Reading – we all recognise it as a core skill. By ‘intelligent reading’, I mean reading with a level of comprehension commensurate with the child’s experience of the world they inhabit. Fortunately, reading to children is now encouraged as being supportive of reading literacy and as a sound foundation for future learning.
Not that long ago, children were seen as passive recipients of the eager parent’s input via the quality time spent in ‘read to me’ and ‘bedtime story’ sessions.
I always felt sure my children were taking in much more than the professional opinion allowed.
Recently, I borrowed a copy of Dr. Virginia Lowe’s very excellent book, “Stories, Pictures and Reality: Two children tell” (Routlege 2007) based on the record of her own two children’s responses to books from birth to adolescence. Dr. Lowe’s book vindicates what I felt all along as a parent! This book should be set reading for students of primary, early childhood and remedial teaching, child and family psychology and for anyone with an interest in literacy!
Her children had a smorgasbord of stories proffered continuously, both Dr Lowe and her husband being librarians who were passionate advocates of children’s literature. The children’s reactions to and responses concerning elements of story and illustrations provide a wonderfully insightful peek into the psyche of the child. Both Lowe children clearly had a blessed and privileged childhood, but being ‘read to’ is within the reach of most children. Public libraries and school libraries are accessible to most families. Even if parental work commitments make a nightly ‘reading’ impossible, there are weekends and visits to grandparents when a ‘storytelling’ session can be included in the agenda.
There are other options.
Storytelling sessions are held regularly in many public libraries and are ‘free’.
And online resources such as “Ripple Reader” and “A Story Before Bed” provide a way for even absent grandparents and parents to read to their children. In the USA and Israel, ‘bedtime stories’ are part of official early education policy. Programmes like “Reach Out and Read” and “Read to Me” do a monumental job in promoting literacy and the power of storytime to be a deeply meaningful and bonding time in families.
by Clemency Pearce
Illustrated by Rebecca Elliott
ISBN 10/13: 0545314267 | 9780545314268
Category: Children's Picture Book
Keywords: Children, picture book, bedtime, Halloween, spooky
Format: Hardcover
Source: Library
Thuy's review:
Frangoline is a girl who is good during the day but loves to sneak out of her bedroom at night to explore the world and the creatures in it. As Frangoline runs wild, the wise moon looks on, reminding her that children should be in bed at night, not out having adventures. But Frangoline does not heed the moon's advice, instead doing as she pleases.
Unfortunately, her nighttime fun wakes the dead, who come crawling out to see what all the noise is about. Suddenly being outside in the dark isn't so fun and Frangoline longs to be in her safe bed. Will she escape the dark creatures of the night? You'll have to read it to find out.
Frangoline and the Midnight Dream is a sweet little picture book that would be perfect to read during Halloween. With charming illustrations and a fun, rhyming story, children and adults alike will have a good time following Frangoline on her midnight adventure.
Pearce's word play and use of rhyme gives the story a great flow and it almost seems to bounce along the page with Frangoline. Though I enjoyed the story, the illustrations were my favorite part. They are super cute and a little "dark" but in a non-scary way.
This might be a good book for the child that likes to avoid bedtime. It also stands alone as a fun read. If you like your picture books a little spooky, definitely pick up Frangoline and the Midnight Dream.
We’re lucky in our house. Our daughter’s bedtime is usually pretty smooth and often winds up being a wonderful end to the day. My wife and I rotate reading to Tessa before bed, but I often try my best to beat her to the comfy papasan chair where we do our bedtime reads.
No matter what books you choose to read at night, the most important thing about bedtime reading isn’t necessarily the books, but rather consistency. We have found that our daughter really does well with a routine and when we stick to it, she transitions so much better. When we’ve had problems around bedtime, we’ll have often ask Tessa, “Do you want to go night-night?,” and it’s amazing because she’ll usually respond with a “Yes.” That blows our minds when it happens, but believe me, we appreciate how our little 2 year-old has been able to express that when she’s struggling late in the day.
We also may be a bit unusual in our home because we read for quite a long time before bed. Reading for 20-30 minutes is pretty normal for us so we often read between 6 and 10 books a couple of times each. Right now, we have a really good selection of books for bedtime reading. Some are specifically about bedtime, but others are just some of Tessa’s favorites.
Here’s our current bedtime reading list:
* A favorite for us right now is just about anything by Sandra Boynton
. We have a whole collection of her books given to us by a friend whose kids were too old for them. Too old for Sandra Boynton? I don’t believe it, because I love reading her probably just as much as my daughter loves listening to and looking at them.
Here’s what we usually read:
The Going to Bed Book - An arkful of animals preparing for sleep. An upbeat yet mesmerizing book for little ones who are
Nighttime is the right time for reading, and here are three fun titles to share at bedtime.
Night Lights
by Susan Gal
To be able to appreciate its charm, think of this book as a wordless picture book that happens to contain a little bit of text. The story is entirely in the pictures, with the words pointing out the various lights seen at night - like headlight, firelight, and flashlight. The story is of a girl and her mother biking home in the city, having a cookout and birthday cake in the backyard, and then the girl going to bed. Simple enough. But allow lingering over the illustrations to see the way the lantern light shines differently on the faces than the firelight. Notice the marshmallows that go outside in the lantern light, are forgotten in the lightning storm, and attract surprise visitors in the spotlight. Delight in the use of real fabric, elaborate patterns, and children's drawings to add depth to the drawings. Even the endpapers have a little story. Wonderful, gentle book for toddlers and preschoolers.
Scaredy Squirrel at Night
by Melanie Watt
Scaredy Squirrel is here in his fourth book, as charming as ever. He can't sleep because he is afraid of bad dreams in the form of bats, dragons, and polka-dot monsters. He stays up, but experiences many negative side effects of not sleeping. He faces the problem with preparations that involve cupcakes, banana peels, and a fire extinguisher. Will his plan allow him to get a good night sleep? Of course, but the fun is in how. Funny, silly, adorable, and clever the book quietly contains a message about the importance of a good night sleep along with the series theme of maybe not needing to worry so much. Delightful book that will be enjoyed by the preschool set and up.
I Need My Monster
by Amanda Noll, illustrated by Howard McWilliam
When Gabe is ready to go to sleep, he needs his monster under the bed. Unfortunately, his monster took off on vacation, leaving Gabe to interview possible candidates. But each one is rejected for not having loud breathing or sharp claws or a slimy tail. It's only Gabe's monster who is scary enough - in a good way, understand - to keep him from getting out of bed at night. This is a great take on the traditional monster-under-the-bed story where kids conquer their fears of this beast. Here the story embraces t
4 stars What child has not feared monsters under the bed? Chester Raccoon is no different. When he goes to bed in the afternoon, the sun is up, and it throws shadows against the floor and walls of his bedroom. Chester thinks these shadows are animals that could harm him. He cannot go to sleep, [...]
By:
Gigi Moore,
on 9/8/2011
Blog:
Gigi's Studio
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Children's Illustrations,
Illustrations,
In From My Studio…,
Work in Progress,
animal,
bed,
bedroom,
bedtime,
birdcage,
bookshelf,
cat,
children's illustration,
curtains,
digital,
dog,
doll,
flowers,
girl,
illustration,
illustrator,
in from my studio,
moon,
night,
nighttime,
people,
photoshop,
sky,
toy,
whimsical,
wishing,
Add a tag
Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters. Jane Yolen. Illustrated by Kelly Murphy. 2011. Candlewick Press. 32 pages.
Monsters creep, monsters crawl,
Over the meadow and up the wall.
Monsters run, monsters stumble,
Monsters hip-hop, Monsters tumble,
Monsters slither, monsters wave,
All in a hurry to get to their cave...
It is time for these monsters to go to bed...but are they ready to go to bed without a fight?!
I like this one. It was fun. It is definitely not your cute-little-bunnies-getting-all-ready-for-bed bedtime story book. Which is a nice change! Is it my favorite bedtime book ever? Of course not. But I think it's a fun little book that you and your little ones might enjoy!
Text: 3 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 6 out of 10
© 2011 Becky Laney of Young Readers
By:
smmorris,
on 4/10/2012
Blog:
Kid Lit Reviews
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
5stars,
A to Z Challenge 2012,
Children's Books,
Favorites,
Library Donated Books,
bedtime,
children's book,
families,
hugs,
kisses,
parent-child,
Add a tag
A to Z Challenge Day 9: I 5 stars I’m Not Tired Yet! has six-year-old Ralphie inventing every excuse to delay his bedtme. His perceptive mom, however, sees his stalling as her invitation to engage Ralphie in a silly series of kisses, hugs, pinches, and pokes—all inspired by his favorite animals and each leaving the [...]
In many houses, going to bed is anything but a fun experience.
There are objections, arguments, tears and fears.
Jammy Dance (Farrar Straus Giroux, 2012) by Rebecca Janni and Tracy Dockray puts a happy spin on the bedtime ritual. The book features a brother and sister who, with a little help from Mom and Dad, dance their way into bed.
Today’s reviewer, Abby, has a brother, so she just might try her own jammy dance one night. (Although, as you’ll see below, the part of the book that really made an impression on her was the illustration of the dog drinking out of the toilet!)
Take it away, Abby!
—————–
Our reviewer: Abby
Age: 4.5
Things I like to do: Read books. Play with Mommy. Have play dates with Sienna.
This book was about: The jammy dance to help the brother and sister get ready for bed.
The best part was when: They jammy danced.
I smiled when: The dog was crushing the dolls.
I was surprised when: The dog was licking the potty water.
This book taught me: How to get ready for bed in a happy way.
Three words that best describe this book: “Dirty.” (The kids’ room was messy!) “Fun.” “Nice.”
My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “I love you.” (Editor’s note: This phrase isn’t actually in the book, but that’s what Abby remembers. And love is certainly an underlying theme of the book.)
My favorite picture in this book is: The dog drinking the potty water.
Other kids reading this book should watch for: The dog licking the potty water and the messy room.
You should read this book because: It’s fun!
—————–
Thank you, Abby!
If you’d like to learn more about author Rebecca Janni (who has had two other books reviewed on this blog by two different kids — Sonia and Brooke) you can visit her website.
If you’d like to learn more about illustrator Tracy Dockray, you can visit this site.
I have just published a new kindle book, a companion volume to
Happy Animals,
Sleepy Animals is a bedtime book with simple rhyming text. As you say Goodnight to each animal and turn the page the animal goes to sleep and the stars come out in the sky. On some devices this can have the effect of a simple animation, which adds to the charm.
Here are some pictures of the Sleepy Animals!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW SAMPLE ON AMAZON.COMCLICK HERE TO VIEW SAMPLE ON AMAZON.CO.UK
Mama’s Bayou by Dianne de Las Casas, illustrated by Holly Stone-Barker
Take a sound-filled tour through the bayou as the animals that live there prepare to sleep. Using the repeated phrase of “Mama’s by you on the bayou” the book moves from animal to animal offering the sounds they make. Crickets chirp, frogs slurp, snakes hiss, mosquitoes (skeeters) buzz, and more. Every few pages, there is a double-spread given over just to the accumulated noises of the animals. These small breaks in the pattern of the book keep it from being too rhythmic and also give readers a place to pause and consider the noises of the night.
De Las Casas has written a book that is a lullaby directly from the bayou to you. Her use of repetition is nicely done. Also the cumulative nature of the animal noises makes for a fun read. Stone-Barker’s illustrations are done in cut paper collages. The papers have dimension and texture, offering a depth that is exciting. She also uses deep colors of night very successfully.
A lovely way to celebrate the sounds of the night whether listening to the mosquitoes in the bayou or all the way north in Wisconsin. We do have fewer crocodiles though. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
Reviewed from copy received from Pelican Publishers.
Who's that Snoring? A Pull-the-Tab Bedtime Book. Jason Chapman. 2010. January 2010. Simon & Schuster. 12 pages.
It was quiet in the barn. Everyone was fast asleep. Then someone started snoring--it was loud and very deep.
Someone in the barn is snoring! And that snoring is waking up animals here, there, and everywhere. Can these animals work together to find out WHO is snoring?!
Each spread has a pull-tab for young readers. These tabs show the farm animals waking up one by one. And sometimes they look very grumpy. As more and more animals join the search...it becomes very noisy, very quickly!
If you enjoy books with lots of animal sounds, farm animal sounds, then this one might be just right for you!
© Becky Laney of
Young Readers
Sleepy ABC. By Margaret Wise Brown. Illustrated By Karen Katz. Text, 1953. Illustrations, 2010. HarperCollins. 40 pages.
Karen Katz illustrates Margaret Wise Brown's Sleepy ABC. I was not familiar with this Brown title. Brown is of course best known for her books Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny. This one is fairly obvious--an alphabet bedtime book.
A is for Aaaah when a small kitten sighs
B is for Baaaaaa when the lambs close their eyes
C is for Caw when the last crow crows
D is for Dreams and the Dark Wind that blows
E is for Eyes that all must close--the child's, the rabbit's, and the rose.
F is for Feet that won't fall asleep
G is for Grazing of sleepy sheep
I thought this one was just okay. (It's not as fun as the Katz book writes herself.) Part of me is relieved to find that
SLJ didn't find much to praise in this one either.
© Becky Laney of
Young Readers
I've been putting my toddler to bed this week, and reading him quiet books has thrown me into an early snooze-fest! I get so relaxed reading the same books, in a hushed and slow rhythm that I'm unable to wake up - at 8pm!
On the current playlist is the above lovely pop-up, illustrated by our very own PBJ Alicia Padron. All Year Round is so sweet, and soft - even the pop ups are soothing. We've ended our reading on this book the past few nights.
We're also reading:
Rolie Polie Olie, by William Joyce
The Wheels on the Bus, by Annie Kubler
I'll see you in the morning, by Mike Jolley, Illustrated by Mique Moriuchi
Does this happen to other parents? Do you find yourself nodding off with your little ones?
When the World is Ready for Bed. Gillian Shields. Illustrated by Anna Currey. 2009. Bloomsbury. 32 pages.
When the world
Is ready for bed,
The sky grows dark,
The sun glows red.
The little flowers
Shut their eyes,
The night birds sing
Their lullabies.
Supper's ready
In the pot--
Come and eat it
While it's hot.
When the World Is Ready for Bed is a sweet, gentle bedtime book. It's written in rhyme. (But the rhymes are nicely done.) It makes for a rhythmic read aloud, it flows easily. In the book, readers meet a family of bunnies. Cute, adorable bunnies who are getting ready to go to bed. What's involved in their nightly routine? The usual. Taking a bath. Brushing teeth. Putting on pajamas. And the all-important bedtime story!
It's a sweet book, a cute book. It may not appeal to
every reader. But I liked it.
© Becky Laney of
Young Readers
Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late. Mo Willems. 2006. Hyperion. 40 pages.
Oh, good, it's you. Listen, it's getting late and I need to brush my teeth. Can you do me a favor? Don't let the pigeon stay up late! Thanks.
This is the fourth Pigeon book I've read. The others include The Pigeon Wants A Puppy, The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog, and Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. While I don't love Willems' Pigeon books as much as his Elephant and Piggie series, it still has something great to offer--humor!
The Pigeon is great at making excuses. And arguing. He's clever like that. As you probably guessed, in this book, Pigeon has dozens of reasons why he is not going to bed just yet. He's NOT TIRED, not even a little bit. And it's just not fair that he can't stay up longer! My favorite part? When Pigeon says:
Hey, hey! Ho, ho! This here Pigeon just won't go!
I would definitely recommend this series!
© Becky Laney of
Young Readers
Maisy Goes to Bed. A Maisy Lift-the-Flap Classic. Lucy Cousins. 2010. September 2010. Candlewick Press. 16 pages.
It's time for Maisy to go to bed.
Maisy has a bedtime drink.
Maisy goes to the potty then washes her hands.
I haven't always been a big Maisy fan. But I really, really liked this one. (Much like I really, really liked
Maisy's Book of Things That Go.) I think this may be my favorite Maisy yet. I think it is because of the attention to detail. There are so many small details that make this one work. So many interactive features that make this one fun. Like the fact that you can make Maisy drink a glass of juice. Like the fact that you can make her brush her teeth. Like the fact that you can read Maisy's bedtime book. Little things really like unrolling the toilet paper, putting the plug in the bathroom sink, turning on the water faucets, etc.
© Becky Laney of
Young Readers
Sleepy, Oh So Sleepy by Denise Fleming. 2010. August 2010. Henry Holt. 32 pages.
Tiny baby panda,
sleepy, oh so sleepy.
Tiny baby ostrich,
sleepy, oh so sleepy.
Tiny baby lion,
sleepy, oh so sleepy.
Where is my sleepy baby?
In Sleepy, Oh So Sleepy, young readers meet many baby animals who are sleepy before finally meeting the young (human) baby in the closing pages.
I loved this one. I just LOVED it. I love the gentleness of it, the sweetness. The rhythm. The repetition. It's predictable, yes, and simple. But that is just what it should be.
A good bedtime book should make you sleepy, should make you yawn. (Like my all-time favorite Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book.) This one worked for me--both the illustrations and the writing.
© Becky Laney of Young Readers
Do you have a love/hate relationship with bedtime? It’s a cozy time to snuggle and read a book with the kids, but it’s also when they refuse to settle down to sleep. Mom, can I sleep in your bed? Dad, can I have a glass of water? Could you fluff my pillow? Can we read one more book? Please? Five more minutes? Pretty please with sugar on top?
Ey yi yi. It’s enough to drive any mama hen wild! And it does in Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen’s new picture book, Chicks Run Wild.
In her Coop Sweet Coop, Mama has five chicks to put to bed. She tucks them in, gives them each a peck goodnight, but when she closes the door, they leap out of bed and cause a riotous ruckus. Feathers fly and Mama’s patience wears thin.
At first Mama scolds her chicks, but when she realizes her little ones are not ready for dreamland, she does something unexpected. Chicks Run Wild lets both parents and kids know it’s okay to break the rules every once in a while.
With a bright and cheery color palate, Ward Jenkins creates an adorable brood of five chicks with distinct personalities. One chick always has one eye opened, awaiting Mama’s departure. And there’s other fun details, like a spoof of the Beatles’ album cover Abbey Road, and Mama’s favorite read, Gone with the Wing. Sudipta’s jaunty rhyme makes you want to get up and shake your tail feathers with the family.
Bedtime is going to be a lot more fun with Chicks Run Wild. When your kids ask to read one more book, you’ll happily pick this one.
Want it? Sure you do!
Chicks Run Wild
Story by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen
Illustrations by Ward Jenkins
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
January, 2010
9 Comments on Picture Book Review: CHICKS RUN WILD!, last added: 1/16/2011
Interrupting Chicken. David Ezra Stein. 2010. [August 2010] Candlewick Press. 40 pages.
It was bedtime for the little red chicken.
"Okay, my little chicken," said Papa. "Are you all ready to go to sleep?"
"Yes, Papa! But you forgot something."
"What's that?" asked Papa.
"A bedtime story!"
I loved this one. I just LOVED this one. It's funny. It's sweet. It's
just right in all the right ways. Papa is happy to read a story--or two or three--to his little chicken. But. He does wish she wouldn't interrupt him while he reads. What kind of interruptions are we talking about? Well, Little Chicken just *has* to warn Hansel and Gretel that the old woman with a candy house is a witch. And then there's the warning to Little Red Riding Hood about talking to strangers. And, of course, the warning to Chicken Little telling him NOT to panic--it was just an acorn. With each abbreviated fairy story, Little Chicken is failing to get even a little sleepy. Will Papa ever get his little one to bed? Then they get an idea! What if Little Chicken were to tell a story to Papa?! Would that make her sleepy?!
As I said, I LOVED this one. I liked the fairy tale theme. I liked the storytelling theme. It was a clever book that is beautifully illustrated.
© 2011 Becky Laney of
Young Readers
Tell Me the Day Backwards by Albert Lamb, illustrated by David McPhail
Released March 22, 2011
Timmy Bear and Mama play a game before he goes to sleep. They tell each other their day backwards. The story they tell one another is filled with special moments together like watching the sunset and having a picnic. Then there are moments of fear, and told backwards they make it even more of an event. The story builds nicely as readers discover exactly what led to Timmy Bear jumping from a high rock into the river. The story ends as it began, with Timmy Bear in bed and Mama at his side, creating a beautiful circle of a story.
Lamb’s writing here has such a gentle feel, it is perfect for a bedtime story. The adventure portion in the middle keeps this from being too soft and gentle, adding a great story arc to the book that is sure to have young readers listening intently. The exchanges between Mama and Timmy in the book have a touch of humor and a great deal of love.
McPhail’s art captures the story with his usual style. His illustrations are soft watercolors that work for both the active portions of the book and the slower parts. He manages to capture so much emotion, action and movement in only a few lines. The illustrations are simple and lovely.
This book belongs in every library and will make a wonderful gift book for toddlers who just may have similar adventures in a given day. After reading the book it is impossible not to want to tell your day backwards, so if sharing with a group, you may have to have an activity of writing or drawing their day backwards. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
Reviewed from ARC received from Candlewick.
.jpeg?picon=3655)
.jpg?picon=696)
Mom says:
by Jonathan Bean is about a girl who can't sleep. Instead, she takes her pillows and goes up to her rooftop garden to enjoy the cool night air where she can imagine herself in the wide world and relax. It is a bit of an urban camping trip. What I love: the lovely watercolor artwork starts local, focusing up close on the girl and her journey up to the rooftop, then expands out to the wider landscape of the city and the water and bridges and lights. It is a lovely representation of the rooftop world of the city, which can be a refreshing, green haven in the summer for those who live in apartments. I also love the way the girl's mom follows her up to the top to watch over her without the girl ever knowing.
this does sound perfect for halloween! great review!