Tag: Play Nice

Posted in Animal Fiction, Early Reader, Fiction

Ballet Cat is a great new Easy Reader series!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

ballet catBallet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret, by Bob Shea (2015, Hyperion) $9.99, ISBN: 9781484713785

Recommended for ages 4-7

The creator of the hilarious and adorable Dinosaur Vs. series debuts his new Easy Reader series, Ballet Cat, starring the title character and her best friend, Sparkles the Pony. Storytelling moves in similar fashion to Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie series, with the two characters engaging in fun dialogue while reaching a conclusion that works for both characters.

Ballet Cat and Sparkles are trying to figure out what to play, but everything Sparkles suggests – crafts, checkers, selling lemonade – doesn’t work with all the leaps and twirls that Ballet Cat wants to do. When Ballet Cat asks Sparkles why he looks so sad, we find out that Sparkles has a totally secret secret – but then again, so does Ballet Cat.

The artwork is adorable and kid-friendly, with bright colors and bold lines that will catch the reader’s eye and draw them in. The story helps kids understand and maybe resolve playtime conflict, when friends find themselves split along the lines of what to do, especially when one friend always seems to get his or her way. The friends learn that talking, not moping, gets friends working together and makes things better for everyone.

This book works great for storytime, too- make sure to put on your best funny voices and practice your twirls!

Get a peek at Bob Shea’s other books and learn more at his author website.

Posted in Early Reader, Fiction, Toddler, Toddler Reads

Mini-Myths – A board book series that brings the myths to your toddlers!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

play nice herculesMini Myths: Play Nice, Hercules! (2015, Abrams), by Joan Holub/Illus. by Leslie Patricelli, $6.99, ISBN: 1-4197-0954-2

Recommended for ages 0-3

This series works for me on so many levels, I don’t even know where to begin. This new board book series, written by Joan Holub – whose Goddess Girls chapter book series is a huge hit with the girls at my library – and illustrated by one of my favorites, Leslie Patricelli (Tubby, Yummy Yucky, and Toot, and other fabulous baby board books), is the perfect way to introduce the wonder of Greek myths to your toddler.

Hercules is a strong little boy. He doesn’t want to be nice – he wants to wham-bam monsters! To whomp-stomp bad guys! But when he ka-booms his baby sister’s castle, he learns that being strong also means using strength to help people, too.

This book is wonderfully subtle. Toddlers aren’t going to sit down and have a discourse on Greek mythological heroes, but they can get the big older brother acting like a strong man – or even a bully.  Parents will love the hints Ms. Patricelli includes in the story – Hercules wham-bams a Cyclopean monster, and stomps on Greek soldiers. The blocks of the castle depict the twelve labors of Hercules. A note from Ms. Holub at the end of the story gives more detail on the myth of Hercules, allowing even older siblings to join in the fun and learn about the story of the mythological strong man.

I adore this book. I bought it for my library, and I’m buying a copy for my own little guy. Abrams has a series of Mini Myths ready to hit shelves; Be Patient, Pandora is out right now, and books on Medusa and Midas are coming. Get this series – it’s BRILLIANT.

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