Be back after we move

We are going to be moving and so we will be back after the move and I plan on making some much needed updates and fun stuff like that. See ya then!

Library Loves

Here is another List of some recent library loves. The pictures weren't working so I will put them on another day.

The Block Mess Monster
Author: Betsie Howie
Illustrator: C.B. Decker

Summary: Calpurnia has a block mess monster in her room who doesn't want to be put away. Her mom, who somehow can't see this monster, tells Calpurnia to clean up. Calpurnia doesn't know what to do. Her mother tells her to just say "poof" but that doesn't seem to be working, not even the double poof. How is she going to get rid of the monster. This book is very fun and will make you giggle for sure. Sometimes it reminds me of the block mess monster that sometimes visits our house.

I am Calpurnia. The lady over there, folding the laundry, that is my mom.

Use to teach: cleaning up, imagination
Ages: 3-9
Book Projects: Building Blocks

Pingo
Author: Brandon Mull
Illustrator: Brandon Dorman

Summary: Chad and his imaginary friend Pingo spend their days in zero gravity chambers, concocting potions, and fighting ninja's but the day finally comes when Chad needs to give up Pingo. But Pingo isn't ready to go and Chad's imaginary friend becomes his imaginary enemy waiting for Chad to remember that he is still there. This is a very funny and imaginative book, plus it's fun to hear your kids day "Pingo". :)

Ages: 2 and up
Use to teach: Imagination, Description, Story telling
Book Project: Make up a story about your ideal imaginary friend and tell them to eachother.


The Day My Radio Flyer Flew
Author: Zachary Pullen
Illustrator: Zachary Pullen

Summary: All about the adventures of a little boy and what he does with his Dad's old Radio Flyer that he finds in the attic on a Saturday. Each dad this little boy does something different to make his Radio Flyer ready for some flying fun. With lots of work, a great dad and some imagination he might just make it work. I love this book because it reminds me of little boys and their dads building something and trying it out. I thought it was really cute but great pictures.

Ages:3-9
Use to teach: Alliteration
Book Project: Find something old that you can transform into something new

Day Out With Daddy
Author: Stephen Cook
Illustrator: Stephen Cook

Summary: Mommy's leaving for the day and that means daddy is in charge. And when Daddy is in charge that means gourmet meals, late night T.V. and nutritious breakfast of donuts and pastries. This is a cute story told by a little boy describing his wonderful day with his dad. Although I'm not sure his mommy would agree that it was fabulous. Rose thought this book was very cute and it reminded me a little bit of Dave which made me smile.

I knew Daddy was going to extra excited so I got up extra early

Ages: 2-8
Use to teach: Dads
Book Project: Go on a date with daddy

Happy Birthday Dr. Suess!

Today is the Birthday of Dr. Seuss. So it is time to pull out all of your favorite books, cook up some green eggs and ham and party with Dr. Seuss! Here are a few ideas to help you get into the spirit and have some seussical silliness! Visit www.Seussville.com for lots of great ideas and games as well!

Cat-in-the-Hat Hat

Thing one and Thing Two relay race: choose what you would like to do in the race

Clean up the mess Relay: Before mom gets home you must clean up the mess the cat created. Give the kids a big garbage bag and let them clean up the mess

Balancing Act: have kids try to balance as many things as they can on their heads like the Cat in the Hat

Get Bubble Wrap, a larger piece, and "Hop on Pop"

Create a Fish pond, put in different fish with paper clips attached and then fish them out with a pole with a magnet on the end. Read "One fish, Two Fish Red Fish, Blue Fish" or "McElligot's Pool"

Using "Green Eggs and Ham" find props; such as box, fox, mouse, house and have each person participating hold up their item when it is said while reading the book.

Have a Foot Fest, Invite people to come with fancy, silly, or crazy socks/shoes. Take pictures of them and have them play find your feet later. Use with "The Foot Book"

Have an undecorate the tree race after reading "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas"

Have people match the quotes to the correct Dr. Seuss book.

Make cupcakes and sing Happy Birthday

Have a Sneetches race: See which team can run to the end put a star on their belly and run back the fastest.

Put Skittles in a Jar and have people guess the correct amount: Use with my many colored days

Make a "Daisy Head Maisy" headband: have paper headband, flowers, pipe cleaners and other craft supplies available to use.

Make Newspaper Hats to parade around in with Bartholomew and the 5000 hats

Make Oobleck: use 1 cup of corn startch and put into 1/4 to a 1/2 cup of water. Then add green food coloring to make oobleck.

Play Twister with the Foot Book

Make Stars for everyone to put on their bellies for Sneetches.

Now if that isn't enough ideas to get you ready for some Dr. Seuss fun I don't know what will! Have fun and spend some time sharing some Seuss this week!

Mini Math Monsters

I wanted to share some of my favorite math books this month and so I'll start out with a list of books I have that are good for really young readers 0-2.

1 is one by Tasha Tudor
Five Green and Speckled Frogs by Martin Kelly and Phil Legris
10 minutes Till Bedtime by Peggy Rothman
Anno's counting Book by Mitsumasa Anno
Don't Count Your Chicks by Ingri D'Aulaire
Fish Eyes: A Book you Can Count on by Lois Ehlert
Jelly Beans For Sale by Bruce McMillon
Miss Spider's Tea Party: The Counting Book by David Kirk
Olivia Counts by Ian Falconer
Over in the Meadow by Ezra Jack Keats
Piggies by Audrey Wood
One Gorilla: A Counting Book by Atsuko Morozumi

I hope you enjoy these and I can't wait to share some more of my favorite math books with you over the next month! Happy Counting!

Get Fancy

At our house we love Fancy Nancy and so far my favorite one has been the original Fancy Nancy. With a little girl like Rose who loves accessories Nancy has been quite a favorite around our house.

Author: Jane O'Conner

Illustrator: Robin Preiss Glasser

Summary: Life is hard when you are the only fancy one in your family. That is exactly how Nancy feels. But she gets a great idea, Give her family fancy lessons, with those and a few extra accessories Nancy's family might just be as fancy as she's been wishing them to be.

Ages 2-8

Use to teach: Vocabulary, Adjectives, Description

Book Projects: Make your own Fancy Nancy outfits and accessories, use only Fancy words the whole day

What to Look For

Well in the past few months my book bug blogging has been quite poor and nonexistent but this time I am really ready to get going again!:) So look for more library loves, some fun math books, and book projects to come in the coming weeks. Hopefully we'll have some fun books that you'll want to check out!

Pop-ups

Although I have meant to talk about some great pop-up books to get for your kids, I forgot about it and was reminded because my mom gave us some pop-ups for Christmas. Some of the best authors to look for when you want to get a great pop up book are Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart. Both of these authors do fantastic work! Their books are amazing to look at and although they often cost a little bit more money they are a great investment and it's fun to just have one or two. They are books that are definitely for older kids or books that must be read with parents and then put away. But they are something you will love to look at and I'm sure your kids will think they are pretty neat too. Here are a few examples:

Library Loves

We wanted to share a few of the books that we have found at the Library and have really enjoyed a few of these were suggested to us and some we just found on our own. So next time you head to the Library here are a few ideas to pick up:

While Mama Had a Quick Little Chat

Author: Amy Reichert

Illustrator: Alexander Boiger

Summary: The reason why I originally checked out this book was because the little girl was a red head named Rosie, but after reading it both Rose and I thought it was worth another check out. When her mama gets on the phone, she tells Rosie that she is only going to have a quick little chat and that Rosie needs to get ready for bed. But we all know what moms and a quick little chat means and for Rosie a lot more happens that just getting ready for bed.

Ages: 2 to 8

Use to Teach:

Book Projects: Make a homeade telephone with cans and a string

Gone With the Wand

Author: Margie Palatini

Illustrator: Brian Ajhar

Summary: Bernice Sparklestein one of the best fairy godmothers has seemed to have lost her touch. With a wand that doesn't work like it used to and no idea what to do next. Bernice's fairy friend Edith decides to help Bernice find something else that a fairy like her can handle. This fun and silly story make us giggle and laugh as we tried to figure out what Bernice would do next. This one was one of our favorites and I thought it was fun to read the whole way through.

"If yours truly, Edith Molarnari, tooth fairy second class, hadn't seen it with my own two peepers, I wouldn't have believed it myself --- Bernice Sparklestein, once the best fairy godmother in the biz, having a bad wand day. A very bad wand day."

Ages: 3 to 9

Use to teach: Fairy Tales

Book Projects: Make Fairy Wands, Create your own fairy story

Princess Bess Gets Undressed

Author: Margery Cuyler

Illustrator: Heather Maione

Summary: Princess Bess has many beautiful dresses, full of lace and ribbons, and everyday she spends her time changing outfits for all of her different activities but her favorite outfit is one that may surprise and make you smile when you find out what it is. This is Rose's all time favorite book and she could read it over and over again.

Princess Bess has loads of clothes made with satin, snaps, and bows.
And she changes them all day, for her lessons and ballet.

Ages: 2-8

Use to Teach: Getting Dressed, Time, Schedules

Book Projects: Play Dress-up, Make up your own princess outfit, Make Paper Dolls with different outfits

Once Upon a Banana

Author: Jennifer Armstrong

Illustrator: David Small

Summary: This story is all about one silly monkey and how much trouble one banana can cause in one town. This is a picture book so there are no words but I found that Rose loves to look at all the pictures and giggle and point out all of the different things in each pictures. It is a definitely a fun book to check out!

Ages: 2 and up
Use to Teach: Writing Stories, Cause and Effect, Prediction, Description, Sequence

Book Project Ideas: Eat Bananas, Learn about Monkeys, Write your own picture story that follows a sequence and share it with someone in your family.

Now I know that most of these are girly books but hopefully I'll have a few more manly books in the next Library Loves.