I used a coloring sheet I found online as a template for my pumpkins. The duck came from Microsoft Office clipart. I added the detail and outlines with puff paint.
Friday, September 28, 2012
#FlannelFriday: Pumpkins
This week I read books by Jan Thomas during story time. I was looking for an activity to go after Pumpkin Trouble. I made 5 felt pumpkins intending to use them with counting rhymes. Then I decided to make a duck to hide under one of the pumpkins...a guessing game for the children. They loved it. They wanted me to hide the duck so many times that we never got to use the counting rhymes.
I used a coloring sheet I found online as a template for my pumpkins. The duck came from Microsoft Office clipart. I added the detail and outlines with puff paint.
I used a coloring sheet I found online as a template for my pumpkins. The duck came from Microsoft Office clipart. I added the detail and outlines with puff paint.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
What's Looking at You, Kid? by J. Patrick Lewis
An animal guessing game in a book!
What I thought: I love it! This will be a perfect book to use for my animal antics pajama party this fall. The text is simple and the illustrations are lovely. What's Looking at You, Kid? will pair well with Jack Prelutsky's If Not for the Cat.
Story Time Themes: Animals
(Illus. Renee Graef. Sleeping Bear Press, 2012)
What I thought: I love it! This will be a perfect book to use for my animal antics pajama party this fall. The text is simple and the illustrations are lovely. What's Looking at You, Kid? will pair well with Jack Prelutsky's If Not for the Cat.
Story Time Themes: Animals
(Illus. Renee Graef. Sleeping Bear Press, 2012)
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Huff & Puff: Can You Blow Down the Houses of the Three Little Pigs? by Claudia Rueda
In an ingeniously simple retelling of "The Three Little Pigs," Claudia Rueda makes the story interactive for readers.
What I thought: I think Tullet's Press Here has started a trend. Interactive picture books are becoming quite prevalent. I really like her take on "The Three Little Pigs." I would have loved to have had this book when I did a fractured fairy tales program during the summer reading program this year. I'll be adding Huff & Puff to my "Three Little Pigs" book list. The illustrations are great. I love all the pen and ink detail. I can't pick a favorite. Two more things I love about this book: No wolf because the readers and listeners are the wolf and a surprise ending.
Story Time Themes: Fractured Fairy Tales, Interactive Books, The Three Little Pigs
(Abram's Appleseed, 2012)
What I thought: I think Tullet's Press Here has started a trend. Interactive picture books are becoming quite prevalent. I really like her take on "The Three Little Pigs." I would have loved to have had this book when I did a fractured fairy tales program during the summer reading program this year. I'll be adding Huff & Puff to my "Three Little Pigs" book list. The illustrations are great. I love all the pen and ink detail. I can't pick a favorite. Two more things I love about this book: No wolf because the readers and listeners are the wolf and a surprise ending.
Story Time Themes: Fractured Fairy Tales, Interactive Books, The Three Little Pigs
(Abram's Appleseed, 2012)
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Chloe by Peter McCarty
Chloe has a large family--twenty brothers and sisters--but she's the only one who objects when Dad brings home a new TV. Watching TV is not family fun time. Chloe and her baby sister Bridget discover the joys of cardboard boxes and bubble wrap. They slowly convince their other brothers and sisters that playing and imagining is more fun than watching TV.
What I thought: I love how Chloe promotes imaginative play as a better family fun activity than watching TV. I love the illustrations--soft colors and quite inviting to the viewer. Bridget, of course, is my favorite bunny.
Click here to read my review of Henry in Love where Chloe first appeared as Henry's love interest.
Story Time Themes: Family, Imagination
(Balzer + Bray, 2012)
What I thought: I love how Chloe promotes imaginative play as a better family fun activity than watching TV. I love the illustrations--soft colors and quite inviting to the viewer. Bridget, of course, is my favorite bunny.
Click here to read my review of Henry in Love where Chloe first appeared as Henry's love interest.
Story Time Themes: Family, Imagination
(Balzer + Bray, 2012)
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Duck Sock Hop by Jane Kohuth
The ducks gather for a weekly sock hop dance. They have so much fun they wear their socks out. But don't worry! They'll get new socks before the next sock hop comes.
What I thought: This is a fun book. I can't wait to use it in a story time. It's lively and the illustrations are perfect--bright colors, bold black lines, and good use of white space.
Story Time Themes: Ducks, Socks, Dancing
(Illus. Jane Porter. Dial Books, 2012)
What I thought: This is a fun book. I can't wait to use it in a story time. It's lively and the illustrations are perfect--bright colors, bold black lines, and good use of white space.
Story Time Themes: Ducks, Socks, Dancing
(Illus. Jane Porter. Dial Books, 2012)
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Red Knit Cap Girl by Naoko Stoop
Red Knit Cap Girl lives in a lovely enchanted forest. She has plenty of time to wonder about everything including the moon. She wants to reach the moon but doesn't know how. After a consultation with an owl, Red Knit Cap Girl and her animal friends plan a party for the moon.
What I thought: This book is definitely original. I wish I'd had it for the summer reading program. It would have fit in perfectly with my moon themed story time. The illustrations are wonderful. I love how the grain of the plywood comes through the paint. My favorite illustration is Red Knit Cap Girl and the moon (last page).
Story Time Themes: Moon, Parties
(Little, Brown, & Company, 2012)
What I thought: This book is definitely original. I wish I'd had it for the summer reading program. It would have fit in perfectly with my moon themed story time. The illustrations are wonderful. I love how the grain of the plywood comes through the paint. My favorite illustration is Red Knit Cap Girl and the moon (last page).
Story Time Themes: Moon, Parties
(Little, Brown, & Company, 2012)
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Zorro Gets an Outfit by Carter Goodrich
You know how humans like to dress their pets up in clothes? Well, Zorro doesn't like his outfit. He feels embarrassed and the other dogs laugh at him. But then he meets Dash, another dog with an outfit. Could it be that outfits are actually cool?
What I thought: Poor Zorro! I'd never thought about how pets feel about being dressed up. I'm glad he met Dash and got over his embarrassment. See my review of Say Hello to Zorro! to read more about Zorro's adventures.
Story Time Themes: Dogs
(Simon & Schuster, 2012)
What I thought: Poor Zorro! I'd never thought about how pets feel about being dressed up. I'm glad he met Dash and got over his embarrassment. See my review of Say Hello to Zorro! to read more about Zorro's adventures.
Story Time Themes: Dogs
(Simon & Schuster, 2012)
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Don't Copy Me! by Jonathan Allen
Little Puffin just wants to go on a walk, but he has three shadows--the gull chicks who copy his every move. Will they ever listen when Little Puffin says, "Don't Copy Me!"?
What I thought: THis is the first book by Jonathan Allen I've read. I enjoyed it. It's just right for preschoolers. The illustrations are appealing with bold outlines, bright colors, and good use of white space.
Story Time Theme: Birds
(Boxer Books, 2012)
What I thought: THis is the first book by Jonathan Allen I've read. I enjoyed it. It's just right for preschoolers. The illustrations are appealing with bold outlines, bright colors, and good use of white space.
Story Time Theme: Birds
(Boxer Books, 2012)
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Dog Loves Drawing by Louise Yates
Dog of Dog Loves Books is back. He still loves books, but one day his aunt Dora sends him a present, a sketchbook. Dog soon discovers another love--drawing.
What I thought: Another hit from Louise Yates. Dog is still lovable. The adventures he takes with his new sketchbook are so imaginative. I think Dog Loves Drawing will encourage children to go on drawing adventures of their own. All the illustrations are great. I can't pick a favorite.
Story Time Themes: Dogs, Art
(Knopf, 2012)
What I thought: Another hit from Louise Yates. Dog is still lovable. The adventures he takes with his new sketchbook are so imaginative. I think Dog Loves Drawing will encourage children to go on drawing adventures of their own. All the illustrations are great. I can't pick a favorite.
Story Time Themes: Dogs, Art
(Knopf, 2012)