Is That Wise Pig? by Jan Thomas

Mouse, Cow, and Pig are all making soup. It's going well until Pig wants to add some unusual ingredients to the pot.

Thoughts: Too fun! This will be a great addition to my soup storytime. It would also pair well with 10 Hungry Rabbits by Anita Lobel and Ten Hungry Pigs by Derek Anderson. 

Themes: Pigs, Soup, Vegetables, Cooking

Beach Lane Books, 2016

Warning! Do Not Touch! by Tim Warnes

Mole and his friend the lumpy bumpy thing find first a rabbit and then a hat. THe hat comes with its own label (Warning! Do Not Touch!) and soon they have 100 rabbits running riot. Quick thinking gets rid of the rabbits. Then the lumpy bumpy thing finds a  stick (wand) with its own label. But that's another story.

Thoughts: This is a fun story. Mole's labels are interesting and helpful for kids learning to read. I can't wait to use this book in storytime.

Themes: Friendship, Moles, Alligators, Rabbits, Magic, Mishaps

Tiger Tales, 2016

Flannel Friday: Shark Finger Puppets

I was inspired by several Flannel Friday posts (Storytime Katie, Sunflower Storytime, and Adventures in Storytime) to make these shark finger puppets. The pattern is from Repeat Crafter Me. Sharks are always fun and these puppets really added something special to my shark storytime.

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

Under a Pig Tree: A History of the Noble Fruit, a Mixed-Up Book by Margie Palatini

Pig or fig? That is the question.

Thoughts: Hilarious! The intrusive author is great and just adds to the hilarity. I love sharing this book with 1st and 2nd grade students when I read at my local elementary schools.

Themes: Pigs, Elementary

Illustrated by Chuck Groenink. Abrams, 2015

Here Comes the Tooth Fairy Cat by Deborah Underwood

The cat who wants to replace the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus is back. His target this time is the tooth fairy.

Thoughts: Cat is such a hilarious character. For someone (a cat) who doesn't talk, he expresses himself well and with pizzazz. The illustrations are soft colored with great use of white space.

Themes: Cats, Teeth

Illustrated by Claudia Rueda. Dial, 2015.

Flannel Friday: Find the Owl

I borrowed this idea from Emily over at Literary Hoots. For this set I made the trees, but borrowed the owls from my set of felt owls. I found a template for the trunk and free-handed the leaves. My kids can spot the bulge of something underneath so I put an owl in each tree and we look for a specific one.

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

Where's Walrus and Penguin? by Stephen Savage

Walrus from Where's Walrus has a new friend Penguin. They decide to make a break from the zoo. As before, they lead the zookeeper on a merry chase.

Thoughts: I love interactive picture books, especially ones that have the readers looking for something. I can't wait to this book in storytime.

Themes: Interactive, Wordless, Zoo

Scholastic, 2015