fairysockmother

Dog Come Too by Hazel Hutchins
A cute puppy loyally follows its human only to find that some terrain is almost too much for him. The illustrations picture a very small dog trooping along beside a pair of hiking boots. When the hike proves too hard, they take a rest together before proceeding to the top of a hill. The illustrations are bright and colorful including secondary characters to spark discussion such as lizards, butterflies and frogs. The perfect board book to share one on one or with a group!
Cat Comes Too by Hazel Hutchins
A kitten sees a chance to explore the attic when Mom leaves the door open. What follows is a kitten sized adventure through an array of attic treasures. A mouse and a moth add to the cute illustrations. When the kitten falls into a laundry basket, it needs help climbing out and inadvertently uncovers the item Mom has been searching for. A great addition for Baby or Toddler Story Times or just before bedtime reading!

If You’re Hoppy  by April Pulley Sayre

This exuberant book expounds on the traditional song with innovative verses that will bring a smile to everyone’s face! If you’re hoppy, you might be a frog, or a bunny, or a cricket. If you’re sloppy you could be a hog, a raccoon, or a chimp. The fun continues with flappy, growly, and even slimy, scaly and mean! Kids will be leaping and hopping to mimic the colorful illustrations! A great book to share with a group!

Wally and Mae by Christa Kempter

When Wally, a neat little rabbit rents out her second floor apartment she is hoping to find a hamster or a turtle as a tenant. Instead, Mae, a very large and messy bear moves in. Mae sleeps till noon, eats Wally’s carrot cake, has loud parties, and never washes her windows. Just when Wally feels she can’t stand having Mae as tenant any more, a surprising thing happens. Mae and Wally become friends! A warm, fuzzy story to share with someone you love.

Don’t Worry, Douglas! By David Melling

When Douglas receives a new red knitted hat from his dad, he is ecstatic.  He wears it everywhere until it snags on a branch and unravels all over the place. Douglas’s friends offer suggestions but they only make matters worse. Finally, Rabbit suggests that Douglas simply tell his father what happened and – he does – proving how understanding good parents can be!

I ran across Bear Has a Story to Tell by Philip C. Stead on Amazon while I was searching for new picture books to use for Story Time at the library where I work. This book is a treasure! The illustrations by Erin Stead grabbed me first – a fuzzy brown bear sits on a log, talking to a duck, while fall leaves spiral down on the cover.

The sweet, evocative text explains that Bear tries to tell a story to his friends. Each of the other animals is busy preparing for winter and doesn’t have time to listen. Bear graciously helps each of his friends with their preparations and then moves on. The soft pastel illustrations depict Bear’s facial expressions and body language with exquisite sensitivity. Finally, hibernation claims Bear and he falls asleep, his story still untold. When he wakens in the spring, his friends are ready to listen but Bear has forgotten the story. Now his friends must help him to recapture the tale he planned to pass on.

This book has so many applications not only for Story Time and one-on-one sharing but it would provide an awesome springboard for a children’s sermon. The themes of friendship and selflessness are obvious. The more subtle refrain of forgotten stories, echoes growing old and depending on friends and family to recall past events. This picture book deserves a space in every public and school library and most homes, too. It’s a gem!

On January 1, my series of six chapter books, Abby and the Book Bunch, will be available from Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO, Inc. and other online vendors! Abby and her friends: Sydney, Zachary, and Dakota, volunteer at Evergreen Public Library by helping the children’s librarian, Mrs. Mackenzie.  The library is a really cool place to be and they have lots of exciting adventures in: Movie Mishaps,  Presumed Missing, The Haunted Sleepover, Out to Lunch, Claim to Fame, and The Mystery of the Golden Key.

I based the series on a group of kids who began volunteering when they were in fourth grade, at Ellwood City Public Library, where I work. They are in their teens now but they still call the library home and are always available to help out whenever I need them!

I hope the series may inspired other kids to find fun, friendship, and a safe haven at their local public libraries. Every library has a “Mrs. Mackenzie” and EVERY library needs a Book Bunch!

This new  picture book by Lisa Wheeler is full of rhyme, rythmn, and lovely illustrations. Arctic animals stamp, clip-clop, hip-hop, and flip-flop as they look for the missing Mr. Claus. The soft pastel scenes form a beautiful cozy backdrop for the falling snow. The cuddly animals finally discover Santa upside down in the snow and it takes all of them to pull him out. If you’re looking for a great new holiday picture book for one special kid or a crowd – this one is a winner!