A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea by Michael Ian Black

From the author of Chicken Cheeks and Purple Kangaroo comes a novel picture book addressing the various reasons why a pig parade would be a terrible idea.  I know you're thinking, "why, a pig parade is a mighty fine idea,", but after reading Black's new book, you will see the error of your ways.  It has the feel of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, but I have not been able to nail down why, probably simply the whole cause and effect thing. 

The story begins with a colorful cartoonish two page spread depicting peppy porcine pals in a marching band, complete with fireworks and balloons. The question is posed, "what would be more fun than gathering a few hundred pigs together for a grand parade?".  With a turn of the page you are greeted by a very messy looking slobbering pig and the simple statement that a pig parade is a terrible idea.  The rest of the story goes into all the reasons why, with Kevin Hawkes rather realistic, non-cuddly pigs acting like pigs: snuffling about, refusing to wear clothes, wallowing in mud, etc.  His illustrations are fantastic and perfectly compliment Black's story. 

If you like pigs, or parades, or were considering planning a pig parade, check this out now!

Spork by Kyo Maclear; illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault

His mom is a spoon.  His dad is a fork.  He is a Spork.  Yep, I don't think I've ever read a story about the offspring of interracial marriages quite like this one before.  Who knew that a spork could be utilized to explain the unique situation that a child of a mixed marriage finds themself in on a day to day basis.  Spork tries to wear a bowler hat  to look more spoonish, but the forks felt he looked too round.  Then he tries to wear a crown to look more forkish, but the spoons say he's too pointy.  "In his kitchen, forks were forks and spoons were spoons."  Mixing was not common, except for the odd pairing of a knife with chopsticks or tongs who married forks.  Does Spork ever find his place in the kitchen?  Well, of course he does, this is a picture book afterall and it needs a happy ending, but I won't divulge it right here and now.  Maclear does an exceptional job carrying her unique cutlery metaphor throughout the story weaving a tale that is both fitting in todays society as well as entertaining.  You can't help but root for little Spork who's adorable face is highlighted with rosy cheeks.  I love the soft retro feel and muted tones of the artwork by Arsenault.  Perfect for this lighthearted yet thought provoking story.  Definitely a nice message to share about being yourself.

Quackenstein Hatches a Family by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

All the animals at the zoo have family, except for Quack the duck. Quack sits alone in the darkest corner of the zoo growing more and more bitter. One day he passes by the nursery and while lamenting how everyone has someone except him, he runs into a table of orphaned eggs. Quack picks one out and happily runs home saying "I'll adopt!" He tends to the egg and then the day comes for it to hatch and eek... it's not a duck, but a furry, long nailed thing (that ends up being a platypus). Quack runs in horror with the furry creature in hot pursuit. He is finally cornered in a cave, but when the creature looks Quack in the eye and says "Hi Dad", he felt his cold heart melt.

There are simply not enough dad/child stories out there, and this is an adoption story to boot! The full spread illustrations by Brian T. Jones are bright and fun with just a little bit of creepiness and Bardhan-Quallen's rhyming tale never misses a beat. Check it out!

Tuck Me In! by Dean Hacohen & Sherry Scharschmidt

It's time for bed, so who needs to be tucked in?   A baby pig, zebra, elephant and more all do and your child is able to help out with cleverly cut 1/2 page "blankets". With a simple turn of the page, they have tucked in a baby animal. The simple, repeating text with cheerful animals ready for bed and gorgeous textured blankets, make for a fun story to share. The story ends asking if there is anyone else who needs to be tucked in, which brings it around to the perfect time for you to tuck in your own child.  Really nice story book to share at bedtime.

Cat Storytime

Here kitty, kitty!  There are just too many good cat books out there!  It seems I do a "feline" or dog & cat storytime at least a couple of times a year, but I seriously do not think that is a bad thing.  Here are some ideas that you can use with your kids:

Books:

Posy by Linda Newbery, 2008.  Posy the kitten has lots of adventures catching spiders, swiping crayons, tangling yarn, and cuddling.

Cat the Cat, Who is That?  by Mo Willems, 2010.  An exuberant cat introduces readers to her friends.  (series)

Chester by Melanie Watt, 2009.  The reader is invited to lift the flaps and follow the cats as they play with yarn, boxes, pillows, and fish.  (series)

Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner, 2005.  Skippyjon Jones is a Siamese cat with an overactive imagination who would rather be El Skippito, his Zorro-like alter ego.  (series)

Widget by Lyn Rossiter McFarland, 2006.  A small stray dog is accepted into a household full of cats by learning to "fit in," but when his mistress is hurt, he demonstrates that being a dog is not all bad.  (series)

Mr. Pusskins: A Love Story by Sam Lloyd, 2006.  Grumpy Mr. Pusskins hates doing ordinary cat things such as playing with his owner Emily, but a night out on the streets in search of adventure makes him reconsider the advantages of a loving home.  (series)

Meeow and the Pots and Pans by Sebastien Braun, 2010. Meeow and his friends, Woof, Moo, Baa, and Quack, find fun things to play with in the kitchen.  (series)

There are Cats in this Book by Viviane Schwarz, 2008.  The reader is invited to lift the flaps and follow the cats as they play with yarn, boxes, pillows, and fish.

 

Songs:

A cat theme is a perfect time introduce or revisit a favorite nursery rhyme, such as:

Hey, Diddle Diddle
The Cat and the Fiddle
The Cow jumped over the Moon
The Little dog laughed to see such a sight
And the dish ran away with the spoon.

or

Three Little Kittens lost their mittens,
and they began to cry,
Oh mother dear, we very much fear,
our mittens we have lost.

What! lost your mittens, you naughty kittens!
Then you shall have no pie
Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow
No you shall have no pie.

The three little kittens they found their mittens,
And they began to cry,
Oh mother dear, see her, see here,
Our mittens we have found.

What found your mittens! You good litle kittens,
Now you shall have some pie.
Purr, Purr, Purr, Purr,
Purr,Purr,Purr

Cat Crafts:

In my penguin storytime, I suggested a foam visor hat.  Well, the idea for that came from my foam visor cat hat: 

A few foam triangles, a couple of google eyes and some chenille stems and you have yourself a very cute cat hat!   I use glue dots, so no drying time, and the chenille stems poke right through the foam.  Very adaptable craft project for other animals - and don't worry about colors!  Let your child's imagination go!

Life-size Reptiles by Hannah wilson

What has been the "read it again, mom" book for the past few weeks?!?  Life-Size Reptiles by Hannah Wilson!  Not your typical fluffy storybook by any means, but hey, I do have a 2 1/2 year old boy who loves snakes, crocodiles, and anything creepy crawly.  The great thing about the Life-Size books, is that they really do have fold out pages showing the true to life size of many creatures.  (yes, there are other titles in the series, like Dragons, Sharks and Amphibians).  Snipets of information regarding the creatures depicted are included, but my little boy rarely lets me read them all.  He loves the pictures and making the sounds his rapidly growing mind imagines belong to the huge (and even small) reptiles.  Check them out, if you dare!  They make learning fun!

Take Time To Play

During those brief moments between books, I want to remind you to take time to play!!!  Play is very important, no matter what your age :)  

Duck & Goose: It's Time for Christmas by Tad Hills

Duck and Goose are back again, and this time Goose is trying hard to enjoy the winter weather!  Goose wants to catch snowflakes, make snow angels, sled, and more, but Duck keeps telling him, "It's not time".   Well then, just what time is it for?!  That question is answered on the last page (and well, on the cover too!).   Very simple text coupled with Hills' adorable feathery fowl, and you have a splendid holiday treat to share with your toddler.  They will love to pour over the pages again and again, simply to take joy in the friendship that is Duck & Goose.

Penguin Storytime

Considering I have been doing storytimes just about every week for the past 9 years, I thought why not share a few once in a while on here.  All the books I read during storytimes I would recommend to others.  Craft suggestions will also be included, as well as songs.  With that said, I thought my inaugural storytime post should fit the season and since it has been chilly here, I'm thinking penguins.  Ok, perhaps a bit early weather-wise, but what kid can resist a penguin story?!?

Books:

If you were a penguin by Wendall and Florence Minor, 2010. Illustrations and simple rhyming text tells a story of the fun and excitement of being a penguin.





Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester, 1990.  None of the penguins can tolerate Tacky's loud habits--until they scare off a pack of hunters.

Pink! by Lynne Rickards, 2009.  Teased in school for being pink, Patrick the penguin leaves the South Pole to live with the flamingos in Africa.

A Penguin Story by Antoinette Portis, 2009.  Edna the penguin tries to find something in her surroundings that is not black, white, or blue.

I Like it When by Mary Murphy, 2005.  A little penguin shares his favorite things with the one he loves most, his mother.

Penguin Songs:

Penguin Song - sung to "My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean"

The penguin slides over the ice bank,
The penguin jumps into the sea.
Look at his black and white feathers,
That penguin's as cute as can be!

 
I Know a Little Penguin - sung to "I'm a Little Teapot"

I know a little penguin
Who sat on some blocks
He swam in the ocean
And he Climbed on some rocks
He snapped at a seagull
He snapped at a seal
He snapped at a fish
Oh, what a meal!



Penguin Crafts:

There are MANY penguin crafts on the internet, from easy to complicated.  Just google "penguin crafts" and you'll come up with a heap of results.  I've tried many over the years, out of felt, construction paper, pom-poms, etc and finally ended up drawing my own.  It's based on "Tacky" from the Tacky the Penguin books.  I haven't figured out how to upload the document here, but if you want a copy, just leave a comment and I'll email one to you right away.

Another idea:  I love the cheap foam visors that you can buy at larger craft stores (Michaels, Jo-Ann's, Hobby Lobby, etc) usually for about $1.00 a piece.  If you use a black one, you can easily add eyes and a beak and have a really cute penguin hat!



Little Owl Lost by Chris Haughton

Irish illustrator Chris Haughton's debut picture book has reached the states with the title Little Owl Lost.  Haughton uses a rich yet subtle color palette which is perfect for the tone of the story.  The artwork will draw you in, but the simple story of a baby owl that fell out of his nest and lost his mommy will keep you turning the pages. 

When baby owl falls asleep and tumbles out of his nest, squirrel finds him and helps him look for his mother.  Little do they know that his mother is looking for him too!

It is a story that has been told before (Is Your Mama a Llama?, Are You My Mother?)  yet the simple text and repeated lines make the story feel fresh, comforting, and just as touching.  Little Owl Lost is an excellent addition to your collection, especially for toddler or preschool age children.

The Boss Baby by Marla Frazee

A marvelous marriage of text and illustrations!  Frazee once again flexes her incredible creative chops in The Boss Baby.  Perfect for disgruntled older siblings wondering who is this baby who has taken over their house, or over tired new parents needing to find a laugh - somewhere, anywhere.  The simple lines on each page are quite factual, but add in the element of Frazee's hillarious illustrations, and you have a combination sure to illicit a chuckle.  Know someone who's expecting?!  Give them this book!  

Even More Best Halloween Books for Kids

I did a similar post in 2009, but thought to myself "Hey, there are more good books out there to share!  Books that provide a gentle scare!  I'm sure I can come up with another list!".  Ok, so perhaps I didn't rhyme so much in my head, but here I am typing up a list of even more Halloween books for you to share with your kids.  I even decided to throw in a few for older children to read on their own.  I hope you enjoy the list!

Boo to You! by Lois Ehlert, 2009.  When the neighborhood cat tries to crash the mice's harvest party, the mice have a plan to scare the intruder away.

Georgie by Robert Bright, 1944.  Georgie the mild-mannered little ghost has been around for over half a century, his gentle ways happily haunting generations of children.

Mommy? by Maurice Sendak and paper engineering by Mathew Reinhart, 2006.   A small boy searches a haunted castle full of creepy characters to find his mother.

Snappy Sounds by Beth Harwood, 2005.  (I love Snappy Halloween too, if you can find it!)  With Snappy Sounds Boo!, children can experience the thrills of seeing and hearing skeletons jumping out from their graves, a ghost train swiftly moving through the darkness, owls hooting as bats circle a haunted house, and organ music playing as witches and monsters dance at a wickedly fun Halloween party.

I Spy Spooky Night by Jean Marzollo, 1996.  A book of spooky picture riddles.

 

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams, 1988. A little old lady who is not afraid of anything must deal with a pumpkin head, a tall black hat, and other spooky objects that follow her through the dark woods trying to scare her.

 

    

  In the Haunted House by Eve Bunting, 1994.   All we see are two pairs of sneakers--one large, one small--as a little girl and her father tour a dark, mysterious house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scary, Scary Halloween by Even Bunting, 1988.   Four pairs of eyes stare from the blackness to watch fearsome creatures trick-or-treat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Too Many Monsters: a Halloween Counting Book by Robert Neubecker, 2010.  Children will love counting kooky monsters from one to ten in this board book from acclaimed illustrator Robert Neubecker! With artwork impressively outlined in black and drenched in pure color, each of the ten mosters is brought vividly to life.

 

 

 

Ollie's Halloween by Oliver Dunrea, 2010.   Dressed in their costumes, Ollie and his siblings go out on Halloween night and have a scary but fun adventure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Night Before Halloween by Natasha wing, 1999.   A story in the style of the familiar poem, "The Night Before Christmas," tells how a housefull of monsters, goblins, witches and the like prepare for Halloween.

 

 

 

 

Zen Ghosts by Jon J. Muth, 2010.   On Halloween night, Stillwater the giant panda tells Karl, Addy, and Michael a spooky and unusual story. Based on a Zen koan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Froggy's Halloween by Jonathan London, 2001.   Froggy tries to find just the right costume for Halloween and although his trick-or-treating does not go as he had planned, he enjoys himself anyway.

 

 

 

 

 

Now a few books for those children reading on their own:

 

 

Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise by Kate DiCamillo, 2007.   Persuaded by the word "treating" to dress up as a princess for Halloween, Mercy the pig's trick-or-treat outing has some very unexpected results.

 

 

 

   

 

It's Halloween, You 'Fraidy Mouse! by Geronimo Stilton, 2004.  It's Halloween on Mouse Island, and it seemed like everyone was out to get me, Geronimo Stilton!

 

 

 

 

My Dog's a Scaredy-Cat by Henry Winkler, 2006.  Teased by the school bully because of his Halloween costume, underachieving Hank, with the help of his friends, exacts revenge by creating the scariest and grossest haunted house ever and inviting the bully to visit.

 

 

 

 

The Monster's Ring by Bruce Coville, 2002.  A timid boy, eager to frighten the school bully on Halloween night, acquires a magic ring and the power to change himself into a hideous monster.

 

 

 

 

 

Mrs. Patty is Batty by Dan Gutman, 2006.   A.J. and the other students at Ella Mentry School brave trick-or-treating at the school secretary's house, even though it is supposedly haunted.

 

 

 

 

   

Breathe: A Ghost Story by Cliff McNish, 2009.   When he and his mother move into an old farmhouse in the English countryside, asthmatic, twelve-year-old Jack discovers that he can communicate with the ghosts inhabiting the house and inadvertently establishes a relationship with a tormented, malevolent spirit that threatens to destroy both his mother and himself.