Pete the Cat: I Can Draw

James Dean has brought step-by-step instructions for you and your totz to enjoy drawing Pete the Cat. You'll recognize his world and experiences as you learn to draw supporting objects and characters as well. The big 160-page workbook gives plenty of space for practice. You'll want your own copy for the family so you can draw straight in the book. Go have fun with this groovy cat!

Pete the Cat, My First I Can Draw
by James Dean
HarperFestival, 2016

Poetry Friday: Plant a Kiss

What happens when Little Miss plants a kiss?

"Planted a kiss?
Planted a kiss.
Sunshine.
Water.
Greet.
Repeat.
Wait and wait."

Read Amy Krouse Rosenthal's darling board book Plant a Kiss with your totz for Poetry Friday. Peter H. Reynolds airy illustrations are perfect for this little act of love in a board book format. You and yours are bound to find a little bliss.

Plant a Kiss
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
HarperFestival, board book, 2015

Pete the Cat, The Wheels on the Bus: James Dean

The wheels on the bus go round and round as Pete the Cat drives through town. The horn, the wipers, and the signals are all in gear as the kitties say, "Come on, Pete!" There's a point when Pete gives over the wheel to a dog so everyone can rock out. It's completely groovy to have Pete on the board book scene. Welcome!

Pete the Cat, The Wheels on the Bus
by James Dean
HarperFestival, 2015

Big Chickie, Little Chickie: Janee Trasler

Janee Trasler's chickies never disappoint. Big Chickie, Little Chickie is so clever. The book of opposites has surprises which will elicit giggles from your totz. It's picture time, clickety-click. In and out, whisper and shout, are opposites which proceed unexpected rhymes from adorable supporting characters: pig, cow, and sheep.

How can you not love:

Chickies here.
Chickies there.
Chickies
   in their
underwear.

I mean, seriously. Thanks, Janee!

Big Chickie, Little Chickie, a Book of Opposites
by Janee Trasler
HarperFestival, 2016

More, more, more: Pete the Cat's Big Doodle & Draw Book

How fun to get to color and draw around Pete the Cat, right? If your totz enjoy Pete, look for his Big Doodle and Draw Book. Draw Pete boarding a train, add a smile to a frog, color his cap with cool colors. Tasks reinforce concepts: draw six strings on Pete's guitar, what doesn't belong in the fridge, match pictures with their opposite.

Add this work to your family's coloring books. Everyone will want to take a turn!

Pete the Cat's Big Doodle & Draw Book
by James Dean
HarperFestival, 2015

Splat the Cat, Christmas Countdown: Rob Scotton

Splat the Cat Christmas Countdown is a fun touch-and-feel holiday book. Splat prepares for Santa's visit with a tree and gifts. Snuggled into bed, his hope arrives, and the next morning is full of celebration.

This familiar character brings innovative textures to the holiday with a prickly tree, a shiny package ribbon, and ultimately, Splat's own belly fur. What a fun board book for the holiday countdown!

Splat the Cat, Christmas Countdown
By Rob Scotton
HarperFestival, 2015

More, more, more: Caps for Sale and More Caps for Sale

Celebrating 75 years from its first publication, Caps for Sale, A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business, a Reading Rainbow Book, by Esphyr Slobodkina is now accompanied by a formerly unpublished sequel, More Caps for Sale, Another Tale of Mischievous Monkeys.

Rereading Caps for Sale, I'm struck by the beauty of the rhythm and repetition within the work.

So the peddler
picked up his caps and
put them back on his head--

first his own checked cap,

then the gray caps,

then the brown caps,

then the blue caps,

then the red caps
on the very top.

Doesn't it just resonate calmness? The sequel begins with the same opening as Caps for Sale. But the peddler considers the monkeys and how he sold no caps that day. This time as he sets an example for the monkeys, they also set an example for the peddler. He follows their lead by eating and sleeping. Journeying back to town the following morning, the peddler sells all his caps as the monkeys entertain the townspeople by imitating the peddler. They learn proper conduct from him.

Ann Marie Mulhearn Sayer wrote this sequel with story ideas from Slobodkina. The two were longtime friends, business partners, and supporters of each other. The sequel art was extracted and manipulated by Sayer from Slobodkina's paintings and illustration. The reader might initially feel the difference, if a lover of Caps for Sale, but the work pulls together with a sense of unity.

Both women believed society should instill morality and ethics in young children, and books were the perfect format to do so. Enjoy these picture books with your totz. And let us know your thoughts! (A board book release of Caps for Sale by HarperFestival is also available!)

Caps for Sale, A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business
By Esphyr Slobodkina
More Caps for Sale, Another Tale of Mischievous Monkeys
By Esphyr Slobodkina, with Ann Marie Mulhearn Sayer
Harper, 2015

Poetry Friday: Bathtime for Chickies, by Janee Trasler

I'm a chickies fan! Thanks, Janee Trasler for another peek into the life of the chickies. In Bathtime for Chickies we find the little birds covered in grime and grub, resisting bathing, and then not wanting to get out of the bath…over and over. Pig washes them once; Cow follows up the perfume/lotion mess; and the cooking catastrophe is cleaned up by Sheep.

"Once they're clean
     and shiny too,
     what will
little chickies
     do?

Take a guess. Just know Pig, Cow, and Sheep join those little chickies. Happy Poetry Friday, readertotz!

Bathtime for Chickies
by Janee Trasler
HarperFestival, 2015

A New Chick for Chickies: Janee Trasler

The Chickies are back!



And they...just got a brother who tends to join all their favorite activities, without an invite. But with a pause, the Chickies see they now have a conga line, a beach ball team, and a five-piece band. All is well until, "Craaack...Chickies got a brother. And another. And another. And another. Oh, brother!"

Janee Trasler's wit and art will win giggles from your totz. And be sure to listen in to the free song here. Thank you for another book about the beloved Chickies, Janee and HarperFestival!

A New Chick for Chickies
by Janee Trasler
HarperFestival, 2014

Poetry Friday: Dinnertime for Chickies

 I LOVE THESE CHICKIES! So happy there's another escapade. Celebrate Poetry Friday with Janee Trasler's Dinnertime for Chickies. Here's an enticing taste:

Dinnertime, Chickies.
Let's all eat.
Wash your wings
and take a seat.

We can't eat this.
It's too drippy.
We want something chocolate chippy.

Needless to say, the Chickies' tastes grow, and by the conclusion of the board book, they hardly have room for dessert. Thanks, Janee for these delightful characters. <3 p="">
Dinnertime for Chickies
by Janee Trasler
HarperFestival, 2014

Bedtime and Pottytime for Chickies

These are so cute! With a repeated refrain that sing-songs across the page, these pesky chickies will delight your totz. The padded board books are fun to hold, as well.

In Pottytime for Chickies, the little chicks discover all the alternate uses for the potty while claiming all along they know what the potty is for. They splash, unwind paper, and bounce on the hand towels. They are lovingly reminded and redirected by other barnyard animals that they do know what to do. Success for the chickies comes with a "tinkle, tinkle, tinkle."

In Bedtime for Chickies, they invent excuse upon excuse why they can't go to sleep. They keep the sleepy barnyard awake being thirsty, going potty, and wanting a story. The chickies remind each other to wipe their beaks, wash their wings, and finally to be quiet.

Seriously, you are going to love these chickies!

Bedtime for Chickies
Pottytime for Chickies
by Janee Trasler
HarperFestival, 2014

Splat the Cat, Funny Valentine: Rob Scotton

How about a fun, soft-sided, Lift-the-Flap for Valentine's? Splat the Cat, Funny Valentine delivers. Mrs. Wimpydimple reminds the cat class to bring in their special valentines. Splat, Kitten, Seymour, and Spike gather with their supplies at the clubhouse and get to work rhyming, sewing, cutting, and gluing. When Valentines are delivered, everyone is remembered, even Mrs. Wimpydimple.

Based on Rob Scotton's characters and style, you and your Valentine will be lifting flaps and smiling this February.

Splat the Cat, Funny Valentine
based on the creation of Rob Scotton
Harperfestival, 2012

readertotz CLASSIC: Bruce Degan, Jamberry

It's a classic post! Yay!

Give it up for Jamberry by Bruce Degen. How awesome to have this 1983 picture book in a board book format. It's a perfect fit.



Revisit this classic or discover it for the first time with your totz. The rhythm is so catching you'll find you are reciting it together throughout your day.

"One berry
Two berry
Pick me a blueberry
Hatberry
Shoeberry
In my canoeberry

The fantasy includes a boy and bear off to find and pick berries for jam. Everyone joins the joyful pursuit, from animals circling the bear like a maypole to a goose driving a train. All the action culminates in a jam jamboree!

Bruce uses an ink line and watercolor to capture the fun and excitement of the tale. Full spreads alternate with half spreads and one wordless explosion of blueberries.

Pick up this board book before you go pick those berries at the close of summer. Whether they be strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, jazzberries, starberries...

Jamberry
by Bruce Degen
HarperFestival, 1995