Preschool Reads

Akashic’s What is Punk: Music History for kids and parents!

Posted on August 24, 2015January 30, 2026 by Rosemary Kiladitis

What is Punk? by Eric Morse, illus. by Anny Yi (Oct. 2015, Akashic), $15.95, ISBN: 9781617753923

Recommended for ages 3+

One of my proudest moments as a parent was when my husband and I would drive our then 7 and 3 year-old sons around, blaring The Ramones, and hearing them yell “Hey! Ho! Let’s go!” from their car seats. For every grownup who has children in their lives that need to know the awesomeness that is the punk movement, What is Punk? is for you.

Written in rhyme similar in meter to a Dr. Seuss story, What is Punk? tells the story of a movement: the beginnings, the bands, the public reactions – it’s all here, brought to beautiful life through artist Anny Yi’s clay figures. CBGB’s is there, as is The Clash, and The Ramones. The Sex Pistols, The New York Dolls, Blondie – all these and more are here, waiting for you and the kids in your life to discover them. Read this to the kids – the soothing cadence of the rhyme and the fun pictures will keep their attention. Then, throw a dance party with some favorites like Blitzkrieg Bop, Atomic, and Should I Stay or Should I Go. Let them jump, let them yell, let them whoop!

What is Punk? is a great novelty gift for the punk in your life, and it’s a great gift for a new parent who may feel a little overwhelmed by nursery rhymes and Disney Jr. I can’t wait to see the parents’ faces when I bust this one out in my storytime group. The book will be out in October, and is part of Akashic’s new Black Sheep Kids/YA imprint.

Humor, Preschool Reads, Uncategorized

Worms by Bernard Friot – yucky fun!

Posted on August 21, 2015July 26, 2015 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Worms, by Bernard Friot/Illus. by Aurélie Guillerey (Sept. 2015, Kids Can Press), $15.95, ISBN: 9781771385718

Recommended for ages 3-8

A little boy has to attend his father’s business dinner party, but no one said he couldn’t find a way to have fun! All it takes is a handful of worms and a few bowls of salad…

Worms is funny story on two levels: you’ve got the little boy attending his dad’s dinner party and having some fun with the guests, and you have the guests’ reactions as they try to stay professional while finding worms in their salad. They all want to make a good impression, so what do they do? Eat the worm? Toss it? Each guest has a different reaction – and so does each worm! – which will crack kids up. This makes for a great storytime read-aloud, where reading the story gives you the chance to make all sorts of funny and grossed out faces. Hand out some gummy worms, or even better, have a Dirt Pudding Cup edible craft afterwards! Warning to parents: watch your salads after eating this. Just saying.

Bernard Friot creates a light, fun story that Aurelie Guillerey’s retro art works so well with. This is a fun addition for your bookshelves.

Early Reader, Preschool Reads, Uncategorized

Enjoy the last days of summer with The Specific Ocean

Posted on August 17, 2015January 30, 2026 by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Specific Ocean, by Kyo Maclear/Illus. by Katty Maurey (Aug. 2015, Kids Can Press), $17.95, ISBN: 9781894786355

Recommended for ages 4-8

A young girl wants to stay home in the city and spend her summer vacation with her friends. Her dad says no. Over the course of the story, the girl goes from being bored to falling in love with the beach, the water, and the joy of having time.

This is a beautiful book. The mixed media artwork and muted colors being a relaxing, peaceful feeling to readers. The young girl’s desire to stay with her friends will resonate with readers who feel the same way, as will the gradual love story that begins between the girl and the beach, and her desire to take the beach home with her at the summer’s end. The peaceful feeling of not having anywhere to be and the calming water brings a lovely feeling to both reader and audience. This makes a great cuddle-time, bedtime story to wind down after an exciting summer day.

Author Kyo Maclear’s author page includes a blog with sneak peeks at her upcoming books.

Preschool Reads, Uncategorized

Hit the Election Trail with Monster Needs Your Vote!

Posted on August 14, 2015January 30, 2026 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Monster Needs Your Vote, by Paul Czajak/Illus. by Wendy Grieb (Aug. 2015, Mighty Media Kids), $16.95, ISBN: 978-1-938063-63-3

Recommended for ages 4-8

It’s election season, and Monster wants to get involved! He’s got a bunch of different platforms he supports – longer summers, dessert for dinner – but he quickly discovers a more important cause to stand for, and shows kids that no matter what your age, you can make a difference!

This latest book in author Paul Czajak’s Monster & Me series gives kids a glimpse into the election process – choosing a platform, the power of a grassroots movement, and the campaign trail, in particular. Monster’s focus on education and literacy makes this a great classroom and library read-aloud – never talking down to the youngest of readers, Czajak Grieb use rhyme and adorable, kid-friendly illustration in eye-catching, bright colors to talk to kids. A free, downloadable Campaign Kit from the publisher is loaded with great add-ons, including facts about Presidents and First Ladies, a political vocabulary sheet, Monster coloring sheets, and more.

The coming Presidential election is already heating up, with a huge primary on the horizon and a lot of passionate issues on the table. Monster Needs Your Vote is a valuable addition to educators and parents who want to get kids involved. I can’t wait to see what my preschoolers think of it (although I expect that dessert for dinner will be a key concern)! Monster gets my vote – I hope he gets yours!

Have a sneak peek at Monster Needs Your Vote right here, then hit that campaign trail!

Animal Fiction, Early Reader, Fiction, Preschool Reads, Uncategorized

Mr. Postmouse’s Rounds is an adorable Fall read!

Posted on August 6, 2015August 5, 2015 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Mr. Postmouse’s Rounds, by Marianne Dubuc (Aug. 2015, Kids Can Press), $17.95, ISBN: 9781771385725

Recommended for ages 4-8

Mr. Postmouse loads up his wagon and goes on his delivery rounds. He visits all the animals on his route, from Mr. Bear, who’s having lunch with Goldilocks, to a special delivery at the end of his route. Each animal household is loaded with fun glimpses into their lives: the Rabbit family grows root vegetables on their roof, so they can just pluck them from the ceiling when they’re ready to eat; they have a warren below the house that includes multilayered bunk beds and a toilet; Magpie’s home is loaded with stolen goods, evidenced by the “Wanted” poster on the tree to his home and the “Lost” poster bearing a ring that looks just like one in his home; Pigeon’s planning his next trip and has luggage stamped and ready.

Marianne Dubuc’s artwork is wonderful for young readers because of all the elements she includes in her pictures. Her book, The Bus Ride, was loaded with little winks and smiles to careful eyes, and Mr. Postmouse’s Rounds is just as rich in visual detail. The animal homes are drawn in cross-section, allowing readers a tongue-in-cheek peek into their homes. Some, like the Birds, are naturally located in trees, but the Fly family is located in what appears to be a giant animal dropping. Mr. Octopus lives in a shipwreck, and the Penguin family lives in an igloo. Mr. Bear has a beehive on his roof, with a pipe that delivers honey straight to his kitchen, and the Yeti knits hats and socks to keep warm in his icy mountain home.

This is a fun way to introduce the idea of animal habitats into a conversation. Start with fiction, and work your way to the actual facts, comparing and contrasting the elements Ms. Dubuc brings into play with Mr. Postmouse’s Rounds, and ask children to talk about their own habitats. Have them draw a picture of their room, for instance.

Mr. Postmouse’s Rounds is an adorable book that will appeal to younger readers. It’s a fun read-aloud, but will be even more fun for readers to curl up with and discover Ms. Dubuc’s little gifts on their own.

Humor, Preschool Reads

Where do dads go when they’re lost? The Bureau of Misplaced Dads!

Posted on July 30, 2015July 30, 2015 by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Bureau of Misplaced Dads, by Éric Veillé/Illus. by Pauline Martin (Aug. 2015, Kids Can Press), $16.95, ISBN: 9781771382380

Recommended for ages 4-8

A young boy misplaces his dad one morning, and heads over to the Bureau of Misplaced Dads to see if he ended up there. Dads show up there every day, many of whom are reclaimed the same day, some who have waited a while, and some who get released into the wild. There are dads of all shapes and sizes, with all sort of quirks and talents, but is the boy’s dad there? And does he want a replacement dad if he’s not?

This is a cute story that will go over well in a storytime, as kids get to see all kinds of dads: strongman dads, dads named Michael, dancing dads, and clueless dads, for starters. The very idea of misplacing one’s dad will be familiar to any child whose parents have “gotten lost”, whether in a department store or in the same home.

The retro, digital artwork is entertaining and lively, with bright colors, exaggerated mustaches, and crazy costumes; various dads strike wacky poses as the little boy looks on, searching for the perfect dad: his.

The book is light and played for laughs, and would also make for a fun cuddle time story at bedtime for Dad and kids. I’m going to add this to a storytime and have the kids draw a picture of their dad on a milk carton template.

Preschool Reads, Uncategorized

Bug in a Vacuum takes an interesting look at the five stages of grief

Posted on July 29, 2015July 28, 2015 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Bug in a Vacuum, by Mélanie Watt (Aug. 2015, Tundra), $21.99, ISBN: 9781770496453

Recommended for ages 4-8

A bug flies through a window and through a house. He settles on a globe, only to be sucked into a vacuum cleaner! He moves through the five stages of grief, as postulated by Elizabeth Kübler-Ross: denial, bargaining, anger, despair, and eventually, acceptance. In a parallel story, we follow the family dog, whose stuffed toy has also become trapped in the vacuum cleaner; the dog moves through its own stages of grief.

I have to admit, at first, I was a little confused by the book’s message – it’s adorable, and the material is presented in fun manner – but the content is about moving through grief, so how would I position this to kids? After a second reading, I realized that it’s not necessarily about death – it’s about loss, and what better than a lost toy, or a bug’s exaggerated reactions, to explain that to children? My toddler goes through the five stages of grief every night when it’s bedtime, so I really need to open up my thinking when I approach new material.

This is an interesting way of explaining the blues, the grief process, however you term it, to young children. The mixed media artwork gives the art texture and depth, really drawing the reader into the story. Retro advertisements for household products introduce each new stage. The bug’s word balloons and gestures equal the intensity of each stage – anger is big and bold; acceptance is smaller, thinner.

This would provide an interesting read-aloud. Let the kids tell you what’s going on and how they think the bug and the dog are feeling. Ask the kids, when did you feel sad? What made you feel that way? What makes you angry? Phrase each stage as a chance for exploring feelings. This would pair really well with a book on feelings or emotions.

Melanie Watt is the author of the award-winning children’s book series, Scaredy Squirrel, which is also a television show on Cartoon Network.

Fiction, Preschool Reads, Toddler Reads

The Bus Ride by Marianne Dubuc is a fun read

Posted on July 12, 2015July 11, 2015 by Rosemary Kiladitis

The Bus Ride, by Marianne Dubuc (Mar. 2015, Kids Can Press), $16.95, ISBN: 9781771382090

Recommended for ages 3-7

A little girl rides the bus to grandma’s. It’s her first time by herself, and she’s all packed for the ride: she’s got a snack and a sweater, in case she gets cold. The Bus Ride is a sweet story about a little girl’s bus ride with a group of animal passengers, including a goat who offers her a flower, a little wolf with whom she shares cookies, and a pickpocket fox. There are little visual winks to sharp-eyed readers, including changing newspaper headlines and quirky passenger behavior, which always make for a fun, participatory read-aloud. Kids will love catching these little elements, and the largely wordless text will encourage you and your readers to tell big stories about each passenger on the bus.

The bus interior features on each two-page spread of the book, really letting the art breathe. Let the kids in your life discuss or illustrate their own bus ride to grandma’s – what would they see? Who’s on the bus with them?

The Bus Ride is a fun addition to storytime collections. Read it along with the fairytale classic Red Riding Hood and see if kids can spot the similarities!

Preschool Reads

Walking Home to Rosie Lee: A boy’s search for his mother, post-Civil War

Posted on July 11, 2015August 24, 2019 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Walking Home to Rosie Lee, by A. LaFaye, illus. by Keith D. Shepherd (Sept. 2015, Cinco Puntos Press), $7.95, ISBN: 9781941026052

Recommended for ages 6-10

The Civil War is finally over. The slaves have been freed. Young Gabe is searching for his mother, Rosie, who was sold before the war’s end. Told in the first person through Gabe’s perspective, Walking Home to Rosie Lee chronicles Gabe’s search for his mother.

This is a 2-hankie book, everyone. I’ve got three sons, and reading Gabe’s earnest voice describing his mother’s appearance, his potential joy and disappointment, his fear, just struck me right in the heart. It’s a beautiful story about the love of a son for his mother, and a small story within the larger story of the struggle that freed slaves went through, post-Civil War, to find their families and start their lives. We learn about the Freedman’s Bureaus, where freed slaves could go to find pictures and news of their relatives, and the importance of word of mouth – and sheer luck.

Keith D. Shepherd’s artwork is beautiful, truly enhancing the story with striking images like young Gabe, sleeping next to a woman he discovered on the search for his mother. Gabe, the focus for the book, is striking, with his huge, loving eyes. You want this boy to find his mother, you want everyone on that trail, that search, to be reunited with their families. The artwork gives this story a deeper pathos than words alone can reach.

Walking Home to Rosie Lee is a beautiful story of love and reunion. Put this one on your shelves, parents and educators, and read it often. Talk about it often.

Walking Home to Rosie Lee was a Stepping Stones Honor book, a 2012 IRA Teachers Choice Selection, 2012 Bank Street School of Education Best Books of the Year Selection, and a Nominee for the 2012 Kentucky Bluegrass Award. It will be published through Cinco Puntos Press in September 2015. There is an educator’s guide on the author’s website.

Preschool Reads

Daredevil Duck Blog Tour! Author interview and contest!

Posted on May 14, 2015May 5, 2015 by Rosemary Kiladitis

Daredevil Duck, by Charlie Alder (May 2015, Running Press) $16.95, ISBN: 9780762458929

Recommended for ages 3-7

Daredevil Duck wants to be brave. He really does, but there are so many scary things out in the world: fluttery things, the dark, heights – what’s a wannabe daredevil to do? One day, Daredevil Duck is called on to help a friendly Mole save his balloon, stuck up in a tree. This is Daredevil Duck’s big moment: can he face his fears and save the day?

This is a great story for the preschool and Kindergarten set. It addresses common fears, and tells a sweet story of how one young duck faced and overcame those fears in order to help someone. If that’s not great motivation, what is? It also addresses bullying, which is so important to tackle in these early years, when kids are forming their social patterns.

Most of all, Daredevil Duck is just fun. The book has interesting die cuts and flaps that kids will love exploring, and it adds great interest to a read-aloud. I love keeping the kids in suspense for a second or two before opening a flap and giving them an exciting reveal, and they love the delicious anticipation. The cartoony artwork, with bright primary colors inside a thick black outline, gives a child-friendly welcome to the story. Emphasized moments and text will catch readers’ attention and keep them giggling.

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book for review, and read it to my preschooler storytime classes, where it went over very well. The kids loved the reveals under the flaps and gatefolds, and they loved going on Daredevil Duck’s brave journey with him. A fun read-aloud to add to the collection.

I was thrilled to get Daredevil Duck‘s author, Charlie Alder to answer a couple of questions. Read on for more!

MomReadIt: Would you call Daredevil Duck an accidental superhero?
Charlie Alder: That’s a good question! Well, Daredevil Duck wants to be a superhero, but his fears get the better of him every time. It’s only when he’s really determined to help a new friend, and his fears have to be put to one side, that he realizes anything is possible! This realization is totally accidental to him, so I guess he really is an accidental superhero!

MRI: Is Daredevil Duck based on anyone you know?
CA: I would say Daredevil Duck is very similar to my little boy at age 4 or 5! Initially, when I first started coming up with story ideas and character sketches he was very much his own character, but as the story started to progress, I realized he had taken on many of the traits, hopes and fears of my little boy, and indeed many of his friends.

MRI: What advice would you have for anyone who wants to be a superhero, daredevil, or just sleep without a night light? How can someone channel Daredevil Duck in his or her own life?
CA: Well, being brave can take many different forms, from trying a new sport, making new friends or eating a new vegetable! Throughout the story Daredevil Duck kept telling himself he couldn’t do things, that he was too scared, but he never really tried! When he really tried to rescue the yellow balloon he surprised himself! The only way you’ll really know if you can do something or not is to try it, it doesn’t matter if you fail, at least you have tried… and you never know, you may surprise yourself too!

You can follow Charlie Alder on Twitter @chuckie346, or visit her author website for more information. Thanks, Charlie!

Win your own copy of Daredevil Duck with this a Rafflecopter giveaway
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TAKE THE DAREDEVIL DUCK BLOG TOUR!

DAREDEVIL DUCK
By Charlie Alder
Blog Tour Schedule
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5/4 Wife Hat, Mom Hat
5/5 Geo Librarian
5/6 In The Pages
5/7 Stacking Books
5/9 Bea’s Book Nook
5/10 ReaderKidz
5/11 Coffee for the Brain
5/12 The Picture Book Review
5/13 Mrs. Brown Loves Bookworms
5/14 Mom Read It
5/15 Unpacking the POWER of
Picture Books
5/16 Cheryl Rainfield
5/17 Unleashing Readers