Their Favorite Books...

Math Curse

admin — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:21:08 +0000

Hip to be square

by Jon Scieszka + Lane Smith

When Mrs. Fibonacci tells her students that “you can think of almost anything as a math problem” she puts math squarely into the everyday life of one spell-bound pupil. Nothing the girl does from getting dressed to eating dinner doesn’t somehow involve a maddening math concept. This clever book is mind opening and mind boggling. Adults love to read it too - for we are surrounded by numbers! The illustrations are detailed and fun and even the dedication page is done in an inventive mathematical way.

Are You My Mother?

admin — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:43:30 +0000

A touching treasure

by P.D. Eastman

Celebrate Mother’s Day and National Book Week (May 11 - 17) and read (or re-read) this beloved classic.

First published in 1960 by P.D. Eastman (a protege of Dr. Seuss) Are You My Mother is a touching story of a bird who hatches while his mother is away and sets out on a quest to find her. The clever and humorous illustrations perfectly capture the little one’s journey to find his mom. It is a sweet, simple, heart-warming story of the bond between a little baby and his mother.

Readers tell us about “Their Favorite Books…”

admin — Wed, 06 May 2009 18:33:51 +0000

What Moms Can’t Do by Douglas Wood is a Scholastic book my daughter Caitlin asked me to read to her kindergarten class. It’s about how moms can’t hear themselves, think sometimes, or can’t enjoy sugary cereals like kids do - silly things kids and moms can relate to. It is a fun read for Mother’s Day.

Katie from Bedford, VA

What Moms Can’t Do by Douglas Wood

I’m not sure if my mother bought Fancy Nancy for my daughter or me. She knows how I love lace, ruffles, and frills. I think Caroline loves the book because I love it so much! The detailed illustrations are bright and cheerful. This is definitely our favorite book.

Carol from Raleigh, NC

Fancy Nancy by Jane O Connor

Elmer

admin — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:36:10 +0000

Be who you are

by David McKee

This is an adorable book about individuality and friendship.

Elmer the elephant is different. He has a patchwork hide. The herd likes Elmer for the lovable, colorful elephant who brightens-up their lives. But Elmer only sees himself as different and sets out to find a way to fit in. Soon Elmer learns that his patchwork and personality brings much color to a gray-colored world. David McKee provides a beautiful lesson on how to celebrate one’s uniqueness with humor and laughter.

Readers tell us about “Their Favorite Books…”

admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:49:10 +0000

My son Luke just did a book report on The Stinky Cheese Man for his second grade class. He loved the book but I think the title was enough to hook an eight-year old boy.

Cathy from Shippensburg, PA

The Stinky Cheese Man by Jon Scieszka

Oh The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss is a family favorite. It’s about persevering and following your dreams. I love that my children Michael 8, Matthew 5, and David 4 love this book. I want them to know that their future has unlimited possibilities and to never give up.

Amy from Richmond, VA

Oh The Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom…

admin — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:38:35 +0000

Lively and contageous

By Bill Martin and John Archambault
Illustrated by Lois Ehle

This is a must have book for children learning the alphabet. Lower case letters come alive in crazy fun as they try to climb a coconut tree. Can a coconut tree hold this lovely bunch of… letters? It’s fun rooting for the brightly colored jumbled but oh so determined gang. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom… kids want to hear this classic rhyming book over and over and over.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom…

Readers tell us about “Their Favorite Books…”

admin — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:36:53 +0000

We call out two year old Tyler “Bear” so he is thrilled when we read Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? It’s short enough to hold his attention and it’s a great way for him to learn about animals.

Rochelle from Binghamton, NY

Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? by Bill Martin

I’ve passed on most of 14 year old daughter’s books. But Love You Forever I kept. Holding on to this book is like holding on to my “baby girl.” It brings a tear to my eye just thinking of reading that beautiful message to her.

Erin from Lakewood, NJ

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

The Pigeon Who Wants A Puppy is my Michael’s favorite book. He’s three years old and can relate to Pigeon who’s cute and funny. I look forward to reading the other Pigeon books to him too.

Jeanette from Chambersburg, PA

The Pigeon Who Wants A Puppy by Mo Williams

My two girls love Laura Numeroff books. We have them all but Haley’s (five) favorite is If You Take A Mouse To The Movies and Anna’s (six) favorite is If You Give A Moose A Muffin. The illustrations in both books is cheerful and fun. If You Take A Mouse To The Movies is a great Christmas gift.

Lisa from Ellicott City, MD

If You Take A Mouse To The Movies and If You Give A Moose A Muffin are by Laura Numeroff

Edwina The Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct

admin — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:46:35 +0000

Wonderfully illustrated, funny, and adorable

By Mo Williams

Edwina is a friendly outgoing dinosaur who is loved by everyone in town. Everyone, that is, but the know-it-all Reginald Von Hoobie Doobie who is determined to show them the error of their ways. Dinosaurs don’t exist.

This book has a simple premise, facts are facts but when it concerns matters of the heart, sometimes facts don’t matter. When someone listens to you, helps you, and happens to make the best chocolate chip cookies in town, extinction is just a state of mind.

(If you give this book as a gift, do yourself a favor and include some chocolate chip cookies. It will be remembered forever!)

Readers tell us about “Their Favorite Books…”

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 20:30:12 +0000

Kayla, my three year old daughter loves The Very Hungry Caterpillar so much I tell her I won’t read it if she doesn’t brush her teeth. I know it’s bad but it works.

Audrey from Johnstown, PA

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Emma, my six year old just received Fancy Nancy: Explorer Extraordinaire for her birthday last week. She loves it and has been trying to use “Fancy” words all week.

Lydia from Kirkland, WA

Fancy Nancy: Explorer Extraordinaire by Jane O’Conner and Robin Preiss Glasser

Hands-down, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is my 2 1/2 year old Alicia’s favorite book. Of course the holes are the big attraction. It wouldn’t be night time without seeing her little fingers trying to wiggle through them!

Christine from Meadville, PA

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

The Giving Tree

admin — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:45:52 +0000

Sweet and poignant

By Shel Silverstein

Why would I be hesitant to recommend one of my favorite books? The Giving Tree is a beautiful, moving story of unconditional love. A tree loves someone so much it gives everything it has until there is nothing left to give. But controversy has always surrounded Shel Silverstein’s popular tome. Is the tree an overly generous parent? Is the boy a greedy, self-centered child who takes everything from the tree for his own pleasure? The book was written in 1964 and may be even more relevant today in that it asks us to question if we’ve gone too far from either the tree’s perspective or the child’s. Before I knew there was controversy, I loved this book and I still do. Shel Silverstein titled it The Giving Tree and that’s what it is to me - a tree whose love knows no limits and who is generous without bounds. How bad can that be? Read it to your child and decide for yourselves.