Category: Preschool Reads

Posted in Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

New sibling kit: Just One Me

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Just One Me: A Big Sibling Kit, by M.H. Clark/Illustrated by Chelsea Bianchini, (June 2023, Compendium), $36.95, ISBN: 9781957891019

Ages 3-7

This is an adorable gift idea for new big siblings. A cuddly koala is the star of the show in Just One Me, a sweet baby book for older siblings to record thoughts, hopes, and notes about themselves and their new sibling. Gentle illustrations of the little koala and prompts run throughout the book, with spaces for recording notes about what the two siblings can share and what the older sibling may want to keep for themselves; ways big sibling can help parents; and brag space for the big sibling to write about the things they can already do and what they loves as babies. It’s a sweet keepsake and a way for the older sibling to share their feelings about the new baby, encouraging them to claim their own space. It is a sweet way to celebrate an elder child’s accomplishments while welcoming a new little. A soft plush koala comes with the set.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

Two books for Back to School

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

I know, I know, don’t throw things at me! It’s only July and our kids have practically just started summer vacation (as my own Kiddo has told me when he sees school supplies on sale), but you want to have your books ready to greet the kiddos when they get back to school, right? Here are three good additions to your back to school collections.

The Wild Guide to Starting School, by Laura & Philip Bunting, (Aug. 2023, Kane Miller), $15.99, ISBN: 9781684646081

Ages 3-6

This Australian import (2022) is about to hit U.S. shelves and it is a hilarious guide to the first day of school, starring a cast of Australian animals starting preschool. Taking readers through an entire day from wake-up to bedtime, the book, written in guide format, provides hilarious and heartfelt steps for getting through that first day of school. Readers will laugh out loud at the suggested – and not recommended – suggestions for waking up, getting dressed, school essentials, and ways to go to school. A sweet section on drop-off farewells include such suggestions as the “Bil-Bye”, when parent and child bilbays interlock tails and the “Butt Bump”, where parent and child wombats… well, bump butts.  The section on bathroom use will bring the shrieks and giggles, and parents will recognize the responses to “What did you do at school today?”, provided in bar chart form. Mixing humor with helpful suggestions, The Wild Guide to Starting School is a fun addition to back-to-school storytimes that answers questions while providing some relaxing laughter.

 

 

Yenebi’s Drive to School, by Sendy Santamaria, (June 2023, Chronicle Books), $17.99, ISBN: 9781797216294

Ages 4-7

Yenebi and her sister, Melanie, wake up at 4 a.m. every morning and get ready to leave for school. Mami waits for them in the car, and they begin they drive across the border. As they sit in traffic for up to three hours, the family orders breakfast from vendors who walk up and down the road, selling everything from food to clothing and jewelry. Yenebi is in good spirits, delighted by all she can buy and see from Mami’s car window, and Melanie sleeps until it’s time to eat; Mami savors her coffee and enjoys the family time with her girls. The story of life in a border town, Yenebi’s Drive to School shows the hardships of families waiting in La Linea – the traffic waiting to cross the border – and the dedication of parents who will do anything in their power to give their children the best they can. Spanish vocabulary and phrases throughout the book thread through the English text. Digital illustrations bring the vibrancy and color of a border town to life. Endpapers show a variety of pigeons sitting on barbed wire; some with pencils, some with coffee, some with backpacks. An author’s note provides deeper context to the story. Yenebi’s Drive to School published simultaneously in Spanish; both are essential purchases for collections.

Yenebi’s Drive to School has starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus.

 

 

Welcome to Preschool, by Maria Carluccio, (July 2023, Chronicle Books), $16.99, ISBN: 9781797210841

Ages 2-4

What a cute way to welcome children to preschool! An introduction to a day at preschool, Welcome to Preschool has an all-animal cast of characters and sturdy pull tabs that let little explorers pull and push a character per spread across the page, allowing student to hang up a coat, play with trains, fingerpaint, push a book cart, reach for the sky, and head home for the day. Mixed media watercolor provides soft colors; rhyming text makes for a soothing read, and the sturdy board book will hold up to multiple uses. Each spread makes Pre-K look like a wonderful place to be, with a friendly teacher who leads her charges through the school day and a friendly group of students who play together. A very cute addition to board book collections.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Tales from the TBR: Picture Books about Animals

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

It’s another installation of Tales from the TBR, and this time, I’ve got some fun books about animals for your collections! Enjoy.

Holey Moley, by Bethan Clarke/Illustrated by Anders Frang, (Aug. 2023, Kane Miller), $15.99, ISBN: 9781684645497

Ages 4-8

This hilarious story is full of wordplay, rhymes, and laughs. Gus the Goat meets Mavis the Mole and proceeds to start guessing where Mavis lives, adding his own rhyming flair: “A mole in a hole. A moley in a holey. A holey moley!” Mavis weathers Gus’s insistence on coming up with rhyming places where Mavis lives, to the reader’s delight. The back-and-forth dialogue is fast-paced, with illustrations that bring Gus’s imagination to life in the silliest of ways. A supporting cast of animal characters provide an audience for Gus. Originally published earlier this year in Great Britain, Holey Moley is a good addition to stories that engage readers with creative wordplay.

 

 

Just a Worm, by Marie Boyd, (March 2023, Greenwillow Books), $17.99, ISBN: 9780063212565

Ages 4-8

After being called “just a worm” in the most squeamish of reactions, Worm sets off through a garden to discover ways to prove people wrong. Some garden denizens are friendly, some are a little standoffish, but every0ne in the garden – including worm – has something important to contribute. An engaging narrative about recognizing one’s worth, Just a Worm is also a STEM story about how spiders, dragonflies, ladybugs,, bees, caterpillars and butterflies, and worms are the best neighbors a garden can have. Paper-quilling art adds an extra dimension of texture; back matter includes instructions on making a quilled paper butterfly that is sure to delight readers. Earthworm facts and a glossary complete this story that will find a home on fiction and STEM shelves.

 

 

Fish and Crab, by Marianna Coppo, (March 2023, Chronicle Books), $17.99, ISBN: 9781797204437

Ages 4-8

Best friends Fish and Crab live together in an aquarium, where they share a bedroom. When it’s time to go to sleep, Fish has a lot of worries: what was that sound? What if aliens abduct them? What if it rains frogs? Crab brews a cup of herbal tea and hears Fish out, with some hilarious commentary. An adorable bedtime story with some chuckles in store, Coppo creates a sweet story about friendship and the importance of having a person you can turn to with all your worries and fears – no matter what time of day or night. The back-and-forth dialogue moves quickly, and the tempera and pastel illustrations move from bright colors to grey and black to denote nighttime conversations. Parents will get a kick out of this one, too; they’ll see themselves in this scenario. Endpapers add to the story, with black endpapers and a wide-open pair of eyes to denote who’s left awake in the beginning and end of the story. A storytime choice your readers will want to hear again and again.

 

 

The Fastest Tortoise in Town, by Howard Calvert/Illustrated by Karen Obuhanych, (Apr. 2023, Candlewick Press), $18.99, ISBN: 9781536228359

Ages 3-7

A charming story that acts as a prequel to a beloved fairy tale, The Fastest Tortoise in Town is the story of Barbara Hendricks, a “regular leopard tortoise” whose owner and best friend, a little girl named Lorraine, has entered her in a race. Barbara is nervous about her chances – she’s a tortoise, after all – but Lorraine encourages her and helps her build stamina by taking her for walks every day. When Barbara is frustrated at how slow she is compared to assorted toddlers, remote-controlled vehicles, and Lorraine’s grandfather, Lorraine is there to keep Barbara’s spirits high. Calvert spins an adorable story of friendship and perseverance, told in the first person from Barbara’s point of view, and touches on facing and overcoming fears. Obuhanych’s enjoyable, colorful mixed media illustrations show expressive animal and human characters; the panel-by-panel scenes from the actual race will have readers giggling as they enjoy the unlikely competitors. The story’s end leads into a well-known fairy tale; have some of the many versions available! A very cute addition to storytime collections.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

A time capsule for generations: The Red Tin Box

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Red Tin Box, by Matthew Burgess/Illustrated by Evan Turk, (Apr. 2023, Chronicle Books), $17.99, ISBN: 9781452179735

Ages 3-5

A young girl named Maude secures her treasures in a red tin box and buries it by a dogwood tree. Years pass, and Maude, now a grandmother, takes her granddaughter, Eve, to the same spot. This moving intergenerational story delights in the sharing and preservation of memories. Maude and Eva’s relationship celebrates the love between grandparent and grandchild and the excitement of uncovering a treasure, while celebrating the bittersweet memories that our childhood treasures can bring. It is a moving moment when Eva witnesses her grandmother’s emotional recollection; when Maude passes the red tin box on to Eva, there’s a wonderful sense of continuity and responsibility. Gouache illustration in pinks, reds, and violets exude warmth and feeling. An outstanding storytime choice and a perfect way to start discussions with grandparents and elders. Maude and Eva are brown-skinned. Maude raises her family with her brown-skinned, female partner.

The Red Tin Box has a starred review from Kirkus.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

It begins with a word, it creates a community: This is a Story, by John Schu & Lauren Castillo

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

This is a Story, by John Schu/Illustrated by Lauren Castillo, (March 2023, Candlewick Press), $17.99, ISBN: 9781536204520

Ages 4-8

Children’s librarian, literacy advocate, and author John Schu follows up last year’s This is a School with a moving tale of how stories connect communities. Beginning with a word on a page, Schu takes readers to the library, where a child and librarian connect over a book, creating a reader. Readers read together, dream together, and grow together: all because of a story, which helps us make sense of the world around us. Castillo uses ink, watercolor, and pastels to create warm images of a diverse group of readers and creates a welcoming, comfortable space a place where people can come together: the library. The choices for favorite children’s books throughout the book can be found in the acknowledgements, and would make for a great reader’s advisory list or display. Choosing to put the library at the heart of a community is a powerful statement. An excellent choice for collections and a first choice for class visit readalouds.

This is a Story has a starred review from School Library Journal. Candlewick offers a downloadable teacher’s guide on the book detail page on the publisher’s website.

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

BOOP! is irresistible!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

BOOP!, by Bea Birdsong/Illustrated by Linzie Hunter, (June 2023, HarperCollins), $19.99, ISBN: 9780063214804

Ages 4-7

If BOOP! is not the most-read book of the summer, I will take it personally. This adorable book invites readers to boop – lightly tap – dog snouts (snoots) of all shapes and sizes. The story is an interactive delight, with cheerful and vibrant illustrations of a plethora of dogs, noses held high, awaiting an engaging BOOP! from readers. Birdsong’s playful narrative extends rhyming invitations and praise no one will be able to resist: “Booper[s] extraordinaire! The boopiest booper[s] with booping flair!” A perfect readaloud that will enchant readers of all ages, BOOP! begs to be read out loud and shared. (Just remind your kiddos to ask their adults for permission before they boop a snoot.)

Have some doggie coloring pages on hand for post-storytime enjoyment, and if you have stuffies available for booping, put them out! Add songs like “B-I-N-G-O” and the chorus from “How Much is That Doggie in the Window?” for a Doggie storytime.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads, Uncategorized

Ready, Set, Sleep! The World Sleep Championship of Animals is on!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

The World Sleep Championship of Animals, by Daniel Napp, (March 2023, Kane Miller), $15.99, ISBN: 9781684644964

Ages 4-8

Set in a game show sleeping competition, this bedtime story may have readers laughing too hard to go to bed… but it’s an excellent Pajama Storytime choice! Viktor Frog is your host and Heinz Boar is your judge as they put five animals to the test: can they fall asleep in the wackiest conditions? Who will sleep through the loud construction, steamy sauna, or raucous roller coaster challenges? Read like a sportscaster narrative, this amusing story will keep readers giggling as they see the animals doze off or stay awake in a frazzled panic. A scoreboard pops up throughout the story, providing a good opportunity for a feltboard storytime and some counting and predicting skills. Colorful cartoony artwork is kid-friendly and the animals are expressive, allowing readers to connect with them. Who hasn’t tried to sleep in complete silence and found themselves wanting? We’ve all been either too hot or too cold to fall asleep, so you’ll find readers who can relate. A good purchase for a fun readaloud.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Our Classroom Rules! is a great way to send ’em off… and welcome them back

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Our Classroom Rules!, by Kallie George/Illustrated by Jay Fleck, (June 2023, Rodale Kids), $12.99, ISBN: 9780593378786

Ages 3-6

I know there are a lot of classrooms getting ready to press pause as we’re moving into summer, but I’ve got a book for you! It’s one of those adorable reads that can send your classes off for the summer and welcome a new class come the fall. Kallie George (loved her Magical Animal Adoption Agency chapter books) and Jay Fleck (Tiny T Rex is a fave) bring a sweet classroom of animal friends together for Our Classroom Rules, a cheerful, upbeat story about all the ways these students learn and play together. The title is a cute play on words as the narrative offers classroom guidelines (the “rules”) and reasons why their classroom is great (“RULES!”): “…we try to be on time… and ready to learn”; “We listen to our teacher… and our teacher listens to us”; “We clean up. We line up. And if we mess up, that’s okay. Mistakes are part of learning”. It’s an affirming book, assuring readers that you don’t have to be THE best, but YOUR best; kindness and curiosity are the ways to succeed. Colorful, kid-friendly digital and pencil illustrations show friendly animal students coming together. It’s a lovely addition to your school stories collections and it’s perfect for Pre-K and Kindergarten classes.

 

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Great and Small celebrates participation for all!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Great and Small, by Alison McLennan/Illustrated by Connah Brecon, (March 2023, Kane Miller), $14.99, ISBN: 9781684645558

Ages 4-8

Tiny Eunice the Unicorn wants to enter the Great Unicorn Games and win a ribbon. She’s got all the heart and dedication in the world, but her skills fall a wee bit short. But that’s okay: her friends are there to help out and support her. When things don’t go the way she was hoping, that’s okay, too: the other unicorns and her friends work with Eunice to create the Great and Small Games, where everyone was welcome to compete “no matter how big or small, fast or slow”. Cheerful illustrations celebrate the inclusivity of the story by including a diverse group of animals, including and elephant wearing dark glasses and using a walking stick, and a teddy bear in a wheelchair; the banner promoting the Great and Small Games is translated into Braille. Front endpapers show Eunice and friends walking out from a dark, overcast forest; back endpapers show a bright sky and a group of competitors, all sporting ribbons. A cheerful story of equity and inclusivity and a good readaloud choice. Great and Small was originally published in Australia in 2022.

The Kitchen Table Classroom has fun printable unicorn headbands that would be a perfect craft accompaniment to this storytime!

Posted in picture books, Preschool Reads

Dancing Hands: Friendship and Filipino Sign Language

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Dancing Hands: A Story of Friendship in Filipino Sign Language, by Joanne Que & Charina Marquez/Illustrated by Fran Alvarez, Translated by Karen Llagas, (July 2023, Chronicle Books), $17.99, ISBN: 9781797213323

Ages 3-5

Sam is a young girl who is captivated by her neighbors, whose hands “move as if to music”, using sign language to speak to each other. Mai, one of the new neighbors, befriends Sam and teaches her “hands to dance” as they become best friends. Learning Filipino Sign Language helps the two friends communicate, and the story grows into a tale of friendship, shared interests and dreams. Que and Marquez’s spare narrative, told from Sam’s point of view, is perfect for younger, newly confident readers; Alvarez’s pencil and graphite complement the story with color and simple line work; shifting perspectives show the progression of the girls’ friendship as we move from a distance to close up, looking down to see the girls grow closer; readers feel like they’re a third person in this friendship huddle. Endpapers illustrate Sam and Mai demonstrating different words in Filipino Sign Language. Back matter includes more information on Filipino Sign Language, and sign languages used all over the world.

The University of the Philippines has four videos available on YouTube teaching basics in Filipino Sign Language; it could add a fun and educational element to a storytime. The ladies at Jbrary have some American Sign Language (ASL) videos on their YouTube page, including this video on singing Hello and Goodbye using ASL.