"Froggy Boots" Easter Basket Finds

Trying to get back in the swing of blogging and what better way than to break out some snazzy book-themed Easter baskets. There's still time to order these great items and throw them into a basket for your little ones! Today's idea is frog-themed!

Martin, Jill Zabkar.
Froggy Boots Go With Everything.
2010.
JZM Media.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Parents (and teachers) tend to easily recognize a child's love of one specific item - whether it be a special blanket, stuffed animal or something else entirely.

One child's love for his "froggy boots" are evident in this cute, simple board book, as everything (and every part of the day) involve his froggy boots - visiting a friend, making lemonade, building with blocks, planting plants and more.

Not only is the story one that will easily appeal to children, it also provides and encourages the child to interact and take notice of the illustrations AFTER reading - as a "Can you find" picture/word activity is provided to enhance reading and the use of picture clues throughout.

If you have a frog-loving toddler, why not put together a themed Easter basket this year, making this book the center of attention???

What to put in the Easter basket?

Frog Apparel and Accessories to Consider

Kidorable Frog Raincoat (with matching hanger)
Kidorable Frog Umbrella
Kidorable Frog Rainboots
Kidorable Frog Backpack

If the kids are needing a little candy in that basket...

• Frog Lollipop Suckers
• Haribo Gummy Frogs
  

Frog Activities

• Flippity Frogs: An Active Counting Game
• Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Kids Froggy Toss and Grip
• Smart Safari Alphabet Fun Frog
  

And... if you're absolutely needing the perfect basket to pull it all together...

• Felt Frog Basket

Kids are sure to love this themed basket... and will have so much fun with any or all of the different activities that they'll likely not realize how much learning is going on with the fun - a win-win for children and their parents!

Tweet

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

D is for Dala Horse: A Nordic Countries Alphabet

Encourage children to explore foreign countries and learn about different cultures with the Discover the World series.

Wargin, Kathy-jo.
D is for Dala Horse: A Nordic Countries Alphabet.
September 2010.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

From the Arctic Circle to the zigzag roads, children will learn about the Nordic countries as they explore the landscapes, traditions, geographies, and history of Northern Europe and the North Atlantic.

As is typical of the books in the Discover the World series, D is for Dala Horse: A Nordic Countries Alphabet provides a very simple text related to each letter of the alphabet, as well as a more detailed non-fictional piece for more advanced readers or those who are looking for more in-depth information about the Nordic countries. The book is incredibly educational and would make a welcome addition to any upper-elementary classroom!

Reading/Learning Activities:

• Sleeping Bear Press has provided educators with a Teacher's Guide to accompany the book that offers a variety of activities for children and classrooms.
• Discover the World Books also has a website that provides children (and educators) with supplementary activities to use in collaboration with the book. Activities include cultural links, recipes, information about currencies, weather, holidays and a page of things to do "if you go." A great resource for educators!
  

Tweet

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

G is for Gladiator

Shoulders, Debbie and Michael.
G is for Gladiator: An Ancient Rome Alphabet.
April 2010.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

V is for von Trapp: A Musical Family Alphabet

Learn about the family who inspired The Sound of Music in this alphabetic informational sharing!

Anderson, William.
V is for von Trapp: A Musical Family Alphabet.
September 2010.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

From A is for Austria (Salzburg, Austria was the home the von Trapp family to Z is for Zell-am-See (Maria's birthplace), readers will learn virtually everything there is to know about the von Trapp family and their role as the inspiration behind The Sound of Music. There is a great wealth of information to be learned. I think in order for readers to truly appreciate the information provided in this wonderful alphabetic adventure, they will need to be somewhat familiar with The Sound of Music and the von Trapp family prior to reading, otherwise, they will likely appear lost in the text - I saw The Sound of Music as a high school musical last spring and because of that, I truly appreciated and gained from reading this book - it really is a wonderful show!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Watch The Sound of Music as a family... you can do this prior to reading the story or use the story as an introduction before watching the DVD!
  

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Country Road ABC

Learn simply about those farms you see on the back-country roads!

Geisert, Arthur.
Country Road ABC.
May 24, 2010.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Geisert offers children a chance to explore the alphabet through farm life - one farm-related topic for each letter of the alphabet. Coupled with illustrations that provide the story with a country-style appeal, the simple text allows readers to explore on their own through illustrations or to use the farm glossary provided at the back of the book to further explore what each of the letters/words/phrases is really all about.

I definitely think I'll be putting this book to use in my preschool classroom when we focus on our theme of "In the City, In the Country," as I can really doctor it to meet the educational needs of my students and give them a different outlook on farm life that they might not see in other children's literature!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Use this story prior to taking a field trip to visit a local, nearby farm. Provide your child with the worksheet that can be downloaded here (print on legal size paper) to use as a scavenger hunt to help peak interest and keep a focus to the visit! During your visit, check off how many of the different letters of the alphabet you see put to work!
  

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Non-Fiction Monday: S is for Smithsonian

Back to somewhat normal here at Katie's Literature Lounge - well, as "normal" as things will be from now on (see the April 4, 2010 post for details). That means it's time for another Non-Fiction Monday!

Smith, Marie and Roland.
S is for Smithsonian: America's Museum Alphabet.
April 1, 2010.
Sleeping Bear Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Gorgeous illustrations coupled with the poetic verses that briefly give details about each of the twenty-six attractions explored in S is for Smithsonian make this book worthy of a place on your child's bookshelf or in your classroom! There is much to be learned... from the role of lunch counters in United States history to the volunteers that help make the museum what it is, children will easily pick up on the importance of museums (and the Smithsonian, in particular) in preserving history.

This could quite possibly be one of my favorite alphabet books published by Sleeping Bear Press! It is chuck full of wonderful information in a way that will more than appeal to children of all ages! Washington D.C. is a very educational place to take children on a trip - there is much to be learned and explored. What better way to learn about America's history than to visit one, or all nineteen of the Smithsonian Museums! Definitely something to consider...

Learning/Reading Activities:

• S is for Smithsonian: America's Museum Alphabet Teacher's Guide
• Smithsonian Museums Website
• Take your child(ren) on a trip to Washington D.C. The great thing about D.C. is that once you're there, besides your lodging, all of the attractions are free of charge! When exploring, provide your children with use of your digital camera, or get them a disposable camera of his/her own for taking pictures. Encourage your child(ren) to create a "My Smithsonian Alphabet Book" of their own by taking a picture of themselves with something related to the letter/word as mentioned in S is for Smithsonian. For example, "Z is for Zoo," take a picture of your child standing next to the sign at Smithsonian National Zoological Park or for "L is for Lunch Counter" take a picture of your child posing near the Greensboro Lunch Counter exhibit at the National Museum of American History. When you're back home, this will make for a wonderful memory scrapbook and souvenir of the trip! Your child can then write about each picture or provide memories from their trip that will last for years to come!
  

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. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

Curious Wednesday... Meets Curious George!

Curious Wednesday!

Who's curious about Curious George?!?!

Rey, Margret and H.A.
Curious George and the Firefighters.
2009 (2004).
Houghton Mifflin Company.
Guided Reading Level: J

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

George and the man with the yellow hat take a trip to the firehouse where George finds all sorts of new things to explore. When one curious monkey meets a company of unsuspecting firefighters, a big adventure is sure to follow.

This is an oldie that's been reprinted! I still have a huge collection of Curious George books from when I was a child and still, to this day, share them with children. The trip to the firestation that Curious George and the man with the Yellow Hat take make this book perfect for a read-aloud before a classroom visit to the local firestation. It will allow readers the opportunity to learn about the things they will see and experience on such a field trip! The book would also make a great read-aloud if children are learning about different career fields as a part of Career Day!

Rey, Margaret and H.A.
Curious Baby: Counting (Curious George).
2009.
Houghton Mifflin Company.

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

Babies will enjoy learning to recognize the adorable farm animals in this board book with wooden beads. Five beads embedded into the book function as a rattle and later as a tool for helping readers count the farm animals along with George. Beautiful patterns and a reasonable price help make this an ideal choice for gift baskets.

I love this new Curious George series! Not only are the books perfect for babies, but they also have the appeal that will allow children to become "hooked" on Curious George for years to come. The very basic concepts are perfect for babies and these will likely appear in future baby gifts that I pass out!


Malamud, Rachel.
Curious George 2: Follow that Monkey.
2010.
Houghton Mifflin Company.

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

One of the most memorable and charismatic characters in children’s literature, Curious George was the creation of the talented husband-and-wife team H. A. and Margret Rey, who fled Nazi Germany for America. Their lovable monkey (and his mischievous exploits) have entertained several generations of readers.

I was not familiar with this new "Curious George 2" series... after reading, I've come to the conclusion that the 2 must come from the television series? Anyone have any ideas about this? The story itself was cute, but the animated-style illustrations left me longing for the tradition H.A. Rey-type Curious George works... to me, it just wasn't the same. However, children may like these more because of the added color that catches the eye...

Rey, H.A.
Curious George Learns the Alphabet.
2009.
Houghton Mifflin Company.
Guided Reading Level: N

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

Readers learn the alphabet along with George as the man in the yellow hat teaches the curious monkey how to read.

The difference between the edition pictured and the edition that I received in the mail is the cassette tape. The volume released in earlier this summer in June comes with a CD recording of the book, with and without page turning prompts. I love books with cassettes and/or CDs because they allow more freedom to children who have not quite mastered reading, allowing them a sense of independence and freedom for their reading pleasures. This book not only would be great for teaching children the alphabet, but also beginning sounds, and, with older children nouns vs. proper nouns, as each letter is taught as both capital and lower case. However, not all of the capital letters should really be depicted with a capital, as they are not necessarily propper nouns! Over all though, I'm definitely glad to be adding this to my Curious George library!

Rey, H.A.
My Adventures with Curious George: A Build-Your-Own-Book Kit.
2009.
Houghton Mifflin Company.

Summary from Barnes & Noble:

Children will have fun being author and illustrator as they join Curious George to create their very own adventure! Younger kids can use storyline stickers to get their imaginations rolling, while older children may prefer to use headline stickers or create their own themes.
The boxed activity kit includes:
* A hardcover, jacketed book...with die-cut to include your photo
* Over 200 stickers
* A CD of 200 images of Curious George artwork children can print
* Bookmarks and bookplates
* Fill-in About the Author pages
* A Writer's Notebook
* Customizable life-the-flaps
* A note to parents

This book would be perfect for children who are Curious George fans! This would allow children to see that writing can be fun - they can build a Curious George adventure of their own! I love the concept... it's a book in itself that allows children the opportunity to use their imagination and see where their dreams are capable of taking them! A must have for Curious George fans!

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.

National Library Week

This week is National Library Week! So, I've got some library-themed books for review today. A little over a month ago, I posted some other library-related books as part of Library Lover's Month, and the link to that can be found by clicking here.

Lies, Brian.
Bats at the Library.
2008.
Houghton Mifflin Books.

Ages: 4-8
Genre: Fiction
Guided Reading Level: N/A

It's bat night at the library, as one librarian forgot and left a window ajar! Bats from all around, near and far make their way inside for an unforgetable night of fun and adventure with books and library equipment - the project (to make shadow shapes on the wall), the copier (to copy themselves) and pop-up books! This books gives readers a different look at what the library holds as we're seeing it from a bat's-eye view rather than the human eye. The rhyming text is very attractive to the tongue and mind and will children will definitely be laughing at this one!

Also by Brian Lies:

• Bats at the Beach
  

Terry, Sonya.
"L" is for Library.
2006.
Upstart Books: Fort Atkinson, WI

Ages: 4-8
Genre: Fiction, Alphabet
Guided Reading Level: N/A

This would be a wonderful resource for any school librarian to have as a tool to introduce students to the different parts items in a library, from book genres to using shelf markers to the dewey decimal system. This is quite possibly one of the best written alphabet books for kids that I have been exposed to. The simplicity and illustrations would seem to make the book appealing to children.

Lesson Plans/Activities:

• Information Skills Lesson Plans
• Lessons from the Library
• Dewey Decimal Sudoku

Kirk, Daniel.
Library Mouse.
2007.
Abram's Books for Young Readers.

I really have to rave about this book! If there's one thing that's going to inspire kids to get writing, this book will do it! I can totally see this working with a group of 1st or 2nd graders! However, in order to get the idea working, you definitely have to share the book with kids first! Trust me on this one, they won't be disappointed!

Sam, the library mouse lives in a whole in the wall behind the children's reference books at the local library. He sleeps all day, claiming that mice are shy around people (with good cause I'd imagine!). However, his nights are very busy! Sam reads. He reads picture books. He reads chapter books. Biographies, poetry, cookbooks, fairy tales, ghost stories, mysteries. You name it, Sam will read it! After reading a book about writing, Sam becomes inspired to write his own stories. Wanting to share them with the library patrons, he puts them on display each night after he's written them, not revealing his real identity - only Sam. After reading a letter that the librarian had placed on a bulletin board about how much everyone enjoys his stories, Sam becomes inspired to show all the children that they too can become authors. Placing a mirror inside a box with a label, "Meet the Author!," children quickly discover that they are the author and are eager to begin filling the little books Sam has so carefully constructed and pencils that he whittled with his own teeth! The children begin writing their own stories that are placed on display in the illustrations at the end of the book for all to see.

This book is very clever and I believe would certainly inspire children to write if you set up the same kind of display in your classroom! Perhaps the work will surprise you enough that you could create your own "Class Library" and display the books for the entire school!

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.

It's Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year begins according to the Chinese calendar which consists of both Gregorian and lunar-solar calendar systems. As the track of the new moon changes from year to year, the Chinese New Year can begin anytime between late January and mid-February. This year, Chinese New Year occurs on Monday, January 26. It is the Year of the Ox.

To celebrate Chinese New Year, I have two reviews for today...

Chinn, Karen.
Sam and the Lucky Money.
1995.
Lee & Low Books, Inc.: New York, NY

Ages: 5-8
Genre: Fiction, Holidays
Guided Reading Level: P

Review/Summary:

Sam is very excited to head to Chinatown for New Year's Day. Every year, as part of tradition, his grandparents give him leisees, crisp dollar bills tucked in red envelopes that are decorated with symbols of luck. This year is even better than most - Sam gets to chose how to spend his money, Mom and Dad aren't even making him the notebook or socks that he has had to other years. When they arrive on the bustling streets in China Town, crowds of people are swarming everywhere in anticipation of the New Year traditions - meals, the parade, the firecrackers, and the arrival of the festival lion. He takes his time, shopping... trying to decide what to buy. Buns? New Year's cookies? Cars, planes, robots, stuffed animals? Basketballs? Sam has settled on purchasing a basketball - until he discovers that he can afford nothing in the store. "What is four dollars good for?" He questions appearing greedy. After a scolding from his mother about appreciating what he has, Sam suddenly remembers the man on the street who had no shoes or socks. His mood quickly changes as he realizes that he can do anything he wants with his money and he opts to give all four dollars to the man so he can buy at least some socks. After giving the less fortunate man his money, Sam realizes how lucky he really is!

This is a wonderful book that depicts the Chinese New Year celebrations for Asian Americans. The vivid illustrations realistically portray many aspects of the culture as it truly exists. This would make for a wonderful read-aloud to children or could be incorporated into a unit on different Christmas/New Year's celebrations around the world.

Crane, Carol.
D is for Dancing Dragon: A China Alphabet.
2006.
Sleeping Bear Press: Chelsea, MI.

Ages: 5-12
Genre: Non-fiction
Guided Reading Level: N/A

Review/Summary:

While the book does not focus entirely on the Chinese New Year celebration, it does contain significant detailed information on the holiday for several different letters of the alphabet. The book is also a wonderful resource as it can be used with older children as well, as the text to describe each illustration is very simple but further detailed information is also provided. This book would fit well into a unit study on China (perhaps the 3rd grade level) or could again be used when learning about certain aspects of Chinese history... for example, Chinese New Year.

Lesson Plans/Book Activities:

• Chinese New Year
• Chinese New Year 2009, Year of the Ox, Events, Recipes, Zodiac, E-Cards
• Chinese Inventions and the Chinese New Year