Thursday in Motion

These are some books I've had hanging around for a while now, awaiting a day when there was no themed review to go up! I decided to clump this bunch together because they all focus on some kind of movement and action, making them perfect for an "in Motion" post! They are some very clever books that could easily fit into the classroom or home library!

Cuyler, Margery.
The Little Dump Truck.
September 2009.
Henry Holt and Company.

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

Meet Hard Hat Pete and his little dump truck as they haul stones and rocks, carry debris, and unload at the landfill. It’s hard work, but the little dump truck is ready for action.

The rhyming text and set-up of this book make me think of "I'm a Little Teapot," except it's perfect for boys! What boy doesn't love dump trucks? I could almost see trying to come up with some kind of a little dance for the little men in your life to coincide with the reading of this story, as boys are sure to love it! This is definitely a book that would be a perfect fit in any little boy's library!

Berger, Carin.
OK Go.
April 2009.
HarperCollins Publishers.

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

In a world of go! go! go! go! go! it's time to stop! and find a new way. Carin Berger's playful new picture book is a jubilant celebration of going green. We live in a world that's constantly in motion - we're constantly doing something to keep busy.

This new book by Carin Berger urges readers to stop - to take a moment and see how our actions are impacting the world around us. However, what makes this book so great are the suggests that Berger suggests to children as ways to stop and re-evaluate our actions in order to "Go Green." This is definitely a great book to use when teaching about saving the Earth!

Schertle, Alice.
Little Blue Truck.
October 19, 2008.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

A little blue truck finds his way out of a jam, with a bit of help from his friends.

Earlier this month, Little Blue Truck was released in board-book format and I'm so glad to see that this happened, as this book is wonderfully appropriate for young children! There's much to be learned here, even through the eyes of a child as young as age 2! Parents and children can work together to learn the sounds that animals make in this book! Not only will they learn all about animal sounds, children will also see the benefits that working together has. Perhaps, they will not be able to connect to the idea in this way, but you could probably get the same lesson across at clean-up time, when everyone works together to clean up. They'll surely be able to understand (in that setting) how much time is saved when you work together.

Schertle, Alice.
Little Blue Truck Leads the Way.
October 19, 2009.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

Zooom! Wooeeee . . . ! "Make way!" The big city sure is a speedy, noisy place for a country truck like Blue. Everywhere Blue looks, he sees buses, police cars, taxis, vans, a street sweeper, and even the mayor’s limousine. With everyone pushing to be first, soon there’s a giant traffic jam! But even a wrangle-tangle is no match for Little Blue Truck, who comes to the rescue in true Blue style.

Released on the same day as the board book format of Little Blue Truck, Schertle's latest in the Little Blue Truck series is sure to please just as much! Children should instantly make the connection, as the book starts out in the very same manner as the original,

Horn went "Beep!"
Engine purred.
Friendliest sounds
you ever heard.

This book would be absolutely perfect for Pre-K or Kindergarten teachers to introduce children to the concept of walking in line singe file, as it shows (through the use of various vehicles), the chaos that ensues when everyone thinks they need to be first, rather than being patient and realizing they will all reach their destination eventually. I will definitely keep this book in mind should I ever work with Pre-K and Kindergarten kids, as having "Little Blue" be the line leader, wearing a cardboard stencil necklace of Little Blue's front to represent him being the leader after the mayor's speech and a cardboard rear-view of a taxi, as he represented the end of the parade line, as mentioned by the mayor. Of course, in order for this to be successful in teaching children about walking single file in line and being patient, they'd need to hear the story several times first!

Jenkins, Steve and Robin Page.
Move!
October 18, 2009.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Guided Reading Level: L

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

Animals move! Follow them as they swing, dance, float, leap, and slide from page to page. Move! is a playful introduction to motion in the animal kingdom that invites young readers to guess some of the unusual ways that animals get around.

This book, recently released earlier this month in board-book format is absolutely perfect for young children (ages 2-5) to share with parents and/or caretakers. The book focuses on a topic which many children observe and can verbalize at a very young age - types of movement (jumping, running, walking, etc). What I particularly liked about this book is that it is very parent-friendly! The last page of the book engages parents to share and discuss with children the question, "...how about you?" Books of this nature allow parents to see the ways in which they books can be used to interact and communicate with their child(ren). I would recommend this book to parents of young children who are searching for ways to begin sharing literature, perhaps as part of a Success by 6 program, coordinated with the United Way.

If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com.