Animal Naps

 

Charlesbridge

Catherine Ham

Could it possibly get any cuter than an entire book of animals napping? From the front cover, I had assumed it would just be adorable photos of tucked in animal babies to ooh and ahh over. There's actually poetry inside! You can still ooh and ahh over the photos, but there is plenty to read as well. 

What a fantastic choice this would read right before your child's nap. Nothing like two dozen photos of sleeping animals to conjure up some drowsiness. Looking these photos over makes you realize how differently animals settle in for their shuteye. Koalas sleep tucked into the crooks of trees and somehow manage not to come tumbling down. Hedgehogs roll up into tight, spiny balls, while hippos slumber with their nostrils underwater.

Ducks are some of the most peculiar nappers, balancing on one leg, with heads tucked under a wing. The bat photo is particularly interesting, as their wings closed tightly around their bodies make them appear as though they are folded inside personal sized black umbrellas. My favorite photo by far is the lizard, who clutches a leaf with his tiny claws as if it were a favorite blankie. He looks so sweet - not a word usually used to describe lizards. So many sweet and adorable snoozers, plus fun poems. The perfect napping book!


Review copy provided by Charlesbridge.

Cool Animal Names

 

Charlesbridge

Dawn Cusick 

I have always found it amusing to take two completely different creatures and mash up their names to make a funky new animal. There is just something about animals and their names that make them fun to manipulate. The difference between that game and this book is that these animals actually exist.

Part One features one common animal and all the unique animals that share that name. For example, we are all familiar with elephants, but did you know there are also Elephant Shrews, Elephant Hawk Moths, and Elephant Beetles? Each of these has a photo and a paragraph on how their names were bestowed. Elephant Ear Coral are relatives of jellyfish that look exactly like a bunch of elephant ears piled up, while Elephant Seals have really large noses that resemble trunks. 

Part Two introduces different species and some of the unusual animals in those particular species. I think Owls are some of the coolest birds, and that was before I was aware of all the different types. Eagle Owls have two big tufts of feathers on their heads that look like a cross between giant eyebrows and tiny mohawks. They are the largest of all owls, earning their name by living in the same areas as eagles. Fish Owls have extra fringe on their feathers to help them fly quietly, so they sneak up on fish to eat. They also have spiny tipped toes for gripping those wriggling fish dinners.   

It is important to mention how visually stimulating this book is. In all, we are introduced to over 250 incredible animals, and treated to a photo of every single one. Most of the photos are surrounded by colorful circles and ovals, for a pleasing rainbow effect. The facts and tidbits presented are short little blips, ideal for reading aloud to younger kids. Interesting animals combined with a terrific presentation makes this a really cool book. 

Review copy provided by Charlesbridge.

Little Pig Joins the Band

 

Charlesbridge

David Hyde Costello 

Little Pig is the youngest piglet of the family, which is how he ended up with that particular nickname. His real name is Jacob, but nobody seems to remember that. My expectations were that this book would be adorable, and it definitely is. I had not anticipated that it would also be funny, but it hits that mark as well.

While the pigs are visiting at Grandpa's house, they break out a box from his marching band days. Grandpa squeezes into his old band jacket and the grandpigs take turns choosing instruments from the box. Actually, Little Pig selects instruments from the box and his older brothers and sisters take turns pulling them from his hands. Little Pig is lost behind the drum, can't quite get the trombone off the floor, and the tuba is too cumbersome to even consider!

Grandpa claims his jacket still fits, but one button lets loose with a poink and sails through the air. Every question Little Pig asks of his siblings is completely misheard, in a comical way. He inquires about playing a kazoo and his sister replies "Gesundheit" as she waltzes away with the trumpet.When he asks if they have any piccolos, his brother tells him to check in the fridge, behind the the olives.

As Little Pig watches his brothers and sisters mill around with their instruments, randomly playing different tunes, he stumbles upon a realization. What this band really needs is a little organization. Little Pig grabs a whistle, lines up the pigs, and soon has everyone marching together in step. He might be too small to carry an instrument, but he's terrific at organization and seeing what needs to be done. It isn't always the biggest and oldest pigs that are the most useful - sometimes it is the small guys with the greatest ideas.      

Review copy provided by Charlesbridge.

Aggie the Brave

Charlesbridge 

Lori Ries; Illustrated by Frank W. Dormer

This is the third book in the popular Aggie series.  The two preceding books, Aggie and Ben: Three Stories, and Good Dog, Aggie have gotten scores of good reviews as beginning reader books that also rate highly with preschoolers. After reading this one, I can certainly see the appeal. The little red-haired boy and his adorable dog are pretty easy to like.



In this installment of Ben and Aggie's adventures, the duo is making a trip to the vet's office.  The time has come for Aggie to be spayed.  I was a little surprised the author chose that particular operation to introduce to kids, but when I gave it a bit more thought, it really is sensible. Spaying an neutering is both an important and common procedure, and one that children should be familiar with. Ben's mom explains in her matter-of-fact way that in addition to preventing puppies, this will help keep Aggie from getting sick when she gets older. 

Both Ben and Aggie try very hard to be brave.  Ben asks the vet a lot of questions to quell his fears, gives Aggie a big hug and goes home without her for one night.  It is a long drive home without his friend and Ben's bed feels terribly empty that night.  

When they pick up Aggie the next day, Ben expects her to be excited to see him, running to greet him and jumping around.  But when he arrives, Aggie is lying very still, with a paper cone around her head.  The vet explains that Aggie needs some quiet time while her incision heals.  The paper cone is to keep her from licking her stitches (it's a dog thing).  Ben busts out his stash of art supplies and transforms the paper cone into a fierce lion's mane.  Each day, Aggie feels a bit better, until she is back to her old self.

This really is the perfect book for beginning readers.  The sentences are short and the nice, bright illustrations fill most of each page.  Plus, kids get to see that it's okay to be scared, and learn a little bit about responsible pet ownership. This really is a win-win for parents and children alike.

Review copy provided by Charlesbridge. 

Piggies in the Pumpkin Patch

Charlesbridge

Mary Peterson and Jennifer Rofe

What sort of trouble can two devilish little piggies get into while their mama naps?  Bear in mind that they have an entire farm at their disposal and plenty of energy.  They cover so much territory that the inside cover provides a little schematic of everywhere they traveled.  The map was a big hit at our house - those little black dashes mark their path of mayhem from start to finish.     

This is the perfect autumn book, bursting with fat orange pumpkins and rife with scampering squirrels. Crisp yellow sheets are flapping on the line, plump bunnies line the garden and an entire hive bees buzz nearby.  This farm is simply ideal for a pair of mischievous piggies.            

I like the use of prepositional directions: under the sheets, over the green beans, behind the sheep and between the cats. There is also a wonderfully liberal use of adjectives, so it's actually under crinkly, clean sheets, over the growing, green beans and between teasing tabby cats. The pigs chase bushy tailed squirrels and race through muddy fields, having the time of their lives until they find themselves in the big bull's pen and have to escape through a swarm of stinging bees.  They return to their mama, tuckered out from the adventure, soon fast asleep, happy as pigs in ... a pumpkin patch.         

The illustrations are super cute, with colors and patterns abound. No plain jane sheep here - these guys sport a sweet design of tiny white and orange spirals on their golden backs.  The piggies are equally adorable, with perfect pink snouts and black patches dotting their plump white bellies. Even though their eyes are just round black dots, they manage to convey a look of innocence while racing about.  Okay, the bull isn't cute, but the little squirrel rears racing away from him definitely are!

Of course, the trailer gives us an actual look inside the book, complete with animation and a peppy tune.  



Review copy provided by Charlesbridge.

Hip-Pocket Papa

Charlesbridge
Sandra Markle; Illustrated by Alan Marks

Sandra Markle always seems to strike just the right balance between fact and fiction. I suppose her books are technically classified as non-fiction, but they also provide the dimensions of a fictional story, which makes them twice as interesting. Yes, we all should enjoy learning, but Sandra knows just how to zoom in on one specific animal to really get the readers emotionally invested in her story.

The hero of our story is .... a hip pocket frog? I haven't ever personally heard of these particular devils - although that's hardly surprising considering how slim my knowledge base is on frogs and toads. For the frog clueless like me, these are very small (no bigger than your thumbnail) dark brown frogs who dwell in Australia. These frogs earned their name by the unique way the males help develop their young. The tadpoles hatch from eggs like any other number of frogs. However, these frogs then slide into skin pockets along the sides of their father's body. Hip pocket papa carries his young tucked into his side pouches until they are fully developed frogs! That odd little quirk makes them pretty darn interesting, I think.  

Our story opens with a pair of hip pocket frogs - expectant parents who guarding their cache of eggs. Once the eggs hatch, the father steps up to perform his task of securing his brood in his hidden hip pockets. When he is not hunting for food, this clever frog buries himself in leaves to hide from predators. At the same time, he is careful to keep his skin wet at all times, as the tadpoles need to be wet to breathe. Father frog carries his tadpoles for nearly a month before the tadpoles are ready to emerge, hopping out as fully formed frogs. 



I was surprised to discover just how truly stunning the forest illustrations are in this book. You might expect frog habitats to be dull, but brilliant golds, browns and greens shine here. Some books, and this is obviously one of them, have illustrations so beautiful that my first inclination is to rip them right out and tack them up on my walls.  It seems almost a shame to close the cover and hide these from view.    

My only complaint, which doesn't have a thing to do with this book, is that I was a little disappointed to find that Sandra Markle doesn't have a personal website. It seemed to me that someone with her considerable artistic talent would naturally boast a neat, science-y, interactive site. But I can't complain too much that she prefers to spend her time writing phenomenal books like these for us to enjoy.

So maybe just ignore that nitpicking and instead check out a really lovely and wonderful book on some unusual frogs that really does deserve your attention!

Review copy provided by Charlesbridge. 

Not So Tall For Six

Charlesbridge
Dianna Hutts Aston; Illustrated by Frank W. Dormer

Kylie Bell is the smallest student in first grade. Does this fact bother her? Not a bit. She looks at that particular measurement in her own unique way, choosing to describe herself as the "not-so-tallest" person in first grade.

It's no surprise that Kylie is itty bitty, as her entire family is vertically challenged. Their small stature is why their family motto has become "Brave and smart and big at heart." The Bells know that you don't have to claim a lot of inches to claim your place this world.


It is important that Kylie has such a positive attitude about herself because she sure is having a tough time at school with the new boy, Rusty Jacks. He teases her and taunts her all over the school, generally being a thorn in her side. Kylie needs to summon all her courage to face this big bully.

In the end, it is Rusty Jacks who finds himself needing a friend. When Ms. Shelts asks all the circle leaders who can find a spot in their reading group, not a single person will meet her eye. Rusty stands alone, unwelcome and embarrassed. It is Kylie who take two deep breaths, sets aside her scared feelings, and welcomes Rusty to her group. After giving him a chance, Kylie discovers that under his tough exterior, Rusty Jacks is actually a bit of a softie.


I think one of the cutest details of this book is the way it is written "western"style. The author uses phrases like "skedaddles faster than a spooked horse" and "skitter-dee-doos" while the reading groups boast names like Bison and Shetland Ponies. From the ten-gallon hats and kerchiefs right down to the cowboy boots, you can tell Texas has been written right into this story.


Not just fun illustrations and western twang, this book teaches a valuable lesson. Physical appearance, whether is height or weight, skin or eye color, is not the true measure of a person. Each person's character is defined by their personality, intelligence and heart. The size of Kylie's heart far outstretches her diminutive form and she overcomes her fear to befriend Rusty Jacks.

Meet the Howlers!

Charlesbridge
April Pulley Sayre; Illustrated by Woody Miller

It seems that children's fiction books heavily outweigh the supply of non-fiction. Thus, I'm always happy to discover some good factual reading material presented at a level that children can enjoy. A big thanks to April Pulley Sayre, who has written more than 55 natural history books for children and adults. With her most recent offering, we get the opportunity to learn about howler monkeys.


This book serves a dual purpose, with two distinct sections on each page. The larger font provides a bit of a fictional story about a family of howler monkeys. The smaller font is the non-fictional section that gives factual information on this group of fascinating primates. And truly, there is a wide range of information provided - funny,


The biggest piece of information, and most obvious fact, about howler monkeys is ... they howl. But did you know they can also bark, woof and grunt? The monkeys use the various calls to communicate with the other members in their group. Appropriately named, their howls can be heard a mile away. The screeching can be scary to other animals, but they are actually peaceful animals. They may look as if they are angry and scowling, but that's just the way their faces are designed.


This book was inspired by the author's observations of howler monkeys in Panama. It is obvious that she has taken an interest that is near and dear to her heart and tried to make it appealing to children. I love how she approaches this by combining fact with fiction. It's like we are getting the best of both worlds! The result is a fun story created by some interesting observations. This is the very best way to learn - a fun format paired with beautiful illustrations.

The only down side (and I'm sure you saw this coming) is the distinct possibility that your children will imitate howler monkeys around the house. Hey, learning has its price.

The Little Red Elf

Charlesbridge
Barbara Barbieri McGrath; Illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet

I think most people are aware of the story of the Little Red Hen. A classic tale where the hen does all the work to make a loaf of bread, from planting the wheat to baking the bread. None of the animals have the time to help her ... until it comes to eating the bread. Suddenly, the busy parties have all the time in the world to help with the tasty part. To the readers' satisfaction, the hen declares that only those who helped with the work shall enjoy the spoils.


Little Red Elf is the adorable Christmas adaptation of this classic story. Little red elf lives in a cozy workshop at the North Pole with a reindeer, a penguin and a hare. While the elf toils in the workshop, the reindeer prefers to snooze, the penguin enjoys long bubble baths and the hare slumbers by the fireplace. Little red elf has a positive attitude and a strong work ethic. While the others loaf, she cleans the workshop, fetches the mail and polishes the sleigh.

One day little red elf stumbles upon some pinecones that she knows would make beautiful Christmas decorations. Unsurprisingly, none of the others have the time to help plant or water the pinecones. They certainly couldn't be bothered to help cut down the tree and haul it into the workshop, nor festoon it with festive lights and sparkly decorations. Little red elf does all of this herself. The others only show interest in the tree project when the presents appear! They are practically falling over themselves to lend a hand then. Little red elf takes the opportunity to teach the others a lesson, in a nice way.

The illustrations by Rosalinde Bonnet are just too darn precious! By far, the most adorable interpretation of this story that I have ever seen. The woodland creatures are just bursting with cuteness. Even the mice have their own underground city with a tiny stove and miniature four poster beds in their mouse house. The book's adorable factor is tempered by the humor, reaching a fine balance. The animals toss off snide one-liners, such as the hare claiming to be allergic to helping. The end result is a great Christmas book to add to your collection.

Faces of the Moon

Charlesbridge Publishing
Bob Crelin; Illustrated by Leslie Evans

Children are naturally captivated by the moon. Unfortunately, some of the parents (guilty as charged) don't know nearly enough about the subject to answer their questions in a knowledgeable way. Enter an informative and lovely solution in book form.

We do know that the moon can look very different, sometimes large and round while other times small and thin. Why is this? These changing looks are called phases - created by the sun shining light on the moon as she orbits Earth in space. Each phase lasts twenty-nine days, moving from thin to thick and back again.


The moon's first phase new is actually invisible to us on Earth. After that, we see a bit more revealed as the waxing crescent grows. Even more of the surface is revealed to us as it moves into the first quarter phase. Waxing gibbous is next, until we get the whole surface at full moon. This is the moon's most famous phase and greatly enjoyed by all. Past full moon, we see less and less through the rotation of waning gibbous, and last gibbous. Waning crescent moon completes the full circle and the orbit is complete.

Die cutouts of each moon phase help readers understand which piece of the moon is visible during each phase. This is a wonderfully informative read that serves to explain and illustrate a big piece of the night sky. Rhyming explanations and bright pictures make this an enjoyable book for all ages.

The Day Glo Brothers

Charlesbridge
Chris Barton; Illustrated by Tony Persiani

Sometimes it can be difficult to find a non-fiction children's book that can be both educational and entertaining. And even then, most of these are typically about animals or nature. Finding one about an everyday household item is even more unusual. Meet the Day-Glo Brothers.

We are all familiar with the eye-popping greens, yellows and oranges that are created with daylight fluorescents. They appear on life jackets, running shoes, traffic cones, hunting vests, sports equipment and more. But have you ever wondered how this process works or how it was created?


Brothers Bob and Joe Switzer couldn't have been more different. Joe had his sights set on becoming a magician while Bob wanted to be a doctor. Bob's dreams were dashed in an accident at work, when he fell and hit his head, causing seizures and double vision. He began to help Joe expplore the possibilities of using fluorescence to jazz up his magic act. The Switzers built an ultraviolet lamp and started to experiment with chemicals to make glow-in-the-dark paints. These paints only showed up under ultraviolet light, but not in ordinary daylight.


Though trial and hard work, the brothers discovered a process to make those same paints glow in ordinary daylight too! Called "Day-Glo" these were in demand during World War II - used to send signals, mark water buoys, and to aid on lifeboats and aircraft carrier crews. After the war, day-glo colors were marketed to the general public and showed up in our everyday life.


Overall, an excellent and educational book in one package. Pair that with the brilliant and colorful illustrations from Tony Persiani and this is a great addition to your bookshelf. The small details make this a fascinating read, which makes a great story for kids of many ages.

Watch Out for Wolfgang

Paul Carrick
Charlesbridge

This is the futuristic version of The Three Little Pigs. Rather than pigs, we find three robot brothers stepping forth into the world to seek their fortunes. Just as the pigs were warned about the big, bad wolf, these robots must beware of Wolfgang the Recycler. He is the type of robot that dismantles other robots for their parts. He will CLINK and he will CLANK, and he will tear your robot down!

The three brothers are very different from each other. Rod (yellow) always listens to his mother and makes her proud by oiling his gears and polishing his chrome on a regular basis. Slick (blue) earns his moniker with a natural ability to sweet talk and his snazzy good looks. Dudley (green) is rusty, oddly put together, and tends to blurt out odd noises. His quirks have earned him the nickname "Dud" from his brothers.

The three brothers enter the real world and follow their hearts. Rod dutifully buys a practical factory, Slick buys a fancy factory and Dud orders twelve truckloads of mud to wallow in. As their mother predicted, Wolfgang the Recycler comes to each brother, looking for parts. In the end, it is Dud who saves the day and his brothers' parts.

This is a great book for robot loving kids. Sometimes it can be a struggle to find books for rough and tumble boys (or tomboys), but this book really fits the bill. Machines, mud, gears, and plenty of action make this an exciting read. Kids will love the bright, futuristic illustrations and parents will like the book's message. Not everyone must follow the same path, but rather choose the path that is right for them.

Little Lost Bat

Sandra Markle; Illustrations by Alan Marks
Charlesbridge

This book really toes the line between fiction and non-fiction. Readers get a double dose by learning a host of interesting facts about bats and enjoying a heartwarming story. I was surprised by how engaging and endearing this book turned out to be. This is a lovely story about an animal that is typically seen as frightful or fearsome.

This tale begins with a mother bat bringing her new baby into the world. There are million of bats in the cave, but each mother and baby pair have their own special calls with which to find and identify each other. Every night the mother bats venture out to hunt for food, each needing to eat nearly her own weight in insects to have energy for nursing.

While out hunting one night, the mother bat is snatched up by an owl. Her baby cries and cries for her, his belly growling, but she does not return. The other female bats ignore his cries, until he is adopted by another mother who is searching for her own lost baby.

The text spacing is unusual, but once you are accustomed to the layout, it feels poetic. Because of the subject matter, the backgrounds are the cave interiors or the night sky. As you can see by the sample pages, the illustrations are watercolors in deep blues and purples - absolutely gorgeous. The drawings of the little lost bat crying for his mother just tug at your heartstrings.

All told - beautiful illustrations, great learning opportunities and a tender story make this a book we will read over and over again.

Plant Secrets

Emily Goodman
Charlesbridge

This book offers a wonderfully insightful look into the life cycle of plants. We begin with seeds. If they receive the proper amounts of water, sun and air, they will grow into plants. Plants produce flowers, which in turn, create fruit. Inside each fruit is .... you guessed it - seeds!

The explanations are worded very simply, which makes this an ideal read for younger children. For each step, the same four common plants are used as the example, so we can "see" how they appear in each set of the process. And what a great way to learn this process! We watch as the seeds of rose, oak, pea and tomato progress from seeds that are difficult to distinguish into plants which vary greatly in appearance.

The explanations are accompanied by big, bold illustrations in vivid colors. The kids in our group had a great time identifying the flowers, fruits and leaves pictures on each page. Even if a reader is too young to truly grasp the plant cycle, he or she will still enjoy these beautiful drawings.

The plant cycle is a fascinating process, and this book offers a great introduction. The simple presentation and engaging photos make this book an ideal choice for any young gardener.

Available in both hardcover and paperback.