverse books like these.

Oscar Who Wasn’t Ordinary

 

“For little snails with big dreams”-The Daily Ooze

Oscar Slimeglider is bored with sleeping all day, eating all night and looking dull.. He dreams of fame, adoration and good looks.. Unfortunately, Oscar lacks talent for singing, dancing or playing the guitar. He’s also a boring greenish-grayish-brownish color.

His only hope for fame appears to be his Fairy Godsnail. So he summons her:

Slime, Slime!

Slither, slither!

Fairy Godsnail, please come hither!

In typical fairy fashion, his Fairy Godsnail appears and grants him three wishes.   Unfortunately the wishes bring him nothing but trouble.

There is much to like about Ordinary Oscar. The illustrations are colorful and amusing. The reader will want to read this book several times if only to absorb all the jokes and puns.

Oscar lives at 16 Slug Street. He has twenty-six brothers and sister (Agnes, Bernard, Cornelius, Destiny, Electra, Fifi…) His mother, Gertrude, is expecting sixty eggs.  The dialogue includes phrases like “Slime my autograph book” and “He’s really coming out of his shell.”

Sam Hearn, the illustrator, adds lots of comic touches. The snail’s home is decorated with clever art pieces all featuring colorful snails. The Wise Od Snail is surrounded by books like “A Concise History of Slime” and “Mother Ooze’s Nursery Slimes.”

I have to give credit to the team of Laura Adkins and Sam Hearn for making even snails attractive and entertaining.  Preschoolers will enjoy this simple story. Older children will appreciate the humorous touches.  I recommend this book for children in kindergarten through third grade.

Where Do Babies Come From?

The Baby Tree by Sophie Blackall, Penguin Kids

Today’s post features  another book by Caldecott winner, Sophie Blackall.

When a young boy’s parents tell him that a new baby  is coming, he wants to know, “Where are they going to get this baby?”

Suddenly mom and dad are very busy.  He questions his babysitter, his teacher, his grandpa and the mailman. Their answers leave him more confused.  Does the baby come from a seed? an egg? the hospital? or does the stork bring them like Grandpa said.

 

Finally, Mom and Dad explain the bare facts in one page accompanied by the illustrations.  There is enough information satisfy the curiosity of most preschoolers and kindergartners.  Sex is never mentioned. This book should be fine for any child who is able to read the book independently.

There is a page of advice for parents. It’s not very detailed either.  Parents needing more information will need to look elsewhere.

Blackall is a wonderful illustrator.  Each time  I look through this book, I find something new.  She makes extensive use of patterns especially circles in bedspreads and clothing.  A playful black cat is present in the family scenes.  The boy’s father is holding a copy of Locomotive, the 2014 Caldecott Award book.

This  book is written for children between three and eight. Older children and adults will find it amusing.

 

 

 

 

Make Reading Aloud Fun!

Learning to read can be tedious.  When some children are learning to decode words, they need a lot of practice. Listening can be a chore for mom or dad, especially if the text isn’t very interesting.  This is a sample of an early reading book  by Margaret Hillert.

Here is a little cowboy.

And here is a big cowboy.

Here is something for the little cowboy.

It can go.   It can run.  (snore)

Mary Ann Hoberman’s You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You Series can help take the drudgery out of reading practice.  These books are designed for children and adults to read together.  There’s lots of rhymes and funny dialogue.  Here is a short section from Very Tall Tales to Read Together:

Reader  1:  Annie Oakley, what a shot!

She could hit most any spot!

In a contest with a gun,

Bet your  britches, Annie  won!

 Reader 2:  When she was a little kid,

She learned shooting, Annie did.

Shot to keep her family fed,

“Had to do it.” Annie said.

Here are some other books in the same series:

These books are fun to read.  They share a lot of the silly poetry that children love.  They are likely to forget that this is reading practice.   Rhyming and repetition make for great phonics practice for beginning readers.

These books can be a challenge to locate at the library.  They have unusual call numbers. Some can be found in poetry (J 811.54) and some in folk tales. (J 398)  It’s better to request them online.

See more about Mary Ann Hoberman’s Series

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful Picture Books

I was recently disheartened at the books at the child development center.  The teachers’ books were unattractive and out of date.  The books the children were allowed to handle were mostly paperbacks with ripped pages and scribbles.

I returned after a visit to the public library with some beautiful books to share.  The teachers were apprehensive. I felt nervous too I but I decided that I could pay for one book.  Until then, I would let the children look at the books under my supervision. I told them that these books were special and must be handled with care.

Here are the books I chose:

This is a wonderful concept book with so many things for children to enjoy. Fleming hides ladybugs throughout the book and the children loved finding them.  I enjoyed watching the children go through the book, naming the animals, colors, shapes, etc.  Earlier that week, I had listened to a teacher scold children for not knowing colors, and shapes, yet the children eagerly identified colors,.shapes and letters of the alphabet.

If you want to send preschoolers into a fit of giggles just mention underwear. This book combines a silly story with lots of counting and rhymes.   All of the animals have one thing in common: they hate to share. The comical pictures of bears sharing underwear and skating ducks with sticks and pucks are delightful. Learning to recognize rhyming patterns is a great pre-reading skill. Without realizing it, they are beginning to recognize syllables and parts of words.   The children spent a lot of time counting and identifying objects.

This book involves the children in a two-part guessing game. First they identify the color from a small circular opening on the page. They are also told one important fact about the animal. (i.e. I have a large trunk) Even after seeing the full spread, some animals like the Orangutan will be unfamiliar to  children. This is a great book for reading aloud. It’s also a great way of introducing children to beautiful art.  The children enjoyed guessing which animal would emerge on the next page.

The pictures in this book are amazing! The cover focuses on his large protruding teeth. There is a picture of a hippo devouring a crocodile in one bite. Almost every child reacted to the page where hippos stand rump to rump and throw dung at each other. This book has a broad appeal. The more general facts are in bold with smaller sections that give more information for older children.

 

The preschoolers loved browsing this  book about four mice brothers: Rick, Mick, Vick and Nick. Each wears a different color shirt, choses a different food and has a unique dream. Only little Nick must find his own way to shine-shades of Leo the Late Bloomer by Leo Lionni.  This book was a little long to be read aloud to preschoolers but they enjoyed the colorful pictures.

No children’s books were harmed in this endeavor