Egg-cellent Stories for Easter

     Families all around the world provide their children with different information about the story behind Easter and its significance.  Some may choose to teach their sons and/or daughters that Easter signifies a new beginning, with the onset of Spring, while for others, especially those who are of the Christian faith, they may choose to impart about how this is the most important religious day of the year, marking the day which Jesus Christ rose from the dead.  Whichever way you family chooses to celebrate this special day, rest assured that there will always be a wide variety of children's books available to assist you in your journey in teaching your children the relevance of this day.  So, while your busy gathering up those colored eggs and those soft, cuddly stuffed bunnies, be sure to add a few good books like those listed below, to fill your little one's Easter baskets this year.


Marley and the Great Easter Egg Hunt

     Marley, the lovable yet mischievous Labrador Retriever who became the subject of his owner, author John Grogan's 2005 New York Times bestselling autobiography, Marley & Me,  returns, in Marley and the Great Easter Egg Hunt, where we find him still mischievous and as sweet as ever.  This time, our enthusiastic dog is on a mission to be the first one to find the very special Easter egg planted by the mayor for the town's annual Easter egg hunt in the park.  Marley finds a bunch of little eggs with help from Cassie and his human family, but he quickly realizes that he's just not fast enough to grab them before someone else comes along and snatches them up from under his cold, wet nose.  Soon enough, Marley, in his search for that elusive, special egg, begins to cause a lot of havoc, and before you know it, Marley gets so messy that he ends up looking just like one of those very colorful eggs!

Marley and the Great Easter Egg Hunt
Written by John Grogan & Illustrated by Richard Cowdrey
Publisher:  HarperCollins Children's Books
Website:  www.harpercollinschildrens.com
ISBN: 9780062125248
Retails for $9.99 (Hardcover)
For ages:
    

The Story of the Cross:  The Stations of the Cross for Children
     Author Mary Joslin adeptly details the story of Jesus Christ's crucifixion and resurrection in a gentle manner, filled with age-appropriate language for young children to comprehend.  Tender, heartfelt prayers to be said at every station are included, while Gail Newey's beautifully detailed illustrations reflect the strong emotions of each stage of Jesus' last days on earth without being graphic.

The Story of the Cross:  The Stations of the Cross for Children
Written by Mary Joslin & Illustrated by Gail Newey
Publisher: Loyola Press
Website: www.loyolapress.com
ISBN: 9780829418194
Retails for $15.95
For ages 4 and up


Mia:  The Easter Egg Chase

     The lovable little kitty ballerina is back again, and this time, Mia is all excited, anticipating her family's annual Easter egg hunt. This year, a huge, delicious chocolate bunny is hidden as the special prize, and Mia is determined that this will be the very year that she will find the chocolate bunny all by herself.  But, will she be able to when she has to choose between helping her little cousin find eggs, or leaving her in search of the chocolate bunny?

Mia:  The Easter Egg Chase
Written by Robin Farley & Illustrated by Olga Ivanov
Publisher:  HarperCollins Children's Books
Website: www.harpercollinschildrens.com
ISBN: 9780062237095
Retails for $4.99
For ages: 4 to 8


Rechenka's Eggs
     From her bestselling story, The Keeping Quilt, a tale about the importance of keeping family traditions alive, to January's Sparrow, about one family's journey from slavery to freedom, Patricia Polacco's books have always been a go-to source for providing my students with valuable life lessons.  Polacco's 1996 release, Rechenka's Eggs, is of no exception.
     A kind, elderly woman named Babushka, takes in an injured goose, whom she names Rechenka, and provides the sickly animal with tender care.  But, while Rechenka is under Babushka's care, she ruins all of the beautiful, hand painted Easter eggs that Babushka created, one by one for the upcoming Easter festival.  And, just when you think all is lost, Rechenka performs a miracle---laying one magnificently colored egg every day for 13 days to replace all the eggs that she destroyed.  But, she also leaves a special surprise just for Babushka.

Rechenka's Eggs
Written & Illustrated by Patricia Polacco
Publisher:  Penguin Putnam
Website: www.uspenguingroup.com
ISBN: 9780698113855
Retails for $7.99
For ages 4 to 8

Happy Easter!

The Very Beary Tooth Fairy

      Losing a first tooth is a normal rite of passage during our childhood, and it can be a time filled with excitement and yes, apprehension. Once that wobbly tooth falls out, little ones anticipate their first visit from the “tooth fairy.” But, for one little bear in Arthur A. Levine’s latest storybook, The Very Beary Tooth Fairy, who has always been told to beware of human’s, as they, according to his momma bear, “are dangerous and unpredictable”, this upcoming visit is filled with anxiety and trepidation.

        Little Zach the bear, overhears a discussion between a group of children playing in a campsite, about the tooth fairy, who visits children in a human form once they have lost their teeth.  Being able to wiggle his tooth just like the human boy did at the campsite, starts to make Zach wonder.  Filled with lots of questions, Zach turns to his sister, Leah for answers. “Is the tooth fairy a bear or a person?”  Zach asks.  Leah, too preoccupied with her friends, gives him a quick, questionable answer, “depends”, as she runs off to play.   One night, Zach asks his mother what a bear could be (thinking and wishing, that, perhaps, the tooth fairy is actually a bear), she calmly and assuredly tells her little boy that a bear can be; “anyone, and anyone can be a bear.” Soon afterwards, while treating himself to some of his sister’s sweets, sure enough, Zach the bear loses his tooth.  Later that night, Zach becomes very worried and just won’t fall asleep.  With one eye open, and one eye closed, Zach keeps a watchful eye out for the fairy, wondering if she too, may be dangerous and unpredictable.

     If you’re looking for an age appropriate book that will help remove the fear out of your little one losing their teeth, this delightful story featuring this sweet little bear may be just the right fit. The Very Beary Tooth Fairy adeptly puts a spotlight on kindness and understanding, with a wonderfully valuable message of the power of bravery and the love of a family.

The Very Beary Tooth Fairy

Written by Arthur A. Levine
Illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen
Published by Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc.
Website:  www.scholastic.com
ISBN: 978-0-439-43966-4
Retails: $16.99
For ages 3 and up

Lucky Ducklings

     Sometimes, the best stories are right in front of our eyes, or in the case of author Eva Moore, right in her seaside hometown of Montauk, New York.  Moore brilliantly turns a local news story about the misadventures of a momma duck and her babies, into a delightfully charming storybook, aptly titled, Lucky Ducklings.  

       As the tale begins, on a warm June morning, a momma duck decided to take her family of five baby ducklings out of the pond for a walk to explore the area outside of their home in a local park. When mom steps across a large storm drain effortlessly, tiny Pippin. Bippin,Tippin, Dippin and Little Joe follow behind,  But, as any good baby duck knows, whatever momma does, they must do.  So one by one, each little duckling disappears into the storm drain.  “Oh, dear!” exclaims author Moore. “That could have been the end of the story. But it wasn’t, because …” (This is a repeated refrain in the book—”that could have been the end of the story, but…”—and it goes far, without ever being annoying, in propelling the story forward.) Since someone had seen what had happened—a friendly tollbooth worker, that is—the fire department is summoned, while a crowd quickly gathers over the drain.         

     Three brave local firemen, Joe, Paul and Dennis rush to the scene, and just when they encounter difficulty in opening the grate (while simultaneously trying to keep momma duck calm), a man named Perry quickly thought to use the cable in his truck to pry open the grate.  With the community coming together to help save the little ducklings from harm, Pippin, Bippin, Tippin, Dippin, and Little Joe are rescued, one by one, to the waiting wings of their momma.

     Young children, like my class of first grade students who recently invited me to be their monthly special guest reader, will be immediately drawn into this charming tale.   While Moore’s story is based upon a true event that occurred in Montauk in 2000, her prose as well as Carpenter’s simple, yet beautifully rendered illustrates shines with a timeless quality.  While Lucky Ducklings quickly reminded me of author Robert McCloskey’s 1941 Caldecott Award winning classic, Make Way for Ducklings, I appreciated the updated issues that Moore worked into this story.  Carpenter’s images of garbage and litter in the duck’s park, and by showing the ducklings dirty as they emerge from the storm drain, will, as it did with my students, open up a dialogue with your children about the importance of taking care of our environment that we share with animals. 

Lucky Ducklings

Written by Eva Moore

llustrated by Nancy Carpenter

Publisher:  Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic

ISBN: 978-0-439-44861-1

Website: www.scholastic.com

Retail:  $16.99

For ages 5 to 8

An Awesome Book of Love!

     Inspired by a conversation about dreaming with his young son, Los Angeles-based writer/artist Dallas Clayton quickly put his ideas to paper.  In 2008, he self-published An Awesome Book, a touchingly sweet children's book celebrating the joys of wishing that dreams come true, which found fast success with young and old readers and critics alike.

       Clayton's latest heartwarming follow-up, An Awesome Book of Love! is very reminiscent both visually and in tone to the classic stories of Dr. Seuss.  Clayton gently and whimsically explains to his readers that love is very powerful and can be shown and expressed by people in a wide variety of ways.  When I recently read this charming tale to a group of Kindergartners, the children enjoyed Clayton's rhyming prose almost as much as I did.  I will, however, admit, to getting quickly choked up when I came across this passage, which mirrors my love for my son:
      "Make me feel younger
       You make me feel brave
       You make me feel something these words can't contain."

      An Awesome Book of Love! makes the perfect gift for anyone, anytime when you want to remind a special someone in your life (whether they are 1 or 91) how much you will always love and treasure them.

An Awesome Book of Love!
Written and Illustrated by Dallas Clayton
Publisher: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
Published in 2013
Website:  www.harpercollinschildrens.com
ISBN: 9780062116666
Retails for $16.99 (hardcover)
For all ages

I’ve Seen the Promise Land─ The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

     This past week, one of our Third Grade classes came to the library looking for biographies of famous African-American’s in order to complete a special project in honor of Black History Month.  The origins of Black History Month began during the early 20th-century.   During 1915, motivated by his strong desire to put a spotlight on the accomplishments of African-Americans, a historian named Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (presently called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History or ASALH for short).  The ASALH quickly established publication of The Journal of Negro History, and a decade later, Carter Woodson’s plan for a week of celebration and activities devoted to African-American history became a reality.  On February 7, 1926, the first Negro History Week was held.   Fifty years later, the ASALH expanded the week-long celebration of African-American history to a month, and Black History Month began.

      Unfortunately, although our library contains numerous titles detailing the lives of famous African-Americans, some of our books, most specifically on the life of the Civil Rights pioneer, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., are above the Third Graders reading level.  And, while we encouraged our students to seek the assistance of their teacher or parent if they encounter any difficulty when they are reading some of their books, I couldn’t help but think that we would have to make a special order soon for biographies that all of our students would be able to read and comprehend easily.

 

     Needless to say, when I came across I’ve Seen the Promise Land─ The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., by Coretta Scott King Award winning author’s Walter Dean Myers, I was so pleased to be able to find the type of story that provides an overview as well as explains the difficult aspects of Dr. King’s life in a simple yet compelling way that my students would appreciate.  While King’s basic biographical information starting with his birth in Atlanta, Georgia on January 15, 1929 is presented, set amidst powerfully emotional illustrations by Leonard Jenkins, I’ve Seen the Promise Land─ The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., highlights his beginning work during the Civil Rights Movement after Rosa Park’s historic refusal to sit in the back of a bus in Montgomery, Alabama.  Myers narrative is presented in such a way that children will find it easy to grasp.  I appreciated the way that Myers explored the origins of Dr. King’s principals of accomplishing social justice without resorting to violence by recalling King’s historic 1959 visit to India to meet with Mohandas Gandhi, the great India leader to led his country to independence by employing non-violent acts of civil disobedience.  And, while the aspects of Dr. King’s tragic death by assassination in 1968 are not glossed over, Myers implorers his young readers to understand that, “Dr. King wanted to be remembered simply as someone who had tried to do his best and to serve all people, regardless of race,” and how King’s legacy can continue to be achieved.

 

I’ve Seen the Promise Land─ The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Written by Walter Dean Myers & Illustrated by Leonard Jenkins

Publisher: Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins Childrens

Website: www.harpercollinschildrens.com

Published in 2004

For ages 4 to 8

ISBN: 978-0-06-225002-5

Retails for $6.99

 

 

 

 

Love is in the Air!

 Love is in the air!  Even in ancient times, February was a month devoted to the celebration of love and romance; however, the legend behind the origins of Valentine's Day remains shrouded in mystery.  Who exactly was St. Valentine, you may ask?  And, what were the exact circumstances of his life that led to this upcoming holiday?
     According to the Catholic Church, there were three different Saint Valentines, and all of them became martyrs.  One legend suggests that Valentine was a priest who lived during the third century in Rome under Emperor Claudius II.  When the Emperor decreed that the single men in Rome made better soldiers for his army than those who were married, he outlawed marriage.  Valentine, realizing the cruelty of this new act, defied the Emperor's wishes and continued to perform marriages in secret.  Risking his own life to join young couples in marriage, he gave others the gift of a life together in the name of love.
     Another legend states that Valentine was the first person to send a "Valentine" greeting or love letter while in prison.  Some believe that he became enamored with his jailer's daughter, who visited his cell.  His last love letter concluded with the now popular phrase, "From Your Valentine."
     And, whatever legend you choose to believe, one thing is for certain, Valentine's Day is a perfect opportunity to spend time with your little ones and show them your love.  So, settle back, and savor something extra sweet this Valentine's Day, with these heartfelt and humorous titles that will surely delight all of the special "Valentines" in your life.

Mia:  The Sweetest Valentine
     The lovable little kitty ballerina is back, and this time, Mia and her friends Anna and Ruby are celebrating Valentine's Day with a party.  Their celebration includes lots of balloons, streamers, cards, and just when it couldn't get any more perfect, Mia comes across a box of scrumptious looking chocolates that she kindly shares with her friends.  But, when she soon learns from her father, Mr. Cat, that the chocolates were a present for her mother, Mia tries her hardest to make it up to her mom.  Moms and Dads will appreciate how the message of learning how to ask permission before you touch anything is simply portrayed by author Robin Farley in a way that little ones will be able to comprehend, and your children will delight in the sweet illustrations by the husband and wife team of Olga and Aleksey Ivanov as well as the full page of stickers that go along with the storybook.

Written by Robin Farley
Illustrated by Olga and Aleksey Ivanov
ISBN:  978-0061978623
Retails for $6.99
For ages 4 thru 8
Publisher:  HarperCollins Children
Website:  www.harpercollinschildren.com

A Valentine for Ms. Vanilla (Level 2 Easy-to-Read Puffin)
     On Valentine's Day the members of Ms. Vanilla's class participate in a party, write poems, open cards, and present a heart they all have signed to a special valentine.  A Valentine for Ms. Vanilla is one of our "go-to"books this week, as it sweetly depicts children making valentines and writing creative, if unusual, poems. This book helps to make children inspired to get crafty and creative, instead of resorting to store-bought valentines.

Written by Harriet Ziefert
Illustrated by Martha Gradisher
Publisher:  Puffin
ISBN: 978-0140368710
Retails for $7.50


Valentine's Day Is
     Written and Illustrated by the well-known and beloved children's author Gail Gibbons, Valentine’s Day Is  presents the history behind this special holiday in a simple way, and shares with her littlest readers what the day has become to mean in our society today.  While it is a day filled with candy hearts, flowers, and chocolate truffles, Gibbons thoughtfully shows how it is also a day to give thanks for our loved ones in our life.

Written and Illustrated by Gail Gibbons
Publisher:  Holiday House
ISBN: 978-0823420360
For ages:  5 and up
Retails for $6.95

Fancy Nancy:  Nancy Clancy, Secret Admirer
     No sooner does a "Fancy Nancy" book is placed back on the shelves, it is quickly
picked up and signed out by yet another fan of the popular series by the New  York Times bestselling duo of author Jane O'Connor and illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser. In this latest installment, after learning all about the science of human heart in class, Nancy Clancy and her best friend Bree are determined to find out the mystery behind what makes the heart fall in love.  Soon, the best friends hatch a plan and become little matchmakers for Nancy's guitar teacher and the girls' favorite babysitter.  But, sometimes, as Nancy and Bree find out, the heart doesn't always do what they want it to do. 

Written by Jane O'Connor
Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser
ISBN: 978-0062082954
Retails for $9.99
For ages 6 thru 10
Publisher:   HarperCollins Children
Website:  www.harpercollinschildren.com

Mercer Mayer's Little Critter: Just a Little Sick (My First I Can Read Book)

     The dreaded cold---it came on real suddenly last week arriving first in the form of sneezing fits.  Then the clogged up sinuses led quickly to that familiar achy feeling in my bones.  Oh, those miserable symptoms of a cold settled down for a while, until, thankfully with the help of some rest, my mom's homemade chicken soup, and the miracle powers of NyQuil, I was back on my feet at school.
      Once I returned after a two day absence, I learned that the students in one of our many first grade classes were so concerned that I wasn't there (luckily, in the year that I have been working at my school, I escaped being sick up until last week).  When they arrived for their weekly library session, I was greeted with hugs and advice.  "Wash your hands a lot, Mrs. B," said one.  "Eat lots of garlic," said another.  To repay all of their sweet attention, I knew that I had to read them a story that they would see that both adults, like Mrs. B, can feel just as yucky as they do when they don't feel good, and how feeling awful isn't always as it's cracked up to be.


     Mercer Mayer's Little Critter:  Just a Little Sick (My First I Can Read Book) is, quite honestly, an irresistible read.  After all, looking at the cover before my students arrived, with the lovable character, Little Critter, sitting up in his bed with a thermometer in his mouth, his trusty bear and comic book by his side, kind of reminded me of my own sick self (and yes, I will admit, with a bear, too, but by my bedside shelf, and replace the comic book with my laptop to work on my lesson plans)!
     This sweet, simple tale was a delightful read to my inquisitive group of first graders, assisting them to learn how to understand why they are feeling so awful without getting way too over their heads.  Little Critter soon learns that being sick isn't always as fun as he thought it would be, since he wasn't able to do a lot of fun activities since he was stuck indoors all day long, and he also had to visit the doctor. Mercer Mayer's Little Critter:  Just a Little Sick (My First I Can Read Book) may also be one of those must read books to have on hand to ease your child's fears when your little one needs to visit the doctor.
     The "My First" series of books are known for having five levels of difficulty, and these levels are each identified by colors on the front book jackets.  Mercer Mayer's Little Critter:  Just a Little Sick's front cover displays a bright yellow circle, which indicates that this book is ideal for sharing with emergent (and healthy advice) readers, just like my first graders!

Mercer Mayer's Little Critter:  Just a Little Sick (My First I Can Read Book)
Written & Illustrated by Mercer Mayer
Publisher:  HarperCollins
Published in 2009
For ages 4 and up
ISBN:  978-006-0835552
Retails for $3.99
Website:  www.harpercollinschildrens.com