What We've Read

Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban Our favorite book this week! And definitely a "must own" very soon. It's funny because this is the second time we've borrowed this book and the first time, Will had no interest. But he LOVES it now and so do I. It's a great food message and Mother does a perfect job of handling Frances's food jag. I've had the school lunch topic on my mind quite heavily lately so this just gave me the warm and fuzzies.

Can I Bring My Pterodactyl to School, Ms. Johnson? by Lois G. Grambling

and

Dino Pets Go To School by Lynn Plourde

A boy builds up a very detailed justification on why bringing his Pterodactyl to school would be a great idea. He points out all the great benefits the Pterodactyl would bring.

Another boy decides to bring dinosaurs to school on Pet Day but a problem arises with each one. He brings the tallest and then the loudest and then the spikiest dino each day and the teacher always sends them home after they cause a raucous.

Froggy's Day with Dad by Jonathan London

This is actually a Father's Day book about the perfect day Froggy has planned for him and his dad. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned and poor dad politely suffers through each of Froggy's mishaps until finally Froggy's gift turns out perfect.

Diplodocus by Rob Shone

and

Danny and the Dinosaur Go to Camp by Syd Hoff

The Diplodocus book is just a non-fiction book that Will was interested in.

And Danny and the Dinosaur go on another adventure together while the comedy of the book is just how much of an advantage or disadvantage the dinosaur has because of his size.

Meet the Meerkat and Hello, Bumblebee Bat by Darrin Lunde
Two more books by the same author as Hello, Baby Beluga! from last week. Their styles are all the same: basically a Q&A with the animal to learn very interesting facts about each of them. They're very easy to read and very educational.

Kiss Good Night by Amy Hest

I'm back to using my Scholastic order forms from Will's preschool class for book ideas! The first order forms arrived with his orientation packet a few weeks ago. We do actually order some, but most of the time I just browse them for library list ideas. This book is about the lengthy bedtime routine that Mrs. Bear goes through each night with Sam. It's a good bedtime book.

The Grumpy Morning by Pamela Duncan Edwards

The farmer (who happens to be a woman) overslept this morning!! And all the animals are grumpy about not having their usual morning needs met. They all gather to wake her and she wishes them all "Good Morning" and gets right to work, still in her bath robe.

Preschool Day Hooray! by Linda Leopold Strauss

and

Eddie Gets Ready by David Milgrim

These were a little to babyish for Will at this point but I borrowed them for back-to-school time.

Preschool Day Hooray! just went over many of they typical activities done at preschool. And Eddie Gets Ready was a silly checklist for Eddie to get ready all by himself.

Not a Box and Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis

These award winning books have been on my must-borrow list for far too long before we actually got around to it. They're each a perfect book for toddlers and preschoolers alike to exercise stretching the imagination for all the things a simple object could be used for make believe. Super simple illustrations and concept and very easy to read. Both kids loved them.

Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey

You can't go wrong with this author... but beware! This is a LONG one! I think this takes place in Maine just like some of his other books. And I just love drifting back to older times and simpler lifestyles with his stories. This is about a family, summer vacationing on an island and enjoying their days. And then also about their preparations for a big storm that hits and the rocky waters it brings. The next day they go out to survey the damage and the newly beautiful day before departing for home because summer is over. We broke this book up into two reading sessions at bedtime.

At This Very Moment by Jim Arnosky

A neat concept for a child to consider about the amazing things that are happening in all parts of the globe "at this very moment". It gives examples of what you may be doing and how somewhere out there, an animal is doing something else. For example:

"The moment you are waking up

from a good-night's sleep,

somewhere in the early light

there's a band of sheep

following their leader,

walking in a line,

on a steep and narrow trail

along a mountain spine."

Or:

"At your dinner table,

you heap food upon your dish.

And on a cliff beside the ocean,

puffins dine on fresh-caught fish."

All the Colors of the Earth by Sheila Hamanaka

"Children come in all the colors of the earth, in every shade of you and me." Beautiful illustrations and comparisons of our shades to other earthly things.

The Dangerous Snake and Reptile Club by Daniel San Souci

This title just made me laugh 'cause it sounds like such a little boy's imagination. A bunch of brothers return from vacation with a jar full of tadpoles, a "dinosaur bone", and a real live King snake. They gather their friends and start a club. :) This actually just makes me think of being a kid and constantly starting new clubs with our next door neighbors, the Clements. We made such a big deal about where our clubhouse would be, what kind of snacks we could bring out there and what kind of things we would do in our club. Also, a little later on, a bunch of girls and I were trying to start a Babysitters Club like the book series. It totally failed, but the idea was fun. I think kids (and adults alike) just like to feel like they're a part of something.