Everything Goes on Land
written and illustrated by Brian Biggs
Balzer & Bray, 2011
picture book

A little boy and his mother drive towards their home in a busy city, surrounded by all kinds of vehicles – hatchbacks, convertible sports cars, taxicabs, jeeps, fish trucks, tow trucks, bulldozers, ambulances, a pennyfarthing, mountain bikes, and the subway system below. The pages are filled with colorful cartoon-like illustrations, and plenty of eye-candy for young readers.

Every other two page layout shows the inner workings of a vehicle such as the parts of a car on one, or an 18-wheeler diagram on another.

Look for the hidden numbers 1 to 100 while you’re reading the book. Or go back and search for them another time through.

Go to the Everything Goes website for a road trip kit, more activities, car games, and info about cars.

Watch the BOOK TRAILER.

Browse INSIDE the book.

More book are coming in this series – Everything Goes in the Air arrives in fall 2012 and Everything Goes in the Sea in fall 2013.

Book Play: Make your own duct tape city for pretend play with your own cars and trucks.

One Foot Two Feet
An EXCEPTIONal Counting Book
G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2011
picture book

Children will love this bright and cheerful peek-through number book. The cartoon-like illustrations depict feet, bunnies, geese, snowman, octopi — all images which are sure to engage a young reader.

Each page, at the bottom, shows all the previous objects so kids can remember what they’ve already seen. And, see if you can find the airplane in each page!

Book Play: Read other counting books then fill your day with counting – steps, bites, fingers, clouds . . .

Light Up the Night
written by Jean Reidy, illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine
Disney Hyperion, 2011
picture book

It’s been a busy few years for talented Colorado children’s book author, Jean Reidy. She recently published the delightful Too Purpley!, and Too Pickley!, and on October 11, her new book, Light Up the Night, arrives in stores. It’s a book that is sure to become a bedtime favorite.

The colorful, bold illustrations and soothingly rhyming, cumulative text shows a child’s special place in the world and reminds us that even as large as the world is, we each have our place in the universe.

The book begins as a pajama-clad boy gets tucked-in but doesn’t go to sleep right away. Instead, he imagines his blanket as a rocket shooting up to the stars where he places himself in different geographic scenarios (planet, stars, continent, country) with the repeated phrase, “in my own little piece in the universe.”

“This is me, in my cozy bed, under my blanket, white and red, right here in my room, inside my house, on my street, in my town, part of my country, here on my continent, on half the Earth, circling the sun, while stars glow bright and light up the night . . . in my own little piece of the universe.“

You can pre-order the book today and support this fantastic Colorado author!

Reidy is holding an online auction November 7-18 to benefit literacy in Africa and a library at Musana Children’s Home in Iganga, Uganda. The auction will be called LIGHT UP THE LIBRARY. Reidy says that if you have something you might like to donate to the auction, you can do so via her Auction Donor Form.

Book Play: Go to Google Earth and find your own place in the universe. Draw a picture of your bedroom with you in it or a map of your neighborhood.

0 Comments on A Beautiful Bedtime Book For Kids as of 9/16/2011 9:13:00 PM

Earth to Clunck
written by Pam Smallcomb, illustrated by Joe Berger
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2011
picture book

When his teacher, Mr. Zookian, assigns pen pals from other planets with the direction to send something from Earth, our young, blond-haired narrator with an attitude, sends his older sister to his pen pal, Clunk from the planet Quazar,

“THAT will teach him to have a pen pal from Earth,” he asserts.

Clunk sends him back a Zoid. Whatever that is.

So, our narrator sends Clunk his dirty socks.

To which Clunk replies with three Forps. Who smell like dog food.

Back and forth go the not-so-lovely pen pal exchanges until mom demands older sister gets sent back from Quazar.

Clunk returns the sister with a glob and a note that changes everything and you can look forward to a friendship and a visit from Clunk.

My kids thought this book was very entertaining.

Book Play: Ask a distant friend with kids if you could partner up to be pen pals. Send your pen pal a postcard from your state.

The Mommy Docs’ Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy and Birth
written by Yvonne Bohn, MD, Allison Hill, MD, Alane Park, MD
Da Capo, 2011
parenting, non-fiction

I’m impressed by how much information this book gives moms-to-be! I especially like that the book doesn’t end with delivery but continues on with a section called “The Fourth Trimester.” I distinctly remember holding my newborn infant thinking, “Why didn’t I read any books on what happens now?” This book, unlike other pregnancy books, would have solved that issue. Which is just one of the reasons I’d recommend this book to anyone who is pregnant.

Also, there are chapters on complications, high-risk pregnancies and coping with “curveballs” like unsolicited advice, relationship issues, and work-related issues. Because this book is written by medical doctors, the information is solid medically which I appreciate.

Watch these doctors on their show, Deliver Me, on the Oprah network and read more advice on their blog.

WIN a copy of Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy and Birth! E-mail your name and address (to make book delivery faster) to [email protected] with “Ultimate Guide” in the subject line. We will randomly select one lucky winner to receive a copy of the book. Deadline for entry is midnight MST on September 30, 2011.

Thankyouplease
written by Pierre Winters, illustrated by Barbara Ortelli
Clavis, 2011
picture book

Six year old Nina wears her hair in braids, is often grumpy, and talks back to her mommy. One day, when Nina is outside calming down she hears a voice calling to her from a hole in a tree. She peers in and discovers the Circus of Good Manners led by the Ringmaster named Thankyouplease.

Inside the tree at the circus, the acrobatic men performing on the beam turn somersaults and say “Good morning!” “Good afternoon!” and “Goodnight!” When Nina joins in, she copies what they say. The ringmaster explains to Nina that using those words is the nicest way to greet people. Nina watches more performers, eats cotton candy, and learns more lessons. When she returns home, Nina is a changed little girl. She says kind things say to her mommy and apologizes to her dog, Hugo.

We love this imaginative story of Nina, a girl to whom we can relate. This book is a favorite for bedtime stories!

Book Play: Play Simon Says with good manners words like “please” and “thank you.”

Pretend play using good manners with stuffed animals or dolls.

Dream Something Big
The Story of the Watts Towers
written by  Dianna Hutts Aston, illustrated by Susan L. Roth
Penguin, 2011
picture book, non-fiction

In the 1920s, Simon Rodia aka Uncle Sam, an Italian immigrant living in Watts, California, starts to create a structure of found objects. He builds his structure using rebar, cement, broken tiles, shells, bits of pottery, and whatever else he finds. He works for 34 years building what becomes colorful, beautiful mosaic spires now called the Watts Towers. When he’s done, Rodia walks away, never to be seen again. But, his legacy can still be seen today, and is captured in this beautiful book of collage illustrations and story told from the perspective of a little girl watching Uncle Sam work. It is an inspiring story of a big dream that you won’t forget.

Book Play: Build your own Watts Tower.

Dear Teacher
written and illustrated by Amy Husband
Sourcebooks, 2010
picture book

Young Michael is NOT looking forward to school. So, he writes many imaginative letters to his teacher explaining why he won’t be attending.

In one letter, he’s just recently rescued someone off of Mount Everest and then searched for treasure in Egypt and that’s why he’ll be late for school.

Michael sends a ripped telegram explaining about looking for treasure in the Amazon, living off beetles and spiders, and how the hippo ate his compass.

Did I mention he was also attacked by pirates?

“Dear Teacher,

I might be a bit late for the first day of school. The weirdest thing happened today. The head of the secret service turned up! They need me for a special secret mission to find a missing explorer. I did mention the math test, but he just said that the future of the country depends on me. I couldn’t say no. Sorry Miss Brooks.

From,

Michael

P.S. Bruno is coming with me—he makes a good bloodhound.

P.P.S. The stuff I told you is TOP SECRET, so please eat this letter.”

This entertaining book is perfect for the beginning of school — and the best letter is the last, a postcard from the zoo field trip to his mom and dad where he explains that he’ll be staying at the zoo to work with the wild animals.

Book Play: Write your own excuse notes, letters, postcards, and telegrams to your teacher! Illustrate and bind into a book like Dear Teacher.