A Modest Momma's Musings "Fall into Fall" Tales Spotlight #3-- Fancy Nancy's Fabulous Fall Storybook Collection

     With a theme focusing on her autumn adventures, Fancy Nancy's Fabulous Fall Storybook Collection is the second storybook collection featuring the extremely popular character created by author Jane O'Connor.  Stories include the following:

1.  Fancy Nancy:  Halloween or Bust-- It's Halloween time, and one can say that this holiday was made just for Fancy Nancy!  Join Fancy Nancy as she creates her most fanciest, fabulous costume for the party!

2.  Fancy Nancy:  Fancy Day in Room 1-A-- A rainy, gloomy Fall week has cast it's spell in Fancy Nancy's classroom.  Can our fabulous heroine cheer up her classmates?

3.  Fancy Nancy:  Splendid Speller-- The self-proclaimed "Splendid Speller" thinks she's going to ace Ms. Glass' spelling test, but when she finds that the test is less than marvelous, she faces a hard decision.

5.  Fancy Nancy:  The 100th Day of School--  The special day marking the 100th Day of School is coming up soon, and the class is assigned special products in celebration of the big day.  But, Nancy is unsure of what to create.  Will she be able to create a truly unique project in time?

6.  Fancy Nancy:  Our Thanksgiving Banquet--- Thanksgiving Day is right around the corner, and the thoughts of Grandma's yummy stuffing, veggies and cranberry sauce are filling Fancy Nancy's head.  Come along as Fancy Nancy and her family gather together to give thanks!

     Each of the six previously published stories is this 186 page hardcover book, is about 32 pages in length, making each story just the right size for emerging readers as well as for read-aloud's during story time.   I have always loved how each Fancy Nancy story enables little ones to learn new vocabulary words in a completely engaging way. Fancy Nancy's Fabulous Fall Storybook Collection does not disappoint, and I look forward to further storybook compilations in the near future to share with all of our Fancy Nancy fans at school!

Fancy Nancy's Fabulous Fall Storybook Collection
Written by Jane O'Connor & Pictures based on the art of Robin Preiss Glasser
Publisher:  Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers (2014)
Website:  www.harpercollinschildrens.com
ISBN: 9780062288844
For ages 4 thru 8
Retails for $11.99 (Hardcover)

A Modest Momma's Musings "Fall into Fall" Tales Spotlight #2--Tap the Magic Tree

     Walking back from our school cafeteria yesterday during our planning time, I encountered one of our Pre-K classes playing outside at the playground during recess.  A small group consisting of four little ones were playing underneath the huge oak tree, happily throwing leaves up in the air, with one little one carefully picking up a fallen leaf from the ground, and looked at it with a startling gaze of wonder.  Gently placing this leaf back onto the pile assembled on the ground, she picked up another one, and counted out loud, "Two..Brown."  This instantly brought a smile to my face, as it is always these small moments of the quiet beauty of children discovering and learning that always makes me feel joyful and hopeful.      
     This encounter immediately brought to mind a charming story called Tap the Magic Tree, written by Christie Matheson in 2013.  Continuing with my, "Fall into Fall Tales Spotlight," our seasonal tale begins with a simple, barren brown tree that looks oddly familiar to ours at school (as it too, has almost lost all of it's leaves).  The tree tells our little ones that,
     "There's magic in this bare brown tree.  Tap it once.  Turn the page to see."
     And, once your little one has done what the tree has asked, to their astonishment, they will quickly see that our tree has grown one leaf.  As you continue to read onward, your little one will be counting along as they tap, pat, clap, jiggle and wiggle as leaves sprout, apples grow, flowers bloom on each page.  By the end of our tale, your little ones will learn not only about numbers, but will discover how seasonal changes affects  trees in an engaging, interactive way.

Tap the Magic Tree
Written & Illustrated by Christie Matheson
Publisher:  Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers (2013)
Website:  www.harpercollinschildrens.com
For ages 4 thru 8
ISBN:  9780062274458
Retails for $15.99 (Hardcover)

Print Versus eBooks---Some New Statistics That Will Surprise You!

 

      Although, whether one enjoys reading either from books or thru an electronic device,  one thing has always stayed with me.  I just truly love the feel of a book in my hands.  There is quite nothing like that, and here's an interesting read that I wanted to share with you all from HuffPost Books... seems like I am not alone! :)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/06/ebooks-print-books-outsold_n_5940654.html?utm_hp_ref=books&ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000028

Penguin Kids Announces "Literary" Inspired Halloween Costume Contest

     Calling all "Spook-tac-ular Storybook" inspired little trick-or-treators!   Penguin Kids is hosting a contest of the best story character inspired Halloween costumes.  Click on the link below to enter for your chance to $100, as well as a collection of Penguin Kids stories!  Good luck! :)

     https://www.facebook.com/penguinkidsbooks/app_451684954848385?ref=page_internal

A Modest Momma's Musings "Fall into Fall" Tales Spotlight #1: Fancy Nancy and the Fall Foliage

     The leaves are turning beautiful shades of rich reds and vibrant oranges.  The air is starting to feel more crisp and cool.  Summer has said it's fond farewell, and Autumn has finally arrived!  It is, at least for me,  quite possibly, one of the most favorite times of the year.
     And, I can think of no more perfect time to shine a spotlight on some special seasonal tales for you all to share with your little ones.  Here are the first of several tales that I look forward to sharing with you all so you too, will fall right into the season!

Fancy Nancy and the Fall Foliage
      As I read this latest Fancy Nancy tale from the New York Times best selling team of author Jane O'Connor and illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser, I was happily taken back to my childhood.  I grew up in the Northeast in a town near the Long Island Sound, and I can remember the joy that I always felt while  playing in the fallen leaves, and searching, quite like Fancy Nancy does in Fancy Nancy and the Fall Foliage, for those special leaves that just stand out among the rest.
       When she is busy collecting some of the most beautiful fallen leaves, she encounters a colorful purple leaf, and decides that she really needs to do something unique with all that she has gathered. Although Mom and Dad offer Fancy Nancy lots of ideas, she really wants to do, "...something completely different.  It has to be spectacular--just like these leaves."  But, what will she create?  With over 30 stickers that your little girls can use to create their very own fall scene, and lots of new vocabulary words found just as in each Fancy Nancy tale, Fancy Nancy and the Fall Foliage is an enjoyable read to welcome in the season.

Fancy Nancy and the Fall Foliage
Written by Jane O'Connor & Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser & Interior Illustrations by Carolyn Bracken
Publisher:  Harper Festival, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers (2014)
Website:  www.harpercollinschildrens.com
ISBN: 978-0-06-208630-3
Retails for $4.99
Accelerated Reader Book Level:  2.2
Accelerated Reader Points: 0.5

Can I Come Too? By Brian Patten

 

   "It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop," the great philosopher Confucius once stated.       I would like to think that this applies to the bravery of a little brown mouse in author Brian Patten's beautifully exquisite tale, Can I Come Too?  A small mouse decides to leave the comforts of her cozy home in the woods in order to set out to discover who exactly is the biggest creature in the world.      
     Along her brave journey through valleys, lakes, rivers and mountainsides, she meets a series of animals, always asking them the very same question, "Are you the biggest creature in the world?" And, although she receives the same answer, from each animal,  everyone that she meets along the way take her words to heart, when she says, that just because one may be small, or because your legs may be too short, or you may be too scruffy, doesn't mean that "we can't have a big adventure."  Each animal decides to join her along her trek, as she tries to fulfill her quest.
     Patten's story line is extremely well-written, with the simple moral that despite your size and stature, one should never let this impede you from trying to achieve your goals in life. It is a lesson that I have not only instilled in my son, but with all of the children who come to our media center everyday.  The illustrations by acclaimed artist Nicola Bayley are stunningly realistic.  Between the colorfully vivid facial details on each of the animals that mouse encounters on her journey, and this truly lovely tale, I have no doubt that this tale will be read at many bedtimes multiple times.

Can I Come Too? 
Written by Brian Patten & Illustrated by Nicola Bayley
Publisher:  Peachtree Publishers (October 1994)
Website:  www.peachtree-online.com
ISBN:  978-1-56145-796-0
Retails for $16.95 (Hardcover)
For ages 4 to 8

The Cat, The Dog, Little Red, The Exploding Eggs, The Wolf and Grandma

   

     Okay, I'll admit it. The first time that I came across this new tale from authors Diane and Christyan Fox, the title shining boldly in white across the entire front cover of the book totally did me in!  The very idea of Little Red Riding Hood battling exploding eggs and a hungry wolf alongside her grandma, a cat, and a dog sold me right away. I couldn't wait to discover what turned out to be a completely enjoyable, albeit unique take on a classic literary fairy tale from our childhood.
     As our tale begins, Cat attempts to read aloud the story of Little Red Riding Hood to his friend, Dog, with not a lot of success. "It's a story about a little girl...who always wears a red cape with a hood," Cat begins, only to be interrupted by Dog, who persists in turning the fairy tale into an superhero triumphs over evil adventure.  "Cool!  I love stories about superheroes.  What's her special power?"  As you can tell, this is much to Cat's growing frustration and dismay.
   And, quite like some story times found in little ones bedrooms across the world, Moms and Dads will be able to relate to an Cat, as he tries to deal with Dog's constant questioning while attempting to get through the fairy tale (which, as you will surely see, can be an exercise in pure exasperation!)    The Cat, The Dog, Little Red, The Exploding Eggs, The Wolf and Grandma is a suitable read aloud with older children, as I tend to think that some of the humor found certain spots across this tale might just be a little over a four year-old's head.
     All in all, Diane and Christyan Fox have produced a zany, delightfully silly tale that pokes fun of the art of storytelling, that will have you giggling along with your little ones.


The Cat, The Dog, Little Red, The Exploding Eggs, The Wolf and Grandma
Written & Illustrated by Diane and Christyan Fox
Publisher:  Scholastic Press (2014)
Website:  www.scholastic.com
ISBN: 978-0-545-69481-0
Retails for $16.99 (Hardcover; also available as an ebook)
For ages 4 thru 8