Tyler Makes Spaghetti by Food Network Star Tyler Florence

     "It's important that the very first spoon of food you put in your child's mouth is the most densely nutritious, most delicious thing."--Tyler Florence, in an interview with The Washington Post on May 11, 2011.

     Tyler Florence knows all about creating, "nutritious, most delicious things."  He has been a Food Network staple for over sixteen years, published seven bestselling cookbooks, and has founded a successful, organic baby food line called Sprout.  So, it would be a natural progression for Florence to take his passion for promoting the importance of our children learning about and eating healthy foods directly to, who else, our children.  His first children's book, Tyler Makes Pancakes, was published in April of 2012.  Tyler Makes Spaghetti is Florence's follow-up to his successful debut.
   

Out tale begins where readers catch up with young Tyler and his faithful canine companion, Tofu who have arrived at Chef Lorenzo Mascarpone's (I love the subtle use of food ingredients as character names!) Ristorante Italia, anxiously awaiting the secret on creating Chef Mascarpone's famous spaghetti and meatballs. 
     Chef Mascarpone invites Tyler and Tofu on an adventure to locate all of the ingredients that they will need to make the dish.  Florence cleverly incorporates the use of food history and sequence as Tyler, Tofu and Chef Mascarpone are on their journey to locate all of the special, delicious ingredients that they will need to make spaghetti and meatballs.  We learn how long tomatoes should be kept on the vine, as, "the longer they are left on the vine, the better they taste for my sauce and your sandwich, too," says Chef Mascarpone, to how oil comes out of a tiny olive, "some place use special machines, but in some towns they still do it the old-fashioned way, with a giant stone wheel."
     Tyler Makes Spaghetti is a great book for families who want to get their little ones learning about food and the importance of creating healthy meals together to share.

***Momma's Note:  In the interest of full disclosure, for several years, I will admit to have taken Tyler Florence's recipe for meatballs (I tend to substitute ground turkey and a little bit of chopped prosciutto instead of the ground beef & pork) from the Food Network website, and passed them off as my "great, great grandma's secret family meatballs."  Sorry, Tyler, but they're just too good! :)  You'll see what I mean:  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/spaghetti-and-meatballs-receipe2/index.html


Tyler Makes Spaghetti
Written by Tyler Florence & Illustrated by Craig Fraizer
Publisher:  Harper (an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)-2013
Website:  www.harpercollinschildrens.com
Retails for $17.99 (Hardcover)
ISBN: 978-0-06-204756-4
For ages 4 thru 8

Two New Pete the Cat Releases: Pete's Big Lunch & Play Ball!

     Inspired by this love of all things feline, artist James Dean published his first book, The Misadventures of Pete the Cat in 2006.  He later decided to bring this character to a young audience, and in 2008, he illustrated his first self-published children's book, Pete the Cat:  I Love My White Shoes.  Many children in our school are drawn to this popular series, and I was recently delighted to receive two new, "I Can Read-Shared My First Reading books" that are devoted specifically to this very cool kitty to review.
     

In our first selection, Pete the Cat:  Play Ball!, Pete the Cat is still one cool cat who loves to play baseball--despite not always being able to hit the ball or arrive safely at home plate.  With every attempt that Pete makes, as his team, the "Rocks", plays against the "Rolls", he isn't always successful.  But he doesn't let this get him down, as Dean explains, "...Pete is not sad.  He did his best."  With a simple underlying message that sports should be more about having fun and displaying good sportsmanship, Pete the Cat:  Play Ball!  is a winner in my eyes!
    

Pete's  stomach is growling with hunger in our next selection, Pete the Cat: Pete's Big Lunch, and he sets out to stop the noise and satisfy his tummy.  But, there is no way that this out-of-the-ordinary cool cat is going to make some boringly typical sandwich!  When Pete finishes creating his culinary masterpiece (practically emptying the entire contents of his refrigerator in the process!) he soon finds that it's just way too big for him to eat by himself.  Will he find a solution to his dining dilemma? 
     Pete the Cat: Pete's Big Lunch is not only an appropriate choice for a read aloud in any PreK to First Grade classes, but it is also a fine choice to teach little ones those early learning concepts of sequence---for example, "What happened first to Pete the Cat?" and "What did Pete the Cat do next?"  The "I Can Read" series of books published by HarperCollins have always been such a suitable choice for finding  reading comprehension leveled appropriate books for teaching young children beginning sight words.  While some may feel that the flow of the stories is not entirely reflected of the previous Pete the Cat books, this is only due to the fact that the story lines have been condensed to meet the "I Can Read" standards where children will hopefully become more confident in their growing reading skills.

Pete the Cat:  Play Ball!  and Pete the Cat:  Pete's Big Lunch (I Can Read-Shared My First Reading)
Created by James Dean
Publisher:   Harper (an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers) 2013
Website:  www.harpercollinschildrens.com
Both books retail each for $16.99 (Hardcover)
Pete the Cat:  Play Ball ISBN: 978-0-06-211067-1
Pete the Cat:  Pete's Big Lunch ISBN: 978-0-06-211067-1
For ages 4 thru 8

The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague

   

Okay, I will admit to feeling a dislike over the way the wolf was portrayed in the original fairytale, The Three Little Pigs, which was first published in 1890 by Joseph Jacobs in his compilation, English Fairy Tales.  I always felt that this fairy tale tends to leave young, impressionable children with a misunderstanding and a misguided fear of an animal that is today, sadly, endangered.
    However, just by reading the front cover byline of Mark Teague (the author), as well as his familiar lively style of front cover illustration of three smiling little piggies cuddled together in a hug, with a little grey and white wolf with a shy expression peering over them, I was ready to give this tale a second chance, to discover just exactly how Teague would give this fairytale a fresh new spin.
     The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf  begins slightly differently than the original fairy tale does, as a farmer and his wife inform their three pigs that they have decided to pack it in for the sunny, welcoming skies and warm temperatures of Florida.  Paying each of the pigs for their loyalty for years of labor, we soon see the apparent differences between each of the three pigs.  Two of the pigs choose to build their new homes cheaply, saving their money for their constant cravings for potato chips and soda.  The third little pig, far more practical than her siblings, builds a beautiful, sturdy brick home, complete with a vegetable garden.
      But alas, breaking the harmony of the three little pigs surroundings comes a grey wolf, who is not without his own issues.  At first, like the two little pigs, he is guided by his stomach, but displays low self doubt at his strength (on his first successful try at blowing down the house of the little pig who built his house out of straw, can't believe his very eyes at his accomplishment.  "I can't believe that worked," he said.  He had never blown down a house before." And, when he fails at blowing down the third little pigs house, the three siblings find him on the ground, passed out! The three little pigs show the wolf some compassion, and take him in, where he awakens, thoroughly embarrassed at his behavior and reveals, "I was so hungry, I could not think straight!"
     Teague's charming take is truly such a delightful read.  It stays in character and not once, does he bore his audience with a heavy-handed message.  He simply makes his points, as with this version, with an even-handed approach to show little ones how the choices one makes throughout their life are so important.  Truly a must have in your home library as well as in schools!

The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf
Written & Illustrated by Mark Teague
Publisher:  Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic (2013)
Website:  www.scholastic.com
ISBN:  978-0-439-91501-4
Retails for $16.95 (Hardcover)
For ages 3 to 5

Night Light by Nicholas Blechman

     Nicholas Blechman is an award-winning, internationally praised illustrator whose work has appeared in such national publications including GQ and Travel & Leisure.  Night Light, a thoroughly unique, die-cut counting concept book, marks his debut in children's literature.

     An amusing book for any child (like my son was when he was a little toddler) who is fascinated by all things with wheels--parents and early childhood educators will also appreciate the inventive way that Blechman sets out for his young readers to introduce the practice of counting beginning numbers.   The pages in this book are very durable, and will be able to hold up to constant little fingers poking through the holes.  Your little one will count the number of lights and make a guess as to what the lights belong to ("7 lights flashing red and white?") until they turn the page and the illustration reveals a vehicle and its accompanying lights.

Night Light
Written & Illustrated by Nicholas Blechman
Publisher:  Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic (2013)
Website: www.scholastic.com
ISBN: 978-0-545-46263-1
Retails for $16.99 (Hardcover)
For ages 3 to 5

5 Year-old Girl Reads 875 Book in One School Year!

This story captivated my attention last week, and I had to share it with all of you in case you did not hear about it.  Bravo Sophia Moss!  Your parents, family, friends and teachers must be so proud of you!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2332646/Shes-real-bookworm-Schoolgirl-5-reads-875-books-just-school-year.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Canary in the Coal Mine by Madelyn Rosenberg

     "The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better."--Robert F. Kennedy

     The late United States Senator's words act as a beacon of hope for a tiny little bird in this captivating tale, which despite his size, manages to make huge changes that will greatly impact the lives of generations of mine workers for years to come.
     Young adult readers who are fans of E.B. White's Stuart Little and George Seldon's The Cricket in Times Square will enjoy The Canary in the Coal Mine, a journey back into time through the eyes of a tiny yellow canary named Bitty, to a small mining town in West Virginia called Coalbank Hollow in 1931.  During this time period set in the beginning years of the Great Depression, coal miners carried birds into the mines in order to detect the presence of deadly toxic gases (long before mechanical detection devices were invented). Sadly, the only way that these birds can notify the miners of the toxins is either by passing out, or dying.  This is dangerous work for a little bird, Bitty contemplates, as he lives in a large aviary in the bedroom of Jamie, a boy who rents out the canaries to the miners each day. 

 

     Soon, Bitty grows weary of his daily peralist twelve hour shifts, and he decides that something must be done in order to put a stop to this inhumane practice of keeping the miners safe.  He comes up with a plan to escape his cage, and finds the courage to fly off in the hopes to convince anyone to bring improvements to the mine. 
     Animal lovers like myself appreciated the fact that author Madelyn Rosenberg decided to weave her tale through the eyes of the animal's perspective, and young readers will appreciate the ability to be able to learn about how one small canary triumphed and matured from a courageous yet unworldly bird, to a strong, intelligent leader during the course of his admirable quest.

Canary in the Coal Mine
Written by Madelyn Rosenberg
Publisher:  Holiday House (2013)
Website: www.holidayhouse.com
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2600-3
Retails for $16.95 (Hardcover)
For ages 9 thru 12

Shark Baby by Ann Downer

     Author Ann Downer has taken her life experience of living by the sea as well as her love and respect for the ocean and its creatures both big and small to pen in her latest tale, Shark Baby.

     "Who am I?" wonders tiny Shark Baby, as he is nestled in the safety of his egg case that's attached to a long strand of leafy kelp.  One day, during a ferocious storm, his egg case is torn loose and he is soon set forth on a journey through various ocean habitats filled with mystery and discovery.
     First, he seems large spots in front of him, and he begins to think that maybe this is who he is, but is he quickly dismissed by the female horn shark.  Shark Baby starts to drift further with the wild ocean currents.  As Shark Baby swims his way through colorful coral reefs, lush green sea grass meadows and kelp forests, he soon discovers what kind of shark he isn't, but to his growing frustration, not to what kind he is.  Suddenly, Shark Baby encounters a hungry young sea lion who takes one look at the little fish and decides that he will make a delicious lunch.  Just as little Shark Baby thinks that he will soon be gobbled up by the sea pup, he finally gets the answer to his question.
     The ocean creatures and environments that Shark Baby encounters throughout his bumpy journey glisten with strikingly detailed color by illustrator Shennen Bersani.  Educators and parents alike will appreciate the detailed four-paged educational section in the back of the book that is filled with vocabulary; a 'True or False' section that quizzes young readers on their knowledge of facts learned throughout the story, and an illustrated compare and contrast section all about Shark Baby's egg case.  This special section truly enhances the readers experience, and young and old alike will also appreciate the considerable amount of research that the author brought forth in a tremendous effort to not only keep this storyline factually accurate, but at the same time, makes the subject matter easy to approach.   The publisher, Sylvan Dell, also provides parents and educators with a free online resource center, where you will find activities related to the story that will offer a launch pad for ideas and discussion about the wonders of ocean life.

Shark Baby
Written by Ann Downer & Illustrated by Shennen Bersani
Publisher:  Sylvan Dell Publishing
Website:  www.sylvandellpublishing.com
Retails for $17.95 (Hardcover) $9.95 (Softcover) $9.95 (eBook; downloadable in English/Spanish)
ISBN: 9781607186229
For ages 4 thru 8