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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,
Oh My Baby, Little One written by Kathi Applet and illustrated by Jane Dyer
One of my favorite books about love is Oh My Baby, Little One, which follows a momma and baby bird as they go through their day without each other, yet still in each other’s hearts. We see the momma go to work, while the little bird goes to school, and both have tiny hearts peeking out of their pockets to symbolize how love stays with you even in absence. I loved this book when my mom gave it to me before I left for college (a very emotional transition… for both of us!), and I love it now, reading it to my own daughter. My heart always swells as I read about the love between a momma and her baby, for I can think of nothing sweeter.
Title: Human Body Detectives: The Lucky Escape
Author: Dr. Heather Manley, N.D.
Publisher: PicPocket Books
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: Two sisters learn about the digestive system through an imaginative adventure.
Features:
- Read Aloud
- Musical Score
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: In The Lucky Escape, two sisters take an imaginative trip through their baby brother Robbie’s digestive track and learn about tummy troubles from the inside out. After Robbie swallows a penny, his stomach churns in pain, and the sisters get an up close and personal look at everything from stomach acid to gas bubbles.
There were a lot of things I really liked about this eBook. The narration voices are provided by actual kids, which gave an authentic touch to the whole experience. It was cute to hear young voices pronounce big words like “peristalsis.” The music and sounds effects also really added to the suspense and feel of the story as well, especially when the girls were sliding through the small intestines. One major drawback for me was the lack of illustrations throughout. Though there were some great drawings, they were only occasionally sprinkled in, and never with the text on the same page. The lack of visuals made it tough for Curly to stay connected to the story, though truthfully the content was probably a bit over her head anyway.
Any story that puts a creative spin on challenging topics is a winner for me. Though it lacked in illustrations, The Lucky Escape told a tale that was equally amusing and educational, which is quite a feat in itself.
Title: Just Birds
Publisher: Bookpx
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $3.99
Synopsis: An educational look at birds from around the world.
The Greasy Screen says: Just Birds is the latest release in a series of educational animal kingdom eBooks found on Apple’s iBooks app. This was my first time exploring iBooks, for while I do spend a lot of time reading interactive eBooks with Curly, the iPad actually belongs to my husband, so I haven’t downloaded any books for myself. I found the experience to be quite enjoyable, so my hubby better hold on tighter to his favorite toy…
Just Birds is just what it says it is: pages and pages of birds. Being part of iBooks, there is no interactivity, animation, or any of that kind of thing. Typically, I don’t go for non-fiction books because… well… they are usually pretty boring. I like imaginative stories, not stuffy paragraphs of facts. But Just Birds livens up the information by setting it in rhyming verse: a much appreciated effort. The pages are filled with beautiful photographs of a wide array of birds, including ones you’d expect (bald eagle, hummingbird), to ones I was not familiar with (ever seen a blue-footed booby?). At the end, a list of activities you can do with your kids to help them relate to the lives of birds was a nice touch. Curly may be a bit too young to really worry about all the details, but she certainly liked seeing all the feathery friends displayed in all their glory.
Flipping through Just Birds reminded me of reading Ranger Rick when I was little, and I loved that magazine! What little kid is not interested in animals? It looks like this series hit the jackpot.
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
Due to the unholy amount of snow dumped on Chicago between Tuesday and Wednesday, I was physically unable to get to my computer to post. After shoveling snow for four hours, my body turned into a Jello-like substance and adhered to the couch. But never fear! We did make it to the library for a fresh stack of books just before the “snopocalypse” hit. So without further ado, this week’s most read library book was…
Oscar and the Cricket, by Geoff Waring
Oscar the cat is a curious little fellow who wants to know more about how things move. As he plays with a red ball, he asks his friend, Cricket, how it is able to roll and bounce. I like how this book attempts to explain simple physics concepts without becoming too boring or sciencey; I’m not a big science girl myself, and the last thing I want to read at bedtime is a textbook. But this book has a nice way of sneaking in information with the fun. Oscar is pretty adorable, with a little heart-shaped spot on his back, which I think was Curly’s favorite part.
But library rentals can’t last forever. Here are the titles we stuffed into our Tinkerbell backpack earlier this week. Which one will be our most-read, Valentine’s-themed pick of the week?
Pierre in Love, by Sara Pennypacker
Four Valentines in a Rainstorm, by Felicia Bond
Little Mouse’s Big Valentine, by Thacher Hurd
Henry and the Valentine Surprise, by Nancy Carlson
Title: Spaghetti Day
Author/Illustrator: Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Publisher: PicPocket Books
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $2.99
Synopsis: While their owners are away, a group of cats cook up an Italian feast.
Features:
The Greasy Screen says: Spaghetti Day answers a question most pet owners ponder at some point: what does my pet do all day while I’m gone? In this case, a cat named Catrina gathers up all her buddies to make spaghetti and hang out.
Admittedly, I’m a dog person, who has a slight fear of cats. When I was younger, a family member’s cat went crazy on me, and ever since then, I’ve been hesitant toward all felines. What I envision cats doing when their owners aren’t around is plotting the demise of human kind, but of course, that’s just me. My daughter, on the other hand, LOVES cats, and laughs hysterically every time she sees one. Curly was once even swatted by a cat, and yet she still adores them. She also adored this story, and giggled as the cats played together while making their meal. When touched, the cats purred and meowed realistically, to Curly’s delight.
This eBook is a digital makeover of the best selling print book, Wednesday is Spaghetti Day. It’s easy to see why that book, and this eBook version, are such hits: the story is funny, imaginative, and engaging. It’s not the most high-tech eBook, but the story is great, and that’s what’s most important.
Title: Rapunzel
Author/Illustrator: Lana Le
Publisher: KwiqApps
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: A retelling of the classic Grimm fairy tale.
Features:
- Read Aloud
- Auto Page Turn
The Greasy Screen says: As I was reading Rapunzel, I realized I have been forever ruined by Disney’s recent remake, Tangled. To say I loved Tangled is an understatement. It’s not hard for me to fall in love with Disney movies, but I very much enjoyed this one. My little date, Curly, loved it to. In fact, when I told her we were going to read Rapunzel, she called out, “Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair!”
Rapunzel is not Tangled. Disney tends to gloss over any unpleasant plot points, such as a woman dramatically declaring she will JUST DIE if she doesn’t get what she wants to eat, and I tend to like that. Classic fairy tales usually have some pretty random elements that are best left on the cutting room floor. That being said, this eBook does its best to showcase Grimm’s tale of a girl with long golden locks. The illustrations are beautiful, with delicate textures and charming appeal. Curly sat through the whole story, but I think she felt like I had pulled a fast one on her by not showing her Tangled.
The book does not have any extras or interactivity, which is a shame. The font size was weirdly small despite how much room was available on the screen, but there is narration so you don’t have to squint. I would recommend this eBook on the illustrations alone, as they are a nice break from the commonly used computer graphics seen in many eBooks.
By: crystal,
on 1/27/2011
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Title: One Rainy Day
Author: Tammi Salzano
Illustrator: Hannah Wood
Publisher: mytales digital
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $3.99
Synopsis: A little duck discovers colors as he walks through the rain.
Features:
- Animation
- Interactivity
- Read Aloud
- Painting
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: I enjoy rainy days, but not as much as the cuddly yellow duck who stars in One Rainy Day. This duck likes to really splash it up, playing in puddles and wiggling in mud. As he romps outside in his watery wonderland, he learns about all the colors of the rainbow. When different colors are touched, their names are read aloud, and the duck himself provides extra commentary when pressed. There are not a lot of animations; the interactivity is mainly expressed through additional sound effects. Still, Curly was engaged throughout the rainy journey, and really enjoyed the painting pages provided through the menu.
One Rainy Day is perfect for toddlers who are just becoming familiar with digital mediums. The story is short and sweet, and there is enough interactivity to keep them engaged without being overwhelmed.
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
Today we are chatting with Jon Higham, author of the Elly the Reindeer eBook series. Keep reading to learn more about that his cute little butterball of a reindeer, who Jon shared a studio with, and where he thinks the future of ebooks lies.
Tell us about your background.
Hard to keep this one brief after so long! When I left art college in the UK back in 1983 I was fortunate to get my first break in children’s books the following year and was asked to illustrate a book of verse (Jeremy Nicholas’s Raspberries and Other Trifles). I swiftly followed this up by designing and illustrating an Edward Lear picture book, The Old Man and the Edible Suit, and with my agent at the time, sold that to Macmillan. They encouraged me to write myself and so I produced ‘Aardvarks picnic’ which came out in the UK and the States. (By the way, for kids book aficionados I went to college, and shared a studio up until the late 80’s, with Jez Albourough (Hug, Duck in a Truck etc)). I worked with Walker books and Gollanz on early reader titles (Bones and Nursery Cats) I also branched out and illustrated greetings cards, packaging, children’s educational titles etc anything to keep the wolf from the door!
The mid 90’s saw a big dip in work and I even got a 9-5 full time job. But by 1999 I had reinvented myself on the Mac, and it worked, as from then on it got really busy working for publishers, (in one manic patch illustrating 8 picture books in just a few months). I also worked freelance for BBC children’s magazines from 2000 to this day.
In 2004 I designed some small nursery rhyme books for Meadowside and then I rejoined my agent, Curtis Brown, briefly in 2006 with (my next app in fact) a book called Big Red Barn. We were hopeful but couldn’t place it, and it seemed that the children’s picture book market had got tougher and tougher to break back into. I’d passed my first draft of Elly to my agent but by then she had decided by to focus on the teen market, besides I was busy with other commissions during this time so it sat there gathering dust….
Then for some reason, like a cartoon lighbulb appearing over my head, I thought of apps (I didn’t even have an iphone) and in March 2010 I hooked up with a developer (through linkedin), Dipali Vaidya, of Mumbai, India and Elly the app was born. I rushed out and bought an ipod touch to test the apps on, this was just before the ipad was launched.
What was the inspiration for the Elly the Reindeer series?
I had designed some Christmas greetings cards, packaging and related products for paperchase here in the UK. It featured a white deer with a blue nose, which later became Elly.
Which is your favorite Elly story?
It’s always the last one I’ve done, so right now its No 7 ‘music day’ ! I really enjoyed doing the teeny musical parts too !
Did you originally envision these stories as eBooks?
No – see above, I even got a few printed by Lulu and thought about selling them that way.
How did creating an eBook differ fr
By: crystal,
on 1/24/2011
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Title: Cozmo’s Day Off
Publisher: Ayers Animation
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $3.99
Synopsis: Cozmo the alien treks through the stars during his commute to work.
Features:
- Animation
- Games
- Interactivity
- Read Aloud
- Musical Score
- Sound Effects
- Voice Recording
The Greasy Screen says: Just by looking at the screen shots of Cozmo’s Day Off, there is no doubt that it is an exquisitely produced eBook. The story of a little alien frantically trying to get to work on time is jam-packaged with lots of glitz and glamour. The illustrations are incredibly polished, and the interactivity is (sorry for the pun) out of this world. Every page was bursting with hidden animations; I particularly liked a popcorn popper spewing out kernels, and Curly liked anytime music would start playing. Much thought was put into where little fingers were apt to poke, and there wasn’t one disappointing screen.
There was, though, a bit of disappoint from this reader. Within the pages of Cozmo, mini games would randomly pop up, disrupting the flow of the story. I am not against games being packaged with eBooks, but it’s hard to focus on plot when you’re trying to figure out the mechanics of a game that just appeared on the screen. Even with the story being relatively short (10 pages), I found myself forgetting what Cozmo was trying to do in the first place. Curly seemed a bit confused too; usually when we read a story, she asks questions or repeats points of the plot. After reading Cozmo, she looked a bit blank.
Not to say that we weren’t entertained, because Cozmo’s Day Off offers a lot of fun extras. One super cool feature was the ability to record your voice, and then manipulate it to sound really high-pitched or slow as molasses. If only the games were kept as an option at the end, and if the story’s text didn’t disappear after being read aloud (to allow for more exploration, I assume), I am sure this eBook would be one of my top picks. As a playful app, it’s great, but as a book, I’m not so sure.
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…
Duck for President, written by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin
As a big fan of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type, I was skeptical as to whether its sequel, Duck for President, would be as clever as the original. Though Duck had a different pacing, both stories are equally enjoyable. Frustrated with his amount of responsibilities around the farm, Duck decides to overthrow the Farmer by holding an election. But after winning the top job, he realizes, “Running a farm is hard work!” Thinking a higher office will allow him more free time, Duck continues campaigning until he becomes president. I could definitely sympathize with Duck’s struggle (the grass truly is always greener on the other side), and Curly laughed at seeing election ballots stuck to voters’ backsides.
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 Happy Lion, by Louise Fatio
Ducking for Apples, by Lynne Berry
A Bedtime for Bear, by Bonny Becker
When it Starts to Snow, by Phillis Gershator
By: crystal,
on 1/17/2011
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Title: The Little Snail
Publisher: Rye Studio
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: Free
Synopsis: A little snail takes a stroll with his mother and asks about the world around him.
Features:
- English/Chinese/Japanese/French/German/Spanish
- Read Aloud
- Sleep Mode
The Greasy Screen says: The Little Snail opens with what has to be the most asked question in the history of childhood: “Why?” In the snail’s case, he can’t help but wonder why he has to carry a giant shell around all day, when other soft-bodied critters, such as earthworms and caterpillars, don’t. His mother explains that while the other creatures have to rely on external forms of protection, snails are self-reliant and can take care of themselves.
While I always appreciate a message of independence, this eBook ended a bit too abruptly, and with no interactivity, animation, or extras, it fell a little short. I would have liked to have seen the snail’s reaction to his mom’s wisdom revelation; instead, she tells him about how strong snails are, and then the story ends. Fleshing out the ending would have been more satisfying.
The Little Snail contained one interesting feature I’d never come across before, called, “sleep mode.” In this setting, the story would read aloud, except the pages would not play. I believe the intention is for children to listen to the story as they fall asleep, but as a parent, I feel like I’d rather be playing on my iPad once my kid is down for the night, rather than leaving it in her room. Maybe that’s just me, but Momma likes her quiet time!
By: crystal,
on 1/14/2011
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Title: A Present for Milo
Author: Mike Austin
Publisher: Ruckus Media Group
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $2.99
Synopsis: Milo and his mousey friend engage in a topsy-turvy chase around the house, ending with a sweet surprise.
Features:
- Animation
- Interactivity
- Read Aloud
- Musical Score
- Sound Effects
The Greasy Screen says: A Present for Milo wraps up all the wonderful bits you’d want in a picture book in one irresistible package. This story was immensely entertaining, not only for Curly, but for me! Milo the cat and his tiny mouse companion chase each other through all the obstacles of their house; they bounce up stairs, slide on rugs, and skid through groceries. The interactivity is top notch; every page contains tons of hidden animations, many of which made me giggle (my favorite being a little alien-colored mouse who floats inside a toy space ship). Curly danced around when a piece of poked sheet music burst into song, and she laughed at the mice hopping on a trampoline.
The story is perfect for the toddler set. Just when you think Milo is trying to catch his quick little co-star for an afternoon snack, we find out that the two are actually the best of friends, who just love running through their maze of a house! The illustrations are simply adorable, and finding all the animations was equally as fun as listening to the story.
Give yourself a gift and download A Present for Milo!
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…
Zero Kisses for Me, written by Manuela Monari, illustrated by Virginie Soumagnac
This was a close one! While we did thoroughly enjoy the battles of Dinosaur vs. The Potty, by Bob Shea, in the end, Zero Kisses for Me turned out to be this week’s winner. The first time we read through this story about a young bear who declares he is too old for mommy’s kisses, Curly could not. stop. laughing. I don’t know if it was because of Soumagnac’s funny illustrations of a bear being pelted with snuggly hearts, or if she could just relate to the bear’s struggles (I’ve been known to be quite smothering with affection), but she was just cracking up! Both stories were read many, many, many times, but the little “kissy snooks” always received the best reaction.
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?
Duck for President, by Doreen Cronin
No Ghost Under My Bed, by Guido van Genechten
Night Shift, by Jessie Hartland
Sally and the Purple Socks, by Lisze Bechtold
Title: Little Red Riding Hood
Publisher: iAdverti
Format: iPad
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $1.99
Synopsis: A retelling of the classic fairy tale.
Features:
- Animation
- Auto Page Turn
- English/Spanish/Czech/Slovak
- Interactivity
- Read Aloud
- Musical Score
The Greasy Screen says: Maybe it’s been a while since I’ve read Little Red Riding Hood, but I did not realize how heavily the story focuses on violence! Poor little grandmas are swallowed whole by a wolf, who is then later cut open by a hunter to free the inhabitants of his belly– whoa! Scary! Luckily, none of those acts are actually visualized in this eBook, but I felt uncomfortable letting little Curly hear about such brutal acts.
Crazily-intense story aside, Eva Svrckova’s illustrations really shine. Even on the screen, the drawings have a very tactile feel, making one want to reach out and touch the bark of the forest trees and the fabric of Red’s hood. That desire to touch is good, especially since many of the pages feature interactive elements. Butterflies scatter and bunnies hop when poked, although I do wish there were more hidden animations. Many of the interactive bits are already moving before being touched, making the connection with the reader less special. Curly gets more excited when a previous dormant element of the scene comes to life with her finger, rather than simply prodding something already in motion. That said, the illustrations were definitely my favorite part.
Little Red Riding Hood comes in several languages, and has very nice recorded narration. If you can get past the scary plot points of this classic tale, this eBook version does a nice retelling.
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
I am a total hypocrite. Every day I make a conscious effort to spend a serious chunk of time reading to Curly, ensuring we read stories with different types of heroes/heroines, themes, and even different mediums. Because of this, I am proud to say I am raising a happy reader who loves books more than toys. And yet, for all the time I spend making sure her personal library continues to grow, I do little to cultivate my own. When was the last time I read a whole book, for me, for pleasure? The most I’ve been managing these days is articles from the collection of magazines to which I subscribe (Entertainment Weekly, Time, etc). I also read a lot of non-fiction material, which lately includes vegetarian cookbooks (for a certain toddler I know who refuses to eat meat), and “math for dummies” -type books, since I am studying to take the GRE (my verbal skills may be pretty strong, but the math? Man. Let’s just say that area is “not good”).
I want to be as good a reader as my two year old daughter. Can it be so difficult? I just need to start with one great book that will get me back on me feet. Something fun and not completely depressing, with a story I can truly lose myself in. Any suggestions?
By: crystal,
on 12/30/2010
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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…
Cooking with Henry and Elliebelly, by Carolyn Parkhurst
At first I felt like this book had an unfair advantage, since one of the characters is named Eleanor (nicknamed “Elliebelly”), which is our bulldog’s name. But, after reading through Cooking with Henry and Elliebelly many, many times, I know that this book is a winner regardless. Five-year-old Henry is trying to co-host a cooking show with his two-year-old sister Elliebelly, but her incessant toddler demands keep interrupting the program. While Henry carefully describes how viewers’ raspberry-marshmallow-peanut butter waffles should turn out (“brown but not black, hot but not cold”), Elliebelly is busy dunking her baby dolls in the batter. There are several laugh out loud moments in this story, especially when Henry’s frustration forces the show to take a break and when they cut to commercial. Love it!
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?
Dotty, by Erica S. Perl
The Adventures of Granny Clearwater and Little Critter, by Kimberly Willis Holt
Good Job, Ajay!, by Stuart J. Murphy
Tip Tap Pop, by Sarah Lynn
By: crystal,
on 12/29/2010
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Four months ago, I started this blog to learn more about the emerging world of eBooks for children. During that time, my daughter and I have read a lot of books, both digital and printed. She loves good stories and gets very attached to certain tales. In no particular order, here are the eBooks Curly has enjoyed this most in 2010:
Marina and the Little Green Boy by Antonio Vicente and Miguel Ordonez
Curly still walks around the house saying, “Bee boop bee boop!” in imitation of the Little Green Boy’s robot sounds. I am still blown away by the quirky illustrations and thoughtful interactivity. Read my original review here.
Sweet Pea – What to Wear? by Leo Hartas
Sweet Pea may not have many special features, but the story was perfect for my little toddler. When you’re asked to reread something you’ve just finished, you know you have a winner. Read my original review here.
AlphaBELCH by Steve White
I still cannot believe how many different burp variations are featured in this story. You can try to be above it, but c’mon, burps are funny. Curly thinks so, and I do too! Read my original review here.
The Grouchies by Debbie Wagenbach
The Grouchies turns the frustration of strong feelings into an easy to understand visuals: storm clouds for bad moods, happy faces for good moods! Curly identifies with the narrator’s struggles, and likes to see the screen full of smiles at the end. Read my original review here.
By: crystal,
on 12/28/2010
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Unlike other toddlers, my little Curly was super excited to receive books for Christmas.
One of those books was Smile, by Leigh Hodgkinson. We checked out this sunshiney book from the library months ago, and Curly loved it so much that I knew it needed a permanent spot on our shelves. Curly received Smile from her Mimi and Pop Pop, and COULD NOT WAIT to read it. We had to stop opening presents so we could hear the story, not once, but twice.
She actually wanted to read it a third time, but other family members (read: me) wanted to open the rest of their presents.
Smile is the tale of a girl named Sunny who happens to misplace her smile after her mom says she can’t have any more cookies. (I can relate) Her dad suggests she go look for it, but as she (correctly) points out, “looking for things is SO BORING.”
The text reads just like how a child would describe a dilemma, and the illustrations are bright, detailed, and completely irresistible. No wonder this book always leaves Curly smiling!
By: crystal,
on 12/27/2010
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One of our earliest Library Books of the Week was The Story of Honk-Honk-Ashoo and Swella-Bow-Wow, by Ralph Cosentino. Curly really loved this story about a sweet little pillow head who saved a stray puppy from a life in the pound. I wrote to Mr. Cosentino to let him know how much we enjoyed his tale, and in return, he said he’d send Curly her own drawing of Honk. It arrived in the mail just before Christmas, and Curly’s face instantly lit up when she saw it.
“Honk-a-Shoe!” she said, as she reached for the drawing. She then went searching the house for the book, anxiously awaiting to hear the story. Thanks so much, Mr. Cosentino!
For more about Honk-Honk-Ashoo, please visit Ralph Cosentino’s author website.
By: crystal,
on 12/23/2010
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With no toddler story time this week and a massive list of Christmas projects to complete in the next 48 hours, Curly and I will not be heading to the library today. Next week, when all the shopping, cooking, and visiting with family has died down, we will crown our new library book of the week. Here is a reminder of the books that are in the running:
Brownie and Pearl See the Sights, by Cynthia Rylant
Tiger and Turtle, by James Rumford
Ernest, the Moose Who Doesn’t Fit, by Catherine Rayner
Cooking with Henry and Elliebelly, by Carolyn Parkhurst
Moon Dreams, by Ruth Martin
Christmas is almost here! Curly’s favorite holiday song seems to be “Run Run Rudolph,” as she usually takes off in a happy sprint around the house whenever it comes on. Hope everyone out there gets all their running around done in time!
By: crystal,
on 12/21/2010
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Title: Elly the Reindeer – Snowy Day – Book 6
Author: Jon Higham
Publisher: Dipali Vaidya
Format: iPad, iPhone
Rated: 4+
Current Price: $0.99
Synopsis: Elly the reindeer joins a snowman building contest with her friends.
Features:
The Greasy Screen says: A while back, I wrote a review on the first Elly eBook, and Snowy Day is her latest adventure. Higham’s illustrations continue to be bright and sunny, giving winter the whole “wonderland” treatment.
In book 6, Elly is invited to a snowman building contest, but when she gets there, she cannot decide what her creation should look like. She stands there thinking for so long, the falling snow eventually covers her entire body, essentially turning her into her own contest entry. Sometimes I feel like this when I am shoveling my driveway… I am so tired… just let the snow take over the house…
The only new change feature-wise to Elly the Reindeer is the addition of fun theme music, but the story is what makes this eBook. It’s a perfect series for toddlers like Curly, and this snowy storyline is perfect for the days leading up to Christmas.
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