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By: Arbordale Publishing,
on 2/12/2016
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After reading Linda Joy Singleton’s newest picture book Cash Kat we think she is the coolest grandma in the world! This book was inspired by a game with her grandson where he learned to count money by helping out and then buying rewards with the money he earned.
Cash Kat starts out with Gram Hatter and Kat setting off on a treasure hunt. This crafty grandma folds many hats as the pair encounter new challenges volunteering for the park clean up day. Throughout the day Kat has her eye on the ultimate prize, ice cream; but in the end she must choose between her favorite treat or donating her findings to the park.
In celebration of the launch of Cash Kat here is a pattern to make your own paper hat and set out on your own adventure!
Meet the author and illustrator of Cash Kat by visiting the book’s homepage. Where there are many more activities including the “For Creative Minds” section.
Enter to win your very own copy of Cash Kat in our Goodreads giveaway!
By: Arbordale Publishing,
on 2/10/2016
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It’s that time of year! Seven new books from Arbordale make their way into the hands of young readers across the country. This week we will be highlighting each book and their creators on our blog.
Before you learn about the inspiration for each of these books get to know the spring line up and pick your must have title for 2016!
Been There, Done That: Reading Animal Signs
by Jen Funk Weber
illustrated by Andrea Gabriel
Spotting wildlife is a thrill, but it’s not easy. When Cole comes to visit his friend Helena, he can’t wait to see all the wildlife the forest has to offer—and disappointed when all he sees are a few birds. Together the kids set out on a hike and encounter plenty of animal signs along the way. Through observation and her knowledge of animal behavior, Helena helps Cole learn what each of the signs means: something had been there; something had done that.
Cash Kat
by Linda Joy Singleton
illustrated by Christina Wald
Gram Hatter and Kat set off on an adventure. Gram quickly folds up a pirate hat and places it on Kat’s head and they begin their mission to help clean up the city park. Volunteering turns into a treasure hunt as Kat finds pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and even a dollar. With each discovery Kat gets a new hat and Gram Hatter teaches Kat how to count her coins as they pick up litter at the park. When Kat adds up her money, there’s enough for ice cream. Or should she donate the money to support the park instead?
Mammals
by Katharine Hall
All mammals share certain characteristics that set them apart from animal classes. But some mammals live on land and other mammals spend their lives in water—each is adapted to its environment. Land mammals breathe oxygen through nostrils but some marine mammals breathe through blowholes. Compare and contrast mammals that live on land to those that live in the water.
Midnight Madness at the Zoo
by Sherryn Craig
illustrated by Karen Jones
The bustle of the crowd is waning and the zoo is quieting for the night. The polar bear picks up the ball and dribbles onto the court; the nightly game begins. A frog jumps up to play one-on-one and then a penguin waddles in to join the team. Count along as the game grows with the addition of each new animal and the field of players builds to ten. Three zebras serve as referees and keep the clock, because this game must be over before the zookeeper makes her rounds.
Once Upon an Elephant
by Linda Stanek
illustrated by Shennen Bersani
From stopping wildfires to planting seeds, one animal is the true superhero that keeps the African savanna in balance. Elephants dig to find salt for animals to lick, their deep footprints collect water for everyone to drink, and they eat young trees to keep the forest from overtaking the grasslands. In every season, the elephants are there to protect the savanna and its residents – but what would happen if the elephants were only “once upon a time”? Read along to discover the important role this keystone species plays in the savanna and explore what would happen if the elephants vanished.
Sharks and Dolphins
by Kevin Kurtz
Sharks and dolphins both have torpedo-shaped bodies with fins on their backs. They slice through the water to grab their prey with sharp teeth. But despite their similarities, sharks and dolphins belong to different animal classes: one is a fish and gets oxygen from the water and the other is a mammal and gets oxygen from the air. Marine educator Kevin Kurtz guides early readers to compare and contrast these ocean predators through stunning photographs and simple, nonfiction text.
Tornado Tamer
by Terri Fields
illustrated by Laura Jacques
In this adaptation of The Emperor’s New Clothes, Mayor Peacock declares he will hire a tornado tamer to protect the town. After a long search, Travis arrives to fill the position and this weasel has a plan. He will build a very special, transparent cover to protect the town. Travis’ magical cover is so transparent that only those smart enough and special enough can even see it. Mouse is doubtful, but his questions are brushed off. Months later, the cover has been hung and Travis has been paid a hefty sum, but a tornado is in the distance and the town is in its path. Will the magic cover protect the town?
Find out more about our newest titles at Arbordalepublishing.com!
Tanner Builds a Block Tower is an adorable picture book for ages 3-6 by debut author Anita Banks. It tells the sweet story of a little boy with big dreams:
"I'm going to build a tower. It's going to be bigger than the trees. It will touch the sky."
But as he carries his blocks into the garden and encounters different animals--ants, ladybugs, a chipmunk, a rabbit, and a cat--something unexpected happens and he will have to figure out where all his blocks have gone. Will he get to build his big tower, after all?
Anita Banks has created a charming, totally sweet picture book that will both educate and entertain. Young children will learn about animals and numbers as they follow Tanner on his adventures. The illustrations are lively and colorful and well suit the story. Anita Banks is a name to watch out for!
***************
Title: Tanner Builds a Block Tower
Genre: Children’s Picture Book, ages 3-6
Author: Anita Banks
Publisher: Wee Creek Press
About the book: Tanner is determined to build a tower with his blocks. Despite the distractions of the garden’s various animals and losing his blocks on the way, Tanner joyfully shows determination and perseverance.
About the author: Anita Banks harbored her secret of writing since she was in junior high school where the desire took seed in a creative writing class. She still journaling, reading, running and traveling, but nothing compares to playing with her grandchildren.
Links to your site/blog/FB and Twitter:
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By: thedarkphantom,
on 6/21/2014
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Anita Banks has lived in Alabama since she was six years old, she raised three children and has four grandchildren. They are the inspiration for her writing. She likes the adventures and escapes that stories allow you to explore and the myriad of emotions you feel. Anita loves to travel, read and has recently started running.
http://www.anitabanks.com/
Thank you for joining us today, Anita. Can you please start off by telling us a bit about yourself?
Thank you for having me here. I am a new author with my first picture book titled, Tanner Builds a Block Tower. I am excited as puppy with a new toy. I am a wife, mother, grandmother. My favorite new activity is running, I started because I needed to get some activity from sitting in a chair for more than nine hours for my day job. I started two years ago, and have found the running community where I live to be a great group of people that are passionate about the sport and are supportive of new runners. I started with a training program to run a 5k and have progressed to three half marathons so far.
When did you first get bit by the writing bug?
I have loved reading since my introduction to Dick and Jane and Dr. Seuss. I am constantly reading something all the time. When I was in junior high school, I had a creative writing class. That was when the writing bug stung me. But when family and life took over, I put the dream aside and just occasionally thought of it.
Why did you decide to write stories for children?
Probably for the simple joy children’s books give to a reader. I enjoy reading to children and seeing their smiles and their happiness in asking you to read to them. I wanted to contribute to that happiness. And it’s fun.
Do you believe it is harder to write books for a younger audience?
I personally have nothing to compare it to, yet. Maybe I will give another genre a try someday. The other writing I do is journaling for myself.
What is your favorite part of writing for young people?
I like the writing, I like putting the words to paper, or rather the screen. They have to be edited quite a bit before I’m done. But seeing the story unfold on the screen is probably my favorite part.
Can you tell us what your latest book is all about?
Tanner Builds a Block Tower is about a little boy who is determined to build a tower with his blocks. But on the way to his destination he get distracted by different animals and insects. He also loses some of his blocks. So he has to find them to finish what he started. Determination and perseverance is the theme.
What inspired you to write it?
The inspiration for this book, was my grandson, Tanner. On a visit when he was about three years old, he loved to play with his building blocks and build towers, over and over. He was fascinated with this repetitive play. We also went on numerous walks, he loved to explore the outdoors, and still does. So it seemed a natural fit to combine the two activities.
What is up next for you?
I am shopping out two more picture books, and writing a chapter book right now.
Do you have anything else to add?
Thank you so much for having me. I hope you enjoy my book.
Thank you for spending time with us today, Anita. We wish you much success.
I'm thrilled to announce the release of debut children's author Anita Banks. Her picture book, Tanner Builds a Block Tower (for ages 3-6) was just published by Wee Creek Press. I had the pleasure of "virtually" meeting Anita when she took my "Walking on a Rainbow" picture book workshop on Savvy Authors two years ago. Major congrats, Anita!
My review of Tanner Builds a Block Tower coming soon!
********************
Title: Tanner Builds a Block Tower
Genre: Children’s Picture Book, ages 3-6
Author: Anita Banks
Publisher: Wee Creek Press
About the book: Tanner is determined to build a tower with his blocks. Despite the distractions of the garden’s various animals and losing his blocks on the way, Tanner joyfully shows determination and perseverance.
About the author: Anita Banks harbored her secret of writing since she was in junior high school where the desire took seed in a creative writing class. She still journaling, reading, running and traveling, but nothing compares to playing with her grandchildren.
Links to your site/blog/FB and Twitter:
@anitambanks
By:
Betsy Bird,
on 11/6/2013
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Happy Punks 123: A Counting Story
By John Seven and Jana Christy
Manic D Press
$15.95
ISBN: 978-1-933149-67-7
Ages 3-6
On shelves now
Here is how, as of the date of this review, Wikipedia defines the term “punk culture”. Ahem. “. . . largely characterized by anti-establishment views and the promotion of individual freedom.” Now look at your toddler. Go on. Give that kiddo a long, lingering look. Consider, for a moment, what makes a small child a small child. Do they believe in individual freedoms? Anyone who has ever attempted to herd a group of them will immediately answer yes. Are they anti-establishment? Well, what would YOU call the kid who draws on the hallways walls in permanent marker? Ladies and gentlemen the only logical explanation to draw from any of this is that toddlers are, and have always been, punk rockers. They have crazy hair, they create one-of-a-kind outfits of their own making, and they certainly have no problem with loud volumes. The evidence is extraordinary. It seems only fitting to hand them a counting book that displays as many different kinds of punks as possible. Looking for the mildest of subversions with a consistently sweet undercurrent, kickin’ art, and fun text? This punk’s for you.
A single, solitary, mohawked punk of the wide cuffed, purple coated, army boot variety goes walking down the street. He runs into his blue haired pal Noriko, she of the bunny-eared car, and then there are two. They, in turn, meet up with green dredded Kevin and the start jamming. It isn’t long before they’re getting ready for a big show, putting up posters, and getting everyone in town involved. More and more punks join the fun until by the slam-bang finish you’ve a party of twelve plus all their madcap friends. At long last it’s time to go home (even Noriko’s car seems to have conked out) and twelve happy punks sleep the night away.
If you have a toddler you read a lot of counting books. It’s part of the deal you sign when the hospital hands over your kid for the first time. “I solemnly swear to read my child an ungodly amount of counting books until the seas turn a boiling roiling red.” Or words along those lines. And when you read a lot of counting books certain patterns start to emerge. You get the distinct feeling that all counting books rhyme in some manner. I don’t know why this should be. It’s not like every children’s book author is actually GOOD at rhyming. They just usually feel obligated to give it a go. So many of them do this, in fact, that when one encounters a picture counting book that does NOT rhyme in any way, shape, or form, the adult reader is thrown. You want to make the cadences even, but the book fights you every step of the way. Such was my experience with “Happy Punks 123”. The first lines are “One happy punk looks around for his friends.” Even before you turn the page you’re attempting to predict the next line. Will it be “Two happy punks now peer through a lens” or “Two happy punks will soon make amends”? Nope. It’s “Are they at Slobotnik Square? Or Calvin Corner?” Turn the page. “Two happy punks sit on a stoop. They like to watch cars and talk to dogs. Hey, is that Kevin?” You see? Other books have set up these weird expectations and you expect John and Jana’s latest to fit the mold. It’s sort of perfect that Happy Punks 123 bucks that expectation by doing its own thing. That’s real punk rock, man. Awesome.
The art in this book is certainly shouldering a great big bulk of the fun. Nothing against the text. Even without its rhymes it’s a nice story of how one gathers friends throughout the day (without cell phones, which makes this downright utopian to some extent). But if the wrong illustrator had jumped on board this ship it would have meant the end of things. As it stands, the art has this laid back, friendly, colorful vibe. There are a lot of speech balloons and signs that mix script and print words. The very font of the book is of the typewriter variety and is snuggled seamlessly into the images. Design wise, the whole enterprise is a pleasure to the eye. It gets a little madcap near the end but with a premise of ever increasing punks you’d feel a bit cheated if it didn’t.
I also loved the subtle little jokes hidden along the way. On the cover, for example, you can see Noriko sporting a shirt that reads “ABCD & EFGH: Home of the Alphabet”. I’m no music guru. I won’t embarrass myself here by confessing how long it took me before I truly knew who Joey Ramone was. However, even I can recognize when a book might be making a reference to CBGB, the original punk rock music club of NYC. I also loved that it was a zombie running the music store (that could be a joke right there) and that they get their treats from “Ornery Penguin’s Gelato”. That’s not a reference to anything. It’s just the illustrator’s excuse to draw a testy penguin character. Who could blame them?
Since we’re dealing with the folks who created A Rule Is To Break: A Child’s Guide to Anarchy which earned its 15 minutes of fame when the Tea Party decided to make an example out of it, the inclination is to see whether or not John and Jana worked into a little subversion into the story. Did they? Well, I think it’s all in what you want to see. Yes, the sole antagonist in this book is an elephant. But go a little farther into the book and you’ll see he’s not the only elephant on the scene (a nice pink one works as a coat check girl at the club) and even if he were he joins the party at the end and has a wonderful time with the punks. So basically, Happy Punks 1 2 3 is a Rorschach test. You see in it what you want to see.
Basically this is a John Waters film made kid-friendly and picture book accessible. I don’t know that you’d necessarily call Waters “punk”, but then I don’t necessarily think you can slot Waters into any category all that easily. What this book really does is show a vast variety of different types of people, from hard-core rockers to straight edge hipsters. The punk aesthetic ideally celebrates all types of people, all the different ways they want to be (as long as they’re inclusive, obviously). And what John and Jana have done here is show that array, from robots to ultilikilted men to even elephants, if that’s what you’re into. The counting aspect works, and as per all potential bedtime books it ends with everybody asleep. From Portland to Williamsburg you’re bound to find folks loving the Happy Punks 1 2 3 vibe. It’s relentlessly cheery and the kind of book that makes you feel good after you finish it. World of counting books? Prepare to meet the latest, greatest addition to your fold.
On shelves now.
Source: Final copy sent from publisher for review.
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Misc: For the ebook version of this title complete with audio (no word on if there’s music), go no further than here.
Videos: Proof positive that counting and punk rock go hand in hand together.
By: C. C. Gevry,
on 10/26/2013
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Guido van Genechten has done it again. Circus 123 is another wonderful book by this talented author and illustrator. Teaching your children to count should always be this much fun. Playful ladybugs perform in the circus: cycling, walking the tightrope, performing stunts, and lifting weights. All leads up to a grand finale with all the performers taking a bow. The black and red bugs stand out against the cream-colored pages.
Your preschooler is going to adore this book.
Rating:
Age Range: 3 – 5 years
Grade Level: Preschool – Kindergarten
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Clavis Publishing (October 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1605371629
ISBN-13: 978-1605371627
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinion, which I have not been compensated for in any way.
By: C. C. Gevry,
on 5/24/2013
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A unique and adorable new way to learn counting from 1 to 10 and then backwards from 10 to 1. Soo comes into the kitchen complaining to her mother about her numerous boo-boos. Thankfully, mom has a way to take care of each one.
Soo’s Boo-Boos She’s Got 10! by Tilda Balsley is better than your average counting book. It’s clever. It’s creative. From a stiff elbow to crunched toes, from chapped lips to a dripping nose, and from a burned tongue to a nagging mosquito bite and more, Soo goes through her list of ailments. Her sympathetic mom then goes about tackling them one by one, finding the perfect cure for them all.
Kids will relate to this sweet and funny rhyming story. Kids see their moms as fixers of problems and Soo is no different. More than a simple counting book, readers will delight in witnessing Soo’s play for sympathy and learning how her mother solves each problem. The melodic prose is complemented by beautiful artwork from Shelagh McNicholas.
An all-around winner.
Rating:
Hardcover: 28 pages
Publisher: Tiger Tales (March 1, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1589251180
ISBN-13: 978-1589251182
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.
By: Jenny Miller,
on 12/10/2010
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Gyo Fujikawa's A to Z Picture Book, written and illustrated by Gyu Fujikawa, Sterling, ages 4-8, 72 pages. Fujikawa's 1974 classic returns to delight a new generation of learners ready to leap into life and embrace their imagination. A joy to look through, no matter how many times you've seen it, this charming book teaches the alphabet while celebrating the innocence of childhood. Every letter of the alphabet receives a grand, happy welcome -- first, with a softly painted illustration spanning two pages and short sentence or bouncy poem about the letter, then with another spread of delicate ink drawings of dozens of things that start with that letter. Crosshatching and finely drawn lines and dots make every picture in here a delight to look at, though it is the larger-scale illustrations that make your heart soar. One of my favorites is for the letter M. To the left, furry beasts with three-toed claws and snarling mouths reach out to scare a little red-headed boy. To the right, the boy lays on his tummy in the grass with his chin in his hands, staring at his imagined beasts with wonder. "M is for / my mean / and marvelous / monsters," reads a poem above him.
Perfect for giving to a grandchild, niece or nephew, the book includes a whimsical nameplate designed with sticks to write the child's name. Fujikawa, who passed away in 1999, also wrote the darling book,
Babies, published in 1963 -- a book I still have from my childhood with all the nibble marks of my mother's teething babies.
Counting Chickens, written by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Flensted Mobiles, Blue Apple Books, $16.99, ages 4-8, 36 pages. Sunny, simple graphics hanging peacefully off mobile strings make this book a must for any little child who loves to count, whether it's with Count Dracula or alone on her fingers and toes. Birds, fish, mammals, a clown with juggling balls and even mice and a slice of cheese take turns being counted as readers tackle simple problems of increasing difficulty. The book charms first with its cover, which shows three colorful silhouettes of chickens, each with an egg still in their tummies. Each of the eggs is printed on see-through plastic that can be see on the other side. As you open the cover, the endpapers reveal all of the chicks that were born on a two-page mobile, along with the three from the cover, which are still in their eggs and look almost like yolks in whites. With beaks wide-open, they appear to be chirping or chipping away at the shell. My favorite spread covers two pages, each with its own mobile. On the right is a mobile with a large black fish and three tiny fish in red, yellow and blue in its stomach. On the left, is the other mobile with eight black fish scattered about. The creators asks readers to count how many fish the big fish ate and for "extra credit," how many of the little fish got away. The book, appealingly crisp, clean and fresh looking, is the creation of Denmark's Fl
One Witch
Written by Laura Leuck
Illustrated by S.D. Schindler
Walker and Company, 2003
ISBN: 0-8027-8860-2
One Witch is a counting book. The witch in question has an empty cauldron and sets off to fill it, receiving gruesome contributions from a variety of spooky friends - two cats, three scarecrows, and so on (all the way up to ten). She then sends off invitations to everyone who’s helped her (thus counting back down from ten again) combines the myriad gross and random ingredients into a stew, and everybody gets to enjoy a bowl.
A spooky counting book that won’t let you down!
By:
Aline Pereira,
on 9/28/2008
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Trickster tales are to be found in the repertoire of traditional stories from all over the world and are of universal appeal. Linking in with our current focus on the US’s Hispanic Heritage Month, here are two that are sure to have young listeners enthralled:
Love and Roast Chicken (Carolrhoda Books, 2004), retold and illustrated by Barbara Knutson, is the story of how Cuy the guinea pig saves himself and tricks Tio Antonio the fox not once but the archetypal three times. Children will laugh with glee at the narrative and will love the energetic woodcut-and-watercolor illustrations. Set in the Andes, the well-written story effortlessly interjects Spanish and Quechuan phrases into the English text – for which there’s a glossary at the end, as well as some background information. You can read about Barbara’s two years in Peru here, including a great suggestion to carry a sketch pad with you when you go travelling.
Yuyi Morales’ original story Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book (Chronicle Books, 2003) is another joy. Grandma Beetle is far too busy to go away with Senor Cavalero when he comes knocking. Death in the form of the humorously depicted skeleton is thus forced to wait, while she prepares one, two, three etc things for the birthday celebrations at the end: and eventually he gives up altogether and leaves in disgust. Yuyi’s humorous artwork and snappy dialogue mean that children will not be scared by the story – they are much more likely to be too busy cheering Grandma Beetle on. Indeed, Bever’s Book Blog makes the point that many young listeners will probably not even realise the book is about death until it is pointed out to them. Open Wide, Look Inside has this podcast, recommending the book for cross-curricular and multicultural teaching. Read our interview with Yuyi, where she talks about the book - including the many children she has met “who think that Señor Calavera, the skeleton in my book Just a Minute is a cute guy, and that I should marry him.”! And don’t miss Yuyi’s delightful Personal View, My Childhood Readings: A Short List to Grow On, in our current issue.
For more Latin American trickster tales, Latina storyteller Olga Loya has recorded four stories, told in both Spanish and English, for her audiobook entitled Tío Conejo. As well as the one about Uncle Rabbit, there are a monkey, an opossum and a dog.
Do let us know if you have enjoyed these or any other trickster tales…
Alphabet Explosion! Search and Count from Alien to Zebra by John Nickle, 2006
There are alphabet books like the traditional, "A is for Apple" and there are puzzle books like Walter Wick's I Spy and Can You See What I See books. Nickle has created an alphabet-puzzle book that is engaging and original.
Each illustration holds a certain number of items. For example, on the "D" page there are 20 D's. I see a dragon, dice, a dolphin, duck, a door, donkey, deer, daisy...diamonds, two animals "dancing," a drop, a dentist...uh...
I am definitely short of the 20. Oh wait, the dragon is dreaming...this is hard!
There are layers of meaning in each illustration. I love the alligator, wearing an apron with the image of an atom on the bib. The pictures enrich vocabulary and reinforce counting.
Nicely done.
Counting Kisses: A Kiss & Read Book by Karen Katz
Reading level: Baby-Preschool
Board book: 32 pages
Publisher: Little Simon; Board Book Edition (January 1, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 068985658X
ISBN-13: 978-0689856587
For this week's baby-preschool selection, I'm featuring a board book that has become a favorite in our house. Counting Kisses: A Kiss & Read Book by Karen Katz introduces a tired little baby receiving all kinds of kisses from Mommy, Daddy, and even Grandma. From "10 little kisses on teeny tiny toes" to one final kiss on the baby's "sleepy, dreamy head," parents can bond with their little ones by giving the same kisses to their child as the baby in the book receives. It's also a great way to introduce or practice counting, number words, and words for body parts to preschoolers. My one-year old giggles and giggles when I kiss her as I read the book.
Karen Katz's colorful, cherubic illustrations will also grab children's attention.
This book is a great way to have fun with reading and to share affection with a special child in your life. It would also make a great gift for new parents or new grandparents.
By:
Jill,
on 3/6/2008
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Chipper Kids: Counting in the Crazy Garden by Margarette Burnette, illustrated by Brooke Henson
Reading level: Ages 3-7
Library Binding: 32 pages
Publisher: Jenprint Publications (March 28, 2008)
If you have trouble getting your little ones to eat their vegetables, give this book a try. After reading about "jiggly, wiggly, wobbly worm cobbler" and "hairy, scary spider cookies," broccoli will sound delicious.
Arnold Chipper, a young bear, enjoys making "food" in his garden, but it's not edible at all. His siblings, Maria and Albert, are appalled by his gross (but creative) concoctions, but when Arnold begins to eat a handful of seeds, Maria shows her brothers how to plant them. Soon Albert is able to make healthy and delicious meals for his family.
A book suited for preschool-aged children, Counting in the Crazy Garden teaches numbers and counting from one to ten through Arnold's dishes. For example, he makes "one jiggly, wiggly, worm cobbler," "two tall tubs of tumbleweed soup," and so on. To make the connection between numerals and the spelled-out words, when Arnold presents his dishes, the numeral in red is in the upper corner of the page and the spelled out word, also in red, is in the text. There's even a little lesson on how to plant seeds and grow food.
The illustrations themselves are very simple and will appeal mostly to young children. While older children may enjoy the story, they may think the pictures are too "baby like." However, the story itself is engaging and will make children laugh and also turn their noses up at the yucky foods. I imagine them saying, "ewwwwwwwww" and giggling as they read the story.
A fun take on traditional counting books, this is a nice choice for parents who are helping their children learn to count and recognize numbers. I also think it would make a good board book.
We know there is a Coraline movie being made. Nothing new there. But did you know who was doing the music for it? Scoot over Danny Elfman. They Might Be Giants is stealing your gigs.
By the way, what's with Ian McShane cramming in all the kidlit flicks? At last count he's in this, His Dark Materials, AND The Dark is Rising. Busy man. I can only take it that he's trying to win cool points with his young 'uns.
We are living in boo-boo land over here. I will make sure to check this one out.