Bernadette may seem like she is all monster with her blue skin, pointy ears, fangs, and creepy skull necklace, but there is more to her than that. Bernadette has a softer side. She like kitties, flowers, and baking cupcakes and decorating them with sprinkles. Mostly Monsterly shares how Bernadette maintains her individuality and at the same time wins over the other students who act like “total monsters” at Monster Academy.
Mostly Monsterly is a delight. I highly recommend it!
Value Tales are considered extra special at our home because my husband has a collection of the original books from his childhood which he has been sharing with our daughter. She loves the pictures and is fascinated by the stories of famous people who have encountered challenges that she has also encountered. These stories make phenomenal starting points for family discussions. This new treasury includes five of the stories from the out of print series and would make a terrific addition to any child’s book collection.
Poor Ernestine is completely over-scheduled and simply wants to enjoy being a kid and playing outside with her neighbor, but her parents want to make sure she “makes every moment count…” and “lives life to the fullest…”. As a result, Ernestine and her nanny spend every afternoon traveling from one activity to another until one afternoon Ernestine has simply had enough busyness and takes matters into her own hands.
This book is a a brilliant reminder of what truly is important and where the true joys of childhood are found.
I was organizing the book basket downstairs earlier today, and I came across this beloved book. Bear on a Bike was an early favorite for our daughter. Using a myriad of different forms of transportation (bike, train, raft, boat and hot-air balloon), Bear explores the world. A young child follows Bear throughout the journey asking questions of the bear the entire time. The simple text and bright, colorful pictures are a delight for readers young and old. This one is a winner!
We found this gem on the new acquisitions shelf at the library, and it is awesome! It was an instant favorite for me as well as our daughter. Sweet Chloe loves to craft and create, but she questions if a homemade gift will be enough when she starts to plan what to give to her best friend for her birthday. Her insecurity about a homemade gift is further fueled by the responses of London, another little girl who has been invited to the party. Ultimately, Chloe trusts her instincts and finds a “Chloe Creation” truly is the very best gift she could possibly give to her friend.
Be sure not to miss the companion website!
http://www.craftychloe.com features the crafts in the book with step by step instructions.
Little Pea was introduced to our daughter at preschool, and she is crazy about it. Amy Krouse Rosenthal has created a trio of stories (Little Pea, Little Hoot, and Little Oink that are all presented using a “backward” premise. Little Pea is a young pea who is frustrated by the fact that he can only eat his beloved vegetables as dessert once he has eaten all of his candy for dinner. The pictures in this book are darling and really enhance the story.
If you like this one, be sure to check out Little Hoot which shares the tale of a little owl who wants to go to bed rather than stay up late, and Little Oink who loves to be neat and tidy rather than contribute to the creation of a pigsty. All three are well worth reading and enjoying!
The Magic Treehouse series has companion research guides that provide additional non-fiction details regarding each of the adventures. These have been a HUGE hit at our house. I love how these books incorporate Annie and Jack and introduce a myriad of ways to find answers through doing research. They are a terrific supplement to the book series.
A few months ago our daughter started slowing reading the Magic Tree House Series. As she grew more comfortable and confident reading beginning chapter books like Cowgirl Kate and Mercy Watson, we started to partner read The Magic Treehouse Series books together. The series centers around Jack and Annie who discover a magical treehouse that takes them on adventures based upon the books they select.
Dinosaurs Before Dawn, the first book of the series, was our daughter’s first introduction to the element of suspense, and it has been a delight to watch her response to it. I often find her reading speed increasing as excitement builds within the story, and she often continues reading well beyond “her turn” in order to satisfy her eagerness to know what happens next.
The Magic Treehouse Series is a wonderful imagination based reading series for young readers. We are now checking out two and three books at a time at the library in order to keep up with our daughter’s desire to know what happens next.
Good Night iPad is a parody of the beloved children’s book Good Night Moon. The text and pictures perfectly follow the original story. Although definitely good for a giggle, there is also a more serious message present about our reliance on our electronic gadgets and the value of true quality time. The final illustration of the book brings it all into perspective.
Our whole family loved this book! Whether one is looking for a book to begin a seeds and plants unit or a perfect fit for a character education unit, Rosie Sprout’s Time to Shine is a winner. Without being heavy handed, Wortche explores the ultimate reward of hard work and perseverance as well as social dynamics in the classroom. We are already looking forward to this first time picture book author’s next book!