Little Black Ant on Park Street

My introduction to the Smithsonian's Backyard series!

Halfmann, Janet.
Little Black Ant on Park Street.
July 2009.
Soundprints.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Readers follow Little Black Ant on an adventure as she sets about Park Street in search of food for not only herself, but other members of the her ant colony. Simple, easy-to-understand text, coupled with vivid illustrations will have readers attention caught from the get-go, as they learn all there is to know about the life of an ant - from feeding to the different rooms in the ant hill.

To children, bugs in general are fascinating creatures. Ants definitely fit in to that fascination, and that's what makes this book so wonderful! Children will bask in the information cleverly presented by Halfmann and will be begging to learn more about ants!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Use this book in collaboration with the following titles to form a complete unit on ants.
  * Ant Cities, by Arthur Dorros
  * The Life and Times of the Ant, by Charles Micucci
  * Are You an Ant?, by Judy Allen
  * Hey, Little Ant, by Phillip and Hannah Hoose
  * One Hundred Hungry Ants, by Elinor Pinczes
  * The Little Red Ant and the Great Big Crumb, by Shirley Climo
  
• With your child(ren) create an "Ant" lapbook, using any of the following information, which can be found here.
  

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!

The Berenstain Bears Go Out to Eat

A great reminder for kids about manners and healthy choices when eating out!

Berenstain, Jan & Mike.
The Berenstain Bears Go Out to Eat.
December 2009.
HarperCollins Publishers.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Just like today's families, the Berenstain Bear family is a very busy family, that occasionally likes to take a trip out for dinner to avoid the hassle of having to not only cook a meal, but also clean it up afterwards. In The Berenstain Bears Go Out to Eat, the Berenstain family heads to the Bear Country Grill for a Friday night meal out. However, the meal goes as one would typically expect when taking three children (in this case, bear cubs) out to eat! However, Mama Bear does her best to be prepared, and luckily they get through the meal without too many problems!

As is typical with the Berenstain Bear books, children will learn a lesson in this new story! Here they are given gentle reminders of the importance of using your manners when out to eat, as well as remembering to keep nutrition in mind (by ordering broccoli instead of french fries). Not only does the book teach children a few lessons, but parents, too, will likely pick up on the importance of being prepared for a wait at the restaurant! The Berenstain Bears are well-loved characters who always have much to offer, and this book is no disappointment on that front!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Help your child to create an "Out to Eat" bag, packed full with activities that are appropriate for times when the family is dining out. Head to your local craft store and purchase a canvas bag. Allow your child to decorate the bag to his/her liking. Then head out to your local dollar store and pick up a coloring book and crayons. At the dollar store, pick out a few travel games, such as checkers, hand-held pinball, or a small card game. Also add to the "Out to Eat" bag a few books that your child loves and can read by his/herself, as well as an activity book that will keep him/her busy for an extended amount of time, such as Where's Waldo? The Ultimate Travel Collection. Involve your child in the process of picking out the items for his/her bag, as this will spike their interest for the next mealtime at a restaurant!
  

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!

Mo Willems "Cat the Cat Series"

Cat the Cat... a wonderful new series for beginning readers!

Willems, Mo.
Cat the Cat, Who is That?
February 2010.
HarperCollins Publishers.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Cat the Cat introduces herself to young readers in this first title in the new series, Cat the Cat, by Mo Willem. Large, simple text with repetitive phrases and illustrations that provide simple context clues for the youngest of readers will have young children taking ownership of the book, eager to read to you! One phrase is repeated numerous times, Cat the Cat, who is that?! This particular phrase, once recognized by children, will allow them the knowledge that by looking at the pictures on the following page, they can pretty much guess who is next to come!

I loved these titles so much, I took my galley copies (provided from a friend) and bound them with yarn, offering them to my preschoolers for one of their prize choices at our classroom "Behavior Bucks Store." One little girl snatched it up quickly and was absolutely thrilled! If this is any indication of how much of a hit it will be, I'll keep it handy for the start of next school year!

Willems, Mo.
Let's Say Hi to Friends Who Fly!
February 2010.
HarperCollins Publishers.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Similar to Cat the Cat, Who is That?, Let's Say Hi to Friends Who Fly! takes the youngest of readers on an adventure, while allowing them ample exposure to literature in a way that enables them in their reading ability! Cat the Cat is once again this star of this book, as she introduces readers to her friends in an attempt to discover who can and can not fly, using the repetitive phrase, Can you fly...? As each friend is introduced, readers can easily complete the question by simply looking to the illustrations for context clues (such a bit part of early reading skills)! Along with the use of context clues for beginning readers, children will also likely pick up on the flying sounds/movements made by Cat's various friends, as they will probably be familiar with the buzzing of a bee, the flapping wings of a bird, the quaint flutter of a bat's wings, and even the zooming of an airplane!

I can't wait to use these books with my preschoolers who are on the brink of reading!

Learning/Reading Activities:

• Mo Willems has put together a downloaded activity packet to go along with the Cat the Cat series of books. You can download the activity packet here. It is full of wonderful ideas!
• He has also provided a spot on his website for children to play games related to the stories! Children can play memory, take a picture search, color Cat the Cat, and even learn different animal sounds. All of those games/activities can be located by clicking here!
  

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!

The Bubble

A life's lesson, useful to all!

McClure, Brian.
The Bubble.
January 2006.
Universal Flag Publishing.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

A little boy is sick of his things - he no longer wants to play with them. As he goes to sleep one night and settles into a dream, he learns a deeper message than he ever could have dreamed of... watching himself age over time from the little boy that he is to the old man he'll become, who dies alone, after having shut the world out and making his life all about his possessions, rather than including people in the mix. The little boy wakes up just as he is about to die an old man, all alone, with no friends and no possessions that are of any worth to him. Upon his awakening, the little boy suddenly has a different outlook on life and is more appreciative of what he has and is eager to share and join in with people.

This story is wonderfully written in a unique way that will appeal to almost everyone. It sends a powerful message that is easy to walk away with. However, I worry about sharing this book with younger children, as I fear the way that the "death" is portrayed may frighten them. However, that being said, I think the book is very much appropriate for children ages 8+, up to adults and the elderly, especially those need just a gentle reminder that life isn't about what you have, but rather about the quality of the relationships and items you do hold.



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!

Mathilda and the Orange Balloon

Your imagination can take you anywhere... let you be anything!

de Seve, Randall.
Mathilda and the Orange Balloon.
February 2010.
HarperCollins.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Mathilda the sheep is okay with her small life - the green grass, green barns, gray skies, gray stones and gray sheep that she sees on a daily basis... until that orange balloon floats by. Mathilda quickly realizes all that the orange balloon can see that she doesn't, as it floats on by and she now longs to be an orange balloon - be magnificent and see magnificent things! As the sheep discuss what it means to be an orange balloon, readers will watch how Mathilda uses her imagination to pretend that she, too, is an orange balloon. Her excitement quickly passes on to the other sheep in the pasture, as readers will watch how they begin using their imagination to become magnificent things!

This book is perfect for those who are trying to encourage young children to be creative and to use their imagination! The text is simple, yet quickly makes the point that you can go anywhere and do anything when using your imagination!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Using the worksheet that can be downloaded here, ask your child(ren) to use his/her imagination to take the sheep on an adventure. Perhaps, you might want to prepare a couple of examples - turn one sheep into a ladybug, turn another into a cloud, and yet another into a hippopotomus. Allow your child(ren) to use any/all materials on your art shelf and set no limits on their use of their imagination!
  

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!

Rose's Garden... A Tribute to Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy

A moving tribute to Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy...

Reynolds, Peter H.
Rose's Garden.
November 2009.
Candlewick Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

In this inspirational story, readers will quickly learn that keeping faith and continuing to believe does pay off!

Rose spent a great deal of time traveling the world in her fantastic teapot. At each stop she made, she gathered seeds to remember the location by. When the teapot was full and she could no longer collect any more seeds, Rose set about heading "home." Upon her arrival, at what will eventually become "home," Rose must first overcome great disappointment and difficulties when it comes to planting and harvesting a garden full of the seeds she collected during her adventures traveling the world in her teapot. However, she does not lose faith and remains determined, believing that sooner or later, the seeds in her garden will spout. And indeed, it does, in more than one way!

This is one of the best-written children's stories I have ever read! I love the fact that there is a connection to a personal story (Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy) that will inspire children to react in a positive way and strive to better a community by such simple measures - planting a garden in a drag, run-down area that could use a bit of color and hope!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Create several bouquets of paper flowers, using the instructions found here. (I did these with my preschoolers - we used many different colors for a colorful bouquet!) Once you have created the bouquets, choose a neighborhood (or even just some of your own neighbors) and deliver the bouquets of flowers to brighten someone's day!
  

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!

M is for Monster...

M is for Monster - good and bad!

Lee, Sally O.
Is There a Monster Over There?
February 2010.
CreateSpace.
Review copy provided courtesy of author.

For as long as little Mabel could remember, she was afraid of monsters - monsters under the bed, outside the window, behind the door, at the foot of the bed. Mabel and her cat, Tiffany, did everything they could think of to keep the monsters out... until one day, (perhaps Mabel was growing up) Mabel thought that maybe monsters weren't scary at all. Upon pondering this discovery, Mabel decides to befriend the monster that has tormented her over the years and comes to discover that the monster might even be able to be her friend!

This is a wonderful story for young children, especially if they are going through a phase in which they might be scared of monsters, as it validates their scared feelings, but also gives them a positive aspect at which to look at monsters! This is definitely a book I'll be using with my preschoolers next year during "M Week"!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Have your child create a monster using the "Create a Monster" game found here. Be sure to save the monster and print it out for him/her! Then, ask him/her to write a short "scary" monster story (or tell a story if they are too little to write one). Once they write (or tell) the "scary" monster story, ask them to think about what they learned from Mabel in Is There a Monster Over There?. If he/she forgets that Mabel learned that the monster could be her friend, reread the story and then discuss what Mabel discovered. Then, ask your child(ren) to again, write another story about that same monster they created. Only this time, ask your child to keep in mind that the monster can also be their friend! It will be interesting to see how your child approaches addressing these two very different feelings towards his/her monster!
  

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!

Wendell's Workshop

A perfect story for your clever, inventive child!

Riddell, Chris.
Wendel's Workshop.
February 2010.
HarperCollins Publishers.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.

Little Wendel could be considered the inventor of all inventors... at least to those young children out there who will absolutely love this story! However, along with Wendel's inventing ways comes Wendel's untidy workshop - he's so busy inventing, he doesn't have time to deal with the clutter and mess that quickly overtakes his workshop - when an invention doesn't work, Wendel opens the door to the rubbish chute and quickly disposes of them (to the backyard, anyway). As Wendel becomes more and more unhappy with the untidy conditions in which he is attempting his inventions, he decides something must be done. He goes about creating Clunk, a robot intended to keep his workshop Tidy. However, Clunk struggles at the job and Wendel quickly disposes of him, too! However, after Wendel recreates a newer, improved robot... who also proves less than worthy, ultimately leading Wendel to jump into the rubbish chute himself, just to escape. That's when the robot wars begin, as Wendel attempts to gain back the control of his workshop.

In a well-written, well thought-out story, Riddell takes children on an adventure, teaching them that ultimately not all inventions are a success, but that an unsuccessful invention shouldn't keep you from reaching out and trying again. Try, try again is the message easily took away from this delightful action-packed story that children are sure to love!

Learning/Reading Activity:

• Challenge your child to create a "robot" of his/her own. More likely than not, the robot won't perform, but this will inspire your child(ren)'s creative juices to flow and will likely also encourage him/her to create a story about his/her own robot. Chances are you've got scraps of unused items scattered throughout your home. Ask your child to use his/her imagination and creativity to put together a robot of their own. Perhaps it's head might be an old, broken bicycle helmet... Or it's eyes might be some mismatched buttons that have no home of their own... This would be an interesting summertime project for your child(ren)!
  

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!H