The city is a busy place until the lights go out. Without electricity, people are forced to remember and embrace simpler forms of entertainment like stargazing and playing board games.
What I thought: I love the illustrations. So dark and shadowy. The touch of blue is inspired. The comic book layout (panels) works well. The brevity of the text lets readers (and listeners) absorb the illustrations.
Story Time Idea: Pair with Nightlights by Susan Gal and Flicker Flash by Joan Bransfield Graham.
(Disney Hyperion, 2011)
Monday, October 17, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Noodle & Lou by Liz Garton Scanlon
Noodle wakes up in a mood. Nothing suits him. Luckily, his good friend Lou is there to cheer him up.
What I thought: A great book about friendship. I like how Lou doesn't get discouraged by Noodle's gloominess. The illustrations are good. I like the bold lines. My favorite illustrations are Noodle & Lou hugging and Noodle and Lou flying (last page).
Story Time Themes: Friendship, Moods
(Beach Lane Books, 2011)
What I thought: A great book about friendship. I like how Lou doesn't get discouraged by Noodle's gloominess. The illustrations are good. I like the bold lines. My favorite illustrations are Noodle & Lou hugging and Noodle and Lou flying (last page).
Story Time Themes: Friendship, Moods
(Beach Lane Books, 2011)
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
A Pet for Petunia by Paul Schmid
Petunia wants a pet. Not just any old pet but a skunk. Undeterred by her parents' claim that skunks stink, Petunia heads to the forest to fins herself a skunk.
What I thought: Love it! Petunia has such character and attitude. I think A Pet for Petunia will fast become a story time favorite. The illustrations are wonderful. I like Schmid's use of purple. My favorite illustrations are Petunia finding the skunk and the porcupine (such a horrified expression!). I can't wait for the next Petunia book. A Pet for Petunia would pair well with Bridget Fidget and the Most Perfect Pet and The Pigeon Wants a Puppy.
Story Time Theme: Pets
(Harper, 2011)
What I thought: Love it! Petunia has such character and attitude. I think A Pet for Petunia will fast become a story time favorite. The illustrations are wonderful. I like Schmid's use of purple. My favorite illustrations are Petunia finding the skunk and the porcupine (such a horrified expression!). I can't wait for the next Petunia book. A Pet for Petunia would pair well with Bridget Fidget and the Most Perfect Pet and The Pigeon Wants a Puppy.
Story Time Theme: Pets
(Harper, 2011)
Monday, October 10, 2011
Pig Kahuna by Jennifer Sattler
Looking for treasure on the beach, brothers Fergus and Dink find more than treasure. They find a new friend, Dave the surfboard, and a new hobby, surfing.
What I thought: A cute book. I love the brothers' imagination. This will be a nice addition to my beach story time. The illustrations are great--so colorful and soft lines. My favorites are Dink with the shark tooth shell, Dave, and the brothers surfing.
Story Time Themes: Beach, Brothers/Siblings, Imagination
(Bloomsbury, 2011)
What I thought: A cute book. I love the brothers' imagination. This will be a nice addition to my beach story time. The illustrations are great--so colorful and soft lines. My favorites are Dink with the shark tooth shell, Dave, and the brothers surfing.
Story Time Themes: Beach, Brothers/Siblings, Imagination
(Bloomsbury, 2011)
Friday, October 7, 2011
A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn
300 years ago, Talia was warned about spindles and their danger, but apparently not often enough. She pricked her finger and, well, you know the rest.
Present day, Jack's on a tour of Europe. It's parent ordered so as you would imagine not very fun. In search of adventure, Jack stumbles upon Talia's long forgotten kingdom.
He kisses her. She wakes up. But all is not well. 300 years passed in the real world, not a fairy tale. Jack isn't Talia's true love. He didn't even know her, so why did she wake up? Was Jack's kiss a legitimate breaking of the spell?
What I thought: Fun! I like that Flinn takes the "fairy" out of the fairy tale. 100 years is nothing to Sleeping Beauty. Not so to Talia and her kingdom. The alternating points-of-view are great. I like seeing both main characters' thoughts. Alex Flinn didn't disappoint me. I liked A Kiss in Time as much as Beastly and Cloaked.
(Harper Teen, 2009)
Present day, Jack's on a tour of Europe. It's parent ordered so as you would imagine not very fun. In search of adventure, Jack stumbles upon Talia's long forgotten kingdom.
He kisses her. She wakes up. But all is not well. 300 years passed in the real world, not a fairy tale. Jack isn't Talia's true love. He didn't even know her, so why did she wake up? Was Jack's kiss a legitimate breaking of the spell?
What I thought: Fun! I like that Flinn takes the "fairy" out of the fairy tale. 100 years is nothing to Sleeping Beauty. Not so to Talia and her kingdom. The alternating points-of-view are great. I like seeing both main characters' thoughts. Alex Flinn didn't disappoint me. I liked A Kiss in Time as much as Beastly and Cloaked.
(Harper Teen, 2009)
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
ZooBorns: Zoo Babies from around the World by Andrew Bleiman & Chris Eastland
Summary from Book Jacket: Here come the ZooBorns! Every day baby animals are born in zoos around the world. They're fuzzy and cuddly and chubby and curious. And they can't wait to meet you!
What I thought: Simple text and gorgeous photos introduce young readers and listeners to baby zoo animals. I can't wait to use this in my zoo story time. My favorite photos are pygmy hippo and wombat.
Story Time Themes: Zoo, Baby Animals
(Beach Lane Books, 2010)
What I thought: Simple text and gorgeous photos introduce young readers and listeners to baby zoo animals. I can't wait to use this in my zoo story time. My favorite photos are pygmy hippo and wombat.
Story Time Themes: Zoo, Baby Animals
(Beach Lane Books, 2010)
Monday, October 3, 2011
ZooBorns: The Newest, Cutest Animals from the World's Zoos & Aquariums by Andrew Bleiman & Chris Eastland
I believe the subtitle says it all!
What I thought: Too cute. I love that the animals included are either threatened or endangered. The information included made me want to know more. The photos are wonderful. My favorites are pygmy hippos. wombat, pygmy rabbits, and Bengal Tigers.
(Simon & Schuster, 2010)
What I thought: Too cute. I love that the animals included are either threatened or endangered. The information included made me want to know more. The photos are wonderful. My favorites are pygmy hippos. wombat, pygmy rabbits, and Bengal Tigers.
(Simon & Schuster, 2010)
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