Pumpkin Countdown: readertotz co-founder Joan Holub celebrates a fall release!

Count down from twenty to one on this field trip to the pumpkin patch in my new picture book, Pumpkin Countdown. I’ll give away one autographed copy September 20 (or thereabouts.)

To enter: 

Please mention my book on your blog or on Twitter or on Facebook. Something like: Count down from 20 to 1 with Joan Holub’s new picture book, Pumpkin Countdown!

(Be sure to leave a way I can contact you if you win, here in the readertotz comments.)

Reviews

"Children and teachers alike will enjoy the interactive nature of this story. A cross-curricular choice, it conveys simple information on the growth cycle of pumpkins, a bit about bees, and age-appropriate word problems, making it a great choice for math class or a read-aloud."

School Library Journal

"It's a lively portrait of pumpkin-picking season, whose educational value is boosted by assorted facts about pumpkins that appear on the endpapers."
Publishers Weekly

"Charming, multicultural round-faced characters and lots of detail encourage readers to go back through the book scouring pages for the 16 things the kids guessed they might see. . . .not many books start countdowns from 20. . ."

Kirkus Reviews

Also available: Apple Countdown

~ Joan Holub

Poetry Friday: Who's Hiding

Perfect for Poetry Friday: Who's Hiding? Lift the flap and find out.

"Mamma Owl is oh so blue.
She can't find Baby Owl.
Can you?"

Find Baby Owl with your totz. Weldon Swanson's illustrations are incredibly adorable. You will love every spread!

Skip*Hop, Who's Hiding
illustrated by Weldon Swanson
Scholastic, Cartwheel Books

More, More, More: My Pop-up World Atlas

I'm amazed by My Pop-up World Atlas. This is a work you can introduce to your totz. Their knowledge will only grow as they explore it for years.

With a spread for each continent, so much is illustrated and waits to be discovered. There are file facts, sports notes, products, and landmarks. There are flaps, wheels, and pull outs. When you turn a page, a continent lifts and special features stand tall. Whether it's the pyramids in Egypt or reindeer in the Arctic Circle, your entire family will be engaged.



Here's a perfect first family atlas. Get ready to be amazed by our world.

My Pop-Up World Atlas
by Anita Ganeri
illustrated by Stephen Waterhouse
design and engineering by Andy Mansfield
Templar Books

Big Kid Pick: Where's Waldo, 25 Years

Our Big Kid Pick this month is Where's Waldo? He's 25 years old, an icon of American pop culture, and ready and waiting to be introduced to the older siblings of your totz. It's just as fun now to scan the pages for that fella as it was on his first release. My college grad sat and found Waldo when the anniversary edition arrived.

How can you resist? Plus, isn't he perfect for car rides? Each illustration is full of stories that will elicit giggles. The new edition even has new searches and a poster. So here's the question: Where's Waldo? Go find him!

Where's Waldo, 25th Anniversary Edition
by Martin Handford
Candlewick Press, September 2012

1, 2, 3 in the Sea: Sue DiCicco

I have to recommend 1, 2, 3 in the Sea by Sue DiCicco! I just returned from Hawaii, and this little board book brought the joy right back to me.

Counting to three is done on each spread. A large flap creates the third beat.

1 one fin
2 two eyes
3 three fish

These are things Mommy, Daddy, and I might see when snorkeling. Get ready for the extra large flap for:

1 one hump
2 two tails
3 three whales

Sue DiCicco's cute illustrations will appeal to your totz. So finish the summer with 1, 2, 3 in the Sea!

1, 2, 3 in the Sea
by Sue DiCicco
Scholastic, Cartwheel Books

Poetry Friday: The Balloon

I don't recall this Mother Goose rhyme. Enjoy it with your totz!

photo from militaryphotos.net

The Balloon

“What is the news of the day,

Good neighbor, I pray?”

“They say the balloon

Is gone up to the moon!”

Za-Za's Baby Brother: Lucy Cousins

Lucy Cousins' Za-Za's Baby Brother is not a board book, but it would translate very well into one. I love the bright colors, bold lines, and the story. It's is sure to comfort totz, who have a new baby in the house.

First spread:

My mom is going to have a baby.
She has a big fat tummy. There's not much room for a hug.

Oh, I really feel for this tot already!

One of my favorite spreads comes near the end:

When the baby got tired mom put him to bed. 
Then I got my hug . . . 
and a bedtime story.

The perfect ending--so satisfying!


Za-Za's Baby Brother
Author-illustrator: Lucy Cousins
Candlewick Press, 2012
Ages 2-5

Poetry Friday: Bananas in My Ears

How can nonsense stories, poems, riddles, and rhymes tug your heart? They can from the pen of Michael Rosen, accompanied by the art of Quentin Blake. Perfect for Poetry Friday is Bananas in My Ears!

After Dark

Outside after dark,
trains hum and traffic lights wink,
after dark, after dark.

In here after dark,
curtains shake and closets creak,
after dark, after dark.

Under the covers after dark,
I twiddle my toes and hug my pillow,
after dark, after dark.

I so enjoyed this work with recurring characters Nat and Anna, and the periodic stop spreads which take a beat to note what we say in life. I love this work! Enjoy it with your totz!

Bananas in My Ears
by Michael Rosen
illustrated by Quentin Blake
Candlewick Press, August 28, 2012

1, 2 at the Zoo: Sue DiCicco

Adorable! How cute are pairs at the zoo? Then pair the pairs with big flaps. It's a fun read and guessing game from Sue DiCicco and Cartwheel Books, Scholastic.

one foot
two flippers
two penguins

You are your totz will love these uber cute animals having fun together. Each spread offers 1 and 2 clues for the featured animal. The flap gives the reveal. Just imagine how large the elephant flap must be! The closing strikes a sweet chord between mother and child visiting the zoo as all the previous animals are shown once again.

1, 2 a must read for you.

1, 2 at the Zoo
by Sue Dicicco
Cartwheel Books, Scholastic

Poetry Friday: Around the Block With Sesame Street, Share It Maybe

Happy Poetry Friday! Rock on with Cookie Monster! Share it, maybe...

Readertotz co-founder, Joan Holub, celebrates a new mythology-based adventure series!

Heroes in Training#1: Zeus and The Thunderbolt of Doom

Aladdin paperbacks, ages 6 to 10
by Goddess Girls authors Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams
is in stores Tuesday, August 7th!

Buy links: Amazon, BarnesandNoble, Indiebound
Blog tour 

  After pulling a magical thunderbolt from a stone, ten-year-old Zeus goes on the adventure of a lifetime in this thrilling start to a brand-new series! The terrible Titans--merciless giants who enjoy snacking on humans--have dominated the earth and put the world into chaos. But their rule is about to be put to the test as a group of young Olympians discover their powers and prepare to righteously rule the universe....

Next up in the Heroes in Training series:

Poseidon and the Sea of Fury!

Ready, Set, Go: Nina Laden

Ready, Set, GO! has been in my collection ever since I heard talented author-illustrator Nina Laden speak at an Inside Story event in Seattle. It is a small (5"x5") sturdy board book that's just the right size for small hands. The art is bright and bold, and really appealing.

The die cuts are clever, and will keep totz turning the pages.

First spread:

Ready Set ((art of a hand "holding" are round die-cut))

Second spread:

THROW! ((art of hand throwing a ball))

My favorite of all is the last set of spreads:

Ready Set GROW! ((art of a flower will "bloom" when totz turn the tab))

A wonderful interactive board book that stands the test of time and the test of small hands!

Ready, Set, GO!
Author-illustrator: Nina Laden
Chronicle Books, 2000