
Posts Tagged ‘children’s picture book’

Still a Gorilla

August 26, 2016

Still a Gorilla!

By Kim Norman

Willy is a gorilla at the zoo, but he wants to be a different animal.  No matter how hard he tries to look or act like other animals, he is still a gorilla! This picture book is super fun and silly.  The large, bold and colorful illustrations are very eye-catching.  This is a wonderful book for storytime or for a preschool classroom, as well as for sharing one-on-one with your child.  There are many opportunities for kids to join in the read-aloud fun each time that Willy is ‘STILL A GORILLA!’  I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.  Happy reading!

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Miss Mary Reporting: The True Story of Sportswriter Mary Garber

August 23, 2016

missmarycatalogMiss Mary Reporting written by Sue Macy and illustrated by C. F. Payne.

As a child, Mary Garber played football with the boys and attended sporting events with her father.  She also loved to read about sports so she was a natural to be a sportswriter as an adult. It wasn’t that simple though, since Mary lived during a time when women didn’t usually have the opportunity to become sportswriters.

At first Mary accepted a job as a society reporter just to start working on a newspaper but she didn’t have any interest in writing about parties and fashion. During World War II, many of the male sportswriters became soldiers so Mary was given a chance to write about sporting events.  During her sports-writing career, she covered various teams from local to professional sports. Mary wrote regularly for the Winston-Salem Journal  newspaper until she was 86 years old.

Although it was often a challenge to be a woman sportswriter, Mary loved her job.  She covered baseball when Jackie Robinson became the first black player to join the major leagues and “was inspired by his quiet dignity”.   Many lively anecdotes and energetic images convey Mary’s inspirational story in this picture book biography.

Recommended for children in grades 2-4.

Reviewed by Donna (Library Technical Services)

 

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The Opposite Zoo

July 28, 2016

The Opposite ZooThe Opposite Zoo

By Il Sung Na

“They are

fast and slow.

Soft and prickly.

Tall and short.

Noisy and quiet….  Meet the animals of the Opposite Zoo!” (from back cover)

After the zoo is closed, the monkey finds that his door is open and he decides to visit all of his animal neighbors.  Each turn of the page reveals a new pair of opposite animals with their accompanying descriptive words.  Many of the words use font that emphasize the differences between the two adjectives such as small, lowercase letters for the word “shy” and big, uppercase letters for “bold.”  The illustrations have a rough, sketch-like quality that, when combine with the bright and unusual coloring, gives the whole story a whimsical feel.  Children will enjoy finding the monkey in each picture as he feeds the giraffe and swims with the seals and swans.

This is a great book for introducing opposites to young children as well as practicing storytelling skills by describing what is happening in each scene.

For more opposites fun, check out Charlotte and Eddie’s video review of The Hueys in What’s the Opposite? by Oliver Jeffers on the library’s YouTube page here.The Hueys

Reviewed by: Meredith (Harrington Library)

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Little Tree

July 21, 2016

51Fg2ChjzMLLittle Tree

By Loren Long

In the middle of a little forest, there was a little tree. He had bright green leaves like all the other little trees, they kept him shaded and cool during the hot summer months. When fall came, all of the other trees dropped their leaves one at a time, but not the little tree. He held onto them tight. The next summer, all the other trees grew fresh green leaves. They got taller and bigger as the years went by, while the little tree clung to his brown, withered leaves and stayed the same. Can he learn to let go?

This story can be applied to so many situations. With it’s simple, colorful illustrations, it shows how holding onto something can keep you from growing up. Releasing that blanket or pacifier or raggedy toy might be easier with a little help from this little tree.

Recommended for ages 5-8.

Nicki P.

Schimelpfenig Library

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D is for Dress-Up: The ABC’s of What to Wear by Maria Carluccio

July 8, 2016

dressupD Is for Dress-Up: The ABC’s Of What we Wear by Maria Carluccio

It is hot outside and cool clothing may be on your mind.  This little book is a perfect solution for the summer heat.  Curl up on the couch in the air-conditioning and enjoy the alphabet as you talk about the clothes we wear.

Not all alphabet books are created equal.  They are best when they include uppercase and lowercase letters, plus corresponding words that make sense to children.  D is for Dress-up shows each uppercase letter, and prints a lower case word below the uppercase.  The choice of clothing items are mostly recognizable to children, along with one or two words that are great vocabulary expanders; E is for ensemble or V is for vintage.  The illustrations feature soft painted colors, diverse children and diverse activities.  This alphabet book is a winner!

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The Sound of All Things

July 6, 2016

61Tqmms131LThe Sound of All Things

By Myron Uhlberg

Illustrated by Ted Papoulas

Have you ever tried to describe the sounds of a clacking, rushing roller coaster? Or how about the sounds a wave makes as it crashes on the sand? As a hearing child with two deaf parents, the boy in this book spends so much time trying to explain these things to his father. Sometimes he wants to tell his father no, that he doesn’t have the right words to describe a sound. It could be difficult at times to explain something that was so regular to his ears.

Set in 1930’s Brooklyn, this book has a rich historical element as well as a great perspective about people with disabilities. It’s easy to find inspiration in the boy’s decision to find more words to help describe the sounds of the world for his father. This is more than a slice of a different life, The Sound of All Things can help kids learn patience and kindness when interacting with people, disabled or not.

Recommended for ages 4-8.

Nicki P.

Schimelpfenig Library

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Their Great Gift

June 17, 2016

6122RV-bYRLTheir Great Gift

By John Coy

Photographs by Wing Young Huie

Immigration is a major topic in our world. Their Great Gift is a book for more than children, it can help adults and children alike understand how hard it can be to leave home for a new country. Using very simple text and real photographs of immigrants, it gives a snapshot of both families and individuals and their lives in their new country. As it discusses challenges, it’s aimed at the children of immigrants and how their advice to their children is shaped by their own hardworking ideals.

“Work hard.”

“Do well in school.”

“Never give up.”

With this advice and the great gift of bettering their lives for the sake of their children, this story poses a meaningful question about what those children will do with that gift.

Recommended for ages 5-9.

Nicki P.

Schimelpfenig Library

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The Mouse Who Reached the Sky by Petr Horacek

May 31, 2016

mousewhoWhen Little Mouse sees something red and shiny in a tree, she tries to get it down but is unable to reach it. She goes to ask her friend Mole to help but they still can’t attain the necessary height. The two friends ask Rabbit to assist them and by cooperating with each other, they are able to achieve even more than their original goal. Each character imagines the red circle is something a little different.  Children can make their own guesses before the actual object is revealed at the end.  The vibrant colors used in the illustrations add to the exuberance of the story.  When these friends help each other, they succeed beyond their wildest dreams. mouse moon

Recommended for children ages 3-6.

Enjoy these two additional titles by Petr Horacek starring Little Mouse.

new house for moue

 

 

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Chicken Lily

May 26, 2016

61nI7EPEwLLChicken Lily

By Lori Mortensen

Illustrated by Nina Victor Crittenden

For Chicken Lily, it’s not easy to take risks. She won’t take off her training wheels, or raise her wing in class. She might not be brave, but she’s good at so many other things. Being a careful colorer, and a patient puzzler couldn’t help her with the school’s poetry contest. She would have to get up on a stage and read a poem aloud in front of the whole school! Nothing could be more terrifying than that!

Chicken Lily proves that being scared is something anyone can face with a little support from friends. It’s okay to be scared sometimes. This is a great lesson to share with your little ones, whether they have a current fear, or whether they’re just a little nervous about something. Just like Chicken Lily, they too can face that microphone and take a step over their fears, even if it’s just for one day.

Recommended for ages 4-8.

Nicki P.

Schimelpfenig Library

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My New Mom and Me

May 13, 2016

51HkVEbXwrLMy New Mom and Me

by Renata Galindo

While it might not be a conversation you think about often, children should understand adoption. They might encounter adopted children in their school, or happen to be one themselves. My New Mom and Me is a gentle way to introduce your child to this concept.

Told from the prospective of the child, it brings up many of the concerns adopted children may feel, including the fact that they don’t look like their adoptive parent. While things aren’t always perfect between the new cat mother and her adopted puppy, they show how much love and patience can come out of the new living arrangements. Though they might not start off as a family, they learn how to become one.

Recommended for ages 3-7.

Nicki P.

Schimelpfenig Library

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