Roasted Peanuts by Tim Egan Ages 4 – 8 (2.5-year-old son adores it). Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. April 2006. Fiction. 32 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0618337187.  $16.00.  (Available used for $.01)

At a Glance:

This is a wonderful story about two friends who take a less-than-happy situation and turn it into a fantastic one.  We highly, highly, highly recommend this book.

Summary:  

Sam and Jackson are great friends and they love baseball more than anything else.

When they are old enough they try out for their local baseball team.

© 2006 Tim Egan. Used with Permission.

Sam is fantastic and makes the team.  Jackson doesn’t make the team.  He’s just not a very good (actually, he’s the worst), but he is able to throw a ball very well.

This is hard for both of them.  Jackson feels sorry for himself while Sam is off at practice, and Sam doesn’t enjoy baseball as much without Jackson.

Then one day Sam sees an ad on a poster for a peanut vendor.  The main requirement is that the peanut vendor MUST THROW WELL.  Sam tells Jackson about the job and that he can get into all of the games for free.  Still feeling sorry for himself, Jackson declines.

Then the problems really begin.  Without Jackson, Sam just isn’t as good anymore.  He begins to strike out and his team starts losing.  People begin to blame Sam.  Jackson overhears some of the comments that people are making about Sam’s poor playing.  This inspires Jackson to take the job as the peanut vendor.   Just when Sam is about to strike out again, he hears his friend Jackson call to him from the stands.  As soon as he sees Jackson, he’s back to being himself and hits a perfect home run.

It turns out that Jackson has an amazing knack for throwing peanuts.  He’s able to set new records and then break them.  People are just as interested in seeing Jackson throw as they are in the game.  Jackson is even able to help out Sam during a particularly close game.  In their own way, each becomes a legend.  Sam on the field, and Jackson in the stands.

Author/Illustrator website:

• Tim Egan:  http://www.timegan.com/

Resources:

Some of My Favorite Reviews of this Book:

Bella Saves the Beach

Summary:

Bella loves living at the beach.  She becomes increasingly upset about all the trash on the beach.  She tries to find others to help her, but no one is either available or interested.  Bella realizes that if she wants the beach cleaned up, then she is going to be the one to do it.  She starts by herself picking up trash and putting it into bins.  Then she makes signs telling people that they need to put trash in the trash can.  When her friend Britt comes back from vacation she enlists the help of a lot of people from her community.  Working together, they are able to clean up her beach.

The story is followed by tips about cleaning up the beach.  It ends with interesting facts about animals and things found at the beach.

Our Experience Reading this Book:

I enjoyed reading this book to my son.  I appreciate how it is one girl wanting to make a difference and even though no one is there to help her in the beginning, she doesn’t quit.  I love that Bella has the motivation and initiative to begin cleaning up the beach herself.  She is a great character and I hope is able to inspire all of the children who read this book.

The illustrations are beautiful.  They’re done in watercolor.  They are done in a cartoon-yet-realistic style that makes this story accessible to the very young but are richly done.  The art in this book does an excellent job of complimenting the text of this story.

My son loved this book.  He had lots of questions about why there was trash on the beach and later on I was pleasantly surprised to find him picking up his toys pretending that  he was picking up trash off the beach.  (Unfortunately, this was a one time pretend play.  I could have gotten used to him picking up his toys without having to ask him.)

I will happily read this book to my son again and again.  I hope the values of Bella osmose into him.  It’s a lovely book and any child will find it inspiring that they can make a difference when they see a problem.

I was inspired to look at different ways we could help.  Living in the San Francisco Bay Area, we’re never too far from a beach and I was wondering how we could help.  Below you’ll find a list of resources if you’re interested in volunteering in a beach clean up in your area.

Author Website:

• Nancy Stewart:  http://www.nancystewartbooks.com/
• Samantha Bell:  http://www.samantha-bell.com/

Here Other Reviews of this book on the Blog Tour:

http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2013/04/01/pump-up-your-book-presents-bella-saves-the-beach-virtual-book-publicity-tour/

Resources:

• Coastal Clean Up Day in California:  http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/ccd.html
  
• How to Volunteer to Clean Up the Beach:  http://www.healthebay.org/get-involved/volunteer/cleanups
• http://www.cleanbeachescoalition.org/why-do-a-beach-cleanup.html
• http://simplesavvy.wordpress.com/2011/04/25/how-to-clean-up-a-beach/
• http://www.signuptocleanup.org/ (Find a Beach Near You to Help!)
• http://www.saveourshores.org/

Where Obtained:   I received a review copy from the publisher.  No other compensation was received.  The opinions expressed here are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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I’m participating in The Children’s Bookshelf.  This is  a weekly Linky party that connects parents with great books for their kids.  Please add one of your book-related posts to the Linky party.

Click here to enter your link and see links others have added.  It will be added to all of the following co-hosts listed below.  This is a fantastic group of people and I am always impressed with the book recommendations they have.  You can find more details here.

Please also follow  The Children’s Bookshelf on Pinterest or visit The Children’s Bookshelf’s co-hosts:

What Do We Do All Day?

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My Little Bookcase

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MeMeTales

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Here are our favorite fiction penguin picture books (so far!).

Cute and active baby penguins + having a moment to yourself = enjoying baby penguins even more!  Such a good book!    My full review is here.

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Very well-mannered Elliot brings home a penguin from the aquarium one day.  His father’s reaction made me laugh!

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Sergio wants to be a famous soccer player, but he’s not very good.  With lots of practice, he gets better. He is able to help his team, but in a surprising way.

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Marco, the monkey, meets Polo, the penguin, while he is exploring Antarctica.  They become friends and Marco brings Polo back to Africa to see where he lives.  They enjoy showing each other around their home terrains.  Neither can tolerate the climate of their friend’s home, so they try to find a common ground where they can both live.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t work out and both go back to their respective homes.  The happy news is that they still keep in touch.

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When a penguin gets tired of getting pooped on by birds that can fly, he decides that it is time for him to fly! He enlists the help of his other flightless-bird friends to build a flying contraption that they name the Dodo.  They have a great time!  Unfortunately, they run into problems.  With some fast thinking (and pooping) they are able to signal for help.  Poop is funny, penguin poop is even funnier, penguin pooping to signal for help, is the funniest of all.

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When a penguin arrives at a boy’s door, the boy realizes that the penguin is lost.  After lots of searching he learns that penguins come from Antarctica.  He gets his boat ready and brings the penguin home.  The penguin looks sadder than ever when the boy gets back in the boat to head home.  While the boy is rowing home he realizes that the penguin wasn’t lost, he was lonely.  Quickly he heads back and eventually finds his friend penguin.  A beautiful book about finding a friend.

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A little penguin is sure that there is more to life.  She decides to set out in search of this something more.  She finds it!  A beautiful book.

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Every night Leon wakes up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.  He also calls to his mother that he needs to go potty.  She gets up and helps him go to the bathroom.  Sometimes, when he has to go to the bathroom twice in one night, he calls for his father.  Because his parents keep waking up to help him go to the bathroom, they are very tired in the mornings.  His parents then talk with him about going to the potty in the middle of the night by himself.  The next night, Leon is successful!  He goes to the potty in the middle of the night all by himself!

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Not exactly about penguins, but one day after a bath, Oliver wonders what’s down the bathtub drain.  He goes on an adventure to see what is down the drain.  Here he meets — penguins with jet packs!   (So that’s what’s down the bathtub drain.)  Penguins + Jet Packs = Lots of fun!

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After hearing his father tell him a bedtime story about penguins, he decides that he wants to be a penguin!  He dresses up and goes to school inspiring his entire class and an entire day is dedicated to being a penguin.

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A sweet and beautiful book about friendship between a penguin and a pinecone.  You can read my full review here.  There are several wonderful books starring Penguin by Salina Yoon.

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My son loves all of the Tacky books.  Tacky isn’t like the other penguins, but he always manages to come out on top.  In this installment, he goes surfing (the wind uses his shirt as a sail) and ends up on a beach.  Here he runs into an elephant who thinks that Tacky is a bunch of flowers.  The elephant takes him home to put in a vase of flowers.  Now, Tacky has to prove to the elephant that he’s not actually a bunch of flowers, but a penguin.  The story ends with a beautiful work of art for the elephant.

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Little Pip is not interested in learned how to swim, but instead how to fly.  Little Pip goes to a Snow Petrel and a Giant Albatross asking them to teach her how to fly.  They try, but because Little Pip is a penguin, she just can’t seem to do it.  On her last attempt to fly she lands in the water instead.  She learns that swimming is wonderful and that, “Swimming IS flying.”  A fun and adventurous story!

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Every book we’ve read by Audrey Wood has been a win in our house.  This one is fun, though a bit shocking at one point.  This is the tale, told by Gran Nanny Penguin, of a little penguin who goes out, by himself, not realizing the danger he’s putting himself in.  When the little penguin is EATEN BY A WHALE everyone who is listening to Gran Nanny Penguin is horrified. (Including me and my son.)  With some fast thinking and fast story telling, Gran Nanny Penguin is able to modify the story so the little penguin actually only ends up losing his tail.  My son is memorized by this story.  It certainly surprised me!

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What happens when penguins get a hold of a camera that lands in their home at the aquarium?  Lots of fun pictures!  It’s very well done and quite creative. It made my son giggle a lot.  He had me read this story to him many times.

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What Are Your Favorite Penguin Picture Books?

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Where Obtained:  I received Baby Penguins Everywhere! from the author for review on this site. All of the other books have been obtained from the library.

FTC Disclosures:  The links in the post above are Amazon affiliate links. If you click on the link and purchase the book, I will receive an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

________________________________________________________________

I’m participating in The Children’s Bookshelf.  This is  a weekly Linky party that connects parents with great books for their kids.  Please add one of your book-related posts to the Linky party.

Click here to enter your link and see links others have added.  It will be added to all of the following co-hosts listed below.  This is a fantastic group of people and I am always impressed with the book recommendations they have.  You can find more details here.

Please also follow  The Children’s Bookshelf on Pinterest or visit The Children’s Bookshelf’s co-hosts:

What Do We Do All Day?

No Twiddle Twaddle

Smiling Like Sunshine

My Little Bookcase

Sprout’s Bookshelf

MeMeTales

Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns

Please Note: Kindly link up to an individual post, not your blog’s homepage. The hosts reserve the right to delete any links to homepages, commercial links, repeat links or otherwise inappropriate links. Thank you for your understanding.

Baby Penguins Everywhere!

At a Glance:

A wonderfully-illustrated story of super-cute penguins playing + A gentle reminder that sometimes we all need a moment = Fantastic picture book!

Summary:

One day, while a penguin is sitting on the ice feeling peaceful but lonely, she spies a hat floating in the water.  To her surprise and delight a baby penguin pops out of the hat!  To her even greater surprise — more and more baby penguins keep popping out of the hat.

Copyright © by 2012 Melissa Guion. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.

Suddenly, this once-alone penguin is surrounded by baby penguins.  She becomes very busy and clearly enjoys being with the baby penguins.  However, it is exhausting!  She feels much better after taking a moment for herself.

It ends with a gentle reminder that everyone needs a bit of time to be alone and recollect, but certainly being together is much more fun.

Our Experience Reading this Book:

My whole family loves this book and we highly, highly recommend it.  

We’ve been reading this book regularly for the past month and my son loves it.  It is a joyful and gentle book that has an important message to it:  While it is wonderful to be with others, sometimes we all need a moment to ourselves.  

I was blown away when my son asked me a few hours after reading this book, “Mama, do you just need a moment?”  At that point, I did actually just need a moment, so I said so.  While my son was still awake, I got to sit down on the couch with a cup of coffee and finish it — while it was still hot.  (This may not sound like a big deal, but it is.)  When I finished my coffee, we resumed our day together.  It was amazing.  Now when I get frazzled or need to get something done, I tell my son that, “I need a moment.”  He understands and does a great job keeping himself occupied.

Picture books have taught my son (and me) a lot of great things and interesting facts, but to teach him that sometimes people need alone time is more than I ever expected from any picture book.  Baby Penguins Everywhere has actually changed the dynamic between my son and me for the better.

On top of that, it’s an absolutely beautifully illustrated book done in watercolor and pencil.  The colors are mainly white, blues, grays, and blacks with small dots and dashes of bright colors.  The contrast of the small bits of brightly colored objects to the whites, blues, grays, and blacks of the scenery and penguins gives it a wonderfully playful feeling.

The pictures are elegantly and clearly done and have given me and my son a lot of things to talk about ranging from top hats to juggling to tug-o-war.  It’s inspired some great discussions.

So, obviously, this book is a big deal our house.  I hope you get a chance to check it out and may it bring you a few minutes of peace, too.

Author/Illustrator Websites:

• Melissa Guion:  www.melissaguion.com
• Baby Penguins Everywhere Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/BabyPenguinsEverywhere

Some of Our Favorite Reviews of this Book:

• http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/16/books/review/baby-penguins-everywhere-and-more.html?_r=0
  
• http://book4children.blogspot.com/2013/02/picture-book-review-and-giveaway-baby.html
• http://picturebookreviews.blog.com/2013/02/01/baby-penguins-everywhere/
• https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/melissa-guion/baby-penguins-everywhere/
• http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-399-25535-9

Resources:

• World Penguin Day:  http://worldpenguinday.com/
• Would You Like Nothing but Penguins?  Here you go:  http://www.nothingbutpenguins.com/
• Would You Like To Learn How To Draw a Penguin from Oliver Jeffers?  http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/gallery/2011/jun/27/how-to-draw-penguins-oliver-jeffers#/?picture=375870801&index=0
• Worksheets, Crafts, Jigsaw Puzzles and More:  http://akidsheart.com/animals/birds/penguins.htm
• Youtube Video of Cute Baby Penguins:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1OGGPP-mT8
• Youtube Video of a Baby Penguin Not Being Shy:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdmQ9nMkI-g

Where Obtained:   I received a review copy from the author.  No other compensation was received.  The opinions expressed here are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Cows Can’t Jump

At a Glance:

This book works great as an early reader or as a baby book.  Humorously depicted animals, bright and bold cartoon illustrations, and repeating text of what each animal can and cannot do, makes this an entertaining book that has taught my son some great vocabulary words.  I highly, highly recommend it! 

(I asked my two-year-old son if he thinks other people would like this book and he said, “Yes!”  I asked him why they would like it and he said, “Because I like it.”  Fair enough.)

Summary:

19 different animals and their actions are discussed and illustrated in Cows Can’t Jump. The illustrations are done in bright and bold colors.  The cartoon animals are drawn with bold, black lines with expressive facial features.  The story repeats with interchangeable animals and what actions they can and cannot do.

Cows can’t jump…but they can swim.

Gorillas can’t swim…but they can swing.

Giraffes can’t swing… but they can gallop.

Our Experience Reading this Book:

I have read this book to my son over and over again.  He loves it.  It’s funny and entertaining.  The cartoon illustrations make it accessible to him.  He’s learned some great vocabulary words:  stampede, wallow, spring (as in to leap), scurry, and canter, which he has promptly incorporated into his pretend play.  ”Hurry, Mama, let’s scurry!” is one of my favorite phrases that he’s started saying.

I wish I had known about this book sooner.  I would have loved to read this book to him when he was a baby.  Cows Can’t Jump comes in several formats, with my personal favorite being the board book.  It’s quite large, about twice the size of a typical board book, both in length and width.  The large illustrations and text make the book especially engaging.  We also have the paperback version of this book, and keep that in the car.  My son has memorized this book, and he often “reads” it to me when I’m driving.

I’ve also found my son looking through this book by himself on several occasions.  We own hundreds upon hundreds of picture books (maybe nearing the thousand mark) — so it is noteworthy when he singles out a book to read on his own.

This will be a great early reader book as well.  The font and words are very clear.  The illustrated actions and animals will help him figure out what the words are, along with him already having the book memorized.

I’m very pleased with this book.  The illustrations, the repetitive yet changing phrases, and the vocabulary, are great things to help him as he learns to read.  They are all also entertaining and fun.  It’s the best of both worlds.

Ignore the age recommendation of 4+  – it’s great for a baby, it great for a toddler, and even for a child as old as six or seven.  It’s simply a fantastic book for kids.  This book can set an early reader up for success and can also entertain a baby.

There’s another book by Dave Reisman and Illustrated by Jason A. Maas: Cows Can’t Quack.  It, too, is fantastic.  I’ll be posting a review for this book soon.

Author/Illustrator Websites:

• Dave Reisman: http://www.jumpingcowpress.com/
• Jason A. Maas:  http://www.jasonamaas.com/art-after-sandy/ (After Sandy, he is now working with an organization Respond & Rebuild to help homeowners with rebuilding.)

Some of Our Favorite Reviews of this Book:

• http://girlsinthestacks.com/reviews/2011/01/cows-cant-jump-by-dave-reisman-illustrations-by-jason-a-maas/
  
• http://armsofasister.com/2011/07/30/review-cows-cant-jump-by-dave-reisman-illustrated-by-jason-a-maas/
• http://luxuryreading.com/cowscantjump/
• http://wrightysreads.blogspot.com/2011/06/review-cows-cant-jump-by-dave-reisman.html
• http://thereadingtub.com/childrens-book-reviews.php?book=COWS-CANT-JUMP-by-Dave-Reisman

Resources:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4WtxKoal-c  (Just for fun — Here’s a gratuitous video of a cow, in fact, jumping over a horse jump.)  

Where Obtained:   I received a review copy from the publisher.  No other compensation was received.  The opinions expressed here are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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I’m participating in The Children’s Bookshelf.  This is  a weekly Linky party that connects parents with great books for their kids.  Please add one of your book-related posts to the Linky party.

Click here to enter your link and see links others have added.  It will be added to all of the following co-hosts listed below.  This is a fantastic group of people and I am always impressed with the book recommendations they have.  You can find more details here.

Please also follow  The Children’s Bookshelf on Pinterest or visit The Children’s Bookshelf’s co-hosts:

What Do We Do All Day?

No Twiddle Twaddle

Smiling Like Sunshine

My Little Bookcase

Sprout’s Bookshelf

MeMeTales

Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns

Please Note: Kindly link up to an individual post, not your blog’s homepage. The hosts reserve the right to delete any links to homepages, commercial links, repeat links or otherwise inappropriate links. Thank you for your understanding.

A House in the Woods by Inga Moore Ages 3 – 7 (2.5-year-old son adores it). Candlewick. Nov 2011. Fiction. 48 pages. ISBN-13: 978-0763652777.  $16.99

At a Glance:

A beautiful, lovely, and conflict-free picture book.  Everyone is nice to each other, everyone works together, and there’s a sweet ending to it.  This book only promotes good things.

My son loves this book!  It’s calming, interesting, humorous, and did I mention that everyone is nice to each other?  They are.  It’s so good.

Animals have genders in this book, but none of the genders are stereotyped.  That’s nice, too.  The illustrations are stunning and each page is a work of art.  Each illustration is done in pastel, pencil, and wash.  It gives the story a very romantic and bygone-era/fairy tale feel to it.

You can read this book to most anyone at anytime and anywhere and it will be an appropriate and enjoyable book.  It’s a treasure.

Summary:  

One day two little pigs go out into the woods for a walk.

When they return they find that other animals (a bear and a moose) have moved into their respective homes.  Unfortunately, the larger animals have accidentally wrecked their homes.

The moose, bear, and two pigs decide that they should build a big house and live together.

They call the beavers and together start working on the house.  When the house is finished, moose, bear, and the two pigs pay the beavers in peanut butter sandwiches (which is the way beavers prefer to be paid for their labor).

Moose, bear, and the two pigs return to their beautiful new home.  They eat supper, wash dishes, tell stories around the fire, and go to bed.

Good night, Bear.

Good night, Moose.

Goodnight, Little Pigs.

Sweet dreams, everyone!

Author/Illustrator website:

• Inga Moore doesn’t have a website.  
• http://pinterest.com/austenpal/need-more-inga-moore/ is a board dedicated to her work.
• Goodreads has a list of books she has written and illustrated:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/279134.Inga_Moore

Resources:

Some of My Favorite Reviews of this Book:

Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy

At a Glance:

What a fun book!  There’s singing, hilarious interruptions, sound effects, and nice people with a happy ending.  The illustrations are bold and cheerful.  The story and illustrations are both appealing to older children and adults while still being very accessible to young children.

This is a favorite with both me and my son.  I enjoy reading and singing it to him and he laughs and laughs when I read it to him.  We read this book over and over again and enjoyed it each time.

Summary:  

Cowboy is singing his little cows a lullaby before bedtime.  (You can hear the lullaby here and see a trailer for the book.)

Each time he is about to finish the song he interrupts himself and lets out a shriek because he thinks he sees a spider, a snake, and a bear.  Each time his little cows tell him calmly that it’s a flower, a stick, and another little cow.

Finally, a wolf approaches him and the little cows run.  The cowboy thinks that this time it must be a sweet bunny – so he doesn’t have to be afraid.

When the cowboy realizes that it is a wolf, he asks if wolves like lullabies.  Sure enough, the wolf LOVES lullabies.

The cowboy sings to them and they all go to sleep.

Our Experience Reading this Book:

Oh how we giggled and laughed!  It was fun to sing to my son and he seemed to really enjoy it.  By the third time we had reread this book my son was singing along with me.

The illustrations are so vibrant and the thick lines and bold colors highlight the humor and do a great job setting the tone.

There aren’t a lot of words and it is a quick read/sing.  This is a great book to read to my son now because it is fun and it will be a perfect book for my son to read to me when he gets older.  The large, clear text and repetition of the song make it very appealing as a book for an early reader.

Rhyming Dust Bunnies (links to my review), also by Jan Thomas, is another one of our favorites.  Please take a moment to check out her books.  Also, on her website are some fun activities to do (for children and adults alike).

Her books are fantastic and fun!

Author/Illustrator Websites:

• http://www.janthomasbooks.com/Home.html

Some of My Favorite Reviews of this Book:

• http://sunlitpages.blogspot.com/2013/03/kidpages-three-of-maxwells-recent.html
• http://www.cinjoella.com/2012/11/14/lets-sing-a-lullaby-with-the-brave-cowboy-by-jan-thomas/
  
• https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jan-thomas/lets-sing-lullaby-brave-cowboy/ (Starred Review)
• http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4424-4276-4

Where Obtained:  Library.

FTC Disclosures:  Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” If you click on the link and purchase the book, I will receive an affiliate commission.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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I’m linking this post to the Kid Lit Blog Hop hosted at Motherdaughtbookreviews.com.  This happens on the first and third Wednesday of the month.  Please go check it out and post a review of your own!  There are lots of great reviews, ideas, and activities for children here!

]]> http://thepicturebookreview.com/2013/04/18/lets-sing-a-lullaby-with-the-brave-cowboy-by-jan-thomas/feed/ 6 Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy thepicturebookreview Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy 1 kidlitbloghop http://thepicturebookreview.com/2013/04/17/nonfiction-picture-book-wednesday-the-dinosaurs-of-waterhouse-hawkins-by-barbara-kerley-with-drawings-by-brian-selznick/ http://thepicturebookreview.com/2013/04/17/nonfiction-picture-book-wednesday-the-dinosaurs-of-waterhouse-hawkins-by-barbara-kerley-with-drawings-by-brian-selznick/#comments Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:54:16 +0000 The Picture Book Review http://thepicturebookreview.com/?p=1675 ]]> The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley with Drawings by Brian Selznick.  Ages 4 – 8.  Scholastic Press.  October 2001.  48 pages.  ISBN-13: 978-0439114943. Nonfiction. $17.99 (But many used copies for $0.01 on Amazon.)

At a Glance:

In the mid-1800′s, not many people knew what dinosaurs looked like.  Waterhouse Hawkins worked hard to create life-sized models of dinosaurs so that more people could learn about what dinosaurs looked like.

A very detailed and well-told story about his adventures and misadventures in creating dinosaur models in England and the United States.  It is packed full of great information.

It’s a long book, but it held my young son’s interest.  The illustrations are spectacular (2002 Caldecott Honor Book).

This book goes well with Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs: The Definitive Pop-Up.

It was a lot of fun pulling our pop-up book off the shelf and showing my son the pop-up version of the scientists eating dinner in the iguanodon.

Summary:  

This is the story of Mr. Waterhouse Hawkins who was an artist and lecturer about dinosaurs during the mid-to-late 1800′s.  He had fascinating experiences being one of the first people to creating life-size models of dinosaurs.

He helped to build dinosaurs for the Crystal Palace, created an iguanodon for scientists to dine inside, lectured in New York City, attempted to create models for a museum that was planned in Central Park (but was thwarted by a corrupt politician), created dinosaur skeletons for Princeton University and the Smithsonian, and finally headed back home to England.

Our Experience Reading this Book:

My son likes dinosaurs, but he’s not overwhelmingly in love with them.  So far, what flops his mop is construction equipment and vehicles.

That being said, it was wonderful reading this book to him.  It is a fascinating book and I was surprised by what I learned.

My son found the book interesting and sat through it without a problem.  He had a couple of questions and then he asked for a different book.  I think he’ll really enjoy it when he’s just a bit older.

What really surprised me, was that a few nights later at dinner he started asking me questions about Mr. Hawkins.  It took me a moment, because I wasn’t expecting him to talk about this book.  We had only read it once.

After the back and forth of me trying to figure out who in the world he was talking about, he finally shouted, “The dinosaurs!!!  Mama, you remember!”  At which point, I said in disbelief:  ”You mean Waterhouse Hawkins?”  At which point I filled my husband in on the drama that had just unfolded and we got down to business talking about this book.

After dinner we read the book again as a family.  It was fun.

The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins is a very well-told story that can hold the interest of young children and adults alike.  Dinosaur lovers or dinosaur likers can both enjoy this book and come away with a new perspective.

Author/Illustrator Websites:

• Barbara Kerley:  http://www.barbarakerley.com/Site/Welcome.html
• Brian Selznick:  http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/about_brian_bio.htm

Some of My Favorite Reviews of this Book:

• http://caterpickles.com/2011/06/16/book-review-the-dinosaurs-of-waterhouse-hawkins/
• http://books2teach.blogspot.com/2012/07/book-review-dinosaurs-of-waterhouse.html
• http://gtkidsbooks.wikispaces.com/The+Dinosaurs+of+Waterhouse+Hawkins (Lots of excellent resources as well)
• http://www.best-childrens-books.com/waterhouse-hawkins.html

Where Obtained:  Library.

FTC Disclosures:  Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” If you click on the link and purchase the book, I will receive an affiliate commission.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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I’m linking up this post over at:

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday.

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday is hosted over at Kidlitfrenzy.com.

Please go visit and hook up a nonfiction picture book review of your own and see other nonfiction picture book recommendations!  This is a great resource and Kidlitfrenzy is an amazing blog!

I’m also participating in the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge 2013.  I’ve set my goal for 25 books.  This is book 5 of 25 since signing up for the challenge.

]]> http://thepicturebookreview.com/2013/04/17/nonfiction-picture-book-wednesday-the-dinosaurs-of-waterhouse-hawkins-by-barbara-kerley-with-drawings-by-brian-selznick/feed/ 0 The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins thepicturebookreview The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins Encyclopedia Prehistorica Dinosaurs NFPB2013leaves http://thepicturebookreview.com/2013/04/16/yuko-chan-and-the-daruma-doll-by-sunny-seki/ http://thepicturebookreview.com/2013/04/16/yuko-chan-and-the-daruma-doll-by-sunny-seki/#comments Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:21:39 +0000 The Picture Book Review http://thepicturebookreview.com/?p=1907 ]]> Yuko-chan and the Daruma Doll: The Adventures of a Blind Japanese Girl Who Saves Her Village by Sunny Seki Ages 4 – 8 (One of my 2.5-year-old son’s favorites).  Tuttle Publishing.  March 2010.  ISBN-13: 978-4805311875 Fiction. $15.95.

At a Glance:

If you fall seven times, you must pick yourself up eight times!  You need strong faith, and the belief that you can accomplish your goals.

A beautifully illustrated and inspiring book about how a blind girl is able to save her village after the eruption of Mount Asama.  Even after reading this book for months it is still a favorite.  It is a bilingual book in both English and Japanese.  Yuko-Chan and the Daruma Doll promotes resourcefulness, compassion, turning disasters into opportunities, and challenging assumptions.

Summary:

After the eruption of the volcano, Mount Asama, the nearby village of Takasaki is unsure of how they are going to recover.  Their crops have been ruined and they need money.

One day Yuko-Chan, a young, blind girl, has to deliver some food to help nearby villagers.  On her way to the village a snow storm strikes leaving Yuko-Chan disoriented.  She becomes lost and falls off a cliff.  She and her dog are stranded.  As they wait in the snow, Yuko-Chan attempts to get some tea from her tea gourd but her hands are too frozen and she keeps dropping it.

She notices that every time she drops the gourd it rights itself.  This reminds her of one of Daruma-san’s teachings. “If you fall seven times, you must get up eight times.”  She gets the idea of making Daruma Dolls to sell and help her village make money.

She is rescued by a local villager.  She talks with him about her idea and he gives her some suggestions and help as to how she can make Daruma Dolls.

She returns to the monastery where she presents her idea to the head monk, Osho-san.  Osho-san is impressed with her idea.  The entire village begins working on the Daruma Dolls.

They sell the Daruma Dolls at the Spring Festival and are able to make the money they need to save the village.

What started as a disaster has turned into a golden opportunity for everyone!

Our Experience Reading this Book:

It’s a lovely book that is wonderful to read again and again.  It teaches wonderful lessons about being resourceful and brave.  Everyone has the potential to help and no one should be discounted because they are young or have a disability.

My son loves this book.  It is well told and entertaining.    I love the positive story, the beautiful illustrations, and the introduction to some aspects of Japanese culture.  At the end of the book there is a list of cultural notes that defines Daruma, Daruma Doll, the Daruma Doll Festival, Daruma Games, and Gourds.

Some of Our Favorite Reviews of this Book:

• http://www.storycirclebookreviews.org/reviews/yukochan.shtml
  
• http://www.papertigers.org/wordpress/week-end-book-review-yuko-chan-and-the-daruma-doll-written-and-illustrated-by-sunny-seki/
• http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-4-8053-1187-5
• http://rwshores13.blogspot.com/2013/01/literature-circles-yuko-chan-and-daruma.html
• http://citybookreview.com/2012/03/yuko-chan-and-the-daruma-doll-the-adventures-of-a-blind-japanese-girl-who-saves-her-village/

Resources:

• Wikipedia Article about Daruma Dolls:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daruma_doll
• Daruma Doll Business:  http://www.welovedaruma.com/en/shopping/index.html (I’m impressed with all the different Daruma Dolls.)
• Youtube Video about the Making of Daruma Dolls:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpO7vMkYpmA
• Great Lesson Plan for teaching Daruma Dolls for Ages 4 – 8:  http://www.oberlin.edu/amam/asia/daruma/
• Information about the Takasaki Spring Festival:  http://hometown.infocreate.co.jp/en/kanto/takasaki/maturi-e.html

Where Obtained:  The library.

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I’m participating in The Children’s Bookshelf.  This is  a weekly Linky party that connects parents with great books for their kids.  Please add one of your book-related posts to the Linky party.

Click here to enter your link and see links others have added.  It will be added to all of the following co-hosts listed below.  This is a fantastic group of people and I am always impressed with the book recommendations they have.  You can find more details here.

Please also follow  The Children’s Bookshelf on Pinterest or visit The Children’s Bookshelf’s co-hosts:

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Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns

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Summary:  The musical is based on the book, Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet. Nancy is going to be in her first ballet show.  She is hoping to be cast as a mermaid but is disappointed when she learns she is going to be a tree.  Savannah gets the part of the mermaid instead.  Savannah is then injured in an accident that renders her unable to be in the show. (She was on a bicycle when a cat jumped into her path.)  Bree, her best friend, is awarded the part of the mermaid leaving Nancy feeling jealous and confused.  It all ends well — Nancy, with help, pulls herself together and is able to be happy for Bree and enjoy performing in her first ballet.

Our Experience Listening to Fancy Nancy The Musical:  

I love the Fancy Nancy books.  They have good lessons and my son has learned a lot of excellent vocabulary words as a result.  My son may love construction vehicles with a passion but that certainly doesn’t preclude him from enjoying Fancy Nancy all the same.

Fancy Nancy The Musical  is a lot of fun!  The music is catchy, upbeat, and easy to like.  The lyrics are very clever and I found both me and my son singing them hours after listening to the CD.  It makes a great companion to the Fancy Nancy books.

The songs are fun and brilliant!  Each song is filled with “fancy” vocabulary words that are then defined — just like they are in the books.

The first time I turned on the CD my son raced into the kitchen to listen.  After listening to the song “Anyone Can Be Fancy” he asked for us to listen to it again.  It was love at first listen.

The sound quality is excellent and the performers are clearly talented and professional.

Each song stands well on its own.  On its own, it is a little difficult to follow the story line if you haven’t read the book its based on or seen one of the performances — so I recommend reading the book first (or going to go see one of the performances).

The range of songs and performers is impressive.  There’s a rap song, a slow song, a Caribbean-themed song, as well as classic musical numbers.  The lyrics are clever, fun, and do a perfect job of capturing the spirit of Fancy Nancy.  Lionel, one of the boys in Nancy’s ballet class, sings “Shark Rap” that my son especially enjoys with it’s,”Chomp, Chomp, Chomp,” refrain.

Fancy Nancy The Musical may be about a girl and her friends who are all excited to be in their first ballet — but it is also about doing the right thing (even when you don’t feel like it), making superb vocabulary choices, learning, growing, being true to yourself, and having fun.  The lyrics, music, and characters work well together to make it enjoyable for everyone.

Youtube Video: (Hear samples of the musical and see pictures from the Off-Broadway performance)

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnh6h8IMbK4

Listen to samples of all the songs here:

• iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/fancy-nancy-musical-original/id610135150
• CD Universe: http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8925348

Lyrics and Music:

• Lyrics and Music:  http://dannyabosch.com/
• Book and Lyrics:  http://gurmanagency.com/sga-clients/susan-dilallo/

Where Obtained: I received a review copy.  No other compensation was received.  The opinions expressed here are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

FTC Disclosures:  Some of the links in the post above are Amazon affiliate links. If you click on the link and purchase the book, I will receive an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”