Preschool Reads

Book Review: Twelve Bots of Christmas by Nathan Hale (Walker Books for Young Readers, 2010)

Posted on August 23, 2013 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Recommended for ages 3-7

This robot variation of The Twelve Days of Christmas, complete with Robo-Santa, electronics, and droids, has the potential for an interactive read-aloud with audiences familiar with the Christmas classic, “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. In this retelling, Robo-Santa gifts twelve days of cyber gear, from a cartridge in a gear tree, to five BOT-TO-RIES, to twelve Beat Bots thumping. The electronic gifts will be fun for a younger generation for whom computers, tablets and iPhones are common household items, and the computer-generated illustrations manage to avoid looking flat, as tends to be the case with this type of art, thanks to subtle shading that offers depth of image. The left hand page of each spread features the text, Robo-Santa, and the growing group of gifts joining him. The right page features a full-bleed image of the day’s gift. Robo-Santa and his bots have fun and often exaggerated expressions, and the subtle details contained in the pictures reward careful viewers with fun details, including little gears that take the place of stars in a night sky, and a moon that looks similar to the Death Star from the Star Wars movies. The font is a plain black font that resembles old computer print. The endpapers offer a crush of presents, preparing readers for a fun holiday read.

This would be a fun addition to a holiday read-aloud or a robot read-aloud that takes place during the holiday season. The tune of the classic song is repetitive enough that singing along should be encouraged; the repetition of the gifts given will make the song easier to pick up as the story progresses. Incorporating a flannel board with robot images could make the read-aloud even more fun for younger audiences, who can also be encouraged to hold up the number of fingers that denotes each day in the song. Oriental Trading offers robot rubber ducks or robot tattoos in bulk that could be a fun gift from Robo-Santa to attendees at the end of the read-aloud, along with a robot hand stamp.

Preschool Reads

Book Review: Tough Boris, by Mem Fox/Illus. by Kathryn Brown (Harcourt Brace, 1994)

Posted on August 23, 2013 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Recommended for ages 3-6

Boris van der Borsch is a tough, massive, scruffy, greedy, fearless, and scary pirate with a tough, scary- looking crew. When his pet parrot dies, though, preschoolers see that even the toughest pirate can cry. The story is told through the eyes of a young boy who stows away on the ship in the very beginning of the book, and whom Boris and crew leave back on his home shore at the end of the story, prompting the boy to cry as well. It is a subtle but strong subplot readers will enjoy. The watercolor artwork shows Boris and his crew in all their scruffy, tough pirate glory, with angry faces and bristly beards. The text is rendered in a simple, black font that matches the solemn brevity of the story. Tough Boris is an American Library Association (ALA) Notable Children’s Book (1995).

This is a great book for a pirate storytime, as it portrays pirates as capable of sensitive feelings on top of being rough and tough. It shows young audiences that everyone cries when they are sad – even a mean old pirate. It can be used with more fun pirate fare to lighten the mood, or it can be used on its own to get kids talking about feelings. Children would enjoy a Jolly Roger handstamp as a memento of their day, and there are many printable treasure maps available online, for attendees to color in, take home and start their own search for buried treasure. The British Columbia Public Library has very good Pirates Storytime theme that includes songs and fingerplays.

Preschool Reads

Book Review: How Are You Peeling? Foods with Moods by Saxton Freeman/illus. by Joost Elffers (Arthur A. Levine Books, 1999)

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Recommended for ages 2-8

Do you feel silly? Safe? Shy? Saxton Freeman and Joost Elffers sculpted facial expressions into fruits and vegetables to communicate a wide range of emotions in How Are You Peeling? Fruits with Moods. Using an Exacto knife and natural materials like black-eyed peas and beet-juice coloring, the authors enhanced the natural wrinkles, bends and creases in produce to illustrate emotions. The sculptures, photographed against plain but colorful backgrounds, are large and vivid, allowing the youngest readers to easily identify the emotions depicted. Beginning with the opening question, “How are you feeling?”, the text goes on to asks questions that will provoke thought in listeners: “Feeling blue? Feeling bad? How are you when friends drop by? With someone new… a little shy?” The text is brightly colored and small, letting the produce’s expressions speak for them; this is a book meant to be read aloud and to prompt discussion. The New York Times Book Review voted How Are You Peeling? Best Illustrated Children’s Book in 1999.

The book lends itself to a read-aloud about feelings, where patrons can call out answers to the questions asked in the book and identify the emotions portrayed on the featured produce. Activities can include songs about feelings like “If You’re Happy and You Know It”, and craft ideas include a facial expressions printable to color, or, for older (3-4) participants, the chance to draw different expressions that answer the question, “How are you feeling?”

Preschool Reads

Book Review: What Will Fat Cat Sit On? by Jan Thomas (Harcourt, 2007)

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Recommended for ages 2-5

“What will Fat Cat sit on?” is the inquiry that kicks off this story as the Fat Cat in question looks for a seat, terrifying animals – a cow, a chicken, a pig, and a dog – as they imagine him sitting on them. When the mouse offers an alternative seat – a chair – the next question is, “What will Fat Cat have for lunch?” Toddlers and preschoolers can join in the fun, repeating the opening question throughout the story and identifying the animals who try to avoid being sat on. The cartoon illustrations are bright, set against vivid backgrounds. The animals’ facial expressions are exaggerated and simple, easily conveying the emotions of panic and relief. Characters are boldly outlined, allowing them to pop off of the page, and lettering is big and brightly colored, with simple sight words that beginning readers will easily recognize.

This could be part of a “silly animal books” read-aloud. Mo Willems’ Pigeon books are similar in tone and illustration, as is Katie Davis’ Who Hops?; these books offer similar participation opportunities. There are many silly songs and fingerplays about animals that could work well with a silly storytime, including Six Silly Spiders. Jan Thomas’ author website provides printable mask and finger puppets for the Fat Cat and each of the animals that work well for a coloring craft or, as the website suggests, a Fat Cat play, where readers can wear their masks and call out the sounds for their chosen animal.

Preschool Reads

Book Review: Tugga Tugga Tugboat, by Kevin Lewis/illus. by Daniel Kirk (Hyperion Books for Children, 2006)

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Recommended for ages 2-5

A child’s bath time comes to life as Tugga Tugga Tugboat takes readers on a busy tugboat’s day, navigating busy waters to help move tankers and put out fires. As the story progresses, the artwork gives some hints about the tugboat’s whereabouts away: there are bars of soap and blocks being piled up on the harbor, and there is a rubber ducky in the water. The story is told in rhyme with the refrain, “toot, toot” and “scoot, scoot”, repeated often enough that toddlers and preschool readers will be able to quickly pick up the phrases and participate. Illustrations appear to be bright acrylics and are more realistic than cartoony. Story text is bold and black with differing sizes on the refrains, further prompting young readers to participate.

The book lends itself to a participatory reading, with young readers prompted to call out “toot, toot!” and “scoot, scoot!” There are many bath-related fingerplays and songs, including “Splish Splash” and “Rubber Ducky”, that add to the program and make for a fun, bath-related story time. Oriental Trading sells transportation rubber duckies – rubber duckies in cars and boats – in bulk for a low price, budget permitting.

Preschool Reads

Book Review: Bears on Chairs, by Shirley Parentau/illus. by David Walker (Candlewick Press, 2009)

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Recommended for ages 2-5

In this story about sharing, compassion, and teamwork, four little bears sit comfortably on four little chairs until Big Brown Bear shows up and wants to sit down. The four little bears work together to find a seating arrangement that works for all five bears. The brief text offers a rhythm that makes it a good story time candidate, and David Walker’s acrylic illustrations use soothing pastel hues that allows readers to focus on the story.

There are many story time ideas here: we can create a teddy bear story time, with songs like Teddy Bear’s Picnic and Elvis Presley’s “Teddy Bear”, which will get children and adults alike up and moving. Children can bring their favorite teddy bear to cuddle during the story time, and we can incorporate fingerplays including Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear. Other story time ideas include a sharing and friendship-themed story times, with songs and fingerplays about sharing like “If You’re Friendly and You Know It” (to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It”).

Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

Book Review: Moo, Baa, La La La by Sandra Boynton (Little Simon, 1984)

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Recommended for ages 0-4

Children learn about animal sounds through fun rhymes with author and illustrator Sandra Boynton in Moo, Baa La La La! Ms. Boynton uses her popular cartoon-style animals and lettering to draw both children and adults in to her story about the silly sounds animals make, including rhinoceroses snorting and snuffing, and horses neighing. Illustrations are drawn in lighter colors featured on pastel backgrounds, soothing to babies who are learning to make sounds and toddlers who are relating animal sounds with the animals that make them.

The book would make for a fun read-aloud, encouraging children and parents/guardians to chime in and call out the animal sounds. The book ends with the author asking the audience what they say, which is a perfect time to get story time participants to say hello and wave or cheer. Story time can be animal-related, with photocopies of animal pictures to color. Songs and fingerplays could include animal-related songs like Old McDonald, which also teaches children about animal sounds.

Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

Book Review: What Does Baby Do? by Martin Larranaga (Begin Smart, 2008)

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Recommended for ages 0-4

Using lift-the-flaps to teach babies the concept of object permanence, What Does Baby Do? presents cartoon children in different situations and asks the question, “What does baby do?” Each flap reveals how baby handles a new situation: petting a cat, blowing kisses to grandma and grandpa, and waving good-bye to Daddy. Each action is physical, allowing for parents and guardians to interact with their children by asking them the question, “What does baby do?”, and acting out the answers. The book features multi-ethnic families and its artwork is cartoon style with bright colors and pastels and a bold, childlike font. Flaps are oversized for small fingers that are just learning to grasp. A note to parents in the book provides information on object permanence in infants and offers ideas on using the book.

This is a participatory book, so a story time allows the audience to take an active role, repeating the question on each page and acting out the answers. Story time leaders can also teach object permanence games like Peek-a-Boo to parents and guardians, and provide handouts from parenting websites with more information.

Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

Book Review: Shake it Up, Baby! by Karen Katz (Little Simon, 2009)

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Recommended for ages 1-4

Shake It Up, Baby! is an interactive board book that will get parents and toddlers moving together. The book, which contains a rattle in its spine, leads readers through a dance, encouraging them to “touch your nose, rub your tummy, [and] shake your rattle”. As with Katz’s other books, the featured babies are multiethnic and have big, round heads with cheerful facial expressions. Katz’s artwork uses pastels with her trademark heavy outlines, varicolored backgrounds, and bright colors with bold fonts. Dotted curves depict movement.

The book includes a link to SimonSaysKids.com, the publisher’s children’s division, where parents and guardians can read a parenting guide and discover more Karen Katz activities.

As the book is the activity, a story time using this book gives parents, guardians and toddlers the chance to get up and dance with the book. Story time can include other songs and dances, like the Hokey Pokey and fingerplays like Tommy Thumbs.

Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

Book Review: Tubby, by Leslie Patricelli (Candlewick Press, 2010)

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Recommended for ages 0-4

In Leslie Patricielli’s book, Tubby, a toddler’s bath time is fun time! Patricelli takes readers through the ritual of bath time from a toddler’s point of view. The toddler begins with the joy of running around naked; after getting into the bath, he plays with the bubbles and gets soap in his eyes – which Mommy makes all better. After getting rinsed off, dried and diapered, baby is all clean and ready to play. The book, illustrated by Patricelli, uses bright acrylic illustrations and bold, simple text to create a fun story that communicates the excitement of bath time and gives parents and guardians the opportunity to incorporate the story into a bath time ritual.

Patricelli’s book Tubby is the companion book to Potty, featuring the same happy toddler who needs to “go potty” and goes on his own adventure to figure it out. Patricelli also uses acrylic illustrations and bold, simple text to tell this story.

A fun story time activity could incorporate bath time rhymes, like Rub-a-Dub-Dub, that parents could share with their children at home. Librarians can also purchase small rubber ducks from catalogs like Oriental Trading and hand them out at story time.