Fairy Tale Comics

I love when illustrators are given carte blanche to reinvent classic items  (much like Nursery Rhyme Comics by the same publisher).  In Fairy Tale Comics: Classic Tales Told by Extraordinary Cartoonists, 17 (yes, extraordinary) cartoonists fashion their own versions of many classic, as well as obscure, fairy tales such as Rumpelstiltskin, Snow White, Baba Yaga, and The Small-Tooth Dog.

The illustrators vary in technique, but each is a joy to view – and read! -  and brings such a new look to these classic tales.  The cartoonist include:  Charise Mericle Harper, Brett Helquist, Graham Annable, and Vanessa Davis.   

Current TV shows like Once Upon a Time and Grimm , plus popular movies such as Snow White and the Huntsman , Red Riding Hood and Beastly have brought about a resurgence in fairy tale literature (ok, really, does our love/fascination with fairy tales ever  go away?!).  Fractured fairy tales (like And The Dish Ran Away With the Spoon by Janet Stevens) are always popular, plus new takes on old favorites. People love revisiting old friends again and again.  So, check out Fairy Tale Comics coming September 2013 to rekindle that love of fairy tales in your child, or even yourself!

Claude in the City

Claude in the City is an understated British import chapter book.  Honestly, when I first saw the cover, I wasn't all that excited about the book - sort of looked like a French dog, but not a poodle, and I was all confused...   THEN I got to read Claude's adventures and I was hooked.

Claude lives with Mr. and Mrs. Shinyshoes and his best friend is a sock named Sir Bobblysock.  I would have loved to have seen more illustrations (other than the cover), but the quirky humor and fun story kept me reading more.  In the first chapter, Claude is a hero and saves the day.  At the beginning of the second chapter, Sir Bobblysock does not wake up so Claude whisks him away to the hospital.  Due to a slight mix-up, Claude is thought to be a doctor and is sent out into the waiting room to take care of a group of wrestlers who had all come in complaining of a mystery illness.  Everyone in the waiting room ended up getting it!  OH NO!

Judging by the placement of the text in the galley I read, I am guessing this is a highly illustrated chapter book/beginning reader.  The text is great  for the 4-9 age range with a story you wouldn't mind sharing with your young one 

*review based on a galley copy with no illustrations

Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping

Alright, I admit it - I honestly do not even have to pre-read a Scaredy Squirrel book to know that I am going to purchase a copy for my library.  I mean really, look at that face!  Who could possibly pass up Scaredy Squirrel?  

Ok, the writing is awesome too.  Watt doesn't stray from the formula (this is what, book 6? 7?), but manages to keep the stories fresh and fun.   In this current adventure Scaredy Squirrel goes camping (well duh, that is the title). 

I love that his motto is to be prepared and that he plans out what he is going to wear and going to do ahead of time.  In this particular book, Scaredy een has a warm-up routine!  Scaredy Squirrel also practices (an obstacle course!) and charts weather conditions (great science example!) as well as usually always having prepared a map.  Typically something that is "not part of the plan" happens to Scaredy Squirrel and in this case, it is a real surprise (I won't spoil it for you). 

If you have not yet discovered the pure joy from reading a Scaredy Squirrel book, head on down to your local library (or bookstore!) and pick one up!   This new Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping is perfect for the upcoming summer months!

Batman is Brave!

 

Superheroes are not going away.  As a mother of a 5 year old boy (and hey, even my 13 year old daughter has her favorites), I have had to jump in and start figuring out the names for all of these beings in tights.  Thankfully I had a basic knowledge from my own childhood (and two older brothers).  I know Batman.  Ah yes Batman.   Adam West was intelligently adorable.

Batman Is Brave! is a new DC board book written by Donald Lemke and illustrated by Ethan Beavers featuring that caped crusader, Batman.  Robin isn't mentioned, but if I understand correctly, in later years he went off on his own?!  Ok, don't shoot me down if I got that wrong, all I know for certain is that it is perfectly acceptable for Batman to have a book to himself.

To keep many fans happy and to educate parents like me, DC has been putting out a plethora of books, from toddler/board book level through chapter books.  Thankfully even though they have mass appeal and seem to come out in record time, the quality is still there which keeps kids reading and reading and reading. 

Batman Is Brave! packs it's 16 pages with bright and bold illustrations and an easy to read text which sends a nice message:  "Batman is brave and so are you".  Check it out for your future superhero!

Bunny Craft

Spring is the perfect time for a bunny craft!  There are hundreds of ideas online, but I opted to make my own template and cut out pieces using scrapbook paper and felt.   Add some pom-poms and chenille stems and the results are simply delightful!  

 

Duck! Rabbit!

If you have not yet checked out Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (illustrated by Tommy Lichtenheld), then do it now!  This perfect spring time book will have you questioning  Is it a duck?  Or is it a rabbit?  You decide!  Then argue your stance with people who have an opposing view :) 

Perfect for reading aloud to all grades.  I've shared it with preschoolers and I've read it to 5th graders (as a team with my daughter - she was "duck") and they have all enjoyed it.  Something about the trick of the eye gets the creative juices flowing, as well as the debating!

Duck! Rabbit! Homepage

Things to do with Plastic Easter Eggs

Where I work, we used to have an annual Easter Egg Hunt.  It was always such a fun event - to plan and implement!  However, the bad economy has impacted us all - some programming had to go; that included the Easter Egg Hunt!  That's ok really, but we are left with around 1000 plastic Easter eggs!   What to do with them?!?! 

 

I scoured the net and found a few ideas (plus a cute bird craft I have done before in storytime - check it out here).  Check them out:

• A Herd of Eggimals - includes a template for creating cute animals using felt and plastic eggs.
• Diving Dudes - This site uses real, hardboiled eggs, but it would be just as cute and last longer with brightly colored plastic eggs. 
• Egg Sheep - Again, they used a real, hardboiled eggs, but the plastic ones would work just as well. 
• Plastic Egg Critters - You can make monsters AND bunnies!
• Plastic Snake - Make a cute snake (or caterpillar?!) using plastic eggs.
• Plastic Teacups - Such a cute idea!  Make a set of teacups with your extra eggs. 
• Lite-Up Fireflies - I love this idea!  Great for a summer night.  Check out craft stores or dollar stores for cheap glowsticks to use.