I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean!

by Kevin Sherry

Ha ha ha!  I have to admit that many of my book recommendations are funny books.  Some days you need a reminder to laugh, and a book is a great way to snap you back to where you want to be.  Although I try to make all my book recommendations a good read for any age, this book would be absolutely PERFECT for preschoolers or early readers.  The story is simple, the pictures are simple, and it has an unexpected ending that will make your little one roll with giggles (because you will be, too!).

The story follows a giant squid who swims around finding things he's bigger than.  He sees that he's bigger than shrimps, a crab, a shark, and others.  Continue the fun when the book is over by helping your preschooler find things he's bigger than.  A great book to introduce the concept of "bigger" (and "smaller").

Buy the book, and I'm pretty sure all editions come with bath clings at the end.  Have the little one retell the story in the bathtub!

Giant squid are actually incredibly interesting.  Did you know we have only had photos of a living giant squid since 2004?!!  Do your kids want to learn more about giant squid?  A great way to remind your kids the Internet isn't the end-all, tell-all for information: pull out a book!  "Outside and Inside Giant Squid" is a great non-fiction (only 35 page) book with color photographs.

images via amazon.com and exselciorfile.blogspot.com

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

by Eileen Spinelli

illustrated by Paul Yalowitz

Mr. Hatch was tall and thin and did not smile.
Every morning at 6:30 sharp he would leave his brick house and walk eight blocks to the shoelace factory where he worked.
At lunchtime he would sit alone in a corner, eat his cheese and mustard sandwich, and drink a cup of coffee. Sometimes he brought a prune for dessert.

Everything changes for Mr. Hatch when a Valentine arrives at his house with a note, "Somebody Loves You."  Mr. Hatch has no idea who it could be from, and then something happens that has never happened before....he smiles.  Mr. Hatch begins to act differently, knowing that somebody loves him, and because of this he reaches out and makes new friends.

The postman returns to Mr. Hatch's house to give him bad news about his Valentine, and Mr. Hatch is left to believe nobody loves him.  The story continues to a happy ending for Mr. Hatch and his new friends.

Have a little fun:  Work with the kids to cut out a simple heart that says, "Somebody Loves You."  Secretly work together (or separately-depending on your child's age) and do a good deed for a family member or friend and leave the heart behind.  My kids go crazy for doing stuff like this, and doing just one good deed isn't usually enough.

Happy Valentine's Day!

image via thereadingnook.com

Fancy Nancy

by Jane O'Connor

illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser

Is there a princess in your family?  This is a funny and touching story about Nancy, who fancifies everything she touches.  She doesn't understand how her family can be so not-fancy, when being fancy is so much fun!   She finally decides that her family needs fancy lessons.

I can appreciate that this story not only tells a good story, but also has found an enjoyable way to teach new vocabulary (that's a fancy word for words).

When was the last time you were fancy?  A better question for me would be, when was the last time you weren't wearing a ponytail?  Pull on all the fancy things you can find and go out for ice cream as a fancy family.  I'm sure it will be one of those experiences your princess will be saying in years to come, "Remember when..."

image via electroniclibraryland.com