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Grampie Groundhog has the important job of popping out of the ground every February 2nd to check the weather. This year, Grampie is ready to pass the torch on to one of his quarrelsome twin grandchildren, Greta and Gregory. Of course, they fight over who will get the honors and celebrity attention. Gregory wins after drawing straws and another round of bickering ensues. On the night before the big event, Gregory has a hard time sleeping. When Greta finally awakens her brother the next morning, he has such a case of stage fright that he even needs his sister to pull him out of the ground. Members of the press were…
This collection of nursery rhymes is noteworthy and uniquely appealing because the illustrations were done by well-known cartoonists and comic book artists. The collection includes nursery rhymes that have been favorites for generations of kids, such as “Three Little Kittens,” “Hickory, Dickory, Dock” and “Jack Be Nimble.” However, the comics give them a distinctly modern interpretation. Readers won’t find more traditional pastels and water colors in this collection. Instead, “Rock-A-Bye Baby” appears as a frame-by-frame comic strip. Readers may recognize such…
As the title hints, this is a cookbook for kids full of Mexican recipes. Handstand Kids are a team of children who love to cook and eat. The recipes are graded according to difficulty on a scale of one to four “avocados,” and offer alternative ingredients to help to expand creativity. The book is divided in four sections: “All Kids Love ...”, “Nutritious & Delicious,” “Mexican-ize My...” and “Save Room For ...”. Brightly colored pictures help to define ingredients and kitchen tools, and the Spanish pronunciation for many items is included.
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s niece pays homage to her courageous uncle. She tells readers how he used the power of free speech to protest oppression and discrimination against African Americans. Angela Farris Watkins explains “Jim Crow” laws and segregation, and how “Uncle Martin” would speak out against such practices. Highlighted in bold throughout the text are words that Dr. King lived by, such as “love,” “nonviolence,” “freedom” and “justice.” Dr. Watkins touches upon key civil rights moments, including the Montgomery bus boycott, Dr.…
This picture book biography tells the story of Jim Henson, a boy with an extraordinary mind living an ordinary life in Mississippi. Jim liked using the arts to make people laugh rather than playing sports like most boys his age. Inspired by Edgar Bergen’s puppet, Charlie McCarthy, and L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz, Jim published his first cartoon at the age of 13. At 16, he secured a job on a local Saturday morning television puppet show. By the time he was in college, he launched his first TV show, Sam and Friends. He was among the first puppeteers to make puppets using cloth rather than wood so that his…
As the title hints, at every moment, everywhere in the world, life and nature is happening. While we go through our daily activities, the wonders of nature continue to unfold. At the same time we are brushing our teeth, sharks are swimming in the ocean and polar bears are darting across the icy tundra. While we are having dinner, a flock of puffins are feeding on fish off the coast of Maine. This book, released earlier this year, takes readers on a wildlife tour featuring a wide variety of animals in their natural habitats and reminds us of Earth’s marvels.
Like many of us, “The Night Before Christmas” has been one of my favorites since I was a child. My family’s favorite version is one illustrated by Jan Brett (see last year’s review), and I have to admit that I have never felt the need to read any other edition. While strolling through the annual publishing industry’s trade show earlier this year, I couldn’t help but notice many different books featuring the classic poem, by Clement C. Moore, and decided to open my mind. Following are some editions that are very worth a look:
This is a newer edition of the classic tale about a young boy who receives a cuddly toy rabbit in his Christmas stocking. The boy takes the rabbit everywhere, including outside to play, where the toy meets real live rabbits. The “real” rabbits tease the toy because he can’t run and play. The rabbit feels sad because he believes that he is “real.” One day, the boy comes down with Scarlet Fever and anything that touched his bed, including the rabbit, must be burned to get rid of the dangerous virus. The rabbit gets tossed into a sack with other items and put in the garden shed. That night,…
A true joy for this time of year is snuggling up with the kids and reading some favorite holiday stories. Every family has books that they cherish and reread many times throughout the season. While it’s fun to rediscover holiday books that have been packed away for the past eleven months, it’s also a great time to pick up some new ones at the library or bookstore. Following are some books we’ve recently discovered, plus an all-time favorite. For even more choices, check out last year’s list as well. Here’s to a joyous holiday season and healthy New Year to all!
This new release is a picture book adaptation of the classical ballet, “The Nutcracker.” The traditional story has been abridged, and the authors have added a feature that is designed to stimulate conversation between parents and children on the themes within the story. With that in mind, the book has been designed for co-reading the story, and adults are encouraged to open dialogue with their children about various character building themes, including manners, showing respect and helping others, among others. This can help young people to appreciate and understand the story on a deeper level, whether or…
