I've Got Feet! Fantastical Feet of the Animal World by Julie Murphy

This book is all about 13 different animals and how that use their feet.

Thoughts: Informative and readable. I used this book with great success in a feet themed storytime. The illustrations are bright, colorful, and showcase the action of the different animals' feet. Pair with Dr. Seuss's The Foot Book and Who Has These Feet? by Laura Hulbert.

Themes: Nonfiction, Animals, Feet

Illustrated by Hannah Tolson. Amicus Ink, 2017.

Charlotte the Scientist Is Squished by Camille Andros

Charlotte loves being a scientist and using the scientific method. But her siblings never seem to leave her alone long enough for her experiments to work. Using her beloved scientific method, Charlotte experiments with several solutions.

Thoughts: Too funny. Kids with multiple younger siblings will really relate to Charlotte. This book also serves as a fun introduction to the scientific method. I remember it fondly from my high school science fair days. The illustrations are well defined and colorful.

Themes: Siblings, Rabbits, Elementary

Illustrated by Brianne Farley. Clarion, 2017.

Flannel Friday: Find the Lorax

This is a game of my own devising that I created for my Dr. Seuss events. I used The Lorax Doodle Book for patterns. I made 4 Truffula trees (tops & trunks are separate pieces) along with the Lorax, a Bar-ba-loot, a Humming-Fish, and a Swomee-Swan. Felt with puff paint details. After using the set I realized I either need smaller trees or a bigger flannel board.

Important Links:
Flannel Friday Blog/Website
Flannel Friday Tumblr
Flannel Friday Pinterest
Flannel Friday Facebook Group

Flannel Friday: Fox in Boxes

This is an inspired by Flannel Friday post. My inspiration was Nikki blogging at heytherelibrary. I borrowed the fox from my Conejito set and made the boxes. Kids always like looking for him.

Important Links:
Flannel Friday Blog/Website
Flannel Friday Tumblr
Flannel Friday Pinterest
Flannel Friday Facebook Group

Be Quiet! by Ryan T. Higgins

A mouse wants to create a wordless book. The only problem? His two friends can't stop talking!

Thoughts: Hilarious! I was laughing out loud as I read this book. It was even funnier when I read it to kids at local elementary schools. The mice were funny in their first appearance in Hotel Bruce, but the hilarity in Be Quiet! is off the charts. The illustrations are great--bright colors and good outlines. The speech bubbles demand you read this book aloud even if only to yourself.

Themes: Mice, Funny Books, Elementary

Disney Hyperion, 2017

Go Sleep in Your Own Bed! by Candace Fleming

It's time to go to sleep, but when pig goes to his sty he finds someone else in his bed. "Go sleep in your own own bed!" And so the story goes on.

Thoughts: Fun, fun, fun. I love the animal sounds and the onomatopoeia as the animals go to their beds. This book will be a wonderful addition to my farm storytime. The illustrations are great. I love the outlines especially. They really make the colors pop.

Themes: Farm, Night, Animals Sounds

Illustrated by Lori Nichols, Schwartz & Wade, 2017.

Flannel Friday: What's Under the Rock?

AKA Find the Duck

I whipped up this set of eight rocks for my rocks storytime this past summer. My kids are getting too smart for such games so I hide something under each rock, but we're looking for the duck. All the animals/creatures, I borrowed from other felt sets. My pattern was a clipart image from Clker.

Important Links:
Flannel Friday Blog/Website
Flannel Friday Tumblr
Flannel Friday Pinterest
Flannel Friday Facebook Group

The Good for Nothing Button by Charise Mericle Harper (& Mo Willems)

Yellow Bird has a button that does nothing, but when he shows it to Blue Bird and Red Bird, everyone is in for a treat.

Thoughts: A fun book. I would love to act this out. It would make an excellent reader's theater piece for my elementary school outreach. It reminds me so much of the Elephant & Piggie books. Isn't that strange? The beginning and end by Elephant & Piggie were perfect. I'm so glad they are still making guest appearances.

Themes: Birds, Emotions, Elementary

Elephant & Piggie Like Reading Book #3. Hyperion, 2017

A Perfect Day by Lane Smith

It's a perfect day for cat, dog, chickadee, and squirrel until Bear came.

Thoughts: A deceptively simple book with a good dose of humor. The illustrations are lovely. I like all the texture. Would pair well with A Good Day by Kevin Henkes.

Themes: Backyard, Animals, Bears

Roaring Brook Press, 2017

Flannel Friday: Pizza

I decided to do a pizza storytime last fall and needed something for my flannel board. Pinterest has lots of ideas. We decorated the pizza, but I also liked to make a pizza face. First and Second graders got a kick out of this, too.

Important Links:
Flannel Friday Blog/Website
Flannel Friday Tumblr
Flannel Friday Pinterest
Flannel Friday Facebook Group

Can I Tell You a Secret? by Anna Kang

A little frog named Monty has a secret. He's decided to tell YOU so you can give him some advice.

Thoughts: A fun book. I love when books make the reader part of the story. This will be a great addition to my frogs storytime in the spring. Lovely illustrations. I like the black outlines and soft watercolors.

Themes: Frogs, Interactive

Illustrated by Christopher Weyant. Harper, 2016.

Feathers & Hair: What Animals Wear by Jennifer Ward

The title is a wonderful, succinct description of this book.

Thoughts: A great nonfiction book for the youngest kids. The illustrations are fabulous--so big, bold, and colorful. (cut paper collage?) I can't wait to use this book in storytime & outreach.

Themes: Animals, Nonfiction, Elementary

Illustrated by Jing Jing Tsong. Beach Lane Books, 2017.