Press Release: Groundhog Weather School

 

CO-FOUNDER OF READERTOTZ (sister site of readergirlz) CELEBRATES A NEW PICTURE BOOK: GROUNDHOG WEATHER SCHOOL

Author JOAN HOLUB’s new hardcover picture book for children is “clever…amusing…inviting…and witty” says Booklist.

December 28, 2009 (NC) – readertotz co-founder and author/illustrator Joan Holub’s new hardcover picture book Groundhog Weather School has just been released from G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers. The quirky, comic-book style illustration style by Kristin Sorra “really lets readers get into the premise and allows for diverse facts to be presented in little snippets (and funny comments to be assigned to each unique groundhog). Bright colors, textures and the incorporation of found objects, as well as the busyness of each page will keep readers searching the artwork” says Kirkus Reviews.

Joan Holub says, “I always wondered how in the world one groundhog could possibly predict the weather for everywhere, and I decided he couldn’t—he needed some help, so why not start a school to teach more groundhogs to assist him in predicting the weather on February 2nd!”

Groundhog Weather School introduces a cast of school-age animals who learn basic facts about weather, shadows, and seasons; and is the perfect book for Groundhog Day, February 2^nd 2010.

About Joan Holub

Joan Holub is the author and/or illustrator of over 120 books for children, including picture books (Knuckleheads; Riddle-iculous Math) and easy readers (Shampoodle; Why Do Cats Meow?; The Gingerbread Kid Goes to School.)

http://joanholub.blogspot.com http://www.joanholub.com

Kristin Sorra is an illustrator in New York. Her clients include: DC Comics, Amscan, Inc., Cricket Magazine, Peaceable Kingdom Press, and more.

http://www.kristinsorra.com

readertotz is a blog which showcases infant-toddler books as important additions to children’s literature.

http://readertotz.blogspot.com

Pocoyo Ready, Steady, Go!

Have you seen Pocoyo? I hadn't before coming across these adorable board/stiff-paged books for toddlers. With a trademark that claims Learning Through Laughter, this collection delivers with a cast of lovable characters.



Pocoyo, Elly the Elephant, Pato the duck, Sleepy Bird, and Loula the dog will capture your heart. Your totz will respond to these characters learning about simple concepts while finding themselves in toddler appropriate stories.

I found I really responded to Pocoyo Ready, Steady, Go! The race is on between Pocoyo, Elly, and Sleepy Bird. Carefully timed flaps advance the plot along the road. Your totz will be eager to lift the flap to see what happens next. It's fun how cooperation results in success, while a winner is still awarded.

Clean, claymation-like illustrations without setting are very appealing. The characters' emotions pop on the three dimensional shapes playing against the white backgrounds.

The narrator's voice is consistent throughout the books, as the dialog occurs between the teller and reader. There's plenty of opportunity to make observations, deductions, and anticipate what might happen next.

Keep an eye out for Story Time, Discovers Opposites, Party Time. and Bed Time as well. With some books, your totz will place the Pocoyo puzzle piece into each spread, and for others, he or she will just snuggle close for the next big adventure!

Pocoyo, Ready, Steady, Go!
www.pocoyo.com
Zinkia Entertainment
A Red Fox Book, Random House Children's Books

Happy Holidays: 1969

My brother and I back in 1969. Yay for Baby Tender Love! She was wonderful. :~)

Happy holidays to all our educators, librarians, publishers, parents and readertotz!

~Lorie Ann

December Pick for the Older Sib: The True Story of Goldilocks

In this prequel to the Goldilocks fairy tale, Mama Bear and Papa Bear invite the very good Goldilocks to into their home, hoping she might be a good influence on naughty Little Bear. But Little Bear doesn’t like Goody Two-Shoes Goldie (as he calls her), and Goldilocks thinks he’s un-BEARable! Eventually, Little Bear decides to mend his naughty ways, but then he becomes so very good that Goldie is a little bored. She soon gets an idea that will turn things around. As the Bear family goes off to visit . . . well, you'll have to read the book for your self to see how things turn out.

This 8x8" novelty book is jam-packed with all kinds of cool things to manipulate: lift-the-flaps, envelopes with messages inside, a wheel to turn, a tab to move, some high-relief art, and most elaborate of all in the end -- a pop-up Bear house. The art is very appealing and works well with the story.

It's recommended for ages 3 and up, but I think the story and moveable parts make it skew a little older. Overall, a delightful book thats perfect for your totz older sibling!

The True Story of Goldilocks

Candlewick, Templar Books
Author: Agnese Baruzzi
Illustrator: Sandro Natalini
2009

Lucy Cousins: Maisy's Snowy Christmas Eve

This is a simple story with a satisfying plot that's likely to go over well with totz (and me!) As Maisy and a cast of animal characters prepare for Christmas, the question "But Where is Eddie?" is asked over and over. Finally we go look for Eddie and find him buried in snow. The animals help him out--Eddie is an elephant.

That night everyone gathered
around the tree to sing Christmas carols.
And Eddie sang
the loudest of all!

This is a sturdy board book that's 30 pages self-cover, 5" x 5.75" with glittery snow on the cover! I love glitter when it's used well like this.

Maisy's Snowy Christmas Eve
Author-illustrator: Lucy Cousins
Candlewick Press

Poetry Friday: Christmas is Coming

Christmas is Coming

Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat,
Please to put a penny in an old man's hat;
If you haven't got a penny a ha'penny will do,
If you haven't got a ha'penny, God bless you.

Happy holidays to all our parents and totz!

December Playlist

Did you all catch our playlist for December? I had fun picking out the songs for our totz! Rock on into the holidays!

Making Friends! Just Like Us! by Jess Stockham

With a big windstorm hitting our area, it was natural to pick up Child's Play, Making Friends! Just Like Us! by Jess Stockham. Those polar bears on the cover feel most appropriate, right now.

So the concept is that animals and people do the very same acts. We chatter, kiss, and hold hands just like budgies, fish, and chimpanzees. Stockham first illustrates the exchange between the animals. Then by lifting a flap, we see children performing the same action.
You might talk about each activity as you enjoy the colorful, cheerful spreads with your totz. The series continues with Having Fun!, Together! and Taking it Easy!

Snuggle up and enjoy this lift-the-flap!


Making Friends! Just Like Us!
by Jess Stockham
Child's Play, 2008

Phototoz: Ronica Stromberg

Ronica Stromberg sent in her totz photo! So cute. :~)

The Time-for-Bed Angel is a bedtime picture book about a rambunctious boy named Andrew and the guardian angel, Sam, who watches over him. It reassures even the most accident-prone children that they are loved and cared for at all times.

Thanks for playing, Ronica!

Feel free to join us, authors and illustrators. Just send your totz photo and book cover to readertotzatclearwiredotnet. We'll be happy to share!

December: Around the Block with Sesame Street

Just in time for the holidays. Sing along with your totz!



~Lorie Ann

David Martin and Melissa Sweet: Christmas Tree

This board book is adorable. A small manageable size, nice and sturdy, 26 pages. It goes through various items used in real life, then we see the smaller versions of these as ornaments that go on a holiday tree--star, ball, sled. A nice combo of a holiday book that teaches basic words.

I'm a huge fan of Melissa Sweet's work! Very cute!

A Christmas Tree
David Martin, author
Melissa Sweet, illustrator
Candlewick Press, 2009

Photototz: Loreen Leedy

Thanks for playing with us, Loreen! Just adorable!



Crazy Like a Fox: A Simile Story, a 32 page picture book. The story of Rufus and his wacky antics is told entirely with similes. The surprise ending explains why Rufus was acting so... crazy!

We'd love to share other totz photos. Send them, authors and illustrators, to readertotzatclearwiredotnet

~Lorie Ann