Very Little Red Riding Hood - Teresa Heapy (2014)

ISBN 10 : 05442 80008
ISBN 13 : 978 05442 80007

   ( Note : The author and the illustrator (of this book) together has come out with a "Very Little" series, putting a modern spin on classic tales.) 

A Very Big 'Good' change

         It is completely unfair of humans to treat wolves as mean and cunning animals. But, this Very Little Red Riding Hood is taking a chance and believes Wolf. Will the Wolf live up to her belief?

My First Big Book of Why - Amy Shields (2011)

ISBN 10 : 14263 07934
ISBN 10 : 978 14263 07935

           Why are sweets, sweet? Why is salt salty? Why is the sun hot? Why is the moon waxing and waning?  Do you have a kid around, who has a 'Why' question, about everything in this world (like mine)? Then, this is the book you should consider. 

For All The Big 'WHY's      

        The series of 'Why?' questions are classified into four broad categories in this book. 

       A)  Starting with self exploration, the book answers questions about every person's self. (Why does skin wrinkle when wet? When do baby teeth fall out? etc.)

Z is for Moose - Kelly Bingham (2012)

ISBN 10 : 00607 99846
ISBN 13 : 978 00607 99847

An Alphabet Catastrophe

          'M is for Moose' is all, what the moose (in this book) wanted. But, wait, 'M' can be anything like 'monkey', 'mole' or a 'mouse'. This small mishap caused a big rampage in this story.

           Zebra is conducting an alphabet show (A huge line of alphabetical objects and animals are waiting behind stage). Moose is all excited to appear for 'M'. He can't wait from the time 'D is for Duck' appears. He is questioning zebra annoyingly, till 'M' comes.

Annie And The Old One - Miska Miles (1971)

ISBN 10 : 11274 99599
ISBN 13: 978 11274 99595

       (Newbery Honor - 1972, 

         California Book Awards, Juvenile, Silver  - 1971, 

         Christopher Award Winner -1972)

Beginning of the End

          "Whatever, that comes from the Earth, goes back to the Earth in the end". Is there any other precise way, to explain the inevitable death and to talk about the harmony of our world, to a child?

           Annie's little world of mesa, in the land of Navajo, is filled with her mother's weaving loom, her father's jewel-making fire and her grandmother's profound love and intimacy. Though insisted, Annie has not started to weave yet. When her mother starts to weave a new rug, the grandmother tells them that when the rug is finished, she would go to Mother Earth. The grandma, living in perfect harmony with the nature, can know of her death early.

The Hueys in 'It Wasn't Me' - Oliver Jeffers (2014)

ISBN 10 : 03992 57683
ISBN 13 : 978 03992 57681

(Note : This is the second book, with the Hueys, the oval shaped creatures, introduced in "The Hueys in the New Sweater", also by Oliver Jeffers.)

Is it me, or you?

             There are certain aspects about children's fight,

                        1) They won't know why they are fighting.

                        2) Every kid, involved in the fight, thinks that he didn't start it. 
                   

Not Just A Dot - Loryn Brantz (2014)

ISBN 10 : 16291 46226
ISBN 13 : 978 16291 46225

See The Bigger Picture

          What is a dot? It depends on from where you are seeing things. Ants are like dots, from distance. People are like dots, when seen from sky. Here is the story of a dot, who learns this.

The Very Lonely Firefly - Eric Carle (1995)

ISBN 10 : 03992 27741
ISBN 13: 978 03992 27745 

      (Note: Eric Carle has written a 'The Very' quartet, starting with 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'. This book is the last one among them.

Is it Science, or, Poetry?

     Science - Fireflies have bioluminescence. 

     Poetry   - Fireflies are little stars, that flicker.

     Apart from science and poetry, Eric Carle shows a little firefly, who is searching for a place, where it belongs. (Eric Carle's words classify that "The Very Lonely Firefly" is about belonging (to a group)).

      A lonely firefly, born at the time of sunset, sets out on a search for other fireflies.  But, the night takes the firefly to various lights such as a light bulb, a candle, a flashlight and a lantern. Even, the firefly flies towards the gleaming eyes of a dog, a cat and an owl. 

A Bean, a Stalk and a Boy Named Jack - William Joyce (2014)

ISBN 10 : 14424 73495
ISBN 13 : 978 14424 73492

Story of Jack and the Beanstalk, Kinda

   
      You gotta admit that a smallish boy and a smallish bean can achieve a lotta biggish things, after reading this book. 

   
      (Oh, my, I have been reading this book a lotta times, this past week. So my language is sorta (Oh! No!) influenced by the Brooklyn accent of this book.)

A Mountain of Friends - Kerstin Schoene (2014)

ISBN 10 :  15545 5313X
ISBN 13 : 978 15545 53136

        ( Note: This book was originally written and published in German language by Kerstin Schoene in 2013. It was translated into English by Natalie Hyde in 2014)

Penguin can fly

            Penguins are flightless birds. But, if a penguin is among a great group of friends, things might take a different turn, like in this story.

            A penguin wants to, but cannot fly. He wishes to soar through the clouds one day. No matter how hard he tries, he could not fly. Then comes this great group of friends, including you (Yes, you, as a reader, are part of the group).

Planet Kindergarten - Sue Ganz-Schmitt (2014)

ISBN 10 : 14521 18930
ISBN 13 : 978 14521 18932

3...2...1... To Planet Kindergarten

  The Countdown starts!

         3.... Suit up.

         2.... Gears up.

         1.... Heads up.

   Now................ launch into mission kindergarten.


           Well, yes, it is first day of kindergarten. This brave boy is all set to accomplish the great mission. Assigned to a commander (teacher), he takes a look at his space capsule (classroom). After some initial disagreement, he becomes friendly with a crewmate (classmate). But after some time, he cannot withstand this new atmosphere. But, it is time, he remembers the saying in NASA: "Failure is not an option".

Anansi the Spider - Gerald McDermott (1972)

ISBN 10 : 08050 0310X
ISBN 13 : 978 08050 03109

                     (Caldecott Honor - 1973)

    (Note : This is a West African folktale from the people of Ashanti, from Ghana. Kwaku Anansi is a clever trickster, who takes the form of a spider and characters of a human. He is a legendary character in many of the West African stores.)

Who kept the moon on sky?

         For ages, we have been looking upon moon at night times. But, who kept it there, in the first place? (Okay, we can forget astronomy for some time.) This enchanting folktale from Ghana gives the answer to that question.

        Kwaku Anansi (spider) has six sons. They each has an unique power and named after their power. (Their powers and names are binded in the story.) Once, when away from home, Anansi falls into a river and is eaten by a fish. 

Shape by Shape - Suse MacDonald (2009)

ISBN 10 :  14169 71475
ISBN 13 : 978 14169 71474

Who Am I?

      Rhombus shaped scales, oval head, triangle sharp teeth, crescent mouth - Who's that new monster in town? Or was he as old as mountains? 

      The first page of the book shows two cut-out circles (eyes) . In the next page, several cut-out triangles (teeth) join them. Then, a crescent shaped mouth fit over the triangles. 

Happy Endings - Robin Pulver (2011)

           Suffixes are meant to be in the end of a word (Absolutely rightful). But what would happen if they are at the beginning? (lyTotal ingconfus?)

Begin with the end
       
       Mr.Wright's students are excited, as summer vacation is nearing. When Mr.Wright is about to start teach suffixes, they are completely not in a mood for learning. So Mr.Wright announces that the endings would be tackled after the lunch. 

Nap Time - Iris De Mouy (2014)

ISBN  10 : 15549 84874

ISBN 13 : 978 15549 84879

          (Note : This book was originally written in French by the author, Iris De Mouy, in 2013. It was translated into English by Shelley Tanaka, in 2014.)

It's naptime in Savannah

       Many kids hate to hear this from mom, "It's naptime". You can expect a "I'm not tired", "I am not a small baby to sleep" etc. Finally, what is your tactic to make your little protester to nap?

        Here, a little girl has the responsibility to put animals in savannah to nap. But the animals are not making things easy(just like our little protesters). The zebra looks crossed at the talk of nap. The hyena laughs as if it heard a joke. The crocodile and hippo consider nap is just for babies (tiny little babies, to say it right). 

Give And Take - Chris Raschka (2014)

Strike the balance

ISBN 10 : 14424 16556

ISBN 13 : 978 14424 16550

       Balancing is very important to life (No, it does not refer to physical balancing).  We balance work and fun, food and diet and almost everything in life. The author-cum-illustrator Chris Raschka has enunciated another balance, 'Giving' and 'Taking', through this brilliant story.

       When a farmer (along with his dog) harvests apples from his orchard, he meets a tiny man "Take". Upon "Take's" advice, he takes lot of pumpkins from a neighbor, which he doesn't like at all. Next day, he meets another tiny man "Give". Today, he gives up all his apples and ends up with nothing.

If You Were a Dog - Jamie A. Swenson (2014)

ISBN 10 : 03743 35303

What animal are you?

       It is kind of hard to be humans, all the time, right? For a change, grab this book and mimic your way through the life of animals.

     If you were a dog, you could be a speedy-quick, frisbee catching, pillow-hogging kind of dog. If you were a fish, you could be a coral peeking, toe nibbling, wave-jumping fish. If you were a frog, you could be a giant-hopping, ribbety racing kind of frog. And there is so much of adventurous life, if you were a cat, bird, bug and dinosaur (Mm, Wow!). 

     But, do not worry, if you cannot do any of those. You can still read this book and 'Giggle, Giggle, Giggle' all the way.

      Illustrated By : Chris Raschka

      Publisher : Farrar Straus Giroux

     Classification : Funny (Pretend play)

     Age : Preschooler, Kindergartener, Grades 1 - 3

       

My Comment:

      Before starting to read this book, clear the space right around you. There is going to be some lovely actions and mimics by your kids. Teachers should clear a bigger space as this book can work great in classroom atmosphere too.

      The book is totally appealing with its so-lovely illustrations and jazzy layout. The illustrations bring out the vibration of the book in vibrant colors. The inventive vocabulary in this book is out of the world. Who could have imagined  flutter-by-er, toe-nibbler, ribbety-racer? Amazing.

      But, make sure you read this book to your kids, not around bed time. The book is so energetic and can make the kids so excited and active.(Imagine the kids stomping like a dinosaur or hopping like a frog before bedtime).

   

      Anyway, what animal would you change into, if you were given a grant? How would you act if you were really given a chance to be your favorite animal?

      Yet to Read, Best, Good, Okay? What is your 'book thought' for this book? Mark your option down.

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The Crunching Munching Caterpillar - Sheridan Cain (2000)

ISBN 10 : 04392  98008

Eat, Sleep, Dream, Fly 

           A pair of wings and a feather-light body are needed for flying. Where on earth, a caterpillar can get those, if he wishes to fly? Simple, all he has to do is crunch and munch fresh blackberry bush leaves and sleep well.

           There is a cute caterpillar who wanted to fly. The caterpillar meets a bumble bee and tells his wish. But bumblebee says that the caterpillar don't have wings and he cannot fly. Then the caterpillar meets a sparrow, who says that the caterpillar is heavy and he cannot fly.

          But finally he meets a butterfly. The butterfly asks him to sleep well and says that his dreams might come true. After eating, sleeping and Voila!, the caterpillar is now a ...........

       Illustrated By : Jack Tickle

       Publisher : Tiger Tales

       Classification : Moral (Never Let Negative Words Drown You)

                                 Emotional(Dreams & Wishes), Science(Butterfly Life cycle, Flying)

       Age : Preschooler, Kindergartener, Grades 1- 3

My Comment:

       No kid is ever going to get bored with caterpillars and butterflies. This book would be another successful example for this theory. Apart from a cute story, that any kid would love, this book has adorable layout designs and lovely pleasant illustrations:

• The bitemark at the corner of the book, similar to the marks on leaves bit by the caterpillar (I think this is only in paperback format).

• The font changes with the moods of the story, in some places: The dream version has a different font. The font of the phrase 'stretched and stretched' really stretches and stretches.

• I can see that adorable caterpillar with his lovely smile, again and again.

• The Background colors are vibrant and the exquisite illustrations can hold the attention of even impatient kids.

       In the background of this story, I can see two science lessons: 1. Life Cycle of Butterfly 2. Science of Flying. If you want, you can extend the lesson by asking what are the basic necessities for a thing to fly.

       For the love of butterflies and caterpillars, travel along with this caterpillar's life.

        What is your 'book thoughts' about this book? Best, Good, Okay or Yet to Read. Mark your options down.

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Ten, Nine, Eight - Molly Bang (1983)

ISBN 10 : 08620 31397

                           (Caldecott Honor - 1984) 

Countdown to Fall Asleep

     What could be more inviting than a cozy sleep on a winter night? Counting down, with Molly Bang's soothing narration, may make your little one's eyes to fall asleep in a breeze.

     There are ten little warm toes, nine soft cuddly friends, eight snow clad  window panes, seven tucked-in-a-row empty shoes and all the way up to one big girl who is ready to ............ZZZzzzzzzzz.

        Publisher : Greenwillow Books

        Classification : Emotional (Soothing), Numbers (Counting Down)

         Age : Preschooler, Kindergartener, Grades 1 - 3

My Comment:

        This is a very simple, soothing book, that fits perfect for the calm night time reading. Though this book involves numbers and backward counting, I consider this book effective at home, than at classrooms.

            As a Caldecott Honor book, this book exhibits cute, delightful illustrations, which shows details for careful eyes. The details may not be that important, but I wondered the illustrator's visual clarity. I awed the illustrations for this following reasons.

• All the illustrations show the same room in multiple angles and from multiple distances. (The first page shows ten toes and the second page shows nine stuffed animals from the viewpoint of ten toes)

• Whatever angle, the illustrations are, there is not even a single detail, missed out. Each detailing in the pictures are precise, regarding the angles and distances. (There are seven shoes in a page, three pairs and one shoe is alone, without a pair. In another page, the cat is chewing on the other shoe.)

• The illustrations are rich and colorful, to catch the eyes of a little kid, who is not going to worry about the details(like me).

      All being said, a cozy bedtime reading is in due, with this pacifying countdown book.

What is your 'book thoughts' about this book? Best, Good or Okay? Check your options down.

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Stuck - Oliver Jeffers (2011)

Awest(r)uck

    
         Kites always have a knack of getting stuck in trees. But things get a lot worse, for Floyd, when he tries to rescue his stuck kite.

    

        Floyd throws a shoe, to get his kite back. Sadly, the shoe also gets stuck. Then he tries another shoe, which gets stuck too. He throws a cat. Obviously, the cat gets stuck. Then a ladder, a bucket of paint, a duck, a chair and there is a whole list of other things including a boat, a house, a whale, a truck.....

The Greedy Python - Richard Buckley (1985 - First Ed.)

ISBN 10 : 0887080014

Too much of anything is good for nothing

      Overeating has never been a good thing. And that's exactly what happened to this python. He is very long and strong. Also, he is very greedy, especially when it comes to eating. 

      One day, he starts eating a mouse, then a frog and a bat. This list goes long with a fish, a bird, a porcupine and so many other animals ending with a giant elephant. Soon he feels sick and he coughs back every animal, he has eaten. 

      Being a greedy python, he has never learnt his lesson and started eating his own tail and OOPS......?

Illustrator : Eric Carle

Publisher : Picture Book USA - First Ed.

Classification : Moral, Emotional (Greedy)

Age : Preschooler, Kindergartener, Grades 1- 3

My Comment:

       This book comes from the rich combination of Eric Carle and Richard Buckley (I cannot count how many times I have read "The Foolish Tortoise" to my kids, another book from the same author and illustrator combination).

       The animal illustrations by Eric Carle are always vibrant and could catch the eyes and minds of kids (including babies and toddlers). This book gives me another opportunity to tell the same about the great illustrator.

       The narration of Richard Buckley combines mockery and rhyming, with a perfect moral. In my view, the moral works in two ways:

• My preschooler son understands it in a simple way; 'If you eat with greed, you will destroy yourself'.
• To my second grader, I explained this analogy; 'If you become greedy about anything (money, fame etc.), it would eventually destroy you' (A bigger moral for a bigger boy).

      Also, the narration of the author is direct and precise to make it understandable to even smaller kids. To sum up, this python would make a good reading time, filled with fun and moral.

      Note : This book fits toddlers also. But since the concept of a python eating himself might be heavy for that age group, I didn't mention 'toddlers' in the age group of this book.

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