Monday, November 25, 2013

Good Night, Trucks: Brian Biggs



How about saying goodnight to all the trucks? Brian Biggs invites totz to snuggle down as trucks end their day: the tractor trailer, the dump truck, the garbage, and tanker are all winding down. Of course one needs to be quiet in the RV Park. "Shhhh...good night!"

I love author/illustrator Brian Biggs vehicles, whether they are busy around town or settling down for the night. Get ready for sleep with this unusual bedtime board book from the Everything Goes Series. Beep, beep! Shhhhhh.

Good Night, Trucks, A Bedtime Book
by Brian Biggs
Balzer + Bray, 2013

Friday, November 22, 2013

Poetry Friday: My Mom is a Foreigner, But Not to Me

Happy Poetry Friday! Enjoy the day with Julianne Moore's My Mom is a Foreigner, But Not to Me. The affirming message, set to rhyme, along with Meilo So's lively, fresh illustration will touch you for certain. (Note: different fonts denote different children speaking.) Enjoy!



"My Mom is a foreigner,
She's from another place.

     She came when she was ten years old,
     With only one suitcase.

She took a BOAT to get here!

     SHE DIDN'T KNOW THE WAY.

She came here with my Opa.
It took them days and days.

     She's different than the other Moms
     Because she's not from here.
     There's lots of stuff about her
     That's sometimes seems so weird."

My Mom is a Foreigner, But Not to Me
by Julianne Moore
illustrated by Meilo So
Chronicle Books, 2013

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Tot to Tot: Ellie and Just Right for Christmas



It's time for another review from Ellie, a member of our readertotz Street Team. Thanks, Ellie!



Title: Just Right for Christmas

Author: Birdie Black and Rosalind Beardshaw

Summary:
“One big bundle of red cloth gets smaller and smaller because it is used by lots of different people and animals for Christmas presents for their families.”

What I liked about the book:
“I liked when the mother mouse gave her son a scarf.”

What will my brother and sister like?
“My sister likes the mouse best.”

Just Right for Christmas
by Birdie Black and Rosalind Beardshaw
Nosy Crow, 2012

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Me Hungry: Jeremy Tankard

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The title of this book makes it perfect for Thanksgiving season. Formerly a picture book, Me Hungry is now in board book form. This is a timeless, charming, clever book! Totz, kids, and grown-ups will relate to the situation in which the person you need is too busy for you.

(Cave boy): Me hungry!
(Dad): Me busy!
(Cave boy): Hey, me hungry!
(Mom): Me busy!

(Note: spoiler below)
Cave boy finds ways to entertain himself as he goes on a food search. And in the end when his parents call, he's too busy for them! Ha-ha. Very fun twist.
My overall feeling about this book? Me like!

Author-illustrator: Jeremy Tankard
Candlewick Press, 2008

Monday, November 11, 2013

Playbook Pirates: Corina Fletcher

Playbook Pirates

Back in September, Joan recommended Playbook Farm. I second her call with Playbook Pirates!

Imagine a box. Opened, there's an envelope on the left which holds all your play pieces. On the right is a book which tells of the jolly pirates' adventures through Corina Fletcher's text. However, the book can be removed from the box and transformed into a large board for play. At that point, the boat, lighthouse, shipwreck, mermaids, octopus, and island are 3 dimensional pop-ups.

Additionally, on the back of each book spread, there are fun facts and questions about life at sea. Britta Teckentrup's digital illustrations look like cut paper collage. The textures and layers bring so much to the imagery.

Nosy Crow creates such great quality. Have fun reading and playing with Playbook Pirates. Note: due to small pieces, only for ages 3 and older.

Playbook Pirates
by Corina Fletcher
illustrated by Britta Teckentrup
Nosy Crow, 2013

Friday, November 8, 2013

Photo Friday: A Moment to Read

And I'm back from Greece! It was lovely and inspiring. Just like this photo. Happy Photo Friday with your totz! Take a moment to read. :~)
young child reading on steps
From Pinterest.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

The Very First Thanksgiving: Kathryn Lynn Davis

 
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This is a lift-the-flap book, not a traditional board book as we usually feature on readertotz. However, it's a wonderful introduction to the Thanksgiving holiday for totz. It's super-simple, but tells about the pilgrims sailing to America, Native Americans teaching them to plant crops, and the Thanksgiving feast. Bright, graphic illustrations and just enough information for totz. Parents can fill in with more about family traditions as the pages turn.

The Very First Thanksgiving
Author-illustrator: Kathryn Lynn Davis
Little Simon, 2010

For older siblings, pair this with What Was the First Thanksgiving?, a newly published chapter book from readertotz' co-founder Joan Holub.
Author: Joan Holub
Illustrator: Lauren Mortimer
Grosset & Dunlap