365 Days Of Children's Books

The White Stallion by Elizabeth Shub

2011-08-06T15:24:00.000-02:30

The White Stallion, written by Elizabeth Shub with pictures by Rachel Isadora, tells the story of young Gretchen's adventure when she fell asleep on a horse's back while her family was traveling through the Wild West in 1845. Apparently this is a retelling of a story in Tales of the Mustang by James Frank Dobie.

Anna sat spell bound through the whole book. I thought she might find it a bit long but she loved it.

Once in a Blue Moon by Nicola Morgan

2011-08-05T08:56:00.001-02:30

Once in a Blue Moon, written and illustrated by Nicola Morgan, is an amusing story of an old lady who celebrates her birthday with some good friends. What makes the story amusing and interesting is that the story is told using so many familiar, and sometimes silly, sayings. It starts describing Aunt Floydie as being "old as the hills" and "fit as a fiddle" .

Anna got a kick out of the pictures, especially the one of the mayor with his foot in his mouth, while I was quite amused by the text.

Dreamstones by Maxine Trottier

2011-08-04T16:44:00.000-02:30

Dreamstones, written by Maxine Trottier and illustrated by Stella East, is a mystical story set in the Arctic. David, a young boy, goes on a trip to the Arctic with his dad and gets lost one night when he leaves the ship to chase a couple of foxes across the ice. He is helped by a mystical man and is found safe and sound next to an Inukshuk. The illustrations are beautiful and add to the mystery and intrigue of the book.

Anna and I both enjoyed this book. While I'm not normally a fan of mystical stories I kind of liked this one.

The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater

2011-08-03T16:30:00.000-02:30

In The Big Orange Splot, written and illustrated by Daniel Pinkwater, Mr. Plumbean lives on a street were all the house are just alike, until the day a seagull drops a can or orange paint on Mr. Plumbean's house, leaving a big orange splot on his roof. His neighbours complain about the spot and want Mr. Plumbean to get rid of it but instead the splot inspires Mr. Plumbean to express his individuality. This causes all kinds of changes in the neighbourhood.

Anna and I both enjoyed this book. The story and illustrations were fun. It gave us a chance to talk about the importance of being free to be you.

I Feel Orange Today by Patricia Godwin

2011-08-02T16:16:00.000-02:30

I Feel Orange Today, written by Patricia Godwin and illustrated by Kitty Macaulay, is a book that talks about how colors can reflect our moods and ends by saying that "most days are really a rainbow".

Anna and I thought it was an okay book. I liked the fact that it got us talking about how different colors make us feel sometimes and how sometimes people use colors to describe how they are feeling. I especially liked the last sentence about most days being a rainbow.

The Walking Stick by Maxine Trottier

2011-08-01T14:02:00.021-02:30

The Walking Stick, written by Maxine Trottier and illustrated by Annouchka Gravel Galouchko, tells the story of a boy in Vietnam who finds a walking stick near a Buddhist temple. The walking stick becomes his companion in life and travels to him to Canada to live before he passes it on to his granddaughter. She then carries the stick back to Vietnam with her during a visit there.

Anna seemed to enjoy the book. I had mixed feelings about it. There were some parts that I liked and some I didn't. The illustrations are interesting and we spent a bit of time checking them out.

Jonathan James Says "I Can Be Brave" by Crystal Bowman

2011-07-31T12:48:00.008-02:30

Jonathan James Says "I Can Be Brave", written by Crystal Bowman and illustrated by Karen Maizel, is a one in a series of Jonathan James Learn to Read books for beginning readers. It is a short chapter book with 4 chapters about different situations where Jonathan needed to be brave. The chapter titles are The New Bedroom, First Grade, Lost, and Weekend at Grandma's. Jonathan is reminded that God never sleeps and is always with us.

Anna and I both enjoyed the stories in the book and it was a great chance to remind Anna to trust in God. I especially liked when Jonathan was going to sleep and he reminded himself that God was awake and was watching over him. I also liked when someone reminded Jonathan that you can never be lost from God. I think those are great reminders even for adults.

All About Turtles by Jim Arnosky

2011-07-30T17:49:00.000-02:30

All About Turtles, written and illustrated by Jim Arnosky, has great illustrations and informational text which teaches all kinds of interesting things about turtles, like how to identify the different kinds, what they eat, what their eggs are like, etc.

Anna and I both enjoyed this book. We both learned lots.

Too Many Books! by Gilles Tibo

2011-07-29T15:48:00.001-02:30

In Too Many Books!, written by Gilles Tibo and illustrated by Bruno St-Aubin, Nicholas is tired of having a book passed to him every time he wants to learn how to do something or learn about something. He knows books are good for that because he's learned lots from them, but he's sick of it. Then his friend introduces him to books that are just for pleasure.

I think Anna enjoyed this book. She didn't say too much about it. I had mixed feelings about it. It is kind of cute.

Pavlova's Gift by Maxine Trottier

2011-07-28T18:37:00.000-02:30

Pavlova's Gift written by Maxine Trottier and illustrated by Victoria Berdichevsky, is a fantasy story about Anna Pavlova, a real life historical person. In real life Anna was a professional ballerina and in this fantasy story she received a letter from the Czar requesting that she dance for his ill son. On her way to fulfill the request she first meets a gypsy women who gives her a necklace and then comes upon a group of gypsies when her sleigh needs repairs. It is with this group of gypsies that her night changes.

Anna loved the story, partly because the main character's name was the same as her's and partly because it was about a ballerina. I thought it was an interesting fantasy story, not as weird as some fantasy stories can get. I think I will probably read it with Anna again in a year or so and use it as a jump off point to learn more about the actual historical person.

The Teddy Bear by David McPhail

2011-07-27T22:30:00.000-02:30

The Teddy Bear, written and illustrated by David McPhail tells the story of a little boy who loses his Teddy Bear in the park, and while he is upset for a few days he soon forgets about it. Meanwhile the Teddy Bear is found, and loved, by a homeless man. There is a very special ending to this story that I don't want to spoil by telling but it is very touching.

I thought this story was great. Anna was a little confused by the character of the homeless man because she's never seen one and has no concept of it, so I was glad it gave us the chance to discuss it.

Seal is Lost by Priscilla Galloway

2011-07-26T15:33:00.001-02:30

In Seal is Lost, written by Priscilla Galloway with pictures by Karen Patkau, Hugh loses his favorite stuffed toy while at the beach. While his stuffed toy, Seal, is enjoying himself in Lost Toy Land, Hugh is looking for him but can't find him. Instead Hugh finds a kitten that nobody claims and eventually the kitten takes Seal's place.

Anna and I thought this book was okay, not great, but okay.

Freddy's Hockey Hero by Susan Chalker Browne

2011-07-25T20:22:00.000-02:30

Freddy's Hockey Hero, written by Susan Chalker Browne and illustrated by Hilda Rose, is another is the series of Freddy books. In this book Freddy is excited to be going to a hockey game and is determined that he is going to get his stick signed by Billy Binkle, the most famous hockey player of all time. Nobody but Freddy is convince that Billy Binkle is even at the game, and Freddy has to go through a number of mazes before he finally does end up being in the spotlight with his hero and getting his stick signed.

To be perfectly honest, I didn't terribly enjoy this book. To me the story was very contrived and didn't have a flow. Anna seemed pretty neutral about the book. This is not the first book that I've featured by this author or this illustrator but information about both are hard to find on the internet.

My Little Golden Book About God by Jane Werner Watson

2011-07-24T19:36:00.014-02:30

My Little Golden Book About God, written by Jane Werner Watson and illustrated by Eloise Wilkin, is an old one from our bookshelf. The book starts quite simply with the short sentence "God is Great" but goes on to explain how God is a part of everything that every was and ever will be. Anna and I have read it together a few times. We both really love the illustrations.

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead

2011-07-23T15:57:00.000-02:30

In A Sick Day for Amos McGee, written by Philip C. Stead and illustrated by his wife Erin E. Stead, Amos's days are always the same. He is a zoo keeper and enjoys spending time with the animals at the zoo. When he gets sick and can't make it to work the animals miss him and decide to go visit him.

Anna and I both loved it! The illustrations are great with just a touch of subtle colour.

On Philip Stead's blog, he has some posts that celebrate the fact that this book was named one of 10 best illustrated books in 2010 by New York Times. Check out the first of the celebration posts for A Sick Day with Amos McGee and then click on Newer Post at the bottom of that post to read the other celebration posts. In each post he highlights animals that are featured in the book and shows stamps from his stamp collection featuring the animals and also shows illustrations from the book.

On Erin Stead's blog, she also has a number of posts about the book. These posts are sprinkled throughout the blog and I wish there was an easy way to access the posts about the book specifically but there isn't. Two of my favorite ones about the book are her post about the day they received the first shipment of A Sick Day with Amos McGee and the post where she describes how she made one of the pictures for A Sick Day with Amos McGee.

Python Play and other recipes for fun Poems by Robert Heidbreder

2011-07-22T11:48:00.000-02:30

Python Play: and Other Recipes for Fun, with poems written by Robert Heidbreder and pictures by Karen Patkau, is a great, fun book of poems of all sorts all about play. There are poems about classic play games like Hide-and-Seek and Tug-of-War, but there are also poems about totally new games. The poems are sure to inspire action of all sorts.

Anna and I had great fun reading the poems and acting some of them out. We also enjoyed the bright illustrations.

The Boston Box by Carmelita McGrath

2011-07-21T18:51:00.000-02:30

It was over a year ago that Anna and I read The Boston Box by Carmelita McGrath. Set in the 1930's in outport Newfoundland, it tells the story of a young girl named Mary. Mary loved to dream big dreams, and while she's busy working hard helping the other women with the fish she dreams of what she will do with the money she earns. However, when it comes time to get paid they discover that the price of fish has gone down and her money will have to be used to help the family with necessities. Live is made a little easier by an annual box of surprises sent from an aunt in Boston. The book is illustrated by Rochelle Baker and some of them are quite nice. I especially liked the borders around the illustrations.

Anna was very young when we read this book together and it really was over her head. I do plan on returning to this book again as part of our social studies. It is a great book to use as a resource for learning about life in outport Newfoundland in the 1930s.

The book was actually one of the finalist is the Hackmatack awards in 2005 and they prepared a page with suggested learning activities to do with The Boston Box.

Splat the Cat Sings Flat written by Chris Strathearn

2011-07-20T13:27:00.000-02:30

Splat the Cat Sings Flat is an I Can Read book based on books by Rob Scotton but this book is actually written by Chris Strathearn and illustrated by Robert Eberz. In this book Splat the cat is afraid to sing at a school presentation but he finally overcomes his fear.

Anna enjoyed the book and I thought it was okay. It did give us a chance to talk about overcoming your fears.

Setting Wonder Free by Maryke Barnes

2011-07-19T16:00:00.000-02:30

In Setting Wonder Free, written by Maryke Barnes and illustrated by Jirina Marton, a seven year old girl feels bad for her hobby horse, Wonder. Wonder has been banished to the basement because her and her brother have outgrown it. Her mother suggested giving it to the Salvation Army but she couldn't bear the thought of another child riding it so she suggested putting it out in the field near their house. Wonder looked lonely out there and the girl imagined Wonder would be happier with children. One day, after a lady with a toddler had asked about Wonder, Wonder disappeared and the girl imagined how happy Wonder was again.

Anna loved this story. It gave us a chance to talk about how you can grow out of toys and how when you do it is nice to give the toys to other children to enjoy.

The Stupendous Adventure of Gregory Green by Jason Noble

2011-07-18T17:19:00.000-02:30

The Stupendous Adventure of Gregory Green, written by Jason Noble and illustrated by his brother Matthew Noble, is the story of a boy that tries to save the forest from Sawtooth, Sludge, and Smog, three monsters that threaten to destroy the forest. Included with the book is a CD of Gordon Pinsent narrating the story.

Anna enjoyed listening to the story on CD but to be perfectly honest I did not particularly enjoy the story. Could be just because it's not my style of story and I may have to revisit it to give it another chance but my first opinion was not a great one.

Webster The Scaredy Spider by Max Lucado

2011-07-17T22:23:00.000-02:30

Webster The Scaredy Spider by Max Lucado is available in many formats - board book, hard cover, kindle edition, and DVD. To be perfectly truthful, Anna and I haven't actually read the book, but we have watched the DVD. It tells the story of a spider named Webster who is scared of everything, and everyone in the garden is afraid of Webster. Hermie, however, helps everyone realize that Webster is not so scary after all and he also helps Webster be brave. Hermie reminds them all that God is always with them and they need not be afraid.

Anna loves the DVD and we have watched it over and over and over. I didn't realize that it was available as a book but I will definitely be watching for it.

King of the Playground by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

2011-07-16T19:57:00.000-02:30

King of the Playground, written by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and illustrated by Nola Langner Malone, is a great book to use to talk about bullies. Kevin doesn't have much fun at the playground because of Sam, the bully. Sam keeps threatening Kevin. Kevin talks to his dad about it and his dad helps him see that Sam's threats are really rather silly. Finally Kevin gets up enough courage to stand up to Sam and help him realize how silly his threats are and they end up having fun playing together.

Anna and I both enjoyed this book and it gave us a chance to talk about bullying. I loved how the father in the story didn't jump in and defend his son, nor did he encourage him to be mean back, he simply helped his son see the reality of the situation and look for ways to change it.

Ballerinas Don't Wear Glasses by Ainslie Manson

2011-07-15T14:59:00.000-02:30

Ballerinas Don't Wear Glasses by Ainslie Manson, illustrated by Dean Griffiths is a very cute story about a brother that saves the day for his little sister, even though there are times that he wishes he could trade her in for a puppy. Ben is not impressed when his plans for the day are ruined because his mom is busy and he's responsible for his little sister, Allison.

Anna loved this book and I could tell from the look on her face while I was reading it that there were times when she wanted to punch Ben, but in the end he turned out to be a good big brother.

The ABC's of the Real Treat! by Samantha Gerbeau

2011-07-14T15:03:00.000-02:30

The ABC's of the Real Treat! by Samantha Gerbeau is a small booklet put together to use to talk to children about eating healthy. It is an alphabet book that suggests healthy foods to eat for each letter of the alphabet. The author had developed some educator's extra's, including a facilator's guide and an ABC's slideshow, to go with the book.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It's kind of cute and a good tool to encourage talking about eating healthy but I don't think either Anna or I particularly enjoyed the book much. I found some of the rhymes really irritating and contrived so I may have reflected my dislike for it in my reading and that may have influenced Anna. When I discovered that there were extra resources to go with the book I thought maybe it might be redeemable in some way but I was disappointed to see that the resources were not free, and even that the prices were a little steep in my mind. Great idea for a book and kind of fun but not one that we'll likely read again.

Carmine: A Little More Red by Melissa Sweet

2011-07-13T15:08:00.000-02:30

Carmine: A Little More Red, written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet, is a very different alphabet book. The words featured for the letters are not words you expect and they are part of the story. The story is similar to Red Riding Hood, but with a flair all it's own. I would say this is an alphabet book that children can grow into and grow to appreciate more with each reading.

Anna and I enjoyed the story. Anna noticed and commented on the similarities to Red Riding Hood. This is definitely one that I will be returning to because there's far to much in if for just one read through.

The Red Apples by Marion Mineau

2011-07-12T20:58:00.000-02:30

In The Red Apples, written by Marion Mineau and illustrated by Shirley Day, Mary sits on her steps looking longingly at the apples in the orchard, but not daring to go into the orchard to pick any because of the calves that are also in the orchard, til one day... Cute story that tells about Mary's adventures when she finally does decide to tempt fate and how she is successful until she gets greedy.

Unforunately I couldn't find any information about the author or the illustrator, except that the back of the book says the author is from Canada.

Anna loved the story. I used it as a chance to talk about how no good can ever come of being greedy.

The Spider in the Woodpile by Terry Morrison, illustrations by Len Walbourne

2011-07-11T20:17:00.000-02:30

The Spider in the Woodpile, written by Terry Morrison and illustrationed by Len Walbourne, is a funny story about a spider named Webster. Webster is delighted to find the perfect home for himself inside a cosy hole in a log. He's a little concerned when the log moves and he discovers that it's being carried by a man. Soon, however, he settles down as the log becomes a part of a woodpile. He curious as to what the man is doing with the logs he carries from the woodpile once in a while but he doesn't give it too much thought until one day it's his log, with him inside it, that the man carries away and tries to throw into a very hot funny shaped black thing. Luckily he escapes just in time, but that's not the end of his adventures.

Anna really enjoyed this book. It would be a great book to use to kick of a study of insects. It is a funny story that children would enjoy and the back of the book gives a bit of information about spiders and may inspire some scientific investigation and learning. Unforunately the book is not easy to find, but there are copies of it available through the Newfoundland Public Library system.

In the Beginning by Max Lucado

2011-07-10T21:53:00.000-02:30

I'm not really sure if In the Beginning, by Max Lucado, should be classed as a children's book or not but Anna and I did read it together recently and she was spell bond by it. It is a fictional account of a conversation that supposedly takes place between God and the archangel Michelangelo during the creation of the world. The text is accompanied by beautiful artwork that depicts the different stages of creation. At the back of the book are the actual scripture verses that give the Biblical account of creation.

I wasn't sure what to think of the book first when I started reading it and I was tempted to stop, but Anna wanted me to keep going. I usually read the preface and info on the flap of jacket books and/or backs of books before I read each book but I didn't do it with this book so at first I didn't get what the book was actually about. Once I got to the end and then went back to read those things if finally made sense.

Hearing Sounds by Sally Hewitt

2011-07-09T12:15:00.000-02:30

Hearing Sounds by Sally Hewitt is part of the It's Science series which "introduces children to the science that surrounds them in their everyday world." Each two page spread is it's own section the following titles - Make a Noise!, Keep Quiet!, Listen..., Loud and Quiet, High and Low,Making Music, Twang and Bang!, Traveling Sound, Sending Messages, Recording Sound. Pictures and text encourage discussion and activiy.

We had a great time, and learned lots, with the book stretching it out over many days.

Welcome to the World of Whales by Diane Swanson

2011-07-08T20:34:00.000-02:30

Welcome to the World of Whales by Diane Swanson is a great informational book about whales and is geared towards 4-7 year olds. The book is divided into seven sections and gives very interesting information. There are also great pictures in the book to keep the child's interest.

Anna and I both enjoyed it and learned a lot about whales. We read about a section a day giving us just enough information to keep the interest without going overboard.

Laura: A Childhood Tale of Laura Secord by Maxine Trottier

2011-07-07T20:51:00.000-02:30

Laura: A Childhood Tale of Laura Secord, written by Maxine Trottier and illustrated by Karen Reczuch, is a fictional story about the childhood of one of Canada's famous historical heroes. In this fictional account Laura is a young girl that enjoys looking out to the family cow and one day she follows the cow through the meadows far from home where the cow gives birth and dies. Laura is lost but her father finds her and helps her get the calf home and Laura takes over the care of the calf.

Anna loved the story, even though it was a little sad. I like that it introduced this historical hero that we will learn about in the future. I'm hoping it will help Anna remember the name and the bravery of Laura. In the back of the book the author includes some historical facts about Laura Secord and her importance in Canadian history. I didn't actually read this to Anna this reading but will in the future.

Magic Thinks Big by Elisha Cooper

2011-07-06T10:22:00.000-02:30

In Magic Thinks Big, written and illustrated by Elisha Cooper, Magic the cat sits in the doorway and thinks about things he might like to do and adventures he might like to go on, but he never actually moves from the doorstep. On the page featuring Magic Thinks Big on Elisha Cooper's website he shares the inspiration behind the story.

Anna and I enjoyed this book and discussed how the cat was too lazy to actually do the things he thought about but he did enjoy dreaming about them.

Steven's Baseball Mitt by Kathy Stinson

2011-07-05T21:05:00.000-02:30

Steven's Baseball Mitt: A Book About Being Adopted, written by Kathy Stinson and illustrated by Robin Baird Lewis, is about a young boy named Steven. Steven is adopted and the book is about the many different thoughts and feelings he has as a result of that - how sometimes it makes him feel special because his parent's chose him, how sometimes it makes him feel sad because his birth mom gave him up, how he often wonders what his birth mom is like, etc.

After reading the book I couldn't figure out why in the world it was called "Steven's Baseball Mitt". I could see no correlation between the story and the title. Some of the illustrations did show a boy searching for something and an illustration near the end showed him finding a baseball glove but there was no mention of the glove in the text of the book. It made no sense whatsoever, until I read this blurb on the back cover of the book: "The illustrations,depicting Steven's search for his lost baseball mitt, mirror his concern about something missing in himself, or in his life. I never would have made that connection without reading the blurb.

Anna thought the book was okay and it gave us a chance to talk about the process of adoption and how someone might feel. I think it is a good book to use to help someone who is adopted, or who has a friend that is adopted, so that you can talk about the feelings that adoption may bring up.

Where is the Cat? by A.J. Gillard

2011-07-04T23:36:00.000-02:30

In Where is the Cat?, written by A.J. Gillard and illustrated by Jennifer Mizgala, rhyming text describes where to find Shroom, the evasive cat, as he goes through the day. It starts with "He's there on the floor, the floor by the door" and proceeds with him on a pillow that's yellow, by a square chair, and a plant with ants, to name just a few of the places before it ends with "He's taking a nap, a nap on my lap."

Anna loved this book, and so did I. It's a fun, easy to read book.

High Chair Devotions: God Cares for Me by Marilyn J. Woody

2011-07-03T21:21:00.000-02:30

High Chair Devotions: God Cares for Me, written by Marilyn J. Woody and illustrated by Joyce John, is a board book meant for ages 6 months to 3 years. Six double page spreads contain a scripture verse and a very short prayer on one side and an illustration on the other. There are suggested actions to help remember each prayer and many of the prayers have a place for you to insert the child's name.

Anna was really excited when we found this book again recently. She loved when I told her how I used to use this book with her when she was younger. I wasn't very consistent with it, though, so she couldn't actually remember any of the prayers. I think we might make a point of reading them together for a while, as she can read them herself now, and maybe we'll remember them before too long.

Drat That Fat Cat! by Pat Thomson

2011-07-02T15:45:00.000-02:30

Drat That Fat Cat!, written by Pat Thomson and illustrated by Ailie Busby, is a funny story about a cat that eats a mouse, a duck, a dog, and an old lady, before also eating a bee that causes him to spit them all up!

We loved it! Anna loved helping with reading the sound words.

Animals Eating by Pamela Hickman

2011-07-01T15:58:00.000-02:30

Animals Eating written by Pamela Hickman and illustrated by Pat Stephens, is subtitled How Animals Chomp, Chew, Slurp and Swallow. The text is divided into the following titled sections: Marvelous mouths; Baleen banquet; Pass the Plants, please; Meat on the menu; Waste not, want not; Quenching a thirst; A liquid diet. The book is full of interesting text and great illustrations, both of which are used to give information and explain activity ideas. It is part of a series of books that include Animal Senses and Animals in Motion. On Pamela Hickman's page on the Writer's Federation of Nova Scotia website, I found the following quote from Pamela explaining why her books are activity based: ""It's neat for kids to read about things, but the best thing is for them to muck around and discover things on their own."

Anna and I loved this book. We learned so much from it. We will definitely be looking for the other books in the series and other books by Pamela Hickman.

The Missing Glasses & Sandy and Ruff by Robert C. Parsons

2011-06-30T23:07:00.000-02:30

The Missing Glasses & Sandy and Ruff, written and illustrated by Robert C. Parsons is actually two books in one. It is subtitled A Newfoundland and Labrador Draw-and-Tell Story. The inside of the book says "using simple, graphic elements, each of which represents something in the story, a picture is created, usually with a surprise ending.". It is also described as "A Turn Around Book". You flip the book over and around to get the other story. The Missing Glasses is about a boy that lost his glasses. Sandy and Ruff is about a boy and his dog.

Anna loved the stories. While I was reading Sandy and Ruff she copied the simple graphic elements for the story and ended up with a really cute drawing of a dog. I will post a picture of the drawing and fix up this post with links as soon as I'm back to having an Internet connection besides just on my phone.

Harris Find His Feet Written and Illustrated by Catherine Rayner

2011-06-29T11:50:00.009-02:30

In Harris Find His Feet, written and illustrated by Catherine Rayner, a hare asks his grandfather why his feet are so big and the grandfather explains to him how important it is. He doesn't like the fact that his feet are so big but, with the help of his Grandfather, he soon comes to appreciate it. On the author's website you can catch a glimpse of some of the pages of Harris Finds His Feet.

Anna and I both thought this was a great book. It's funny and interesting. I loved the fact that it showed how the younger could learn from the older.

Weighing the Elephant by Ting-Xing

2011-06-28T11:41:00.013-02:30

In Weighing the Elephant, written by Ting-Xing Ye with art by Suzane Langlois, a village in China has a baby elephant that brings much joy to the people until the day the emperor decides he must have the baby elephant for himself. To get the baby elephant back again the village people must tell the emperor how much the elephant weighs. The villagers try many different ways to weigh the elephant but nothing works until a little boy comes up with the idea of using a boat to do it.

This book is great just for the story itself but it's also great to use to discuss problem solving and different ways to weigh things. Anna loved the story just for the story but I plan on using it again in the future to add some interest to a unit on measurement and problem solving.

Rebel the Rock Collector by Doreen Canning

2011-06-27T23:41:00.000-02:30

Rebel the Rock Collector, written by Doreen Canning and illustrated by Lorie Cull, is about a German Shepherd that likes to collect rocks. Jo adopts Rebel from the SPCA and soon there are piles of rocks all over the place thanks to Rebel. Then Rebel finds a very unique rock that is too big for him to bring home so he decided to move his house and belongings out by the rock.

Doreen Canning runs a bed and breakfast in Springdale Newfoundland and has written a couple of children's books. Lorie Cull is from Springdale, Newfoundland.

Anna loves stories about dogs, and this one was no exception. I'm sure it will be asked to be reread a few times.

A picture of the book will be edited in later.

I Can Be Me! by Cindy Kenny and Linda Bredehoft

2011-06-26T23:49:00.000-02:30

I Can Be Me!, by Cindy Kenny and Linda Bredehoft, is actually one of a four part "I Can!" collection of die cut board books featuring the Veggie Tales characters. The I Can Be Me book is in the shape of Larry the cucumber and features pictures of Larry taking on all kinds of roles with simple, fun, two rhyming word descriptions for each role. These include Prairie Larry and Dairy Larry, just to name a couple. The theme verse for the book is Psalm 139:14 which says that God made us amazing and wonderful and the purpose of the book is to help children see that they can be anything God wants them to be.

Anna loves the Veggie Tales, especially Larry the cucumber, so of course she loved this book. I thought it was a little on the silly side but enjoyed it because Anna enjoyed it so much.

Good Luck, Bad Luck by Rita Schlachter

2011-06-25T22:32:00.000-02:30

In Good Luck, Bad Luck by Rita Schlachter and illustrated by G. Brian Karas, Rabbit is convinced that all the bad luck that seems to be happening to him is because of a curse put on him by a witch. Bear, however, is convinced that it is simply because Rabbit is so careless.

Anna got a kick out of the story and thought it was hilarious that Rabbit was so careless and thought a witch had hexed him. I liked that it gave us a chance to talk about carefully considering our actions and the results of our actions.

My apologies for not having links in this post but I am without an Internet connection to work on it on my laptop. I didn't want to miss posting so I decided to use my phone to post. I will fix it up when I have Internet connection again, hopefully tomorrow.

Skin That Slimes and Scares by Diane Swanson

2011-06-24T13:56:00.000-02:30

Skin That Slimes and Scares, by Diane Swanson, is part of an "Up Close" series of books "that show children how they can link animals by different body parts." There are very short chapters on armored skin, slimy skin, warning skin, tasty skin, scary skin, and disguising skin. For each one it shows real photos and illustrations of different animals and explains how the the skin helps each animal.

Anna and I both enjoyed this book and learned a lot from it. We took our time going through the book and read a chapter a day and did lots of discussing and looking things up on the internet.

Johnny and the Gipsy Moth by Deannie Sullivan-Fraser

2011-06-23T15:58:00.000-02:30

The story in Johnny and the Gipsy Moth, written by Deannie Sullivan-Fraser and illustrated by Hilda Rose, was inspired by true events in the author's father's childhood. Johnny has trouble fitting in when his family moves from the big city to a small community, but a special visit from his uncle changes things. His uncle arrives in a Gipsy Moth airplane and takes Johnny for a ride, stirring up envy and interest from the young boys that liked to make fun of Johnny. The story is sprinkled with Newfoundland words and sayings and has a one page glossary in the back to explain some of them. It is a nice book to read just for fun but it can also be used to initiate some social studies lessons about dialects and also about the history of flight in Newfoundland.

To be perfectly truthful I don't think Anna liked the story as much as I did, but I think that is an age factor because she was only 4 when we read it. I'm thinking we will revisit the book in a year or so as part of our social studies learning.

David Gets in Trouble by David Shannon

2011-06-22T16:12:00.000-02:30

David Gets in Trouble, written and illustrated by David Shannon, is based on a book the author wrote when he was just five years old. In the book, David, like most every child, is always getting in trouble and claiming not to be responsible for whatever trouble he gets into. The book has just a short phrase per page and the phrases are David's excuses for all the times he gets in trouble.

Anna and I both got a kick out of this story and could relate to many of the situations David got himself into and the excuses he made for himself.

Have I got a book for you! by Melanie Watt

2011-06-21T20:24:00.000-02:30

In Have I got a book for you!, written and illustrated by Melanie Watt, Mr. Al Foxword tries to sell you the book in true salesman fashion, using all sorts of salesmen's tricks and speeches.

To be perfectly honest, I didn't especially like this book and I'm not sure what Anna thought about it. I tried to make it fun but I'm sure my true lack of enthusiasm shone through. She did have some giggles at parts of the book but I really think a lot of it went right over her head. I did think the torn corner at the end of the book was kind of a cute touch.

To learn more about the story you can check out the YouTube video of some grade 4 students reading Have I Got a Book For You!. The Texas Librarian offers some reading strategies and lesson plan ideas for Have I Got a Book For You!. On the Kids Can Press page devoted to Have I Got a Book for You!, you will find information about the book and a link to a pdf of Have I Got a Book for You! Learning Resource Material with a number of ideas for using the book as a basis for some learning.

This is the second book that I've featured by Melanie Watts, the first being Chester. I know a lot of people really like Melanie Watt books, but I'm finding I struggle with her books. It seems to take a number of re-readings and research before I really grow to appreciate them.

Duncan's Way by Ian Wallace

2011-06-20T22:56:00.000-02:30

Duncan's Way, written and illustrated by Ian Wallace, is set in outport Newfoundland and tells the story of how 11 year old Duncan comes up with an idea to help his family. Duncan's dad struggles with the loss of his way of life and livelihood since the fishery closed. His mother thinks the family should move from Newfoundland to start a new life, but Duncan comes up with a plan to help his father make a living and stay in Newfoundland.

Anna was not terribly interested in the story but she did like the pictures. I have mixed feelings about the book. It portrays real life struggles that some Newfoundlanders faced with the closing of the fishery and I can see some people really being able to relate to the story while I see others being offended by some aspects of the story.

On Ian Wallace's website you can find a sample spread from Duncan's Way and learn about the family that Wallace used as models and inspiration for the illustrations in the book.

The Oxpecker and the Giraffe: I Need You and You Need Me by Patrick Fitzpatrick

2011-06-19T22:26:00.000-02:30

In The Oxpecker and the Giraffe: I Need You and You Need Me, written by Patrick Fitzpatrick and illustrated by Tim Newcombe, Giraffe is fed up with Oxpecker always picking at him. Oxpecker tries to make Giraffe see that they really do need each other, but Giraffe is not convinced until he talks to the Rhinos. Cape Buffalo, the Rhino, tells Giraffe that it is part of God's plan that the oxpecker actually help the bigger animals by eating the bugs that could give the bigger animals diseases. The story is told with rhyming text and great illustrations.

I picked this book up at the Creations Ministries International booth at our provincial homeschool conference this weekend and Anna and I both really enjoyed reading it together. The text is interesting and informative and the illustrations are beautiful. We learned a bit about both the Oxpecker bird and about giraffes, and about how animals depend on one another to survive. I will definitely be watching out for more books by Creation Book Publishers.

Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems, written by Kristine O'Connell George

2011-06-18T22:57:00.000-02:30

Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems, written by Kristine O'Connell George and illustrated by Kate Kiesler is a wonderful collection of poems about camping. It includes many different kinds of poems and great illustrations.

I really liked this book because it gave me a chance to introduce Anna to some different kinds of poems in a topic that was interesting to her.

On Kristine O'Connell George's website there is a Teacher's Guide for her book Toasting Marshmallow. She gives some great ideas on how to use the book as a jumping off point for some fun learning. Also on the page featuring the Toasting Marshmallows book you will find links to audio files of the author reading some of the poems from the book and a section talking about the writing of the book.

This is a great book to include in the gear you take on a camping trip or a hike, or even to use in a backyard or living room camping experience. It's sure to help you create great memories.

Little Toby and the Big Hair co-authored by Kim and Eugenie Fernandes

2011-06-17T23:08:00.000-02:30

Little Toby and the Big Hair is co authored by the mother/daughter team of Kim and Eugenie Fernandes. In the book a girl named Toby decides she doesn't want to get her hair cut and as it grows longer it causes all kinds of trouble, but Toby doesn't mind. One day her grandfather tells her that she reminds him of himself and shows her a picture of him with long hair. He helps her do her hair up nice in braids and ribbons and everyone loves it, but when the day is through her mother helps her take out the ribbons and braids and enjoy her hair in freedom again. The illustrations in the book are done with fimo by Kim Fernandes. The three dimensional look of the illustrations are incredible and they reminded us of Barabra Reid's work. Anna and I both really enjoyed both the story and the illustrations.

Terry Fox: A Story of Hope by Maxine Trottier

2011-06-16T16:37:00.000-02:30

Terry Fox: A Story of Hope, by Maxine Trottier, is the story of Terry Fox written especially for ages 7-10. The text of the book is interspersed with real photos from Terry's life. It is a good book to help children understand the history behind the annual Terry Fox Run which is scheduled for September 18, 2011. You can read more about the annual run at www.terryfoxorg .

I was surprised by how interested Anna was in the story. I loved it because it gave us a chance to talk about so many things.

Scholastic created a special page for the Terry Fox book for the 30th anniversary of the run. You can still access that page and in the clubs/activities section of the scholastic website you can find a number of PDFs to go along with the book, including a Terry Fox trivia Question and Answer sheet, Discussion/Essay Prompts, and a Sneaker Activity where you draw or write about you want to be when you grow up.

This is the fourth book I've featured by Maxine Trottier, the first being Forget-Me-Not, and the second Flags and the third One is Canada. I'm finding that her books are great social studies resources.

Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton

2011-06-15T18:50:00.000-02:30

In Russell the Sheep, written and illustrated by Rob Scotton, Russel can't get to sleep so he decides to try counting things. The text and pictures are hilarious. Anna and I both loved it!

On Rob Scotton's website you can check out some sample pages of Russell the Sheep and you can learn more about how the idea for the book developed on a page titled The Beginning, Middle, and End of Russell the Sheep. You can also watch a sketch of Russell take form on a page titled Russell Quickdraw.

This is the second book that I've featured by Rob Scotton, the first being Splat the Cat: Where's the Easter Bunny. Russell the Sheep is definitely our favourite of the two.

A Sack Full of Feathers by Debby Waldman

2011-06-14T13:27:00.000-02:30

A Sack Full of Feathers written by Debby Waldman and illustrated by Cindy Revell, is a retelling of a Jewish folktale. Yankel is a terrible gossip, running to share all the stories he overhears while working at his father's store. One day the rabbi has a chat with him and teaches him a lesson using a sack full of feathers.

Anna enjoyed this book but I have to say that I think the message of this book is one that grownups need to learn even more so that children.

Freddy's Day at the Races by Susan Chalker Browne

2011-06-13T16:58:00.000-02:30

Freddy's Day at the Races, written by Susan Chalker Browne and illustrated by Hilda Rose, is one in a series of Freddy adventures. In this book Freddy, dressed in a pirate costume, is off with his mother to spend the day enjoying the annual Royal St. John's Regatta. When the arrive at Quidi Vidi Lake Freddy takes off running and his mother has to chase him all around the concessions ground before she finally catches up with him. Sprinkled throughout the book are historical facts regarding the races and the city.

The Regatta is an actual event that takes places in St. John's but I don't think I've ever actually attended it. Anna really enjoyed this book when we read it a while back and we've decided that we're going to try to get into the city to attend the regatta this year to see some of the things that we learned about while Freddy's mother was chasing him across the grounds.

This is the fourth book that I've featured by Susan Chalker Browne, the first being At Ocean's Edge, the second Marconi's Secret, and the third The Amazing Adventures of Captain Bob Bartlett. This book is quite different from the others. The others are small chapter books while this one is more like a picture book.

This is the second book that I've featured that was illustrated by Hilda Rose, the first being What if Your Mom Made Raisin Buns. The illustrations are definitely part of the appeal of this book.

Where Jesus Lived by Jane Werner Watson

2011-06-12T15:48:00.000-02:30

Where Jesus Lived, written by Jane Werner Watson and illustrated by Ronald LeHew, tells the story of Jesus life from his birth to his death.. This is another book that we borrowed from a friend. Anna and I both thought it was a pretty good book. It gave us a chance to talk about some things about the life of Jesus.

Hurry, Hurry! by Eve Bunting

2011-06-11T11:47:00.000-02:30

Hurry, Hurry!, written by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Jeff Mack, has just a couple of repeated words or phrases per page. All the animals are hurrying to welcome the new chick into the world. Fun pictures! Fun Text!

Anna loved this book, partially because she could read it. She was quite expressive in her "Hurry! Hurry!" cry.

Animals Can Be So Sleepy by Diane Swanson

2011-06-10T17:04:00.000-02:30

Animals Can Be So Sleepy by Diane Swanson is "One in a series of books especially for preschoolers." It is an excellent nature book! Each double page spread features a different animal and a sentence or two telling something about the animal. There is also an I Spy section to each spread where you are asked to look for something in the illustration.

Anna loved this book. It really is a great beginning science/nature study book. We will be looking for the other books in this series.

Uncle Joe and Sally: It's ok to be Different by Marion Quinton-Brake

2011-06-09T20:52:00.000-02:30

In Uncle Joe and Sally: It's ok to be Different, written by Marion Quinton-Brake and illustrated by Cassandra Boone, Uncle Joe and Sally are two bunnies that the kids think must have something wrong with them because they are different. A boy, named Tim, however, loves and accepts the bunnies in spite of the fact that they are different and helps prove that the bunnies don't have anything wrong with them.

This is a cute story that gives you the chance to talk about how people are quick to judge by appearances. Anna enjoyed the story for the most part but would have liked it better if there were more pictures.

Harvey's Hideout by Russell Hoban

2011-06-08T15:18:00.000-02:30

In Harvey's Hideout, written by Russell Hoban with pictures by Lillian Hoban, Harvey and Mildred muskrat have trouble getting along, as brothers and sisters often do. They each complain about the other and pretend they don't need each other, but they end up discovering that sometimes it's nice to have a brother or sister to spend some time with.

Anna thought the story was very cute. She was upset at times with how they treated each other but was please in the end

The Baabaasheep Quartet by Leslie Elizabeth Watts

2011-06-07T18:20:00.000-02:30

The Baabaasheep Quartet, written and illustrated by Leslie Elizabeth Watts, tells the story of four sheep who retire from life on the farm and move to the city. They can't quite seem to fit in so they try to find something to do to help them fit in. They think they've found the answer when they see a poster advertising a contest. Some of the letters are missing on the poster but they are convinced it is a Baabaasheep quartet contest and since they all loved to sing they decided to enter.

Anna thought the story was hilarious and it gave me a chance to introduce her to the idea of the Barber Shop Quartets. When we finished reading the book we went off on a search of YouTube for videos of Barber Shop Quartets and found lots to enjoy.

One is Canada by Maxine Trottier

2011-06-06T20:35:00.000-02:30

One is Canada, written by Maxine Trottier and illustrated by Bill Slavin is a great example of a picture book that can be used with children of all ages. Younger children will enjoy checking out the numbers 1-10 on the bottom of the cover and pointing out the numbers on the pages inside the book. Children that are a little older will enjoy the repeated phrases that will allow them to help with the "reading". With children that are a little older still you can talk to them about the significance of specifically Canadian things that Trottier connects with each number. The oldest children can be assigned research or essay topics inspired by the book. All ages will admire the creative artwork of Bill Slavin in the book. Maxine's website has a pdf link of Activity Suggestions for One is Canada.

The first time we read this book Anna was enthralled with the pictures. She thought they were wonderful. To be perfectly honest, I wasn't crazy about the book the first time we read it, but the more we read it the more I saw the potential in the book and the more I enjoyed it. It is definitely a book we will come back to again.

This is the third book I've featured by Maxine Trottier, the first being Forget-Me-Not, and the second being Flags. Each of the books I've featured by Trottier has been illustrated by a different illustrator.

This is that fifth book that I've featured that was illustrated by Bill Slavin. The first was The Farm Team, the second Stanley's Little Sister, the third Bigbeard's Hook, and the fourth Stanley's Party.

Be Brave Anna by JoDee McConnaughhay

2011-06-05T21:57:00.000-02:30

In Be Brave Anna, written by JoDee McConnaughhay and illustrated by Jill Dubin, Anna is afraid of a lot of things, but her father encourages her to repeat Hebrews 13:6 "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid" any time that she is afraid, and it helps her to overcome her fears.

I bought this one for Anna partly because the main character shared her name and partly because she was also going through a stage of having a lot of fears. She loved the book and learned to repeat the verse to help her overcome her fears too.

Shrinking Mouse by Pat Hutchins

2011-06-04T16:13:00.000-02:30

In Shrinking Mouse, written and illustrated by Pat Hutchins, the animals of the forest are convinced that the things they see in the distance that appear to be so small are in reality as small as they appear to be. When one of them sets out to check it out, the others that watch him go become concerned because he appears to be shrinking.

This is a fun book with lots of repeated phrase making it a great book for shared reading. Anna and I both really enjoyed it. It is great for introducing the concept of depth perception so would be a great resource in an art class.

This is the third book by Pat Hutchins that I've featured, the first being Titch and Daisy and the second being Little Pink Pig. Pat Hutchins really is one of our favorite authors.

Where Does Your Dog Sleep? by Jean Freeman

2011-06-03T13:40:00.001-02:30

In Where Does Your Dog Sleep?, written by Jean Freeman and illustrated by Val Lawton, two boys are sitting chatting when a dog passes by and one boy asks the other where his dog sleeps. He then asks if the dog sleeps in some pretty strange places. There is a twist at the end of the book when the boy discovers that the dog he thought belonged to his friend doesn't belong to him at all. There are a lot of repeated words and phrases that make the book good for shared reading.

Anna really enjoyed the book, partly because she enjoys anything that is about dogs but also because she got a kick out of the suggestions as to where a dog might sleep.

I found a great YouTube video of Where Does Your Dog Sleep? featuring the author narrating the story.

The Pimple That Wouldn't Stop Growing by Terry Morrison

2011-06-02T19:22:00.000-02:30

In The Pimple That Wouldn't Stop Growing, written by Terry Morrison and illustrated by Len Walbourne, Elizabeth wakes up to find a little red pimple on the tip of her nose. Try as she might to cover it up it just keeps growing until the doctor gives her some ointment to help it shrink. The illustrations and text are hilarious, to the point of silly, with the greatly exaggerated pimple growing so long that it reaches the doctor's clinic while Elizabeth herself is still two miles away.

Anna got a kick out of the book even though she hasn't had to deal with pimples yet. It is a good book to use to talk to those that may struggle with pimples and help them understand that the problem is not really as bad as they may feel it is.

Unfortunately I can't find a picture of this book online anywhere and I never thought to take a picture of it when we borrowed it from our library. We are out of town at the present but when we get home I am going to try to remember to get a picture and edit this post.

This is the second book that I've featured by this duo, the first being The Great Explorer.

Plaidypus Lost by Janet Stevens

2011-06-01T19:22:00.000-02:30

Plaidypus Lost is a great book by the sister team of authors/illustrators Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel. A little girl's grandmother makes her a special stuffed toy out of her grandfather's old plaid shirt. She vows to never lose it and takes it with her everywhere she goes, but she keeps losing it! There are repeated phrases in the book that make it a great book for shared reading.

Anna and I both loved this book. We read it and over and over and it wasn't long before Anna was reading it on her own. I loved the idea of the stuffed toy made from the old plaid shirt and wish the book included a pattern for it.

On Susan Steven's Crummel's website you will find one of the most frequently repeated phrases and sample illustrations from Plaidypus Lost. There is also a page of Teacher Tips for Plaidypus Lost with ideas on ways to have some fun and sneak in some learning related to the book.

Janet Steven's website has a great interactive graphic on the front page that is worth checking out. Move your cursor all over the page to find all kinds of fun surprises.

Baby Beluga by Raffi Cavoukian

2011-05-31T23:15:00.000-02:30

Baby Beluga by Raffi Cavoukian illustrated by Ashley Wolff is one in a series of "Raffi Songs to Read" books. Baby Beluga is actually a song written by Raffi. The lyrics of the song are spread throughout the book and are accompanied by beautiful illustrations. At the back of the book is the musical score for the song.

Anna loved this book. We did a search online and found a YouTube video of the Baby Beluga song and we listened to it over and over.

These are great for beginning readers. If they don't already know it, they can quickly learn the song and then learn to follow along the words while singing it.

The dot com Leprechaun by Caroline Stellings

2011-05-30T12:31:00.000-02:30

The dot com Leprechaun, written and illustrated by Caroline Stellings, is set in a community on the Bonavista Peninsula of Newfoundland. Lucy is sad that her family has to leave their home in Newfoundland and when she turns to her computer for a distraction a Leprechaun pops up on the screen and asks her to help him or he's going to be driven from his home. Lucy is afraid to do what he asks, go down into a root cellar to get something for him, but she overcomes her fear and helps the Leprechaun keep his home. In return the Leprechaun helps Lucy find an artifact, a ring that belonged to John Cabot, that will make it possible for her family to stay in Newfoundland.

Anna enjoyed the story and I liked the fact that it gave me the chance to talk to her about some things that she didn't know anything about, like root cellars and John Cabot and the imaginary world of leprechauns and fairies.

This book is one of the books that was donated by Breakwater Books for our April reading challenge.

Molly Wants More! by JoDee McConnaughhay

2011-05-29T16:19:00.000-02:30

Molly Wants More!, written by JoDee McConnaughhay and illustrated by Sheila Lucas, is a Happy Day book by Standard Publishing

When Molly eats all the cookies instead of sharing them with her little brother, her mother has a chat with her about the more bug. Molly doesn't like bugs and wants to get rid of it. Her mother tells her that she can get rid of the more bug by repeating Psalm 23:1 "The Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need."

We borrowed this book from a friend and we weren't long into the book before Anna was repeating the verse and discussing times when she could say the verse to help her not want more.

Clip-Clop by Nicola Smee

2011-05-28T13:55:00.000-02:30

Clip-Clop, written and illustrated by Nicola Smee, is a great book! Mr. Horse offers to give some of the farm animals a ride on his back. The animals urge Mr. Horse to go faster and the end result is they all go flying through the air. Mr. Horse is worried they are hurt but they come up shouting "Again!"

The pictures and text are excellent! Anna and I loved it and she too shouted "again" when we came to the end of the book.

Chester by Melanie Watt

2011-05-27T15:40:00.000-02:30

In Chester, written and illustrated by Melanie Watt, Chester the cat wants a story written about him and keeps interrupting the author while she's trying to write a story about a mouse. Chester's thoughts are in red ink throughout the book and he often crosses out what the author has written to replace it with what he wants written.

The concept of this book is different, and somewhat interesting. It took a while for the book to grow on me. Anna loved it and wanted it reread a few times and the more I reread it the more I grew to appreciate it a bit. I had to let go of the idea that I wanted the book to tell a nice story and I just had to accept that it was a different book. It is pretty imaginative and kind of funny and will appeal to some people's sense of humor.

Flags by Maxine Trottier

2011-05-26T20:51:00.000-02:30

In Flags, written by Maxine Trottier and illustrated by Paul Morin, Mary doesn't understand why Mr. Hiroshi, her neighbour, is taken away. She promises to watch his garden for him and does so until his house is sold. This story is set during the time of World War II. This book was actually republished in 2007 with a new title, Mr. Hiroshi's Garden. The author's note at the back of the book explains a bit about the background of the time period.

This is the second book by this author that I have featured, the first being Forget-Me-Not. I am finding that Maxine Trottier's book are wonderful resources for social studies learning.

Because Anna is so young, this time around we simply enjoyed the book for the story but I will definitely be going back to it again to use in a study of the time period.

Little Pink Pig by Pat Hutchins

2011-05-25T16:01:00.000-02:30

Little Pink Pig by Pat Hutchins is a great book for young children and beginning readers. Little Pig's mother has trouble keeping track of Little Pig and asks the other animals to help her. The repeated phrases make it great for shared reading and little ones will enjoy finding little pig while his mother and the other animals keep missing him.

This is the second book I've featured by Pat Hutchins, the first being Titch and Daisy. Anna and I both enjoyed this book, as we have all the books we've read by Pat Hutchins.

Art's Supplies by Chris Tougas

2011-05-24T15:33:00.000-02:30

Art's Supplies by written by Chris Tougas is a silly book about a boy named Art who blames his art supplies for the mess that he makes. The story is told with just a sentence or two per page but also on each page is lots of extra text as the art supplies add their comments. The illustrations are bright and full of energy.

I didn't like this book at first. I'm not a fan of too much going on on the pages, but once I stopped trying to take it all in at once and concentrated on the story and then went back for the extras, I grew to appreciate it a little more. Anna got a big kick out of it.

Canadian Starters: Newfoundland

2011-05-23T17:08:00.000-02:30

Canadian Starters: Newfoundland is part of a Canadian Starters series of books published by GLC Publishers Limited in Ontario in 1981. I couldn't find anything about the book online but I wanted to share it because we enjoyed it.

The books is copyright to Pamela M. Langston 1981 and the illustrations are by Sigrid Schmitt. The ISBN is 0-88874-301-7.

The back of the book says "Starters books are written and designed with young readers in mind. They are vocabulary controlled and the contents have been carefully checked by a critic reader and teacher panel. Each book contains questions for teacher-directed learning, bright and simple illustrations, interesting and informative text, picture glossary and a table of facts."

Some of the information in the book is, of course, outdated but it is a great book for social studies learning. Anna thought it was wonderful. I'd love to see an updated version of it.

I Can Only Imagine by Bart Millard

2011-05-22T16:27:00.003-02:30

I Can Only Imagine is a board book featuring the song by the same name written by Bart Millard. The lyrics of the song are spread out through the pages of the book along with beautiful illustrations. There is no indication of who the illustrations are by but they really are beautiful. There is a single CD included featuring Jeff Carson performing the song tucked inside the front cover of the book.

I did some searching and came up with a page which tells the story behind the writing of the song I Can Only Imagine and a YouTube video of Jeff Carson singing I Can Only Imagine.

This book is part of a Little Melody Press Series of books, like In My Daughter's Eyes which I featured earlier. We borrowed both books from a friend and she actually lent us a few more in the series. The board books are very nice and the added CDs are a great bonus.

I Can Only Imagine is a song that is familiar to us as we sing it in our church. Anna loved looking at the pictures in the board book and listening to the CD again and again. I love this book and this song because it talks about the wonders of a time when we will meet our God face to face and tries to imagine what it will be like.

Lucky Duck by Jonathan Shipton

2011-05-21T10:50:00.000-02:30

Lucky Duck written by Jonathan Shipton and illustrated by Suzanne Diederen, is a very cute story about Lenny and his stuffed toy duck. Lenny's dad bought him the toy duck when he was little and Lenny took it with him everywhere for years...until he lost it! He searched and search, but couldn't find it. Years later, when Lenny had grown up and had a son of his own, Lenny and his son where visiting his parents in the house he grew up in when his son found the toy duck in his grandmother's attic.

Anna and I are both suckers for such cute stories and we both responded with an "Ahhh!" at the finding of the duck.

There's a Cow Under My Bed by Valerie Sherrard

2011-05-20T16:25:00.000-02:30

In There's a Cow Under My Bed, written by Valerie Sherrard and illustrated by David Jardine, Oscar is confused by some common sayings. For instance, Oscar is convinced a cow lives under his bed and must come out and lick his head while he's sleeping because when his mom combs his hair in the morning she says he has cowlicks. That's just one sample of the funny literal takes on well known sayings that make this book funny. The text has some rhythm and rhyme to it that makes it fun to read.

This book is the second that I've featured by this duo, the first being There's a Goldfish in my Shoe!. Anna and I both enjoyed There's a Cow Under My Bed a little more than There's a Goldfish in my Shoe!.

A Silly Codfish Tale by Pat Whelan and Arlene Luke

2011-05-19T15:56:00.000-02:30

The text in A Silly Codfish Tale is written in English by Pat Whelan and in French by Arlene Luke. The book is illustrated by Ronan Kennedy. In the book Dapper Tom Codfish tells about his life in the sea, and about what happens when he gets caught and eaten. Each double page spread has a text page and an illustration page. Illustrations are pencil drawings. Text is just a sentence or two on each page and there is an English and French version on each page.

I thought this book was rather silly, but Anna thought it was great. I think some children might have a problem with the story going right to the idea of the fish being eaten, but it didn't bother Anna. I did like that I the book encouraged some discussion about the French language and we had some fun trying to read some of the French text.

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin Jr

2011-05-18T18:48:00.001-02:30

In Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?, written by Bill Martin Jr and illustrated by Eric Carle, the animals in the zoo hear different animals successively as you move along the book. At the end Zoo keeper hears all the children making animal sounds. This book is in the same design as Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See.

Anna and I had read Brown Bear, Brown Bear earlier and enjoyed it and she was thrilled when we found Polar Bear, Polar Bear. We had great fun talking about and making animal sounds while reading the book.

This would be a great book to use with a group of kids and have different kids take on the sound of different animals and participate in the reading of the book. It's also a great addition to either a unit on animals or a unit on sounds.

Big Ben's Dig by Daniel Wakeman

2011-05-17T17:01:00.000-02:30

Daniel Wakeman is the author of Big Ben's Dig, illustrated by Dirk van Stralen. It is a wordless book where the pictures tell the story of Ben's visit with his pie making grandmother and his attempt to escape by digging a tunnel in her yard. He ends up with a fountain spewing up from the tunnel and his grandmother having to throw all the pies out the window to stop up the hole.

It sounds kind of funny to say that a wordless book is written by someone but what it means is that the author came up with the story idea and told the illustrator what he wanted the pictures on each page to say.

I thought this was a rather silly book, but Anna did enjoy it. I used it as a chance to talk about using pictures, instead of words, to tell a story.

Horsey-hops by Anthony Barton

2011-05-16T20:34:00.003-02:30

Horsey-hops, story and pictures by Anthony Barton, is a book with rhymes about six imaginary beasts of Newfoundland folklore. In spite of the fact that I am a born and bred Newfoundlander I had never heard of these beasts before. Newfoundland musician Fergus O'Bryne wrote a musical score for the rhymes in the book and that is included in the back of the book. I searched and searched, hoping to find an online audio file of some sort to hear the song played and sung but unfortunately I didn't find one.

Anna got a kick out of the book and we both had fun identifying the beasts in a couple of illustrations that featured all of them together.

Horsey-hops was one of the books donated by Breakwater Books for our April Reading challenge.

Hermie, a Common Caterpillar by Max Lucado

2011-05-15T20:17:00.000-02:30

In Hermie, a Common Caterpillar, written by Max Lucado with illustrations by GlueWorks Animation, Hermie and his friend Wormie look around at all the things their friends are so good at and they keep asking God why He made them so common, but God keeps telling them that He's not finished with them yet. This little board book for children is based on Lucado's Just Like Jesus book for adults. The message of the book is that God made each of us unique and we must allow God to work in us to make us like Him.

On the Hermie and Wormie website, under the Games section, you can colour Hermie and Wormie online or print of a Hermie and Wormie pdf picture to colour. You can also buy Hermie and Wormie plush toys.

We borrowed this book from a friend and while I was reading it to her Anna reminded me that we actually have a DVD of the story that she has watched and enjoyed many times.

The Red Wolf written and illustrated by Margaret Shannon

2011-05-14T16:34:00.000-02:30

In The Red Wolf, written and illustrated by Margaret Shannon, Roselupin's father keeps her locked up in a tower to protect her from the evil world until she uses a gift she received for her 7th birthday to make herself a special wolf suit to get out. This book has many different twists and turns that you don't expect.

I wasn't sure what I thought of this book. It's a little too weird for my liking. Anna seemed to think it was okay. I may have to go back to it again some time to see if I feel any differently.

I found an online interview with Margaret Shannon talking about The Red Wolf. I thought it was interesting that in the interview she says that The Red Wolf is not the type of book that she would have liked as a child but some children do like these types of books. I also enjoyed listening to the people from Just One More Book blog talk about their thoughts about The Red Wolf.

If you read the book, I'd love to hear your thoughts about it.

The Mole Sisters and the Cool Breeze by Roslyn Schwartz

2011-05-13T16:15:00.000-02:30

The Mole Sisters and the Cool Breeze, written and illustrated by Roslyn Schwartz, is a little book with just a sentence or so per page. The Mole sisters are looking for a cool breeze but can't find one and end up making one by fanning themselves with dandelion leaves, and that's the beginning of some fun happenings.

Anna has watched The Mole Sisters cartoon on TV before, but I didn't realize that the cartoons were based on books written by a Canadian. If this one is any indication, these are great books for preschoolers and early readers. Anna was thrilled to find the familiar characters in a book and she remembers watching a cartoon episode based on this particular book. The fact that there was just a sentence or two per page also made it easy for her to help with the reading.

Emily & the Captain: A High Seas Adventure by Noelle Hall

2011-05-12T00:29:00.000-02:30

Emily & the Captain: A High Seas Adventure, written by Noelle Hall and illustrated by Mel D'Souza, is part of a series of books set in Newfoundland. In this book the captain and his crew get lost at sea because of a curse by the evil sea imp but Emily and the animals help to find and rescue them. This is a chapter book that we spread out over the week reading a couple of chapters each day.

This is our second Emily and the Captain book and Anna really enjoys them. At first I wasn't crazy about them but I've grown to look past what I don't like and I don't mind them quite as much. I'm not a fan of fantasy and these books have an element of fantasy.

Emily & the Captain: A High Seas Adventure was one of the prizes donated by Breakwater Books for our April reading challenge, and they actually donated 5 copies of the book.

Though neither the author or illustrator are from Newfoundland, they both have a Newfoundland connection of some sort. Noelle Hall lives in the states but has roots in Newfoundland. Mel D'Souza is a Newfoundlander at heart. This is actually the 4th book that I've featured that was illustrated by Mel D'Souza, the first being At Ocean's Edge, the second Captain Bob Bartlett and the Karluk Adventure, and the third The Amazing Adventures of Captain Bob Bartlett. Mel seems to like working on books with a Newfoundland theme.

The Bravest Dog Ever by Natalie Standiford

2011-05-11T18:50:00.000-02:30

The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto, written by Natalie Standiford and illustrated by Donald Cook, tells how a dog named Balto helped to get medicine to Nome, Alaska, during a snow storm in 1925. Once again Anna enjoyed this book because it involved a dog but it also is a great history lesson. Balto's run is part of the inspiration behind the Iditarod, an annual dog sled race in Alaska and I plan on doing a unit study around the Iditarod in the future so we will definitely be coming back to this book.

I found a pdf study guide for The Bravest Dog Ever which has some comprehension questions that could be used along with the book.

Pierre Le Poof! by Andrea Beck

2011-05-10T16:05:00.000-02:30

In Pierre Le Poof!, written and illustrated by Andrea Beck, Pierre wants to be a normal dog instead of a show dog, just for a while. But when he finally gets the chance to be a normal dog for a few hours he realizes that he likes his life just the way it is.

Anna loved this book, partly because she loves any book that includes a dog but also because it really is a cute story. This is the second book I've featured that is both written and illustrated by Andrea Beck, the first one being Elliot's Fire Truck. Andrea was also the illustrator for Buttercup's Lovely Day, another book I featured earlier. Andrea Beck is fast becoming an author/illustratot that we really like.

On Andrea Beck's website there are all kinds of neat things to do related to the Pierre Le Poof! book. In the For Kid's section click on Demonstrations to watch a time lapsed demonstration of Andrea Creating one scene from Pierre Le Poof! from a small story board to a full page illustration. Under Printable Pages in the For Kid's Section you will find a pdf instructional page on how to Draw Pierre Le Poof! and a pdf to make a Pierre Le Poof Headband. Under the Games section click on Pierre's Puzzle Game to choose a picture and the number of pieces you want in the puzzle to do an online puzzle. Under the Readings by Andrea section you will find a link to Andrea Beck reading Pierre Le Poof! and you will also see all the pages as she reads.

The Amazing Adventures of Captain Bob Bartlett by Susan Chalker Browne

2011-05-09T18:40:00.001-02:30

I guess The Amazing Adventures of Captain Bob Bartlett, written by Susan Chalker Browne and illustrated by Mel D'Souza, could be classified as historical fiction in that the story it tells is true, but the exact dialogues and details are what the author surmised may have happened given the facts she had to work with. It tells the story of Captain Bob Bartlett, a Newfoundlander that lead Arctic expeditions, from childhood right up to his death. Captain Bartlett received the Royal Geographical Society Award for outstanding heroism for his role in saving the lives of some of his passengers and crew after they got stuck in the ice during one of his expeditions.

This is a small chapter book and I wondered how interested Anna would be in it, but she was actually very interested. A while back we had read Ron Young's book about Captain Bob Bartlett and she remembered that and reminded me of it while we were reading this book.

This is the third book I've featured by the duo of Susan Chalker Browne and Mel D'Souza. The first was At Ocean's Edge and the second was Marconi's Secret. I like Chalker Browne's books because they make stories from our history accessible to young children. They are great resources for social studies lessons.

In My Daughter's Eyes by James Slater

2011-05-08T22:25:00.001-02:30

The boardbook In My Daughter's Eyes features a song written by James Slater. The lyrics of the song are spread out through the pages of the book along with beautiful illustrations by Lela Dowling depicting mother/daughter moments. Tucked inside the front cover of the book is a CD featuring Martina McBride singing the song. On James Slater's website you can hear James Slater sing In My Daughter's Eyes and other songs and I also found a YouTube video of Martina McBride singing In My Daughter's Eyes.

The lyrics to the song are beautiful but the message is definitely geared towards adults. This is one of those children's books that is really meant more for adults than children. That said, however, Anna declared that she loved this book when we read it together and she also loved listening to the song. It's not that children won't enjoy the book, but really it's the adults that will probably get the most out of it.

I decided to feature this book today in honor of Mother's Day. Though the theme of the book is not specifically Christian I've decided to classify it as a Christian book because of the part of the lyrics where it says that the child is a miracle from God.

Calabash Cat and his Amazing Journey by James Rumford

2011-05-07T20:49:00.001-02:30

Calabash Cat and his Amazing Journey, written and illustrated by James Rumford, is a great story! Calabash cat starts out in the middle of Africa and sets out to find the end of the world. He comes to the edge of the desert and decides it must be the end but he meets a camel that carries him through the desert to where the grassland begins. Then he meets a horse that carries him through the grasslands, a tiger that carries him through the jungle, a whale that carries him across the ocean and an eagle that flies him high over the world and he decides that there is no end to the world. Each animal that he meets thinks that the end of his habitat is the end of the world but Calabash Cat realizes that they all are wrong. An interesting feature to the book is that the text is written in both English and Arabic.

I loved this book and Anna enjoyed it too. It is a great book to use to talk about how vast our world is and to talk about the different biomes of the world.

Update May 10, 2011: As you can see below, James Rumford dropped by the blog to tell us about his new website. Be sure to check out James Rumford's website, especially the Things to Do page which has suggestions for writers and artists inspired by Calabash Cat and his Amazing Journey. Wonderful suggestions there! Thanks for dropping by, James!

Mary of Mile 18 by Ann Blades

2011-05-06T16:31:00.000-02:30

In the beginning of Mary of Mile 18, written and illustrated by Ann Blades, Mary has a feeling something special is going to happen. She goes through the day with her normal activities watching for the special thing. She sees a pup and thinks maybe the special thing might be that she will get the pup. but her father won't allow it....until the pup proves his worth.

Anna loved this story and I liked that I could use it to teach her a little bit more social studies by talking about how life has changed over the years and how it is even different today in different parts of the world.

Mary, in this book, is based on a child the author taught in British Columbia. This was the author's first book and it received the CLA Children's Book of the Year award in 1971.

A Newfoundland Alphabet by Dawn Baker

2011-05-05T17:52:00.001-02:30

A Newfoundland Alphabet, written and illustrated by Dawn Baker, is a simple alphabet book with beautiful pictures. Each page features just one letter of the alphabet with a word or two, or three, that starts with the letter, and each word is illustrated somehow on the page. Many of these words and illustrations have a distinct Newfoundland appeal.

Anna seemed to enjoy the simpleness of this book, even though the words and pictures for a few of the letters weren't as simple as they probably could have been.

This is the third Newfoundland flavoured Alphabet that I've featured on the blog, the first being The Newfoundland and Labrador ABC Book by Dale Ryan and the second being P is for Puffin by Janet Skirving. Each of these books has it's own appeal and will appeal to different people. I would say that A Newfoundland Alphabet is the simplest one and probably best for the youngest children, while Ryan's book would be for those a little older and Skirving's would be for those older still.

Listen to the Wind by Susan L. Roth with Greg Mortenson

2011-05-04T17:54:00.000-02:30

Listen to the Wind, written by Susan L. Roth in colloboration with Greg Mortenson, is subtitled The Story of Dr. Greg & Three Cups of Tea and it tells the story of how Greg Mortenson traveled to Pakistan to climb a mountain and ended up building a school for children in Pakistan. The story is told from the point of view of the children in Pakistan.

Susan L. Roth also did the illustrations and they are great! There is an interesting explanation of them in the back of the book, along with some photos of Dr. Greg and the children and the construction of the school.

I just learned that Listen to the Wind is the children's version of an adult version book titled Three Cups of Tea and that there is also a young adult version of the book. Susan L. Roth had nothing to do with these versions.

We've read this one a couple of times and Anna enjoys it more each time. It's given us a chance to sneak in some social studies learning by getting out our maps and checking out where Pakistan is and by talking about how things are different in other countries. We also really enjoy Susan Roth's illustrations, which are all done by cutting and tearing and pasting and gluing. I definitely see us trying that art method sometime in the future.

I didn't know until I went to find links for this post that there has recently, as recent as last month, been some controversy over the truthfulness of Greg Mortenson's accounts in his books and also over his handling of the funds for Greg Mortenson's charity organization. Many of the concerns are outlined in a CBS 60 minutes program about Greg Morgenson. I was saddened to discover this controversy and wondered if I should post about the book because of it but I decided to go ahead anyway. Anna and I really did enjoy the book and the additional learning that resulted from it. Now I get to use it for even more learning by talking about how you don't always believe everything you read but you take the good out of whatever you can and you just leave the rest.

Mister Got to Go and Arnie By Lois Simmie

2011-05-03T21:33:00.000-02:30

In Mister Got to Go and Arnie, written by Lois Simmie and illustrated by Cynthia Nugent, a cat named "Got to Go" has a very comfortable existence in a hotel, until it has to share the hotel with a noisy little dog, Arnie. Thankfully Arnie turns out to be a real pain for everyone, except for the French lady that decides to adopt him and take him to live with her.

Anna and I both enjoyed this book. We thought the cat's name was rather funny and we got a kick out of how the cat tried to get rid of the dog.

On Cynthia Nugent's blog I found a Mister Got to Go at the Sylvia Hotel post that explains that the Sylvia Hotel in Vancouver is the setting for the Mister Got to Go books. It's also there that I discovered that this book is not the only Mister Got to Go book. There was one before Mister Got to Go and Arnie and there is another that they are attempting to get published. We will be watching for both of these books.

A Viking Ship for Brendan by Catherine Simpson

2011-05-02T16:46:00.000-02:30

A Viking Ship for Brendan, written by Catherine Simpson and illustrated by Joanne-Snook Hann, tells the story of Brandon, a boy that lives in L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland. Brandon wants a viking ship, and one day his dream comes true, at least it seems too. While wondering along the beach he finds a little carved viking boat and when he rubs it to clean it a bit suddenly a real viking boat and a real viking appear and they take Brandon on an adventure. Was it for real, or was it all a dream?

This is the third book that I've featured by the duo of Catherine Simpson and Joanne-Snook Hann, the first being The Turnip Top Pony and the second being There are No Polar Bears Here!.

Anna and I enjoyed this book and I found it interesting that the viking ship Brandon picked up worked somewhat like a Genie's bottle. I have to say, though, that this was probably our least favorite of the three by this duo.

I did a little search online for some viking related activities and came up with this Viking Ship page that is written in Sweddish. It has pdfs to patterns that can be used to make your own paper viking ship. The instructions are all in Sweddish but it seems pretty easy to figure out.

Bible Stories of Boys and Girls

2011-05-01T22:08:00.000-02:30

Though we loved the book, I'm having a little trouble deciding how to post about the Bible Stories of Boys and Girls book that we borrowed from a friend a while back. When I searched Amazon for the book I came up with the one pictured to the left, but the cover and the author are different than the one that we read, even though they are both Little Golden books. I found a picture of the Bible Stories of Boys and Girls book with the same cover as the one we read on another site. Taking a look at the inside pages of the book online it appears that the content is much the same as the one we read. I'm thinking that the amazon copy is an updated version of the book. It tells the stories of boys and girls from the Bible. The Bible Characters covered are Rebekah, Joseph, Miriam, Samuel, and David. The book we read credited Jane Werner with the retelling and the pictures were by Rachel Taft Dixon and Marjorie Hartwell, whereas the one on amazon is credited to Christin Ditchfield as the author and Jerry Smath as the illustrator.

Check out the Newsletter blog to read the May Newsletter.

Fancy Nancy: Poet Extraordinaire! by Jane O'Connor

2011-04-30T16:44:00.000-02:30

In Fancy Nancy: Poet Extraordinaire!, written by Jane O'Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser, Fancy Nancy learns about poetry, thanks to her wonderful teacher. Her teacher reads poems to the children everyday and she also encourages the children to write their own poems on leaf shaped paper, which they then post on the Poet-Tree on the wall in their classroom.

I am truly not a big fan of Nancy Fancy, and it has nothing to do with the quality of the books, it's just that I'm more of a Plain Jane than a Fancy Nancy so a lot of what's in the Fancy Nancy books is silly in my mind, even if it is kind of funny. I do like how the books introduce children to a broader vocabulary but I hate that it seems like you have to be all fancy to use the vocabulary. Anyway, this book I like.

Anna loves all things Fancy Nancy, so, of course, she loved this book too. I loved it because it gave us a chance to talk about poetry and explore some of the different kinds of poetry. I'm going to try to follow Fancy Nancy's teacher's example and attempt to include a reading of at least one poem together every day. We're also going to follow Fancy Nancy's example and start copying some of our favorite poems and writing some of our own poems to create our own anthology of poetry.

Under the Party Kit section in the Party Central Section of the Parents section of the Fancy Nancy World website I found a Fancy Nancy Poetry Journal pdf (but be forewarned that it prints very small), and a Poet Extraordinaire Event Guide and Activity Suggestions pdf which has some great learning info and activity suggestions that would be make wonderful additions to a unit on poetry.

Join the April Reading Challenge for a chance to win one of 5 books donated as prizes!
Check out the Newsletter blog to read the April Newsletter.

Peg and the Whale by Kenneth Oppel

2011-04-29T15:27:00.000-02:30

Peg and the Whale, written by Canadian Kenneth Oppel and illustrated by American Terry Widener, is a forerunner of Peg and the Yeti, which I featured back in February. In Peg and the Whale young Peg dreams of catching a whale and sets out to do so. In a strange twist, she ends up living inside a whale and traveling the seas with him before she finally steers him to bring her back to her parents' boat.

There is a bit of a Newfoundland flavour to the character of Peg in this book and I was interested to discover that the author lived in Newfoundland at one point.

I found a page on the web where you can see many of the pages and illustrations from Peg and the whale.

Anna loved this book, and got a kick out of the fact that Peg made a home for herself inside the whale's belly. I liked that it inspired a talk about the different kinds of whales and fact and fiction.

Join the April Reading Challenge for a chance to win one of 5 books donated as prizes!
Check out the Newsletter blog to read the April Newsletter.