Little Nelly's Big Book by Pippa Goodhart

Little Nelly's Big Book by Pippa Goodhart, illustrated by Andy Rowland
Bloomsbury

Rating: 5 stars

Little Nelly (the young elephant in this story) and I (the writer typing away at this review) share something: we both believe a lot of what we read. Luckily, I've not had a crisis like Little Nelly. Yet.

Little Nelly opens a book and reads that mice can be gray. Mice have big ears. Mice have skinny tails.

Little Nelly is gray. She has big ears. She has a skinny tail.

Ergo, Little Nelly must be...a mouse?!

After this terrific realization, she pushes through the wall in order to get to the mice den behind it and starts bunking with the mouse family. At first, they are startled. That's pretty reasonable, methinks. But kindly and generously, Granny Mouse leads the way in welcoming big Little Nelly to their small home. They pull the biggest blanket they have over her, comb her hair, give her cheese to eat, play with her.

So Little Nelly went home.

Still, Little Nelly "sometimes felt she was different."

After a while, wise Granny Mouse decides to take Little Nelly to the zoo, where she finds big mice, just like her. Everyone's happy...and a little relieved.

I love this sweet tale of friends being friends regardless of their size or shape or color. I love how the mice are so gentle with Little Nelly's false certainty that she's a mouse. I love how one little mouse picks up the same book Little Nelly did at the beginning and starts wondering if he is, in fact, an elephant. And I really love the last line in this picture book:

"Which just goes to show why books should always have pictures."

The Midnight Library by Kazuno Kohara

The Midnight Library by Kazuno Kohara

Rating: 4 stars

In the woods somewhere near you is a library open only at night.  A little librarian and a trio of owl-assistants run the place, keeping it stacked and ready, tidy and neat for all the animals. They are always available to help find the perfect book, direct noise-makers to the activity room, sit with you until you're through with a sad part in a book.

When the sun starts to peek up, the librarian finds one last book--the perfect book to read to three sleepy owls at their bedtime, at sunrise.

A cute story, indeed.  But, just as in her other book that we have and love (Ghosts in the House), the magic of her book lies in the illustrations. Her amazingly detailed linocut prints create unique illustrations for this midnight library that exists in the woods.  The simple colors--black, orange, and blue--highlight the details without overcomplicating the art.  Each image is captivating, deserving of several minutes of my full attention.

The technique is not incredibly common in children's books; I think showing your child the book helps them broaden their definition of "art" and what it can look like, what it can be. If your child is old enough to use a sharp knife, then there are many projects this book can easily inspire!  Lorelei was impressed with learning a little more--she'd be delighted to receive and use the linocut kit that is used here in this "linocuts for kids" demonstration.

Also, be sure to check out the incredibly unique, incredibly detailed illustrations by cut-paper artist Nikki McClure in the wonderful book All in a Day.

No Pirates Allowed! Said Library Lou by Rhonda Gowler Greene

No Pirates Allowed! Said Library Lou by Rhonda Gowler Greene, illustrated by Brian Ajhar

Rating: 5 stars

Here's another book to add to the massive pile of children's books that teach children that brains can overpower brawn any day of the week.  Children love stories like this--probably because their muscles are, honestly, pretty wimpy at this point.

But what makes No Pirates Allowed! Said Library Lou particularly fantastic--and it is particularly fantastic--is the way that Rhonda Gowler Greene has taken that dusty theme, blown some seriously creative breath on it, and done a thing of her own.  (Brian Ajhar helps out with his larger-than-life illustrations of the characters!)

Here's the story:

Big Pirate Pete stomps into quiet, clean, serene Seabreezy Library one day.  With his stink and his squawking parrot, he's an easy target of sideway glances and frowny faces.  The library-goers are all afraid of him (or at least his smell), and they cower in the biography section.  All except Library Lou, who boldly strolls up, taps Big Pirate Pete on the shoulder, and asks if she can help.

"ARRGH!" Big Pete thundered. "Don't waste me day!
Walk the plank, saucy lass, or show me the way!

(Okay, I know I would be irate if Ben called me a "saucy lass"--though I shouldn't get too mad because I know that I am--I did chuckle when I read it out loud.)

Library Lou tells him that there is treasure in the library.  But he has to go home and shower first.  Big Pirate Pete's eyes get big at the fact that this landlubber is telling him what to do.  But treasure is involved.  So he goes home and scrubs himself silly.

When a squeaky-clean (and dashingly handsome) Big Pirate Pete strolls through the library doors the next day, Library Lou tells him there's another thing he has to do: learn the alphabet.  Big Pirate Pete is shocked that there are more than Xs he needs to know about!  Library Lou teaches him every day, and sends home a stack of books with him every night.  Big Pirate Pete reads them on his pirate ship--on the poop deck, to be exact.  Library Lou entices him to read more and more by saying there is a clue in a book…and Big Pirate Pete gets dizzy looking at the stacks and stacks of books in the library.

But he starts searching for the "clue" Library Lou references…

Maybe, just maybe, the code be in rhyme.
He loved Mother Goose.  Dr. Seuss--how sublime!
They tickled his fancy, but--no secret code.
Avast! Easy readers! He snatched Frog and Toad. 

Day after day after day he went back.
And night after night, he piled high a new stack.
He found books called classics, great tales of the sea.
"Blimey!" cried Big Pete. "Thar's whar the clue be! 

Treasure Island…Me like it!" But--no clue to be found.
Stumped, Big Pete scoured each shelf, up and down.

In the end, after reading dozens of books with fun references for kids and grown ups a la Wild About Books, Big Pirate Pete goes back to the library.  He's found the treasure.  And he wants to thank sweet Library Lou for helping him find it: "it" being reading for fun, of course!

This is a wonderful, fun read--again, I triple dog dare any kid who is NOT wild about books to let it sit on their night stand for more than a few minutes…!

P.S. This is another book chosen by kids for kids through the Children's Choices Project.  Click here to access pdf of all the great 2014 award-winning books and recommendations.

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise by Jan Pinborough

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children by Jan Pinborough, illustrated by Debby Atwell

Rating: 5 stars

In my last post, I wrote about how the new trend in children's books is to write nonfiction, educational tales for kids.  And about how, a lot of times, this produces books that are...well, heavy and "teachy" and not exactly books that inspire your kids to grab and settle into your lap for just one more read.

That is all true.

But the bigger truth (of course) is that there's a time and place--and space--for both types of books.

Yesterday Ben had an appointment in D.C. and, rather than return him to school for a few hours, we spent the rest of the morning together. Ben was pleased as can be: he's the most vocal about loving NOT having to share me.  A typical middle child in this way, he relishes one-on-one time more than Lorelei and Kiefer.  We had fun shopping, sipping chocolate milk (him) and coffee (me), and then spent an hour at the library.

It, along with dozens of new chapter books and a few other picture books, was on the New Books shelf for older kids.  We sat, squished together in our library's comfortable bean bag chairs, reading book after book until it was time for us to get home.

I can't think of a more fitting backdrop for this story.  It is the true tale of Anne Carroll Moore, a woman born with "ideas of her own."  She was born at a time when "children weren't allowed to go inside libraries.  People didn't think reading was very important for children--especially not for girls."  Ben gasped at all of this.  (And I loved that he gasped at all of this.)

While most girls stayed inside and did quiet things, Annie thought otherwise.  She rode on toboggans and bumped in buggies and dreamed of what she'd be one day (she had 7 older brothers who probably helped her see how fun these things were).

While most girls married or became teachers, Annie thought otherwise.  She first studied to be a lawyer, but then heard women could be librarians.  So she packed her bags and moved to Brooklyn to become one.

While most libraries shunned children, Annie thought otherwise. She created space for children's books, took down intimidating SILENCE signs, and let them borrow books they pledged to care for and return.  She worked with publishers and authors and illustrators to produce more books for kids so that the love of reading could start at an early age.

When a new library was being planned, it was none other than Annie who was summoned to create its new Central Children's Room.  She planned everything based on what children would like: small tables and chairs, inviting illustrations on the walls, warm tiles on the floors, and as many volumes as she could purchase. Once open, Annie continued to make the space welcoming--she invited authors to speak, storytellers to come, musicians to perform--and then inspired other libraries in the nation and around the world to create spaces for children to come and blossom among and within and through books.

It ends like this:

Today libraries across America have thousands of books for children.  And thanks to the help of a little girl from Limerick, Maine, who had ideas of her own, any child can choose a book from a library shelf, curl up in a comfortable seat to look through it--and then take it home to read.

For library loving me, with wonderful Ben cuddled up next to me, it was a pretty sweet moment.  Hopefully he'll remember a bit from the book, especially the bit about how one person can make such a big impact.  By starting small, thinking big (and, sometimes, "otherwise" or against the grain), and taking one step at a time.

Jan Pinborough has given us parents and educators SUCH a fantastic book!  Her research is fantastic; the additional author's note in the back gives more information about the norms of the late 19th century and how other librarians were also paramount in creating children's spaces in libraries.

A Boy Called Dickens by Deborah Hopkinson

A Boy Called Dickens by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by John Hendrix

Rating: 4 stars

This is a quirky book I reviewed for Washington Family Magazine, and probably one for the classroom more than personal library, but I like how it illustrates where Charles Dickens came up with some of his most famous characters.


Through nonfiction children’s books, my kids (the older two are 5 ½ and 4) are introduced to important characters from history at a young age.  Their foundation of cultural literacy is slowly but steadily building with the help of books like Deborah Hopkinson’s A Boy Called Dickens.  They will have the ability to converse fluently in idioms, allusions, and content at an earlier age because of early exposure to books, and as many nonfiction books as possible.

Or, like this book, historical fiction.

I never knew until reading Hopkinson’s note at the end of this book that Dickens did not talk about his childhood.   He wanted to forget about it because it was such a horrible time in his life.  While other boys his age attended school, Dickens was forced—by his parents—to work in a blacking factory, which makes polish for gentlemen’s boots.  (I like to keep this in mind when I am at a parenting low during my day with my trio.  Heck, at least I’m not enslaving them to work in a dimly lit factory for eight hours a day!)

To read the rest of the review, please click here. 

Into the Outdoors by Susan Gal

Into the Outdoors by Susan Gal

Rating: 4.5 stars

What's a concept book? As I'm tip-toeing beyond the world of reading children's books into the world of writing them, I've got to know these things.  So I figured I'd educate you as well.  It's an informational children's book that takes a single category--numbers, the alphabet, colors--and focuses on that.

Those concept books are pretty common (betcha you can think of a dozen); one on prepositions is not.

But that's exactly what Into the Outdoors is, and it's a good read for parents and kids.  But it is also a quality, lesson-filled book for teachers to know about when they teach prepositions.  Even though I grabbed the book because of its cover (I try not to judge by a cover, but...well...I'm only human), the book turned out to be a whole lot more than I expected.

We're going camping!  Leaving the city down in the valley, we head up the mountain.
We drive over a bridge and under the towering trees.  At last we arrive in the great outdoors.

Each preposition, those words that "help children know where they are in the world," is highlighted.  The story is cute, the lesson plan possibilities endless.

The trail winds around the lake...

But the illustrations!  That's what got me.  For some reason--was I just feeling particularly nostalgic that day?--they felt like they were straight from my family camping days from 30 years ago.  Dark woods, bright streams, a wood-panel grocery-getter (a.k.a. station wagon) filled with way too much stuff, big brown hiking boots with red laces, and two happy campers.

Like my family, the one in the book drives to their campsite, pitches the tent, and then goes off on a hike.  Following them along the way are some curious animal-friends: a bear, a fox, a porcupine, and a chipmunk.  In almost every page you see those animals peering at the family, with the older boy skipping ahead and the mom carrying the younger boy in the backpack.  The younger boy is the only one who sees the animals, and the looks they exchange are super cute.  In one page the bear sneaks up and quietly replaces the little boy's fallen hat as the family sits atop the mountain, soaking in the view.

A great book, for many reasons.  Makes me want to go take a hike (and use lots of prepositional phrases along the way)!

The Library by Sarah Stewart

 The Library by Sarah Stewart, illustrated by David Small

Rating: 4.5 stars

The great Sarah Stewart has written a book to memorialize her late friend, fellow book lover and librarian Mary Elizabeth Brown.  What a great ode to a reader--to have a book written about her!

This is a simple tale about a girl who, above all else, chooses books.  The clever and funny illustrations by Stewart's husband, David Small, are top-notch.  We don't see the gal's face very often as it is usually hidden by a book.

Of her childhood (what flashlights are for!):

She always took a book to bed,
With a flashlight under the sheet.
She'd make a tent of covers
And read herself to sleep.

Of college life (um, I can relate):

Elizabeth Brown
Preferred a book
To going on a date.
While friends went out
And danced til dawn,
She stayed up reading late.

She eventually stumbles into a small town, and her reading habit takes over her house.  So she does what any good reader does: she shares her books.  She signs them over to her town, and her house becomes the town's library.  She moves in with a friend, and reads for the rest of her days.

This is a charming book--a great book for a child, but also a really good book to give to an adult reader, too.

Homer the Library Cat by Reeve Lindbergh

 Homer the Library Cat by Reeve Lindbergh, illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf

Rating: 4 stars

As a person who loves to escape into the pages of a book, I always like books where characters escape to the library.  Sometimes mice live there, sometimes boys are raised by librarians, sometimes cats are searching for their quiet person in a quiet place.  (That's Homer the cat, in case you didn't figure it out!)

Homer is a cat content with his quiet, peaceful life--playing with yarn and feathers, looking out the window at the birds, sitting with his quiet lady while she reads.  Then one day he falls out the window!  The noises begin--banging trash cans, sneezing kids, weeee-ooohing sirens, clanging trains.  Can't a cat catch a break?!  Finally he pads across a quiet building, across a quiet floor.  He enters a library.

He heard a quiet voice he knew.
He saw a rocking chair.
There was the quiet lady!
And children everywhere. 

"Homer!" said the lady.
"What are you doing here?"
Homer jumped into her arms
And purred into her ear. 

They boys and girls loved Homer.
Homer loved them back.
He slept right through the stories
But woke up for the snack.

I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did--the sweet rhyme and friendly illustrations won me over.  And, after finishing the last stanza and closing it while reading it to Ben the other day, he asked me: "Will you read it again please?"  You know I will.  So we opened it up and read it all over again.


P.S.  For some unknown silly reason, Lorelei dared me to sing this book, not just read it, a few days after I posted this.  Always one to accept a dare, I did it.  And it not only worked but was fun and funny!  I will have to try that again sometime, though I will for sure do it only when I'm the only adult in the room.

Born To Read by Judy Sierra

Born To Read by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Marc Brown

Rating: 4.5 stars

If there has ever been a kid born to read, it's Kiefer.  Born to a book-loving Mom and two older siblings who are book-obsessed, I'm betting on him reading the soonest, just to catch up with the others.  Already when we dive into the new books in the library bag on the way home, he grunts his desires until someone hands him a book.  And then he squeaks out his own version of the book in a sing-songy way during the drive home.

Pretty adorable, though I'm completely biased.

Anyway, here's a book by the fantastic duo Judy Sierra and Marc Brown, who gave us the fantastic Wild About Books, among other titles I've not yet reviewed.  This book features not Kiefer but Sam, a boy who is confident in his readership.  Books pile up in his crib, he reads in the grocery store, he helps his sister understand notes left by their mom.  My favorite example of the helpfulness of his reading prowess:

Once when Sam was almost four,
His knees turned green, his thumbs got sore,
His cheeks were flecked with yellow spots. 

They rushed him off to Doctor Potts,
Who cried, "It's Martian Mustard-ation.
You will need an operation!" 

Sam asked, "Is that necessary?
Let me see that dictionary.
Here's a better diagnosis:
Harmless Preschool Play-dough-osis."

I love it!

There's a hiccup of sorts towards the end of the book...  I can't figure out how Sam is suddenly battling a baby giant called Grundaloon, who stomps through Sam's town doing things that mean bullies--and, apparently, baby giants--do.  Though no one else dares confront him, young Sam has the moxie to go right up to him, invite him to tea, and read a book or two with him.  This time, books soothe the savage beast, and Grundaloon stops tormenting the town.

Seems a little like two books haphazardly combined into one, but the rhymes are so good and the illustrations so wonderful I have to forgive Judy Sierra and Marc Brown and go with it.

You can't help but love this book that celebrates reading and readers, despite the odd addition of ol' Grundaloon...

Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills

Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills

Rating: 4.5 stars

I apologize for my loquaciousness in advance.  This is, officially, too long a blog post.

We're at the beach--in the Outer Banks.  We come here at least once a year, rent the same house a lucky smattering of yards from the beach, and do the same things every year.  We gobble down pizza at Duck Pizza, we buy a few Life is Good items for Christmas gifts, we take turns running for a few hours in the humid mornings, we say good morning and good night to the beach.  We also go to the Island Bookstore to choose a new book or two.  I love, love, love this place!

Part of the children's section...can you spot Rocket up top?

Any true booklover has a favorite bookstore.  And while Barnes and Noble has served us well over the years, there's no way that it could ever be as cool and unique and quirky as a good independent bookstore.  My favorite is, by far, Elliott Bay Books in Seattle.  My Dad introduced me to the place when he and I looked at Seattle University, where I ended up.  I spent many hours in the cafe in the basement drinking coffee and studying, taking study breaks along the familiar and barely organized aisles upstairs.  If I close my eyes and think really hard, I am confident I would be able to recall where the creaky floor boards are located.  Without any trouble at all, I can remember the smell of it--a mix of new books and coffee and old-musty-place.  I could easily spend an entire day in that bookstore.  Easily.

Anyway, Island Bookstore is a neat place.  There are shelves everywhere, and books are shoved in every which way.  I would love to see someone attempt to navigate a stroller through the nonexistent aisles.  There's a neat old staircase leading to the upstairs mecca, but we never make it past the children's section.  I have never even bought a book for myself here, but I dream of one year when my kids are able to sit and read for a while by themselves and I can get lost in the stacks.  I'd have to leave a trail of bookmarks so they can find me.

I should stop talking about bookstores right now.  Okay, okay...

"Magnificent!" chirped the little yellow bird.

In this bookstore on this warm afternoon, Lorelei and Ben and I ventured out to walk around the shops and choose a new book, and get some ice cream.  Lorelei was super excited to see the new Magic Treehouse book, and grabbed it on the display outside, before we even walked in.  She was sure of her purchase in half a second.  And then she sat and started it, completely unaware of anyone else around her.  That's my girl!

Ben, on the other hand, couldn't decide.  While he hemmed and hawed, I found the sequel to How Rocket Learned to Read, a book I really loved and gifted many times a few years ago.  I was excited to read this one, where he wonderfully builds on his reading ability and starts to write his own story.  I distracted Lorelei from her book and Ben from his search for a few minutes to read this to them.  Their parent's genuine excitement over a book always makes them curious.

(This was my favorite illustration in the book.
Rocket looking for inspiration)

Sweet Rocket trots around his woods gathering words, which he and his yellow bird teacher spell out and then pin onto a "word tree."  Once he has a bunch of words on it, he's to write a story.  As soon as the blank piece of paper is in front of him, he's stumped.  His wise little teacher tells him: "Write what you know.  Look for inspiration."  Since Rocket has a good sniffer, he walks around sniffing for inspiration.  He eventually finds it in a tree, where he finds and slowly befriends a little owl.

As he writes and rewrites and rewrites once more his story, the owl is more and more interested, and Rocket is more and more encouraged by this interest.  He finishes the story about finding a new friend, and both are happy.  And each has a new friend.

A great book, read in a great place (with great kids!).

Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk

Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk

Rating: 4 stars

Well here's a little slice of heaven: Sam the mouse lives in a library.  All night long, when the library is dark and quiet, Sam reads and reads and reads.  And then he reads and reads some more.  (Hmmm...now how can I do that for a year or so, and get caught up on all the books I'd like to read...??)

Finally, he realizes it is time to write his own book!  "Write what you know," he remembers reading from a book on how to write.  So he writes about being a mouse.  He gets paper from the librarian's desk and poses in a little compact mirror and draws his reflection to illustrate his pint-sized (or rodent-sized) book.

When he's finished, he tucks his book in the appropriate section in the library--the biography/autobiography section.  When the book is discovered by book-lovers by day, a hunt begins for the author.  The librarian writes a note asking the mystery author to appear and teach her and the kids the secret of writing.  Sam is much too shy to come out in front of people, so he makes dozens of pint-sized books--blank this time--and puts his mirror at the bottom of a shoebox.  To the shoebox he attaches a sign: "Look here to meet the author."  When a child peers in, he sees himself.

Aha!  Point: Everyone can be an author!

This is the best book I've found to encourage kids to write their own books.  We are trying to keep a summer journal, but Lorelei gets interested about writing her own book from time to time.  Since she can only spell about a dozen words by herself, it'd be a me-filled endeavor...  And with two other kids, well, I often don't have as much time to spare as she needs.  BUT we can do picture-only books, so we try those and then add the words when I have the time to sit down with just her.  Ben is just starting to write his own name, but he has plenty of ideas and words to share, which he normally does from morning to night!

Definitely a book worth checking out, especially if your child might just need one more tiny nudge to have the courage to write her own book.  Maybe I'll reread it and muster up some courage of my own...

And here's a video of Ben reading Library Mouse...with a cameo (or spotlight-takeover) from his little brother...  (the first time I wrote this I posted a video of my kids dancing...oops!)

Also, there are three other books in this series.  We've read Library Mouse: A Friend's Tale and Library Mouse: Adventure at the Museum.  They are both fine; we like checking out all books in a series like this so Lorelei can read one after another, I can read one after another to Ben.  I like the Museum one a lot because Sam has a friend, Sarah, who is "an explorer," and rather than write books, they write in journals...about their adventure at the museum.

Wild About Books by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Marc Brown

 Wild About Books by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Marc Brown

Rating: 5 wild stars

This is, hands down, one of the best books we've stumbled upon in the past year.  It.  Is.  Awesome!  Sometimes you just get lucky, and the librarians chose to display a book that looks interesting AND fits in with the week's field trip.

Librarian Molly McGrew mistakenly drives her bookmobile into the zoo.  Oops!  Instead of kids coming to look at books, the animals start to peer  from their cages at the page-filled wonders. Molly decides to crack open one and holds her first-ever (we guess) storytime for animals.  Here's the delight-filled passage that tells the reader what happens:

By reading aloud from the good Dr. Seuss,She quickly attracted a mink and a moose,A wombat, an oryx, a lemur, a lynx,Eight elephant calves, and a family of skinks. 

Giraffes wanted tall books and crickets craved small books,
While geckos could only read stick-to-the-wall books

This causes a stampede of animals, all heading towards the bookmobile to get their own books.  Sierra works wonders with her words--she matches beast to book beautifully.  She draws in readers Lorelei and Ben's age by easily by referencing classics that they've already read--The Cat in the Hat and Goodnight Moon--but also makes their parents smile by referencing soon-to-be-known classics: Nancy Drew and Harry Potter, for example.  


Marc Brown's illustrations are the perfect compliment to her words.  Each page shows a different creature clutching a book of some sort (although the alligators are eating their book, something that Ben pointed out as "not a good choice," which is ironic because our board books still have his munch-marks in them).  They are silly and cute and totally captivating.


I'm having a hard time not buying this book right this moment!  I will resist.  I will resist.  I will try to resist...!

I don't use any technology while reading to my kids.  It sorta seems like an oxymoron.  I hear of these mysterious things called "apps" and I figure they are tools for people who have much cooler phones than my not-so-smartphone (a Droid and, for the record, I have one app I don't use).  But I came across this little clip from Random House showing the app for this book (or maybe an app for more children's books?) and I might check it out.  After bedtime, in case I decide it's not worth introducing.  Here it is:

I am skeptical.  Call me a luddite, but I like the whole pages-on-my-fingertips thing.  But I'm very curious if you use an iPad with your preschoolers.  How?  When?  At what age?  Do you sit with them, or let them do it themselves?  Do they still want to read the old-timey page books, or just want the ones on your iPod?  Or (it's hard for me to type this, but...) their own iPad?

Yoko Learns to Read by Rosemary Wells

Yoko Learns to Read by Rosemary Wells

Rating: 4.5 stars

I'm not a pushy type of parent.  I do my best to let my kids do things at their own speed.  Okay, I think I am lying a little.  Maybe I do push them to get dressed and put on their shoes faster...yup, I'm definitely pushy there.  But on the bigger things in their little lives, I'm not pushy.  Ben has told me, through his words and actions, that he is definitely NOT ready to participate in the moms-sit-on-the-sidelines gymnastics class, to get into another mom's car, to go to a friend's house without me, to put his head under the water.  That's okay.  He's just 3 1/2...he's got time.

But reading, I'm pushing.  Having Lorelei reading already is such a joy; that independence makes the house a little quieter, a little more peaceful.  And let me assure you: I like peace and quiet.  A lot!  Ben sees her and pretends to read all by himself all day long, and I know he's interested.  I don't think I'm annoying him with getting him to try to read, but since we read together so much, I am always playing reading-type games with him that I hope to motivate him, and build up his confidence.  Maybe he'll do more on his own or just continue to be interested while sitting in my lap.

Here are some of the games we play together:

• Spelling out a few key words, such as "Y-O-K-O" in the book that one of these days I'll get to.
• Looking for "B" on any page, his favorite letter.  (We talk about how letters build words like in this book; he likes anything that requires building.)
• Talking about the sounds of letters while reading.
• Finding books with onomatopoeias so that the words and sounds are alike.
• Hunting for a word like "the" or "Yoko" or "book."
• Letting him finish the rhyme in a book he's not heard before.
• Using the picture to predict what words are in the text.

For Ben, I think the Pete the Cat books will be instrumental in helping him to learn to read.  He's memorized them already, so all he has to do is put the words in his head together with the words on the pages.  And, like Rosemary Wells explains in this sweet book, Ben needs to realize that words are like the faces of people--each one is different, each one is memorable.

In Yoko Learns to Read, little Yoko and her mom read the three books they have at home together in Japanese, but Yoko's knowledge of English words is limited.  At school her teacher creates a huge tree; students earn a leaf for the page when they can read a book by themselves.  Her friends quickly amass leaves because they can read already, and Yoko wants to get more, too.  With the help of more books from the library and her teacher's help in connecting the words she knows to words in the books, Yoko suddenly has that "a-ha!" moment and gets it.  She earns a new leaf, catches up with her friends, and starts to teach her mother how to read in English.

Sprinkled through this book are drawings that include beautiful Japanese paper that are cut to fit the cats' attire--kimonos for the mother, and more American clothes for Yoko.  A different piece of paper frames each picture on each page.  Unfortunately, it definitely is a more "girl-ish" book, not that I like to divide books into girl-ish ones and boy-ish ones...  But I think a boy is less likely to be drawn into the pictures and story.  (We still read it a few times together, though.)

One of the main reasons I like this book for Ben is that it teaches a way to read that is more realistic and the opposite of phonics.  Rather than sound out words and stumble upon a million exceptions like "PH," kids can and should memorize words just as children in Asia memorize characters.  All kids can do it, expectations are just a little different sometimes.  It's a journey, and I'm not sure how far along Ben is on his own path to reading.  Time will tell.

But I sure would love for his "a-ha!" moment to come before our long road trip to the beach in August...

I Will Not Read This Book by Cece Meng, illustrated by Joy Ang

I Will Not Read This Book by Cece Meng, illustrated by Joy Ang

Rating: 3 stars

Clearly this author knows kids, and she wanted a book that would sell.  She knew that if she told kids not to do something they would do it.  Has she met Ben?  Hmmm...

This book has a bunch of really cute illustrations about a boy doing anything but getting to the book-readin' time of night.  He stalls in some creative ways, using different parts of his room as fodder for his procrastination, but in the end finally realizes that he wants his mom to read the book with him.

That's it.  Not much more, really.  Cute, but no huge story to explain or think about or anything...

I think this was my most succinct review ever!

Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates

Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates
Rating: 5 stars

There seems to be a few books out recently where dogs love to read!  This book is just as wonderful as How Rocket Learned to Read, though a little different.  Dog Loves Books is a simply wonderful book.  I mean, it is one of the books that I always hope Lorelei chooses for me to read to her because it makes me smile inside, realizing why I love books.  Dog and I have a lot in common...  I'll explain.

Dog loves books so much he opens a bookstore.  But no one comes (right away) to buy any books.  So he makes himself some tea and waits.  Then he can't wait any longer; with a room full of books he decides to start reading while he waits. 

I can't help but stop and say: Such a good habit!  You know the saying "always bring a book:, right?  In Peace Corps we'd say "Always bring two" because there's a whole lot of waiting, especially when waiting for transportation in developing countries!  And on that transportation, too... 



Simple drawings illustrate a simple story of dog's love of books.

 Ok, back to the book.  So Dog reads a few books and is instantly transported into the books.  His bookstore gives way to a dinosaur-filled jungle, and when he's done with that adventure he opens another and hangs out with a kangaroo and her joey.  When his first customer comes in, he's more than ready, because he knows what books to recommend to her. 

This, of course, totally takes me back to my days in India and Thailand, where I'd spend hours and hours reading, completely getting swept away by whatever story I was reading.  This skill was such a gift, especially when I could really feel the hundreds of miles between me and my family.  I'm doing my best to build this skill with Lorelei and Ben, mostly by having books available to them at all times, especially when they are falling asleep or waking up, and when we're in the car (are you surprised I don't have a video player in my car?).  Habits start young... 

The story ends: "Dog loves books, but most of all...he loves to share them!"  I'm right there with you, Dog.

The Alphabet Tree by Leo Lionni

The Alphabet Tree by Leo Lionni

Rating: 4.5 stars

We need to read more Leo Lionni books.  Swimmy was one of my favorite books growing up, and he has so many different books that there are plenty to explore.  Because I feel a little guilty for knowing so little about his books, we grabbed this one the last time we were at the library.  It's so great, and hits us at an especially good time as Lorelei is interested in and curious about reading and writing and spelling.

So here's what happens in the book:  There's this tree, the alphabet tree, and all the letters cling separately onto leaves on the tree.  A big gust of wind blows through the tree, blowing some of them away.  The remaining letters are scared, and huddle together in a big clump at the base of the tree.  The "word bug" flies in and suggests they group themselves into words so that they're stronger.  This they do, spelling "cat" and "dog" and "wind;" now they are able to sun themselves on the top branches without fear of getting blown away. 

Then a fuzzy caterpillar creeps up and suggests they get together and "mean something."  He helps them make sentences, which they happily do, but he's still not satisfied.  "You've got to say something important," he explains.  So they spell out: "Peace on earth and goodwill to all men."  All critters and letters are pleased, but the caterpillar tells them to hop on his back, so he can take them to the President.

The book was written in 1968, during the Vietnam War.  I'm not a huge advocate of political messages in books, but...this one made me smile, mostly out of respect for the crazy time period that came before my birth and for the fact that a lot of people would agree with this book and gift this book today if they knew about it.

So we'll keep exploring Leo Lionni; rgardless of his political views, we like his style.  Got any favorites to recommend?

How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills

How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills
Rating: 5 S-T-A-R-S

This is one of the sweetest books I've ever read.  And it's about one of my favorite subjects of all time: reading! 

Grammy visited this weekend, and she joined us on our fairly regular Girls Outing.  Instead of going to the library we went to the bookstore--she offered to buy us a few new books.  I had spotted this one a week prior while Ben and I were hanging out at the train table at a different book store, and I totally fell in love with it.  I knew both Lorelei and Ben would love it, and, even better, appreciate it more when they learned to read.  So I chose this for Lorelei, and she chose a Richard Scary book.  (Thanks, Grammy!)

Rocket the dog happens across a little bird, who declares Rocket her new student.  Rocket just wants to take a nap.  But the wise little bird starts reading a story...first Rocket is just annoyed by the unwanted sound, but then he becomes caught up in the story.  The wise and crafty bird stops reading at a really good part, but the bird is already gone when Rocket looks up to find out what happens next.  The next day Rocket is there, bright and early, to learn to read.  They begin with the ending, of the story.


Rocket spells out winter things.

 The little bird then teaches him all the letters "of the wondrous, mighty, gorgeous alphabet."  I love that Tad Hills wrote that!  I love thinking that Lorelei will look at awe at the alphabet, a little like some look at the Mona Lisa or Mount Everest.  It IS wondrous!  It IS mighty!  It IS gorgeous!  I try to contain myself when I read the book out loud to them.

When fall turns to winter, the bird flies south and leaves Rocket to study on his own.  Which he does.  He practices writing the letters by marching big "A" and "B" and "C" paths in the snow.  He practices spelling all the things around him: D-I-G (in the snow), W-I-N-D (in his face), C-O-L-D (during winter), M-E-L-T (as Spring finally comes). 

He waits, tail wagging, for the bird to arrive, and, thanks to a good teacher and his own doggedness, he learns to read.  It just makes me so hopeful that Lorelei and Ben will always have wise and crafty teachers who are able to uncover in our children their own Rocket curiosity and doggedness.

This is SUCH a great book.  I haven't read a single one of the Duck & Goose books that Tad Hills has written, but now I want to after reading this book.  I love that when he did his book tour for this book, he brought the real Rocket, his shaggy dog.  I'm definitely a new fan of his!  If you're not yet a fan, read what he wrote on his "about me" section on his website: 

"I especially enjoy the responses I get from children when I ask if they have any questions or comments. 'Where do you get your ideas?  What's the difference between a book and a story?  My birthday is June 12th.  How do you make the cover shiny?  My Dad has socks like yours.  Do you have an agent?  Do you write the story first or draw the pictures?  How do you make a book?'  But what I love most is when a lower school kid smiles and says proudly, 'I'm writing a book.' "

Ok, this post is long enough.  But really--go get this book.

Read It, Don't Eat It! by Ian Schoenherr

Read It, Don't Eat It! by Ian Schoenherr

Rating: 4 stars

Recently one of our friends found out that I had a children's book blog.  A father of a 14-month old, he said: "Great!  Now I know which books are the most delicious!"  When I saw the title of this book, recommended on our library's home page, I had to get it, if only to send it to the little book-eater.  (Ben still gnaws on some, though he's not actually eaten any in months.  Progress!)

This is a fine book to read, but a great book to use to teach how to use the library, and specifically how to treat the books that you check out from the library.  It'd be essential in any preschool or elementary school, but a great one for parents when we first start going to the library.  And from time to time after that because--well, maybe it's different in your home--we need to reinforce things again and again and again and again and... 

Don't censor, delete, or deface.

Here is the entire book, right here:

Read it, don't eat it.

No dog ears, please.

Find someplace else to sneeze.

Borrow, don't steal.

TRY not to squeal.

Rips and tears won't magically heal.

Don't overdue it, just renew it.  (Really, now, there's nothing to it.)

Leave no trace (or at least erase).

Don't censor, delete, or deface.

It's not a platter, or a stool.

Be careful with it at the pool.

Don't leave it in the rain or sun.

Please return it when you're done.

Share it with a friend, a sister, a brother.

Now go out and get another.

Each line has a corresponding picture to illustrate the point, which is helpful to those little ones who, thankfully, don't know what stealing or censoring is quite yet.

Lorelei and Ben love this book, probably more than I do.  It's a quick read but a great example of a book that really teaches--and, in this case, teaches them something about a place that they love, about a thing they love: the library and books!  Hopefully this love affair lasts for many decades.

Book Fiesta! by Pat Mora

Book Fiesta! by Pat Mora, illustrated by Rafael Lopez

Rating: 4 stars

The cover of this book is like an gorgeous invitation to any book-loving kid out there.  It is bright and cheerful, and shows kids romping and reading together.  It was peeking out at me in the Bilingual section of our library this afternoon as Lorelei and I sat during our "girls outing" that often happens during Ben's Saturday afternoon nap.

The book is about Children's Day, or El dia de los ninos and also Book Day, El Dia do los libros.  It is a sweet poem that originally was a song that Pat Mora wrote.  In the pages of this wonderful book he expands on the song and celebrates children and books together--because he thinks, as I sure do, that the two go hand-in-hand.  "Hooray! Today is our day. / El dia de los ninos! / Let's have fun today reading our favorite books. / We read in English and Spanish, / in Chinese and Navajo too. / We read by ourselves, / we read with a friend."

The text is fine.  But the pictures!  Oh my gosh.  Pictures of kids just reading: their noses joyfully buried in their books, sitting side by side with a pal reading together, carefully balanced on the statue outside the library reading.  They are excitedly running to the library, acting out the story their parents are reading to them.  They read in cars, and planes, and trains, in the garden, an elephant, and even in a whale's mouth!  (Lorelei found this one pretty captivating.)  I can't say enough about how much I love the illustrations.

I really wish there was more text (which is, by the way, in both English and Spanish), a little more explaining of El dia de los ninos...  At the end of the book, in an author's note, Pat Mora encourages people to have book fiestas of their own.  It's an inspiring little section of how to bring books to life, and another reason to read this great book.