Old Man Winter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KIDZ KORNER

 

 

 

 

Cuddle up, it’s cold outside!!  In these frosty temperatures why not sit down with the kids and read some good books?  The snow in these books won’t make you any colder.  I promise!

 

The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming

 This book is remindful of that old favorite, The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Each day a boy adds something new to the snowman he has built. A lot of woodland animals come out to take a peek too.  Lots of things to talk about and darling pictures.
I would read this book to kids 2-6.  P.S.  You could probably even sing it if you really wanted to do so.

 

Winter is for Snow by Robert Neubecker

 The brother likes the outside and is dying to get out there with his sister. He is winter’s biggest cheerleader.  Sis, on the other hand, wants to be indoors with brother!  What are two siblings to do?  The answer is a lovely compromise.  Kids will relate to the brother/sister dynamic.

I would read this book to kids 2-5.

 

Chaucer’s First Winter by Stephen Krensky

 Chaucer, the baby bear, doesn’t want to take that winter nap with his parents.  He wants to see winter.  He sneaks out and spends all winter playing with his friends and even surviving a storm with his own cunning.  When spring comes and mom and dad wake up, Chaucer can’t wait to tell them all about winter except for one thing, he falls asleep.

I would read this book to kids 2-5

 

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

 

Peter spends his day enjoying the snow.  He makes foot prints and other kinds of things a little boy would find to do on a snowy day in the city.  I love his bright red snowsuit. This book is a classic. I would read it to kids 1-5.

So make some cocoa and bundle up and until next week, keep on reading!

Trick or Treat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kidz Korner

 

 Trick or Treat

 

 

 

 

As a kid, I hated Halloween.  I was the kid whose bag broke.  We had a lady on our street that scooped out a ton of candy corn and then shook the scoop until you ended up with two or three. Most years I hated my costume. 

However, I love Halloween books so the next two weeks are dedicated to them.

BOO!

 

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Megan Lloyd

 

A little old lady is out in the woods collecting herbs when she begins to hear strange noises behind her like clomp, clomp and shake, shake.  She continues on her way to her little house just a little faster as each noise gets a little scarier until she is home safe and sound.  Or is she?  The knock on the door reveals a sad bunch of parts but the little old lady has a solution. I would read this book to kids 4-8.

 

Room on the Broom  by Julia Donaldson

 

A witch’s flight is interrupted as she keeps losing things and picking up extra passengers.  They all squeeze onto the broom until there is no room left. When the witch gets into big trouble all her passengers help her out.  This is a not to be missed book that is cute and funny in a non spooky way. I would read this book to kids 3-6.

 

Space Case by Edward and James Marshall

 

What do you do when you meet a real alien space ship?  You take it trick or treating.  I mean, what else would you do?  Everyone thinks it is a great costume. The alien has to leave at the end of the book until he finds out about…….Christmas. .  Don’t forget to use your best robot voice when you read this book!  I would read this book to kids 4-8.

 

Rotten Ralph’s Trick or Treat by Jack Gantos

 

Ralph the cat just can’t help himself.  He is just rotten. His owner Sarah loves him so much she puts up with his crazy antics.  In this story, Sarah wants them to dress as each other for the Halloween party but Ralph wants nothing to do with that idea. This is one of a great series of books about Ralph. I never get tired of his “evil” ways.  I would read this book to kids 4-8.

 

So pull up the bowl of candy corn and until next week, keep on reading!

Not So Scary Monsters

 

 

KIDZ KORNER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Monster at the End of this Book by John Stone and Mike Smolin

 

This book builds up anticipation.  Grover is scared and he doesn’t want you to turn the pages because of the monster at the end.  On each page he gets more and more desperate.  You’ll never guess who the monster at the end of the book actually is.  This was my son’s favorite book for the first five years of his life.  My daughter loved it too.

I would read this book to kids 1-5 years old.

 

Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds

 

Jasper cannot stop snitching carrots from the garden.  Then one day, he thinks he is being followed by carrots.  He sees them all over but it always turns out to be something else.  He gets so frightened he builds a fence all around the garden so he won’t pick any more and they can’t escape.  Does it turn out the carrots had a plan all along?  Any kid who gets a little scared of things in the dark that turn out to be a pile of clothes or something will enjoy this story.  I would read this book to kids 3-6 years old.

 

Where the Wild Thing Are by Maurice Sendak

 

They gnash their terrible teeth but Max is the king of the wild things after he gets sent to his room for his behavior.  The wild things are ugly but lovable.  And what kid doesn’t love a wild rumpus?  The end shows that moms always forgive their kids no matter what.

A real classic.  I would read this book to kids 3-6 years old.

 

The Principal from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler

 

Hubie has been sent to the principal’s office because of his antics in the classroom.  He is really sweating it because he heard all kinds of rumors about the principal and how she turns kids into coat racks and some kids never even return.  He is shaking in his boots but to his surprise it turns out she is a kind and understanding principal.  Hubie “escapes” with his life in tact but will he confess to his friends?  I would read this book to kids 4-7 years old.

 

So you see not all monsters have to be scary..... unless they're Godzilla. But that's a story for another day.  Until next week, keep on reading.

 

By The Numbers

 

KidzKorner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How high can you count?  With the help of these books you’ll be able to count to ten and beyond, no worries.

 

The M&M Counting Book by Barbara Barbieri McGrath

 

Can there be a better way to learn about counting than using M&M’s?  Not for me!  This book uses photographs to illustrate the concepts presented.   Kids from 3-6 years old will enjoy counting with these candies.  Buy a bag and go for it.

 

Ten Apples Up on Top by Theo L. LeSieg

 

In case you don’t recognize the author’s name, it is an alias for Dr. Seuss so you can be sure this book is a delight.  Animals balance apples and learn to count  at the same time.

You can plan a fun activity also by making stacks of ten, like ten pennies, ten cookies, ten blocks, ten Legos…well, you get the idea.  Older kids can make a graph of how high the stacks are and you have an instant math lesson wrapped in fun. Kids from 4-7 will enjoy this book.  Some will be able to read it too.

 

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow

 

Five monkeys get into all kinds of mischief and bump their heads...well, you know the rest.  This rhyme appeals to the youngest children, everyone knows it and it never seems to get old.  The book has cute illustrations, too.  A five star book!  Kids from 2-6 will enjoy this book.  Here’s a fun rhyme to go along with it:

Five little hot dogs frying in a pan.  One got hot and it went BAM!

Four little hot dogs frying in a pan. One got hot and it went BAM!

Three little hot dogs frying in a pan.  One got hot and it went BAM!

Two little hot dogs frying in a pan. One got hot and it went BAM!

One little hot dog frying in a pan. One got hot and it went BAM! (clap when you say bam!   The kids love it)

 

The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins by Dr. Suess

 

Poor Bartholomew.  You must remove your hat out of respect as the King passes by but Bartholomew can’t seem to rid himself of his.  Older kids will enjoy his predicament and how it unfolds.  A fun opportunity to talk about numbers.  Kids from 6-8 will enjoy this book.

Until next week, keep on reading!

 

Now I Know My ABC's

No matter if you are a parent, grandparent, babysitter, nanny, teacher or just a friend, there is nothing as satisfying as sharing a good book with a child.

Since this is my first post for kids’ books, I wanted you all to know that I will never suggest a book I haven’t read myself.  Most of them I have shared with children too.  I would never give you a recommendation for a book only because of a cute cover or a catchy title.  I’ll do my research on new books and I’ll rely on some old classics too.

 My all time favorite alphabet book is ChickaChickaBoomBoom by Bill Martin Jr., John Archambault and Lois Ehlert.

The colors are bright and engaging and the story is just plain fun.  Appropriate for children 3-6years old.

Twenty Six Pirates or Twenty Six Princesses by Dave Horowitz

These two books are companions so pick the one your little kiddo would enjoy the most.

Simple text and great pictures and fun rhymes make them winners.

Ages 3-6

The Handmade Alphabet by Laura Rankin is a great introduction to Sign Language for young kids.  The pictures are clear so you can learn to make the alphabet signs together.

It’s easy peasy to learn the signs for yes and no too.  Even the youngest kids can do them.

Older kids will enjoy learning the signs too.  Ages 5-8

My next recommendation is a book, A, You’re Adorable by Martha Alexander but it’s

 based on a song and I prefer the song any day.  You can download it from iTunes.  The version I love is by Sharon, Lois and Bram. Ages 3-8

Until next week, keep reading!

Grand Opening Announcement

Read Around Sue will open on  Monday, August 5th.  I will post a new book review every Monday.  Thursday will be KidzKorner, where I will recommend  books for read aloud and sharing with children ages 3-8.  I always loved reading to my class and my own kids and I have some good ones.
I will review a mix of Young Adult, Adult fiction and New Adult.  I won't do Erotica or Horror.
I hope you will enjoy my opinions and will follow me through this literary journey.
See you Monday!