An Orange for Frankie

by Patricia Polacco

I love true stories, even if they are only based on a true story.  Patricia Polacco is well known for the beautiful accounts of her own family stories.  This book tells of Frankie, who is Patricia Polacco's grandmother's youngest brother.  It is the story of Frankie's last Christmas and the power of giving when you don't think you have anything to give.  

Frankie's mother was a great example of giving.  She generously made breakfast every morning for the train engineer and "hobos" who hopped off the train when they made their stop near the Stowell home.  The best part is, she always recruited her nine children to help.  It was on one of those mornings that Frankie saw one old man who drew his attention as being particularly cold in the December snow.  As the man washed up, Frankie could see he had no shirt on under his tattered jacket.  Quickly, Frankie ran up to his room and grabbed the only sweater he knew would fit the man.  It was his best sweater. 

Frankie didn't want to tell his mother he had given away his best sweater, especially because money was so tight and the sweater had been a gift from his sister.  The night before Christmas Eve Frankie's sister tells him that she's made him a muffler to match the beautiful sweater.  Frankie believes he has done something wrong, and holds it all in to not spoil Christmas for everyone.   

Although I think this story could have held up on its own as a great read just with that story alone, Polacco continues on to tell about Frankie's father getting stuck in bad weather while on his way to get the traditional family oranges for Christmas.  There is a lot more to this story, and in the end I think it sounds like she tacked on the ending of "The Christmas Orange," but it's still a fantastic book and well worth the read.  And if it really did happen, I love the story all the more!

So peel open a Christmas Orange and read a good book!

images via www.patriciapolacco.com

The Amazing Christmas Extravaganza

You just put gingerbread cookies in the oven... one hand is on the phone with Kohl's customer service letting you know you left your credit card behind while buying something for your sister that you ended up replacing with something better and returning anyway... the other hand is finding a family picture for those cards that you've got to get out-but why is no one looking in the same direction in any picture?  Your left foot is trying to keep the tottering toddler from climbing the Christmas tree---again, and your right foot is, well, holding you up...barely.  And then you realize...when was the last time I thought about WHY I am doing this?  

It's a great reason why we do it all, but sometimes we get so caught up in the everything-else of Christmas, we start to forget the important parts.  

by David Shannon

The story of Mr. Merriweather, a man who usually celebrated Christmas with a wreath and some simple decorations on the tree.  One year, to his family's delight, he decided to really go out and add a small string of lights around the window.  When teased about the lights by his neighbor, Mr. Merriweather decides to make a few improvements...but then he doesn't stop.  He eventually creates what can only be described as a Christmas Extravaganza.  People flock to his home to see the lights, traffic backs up around his neighborhood, brown outs blanket every other house, and Mr. Merriweather doesn't realize everything else that he is missing while he's caught up in making the display bigger and better.  Unfortunately, his neighbors finally get fed up and instead of talking it over with Mr. Merriweather, take matters into their own hands, which they eventually regret.

I like that Mr. Merriweather's intentions are not to outdo the neighbors, but just to make a grand display to celebrate Christmas.  Sound familiar?  Reign in excesses, and you'll be amazed how much more you can enjoy the holiday season.

*I recommend this book for first graders and up. 

Want to read the story of a real-life Christmas Extravaganza from the house photo above?  Go here to read it on the Boston Globe.  Seriously, the book sounds like it was written straight from the article.

house image via ecomorons.org

book image via overstock.com

Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale

by Martin Waddell

illustrated by Jason Cockcroft

A beautifully (LOVE it!) illustrated picture book that more accurately depicts the birth of the Savior not in December, but on a cold spring night.  

Kind Ox invites Old Dog in from the cold, telling him, "There's always room for a little one here."  

Old Dog passes on the kindness to Stray Cat, and so on through barn animals who would not normally treat each other with such kindness.  

Tired Donkey comes bearing a precious load.  He is also welcomed, "There's always room for a little one here."  

And so it was there that "a Little One came for the world."

May we all make room for the least of these this Christmas.

Teaching by bringing extra to the ordinary:

Use the following poem with a little bag of M&M's and you'll find your kids will never see those little candies the same way again.

More Than Colors

These special little candies,

Come in colors bright and fun.

There’s more than color to be found;

A story of God’s Son.

The M’s turn into W’s,

If you turn them upside down.

A few more turns and E and 3’s

Are waiting to be found.

M is for the manger,

Where Mary laid her precious boy.

Little did the world know,

This baby would bring great joy.

The W is for the Wise men, 

Who followed a bright star.

The star revealed a king was born,

They came but, oh, so far.

In Bethlehem they found Him,

Just as they had been told.

3 is for the gifts they brought;

Frankincense, myrrh and gold

W is also for their worship,

As they bowed before their King,

Salvation is the promise given,

There’s nothing we can bring.

Faith alone is how we come

He died to set us free.

E is for eternity,

God’s gift to you and me.

Barbara Hooks' Version of a poem by Pam Ridenour

image via simonsays.com

poem via daniellesplace.com

Run, Turkey, Run!

by Diane Mayr

illustrated by Laura Rader

With so many books about the Thanksgiving turkey getting away, I'm surprised any of us actually have turkey on the 4th Thursday in November.  I wasn't sure about reading so many turkey escape books...would they lead my children to protest the consumption of the holiday bird?  Too bad for the turkey at our house, Thanksgiving dinner is way too delicious.  

Run, Turkey, Run! is one of my favorite fugitive turkey picture books.  As the family prepares the rest of the Thanksgiving meal, the farmer sets out after the turkey.  Turkey goes on the run. "If Turkey rolls in the mud, will the farmer think he's a pig?"  The kids will enjoy yelling, "No!!  Run, Turkey, run!"  The turkey also tries hiding out as a duck and a horse, with the farmer getting more bedraggled with every step.  

I really like this craft because it illustrates exactly what I'm most thankful for-- our family!  Use the handprints from everyone in the family to make the feathers!  I'm sure you can figure out how to make it on your own, but here are the directions just in case.

Happy Thanksgiving!

book image via nhbookcenter.blogspot.com

Sometimes it's Turkey, Sometimes it's Feathers

by Lorna and Lecia Balian

Little old Mrs. Gumm finds a turkey egg out in the forest one day. She rushes home and takes care of it, all the while exclaiming how much she's looking forward to how big and fat the turkey will be at Thanksgiving.

The turkey hatches and he's trouble. He eats pretty much everything else Mrs. Gumm planned to grow to use in her thanksgiving meal. But the woman doesn't let it get to her. She just exclaims what a fine, fat turkey he will be by then for all he's been eating.

The fateful Thanksgiving day arrives, and out comes the hatchet. What's for dinner? Read it to find out!

Make sure you get a more recent publication of this book. The newer version is full color. The older version is printed in a color that is neither green nor brown. And when I say that's what it's printed with, that is the only color they use. Very hard to see the pictures when everything (floor, chairs, walls, people) are all the same color on a page.

Have a little fun: Make your own turkey that won't be eaten this Thanksgiving! I'm all about crafts that kids can go at completely on their own. Crafts that require lots of intervention on my part really don't end up being their proud treasure like the crafts they create on their own.

Use the turkey as a placecard holder by having the kids nestle name cards into the pinecone.

image via rockbottomprices.com

Thank you, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving

by Laurie Halse Anderson

illustrated by Matt Faulkner

Did you know the same person who composed "Mary Had a Little Lamb" was also responsible for the creation of our national day off from work for Thanksgiving?  And how did she do it?  Despite failure after failure, she was "bold, brave, stubborn and smart."  The greatest lesson in this?  She was just a mom who never gave up and persevered to make a difference.   

image via biblio.com

Big Pumpkin

by Erica Silverman

illustrated by S.D. Schindler

A witch, trying to get her pumpkin off the vine to make a pie, gets some help from some spooky friends.  In the end, size doesn't matter, because it's the idea of the smallest of the creatures who gets the pumpkin to come loose.  

image via coverbrowser.com

Five Little Pumpkins

illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

A cute rhyme that makes a great boardbook.  Want to make a little book for kids to color and reread after the book has gone back to the library?  Follow the links from this page.

image via amazon.com

The Dark at the Top of the Stairs

by Sam McBratney

illustrated by Ivan Bates

Three mice are given a choice of what to do that day.  Instead of spending the day outside or having other kinds of fun, they are insistent that their Grandfather take them to the Dark at the Top of the Stairs.  If read well, this (not scary-but definitely tense) book can make a person, child and adult alike, momentarily dread the Dark at the Top of the Stairs.  A good book, you'll just wish it was longer!

image via onepotato.net

Skeleton Hiccups

by Margery Cuyler

illustrated by S.D. Schindler

A skeleton attempts to get rid of his hiccups, but it seems none of the traditional methods are helpful--but they are comical!

images via amazon.com

The Hallo-Wiener

by Dav Pilkey

Perhaps better known as the author and illustrator of the "Captain Underpants" Series, Dav Pilkey uses the same cartoony style in a book about a weiner dog named Oscar (hmmm, how'd he get that name?).  If you haven't figured out the connection, you can find "Meyer" on his family's mailbox.  The story follows Oscar the wiener dog through teasing from other dogs because of his differences.  The sad thing is that Oscar tries his best to be friends with those same dogs who bully him.  As is always the case, mother is loving and supportive, but this Halloween, Oscar's mom makes Oscar a Halloween costume that he is sure will only make the harassment even worse.  It is a bun, complete with mustard.  He's a real wiener for Halloween. Despite the torture he knows will come, Oscar loves his mom and wears it.  Of course he is teased, but in the end it's his differences, and his costume, that save the day and create new friendships.  It turns out to be a happy Halloween after all.

image via pilkey.com

Old Black Witch

by Wende and Harry Devlin

Nickey and his mother buy an old house with the intention of turning it into a quaint tea room.  Unfortunately, the old house they bought came with a witch who had been sleeping in the chimney for years.  Insistent the house belongs to her, Old Black Witch tries to make life very hard for Nickey and his mother.  Her efforts to hinder turn into efforts to help her new housemates.  It turns out Old Black Witch is good at more than just making blueberry pancakes... 

image via logan.com

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything

by Linda Williams

illustrated by Megan Lloyd

A little old woman, who wasn't afraid of anything, certainly wasn't about to let a dark walk home scare her.  However, along the way she is approached by a pair of pants (who go 'wiggle, wiggle'), a shirt ('shake, shake'), gloves ('clap, clap'), and more articles of clothing, plus a giant pumpkin head that prove the little old lady is afraid of something.  In the end, the little old woman proves she really isn't scared easily, and it turns out for the best for everyone.

We love this book!  Not at all a scary book, and our little ones quickly picked up on doing actions for the 'wiggle,wiggle' or the 'shake, shake' involved in the story.  

Have a little fun: Perform a Reader's Theater for this book!  Perfect for if your family holds a Family Night, or a great way to start one!  There's no need for props or anything but the script and your imaginations, so preparation is a snap.  I like this one, taken from a first grade teacher's website.   Of course, unless you have 10 family members, you may have to rearrange the parts a little.

image via coverbrowser.com

Frank Was a Monster Who Wanted to Dance

I'll admit I'm a bit of a forced expert on Halloween books. Our local library has lovingly divided the holiday books into sections, so we can read Halloween books all year round if we wish...and (unfortunately) we do. Our little buddy has a fearful fascination with all things Halloween, so I can confidently say we have read every Halloween book offered at our library. So I have a lot to share. Not all are specifically Halloween, but all are guaranteed "spooky."

by Keith Graves

Frank was a monster who wanted to dance, so what did he do? Put ants in his pants, of course! He then takes off to show off his moves.

I have learned that pretty much all Halloween books rhyme. Why? I think it makes the subject matter less scary. If there's any way to talk about skeletons, mummies and vampires in a non-threatening way, rhyme would be the way to do it. I don't think my son would enjoy the books nearly as much if the rhyme didn't help make being "spooked" a fun thing.

Frank Was a Monster Who Wanted to Dance is a completely silly book. And, just so you know, the illustrations are pretty...lively. His brain plops onto the floor, his eyeball falls out, and he pretty much comes to pieces when he dances. But, it wouldn't be Halloween without a little gore! The pictures are not scary, and my kids (ages 3 and 5) think it's completely hilarious.

Share your favorite Halloween, monster, alien or other spooky books with me! We need the variety!

images via chroniclebooks.com

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

by Judi Barrett

illustrations by Rob Barrett

A classic story about a grandfather who tells his grandchildren the most amazing bedtime story about the town of Chewandswallow. A normal town, except that each day's 3 meals all come from the sky. Seems great, until the weather starts producing more than the town can handle.

I think I like this book now because I think, wouldn't that be great? I'd never have to cook again! Hooray! But when I really think about it, I don't mind cooking. It's the mess afterward that drives me crazy. And if I had to wash the dishes and wash the car after every meal, I'd be the first to board the peanut butter sandwich sailboat to get out of town.

As a kid, I loved the story for the pictures. My kids are following suit with my 3 year old curled up on the couch laughing at every page. There are so many tiny and hilarious things to see! I only recently noticed that the Sanitation Truck has what appears to be baby doll heads on poles staked to the front bumper. Weird? Absolutely. As distrurbing as the fried egg the mama bird finds in her nest on page 12? Moreso, actually. Will I read this book to my kids again and again anyway? Yes. Will I show them the strange things I find embedded in an otherwise delightfully illustrated picturebook? Ha! Not likely.

Have a little fun: It isn't hard for a child to pretend they are actually reading this book, because the pictures are so descriptive. Read it to your child the first few times, then one day pass the book to your little pre-reader and tell them to read you the story. They will be so pleased that they can "read"!! Plus, if your child can learn to utilize the pictures now, it will be something they continue to do when they are learning to read. Any teacher will tell you to never cover the pictures to get your child to read the words. The pictures help tell the story and decode words if they get stuck!

If you were homeschooling, this might be a good, silly book to introduce a discussion of weather.

Love the book? Think it would make a great movie? Neither do I. But I always make plans around any event that includes Mr. T. Prepare yourself for an animated movie with the voices of Andy Samberg, Bill Hader, Tracy Morgan (SNL reunion, anyone?), and of course, Mr. T among others. I guess the movie is very loosely based on the book, but since the book is entirely about food falling from the sky, what else is there to follow? Expect it in theaters January 2010.

update: the new trailer

images via bottomshelfbooks.blogspot.com

The Giving Tree

by Shel Silverstein

Sure, we've probably all read this book, but I love it.  I used to love it because I believed it taught about the importance of being environmentally responsible.  If we keep taking from the environment, all that we're eventually left with is a stump.  

Now that I'm a mother, it offers me a whole new story, one that makes me cry through -pretty much- the whole book as I read it to my kids.  Just enjoy letting your kids see that books are meant to evoke emotion.  It isn't a good book unless it makes you feel something.

images via coverbrowser.com 

Lunch

by Denise Fleming

The story of a mouse who gets very hungry, leaves his mousehole, and finds a whole table of delicious fruits and vegetables to eat.  He approaches each one, each a different color.  You can see just a corner of the produce to give you a clue as to what it is that he is going to eat on the next page.  The words also prompt you to guess.  Mouse eats  "sweet yellow".... (with the corner of a cob of corn on that page).  Turn the page and it's confirmed that it is corn, which is being sloppily devoured by the mouse.  I love the hilarious body language of the excited mouse.  At the end of the book he is thoroughly filthy, leaving a trail back to his mousehole.  Great for ages infant to preschool. 

Have a little fun: As you're reading, have your child guess what the fruit or vegetable is that the mouse will eat next (you can see a corner of the vegetable on each page to give a clue).  Sing this song (complete with actions) with your child.  This is better with a group of children who actually are wearing different colors, but you can make it work.  Cut circles in different colors and put them on your body when you sing about that color.  Or, you could take clothing of different colors from their closet and throw them on for singing each color.  A fun dress-up game! If you'd like accompanying music, go to the National Institute of Health site.   I like this site because it includes a lot of the music to accompany songs for children.

If you are Wearing....(Sung to the tune "If You're Happy and You Know It")

If you are wearing red, shake your head

If you are wearing red, shake your head

If you are wearing red

Then please shake your head

If you are wearing red, shake your head

If you are wearing blue, touch your shoe 

If you are wearing blue, touch your shoe

If you are wearing blue,

Then please touch your shoe

If you are wearing blue, touch your shoe

If you are wearing green, bow to the queen 

If you are wearing green, bow to the queen

If you are wearing green,

Then please bow to the queen

If you are wearing green, bow to the queen

If you are wearing yellow, shake like Jell-O 

If you are wearing yellow, shake like Jell-O

If you are wearing yellow,

Then please shake like Jell-O

If you are wearing yellow, shake like Jell-O

If you are wearing black, pat your back 

If you are wearing black, pat your back

If you are wearing black,

Then please pat your back

If you are wearing black, pat your back

If you are wearing brown, turn around

If you are wearing brown, turn around

If you are wearing brown,

Then please turn around

If you are wearing brown, turn around

images via www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu and guitarati.com

Mouse Paint

by Ellen Stoll Walsh

"Once there were three white mice on a white piece of paper.  The cat couldn't find them."  One day while the cat sleeps, the mice find three jars of paint: red, yellow and blue.  They each jump inside and are no longer white mice, but red, yellow and blue mice.  The mice discover that when two of the colors are mixed together, it creates a new color!  After a nice bath in the cat's water bowl, the mice set off and use their new knowledge to paint not 3, but 6 colors on everything....well, almost everything.

Great book for PreK kids, but older kids could appreciate it as well.

Have a little fun: Experiment with color.  Put the primary colors in puddles on paper, put on some music, and let your child's fingers "dance" in the music (like the mice did).  Point out how the colors change when combined. 

For slightly older children, overlap colored tissue paper to see the color change.  Make a collage out of the tissue paper.

image via efollet.com

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters

by John Steptoe

If you can't read Disney's Cinderella even one more time, introduce your little princess to a different kind of Cinderella story. A Caldecott Honor, for its beautiful pictures.

Set in Africa, Mufaro has 2 beautiful daughters, Manyara and Nyasha. Although both were beautiful, they couldn't have been more different. Manyara was always bad tempered, selfish and unkind. Nyasha was hard working, loving, and kind, despite her sister's harsh words to her.

One day, the King sends an invitation for the most worthy and beautiful daughters in the land to appear before him, so he can choose a bride. Mufaro, who knows nothing of Manyara's bad treatment of others, is proud to send both his daughters. However, Manyara wants to get to the King's palace ahead of her sister, so she steals out in the night to get a head start.

Along the way, Manyara meets 3 people who are in need of kindness from her. Manyara is bitterly cruel to them and continues to the palace, presuming herself to be the next queen.

The next morning, Nyasha sets out for the palace and comes across some of the same strangers her sister met the night before. She is kind and generous with each of them. As Nyasha approaches the castle, Manyara is frantically running from the steps and tells her sister of a terrible beast within that claimed to know her faults. Nyasha enters anyway, and finds that her kindness pays off in the end.

Have a little fun: I actually enjoy this story more than Disney's Cinderella, because in Disney's Cinderella the prince seems to fall in love after only one dance. The prince has time to get to know Nyasha, and sees that she is just as kind as she is beautiful. Beauty is another issue in this story. Both girls are beautiful, but one chooses to act ugly.

Depending on the age of your child, you can talk about the differences and similarities between the classic Cinderella and this one. You'll be surprised how alike stories in two very different settings can be.

A little more fun: A good book to get your child interested in another country, especially with the Olympics going on right now. Point out where Africa is on a map or globe, and compare it to where you live.

images via Baldwin Library of Historical Children's Literature

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

by Simms Taback

Joseph had a little overcoat, and when it becomes ragged, he turns it into a jacket. When the jacket gets too worn, he turns it into a vest... The long-ago overcoat is slowly whittled down and remade until it is nothing more than a button. Joseph loses the button. So what can he do now that he has nothing? This is a story that teaches you can always make something from nothing. Another message I particularly enjoy is that the crafty mind can always make something useful beyond its original purpose.

The pictures are a story of their own. The pages have holes in them, so when you turn the page, the new article of clothing is cut out of the old one. Also, the pictures include so many details! Many of those details include references to Jewish history, with pictures of real people on the walls of Joseph's home, and Hebrew writing on his papers. This is a very deserving Caldecott winner.

image via www.global-b2b-network.com

Have a little fun: This story has a particularly personal impact for me. Before reluctantly turning an old shirt into a rag, my great-grandmother would cut all the buttons off and put them in little jars. Those buttons went on to be useful on another article of clothing. I was given that box of button jars before my grandma died, and they have been repurposed to being a sorting game for my kids. Every once in a while I'll even find the need to pull out the box to replace a lost button. The little jars of buttons are more than a useful or sentimental item, they are a reminder to me that maybe I should think twice about throwing away that box of wire hangers just because I have a million of them....or that chair with a leg that could be fixed.... 

If you don't feel crafty enough to tackle repurposing something, give it to someone who is! A forum with increasing popularity is freecycle.org. Join the group in your area and someone local is guaranteed to pick it up and reuse it. If you want a little money for it, try your local Craigslist.org You don't need an account to post for free on Craigslist, just remember to post it in the correct state and area. Definitely submit a picture with it (of the item, not you...ha ha!) for best results!

Bedtime!

by Ruth Freeman Swain

illustrated by Cat Bowman Smith

Bedtime! is a non-fiction book about the history of and different kinds of beds. We all sleep, but it's amazing how differently we all do the same thing. This book follows beds through various times: ancient Egypt and China, the Middle Ages, and every time in between. My kids especially loved seeing beds in different locations: the desert, trains, semi-trucks, boats, the side of a mountain (yikes!), and outer space. My kids were delighted to see that the book made special mention of one bed in a manger.

Sometimes fact-books are overstimulating because of their hodge-podge of information strewn throughout the page. While great for older kids, younger kids could easily get lost. In Bedtime! the facts are given to form a continuous "story," not a spattering of facts.

If you love this one, check out Ruth Freeman Swain's other fun fact books.

While I enjoyed both of these books, Bedtime! is still my favorite of Swain's collection. However, you may enjoy these others even more, considering that these are both better sellers than Bedtime!

Have a Little Fun: You've reached the end and you're aching for more? Turn the last page to see facts about sleep. It includes a part that talks about how when we're getting ready for bed, someone on the other side of the world is just waking up! This led me to teach my kids about the position of the sun with the rotation of the earth and how that effects day and night around the world. I assure you I explained in it more simplistic terms. ha!

I used a mirror to reflect light from the sun onto our globe (but you could just use a ball). It shows how while one side of the earth gets light, the other is in shadow and it is night there. I've found this works best, because a flashlight simply isn't bright enough...but I guess you could go in a totally dark room to do this with a flashlight.

The Poky Little Puppy

"One of the original 12 Little Golden Books, The Poky Little Puppy has sold nearly 15 million copies since 1942, making it one of the most popular children's books of all time."*  Someone read it to you, have you read it to your kids?

by Janette Sebring Lowrey

illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren

Five little puppies dug a hole under the fence and went exploring. After a while they could smell rice pudding. So home four of the puppies ran, only to find their upset mother scolding them for digging a hole, and sent them to bed. The fifth puppy, a poky little puppy, came home late and ate up the rice pudding and went to bed happy.

The next morning there was a sign by the fence from Mother that warned the puppies not to dig holes. But, they dug a hole again, and four little puppies got into the same punishment again when they returned. The poky little puppy came home later and enjoyed chocolate custard before heading to bed.

The puppies finally learn to repair their mistakes and listen to Mother, and so does the poky little puppy, but just a little later than the rest.

I've been feeling reminiscent the past couple of weeks. Perhaps it was having to call poison control twice in one week, or hearing my 5 year-old-daughter say, "You are ruining my life!" Whatever it was, I'm appreciating my mom a lot more lately. I remember this book as a childhood favorite, and now it reminds me I'm not the only one who struggles to be a good mom. Here's celebrating non-toxic doses of old cough drops and the 5 year old who secretly sings songs about having the most wonderful life. They do things wrong, but they learn (after a while), and so do we (after a while)!

image via howtobeachildrensbookillustrator.wordpress.com

Be Nice to Spiders

I live in the Midwest.  My basement was flooded when 12" of water fell in 6 hours.  I can survive that.  What I cannot survive is the resulting infestation of mosquitos!!  I'm being mummified alive!  Reading this book gives my murderous feelings toward those, and other flying insects, a little satisfaction.

by Margaret Bloy Graham

Billy had to leave his pet spider, Helen, to a good home when he moved, and the zoo seemed like the perfect place.  Helen escaped her box soon after her surprise delivery, and quickly started eating the flies that troubled all the animals at the zoo.  She moved from cage to cage until the flies were finally under control and all the animals were content.

One day, the Keeper orders the cages cleaned of all the "unattractive" spiderwebs because the Mayor was coming.  During the cleaning of the camel cage, one of the workers spotted Helen and swatted, but missed.  Scared of being discovered again, she decided to only stay in the camel cage.  Over the next few weeks, the flies returned to the other animals' cages, but not the camel cage, thanks to Helen.  The Keeper finally learns that we should be nice to spiders because they really are useful.

Those who know me well, and sometimes the occassional complete stranger watching me scream and run away, know that the title of this book is not my creed.  However, I am a firm believer that all life should be treated with respect.  Every life has a purpose, and sometimes we have to identify the good each does in order to appreciate it.  That's where mom comes in, to answer the little one's question, "Why do we have spiders, anyway?"  To be honest, if every spider had a cute little smiley face like Helen, I would be less inclined to shiver when I see one.

Margaret Bloy Graham is more well known for her illustrations in books about Harry the Dirty Dog, which is also an enjoyable vintage book.

Have a little fun: Check out a book about insects and arachnids that live in your area.  I don't know what it is about looking at those pictures, but my kids love it.  Teaching them how to identify a Black Widow or Brown Recluse spider might be a good idea.  Or do you want them getting that close?  Hey, you might learn something you didn't know...like not all spiders spin webs!

images via vintagechildrensbooksmykidloves.com

Enemy Pie

by Derek Munson

illustrated by Tara Calahan King

It should have been the perfect summer for this little boy, but it wasn't because Jeremy Ross moved in next door to the boy's best friend, Stanley. Jeremy Ross laughed at the boy when Jeremy struck him out in baseball. Jeremy Ross had a party on his trampoline and didn't invite the boy. Jeremy Ross was the first person, the only person on the boy's enemy list. (The boy doesn't have a name, because I guess it's supposed to make him more relatable to the reader.)

The boy tells his dad about his problem with Jeremy Ross. His dad, wisely seeing this was not a bully issue, pulled out the recipe for Enemy Pie. The boy was informed that the only way Enemy Pie could work was if the boy spent one whole day with his enemy, Jeremy Ross.

The boy imagines all the horrible things that would happen to whoever ate Enemy Pie, and what kind of disgusting things were inside. Although he really doesn't want to spend the day with his enemy, he ultimately rings Jeremy Ross' doorbell and asks him to play. After spending a day of throwing waterballoons, playing sports, and having a great day together, the boy realizes he doesn't want Jeremy Ross to eat Enemy Pie! Dessert is served, and the boy needs to act quickly to save his new friend!

The author, Derek Munson, is a great storyteller. I have yet to find a text I have been more impressed with. This is a great book for teaching kids that an enemy might just be a friend you haven't gotten to know yet. My daughter is barely 5, so I had to tell her what an enemy was before we began (ah, innocence!). 

Have a teaching moment: Do a "picture walk" through the story, not reading the words, but just looking at the pictures (but not the last few pictures!). As you go, have your child predict what is happening in the story, and what they think will happen next. Teach and use the word "predict" since it will definitely come up at school. Remember, any guess is a good guess!

images via wrjih.wordpress.com

Strega Nona

by Tomie dePaola

My last posting about spaghetti reminded me of another pasta classic--Strega Nona!  Just in case there's a chance maybe one person out there has never read this must-read.

image via 100scopenotes.wordpress.com

More Spaghetti, I Say!

This is supposed to be a "leveled reader," (the kind teachers use to match the right book with each child's reading level), but it's one of the books we have worn the cover off of with so many readings. A great book about Minnie monkey, who is so committed to her love of spaghetti, she has found a way to incorporate it into everything she does....skiing, biking, and so on! Unfortunately, she takes a good thing too far and gets sick from eating too much spaghetti. Great ending, and one that your little pre-reader will be proud to take over reading someday soon!

Have a little fun: Make a pile of spaghetti just to play with. Squish it, pile it, talk about what it would feel like to stand on a mountain of spaghetti. This might be a good time to talk about how your body feels when it is full.

If you're careful with hand washing, you could probably make a cold spaghetti dish to accompany dinner.

Even more fun: Watch Freddy's face throughout the story. He is very expressive of his feelings when he's excited, when Minnie says she won't play with him, and in other ways. A good book to identify how what we say makes people feel good/bad.

images via mortgerberbooks.com