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This weekend I am taking the GRE, and I CANNOT WAIT for all the studying to be over. My head is all swirly with Pythagorean theorems and tricky analogies; it makes it hard to think about anything else. Luckily, reading picture books is always a welcomed escape. This week’s most read library book was…

Little Owl Lost, by Chris Haughton

A sleepy little owl falls out of his nest while taking a snooze, and relies on the help of a clever squirrel to help reunite him with his mother. Curly loved feeling like a smarty pants as she correctly pointed out the squirrel’s incorrect “mother” candidates (a frog can’t be the owl’s mommy!), and giggled happily every time baby and mommy owl hugged at the end. Little Owl Lost has wonderfully bold yet emotionally subtle illustrations, and, as a dessert-crazy household, we loved seeing all the animals take a cookie break at the end.

But library rentals can’t last forever. Here are the titles we stuffed into our Tinkerbell backpack today. Which one will be our most-read pick of the week?

Piggy Pie Po, by Audrey and Don Wood

Before You Were Mine, by Maribeth Boelts

Betsy Red Hoodie, by Gail Carson Levine

1 Zany Zoo, by Lori Degman

Yuck! That’s Not a Monster!, by Angela McAllister

Have you read any of the above titles? Vote for your favorite in the comments,

It’s been a rough week; everyone in the family seems to be taking turns getting sick. That, in combination with my constant studying for the GRE, has led to much less iPad time (I know– the horrors!) But, we always have time for the library. This week’s most read library book was…

Little Mouse’s Big Valentine, by Thacher Hurd

Poor Little Mouse. He took the time to make a giant valentine, but all his super snobby animal friends don’t want the burden of having such a large paper heart in their homes. Who rejects a valentine?? Crazy people, that’s who. In the end though, Little Mouse finds a lady friend who happily accepts his creative gesture. Curly really seems to have a thing for rodents (I’ve seen Ratatouille waaaaaay too many times), so she enjoyed rereading Little Mouse’s adventures, even if his little heart was repeatedly stepped on.

But library rentals can’t last forever. Here are the titles we stuffed into our Tinkerbell backpack today. Which one will be our most-read pick of the week?

In Front of My House, by Marianne Dubuc

Little Owl Lost, by Chris Haughton

That’s Not Funny!, by Adrian Johnson

Wow! It Sure is Good to be You!, by Cynthia Jabar

The Patterson Puppies and the Rainy Day, by Leslie Patricelli

The Greasy Screen is all about reading, whether the words be printed on a page or illuminated on a screen, and every week my daughter and I head to our local library for the shenanigans of toddler story time, and to check out a stack of books. This week’s most read library book was…

Ducking for Apples, written by Lynne Berry, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata

I have to say I’m a little envious of the quintuplet of ducks in Ducking for Apples. Not only do they get to enjoy a carefree bike ride on a beautiful afternoon, but they also get to feast on homemade apple pie before snuggling down for a nice nap. That sounds like the perfect day right now, as we’ve been trapped by a fortress of cold here in Chicago. Curly and I rode bikes all summer, and we’re both longing to spend some time outside without the fear of frostbite. Ducking for Apples has adorable rhymes and cuddly illustrations, and the best part is, there’s a whole series of Duck stories! I can guarantee we’ll be checking out the rest soon.

But library rentals can’t last forever. Here are the titles we stuffed into our Tinkerbell backpack today. Which one will be our most-read pick of the week?

Roslyn Rutabaga and the Biggest Hole on Earth!, by Marie-Louise Gay

Laurie, by Elfi Nijssen

Oscar and the Cricket, by Geoff Waring

Holler Loudly, by Cynthia Leitich Smith

The Greasy Screen is all about reading, whether the words be printed on a page or illuminated on a screen, and every week my daughter and I head to our local library for the shenanigans of toddler story time, and to check out a stack of books. This week’s most read library book was…

Dotty, written by Erica S. Perl, illustrated by Julia Denos

Dotty is about a young girl named Ida, who brings her imaginary friend Dotty to school everyday. Many of her classmates bring their friendly creatures to class too, but as the year continues, Ida finds she is the last one to hold on to such a “babyish” game. Or is she?

I personally never had an imaginary friend, but I fiercely believed my stuffed animals and toy figurines were alive, so I would makes little beds for them out of kleenex and leaves inside my school desk. The spirit of imagination is displayed beautifully in Dotty, and for a little toddler who is just opening her mind to all things magical, this book was perfection.

But library rentals can’t last forever. Here are the titles we stuffed into our Tinkerbell backpack today. Which one will be our most-read pick of the week?

Dinosaur vs. The Potty, by Bob Shea

Zero Kisses for Me, by Virginie Soumagnac

Four Friends in the Garden, by Sue Heap

Because of You, by B. G. Hennessy

Elsie’s Bird, by Jane Yolen

Have you read any of the above t

The Greasy Screen is all about reading, whether the words be printed on a page or illuminated on a screen, and every week my daughter and I head to our local library for the shenanigans of toddler story time, and to check out a stack of books. This week’s most read library book was…

Wanted: The Perfect Pet, by Fiona Roberton

Wanted: The Perfect Pet is about a boy named Henry who hopes to find what he considers the perfect pet (in his mind’s eye, it’s a dog). A lonely duck decides if he tries real hard, he could be the perfect pet for Henry, even if he does have to pretend to be a canine. I could have cried on the pages describing the duck’s solitary existence, watching him wait for mail that never comes, and play ping pong all by himself. Curly noticed his sadness too, pointing to a tiny tear on the duck’s cheek. “He’s crying!” she said, and then made a sad face. The book has a super happy ending though, and the message of acceptance is definitely touching.

But library rentals can’t last forever. Here are the titles we stuffed into our Tinkerbell backpack today. Our story time had a holiday theme this week, so I decided to pick some Christmas books to help get Curly excited for the big day (we waved to Santa at the mall, and I think she was confused as to why we were greeting a random, white-bearded man). Which one will be our most-read pick of the week?

Hurry, Santa!, by Julie Sykes

Toot and Puddle: Let it Snow, by Holly Hobbie

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, by Clement C. Moore

Olivia Helps with Christmas, by Ian Falconer

The Greasy Screen is all about reading, whether the words be printed on a page or illuminated on a screen, and every week my daughter and I head to our local library for the shenanigans of toddler story time, and to check out a stack of books. This week’s most read library book was…

Willoughby and the Moon, by Greg Foley

With just one look, it’s clear that Willoughby and the Moon is something special. The pages are infused with metallic finishes, giving every scene an other-worldly feel. But the story wasn’t all science-fictiony like I’d assumed; instead, it’s simply a fun adventure on the face of the moon, looking for a lost play ball. My favorite page was an incredibly detailed map of the moon; I wish I could frame and hang it in my house somewhere. After reading this story, I learned there is another Willoughby book… to be found on a future library trip, perhaps?

But library rentals can’t last forever. Here are the titles we stuffed into our Tinkerbell backpack today. Which one will be our most-read pick of the week?

The Purple Kangaroo, by Michael Ian Black

The Little Yellow Leaf, by Carin Berger

King and King, by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland

In a Blue Room, by Jim Averbeck

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