Madness By Mattie

Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark

2011-11-16T23:01:00.001-07:00

I'm not gonna lie...I LOVE the Pout-Pout Fish regardless of what adventure he is on.

Whenever my kids are grumpy and I want to make them laugh (or scream at me more) I ask them if they are being a Pout-Pout Fish. If they insist that they aren't but are still pouting then I simply start to smooch, smooch, smooch them into giggles. Lots of fun and a great torture tactic!

Deborah Diesen has gone and done it again with this new Pout-Pout book! I am usually wary of sequels but I was hooked by the time I reached the last page! If you have a little one that's afraid of the dark then this is a must have. I wish the Pout-Pout Fish would be the next Berenstain Bears series. Little life lessons are just so much more fun through fish eyes! (That's saying a lot 'cause I kinda HATE fish usually.)

Dan Hanna did these adorable illustrations. My favorite page is with all the fish advertising fun things in their mouth (you'll know which page I'm referring to when you read it). Dan Hanna's page has some fun activities and other fun Pout-Pout stuff so go check it out.

Speaking of things you HAVE to check out, I found this incredible YouTube video of the first Pout-Pout Fish book. Whether you have or haven't read it you will enjoy this video, and I dare say your kids will make you play it, replay it, put it on repeat, until you never wanna see it or hear it again.

Blub, Bluuub, Bluuuuuub!

Zombie in Love

2011-10-27T15:39:00.000-06:00

The ghosts of Halloween would haunt me for sure if I failed to share this awesome book with you during the season of all spookiness. I was openly laughing in Barnes and Noble today as I was reading this. All the little kids that walked by were laughing at the crazy laughing lady (ME!).

So this is totally unheard of for me to post a book that I haven't tried out on my kids first. I have come to peace with this fact and I think you should too. Here is why, how many STUPID books do we sit through because our kids are allowed to pick out whatever they want at their local or school libraries? So if we randomly read a children's book for no other reason than it is fun for us, than I say it is our priveledge, nay RIGHT, to do so!

(Climbing off my soap box) I think this book should be to Halloween what Twas the Night Before Christmas is to Christmas. Okay maybe that is going a little overboard but it is awesome! I dare you not to crack a smile when you read his singles ad in the newspaper!

Kelly Dipucchio is an incredible author! She also writes one of my other favorite books, Alfred Zector Book Collector, which if it is not on here already, it will be soon. Scott Campbell does an excellent job with the illustrations! He makes zombies comical and only a little gross instead of the true terrors that they are.

Since Halloween is more about the treats than the tricks I'm adding a little treat from the book below. Enjoy!

Spooky Hour

2011-10-26T17:10:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago my mother-in-law sent the kids a Halloween gift. There was a Halloween activity book for each kid and then this fun book! We of course read it that night and have been reading it every night since. My youngest who is four has the funnest time with it. He is just learning to count so he always tries say the number that comes next before I turn the page. There is page after page of creepy, fun, halloween monsters.

Tony Mitton is a fantastic author and has so many books I decided to quit counting. Guy Parker-Rees is an excellent illustrator! He is also the illustrator of one of my other favorite books, Giraffes Can't Dance.

So make story time a spooky time tonight!

The Foggy Foggy Forest

2011-10-19T21:22:00.001-06:00

Some days I wish I could relax enough that I could enjoy my kids again. For example, stop worrying about how well they ate dinner or whether dinner covered all of the eighty nutritional food groups, whether they got their homework done or if they did, was it even done right, whether they got a bath or if they smell and look clean enough that maybe I could put it off until tomorrow? All the while, I'm begging them to quit fighting, quit touching each other, quit touching my stuff, and screaming for them to stop screaming! I start to feel as if I am walking through a foggy foggy mine field of parental DON'Ts!

Well if you every catch yourself feeling this same way, then DO grab this book. You'll be reminded that laughter is the best medicine, and your kids, no matter how malnourished, are miniature comedians. I can't tell you how comical it was listening to my kids guess what was on the next page. I LOVED reading and rereading this book. Even once you know what awaits you it is fun to have contests to see who can come up with the funniest or craziest idea!

Nick Sharratt, you are a genius! This is one of my favorite books and it doesn't necessarily have to be a Halloween book but it is definitely fitting for this time of year! So get comfy with your kids and trust me, by the end of this book you will feel love and admiration for your little goblins flowing back into your heart.

Frankie Stein Starts School

2011-10-09T21:22:00.000-06:00

I would like to start off my favorite month of the year with this book!

I love witches, vampires, ghosts, and goblins. I love Halloween! My kids ask me every day, "How many more days until Halloween?" I think it is more for the dressing up than the candy...I think.

Speaking of thinking, I think returning this library book was one of the hardest things I've had to do in awhile. I loved reading it and my kids loved fighting over it. Kevan Atteberry's illustrations are so much fun! Lola M. Schaefer did an excellent job writing this book! Frankie Stein may scare his class mates and teachers but I think he is adorable.

Think spooky and I will be back next week with another ghoulish gem for ya!

The Night Pirates

2011-09-28T14:47:00.000-06:00

This summer my son had a Pirate Birthday Bash. It was big and "piratey" and we read A LOT of pirate books all month to become pirate sauvy enough for the big day. The Night Pirates was one of the many awesome books that helped us get our "ARRRGH!" on.

I have to say the thing I loved best about this book was that the pirates were girls, cute girls, SMART girls that out-smarted the adult men pirates. Coolest twist on a pirate story ever!

I pretty much had it memorized after two short weeks due to my kids non stop requests for it. I actually grounded my kids from this book for a day because they were acting so poorly. What do you want from me, this book was the only thing that would serve as a good punishment for all of them. I swore I would never ground my kids from something that was "good" for them but being a parent is all about doing those things you swore you'd never do (i.e. I will never say, "You're the oldest and you should've known better". I say it EVERY day.)

Enough about me...let's talk about Peter Harris and Deborah Allwright. Check them both out via the links. They have many other books that look like a load of fun as well.

Little Rabbit and the Meanest Mother on Earth

2011-09-23T21:37:00.000-06:00

It's nice to know that Little Rabbits have mean moms too! I was beginning to think my kids were the only ones cursed with a mean mom. "Mom, you're SOOOOOO mean!" is their battle cry.

I can only aspire to be as cool as Mother Rabbit someday. I wish I could pull off her tricks! Little Rabbit is cursed with a mom mean enough to be a circus act, but man can she clear a messy room faster than most moms.

Kate and Sarah Klise (who I'm sure are NOT mean) are the masterminds behind this fun and clever story. The pictures are entertaining and the story line is quite inventive with a little twist at the end. So if you are looking to prove that you are not the only mean mom alive, grab this book! Your kids may appreciate you and their toys more by the end.

The Monster Princess

2011-09-14T17:21:00.001-06:00

Who doesn't love a good princess story that doesn't involve prince charming or a fairy godmother?! ME! (I love a children's book that reminds me of what is really important in life.) Sometimes after the unmagical life I've lived, I find it hard to read stories to my daughter of girls that twitch their noses and life takes a turn for the best. Come on, I just want what every realist wants, a story that is entertaining, filled with woodland creatures, princesses, castles, royal balls, and honest to goodness life lessons.

This book was quite refreshing and I was totally enchanted with the illustrations by Alexandra Boiger. D.J. MacHale, the author, is amazing! You won't want to miss the Monster Princess activities on the website either. Just in case any of you will be vacationing in Southern California (Oceanside to be exact) around October 2nd...drop by Barnes and Noble to see the author.

Hmmm, do you think my husband would approve a trip to California for my birthday (Oct. 4th)? I mean technically, since I share my birthday with my three year old son who also loved this book, I could say it is what Josh asked for! Run and check out this book while I go check out Travelocity!

Dragon Stew

2011-09-07T21:54:00.000-06:00

It has been awhile since I've....laughed this hard, loved a book THIS much, or updated my blog. The first time I read this book I was laughing and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Upon finishing it I asked my kids, "So what did you think?" My middle child answered, "Ugh! Mom, you don't laugh like that 'cause it's not funny! It's really long and you were laughing in my ear." Can you imagine my disappointment? A book I wanted to read over and over and over wasn't my kids' favorite!

Fast forward two weeks later, my previously mentioned son, using his own free will, picked this story for bedtime. I was trying to hurry through because I had gotten a late start on bedtimes. My son stops me and turns the page back, "Mom, you forgot to say the 'OKAY!' part!" as he points to a small word bubble. He can't read, so I am pretty sure he has just memorized the book and that's how he knows I missed that spot.

Steve Smallman and Lee Wildish did a fantastic job with not only an amazingly fun rhyming story but incredibly fun pictures to go along with it! The flow of rhyming in this book is just outstanding, I marvel at it every time I read it. I love the illustrations of the vikings and the proper dragon! I think one of my new school year goals will be to memorize this book so that whenever I'm in a bad mood (like tonight after helping kids with two hours of homework) I can recite it to myself and be all chipper, cheery again.

If I Built a Car

2011-06-16T21:58:00.000-06:00

My prayers have finally been answered! I went through such a rough patch with books that I wasn't sure if I would find a book in time to write my next post. This last week, however, I must have meandered out of the "Parental Torture" section in our local library and into the "Hallelujah!" section. I have such a huge stack of awesome books to share and this is at the top of them.

If I Built A Car is by Chris Van Dusen, author of the Mr. Magee and Mercy Watson books. So needless to say I knew I would love the illustrations and I was expecting to like the book. "Like" is such a feeble word when describing how I feel about this incredibly funny and entertaining book! I adore this car and wish it really existed, not that I could afford it but the dents in my front and back bumper can attest to the fact that I deserve...no, NEED this car! Plus, can I tell you how many times I have been driving in town and the warm sun mixed with my usual sleep deprivation and an added unusual silence coming from kids in the back seat have had me all but falling asleep at the wheel? I could totally use a robot to take over while I snoozed on the couch (most likely a standard feature on all models)!

I will admit that there are drawbacks to this book. There has been fighting and massive shedding of tears over who got to have this book for bedtime, a minor inconvenience really considering what follows the temper tantrums is silent, content children...sniffling away....while I read this brilliant book!

When I Grow Up

2011-06-08T22:02:00.000-06:00

Okay, okay...how could you go wrong with a book written by Al Yankovic?

This is honestly one of my favorite books ever!

Did you know that I have only worked at a mere fourteen different jobs and only switched my major when I was in college six times before deciding on what I wanted to be when I grew up. Guess what? Since finally deciding to become a massage therapist I have dabbled in children's book writing, learned to successfully trade stock, taken up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu all while cultivating patience in my most important job, commonly referred to as MOM! I thought maybe I was decisionally challenged or flighty but according to this book I'm normal! Yep, you heard me right, NORMAL!

Reading this book is like winning a prize for having sat through all the less than superior books that my kids grab off the shelf at the library. It is definitely one of those diamonds in the rough. There is rhyming (my favorite), witty humor, hilarious pictures by Wes Hargis, and best of all a wonderful lesson to share with your kids. I love that this book tells kids it is okay to do and be a million things as long as you are happy!

Well that's enough praise for one night...go find a copy...NOW!

(Oh and in case you ever read this post Mr. Yankovic, I would love to have the recipe for Twinkies Au Gratin! That's my kinda meal!)

Bug and Bear

2011-05-25T20:29:00.000-06:00

A Story of True Friendship

This book is so adorable you are just gonna wanna hug it!

Several years ago my brothers and I were playing a game and they had to pick the saying that best described me and they chose, "Grumpy as a Bear!". Maybe they were right because I could really relate to Bear in this story. This story reminds me of a mom and her child. Bug wants so desperately to play and Bear wants so desperately to nap!

My kids love the pictures in this book and I think they are spectacular as well. They are very animated and yet soothing. Seems impossible that they could be both, right? Yet Layn Marlow manages to pull it off!

Like I said before, this book is beyond precious! Ann Bonwill teaches the value of friendship while keeping little ones entertained. Plus every time we turn to the last page my kids all go, "Aaaah." What can I say? It's that cute!

Please don't just take my word for it...go get it and decide for yourself!

DOUBLE FEATURE

2011-05-18T21:48:00.000-06:00

***Oops, I thought that I had posted this first book last week. However, my "smart" phone let me down. So you lucky people get TWO books this week!***

So I will tell you right now that this book may not apply to everyone's family. However, I can't resist telling you all about it. Hopefully you'll never need a book like this but maybe you will or maybe you have a dear friend who will. Even if it helps even one person from me posting this it will be worth it.

It is about a mom who is being treated for cancer. Julie Aigner Clark (think Baby Einstein) has written how despite all the pain and sickness that goes along with cancer there are bright beautiful moments too. I am often called "cold hearted" in my home because unlike my husband I don't cry during most movies or touching commercials. That being said, I had to pause while I was reading this so I could regain my composure and I'm getting misty just writing this post and thinking about this amazing book.

Jana Christy's illustrations are so incredible! They are as soothing and comforting as the words that are written next to them.

So the most important thing to remember is, make sure you have a box of Kleenex close when you read this!

I love Carolyn Crimi, I mean who doesn't! Rhyming, wild, silly stories that kids and parents just cannot resist! Principal Fred Won't Go To Bed is really no different. Poor Fred can't find his teddy bear and so he can't go to sleep. My kids loved finding the bear hiding out in the book and I felt relieved to know that it is okay to sleep with a stuffed animal even when you're the adult!

Donald Wu is an excellent artist and I loved the pictures.

Plus my favorite comment of the night, courtesy of my cute little first grader:

"Mom, do you think my teacher has a teddy bear?"

"Probably not sweety, it's just a story."

"But her boss does huh? Cause Principal's are the boss!"

Sweet Dreams!!

Brewster The Rooster

2011-04-28T20:28:00.000-06:00

Did any of you struggle with poor eye site as a child? I did and I remember hiding my glasses in my desk and only pulling them out for brief moments so I could quickly look at the chalk board and then slide them back into my desk. I was embarrassed by them to such an extent that my parents got me contacts by sixth grade.

Brewster is a rooster with an award winning Cock-A-Doodle-Doo! Only problem is he's having a hard time discerning when the sun is coming up! Luckily there is a smart little girl and a Rooster Optician that find a way to help him out!

Devin Scillian has written a bunch of books and I'm sure if you visit his page you'll find some that you've already read. His writing is superb and you all know what a sucker I am for great rhyming books! Lee White has done illustrations for this and other books that I've loved like Crazy Day at the Critter Cafe and The House Takes a Vacation.

So clear your throat and get ready to crow with your kiddos!

Say Hello to Zorro!

2011-04-20T21:37:00.000-06:00

I was having trouble figuring out how to describe this book to all of you. I was finally able to sum it all up in one sentence! Are you ready for it? Here it is...

Carter Goodrich, you owe me BIG!

Every stinkin' night I tell my three beautiful, little cherubs, "Go pick out your story." (translation: Ready, Set, Go FIGHT!)

Every stinkin' night within seconds of me uttering the above sentence, I tell those same three little cherubs, "Okay, okay! Calm down!" (translation: Who ever is the loudest will win!)

Every stinkin' night, my three cherubs are FIRMLY told, "Now, you three get along!" (translation: I'm cracking please don't stop until I agree to read Say Hello To Zorro three times tonight!)

Every stinkin' night, I tell my three, "Would you guys knock it off?!" (translation: You did it! I cracked! Say Hello To Zorro, three times in a row, here we come!)

Mister Bud has his very own schedule too! His is sane and calm and wonderful until, like us, his schedule becomes quite more chaotic when Zorro comes along.

I'd urge you not to even bring this one home to your kids but you'd do it anyway! The curiousity that is already building inside you will eventually win! As you sit there reading, you are already wondering, Are the illustrations awesome? (YES!) Her kids are crazy, I don't think mine would act that way with this book.(Oh they WILL!) Easter's just around the corner, I need one more Easter Bunny treat for my youngest. (Buy one for all of them or you'll regret it!)

In the end we all have to admit that if it is a good enough book for three children of different ages to all fight over, it's a keeper!

Until next time,well, just pray that my kids will let me read them another book so there will be a next time!

Dirty Joe the Pirate

2011-04-13T16:03:00.000-06:00

Ahoy thar! I be havin' a sea dog tale to share wi' ye today! One that makes me yo ho ho from hade t' toe! Ere wi' a big lassie will surely enjoy th' hilarity o' this an' ere who BE a big lassie will love th' truth o' 't! I be th' latter o' these two squadrons an' can' tell ye that when I saw "A True Story" written on th' co'er I didna b'lieve 't at first. I be havin' read this ten times in th' past two days an' I can promise that th' moral o' this story be as trues as 't gets! Ya Scurvy Dogs!

(I had a little help with my Pirate Language from Pirate Speak)

Bill Harley and Jack E. Davis did an excellent job putting together this incredible pirate story!! The rhyme and flow of Bill Harley's story is so much fun! The illustrations by Jack E. Davis are hilarious and bright!!

I honestly can't help but laugh every time I read the moral of the story on the last page. I'm sure that is how my little brothers used to/still do feel. I wold tell you what I'm talking about but it will ruin the fun and surprise of it for ya!

Well, back to scrubbin' the poop deck, AAARGH!

Zoomer

2011-04-07T17:27:00.000-06:00

I'm BAAAAAAAAACK!

(Not sure if this is an apology or an announcement!)

So I realize that I haven't blogged in a while. I knew that I'd have to pick a really amazing book to share in order to gain your forgiveness for my extended absence. This is the proverbial white flag...that doesn't sound right. Hmmm, is it fig leaf? olive branch? Anywho...at my daughter's book fair a few weeks ago, I grabbed this book. It gets read EVERY night! The way the author, Ned Young, writes is so familiar...almost as if he has listened in on my conversations with my kids for the past couple years!

This is the section where I tell you what my favorite part is. My favorite part is when they play...um no, it is where Zoomer has a contest to see...wait, wait.....it's when Zoomer builds a huge...no, it's actually when he launches a...oh crud...I really can't pick a favorite part. I LOVE IT ALL!

It appears that Zoomer is on to bigger and better adventures as well because you can also get Zoomer's Summer Snowstorm. Yes, I am gonna use my Barnes and Noble gift card on it! So worth it!

Enjoy!

Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp

2010-12-02T20:47:00.000-07:00

I love books that have a rhythm to them. The flow of this book almost makes you want to get up and stomp around...actually my kids literally get up and stomp around when I read this. I then have to warn them that if they don't want to become extinct like the dinosaurs they should sit down and listen to the rest of the story.

Carol Diggory Shields has thrown in a lot of fun phrases that kids like to repeat, and repeat, and repeat, and well, you get the point. I like reading it because it is a quick fun story that my kids haven't gotten sick of yet.

Scott Nash has created awesome pictures full of color and movement! If you check out his website you'll see that his illustrations just scream "FUN!".

So if the weather is cruddy where you're at and you feel like partying it up indoors, just throw a Dinosaur Stomp party!

Dexter Bexley and the Big Blue Beastie

2010-11-23T20:19:00.000-07:00

I don't know if my daughter picks this every night because she loves it or because she knows how much I love it. We finished reading this tonight and I said, "I just love this book!"

My kids replied in bored unison, "WE KNOW."

I guess I have said that once or twice.

Joel Stewart has created such an absolutely endearing book that there is no chance you won't like it. If after reading it at least twice, you tell me you don't like it, I'm sending you a copy to read until your mood improves and you see what a wonderful book it is! (However, if everyone says they hate it, I'll know you all are just trying to get a free copy of what you agree is an incredible book!)

I love the illustrations, I love the characters, I love the suspense...and you will to!

Dog Breath

2010-11-17T20:27:00.000-07:00

This book is a riot!

It is all about how sometimes the worst thing turns into the best thing. A dog with the worst breath for miles ends up saving his family with his deadly breath.

There is a part in the book where some guys say, "Come here Poochie, Poochie." Oddly, this is my kids' favorite part and they each have to take a turn saying it in their own way. (It is my favorite part too and I also got to say it everytime we read it!)

There are a ton of play-on-words that are extremely funny and the illustrations are just as entertaining. Dav Pilkey does an excellent job entertaining the whole family with this book!

Pumpkin Eye

2010-10-19T22:39:00.000-06:00

Have you been waiting for the perfect Halloween story for your little ones? May I present, Pumpkin Eye!

I don't mind that my children fight over who gets to have this read to them at night. Once I get them to calm down I lovingly explain that I will read it to each of them once. That means that story time for me will be over in record time since it is such a short fun read and they will all be HAPPY because they got their favorite book. It's a win all the way around.

This fun, fast, rhyming story with its colorful and spooky illustrastions is by Denise Fleming who has written countless amazing books. This is perfect for Halloween and all the children that you know. It is short enough that my three year old will sit through it but lively enough to keep my six year olds attention as well.

Don't be scared...just get enough copies to go around!

Skeleton Bones & Goblin Groans

2010-10-11T20:48:00.000-06:00

I love fun short poems and this book is FULL of them! It is perfect for getting into the holiday spirit!

Karen Dismukes has done a fantastic job with the illustrations. They are very unique and make me stop after reading each page so I can get a better look.

Amy E. Sklansky has put together a bunch of quick fun poems. You can read as many or as few as you want, but I recommend MANY!

What better way to end a day with a quick spooky poem?

Skeleton Hiccups

2010-10-01T20:56:00.000-06:00

Woo-hoo! It is finally the month of OCTOBER which means I can promote my favorite holiday, HALLOWEEN! I waited all week to post so that it wouldn't seem weird that I was recommending a Halloween book in September.

In all honesty this was not my favorite book for the first three nights I had to read it. In fact I actually told my kids that they had to pick a different book on the fourth night! Can you believe that?! I also was wondering to myself why it was that they loved this book SO much! I felt like by the end of the book I was developing a case of hiccups from saying "hic, hic, hic" so many times and I could not get enthused about it.

Then...something amazing happened! I had all the kids in pajamas, teeth brushed, no screaming involved and I felt like I could conquer the world. So when my youngest grabbed Skeleton Hiccups I agreed to read it. I found out that magical night of all nights that there is a bit of a song in this book if you say it right. I even got the kids joining in on the chorus for the "hic, hic, hic's"! Now it is my favorite book to read and we read it every night. Me reading the words and the kids yelling...yep, you guessed it..."HIC, HIC, HIC!"

I am not looking forward to having to take this one back to the library. Margery Cuyler is my hero now for writing such a fun book. She has several other books out as well. Check out her site to see her other books and pictures of her "haunted house". S.D. Schindler did a great job with the illustrations. I especially like this one...

So go grab Skeleton Hiccups and a glass of water (just in case)!

Please, Malese!

2010-09-21T21:21:00.000-06:00

We were driving away from the library the other day and my son asks, "Mom! Did you give back the book with the fuzzy green shoes and the cat?"

I asked back, "Which book?"

"The one! The book with the two shoes and the cake?"

"O-o-oh, you mean Please, Malese?"

"Ya, that one!"

I informed my four year old that we had to take turns with books from the library so yes I had returned it. I was then informed that we had to get it again soon because it was his FAVORITE book EVER!

My kids' "favorites" change with the days but the fact that my son loved this book so much thrilled me because I really do love it too! The main character uses his wits to get a lot of things for nothing. Malese, is so entertaining about it though you love him and hate him all at once! Truth be told, I don't know if I dislike Malese because he gets stuff for nothing or if I dislike that I am just not that clever. It is extremely entertaining to read though!

Amy MacDonald does an excellent job of turning this Haitian tale into an amazing bedtime story. It is meant for children ages four to eight but it was usually the two year old in my family that was grabbing it off the shelf first at story time. The way Amy writes the ending I think every mother can relate to. Would that we could all go to jail for a day and trick our captors into putting our houses in order just so we would leave!

Emily Lisker paints such bright and lively pictures that it is hard not to feel energized by them. There is a cool cat in the pictures too and my kids loved finding/pointing him out on each page. According to my son, the shoes are even drawn so well they appear to be "fuzzy"!

Show how clever you are and go check this one out!

Tatty Ratty

2010-09-13T22:38:00.000-06:00

My name is Mattie and I am a stuffed animal addict.

There...I said it! Phew! I have unfortunately passed on my addictions to my children. I thought maybe they were the only children with this disadvantage until my twenty-four year old nephew and his grey pound puppy came to stay with us. Apparently this is not an uncommon addiction to suffer from.

Tatty Ratty, by Helen Cooper, is a book about a little girl who loses her stuffed bunny. She is sad and lonely imagining all the dangers and adventures her little bunny is surely getting into while she is away from him. Finally her parents come up with an inventive solution that will make you laugh while your kids sigh in relief that Tatty Ratty is finally found!

This is a cute book with a funny twist. The illustrations are amazing! It makes me want to find a Tatty Ratty of my own to add to my collection.

BLOOM

2010-09-07T20:42:00.000-06:00

Bloom!

A Little Book About Finding Love

No this is not a new book. It came out in 2008 but I came across it in a book store a couple weekends ago. My daughter's birthday was coming up and it looked like just the kind of book she would read, make me read, make her brothers read, take to the bathroom, and sleep with, until the binding fell apart. Turns out, not only does it fill all of the above roles but I secretly wanna steal it as well!

This book is so cute. It is simple enough that little kids are fascinated with it. They see the obvious story line and they love the pictures. (My son did get upset because on one of the pages there is a crayon scribble above one of the characters heads and he thought his younger brother had done that and gave him a "talking to".) For adults though, you can read so much more into the story line if you want to or if you are as tired as I was tonight you can just enjoy it as is!

Maria Van Lieshout has two other books called PEEP! and SPLASH! that I can't wait to get! She has done a fantastic job making this book apply to every age of life. It would be ideal for a birthday gift or Valentine's Day. (Yes, that is almost half a year away, but you can never be too prepared right?)

So go enjoy this with the little loves of your life!

Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken

2010-08-09T21:13:00.000-06:00

This is no ordinary chicken adventure (chickens crossing the road don't count) this is a chicken's adventures on the high seas, the high wire, and victim of high crimes. There are four chapters and we read one a night and my kids couldn't wait until the next night so they could hear more about Louise!

Kate DiCamillo is the well known author of the Tale of Desperaux and many others. She even has a new book coming out this fall. These chapters are short and action packed! Everything you need to survive and even enjoy a children's book.

Harry Bliss is an extremely talented artist and these pictures are outstanding! I love the colors and the details. My kids are pointing at so many things that they love on each page I have a hard time reading around their little fingers.

Join Louise on her adventures and you too will have the deep and dreamless sleep of a true adventurer!

Super Duck

2010-08-05T22:23:00.000-06:00

This was my recent favorite from our pile of books that we brought home from the library. I know you've all heard about the Duck books and it is all good! This one is as fun to read as the rest. Plus my two year old has developed a bad habit of dancing and jumping around the room while I read bedtime stories lately and this one he ACTUALLY SAT THROUGH! (Sorry for the caps lock but it was an exciting moment for me!)

Jez Alborough has a kagillion books out there and you can find a list of them on his website. I love the illustrations and the stories are short and they rhyme...I really can't think of a single reason you won't like these books.

I'm going to put on my Super Duck cape and try to unpack atleast three more boxes before I go to bed! Goodnight and enjoy!

Robot Zot

2010-07-26T20:58:00.000-06:00

I apologize for my lack of posts lately. We were moving and between finding my laptop, getting internet hooked up again, and my lack of energy I haven't been keeping up on this like I should. I didn't forget about y'all and I want to prove it by telling you about one of the funniest books I've read in awhile!

My boys have been fighting over this one every night!

Ryan: "I want Robot Zot-Wham Bot!"

Josh: "No Wham Bot My Bot!!"

Ryan: "No MY Bot!"

Josh: "MY BOT!"

Mom: "No fighting or NO ZOT!"

Jon Scieszka has a great sense of humor that shows through his writing. David Shannon does his usual fantastic job of illustrating with this book. Check out the link for some video interviews with him.

I can't say too much about this cute little robot without ruining the story for you. I will say that I love the spunk and determination that Zot has. I'm glad he is not loose in my house(although I don't know if it would make a difference right now) but it still makes for a really funny story!

Go grab your own copy of Zot and enjoy!

SUPERDOG The Heart of a Hero

2010-07-06T21:32:00.000-06:00

Reading this book makes me believe that even I could be a superhero. I LOVE reading this book to my kids. It is one of those books that makes you feel a little warm and gooey inside and believe for just a fraction of a second that everything in the world is right with a dog like Dexter out there.

Dex is an ordinary, if not a little less than ordinary, weiner dog that aspires to being able to help himself and others. There are a ton of great lessons in this book like, patience, kindness, doing good to others even if they do bad to you, and friendship.

This awesome story was written by Caralyn Buehner. The pictures were done by her husband, Mark Buehner, and they are so much fun to look at.

If you are looking for a perfect bedtime story for your superhero addicts or just one that teaches great values then this is the one for you!

After all this talk about superdogs and rescue I'm off to do some rescuing of my own. I think I'll start by rescuing some ice cream from the freezer!

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed

2010-06-27T21:25:00.000-06:00

Why read this book? Well, in the words of one wise little mole rat, "WHY NOT?"

This is the funnest, cutest book ever! I've always like Mo Willems books but I have to say that I think this may be one of my favorites. I'm a fan of the cartoon Kim Possible which has a naked mole rat in it. I've always wondered if there really is such a thing as a naked mole rat. I saw this book a few months ago and have recently gotten around to reading it. I decided I needed to find out if naked mole rats really existed. I did a search on the internet...(sorry I am fighting back a shudder of revulsion)...they do exist and let me give you some truley wonderful advice: NEVER TRY TO FIND THE REAL THING!

Mo Willems does such a great job of creating smart, cute, loveable mole rats that you would be doing yourself a great disservice to try to find the real thing. His mole rats have a huge dilemna on their hands. One of their own decides to start wearing clothes. When they tell him that NAKED mole rats don't wear clothes he asks, "Why not?". This is a quick and enjoyable bedtime story that your kids are bound to ask for over and over and you will most likely be more than happy to comply!

To find out more about Mo Willems watch this video.

DISCLAIMER:I know that after all of the mention of how repulsive naked mole rats are in real life you are bound to want to see for yourself. In any case Mattie Wadsworth and Madness by Mattie are in no way responsible for any permanent damage that viewing a real nake mole rat causes to you.

THOSE DARN SQUIRRELS!

2010-06-19T21:34:00.000-06:00

So first I would like to apologize for being MIA the last week and a half. A series of unexpected events occurred and then I found myself at a Family Reunion in Jackson, WY for a week. It was an odd sensation having fifty percent of my body sunburned and watching it snow the next day. Glad to be back and I have a ton of books I can't wait to tell you about!

Those Darn Squirrels is a comical story about an old man who loves birds and goes to great measure to keep the squirrels from stealing the bird's food. Finally, the squirrels, aka: furry little geniuses, decide that they need to get on Old Man Fookwire's good side. They try a couple techniques before they succeed. It is an extremely enjoyable story and my kids love looking at the pictures.

Adam Rubin incorporates his great sense of humor into writing a book that not only gets my kids laughing but keeps me laughing as well. I think it is amazing that even after you know the outcome (NO I'm not going to tell you what it is!) you still want to read this book over and over!

Daniel Salmieri just adds to the humor of the story with these hilarious illustrations. I was trying to figure out which picture was my favorite and I can't pick just ONE! There are several that make me giggle.

I guarantee that you'll enjoy every second of it, no matter how many times you read it!

Theodore Mouse Goes to Sea

2010-05-30T19:21:00.000-06:00

Summer is almost here and so let the fun of summer reading begin!

This week I'm going to tell you about two of my favorite childhood books, you know, the ones I asked to read atleast three times a day when I was just knee high to a grasshopper!

BUT...I have a special request...I'm always telling you what my favorite stories are but I would love to hear what YOUR favorite stories are! So feel free to add a note in the comment section telling me what book/books you requested most as a kid.

Without further ado...I'd love to tell you about Theodore Mouse Goes to Sea.

This brave little mouse was tired of the same thing day after day. Sleeping in the same bed, waking up every morning and getting ready and then sitting on the roof of his house. The only thing that changed every day was the sea. So Theodore makes a ship from his bed and goes sailing around the sea. He meets tropical mice and eskimo mice and runs into Pirate Rats and Cats. A perfect bedtime story full of adventure. This little book is short and sweet just like Theodore.

Goodnight, Sweet Pig

2010-05-25T17:09:00.000-06:00

Linda Bailey is one of my favorite authors. She wrote the Stanley books that are a huge hit around my house. Goodnight Sweet Pig is just as fun as the Stanley books. It is a great bedtime counting book! I especially love the spanish dancers and I still need to find out what a bangle lancer is.

Josee Masse is an incredible illustrator and the pictures are full of color and life!

I love reading this at bedtime because it is the perfect balance of calm and crazy. Bedtime at our house is about like the first half of this book! The rhymes and pictures in this book make it perfect for my little ones and I get a laugh out of it every time I read it! Definitely a must have if you have lively toddlers or children learning to count.

The Daddy Longlegs Blues

2010-05-19T19:27:00.000-06:00

So I have to admit that since the age of ten when I was living in Moscow, Idaho I have not been a fan of Daddy Longlegs. There is this myth that they can't bite you but I beg to differ. I had three of them that crawled into my shoes while I was running around barefoot in the grass. I went to slip my shoes back on and felt painful pinching over and over. I took my shoe off to find two smashed Daddy Longlegs and oddly the third crawled out. I had little red welts all over my foot...did I say welts...I meant BITES!

So despite the colorful and inviting illustrations I have been putting off reading this book for some months now. I will be the first to admit, it was a mistake to have done so! This book is fun to read or sing! I personally have a different tune I sing it to every time.

Mike Ornstein's rhymes are fun and witty. Lisa Kopelke does an amazing job putting together entertaining illustrations that fit perfectly with the story.

So conquer your phobia's whether it be blues or daddy longlegs and grab The Daddy Longlegs Blues for your next bedtime story!

Mary Had A Little Lamp

2010-05-16T19:54:00.000-06:00

I chuckle every time I read this book. When I first saw it at my daughter's book fair she said, "Oh Mom! It's Mary Had A Little Lamp!" She said this in that tone of voice that tells you it is ultra-cool and if you ask "What is that?" you are NOT cool! So of course I just said, "Oh...COOL!" as she forced it into my hand. I didn't complain since it was a half-price book fair. I thumbed through it as I stood in line to pay for my little stack of books. The pictures were fun and the words seemed sparse enough that even if I didn't like it I figured I could endure reading it multiple times.

Well it turns out...I love it and tonight I used my Parent Powers. My kids were all trying to pick out books and I could tell that none of them noticed Mary Had A Little Lamp sitting there. I gently said, "Since I'm the Mom I say we have to read Mary Had A Little Lamp tonight. Who wants to sit on my lap while I read it?" Hehehe. Then they fought over who GOT to sit on my lap to read it. I love it when "Mom" tricks work in my favor!

Bob Staake is an incredible illustrator and the pictures are a joy to look at. Jack Lechner did such an awesome job of turning this boring worn out children's song/rhyme into a comical journey of a girl and her lamp! I love this so much I want to see a sequel...perhaps one where the lamp and toaster duke it out over Mary! (If you don't know what I'm talking about...go read it!)

The Best Pet of All

2010-05-09T20:42:00.001-06:00

Soon becoming my newest favorite book is The Best Pet of All. I found this little gem at a half price book fair and I love it!

David LaRochelle and Hanako Wakiyama have put together a very entertaining book. It is such a cleverly written book that both kids and parents will enjoy this story. The illustrations give this book a classic feeling and I love how the mom is shown doing a workout in the living room in the first picture. It totally cracks me up.

If you want a little preview of the book here is a YouTube video of Reese Witherspoon reading the book. If hearing it read doesn't convince you nothing will. Enjoy! Have a great week!

A Book of Sleep

2010-05-04T21:25:00.002-06:00

The front cover is plenty eye catching but I didn't know if the rest of the book would be as cute. Turns out, each page gets better from there. My youngest is two and this is his favorite book. There has been many an instance when one of his older siblings tried to choose this for their bedtime story and he had a real tantrum (the tantrum may be part of the terrible two's). I love reading this to my kids because it is short and I really really love the pictures! They are very unique.

Il Sung Na has put together an amazing book! If you like this book as much as I do you'll be excited to know that she has another book coming out in September called BRRR A Book of Winter. She will have some more images of this on her website soon. Currently I'd rather read a book called HOT A Book of Summer seeing how it seems like we are still in winter where I'm at. However, I'm sure by July I'll be counting down days for this next book.

I promise, you can't go wrong with this fantastic little bedtime story! Enjoy!

The Duchess of Whimsy

2010-04-29T10:57:00.000-06:00

This is a story about a girl after my own heart! She fell for a grilled cheese sandwich. Not really but I have to say that anyone who can make a great grilled cheese sandwich is a winner in my book! This is an adorable book about a fancy, lively princess and a plain, normal prince.

My kids love this story and I don't know if it is because the story is original and fun or if it is because the pictures are colorful and enchanting. I do know their favorite page is when the princess is staring down the grilled cheese sandwich! They won't let me turn the page until they have memorized every detail of it. I caught my daughter out of the corner of my eye trying to make the same faces as the princess the other day. It was hilarious!

Randall de Seve is the author of this and other cute children's books. In an interview she said that she wanted to write stories that kids and their parents would want to read over and over again. I think she mastered this perfectly!

This book is illustrated by her husband Peter de Seve. He has done a lot of great illustrations over the years. These two make a fantastic team!

I'm gonna go make grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch but you should go find yourself a copy of this book. Toodle-loo!

Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes

2010-04-26T09:55:00.001-06:00

Am I as easy going as Pete the Cat? Goodness, No! Would I like to be? Most definitely!

This book is just splendid and a lot of fun to read!

My favorite part is the lessons that it is teaching my children:

Lesson #1

They are learning colors.

Lesson #2

Learning to RELAX and enjoy the ride.

Lesson #3

They are learning that their mom CAN'T sing.

(This lesson may only apply to my kids)

Eric Litwin and James Dean have made a very fun book for all ages. It is the perfect length for bedtime and I have caught my kids singing "I love my white shoes" multiple times this last week. Click on Eric's name and watch the video on his site of two adorable little girls reading this book!

So put on your shoes and go grab yourself a copy of Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes.

Bedtime for Mommy

2010-04-21T21:00:00.001-06:00

Bedtime for Mommy? Does that ever happen?

At my house when Mommy goes to bed the following takes place. One by one my three children take turns coming down to my room, stalking up to my side of the bed in the dark, in complete silence, then sit there...STARING.

On some level I can feel I'm being watched and slowly I brace myself for an attacker and roll over to find little tiny eyeballs boring a hole in me.

"Uh, Mo-uhm, I need to go potty."

"Mommy, I had a bad dream about a really fast spider, and it was chasing me!"

"Mom, I can't find my blanket and I think the monster under my bed took it...Can you come check?"

"Um, Mom?" I lay in silence hoping it is a bad dream but then, "Mom? Can I have more water please?"

The last request, as I'm sure you all know, leads back around to the first request to go potty.

So when I saw this title I HAD to get it. To my horror, my kids laughed when we read it. I informed them that this is how it was going to go from here on out and they should take this seriously, again to my horror, they laughed! To be fair, it is hard not to laugh while reading this book. It is very comical to see the bedtime roles reversed!

Amy Krouse Rosenthal is a magnificent author who has written a ton of books including It's Not Fair (one of my alltime FAVORITE stories). I know it can be scary looking for decent children's books but I dare say any of the books written by Amy will be fun for you and your kids. Maybe a little more fun for you but what your kids don't know won't kill them, right?!

LeUyen Pham sounds like a really fun person, in fact she sounds a little bit like my mom (who is the coolest!). LeUyen is pronounced Le Win and her illustrations are light and comical and make this story even more fun!

There is even a Bedtime For Mommy Contest on the books website. Click the link to view the details!

Until next time, goodnight!

My Heart Is Like A Zoo

2010-04-15T20:13:00.000-06:00

My Heart Is Like A Zoo has stolen my heart! I really don't know how else to describe how amazing this book is. Michael Hall has an amazing talent. He made animals solely out of hearts! I can't tell you how great I think this book is and you may have noticed that when I have too many things running through my small little head I have to make a list to get it all down.

So here's my list of things I love about this book.

1. I love the bright bold pictures.

2. I love looking and counting how many hearts each picture has.

(Don't mock me...you'll wanna do it too!)

3. I love the simple fun phrases on every page that totally describe everyday emotions.

4. Josh (2 yrs old) said one word, "Again!" when I finished reading it.

5. Sydney (5 yrs old) said "That book is a real zoo Mom!"

6. Ryan (3 yrs old) said, "Okay, just one more time and then one more time again."

7. Kirkus Reviews(really critical and hard to please) and a bazillion other people

said they LOVED this book!

(His own mother even said it was "Brilliant" and mom's never lie about how great their kids are :)!)

Come on, with all those hearts, was anyone not going to feel LOVE after reading this book? Go to the website for this book (there's a beaver moonwalking on it, need I say more?). Click on the link that says "Trailer". It will give you a glimpse into what is so special about My Heart Is Like A Zoo. So go spread the love and tell all your friends about this amazing book!

On a sadder note, the contest ends tonight at midnight and I'm afraid there will be no names drawn since we didn't hit my 30 followers mark but I would like to thank Marilyn Green for adding two followers this month! Thanks Mar! I will have to think up a special thank you for you!

Cupcake

2010-04-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

A few months ago I mentioned that Cupcake would be coming out so you might have already read this one. If not, there is no better time to read Charise Mericle Harper's book than now. What's not to love about a plain 'nilla cupcake whose friend the Candle is trying to find her the perfect topping. As with life, sometimes what you really need has been right there in front of you all along. (My favorite part is the squirrel...you'll have to read it to see what I mean!)

Charise does an excellent job with fun colorful pictures and an adorable story line. She is an extremely talented lady, not only did she write and illustrate this book, she sewed a little cupcake for her nepehew Henry. This book would have been adorable no matter what the main character was but being a cupcake makes it all the more delicious in my book! My kids are glued to the pages because for some reason they think that if we read this enough times I will actually MAKE THEM CUPCAKES. Dear sweet kids, so full of youthful hope!

Just like this little vanilla cupcake, this book is perfect for any occasion!

Tikki Tikki Tembo

2010-04-08T10:19:00.000-06:00

Tikki Tikki Tembo is a story about how the Chinese used to name their first born sons l o n g names that held great meaning and why that tradition ended. The story behind it is pretty funny however you may not have enough breath left to laugh after you read Tikki tikki tembo's name multiply times.

I was so EXCITED that I found this book. I was in the second grade when I first heard this book and we had it read to us enough times that I still have Tikki Tikki Tembo's full name memorized. I loved this book and for years have looked for it. All I had to go off of was the name I remembered but I didn't know the spelling and so I had tried to sound it out. I was wrong on the spelling by A LOT and so never found it until...a walk through Barnes and Noble and I caught this out of the corner of my eye! At long last I have found this book!

Just because I had this read to me in the second grade does not mean that younger kids won't like it. My kids are ages two to five and they all like it as well. The two year old routinely falls asleep while I'm reading it while the other two sit there quietly and listen. Either reaction is a good reaction in my book.

Arlene Mosel is the woman responsible for this great book! I am not sure which is more special to me, the book or the memories it brings back. Regardless, I hope to read this to my kids enough times that they can recite the whole name back when they are my age and that it brings them good memories too.

For those of you who are planning to read this for the first time I'm going to give you a little help. Here is how I learned to pronounce Tikki Tikki's name :

Tick-y tick-y tem bow no sa rem bow cherry berry ru chee pip perry pem bow

Enjoy and don't forget about the contest!

Dinosaurs Love Underpants

2010-04-05T15:29:00.000-06:00

Really? I need to do more than just show you the cover of this book to make you want to read it? Okay then, this book is beyond comical. It is rhyming, humorous, and a guaranteed winner with your kids!

I have a son that is two and has been potty trained, however, now that he is not wearing diapers he thinks he doesn't have to wear anything. I think the root of the problem is that he wants his undies off so all the other clothes have to come off for him to get to the cause of his discomfort. My oldest two children suffer from MSMD Syndrome (monkey see monkey do) and so once the youngest is declothed, I have a little nudist colony on my hands. I got this book because they love dinosaurs and I was hoping once they saw that dinosaurs loved undies they would start loving theirs.

I am sorry to inform you that if you stop by to visit you will most likely see a naked child but they DO love this book!

Claire Freedman and Ben Cort do an incredible job with this book and for those of you who may suffer in silence over your own little nudist colony but are afraid Dinosaurs wouldn't entice your kids enough, try Aliens Love Underpants. Claire and Ben's most recent release is Aliens in Underpants Save the World.

I gotta run, my son just ran outside and is jumping on the trampoline...

naked!

Claire and Ben can you write a book called Joshua Loves Underpants?

JUST A REMINDER...

2010-04-02T09:59:00.000-06:00

Don't forget about our little contest!

For those of you who missed the contest post, here is a recap:

30 (or more) Followers

by April 15th, 2010

and

New Followers will receive one entry

Already Loyal Followers (the original 15) will receive three entries

into a drawing for:

One of the books reviewed during the month of March

and a bunch of Easter Candy

(because my husband bought enough for three families)

So...keep spreading the word!

The Jellybeans and the Big Dance

2010-04-02T09:30:00.001-06:00

With a cover like this, there was no way my daughter was going to let us out of the library without it. Not to mention, what kind of MOM would I be if I didn't allow my daughter to check out a book with ballerinas on the front and the word JELLYBEAN written boldly across the front of it this close to Easter? Not a very COOL one, that's for sure! Thankfully I lucked out. It is a great book about persistence and jellybeans!

Nate Evans and Laura Numeroff co-authored this energetic, tutu clad book. Most of you already know Laura Numeroff from my other favorite book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, and that means you also know that you can't really go wrong with one of her books! (phew!) It is nice having some constants in this crazy world. Nate Evans has done this book as well as lots of other books and if you click on his name you'll find all of them. They look awesome and are going on my list of books to check out very, very soon!

Lynn Munsinger did a splendid job with all the little dancers and their costumes! They are so cute you wish they were real!

Finally, it's time for the most exciting news of all (can you hear the drumroll?). The Jellybeans don't stop here! There is another Jellybean book called The Jellybeans and the Big Book Bonanza.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend, and don't forget the Jellybeans!

Little Blue Truck Leads the Way

2010-04-01T09:30:00.001-06:00

This is a fantastic book for all the children in your life. Not only will your little boys (and little girls) love it, nay...CRAVE it, but you can feel good about reading it over and over and over and over and over when they beg you for it without ceasing because it teaches a very important lesson. I find myself constantly hollering over the hollering, "Take turns! Share! Take Turns!" This book teaches both. In fact, instead of yelling, "Take Turns Dang IT!" I have adopted a calmer, almost Zen-like approach where I say in my sweetest mom voice, "What Would Blue Do?" (Okay, I know I'm not fooling anyone when I say I'm now calm and sweet but it HAS helped even my attitude a tid bit!)

Alice Schertle and Jill McElmurry are a great team. I was thrilled when I was looking up this book and saw that not only is there Little Blue Truck Leads the Way but there is also the book that started it all, Little Blue Truck. I can guarantee that you will enjoy reading this book to your kids the 800th time just as much as you did the first time, and isn't that what reading children's books is all about?

Waiting Out the Storm

2010-03-31T09:30:00.000-06:00

I have to admit that my favorite thing in the world is a really good lightning and thunder storm! When I first got married I made my husband hop in the car and drive with me to a better location to watch a lightning storm at ten o'clock at night. I think he seriously questioned who he had married after that night.

This book makes storms seem so harmless and magical that is perfect for little ones who may be scared of storms or just not like them all that much. The pictures are INCREDIBLE! They make me feel like I'm actually splashing around in the storm myself. Susan Gaber did an incredible job creating just the right feel with her art.

JoAnn Early Macken did an excellent job with the rhyme and the feel of this book. I saw it at Barnes and Noble and skimmed through it briefly. It wasn't until I got home that I truely got to enjoy the words and the flow of the book.

Reading this book is the perfect way to wait out the storm!

Rhyming Dust Bunnies

2010-03-30T09:30:00.002-06:00

Since Easter is coming up I think it is only fair for us to acknowledge ALL types of bunnies! That is why my newest recommendation is for the Rhyming Dust Bunnies. These silly little dirt balls are so cute and so funny you'll actually want MORE dust bunnies when you are finished reading this!

My kids fight over who gets this book for story time. Last night, despite the fact that we have a pile of books from the library that we read every day, they all wanted this one. You see, we have a bedtime ritual where they get to pick a book and sit on my lap while I read it before they climb into their little beds and go to sleep for the night. So last night I got to read this colorful little book three times IN A ROW. I'm not complaining though....Jan Thomas did such a great job with this book and it's short enough that it was still enjoyable on the third time IN A ROW through.

Also, if you are trying to help your kids improve their rhyming skills, grab a copy of this book. It is wonderful and my daughter who is doing much better with rhyming as of late, loves showing off her rhyming prowess as we read this book. The only drawback to reading this is it may bring on some guilt at the fact that you still have not vacuumed up your OWN dust bunny colony.

Speaking of which, I gotta run...

SPRING BREAK BABY!

2010-03-28T22:52:00.001-06:00

IT'S SPRING BREAK! WOO-HOO!

Do you know what that means? (No I will absolutely NOT be wearing a bikini!)

It means that I am in a really good mood so I'm going to pour out recommendations upon you this week!

Every day I will tell you about a book that I LOVE! Which means you will too, right?

Also, since I am going to be traveling and enjoying visiting with family and friends, I thought I would share some of the love by hosting a little contest.

I have been feeling for some time now that I would really like to have atleast 30 followers on my blog. Yes, I know that means double the number I have now, but I feel deep down that this is attainable. So if by April 15th, that dreaded tax day, I have 30 followers, I will be tossing everyone's names in an empty Easter Basket and drawing a winner who will receive a bunch of overbought Easter candy that I won't be able to even look at anymore and one of the books that I have recommended this month. Plus, for all of my already loyal followers, I will toss in your name ~~twice,~~ no make that three times, since I'm sure you'll be the ones responsible for me getting to 30 followers.

To Recap:

30 Followers

Deadline:

April 15th, 2010

Prize:

Fairly fresh Easter candy & a brand spankin' new book that you're guaranteed to love

Happy Spring Break and a Merry Easter to all!

So Many Days

2010-03-25T12:03:00.000-06:00

"So many doors in all your days,

so much to wonder about.

Who will you be and where will you go?"

Well there are SO MANY books that I am dying to tell y'all about right now. I just couldn't wait any longer to tell you about So Many Days so it got bumped to the top of my list! I can't think of a better book to read with your kids. Reading this to my kids helps me express to them how amazing I think they really are!

Any of you who know me personally know that I am not much of a crier. This book however, made me experience a funny sensation...there was this stinging feeling in my eyes and nose and my throat started to feel really thick...if I didn't know better I would say I was about to cry! This is such a warm fuzzy book it will become a permanent fixture in your house. It is applicable for ages 2-100 (after 100 I would recommend you just write a book of your own on how you managed to live so long!).

I have been throwing an extended Pity Party for myself lately and as I read this I marvelled at how much this sounded like a pep talk I received recently from my mom. Then as I read this a second, third, and fourth time I realized that it said all the things I wished I said to my kids on a daily basis. Each time I read this book I fall more in love with it. Not that I had any doubts that I would like it to begin with.

Alison McGhee and Taeeun Yoo have put together another fabulous book. They make a wonderful team when it comes to children's books! There is a depth that adults can identify with and enjoy and a fun carefree feel that the little kids go crazy for. I had the book sitting next to me while I was writing this. My two year old actually put down his "shooter" (nerf gun) when he saw what I had and tried to climb into my lap with the book(this was a bit of a challenge since my laptop was already in my lap). So I had to take a quick break to read it to him and then my three year old announced it was his turn. So I apologize if this post didn't flow very well, I had an interruption or two :)!

"Who will you be and where will you go?

And how will you know?"

CHICK

2010-03-21T21:54:00.000-06:00

I'm egg-static about recommending this egg-celent book!

Ed Vere has done a great job with this WAY TOO CUTE little pop-up book. Some pop-up books are fun but this was even fun enough that I read it twice in a row! It is great for Easter baskets for your little ones. It is small and compact with lots of adorable little egg-popping pages to look through!

It is simple and sweet just like the cover! Hurry to your nearest book store to chick out Check...um...I mean check out Chick!

Sheep in a Jeep

2010-03-15T23:15:00.000-06:00

There are certain animals that are synonymous with Easter. Rabbits, Sheep, and Chicks! So in preparation for this Easter I thought I would introduce you to the wild world of Nancy Shaw's Sheep.

Thank you Nancy Shaw for writing a book that is quick, fun, and addictive! I read this book atleast three times in a row to my two year old before he is ready to move on to the next book and about twice to my three and five year old who just about have it memorized.

Here is the best part though. Some might feel a twinge of sadness as they get to the end of Sheep in a Jeep for the umpteenth time, and think what will I do now? Never fear, there are SEVEN sheep books including the most recent one, SHEEP BLAST OFF! Also on Nancy's website you will find games and all sorts of fun sheepy stuff.

It's off to count sheep for me!

Race You To Bed

2010-03-10T21:45:00.001-07:00

Oh! Look at that adorable bunny face! How could you possibly say NO to that? Even if Easter wasn't right around the corner this would still be THE PERFECT bedtime story for your little ones.

Here are SOME of the reasons I think this is the PERFECT book:

1. The words rhyme (I mean honestly, what is more fun than Dr. Suess-ish rhymes? "Bring a Bring-Brang-Brung to bed")

2. The pictures are colorful and busy and everything little kids crave in their art.

3. There is that loveable little bunny on every page. (My three year old son, Ryan, said, "Mom hold the book still I want to poke the bunny's eye." And this is why we don't have real live pets currently!)

4. You have a bunny challenging your kiddos to beat him to sleep. This solves the threatening and the ranting and the swift kicks to the fannies when they are trying to race this cute little puff ball to sleep.

I could go on like this forever but wouldn't it be more fun to read Race you to Bed by Bob Shea for yourself? Yes, I think so. If you choose to race off to find this book then you should also look for Dinosaur vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea as well. (My husband and I survived a painful month where we had to read that story about two times per bedtime/naptime to my youngest son. It was painful because the human voice can only ROAR so many times before it starts getting dry and hoarse.)

And now since it is almost 10pm I'm off to the races as well :)!

Every Cowgirl Needs A Horse

2010-03-08T09:32:00.000-07:00

Just looking at the cover makes you want to read this book! I lu-lu-love Every Cowgirl Needs a Horse! Partly because I get to practice my "Cowgirl" accent and partly because it is so much fun to read.

One of my favorite artists, Lynne Avril, has done another wonderful job. Lots of pretty pink colors for your own little girls and plenty of fun for everyone else.

Rebecca Janni did a fantastic job with the words and story line. What little girl doesn't want a pony for her birthday at some point or another? (I actually knew a little girl that got that wish...her parents got the trampled yard full of pony poop at the end of the birthday party too. Fun stuff!)

You will love the exciting fast pace of this book! It is perfect for bedtime or anytime!

Periwinkle Smith and theTwirly, Whirly Tutu

2010-03-01T09:35:00.002-07:00

It is so fun to whirl and twirl and pirouette with Periwinkle Smith! Have you ever had a tiny iny spot that got on your clothes? You know the stray drop of spaghetti sauce on the bottom of a white shirt, the permanent dot of a pen on the leg of a pair of khaki pants, or that spot of paint on your pretty white tutu? It can be so frustrating that it throws everything out of balance. This doesn't stop little Periwinkle Smith...for long!

My kids all love this book and usually spend a significant amount of time after reading it twirling and whirling (flopping and jumping) around the room. I love that it is short enough that we can read it and still have time for them to whirl and twirl before bedtime. I also enjoy the story and the illustrations so much that I haven't minded reading it over and over and over.

John & Wendy did an excellent job with this book! Whirl and twirl to your nearest bookstore for you own copy!

Hot Rod Hamster

2010-02-25T12:27:00.000-07:00

What more could you ask for from a children's book?! A cute fuzzy hamster (who reminds me of my childhood hamster Nuzzy), lots and lots of car stuff (including flames!), rhyming, and choices for your own little turbo charged rugrats!

So I already told you how wonderful Derek Anderson is as an illustrator and in Hot Rod Hamster he does another amazing job!

Cynthia Lord, a very talented author, has created a sensationally fun book. I love reading this book with my kids. It is really quick paced and interactive. As the little hamster is going through the junkyard picking parts for his race car, the book continually asks "What would you choose?". I love seeing what my daughter would choose and whatever she chooses, my son chooses because big sissy's are so "COOL" that she must have picked the right thing. The only thing that they don't agree on is what kinds of FLAMES are the best!

On your mark, get set, GO grab this book!

Gladys Goes Out to Lunch & Blue Burt and Wiggles

2010-02-19T16:42:00.000-07:00

So I noticed a trend recently among books that I was drawn to. They all had Derek Anderson as the illustrator. Then I found out that he WRITES and ILLUSTRATES books as well. Believe me, he writes as well as he illustrates!

Gladys Goes Out to Lunch is about a Gorilla that loves bananas more than Pesto, Pineapple, or Pepperoni Pizza. She loves bananas more than Fancy French Food like Frozen Mousse. The real question is....does Gladys love bananas more than Banana Bread? It is really cute and lively. My kids laugh every time we get to the end of the book. (You'll see why if you read it.) Plus the pictures are so enthralling there really is nothing to hate about this book. Please read the last page regarding the Banana Bread recipe, it is really funny. You know I usually don't put books on here that I don't love but there is one thing that I really don't agree with and I feel obligated to impart that...my Banana Bread Recipe is BETTER. (Technically it is not mine, but when my mother-in-law borrows one of my recipes, you KNOW it is good.)

Blue Burt and Wiggles is just as fun. A creative bird and worm decide they are going to stop winter from coming. I'm sure you can figure out how that attempt goes but even knowing the ending ahead of time it is still really cute. It has a great theme of friendship whether you are near or far from the ones you love. On the last page of the book I was surprised to see Etowah, Tennessee stamped on the suitcase. My husband has a lot of family in Etowah and it is really small. I'd NEVER heard of it until I went there. However, there are a lot of Blue Jays there in the spring so maybe that is why little Blue Burt went there on his travels. Maybe he was visiting family too!

You can't go wrong with either of these books and your kids will LOVE the pictures.

Marc Just Couldn't Sleep

2010-02-14T20:58:00.000-07:00

...and neither could his mother!

I have to say that I really love this book. Gabriella Kesselman and Noemi Villamuza did a fabulous job putting this book together. It is not a newer book but you will want to get a new copy of it, because I guarentee you will wear it out. I grabbed this book out of the library for a silly reason. You see, my brother's name is spelled MarC and it is rare that you see it spelled that way. Usually it is spelled MarK so I grabbed the book thinking it would be fun. Little did I know, I stumbled across an AWESOME book!

So this little boy named Marc can't get to sleep because there are so many things that he is afraid of. His mom does everything imagineable to help him. (In my opinion, his mother is the most patient and energetic woman in the universe.) Until finally, she is sitting atop their roof "keeping watch" when she hears "Mom, I'm still afraid." In the process of wearing his mom out, little Marc wears himself out as well.

This is a great book for really young readers because there aren't a ton of words on each page. My kids all seem to stay really captivated by the pictures and the story and I thoroughly enjoy reading it! So it is great fun for the whole family and perfect for right before bed.

Perfectly Arugula

2010-02-11T17:14:00.000-07:00

Anyone out there trying to plan the PERFECT Valentine's Date or Party should read Perfectly Arugula first!

Sarah Dillard is the illustrator for several children's books but this is her debut as a writer and illustrator. Sarah did an incredible job with the illustrations and the lay out. I just love this book and it makes me long for Springtime because of all the cheery colors.

In a way, this book reminds me of every get together I've ever had. I'm a bit of a control freak (it's a trait that has been passed down for generations) and I always visualize in my mind just how I want a party to go. So I plan and I primp and I hypothesize that it is going to go a certain way and people will have a great time and without fail...IT NEVER DOES. There is always something that seems to go wrong despite my best laid plans. It is all in how well you can go with the flow, or in Arugula's case (and mine) how great your friends are, that makes it go even BETTER!

Arugula is a character that is hard not to love. She has her faults, but who doesn't. My kids were fighting over who got to be Arugula when we read the story (they are into "being" one of the characters in every movie and book we read lately). My daughter and son tied calling Arugula. Trying to calm the situation I suggested my son be the squirrel (he looked pretty cool on his skateboard with his hat on backwards). My son agreed but when we got near the end of the story where the Squirrel showed up at the party, I was in big trouble.

Sydney: Ryan, see, you just ruin everything!

Ryan: No I didn't, 'Rugla!

Sydney: Yes you did, you annoying squirrel!

We finally calmed things down when it was clear that everything would turn out okay. Except when we read the last little bit about Arugula wanting to try a dinner party my daughter once again added, "But you're not invited SQUIR-rel!"

I guess we'll have to wait and see if there even will be a dinner party. If so it would be a shame if Fidget, the squirrel, didn't make an appearance.

P.S. Don't miss Arugula's blog!

Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine

2010-02-08T11:39:00.000-07:00

Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine is a perfect way to celebrate Valentine's Day this year. It is a little bit longer so if you have really little kids they might not sit through it all but my three and five year old loved it. After reading it, Ryan made me buy him Hulk Valentine's Cards because he wanted to "Milla Dilla them to friends, MOM!" Duh, what is wrong with me! I should have bought some to Milla Dilla to my friends too!

Herman Parish is a fantastic author. He has added seventeen books to the Amelia Bedelia series of books. This book is about Amelia Bedelia as a kid and it is very fun to read. I loved reading the Amelia Bedelia books when I was a kid and I am so excited that there are new ones out that my kids enjoy! Plus, Amelia is just as literal and awkward young as she was old and so it is still enjoyable for me! I hate it when they take a classic and try to change it for the better...it usually never turns out well. This on the other hand, was a real treat!

Lynne Avril Cravath is the illustrator for the new Amelia Bedelia's and she does a fabulous job! The pictures are a lot of fun! She has illustrated other books that look like a lot of fun as well. Click on her name to go to her site and you can view the books and her other art work there.

Enjoy your Valentine's Day this year and don't forget to "Milla Dilla" the ones you love!

The Recess Queen

2010-02-03T20:53:00.002-07:00

I have my daughter and her friends from school to thank for helping me discover this fun little book! My daughter brought this home the other day from her school library. I was so excited when I saw the cover. It looked like a fun book but I didn't dare get my hopes up since the last few books she has gotten have been things like, Discovering Earthworms(did you know that in Africa there are earthworms as long as a human arm and about as big around!), and Why is the Sea Salty.

Tonight for bedtime I sat down and GOT to read this very entertaining book! I love some of the words that

Alexis O'Neill uses. The rhythm and the pace of this book is really fun and fast! Immediately after finishing I found I wanted to read it again. I loved the concept of a school bully duped by kindness. It is a very fun story. Here are some of Alexis' other books: The Worst Best Friend, Estela's Swap, and Loud Emily.

Laura Huliska-Beith is the illustrator and her pictures are just as fun and lively as the words! I am especially a fan of the awesome facial expressions on the kids! Alexis O'Neill and Laura Huliska-Beith's other joint book venture is The Worst Best Friend...I can't wait to read that as well!

Well I gotta run! My kids are out of bed, so that means I'm going to have "push 'em and smoosh 'em and lollapaloosh 'em"! I just hope they don't ask for another bedtime story...cause I'll say "yes" and grab The Recess Queen a little too willingly!

Tightrope Poppy the High Wire Pig

2010-02-01T10:56:00.001-07:00

There's a new show in town and you don't want to miss it!

I have been a fan of this book for a long time. I checked it out from the library again the other day and was reminded what a fantastic book it is. This is the most adorable book about a little piggy that shoots for her dreams and despite some setbacks she is able to persevere until she becomes the famous Tightrope Poppy!

Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen has written many fun kids books, including Mine-O-Saur and The Hog Prince. I'm a sucker for rhyming books and the rhyming in this is extremely fun and it is clear that a lot of time went into making it perfect! Plus, it is a great way to teach your kids that on the way to mastering a skill there may be a dramatic fall or two.

Sarah Dillard did a superb job with the illustrations. So colorful that my kids turn back the page just to stare at the pictures a little bit longer. I personally like all the circus colors, they make me feel right at home :)! Sarah has a cute little blog that you can check out too with fun sketches and pictures.

Tired of being stuck inside because of the cold weather? Enjoy a day at the circus with Poppy!

Let's Do Nothing!

2010-01-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Gotta love it! There's no excuse not to thoroughly enjoy this book! Even though the characters are boys, I can actually imagine my husband and anyone of his friends playing this exact same game and having the exact same reactions. Maybe it is a boy thing that they never grow out of. Either way, it is great fun for little kids and big kids! Here's a taste of the book for ya.

I honestly can't read this without laughing. My kids are wondering what is wrong with me because they can't understand how I can be laughing and having tears run down my face at the same time. I think that Tony Fucile deserves to win lots of awards for this book! It is so much fun that it would be a pitty if it didn't become really popular and a huge bestseller!

It is late and my supreme powers of persuasion are at an all time low so I will end by saying, PLEASE trust me, this is an incredible book! Go get a copy, I'll be here...doing NOTHING!

Ten Little Elvi & If Mom Had Three Arms

2010-01-25T16:28:00.000-07:00

Do your little ones need help with numbers?

Voila!

So I grabbed these books from the library because they looked like fun. Not hoping to gain any educational support from them, but it turns out they are both great counting books. Not lame, here-is-the-number-3-and-oh-look-three-oranges, kind of counting books either! These are fun, make you laugh, keep your kids interested, counting books!

These both should have probably had their own entry because they are really great but I was too excited to wait and then I didn't want to play favorites so they are debuting on my site together :). The Ten Little Elvi book is so fun, even for non-Elvis fanatics it is fun. Laura Henson and Duffy Grooms did an excellent job writing this and Dean Gorissen makes it so entertaining with his lively pictures.

The If Mom Had Three Arms book is very thought provoking for those of us who are continually wishing we had another few arms. After reading this I've decided two is less freaky looking so I'll stick with two, even if I am less productive this way. Karen Kaufman Orloff did an excellent job coming up with ways you could use up to TWENTY arms...just in case you ever find yourself in a situation where you have eighteen extra arms and don't know what to do with yourself. Pete Whitehead makes this a lot of fun with his wild and crazy pictures. Plus it is fun to hunt for the actual number on each page.

So if you have a hankering for counting, these are the books for you (or your little ones, whoever needs help with the counting the most :)! )

OTIS

2010-01-19T18:36:00.000-07:00

Otis is an incredible book. It is a story about true friendship and love taught by a little old tractor named Otis. Loren Long did an incredible job with the illustrations and the story. There is an old time feel to the pictures and in my opinion it makes it all the more endearing.

It is a great story for boys and girls alike. I thought my boys would like it because of the little tractor, however, my daughter requests it even more than they do. When my two year old looked over my shoulder just now and saw the picture from the cover of the book he squealed, "OTY!" and then snuggled in next to me as I browsed Loren's web page.

If you go to his page there is a fun youtube video about Otis, coloring pages and activities from the book, and other art sketches that didn't make it into the book.

I love books that are entertaining while teaching values and this definitely fits the bill! Enjoy!

Mimi and Lulu Three Sweet Stories, One Forever Friendship

2010-01-14T21:00:00.000-07:00

You'd think by looking at the cover that this would be a book only for girls. You'd be wrong...my boys, myself, and my daughter love this book. My boys like it because there are cupcakes(any food would have done) and blocks in it. My daughter loves it because there is lots and lots of pink and purple. I love it because it is extraordinarily funny and the three stories are really short!

Charise Mericle Harper did an excellent job with this book. My favorite story is the one with the phone. You'll see what I mean when you read it. It is hilarious! I actually think I need to take some tips on handling crazy kids from Lulu. Check out Charise's page, she has a book coming out January 18th called Cupcake!

I'm going to schedule a flying pink elephant ride now so I'll catch you later! Happy Reading!

Fritz Danced the Fandango

2010-01-11T20:26:00.000-07:00

Just the title alone makes you want to read this book. With illustrations that are comical and extremely kid friendly and dialogue that is as fun as it gets, there is really no chance of going wrong with this book.

Alicia Potter does an excellent job of telling a story about a unique mountain goat in search of a herd that he can Fandango with. I love the characters that he comes across as well as their unique talents. It makes reading this a lot of fun! (Especially when you get to Yodel, not something I have an excuse to do everyday!)

My kids love the bright and lively illustrations. They are a perfect fit for this book. Ethan Long has illustrated a HUGE number of books and if you click his name it will take you to his blog which is fantastic. There are fun facts about him and some of his art is on there as well.

I will end this post with a direct quote from my daughter Sydney, "Mom, we are going to read about Fritzy tomorrow night too, huh? 'Cause we love to Fandango don't we?!"

Oh yes, we love to Fandango!

Princess Peepers

2010-01-06T21:34:00.000-07:00

So I once wore glasses but I was anything but a princess. What you are about to see may change your opinion of me forever. You may feel sick to your stomach or laugh until you are sick to your stomach. Either way, prepare yourself because the following picture is quite disturbing...

Well now that you have seen the worst picture of me ever, here's a story that is very special to me:

I love this book because there were several times while I was growing up that I was too embarrassed to wear my glasses and missed out on things because of it. For instance, I went to a New Kids On The Block Concert and refused to wear my geeky glasses and as such missed pretty much all of it from where I sat in the balcony. I was afraid that maybe I would be seen by the NKOTB and they would laugh at my glasses :).

Princess Peepers is also embarrassed by her glasses and almost misses out on getting to dance with Prince at the ball because of it.

This book is very well written and completely hilarious. Pam Calvert does an excellent job of making glasses COOL again! Speaking of cool, if you are a prince or princess with peepers you can get your picture on Pam's website (see the section for kids for details). Also check out Pam's blog for more fun humor and info about Pam.

Tuesday Mourning is the illustrator of this charming book and illustrator of other fun and crazy books like Billy & Milly, Short & Silly. She also has a great blog that I encourage you to take a peek at!

So grab your favorite pair of peepers so when you read Princess Peepers you don't miss anything!

Jumpy Jack and Googily

2010-01-03T23:55:00.000-07:00

This book is one of my all time favorites. I have checked it out from the library so many times it is becoming comical. (I would just buy it but until I either get a book published or do amazingly well in the stock market...my play money account is in the negative :)!)

This book is written so incredibly well and it is just hilarious! Meg Rosoff and Sophie Blackall have created a truly amazing children's book! I have read this book over and over and neither myself or my children tire of it. I love the dialog between this scaredy-snail and the cool-as-a-cucumber monster. The only thing more fun than the dialogue is perhaps the irony that the illustrations add to the story.

I think it is fitting to start this new year out with an amazing book! I guarentee that you will not be dissappointed.

Happy Happy Holidays!

2009-12-28T15:02:00.000-07:00

Sorry that there will not be a post this week.

(I'm having too much fun with all the new toys my kids got for Christmas :)!)

All will resume as normal (hopefully) after January 1st. Hope you are having a wonderful holiday season and have a safe and happy NEW YEAR!

Olive, The Other Reindeer

2009-12-21T20:54:00.000-07:00

Vivian Walsh is the author of this adorable story about a confused little doggy. The little dog reminded me of a Jack Russell that my grandparents used to have and then I found out it was based on an actual Jack Russell that the author once had. This book is perfect for this holiday season! There's even a song about Olive on Vivian's website!

My two year old got this read to him first and now has refused to share it with my older children because he likes it so much. (Plus he is really good at saying "Olive" now and asks for it daily by name!) Luckily it is a book I enjoy reading so I don't mind that he asks for it so often.

J. Otto Seibold has done an incredible job of making the pictures completely fit the story! The pictures are lively and fun just like the book.

So as you are getting ready to celebrate Christmas don't forget to grab a few of these great Christmas books to read them with the fam before the big day is over! Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Stinky Face

2009-12-16T19:52:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that I loved this book from the first time I read it but the ending confused me. I read the last page that said, "Merry Christmas, Stinky Face" and thought, hmmm what did I miss? Did she get something smelly on her face? Did I skip a page? So I read it through again, and another time just for good measure and was still baffled about the whole Stinky Face comment. I loved the book enough though that I was willing to overlook this baffling title and ending. Silly me! I got online to look up this author and found out that she has a whole slew of Stinky Face books (you can listen to some of them on Lisa McCourt's site) and the best part is they have the same illustrator so they are bound to be as charming visually as they are literarily (is that a word?).

Cyd Moore is so talented. I am so infatuated with the pictures in this book. My favorite is by far the Christmasaurus. The colors and the details in the pictures are so fun for me and I know my kids love it because they are QUIET and STILL the whole time I'm reading. I love books that have that effect on my children. Again, I'm thrilled that she is also the illustrator of the other Stinky Face books and I can't wait to read them and see the pictures that she has come up with for all the others. On her fun, fun sight you can find coloring pages for your kids along with an interview with Cyd & Lisa.

Lisa McCourt does a great job of capturing the "what if's" that kids come up with. I love the premise of this book too. I always think it is so easy being a kid but after reading this book I've realized that it is really STRESSFUL when you have to prepare your parents for the worse possible scenarios...you know...just in case! Like what if Santa loses his boots while flying in his sleigh?! I mean what then? It made me start to think and I wonder what would happen if my roof was too steep and Santa couldn't land on it...or if Santa developed an allergy to his beloved reindeer and had to find an all night medical clinic that could give him an allergy shot...but then what if that allergy shot made him sleepy and he flew the reindeer into a house? It is really scary when you think about all the possibilities.

Just for fun...what is the worst possible Christmas Eve scenario you can think up? Or what is the worst fear your little ones have about Christmas night? I'd love to hear 'em so please leave them in the comment box!

Twas The Night Before Christmas

2009-12-13T23:40:00.000-07:00

Yes, you've all read or heard this story before so there is nothing I'm going to say that will be original or new to you. I just have to say though, these "Animotion" books are so fascinating. Even for the adults they are fun.

I've never enjoyed reading the line, "His belly shook like a bowl full of jelly" as much as I enjoy reading it in this book. It wasn't the first time or even the second time through that I figured this out, but if you move the page just right, you can make his belly move perfectly up and down when you read "Ho, ho, ho, ho!" I have had so much fun with that.

Another one of our favorite pages is the one where "visions of sugar plums danced in their heads" because it is so fun to see the dancing plums in their dreams.

This is a delightful twist on one of my all time favorite books ever!

The Gingerbread Pirates

2009-12-07T17:05:00.000-07:00

Well here is another fun Christmas book for you to enjoy this holiday season. It reminds me of the Nutcracker for some reason. Maybe it is the artwork and the fact that the cookies come to life. Either way, I love The Nutcracker (after all I was an excellent Bon-Bon in the ballet when I was nine) and this has that same magical, anything can happen on Christmas Eve, type feeling! At first I thought it looked a little long and was worried that maybe the kids wouldn't sit all the way through it. My youngest one is two but he even sat through it just fine.

Kristin Kladstrup does an excellent job with writing this book. I love the Captains personality and his brave little cookie ways! My oldest two really love this book and even though there are no Gingerbread Princesses, my daughter still loves it.

Matt Tavares did an excellent job with the illustrations! I've always thought of Gingerbread Men as sort of plain but not in this book! They are fun and full of expression. You can see more of his work in his blog if you are interested.

Only 17 days left until Christmas!!

Merry Christmas Splat!

2009-12-03T16:42:00.000-07:00

I ADORE this book! First of all, let me say that I have been a fan of Rob Scotton's since my daughter was nine months old (she is now 5). When she was nine months old my mom got Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotton for her. She would make me read that book three consecutive times before she would let me even think about putting her down for a nap or bed. She was one of those children that screamed for the majority of her life for the whole first year. So I was overjoyed when I found that Russell the Sheep made her quit screaming. One particular grueling trip from Hailey, Idaho to McCall, Idaho (approximately four hours) she screamed and screamed and screamed until I starting reciting Russell the Sheep to her (which by this point I had OF COURSE memorized!) and she finally went silent...ahhh! Until I fell quiet and then it started all over again.

There is a point to the above story though and that is...I never thought I would be able to love another one of Rob Scotton's characters as much as I loved Russell. I am greatly pleased to announce though, that I love Splat the Cat and his christmas story! Splat is so much like a real child that I can't help laughing at the dynamic between him and his sister and the reactions his mother has to all his "helping"! It is such a fun story and the pictures are incredible! There has never been a more loveable looking cat in my opinion.

So in short, your holiday season will not be complete until you have read Merry Christmas Splat! Please check out Rob Scotton's site and your kids are guaranteed to love the Fun Splat Christmas Activites also on his site. I was especially excited to find that there is a Russell the Sheep Christmas story too! You can be sure that is the next on my list to read!

Oddly

2009-11-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

I am not much of a sentimental person. Even reading gushy birthday cards make me squirm! I am happy to announce though that I read this whole book without getting squirmy! This book has a theme so deep that I don't know if my kids fully get it but I do and appreciate Joyce Dunbar for finding the words to tell it and share it with us. It is about three oddly characters and who find out what they are hoping for, wishing for, dreaming of...LOVE! The meaning is not that simple but you'll have to read the book to truly appreciate all of it's meanings! Joyce Dunbar has over 70 books and it shows in her expert command of words.

Patrick Benson did an excellent job of illustrating this book. The characters are extremely easy to love and care for. The colors and shapes of these three animals are fun and my kids LOVE THEM!

Definitely READ and Re-READ this book!

Mouse Was Mad

2009-11-26T06:00:00.002-07:00

I wish I was reasonable enough to resolve my frustrations as smoothly as Mouse does! In fact, after reading this very fun book the other day I decided I would try standing very still when I reached the heighth of my madness. Turns out, standing very still only made the madness around me (three kids ages five and under) even madder. It did make me laugh though that such a non agressive gesture would bring on such strong reactions. I did follow Mouse's lead and locked myself in the bathroom for a nice warm "SPLASH" once I had calmed down.

This book is all about MADNESS. Which makes it the perfect addition to my site. I thought I had written the perfect book on Madness but it turns out that Linda Urban did! I love all the phases of mad Mouse goes through and I especially love watching him try to outdo himself with each one until he just runs out of things to do! I think Linda Urban did a wonderful job of convincing small readers that there are better ways to handle MAD! Everyone of my little readers loves this book and laugh at the end every time.

Henry Cole is an amazing illustrator. Mouse and all his friends are just beyond cute! If you want a list of incredible books to read, check out Henry's site because there are a ton of books that he has illustrated and they all look great. He also has lots of fun games, puzzles, and coloring activities on his website so it is a fun one to visit with your kids! Henry Cole has a new book that he wrote and illustrated coming out soon called A Nest For Celeste and it looks fantastic! I can't wait to read it!

Go Back To Bed!

2009-11-23T06:00:00.001-07:00

This book makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside when I read it. Mostly because it warms my heart that other parents have children that use their highly imaginative brains to find ways of weaseling out of bed time after time after time. But also because I get a sense of deja vu when I read these pages and see these pictures...almost as if I was once in Edwin's shoes...weird, huh!

I love the images that Ginger Foglesong Guy paints in your head with her words. Her book has a great flow and rhyme to it that made it instantly a favorite of mine! I found this book at our library about a year ago and after reading it I couldn't remember the name of the book. All I could remember was Edwin Dupree and of course it wasn't named that. After wasting half an hour of the librarians time trying to find it again she decided she had to read it for herself when I returned it. She then read it for the library's story time and it was well loved. You don't have to take my word for it but I wouldn't argue with a mob of thirty, 3-5 year olds that all agree that it is one great book.

The pictures are quite enchanting. James Bernardin did an amazing job of pulling the readers into Edwin's world. He did such a great job that you almost believe Edwin's side of the story! My mouth waters every time I see the page filled with baked goods and I feel an undeniable urge to find a water park every time I see the page where the living room is floating.

You'll love this book no matter what age you are! It may even give you a bit more patience with your little ones and their imagination!

Ode to New Moon

2009-11-18T16:51:00.000-07:00

Okay...a little off my topic but I love reading books that are a little more complicated than a picture book every once in awhile. I'm sure you do too and in case you have jumped on the Twilight bandwagon as millions of others have, here is a post that will make you think and laugh all at the same time. It was posted by Molly O'Neil an editor that I met this last summer. She is hilarious and has her own blog at 10blockwalk.blogspot.com.

I myself am gearing up to view New Moon this weekend with my family and friends! Can't wait!!

So go read this post and then I am dying to hear your very own Twilight/Opera renditions.

Please, please, oh please leave your verses in my comment section so I can sing along with you!

Billy & Milly, Short & Silly

2009-11-18T15:53:00.002-07:00

Recently I was informed that my daughter has trouble rhyming. Can you believe her teacher doesn't think that sock and mop rhyme :)! At home though she does great. We read all sorts of rhyming books and she MEMORIZES them and we think she knows how to rhyme. Well I found this book and got it to help her with rhyming. What I didn't expect though was that I would enjoy it so much. It has great rhyming words so that your kids can practice and learn to rhyme but it also has several really funny rhyming stories so it is fun and easy to read to kids.

I think that Eve Feldman did a great job with this book! I find it incredible that she was able to make stories out of four words or less! (I dare you to try it...it is incredibly hard.) If less is more this book is the MOST! It is wonderful for all ages of kids and especially those just beginning to read who find larger books daunting. It is wonderful for small kids with short attention spans as well. I especially like the Tee, Bee, Flee story.

I think Tuesday Mourning did a great job as well. I love her illustrations. She also illustrated another one of my favorite books, Princess Peepers. Her pictures add even more humor, fun, and color to these short stories. To see even more of her illustrations click here.

In parting I'd like to extend this invite:

Pick this book, it's just right!

Wrap your kid's up warm and tight.

Read this book and dim the light,

Give 'em hugs and say good night!

Or in other words: Right Tight Light Night!

I may be no authority on good books but most people consider a positive Kirkus review to mean a lot. Here is that review (see page 4). Here is another post by a fellow blogger about this fantastic book. Last but not least, you can become of fan of Billy and Milly, Short and Silly on Facebook just click here.

Dashing Dog!

2009-11-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

"Horrors! He's seen it! He's off like a thunderbolt,
Trouble-quick, double-quick, devil-dog-dunderbolt."

This book is so fun to read! It is not a new release by any means but it is a lot of fun no matter what age your kids are. This dog reminds me of my kids, in fact. Not even a second after a room has been cleaned or a mess cleaned up, or they've received baths and another mess or disaster is waiting on the horizon.

The words that the author, Margaret Mahy, uses are so fun to say and inventive. My youngest loves this book the best because he loves anything "doggy" and my oldest two think all the trouble the dog gets into is hilarious. In general though, any Margaret Mahy children's book you read I'm sure you'll enjoy. I've read several now and I have loved all of them.

Sarah Garland, the illustrator does a wonderful job of making this book fun and lively with her illustrations. I love the bright colors and the expressions on the faces.

I NEED MY MONSTER

2009-11-09T06:00:00.008-07:00

This book is simply FABAWESOMAZING! (I couldn't pick just one word to describe its coolness so you got three in one) I could read this book over and over and love it more everytime. It is so well written and the pictures are incredible.

The author, Amanda Noll, is super gifted. I have reviewed a fair amount of books so far but without a doubt this one is beyond IMPRESSIVE. Amanda Noll did a fantastic job of creating hilariously scary monsters. I first looked at the small print and thought, uh-oh my two year old is never going to sit through this. Guess what? He sat through it, it didn't feel nearly as long as it was, and I was SAD, yes SAD, when it was over. I can't remember the last time I loved a kids book so much that I wanted to take it from my kids and go sit in a cozy corner and read it on my own.

The illustrator, Howard McWilliam , is also very gifted. The picture where the little boy is explaining that he needs a monster with claws is one of my favorites because it just so much character to the already amazing characters.

Tonight when I read this again to my five and three year old, we got to the end and Sydney, the oldest, said, "Mom that's scary!"
I asked, "What?!"
"The monsters are scary."
So we went back through all the pictures and laughed at how SILLY the monsters really are, if you look closely. As we were doing this my son fell asleep. We got to the last monster and Sydney was laughing. Ryan woke up and said, "Mom, show me all the monsters again." Then flopped back down on the pillow and promptly fell back to sleep.

So the overall consensus is, by the end of the day 4 out of 4 LOVED this book. The real question is:

What is the name of the monster under your bed?

My monster's name is Lacey...cuz girls have to have a girl monster :)!

2009 GOBLIN OF GREATNESS AWARD GOES TO...

2009-11-03T18:08:00.000-07:00

I'd like to thank everyone who participated in this year's Goblin of Greatness Contest. I appreciate your time and opinions. The winner of this year's Goblin of Greatness Award is...

....DRUMROLL PLEASE....

WHERE'S MY MUMMY?

Congratulations to John Manders and Carolyn Crimi for their addictive mummy tale that still has my kids begging me to read it even though Halloween is over and the candy is almost gone (yes, already!).

Miss Smith and the Haunted Library

2009-10-28T06:00:00.002-06:00

Well you all know that I don't have a rating scale per say but if you want an idea of how fun this book is I'll paint you a little picture.
3:40 pm: I pulled up in front of the library and checked this book out.
3:45 pm: I pulled into the garage and brought in the above book. After calming down two of the three crazy kids (the third was glued to Dad's hip and refused to be messed with), I sat down on the couch with these books.
4:00 pm: I was reading this book for the first time to the oldest two children and thinking to myself that the pictures were amazing.
4:37 pm: I was begging my husband to go pick up the pizza and I read it again to the littlest one who was finally forced off of Dad's hip.
5:00 pm: I was reading this very entertaining book for the third time and realizing I was still enjoying it.
7:00 pm: I read it for the last time today to all three kids who quit fidgeting for the 6.7 minutes it took for me to read the book (some books really need to be longer!).

The good news, I still like it a lot! Even better news, Ben (aka: Dad, my husband, that guy that lives here) thought it was "fascinating" and he's a much tougher critic than I. The best news, my kids still wanted to read it even after I said, "No more stories!" (Unlike another story, which shall remain nameless, that I got at the library today as well, after the second reading my five year old proclaimed, "Mom I don't really like that one so much.")

Michael Garland is an amazing artist and author! At his site you'll find other wonderful books, including two other Miss Smith books, and plenty of fun pictures to view. Once you've had a look at some of the pictures you'll see why I was so drawn to this book. The text and story line is very imaginative and fun as well. Plus at the back of the book you'll find a key to where to find all the best ghosts, ghouls, witches, etc. Also, it is on the New York Times Children's Book Best Seller List!

Pumpkin Soup

2009-10-26T06:00:00.002-06:00

Pumpkin Soup is so delightful. It was released in 1998 so it is not a new book but I'd never seen it before. Probably because in 1998 I was worried about where my next apartment would be and if I'd pass that semester of college and not What the HECK am I going to read to my kids tonight?

Helen Cooper did an excellent job with this book. The dialogue in this book reminds me of how my younger brothers and I sounded most of the time we were growing up. One big mess followed by a lot of silly fighting which resulted in apologies. Then REPEAT! Definitely written by someone who knows what family life is like! Her illustrations are so amazing. My favorite is the one where Cat and Squirrel imagine how well Duck is doing without them! It is a whole other story on its own. Your kids will love you for reading this to them and you will love getting to read this. The characters are cute and furry with attitude so I love the fact that each of them are their own little oxymoron. Plus I really like it when children's books have a moral to them. (You ask, "Don't all books have a point or moral?" I'd answer, "Sadly, NO!")

Even though pumpkin soup has never sounded good to me, reading this book again will always sound appealing to me.

ALSO look for: A Pipkin of Pepper and Delicious that are follow up books about Cat, Duck, and Squirrel.

Only A Witch Can Fly

2009-10-22T06:00:00.003-06:00

What a book! This book was great when I read it for the first time today...and even better when I read it for the second time tonight. I have confidence that it will continue to get better and better each time I read it! You all know my fondness for wtiches (BTW I just sent Charlotte off to the publishers-keep your fingers crossed) but even that aside, this is such a creatively written and illustrated book that you're guaranteed to love it. It has the feel of a classic and I'm sure that it will become a Halloween staple in many people's homes.

The author, Alison McGhee, is incredible! I believe that most things in life can be achieved with enough hard work and practice. However, when you read Alison's Blog you will agree that even though I'm sure a lot of hard work is involved she is truly GIFTED! When you go to her blog look at this post about Only a Witch Can Fly, it will give you even more of an appreciation for this book.

Perusing her sight I also found that she is the author of one of mine and my kids favorite books, Bye Bye Crib. After reading that book, when our kids are afraid of something or get hurt we ask to see their "muscle cat" and they flex their arms and say "GRRR!" and start laughing and the world is fine again. (Read the book and you'll understand what I mean.)

Taeeun Yoo did such a fabulous job illustrating this book. In a way it has the feel of an older book because the colors are simple and it just adds to my overall fondness for this book. There is so much to see on each page I could spend many hours just looking through this book. Visit Taeeun's Blog and you'll find lots of fun stuff about Only A Witch Can Fly.

Halloween Night

2009-10-19T06:00:00.029-06:00

"Twas Halloween Night,

and all through the house

Every creature was stirring,

including the mouse;"

What an awesome Halloween book! This is one of those books that you’ll want to own so you can have it for Halloween year after year. Just a quick warning though, it is a little scary. There are goblins and witches and bugs galore. Zombies and graveyards and a creaking door. (Sorry you know I can't help rhyming sometimes!)

The author, Marjorie Dennis Murray, did an excellent job with this story. It is set up similar to ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. It has great rhyming and best of all the words create pictures of their own to dance through your head.

The pictures are so lively and vivid that you’ll find you want to stare at the pictures and have it read to you instead of the other way around. The illustrator, Brandon Damon, did a magnificent job with capturing the Halloween spirit. There is a picture of trick-or-treaters dancing down a lane that I love! If you want you can view his website or his blog and you'll get to view his amazing illustraions. There is also an entry on his blog about this particular book that is fun to look at.

This book is perfect blend of Tricks and Treats for your Halloween!

Bats at the Beach

2009-10-15T06:00:00.004-06:00

"Scratchy where no sand should be."(Makes me laugh every time!)

I have to admit that I'm a bit of a bat fanatic. One of my favorite cartoon characters growing up was Batty Coda from Ferngully. I had all his lines memorized (ask my still annoyed younger brothers). Plus Batty rhymes with Mattie. Not to mention, this book is dedicated to a Maddy. I'm sure she's great since everyone with that name is completely fabulous :). All joking aside, if you are not a fan of bats now, you will definitely have developed a fondness for them by the time you are done reading this book.

So this makes my Halloween list on account of the fact that it is so cool I couldn't help sharing it right away and what is more Halloween-ish than BATS? (Okay quit reading me the list of witches, ghouls, goblins.) Bats are typical Halloween, just take a look at my front door...

This book is just phenomonal. I read it the other day and thought about it all day until I got to read it again. (Did you catch that? GOT to read it again. Yeah, it's that good!) I was all excited to have found this totally awesome book with pictures that lure you away to a moonlit beach bonfire party and words that are both rhyming (my favorite) and fun. Then, I found the authors website and apparently I'm the last to find out what an awesome book this is. Not only am I the last to find out what an outstanding book this is but apparently there was a previous one, Bats at the Library and a new one due out next year called Bats at the Ballgame. Brian Lies is an incredible artist and author. It baffles me how a person can be so phenomenal in both areas!

So here's a book you won't want to miss and when you're ready to move on there is Bats at the Library and by the time your ready for a new one Bats at the Ballgame will most likely be out!

Follow Up...A Very Hairy Scary Story

2009-10-12T15:18:00.000-06:00

I received an email from David Clark and he let me know about two great links if you are interested in more...which I'm sure you are :)!

Watch David Clark draw (Click on the link and then look for the link third down on the left side.)

Check out Amazon, where you can get a peak at David's newest book which will also be a great addition to your Bedtime Story Collection. It's called Bobby Bramble Loses His Brain. I'm sure you'll see a review for it soon. After looking at the Amazon preview I can't wait to read it!

Let me remind everyone too that if you have any updates or links that correspond with any of my posts please leave them in the comment box so others can enjoy them too!

A Very Hairy Scary Story

2009-10-12T06:00:00.004-06:00

This story is bound to win a spot as one of your favorites! Fitting for the Halloween season but it works for anytime of the year! It has a little girl that finds herself walking home in the dark and shadows transform around her to become "Very Hairy Scary" things every which way she turns!

Rick Walton has written more books than you can count on all your fingers and little piggies.(50 or more to be exact!) This is by no means his most recent book but we checked it out from the library and have checked it out twice since then. My kids can't seem to get enough of this wonderfully fun story. It is great because it rhymes and the last word of the rhyme is usually on the next page so they have fun guessing what rhymes with what. Rick Walton has a particulary funny story that we read not long ago called Bertie Was a Watchdog. If you need ideas for fun kids books or fun kids activities click on his name and it will take you to a wealth of extra information.

The illustrator of this book, David Clark, did an excellent job of morphing normal objects into scary creatures that any smart child would run from! My kids are most enthralled with the facial expressions in this book. There are some fun ones to try to mimic. His website has some fun pictures and great information about other books that he has illustrated. One of my favorite books is Bus-a-Saurus Bop (super fun to read) and David Clark did the illustrations for this one also!

Well good news, I'm done yacking so you can go find A Very Hairy Scary Story and enjoy it for yourself. As a side note: It is your LUCKY DAY because there are three really great book recommendations in one today! Have a great Monday!

Follow Up...Where's My Mummy?

2009-10-09T16:08:00.001-06:00

I got an email from John Manders and he gave me some fun stuff to look at. In case you want to know or see more cool stuff about Where's My Mummy's illustrations, check out John Manders Blog. This particular entry has some great illustrations pertaining to Where's My Mummy. You'll love it! (Not to sound like the bossy first child that I am, but Go On, GO!) John Manders also did a interview over at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast Blog that has some fun pictures also from Where's My Mummy as well as some great pictures from one of my other favorite books, The Perfect Nest, which he also illustrated. He did warn me though that the interview is meant more for an adult audience since he mentions things like cigars, martinis and Sophia Loren. If your kids can't read yet though they'll love looking at the pics! Enjoy!

10/27/09-Here is another fun update at John Manders Blog about Where's My Mummy?. Enjoy!

Where's My Mummy?

2009-10-08T06:00:00.007-06:00

My favorite time of year is here!

In case your wondering what that is exactly, it is OCTOBER. My birthday month, when leaves start changing and it becomes okay to eat high carb food and snuggle in a blanket, and best of all...Halloween! In honor of such a joyous occasion I'll be featuring mostly Spooky, Scary, Spectacular books for the rest of the month! (I just heard a cheer go out among the masses!)

So what do Elephants and Mummies have in common? They are both afraid of mice! At least in this spook-tacular book they are. I know I say all the books I put on here are fabulous but honestly, this one IS! And to prove it:

“Manders's appealingly round mummy child
and the text's rhythmic "clank clink clanks"
will find happy audiences.” Kirkus

I recently found out that Kirkus almost never gives great reviews. So if you get a great review from them, it means something!

The inspired writer is Carolyn Crimi. Just by reading this book you can tell it was written by a true Halloween expert! All the classic monsters are present but in a non-threatening, fun way.I love that she not only tells the story but lays out a whole bedtime routine. I actually used it on my kids the other night. (Brush your teeth like Bones. Now let's clean faces like the swamp monster. Should we clean ears like Drac?) It is great! I had just checked this out from the library but will definitely need to buy it since I don't foresee my kids being too happy about returning it in 14 days! Plus the truth is, I'm as excited to read it at bedtime as they are! (Partially due to the fact that it isn't too long so I know bedtime will be done with sooner!) Click on her name for more fun books and info!

Mere words can NOT describe how cool the monsters and scenes in this book are. They are done by a very talented man named John Manders who has a great web page that you should check out if you want to find more books that he has done. The illustrations in this book are hilarious! My absolute favorite is the Vampire in bat pajamas. It is so comical and cute that I finish reading the page and pause (this is a rare thing for me to do in my life) and look at the picture because it makes me laugh.

The other day I asked my daughter (she's 5), "Aren't those jammies Cool?"

She "uh-huh"-ed me.

I asked, "Did you see those cute bat slippers?"

She put her little hands on her waist like a put out teenager and said, "Mo-uhm! Turn the page already. Huh!" (Exactly like that. I'm not exaggerating, just ask anyone that knows Sydney!)

If you need a book that will get you in the Halloween Spirit, grab this one!

Enchanted Lions

2009-10-05T23:42:00.001-06:00

When fine art and exquisite writing collide beautiful accidents like this book result. Although, I can guarantee that both the author and illustrator will tell you that there was nothing accidental about this book. Many sleepless nights and hair pulling days went into the making of this I'm sure. (A little birdy told me!)

The reason I love this book most is because it brings back beloved childhood memories. Growing up my dad used to take my brothers and I out onto our driveway to watch the stars on summer nights. We lived in an itty-bitty town called Bellevue, Idaho (Idaho not Washington folks!). There were no real street lights to distract from our crystal clear view of stars, constellations, and satellites. When I got older I would take a big, warm, blanket and my discman (for those of you unfamiliar with this term, it is a portable CD player) and watch the stars. I found this was the best remedy for my fragile little teenage heart when it got broken. I still can't resist pausing outside on warm evenings and staring at the sky.

Just as I can't resist staring at a brilliant sky I can't resist loving this captivating story of Rose and her lion. It is truly a dreamy book. David Greenberg is a magnificent author who has written tons of books (Crocs, Skunks, Don't Forget Your Etiquette, Slugs, Snakes to name a few). I'm personally very fond of Crocs as well (since it too, is read often around our house).

Kristina Swarner is the magnificent illustrator who is responsible for the breathtaking pictures in this book. I know why they don't have her do more picture books, people don't want to turn the page because they are so captivated by each picture. I have an irritable side (hard to believe, I KNOW!) and my son always turns back to the page we were just on before I can even finish reading the page I'm currently on. He will do this the whole story. I don't blame him. Each picture deserves special attention.

So grab this book and try not to drift off to a more enchanting place as you read it. THEN, let me know what you thought of it!

Melanie Watt

2009-10-01T06:00:00.002-06:00

Tired of reading bedtime stories just so you can fulfill your parental obligations and get your kids to go to bed without a huge fuss? Then this is your dream book! I LOVE Chester! This book is so incredible because no matter what your age it is funny. My kids like the scribbles and the pictures (with scribbles) and I love all the irony and humorous banter!

Even my husband will read this more than once to the kids without complaining or explaining why story time is over. This cat is hilarious and so is his author. Melanie Watt also has another book series called Scaredy Squirrel that I haven't read yet but I can't wait to read them. They sound just as fun as Chester.

Once again I found some extra fun information about the author and her book Scaredy Squirrel. It is from a blog called, Cynsations. This site is rapidly becoming one of my favorites.

Spice up your nighty-nights with Chester! I will warn you though, you may have more fun reading it than your kids will.

Estelle Takes a Bath

2009-09-28T06:00:00.027-06:00

I got this book on clearance right around my daughter's birthday. It is adorable. How something this cute would end up on clearance I don't know (maybe because it came out three years ago and I'm not cool enough to have heard about it until now). I was just thrilled that I lucked out and found it. It is so funny. There is one line that puts one of those big silly ear to ear grins on my face every time I read it without fail. You should know, I read a book at least fifty or more times before I'm "allowed" to rotate it out of the bedtime story pile. So for me to smile every time I read it is saying a LOT! Plus, after reading this story I always have a strong desire to take a nice soak in the tub. I'm always careful to listen for squeaks as I'm lying there with my eyes closed though.

The cover of this book is adorable and that is what first drew me in. I can assure you that the rest of the pictures are just as enchanting if not more so than the cover art. The illustrator Mary Newell Depalma does an excellent job of capturing facial expressions and action in this story. She has done a lot of illustration for others books as well as written books of her own. Her website is very fun and if you are a teacher or looking for fun ways to teach your own kids there are some links on her page that you might enjoy!

The author, Jill Esbaum, is also a very humorous fascinating woman. She has a great website with a link to her blog on there as well. If you have been lucky enough to have found this book already, than by all means, why didn't you tell me??? If not, then you need to get your paws on this one and read it to all your little rug rats (or mouses, whatever the case may be).

Also if you'd like to know more about the author or some information behind the making of Estelle Takes a Bath than you should look at this blog entry by Cynthia Leitich Smith. It was very fun for me to read especially since Estelle was originally a witch. Y'all know I love witches especially since my first glorious, fabulous, not yet published:) book, Charlotte, is about an adorable little witch. So go grab yourself a copy of Estelle Takes a Bath and enjoy!

(Why are you still reading? I told you, go read Estelle Takes a Bath! Oh, you don't have any kids to read them to? So what! You'll like it too...now go already!)

As You Wish

2009-09-22T21:46:00.000-06:00

I've been lucky to read really great young adult/teen novels lately. I have a hunch...and it's just a hunch...that this genre of books has to have a little extra excitement in it in order to draw in the age group they are meant for. I mean as a teenager are you going to sit at home friday night reading or go out with friends. After reading textbooks all day are you going to pick up a book or the XBOX controller? Well if the book is good enough it will be a tough call.

I was especially excited to get my mitts on this book. As many of you know, I went to the Oregon Coast Children's Book Writing Workshop this summer. One of the editor's there read a chapter out of a book called Sisters Red. When she finished reading I was breathless, on the edge of my seat, and then Molly announces that it won't be out until early 2010. WHAT?!?! Talk about cruel and unusual punishment!

Well the incredible author of Sisters Red is also the author of As You Wish. Jackson Pearce has a knack for suspence. Even when nothing was happening I couldn't quit reading because I knew something was about to happen. I polished this book off in three days. I finally took a nap today to catch up on all the sleep I deprived myself of so that I could see what would transpire in this book.

After finishing this book I've determined that my new motto is "As You Wish". Maybe if I grant enough of my family's wishes I will become a jinn and be able to spend peaceful relaxing evenings watching Caliban sunsets. I am hoping once I become a jinn I will also have the gift of selective invisibility and a smokin' hot body.

I've determined my three wishes would be:

Wish #1: For the return of my pre-marriage body.

Wish #2: More Money than I could spend (this would grant multiple wishes like an in home gourmet chef, a maid, three to four vacations a year, new wardrobe, ability to help whoever I wanted whenever I wanted)

Wish #3: For Ben to be an excellent dancer and for him to want to dance with me!

Just out of curiosity, what would y'all wish for if you had three wishes?

Thank You!

2009-09-21T07:00:00.000-06:00

I would like to say a quick thank you to everyone who has been reading and giving me feedback on this blog.

To date I have heard back from two different authors, Garry Parsons and Sally Lloyd-Jones, which I thought was extremely cool. I tend to think that published authors live in a fancy office in front of a fancy word processor and have an errand boy run checks to the bank for them and bring them food because they are so-o-o busy churning out their next glorious work for us that they don't have time to do anything else. So I was amazed, aghast, agog to have received personal emails from these busy writing celebrities. Thank you for your time.

Thank you to David Greenberg, another writing celebrity, who has put up with endless amounts of mediocre work from me. (He hasn't even blocked my email address yet, can you believe it?! :))

I have gotten emails and comments from many of my followers. All of them have been encouraging, helpful, and appreciated. (As for what I think you all do all day...well the list is exhausting and endless and makes me feel like my life is a piece of cake in comparison.)

I want to thank everyone for taking time out of their busy lives and daily responsibilities to help me create a better blog and also to help me in my dream to one day become a WORLD FAMOUS WRITER myself :).

Thanks to all,
Mattie

Betsy B. Little

2009-09-18T14:40:00.000-06:00

Her classmates all scattered

and started to squawk,

"With those legs and that neck,

just be glad you can walk!"

Do you have any little dancers in your midst? Mine just turned 5 and will use any excuse she can find to dress up herself and all around her and dance. After a full day of dancing my tired little princess loves having me read Betsy B. Little. It is a fun story about an unlikely ballerina who amazes everyone with her persistence and positive attitude.

Anne McEvoy definitely is not lacking in writing experience, she's written plays, and was the senior writer/editor for American Greetings, Inc.. This however, is her first children's book and I hope it won't be her last. I have learned some things about how hard it is to write rhyming stories lately and she does it superbly! I am curious to know how many revisions she had to go through to get her story to rhyme and flow so seamlessly. (But I'm afraid I don't want to be her friend if she is just naturally gifted and only had to write it once through! :)) It has very witty lines. In fact on every page there are lines that make me laugh. I had a really hard time picking which quote from the book to use. There were so many fun ones!

I love the colors and the humorous pictures. Jacqueline Rogers did a great job of capturing little dancers/princesses hearts. My favorite illustration is...oh I can't decide! I love them all. I even love the bright pink cover with Betsy on it even though I still claim I am more of a tomboy than a girly-girl. If you need a gift for a little girl, buy princess things, and if you are sick of all the princess crap and want to give a more meaningful gift then here's your answer! Betsy B. Little, there are tiara's, tutu's, and lots and lots of pinks and purples (including a purple piano played by Miss Triano).

Please look for this book and read it to your little ones. I hope you will enjoy it as much as they will!

DISCLAIMER: This book is not just for girls. Both of my boys love me reading this to them too. There are lots of other little critters to enjoy and to fascinate young children who have never danced or dressed up before. And I have been informed that no real giraffes were harmed in the making of this story.