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

What! Cried Granny: An Almost Bedtime Story

by Kate Lum

illustrated by Adrian Johnson

This book is just silly and fun.  The great thing is that it would definitely apply to any parents and especially to any grandparents who have ever had to go to great efforts to put the little one to bed.

Inside the book, we follow Granny and Patrick through the adventures Granny endures (all the while still wearing a pearl necklace and a little black purse) in order to get everything ready for little Patrick to go to sleep.  

You must use Granny and Patrick voices (especially when Granny says, "WHAAAAAAT?"), and you must find the little dog on every page.

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!

by Jon Scieszka

illustrated by Lane Smith

A couple of months ago during library storytime, the librarian chose a book that varied from the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood.  When the story began to depart from the traditional telling, I heard a 'pop' and looked over just in time to see a little 3 year old's boots follow his head to smack down hard onto the carpet.  He couldn't go on.  The story was not right and he could not continue to remain in the room with thatbook.

Although this case is the most extreme example I've seen in a child trying to deal with changes to a familiar story, it definitely isn't the first.  Changing a tale and encouraging your child to alter a story will foster creativity and freedom in writing...and maybe a little tolerance?  

This book is a great way to teach about different points of view.  Apply the same idea to another classic fairy tale.  What if Cinderella's stepsisters were the nice ones?  Kids love role play--especially if you're involved.  Act it out and see what happens!  

I'd be surprised if most or all of you haven't already read or heard of this book, but thought I'd post it as a reminder to read it and love it all over again.

image via coverbrowser.com

The Rainbow Fish

by Marcus Pfister

Rainbow Fish is beautiful with his lovely shimmering scales, but he is also very lonely.  Rainbow Fish goes to a wise octopus for advice, and is told he will find happiess if he gives his beautiful scales away.  Hesitant to do this, the fish eventually learns that sharing really is a great way to make friends!

The power of sharing is difficult to understand at an early age (and sometimes even at much older ages).  Reading books that exemplify traits you want your kids to learn is almost always more effective than just telling them to do it.

Have a little fun: I have seen so many cute art projects to go along with The Rainbow Fish story.   Try the one above.  Sometimes the hardest things to share are shiny objects, like the little glitter shapes in this craft.  Read the book and use the craft to apply what they've learned about sharing. 

image via amazon.com

Boxes for Katje

by Candace Fleming

illustated by Stacey Dressen-McQueen

Based on the author's true family story.  Times were hard in 1945 after the war.  There was little left in the Dutch town of Olst.  They went without many "luxuries" we would now call staples.  

One morning a young Dutch girl named Katje received a box from America from a small girl she doesn't even know.  It was part of a program through the Children's Aid Society to bring hard to find things to the children in Holland.  It was just a small box that contained a bar of soap, a pair of socks and a piece of chocolate.  All of the items were very much needed and Katje was kind to share with others in her neighborhood.  

Katje wrote back to thank the American girl, Rosie, for her gift, and admitted that sugar was rarely ever seen in Holland.  Weeks passed, and soon another package arrived for Katje from Rosie.  As their correspondence increased, so did the interest of the people in Rosie's American hometown.  What started out as just a tiny box mailed by a little girl, turned into a community effort to save Katje's town that winter.

This was an uplifting book that focuses much more on the happiness when Katje and her friends received the gifts, rather than the sadness of their need.

Anyone can make a difference.

image via barnesandnoble.com

Too Many Toys

by David Shannon

 

Could there be a more appropriate time to read this book?  

Spencer has too many toys.  Everyone gives him toys on every holiday, and all the little times in between: the dentist, the doctor, in the kid's meal...at other kids' birthday parties!  Toys were taking over the house until Spencer's mother finally takes out a big box and decides the time has come to say goodbye to a few.

Although this book is great, the humor in the text and the pictures might be lost on anyone younger than kindergarten.  My kids enjoyed the book, but I have to admit I probably enjoyed it even more than they did.

image via barnesandnoble.com

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