Sick Simon by Dan Krall

     

     Sick Simon, the lead character in the aptly titled story by author/illustrator Dan Krall (character designer for Coraline & How to Train Your Dragon films, to name a few) and I have a lot in common this past week.  It seems that the itchy sniffles, grating cough and achy feeling all over have unfortunately plagued us both during this endless cold and flu season.  But, as our tale begins, we quickly learn Simon doesn't let a cold stop him from having the best week ever, or does it?
     After kissing his family and riding the school bus alongside all of his classmates, Simon freely spreads his germs to everyone who crosses his path. While working on math problems in class, when a sneeze comes along, Simon lets his germs fly across the room, much to the horror of his chums!  And, after days go by that were filled with snack sharing (with unclean hands), show and tell (of one of Simon's grimy stuffed animals), Simon can't wait for Friday, the, "Superbig game of kickball!" But, no one is there, as all of Simon's friends and teachers at school have become infected with his cold!  While traveling alone on the school bus on the way home, Simon starts to hear some voices from three germs named Virus, Protozoa and Bacteria, all congratulating him for a job well done.  Will Simon ever find the err in his grimy, gross, germy ways?
     Filled with a infectiously humorous (couldn't resist!!), timeless message about the power of good hygiene practices, alongside grossly charming illustrations, Krall's Sick Simon is an absolutely MUST HAVE tale in every teacher's and family's bookshelf.  (So, go now, and make sure you wash those hands!)

Sick Simon
Written and Illustrated by Dan Krall
Publisher:  Atheneum Books for Young Readers (January, 2015)
Website:
ISBN: 978-1442-490970
Retails for $17.99 (Hardcover)
For ages 4 thru 8

A Modest Momma's Musings for Little Readers Valentine's Day Tales Spotlight #4-- Fancy Nancy and the Wedding of the Century

     What else can best signify the beauty of romance on Valentine's Day--- a wedding!  As Fancy Nancy our favorite little heroine with the larger than life personality, soon finds out in this new tale from the award-winning duo of author Jane O'Connor and illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser called Fancy Nancy and the Wedding of the Century.  Fancy Nancy Clancy envisions a truly exquisite, glorious occasion for the upcoming nuptials of her cousin Cal and his fiancee Dawn (complete with dreams of a reception at a fancy hotel by the water).  But, when her parents tell her that Cal and Dawn are having a "non-traditional' ceremony, Fancy Nancy's dreams quickly implode.  Can a wedding in a cabin by the lake deep in the wild woods be a "fancy' wedding after all?
      I greatly appreciated the message that Fancy Nancy learns in the end of this pleasant tale, that sometimes, the most simplest of ceremonies can truly be the most lovely, resplendent and memorable occasions.

Fancy Nancy and the Wedding of the Century
Written by Jane O'Connor and Illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser
Publisher:  Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers (2014)
Website:  www.harpercollinschildrens.com
ISBN: 978-006-2083197
For ages 4 thru 8
Retails for $17.99 (Hardcover)
Accelerated Reader Book Level: 2.9
Accelerated Reader Points: 0.5

A Modest Momma's Musings for Little Readers Valentine's Day Tales Spotlight #3--How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You?

   

 The ninth story from award-winning author Jane Yolen's popular dinosaur series, How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? is consistently one of the most checked out books in our school library, and this story, quite like all of Yolen's other tales, doesn't disappoint.
      Focusing in on those anxious feelings that our little ones may feel when they make a mistake and think that perhaps their mommies and daddies will not love them anymore, only to learn, from our familiar, lovable dinosaur characters, that while love has it's ups and downs, their parents love will always be there for them. A must have in your collection of bedtime tales that are filled with lyrical rhymes, and loving messages.





How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You?
Written by Jane Yolen and Illustrated by Mark Teague
Publisher:  The Blue Sky Press (2009_
ISBN: 978-0545143144
For ages 3 to 6
Accelerated Reader Book Level:  2.3
Accelerated Reader Points: 0.5

A Modest Momma's Musings for Little Readers Valentine's Day Tales Spotlight #2--The Berenstain Bears' Valentine Love Bug

     Yet another new release featuring my all-time favorite bear family, The Berenstain Bears, is right on time to help spread the love this Valentine's Day with, The Berenstain Bears' Valentine Love Bug! As our tale begins, although a cold blanket of snow covers over Bear Country, the chill of the winter season is quickly thawing out inside the home of Mama, Papa, Brother, Sister and Honey Bear.   Valentine's Day is coming up soon, and an unexpected invitation to the wedding of cousin Cora is spreading the joy of the holiday.  Best of all, Sister Bear has been asked to be the flower girl!
      Quickly, Sister Bear becomes immersed in all things wedding-- learning about the traditions of weddings in books and magazines, flowers and invitation designs, forgetting almost about the upcoming Valentine's Day party at school!
     Complete with a holiday poster, stickers and Valentine's Day cards, and a lovely, sweet message as there is with every Berenstain Bears story, you and your little ones will be sure to get a jump start on this special day!

The Berenstain Bears' Valentine Love Bug
Written & Illustrated by Mike Berenstain
Publisher: Harper Festival, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers (2014)
Website:  www.harpercollinschildrens.com
Retails for $6.99 (Softcover)
For ages 4 thru 8
ISBN: 978-0-06-207562-8

A Modest Momma's Musings for Little Readers Valentine's Day Tales Spotlight #1: Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine

     With Valentine's Day right around the corner, this is the perfect time of the year to share not only the love that this special day brings to us all, but to celebrate the joy of reading.  So, set aside some time to snuggle up with your little ones this week with some of these truly affectionately adorable and amusing tales that I am delighted to feature during the coming days.

Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine

     Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine is the second release from author Herman Parrish (who has continued to write new adventures of the literally minded yet lovable classic character created by his late aunt, Peggy Parrish) featuring a young Amelia Bedelia.
     As our tale begins, those all too familiar symbols of love are all around Amelia...she sees hearts in the skies, at her neighborhood park, and she even finds them in the plate filled that is filled with french fries!         Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and Amelia has lots to do before the big party at school.  She sets out completing the special cards that her teacher, Miss. Edwards, made for all of the students to decorate.  But, the cards make Amelia confused and she sets right out to fix them up... putting a bandage over the "Hi Heartbreaker" card, and tosses in peanuts with the "I'm Nuts 4 U!" card's envelope.  Amelia goes to bed later that night after her father has told her about the myth of Cupid and his arrows, and has a hilarious dream about Cupid, hearts and flying squirrels!
     Arriving at school the next morning, our sweetly energetic heroine is shattered when she discovers that she left her Valentine's Day cards at home.  Will she be able to think quickly on her feet?  And, will Cupid's arrows leave a surprise Valentine for her when she least expects it?

Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine
Written by Herman Parish & Pictures by Lynne Avril
Publisher:  Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Childrens (2009)
Website:  www.harpercollinschildrens.com
Retails for $6.99 (Softcover)
ISBN: 978-0-06-154460-6
For ages 4 thru 8
Accelerated Reader Book Level: 3.2
Accelerated Reader Quiz Points: 0.5

Set Sail on the High Seas with Riff Raff the Mouse Pirate's Adventures!

    Forgive me for not posting in a while, as life sometimes has an inconvenient habit of getting in the way things.  Life... and the harsh realities of how quickly time passes us by, have preoccupied much of my mind these past few weeks, as our family is in the process of finding a new school for our son to attend next year as a freshman in high school.  A freshman.  For my husband and I, those words seem so difficult to comprehend.  For, as far as the two of us are concerned, even though an very tall, handsome, smart young man stands beside us, all we can see in our minds, and in our hearts, is our little boy.
      So,  I am sure that you can understand how I have found myself seeking solace in all things that remind me of a time, not too long ago, when my 'almost freshman' was still a little one.  Times such as when,  despite his small size at the tender age of four, how he would trudge around the house (and in bathroom, and into the car, and in the shopping cart in the grocery store.... you get the picture!) wearing his worn pirate hat that we brought home straight from the shop outside of his favorite ride, the Pirates of the Caribbean, at Walt Disney World, and clutching his pirate sword.   With a quiet, yet strong sense of determination, quite like author Susan Schade's adorably swashbuckling, cheese-loving Captain Riff Raff in Riff Raff, the Mouse Pirate (as well as one of his latest follow-up adventures, Riff Raff Sails the High Cheese), he too, never let his size get in the way of all the adventures that his growing imagination would take him too.

As our first tale, Riff Raff, the Mouse Pirate,  begins, we are introduced to Captain Riff Raff and members of the loyal crew of the aptly titled, Sea Cat--- Cheddar, Munster, Swiss, and Colby.  But, two mates are missing---Blue and Brie! Just as they are about to set out a search party, Blue and Brie quickly rush in, clutching a tattered treasure map. As they spread out the map to try to see where their treasure awaits them, Captain Riff Raff and his mateys are quite displeased to see that an important part of the map has been, well...nibbled away!  Little Brie admits the deed, as the tantalizing aroma and taste of ketchup was just too hard to resist.  With the map patched up, the mice realize that there are still words missing from the name of a street featured above the drawing of the treasure box.  Which street could it be?  Join the mice on this first voyage of the Sea Cat as they sail across the seas beneath the sewers of the city in search of the missing treasure.

Our second tale, Riff Raff Sails the High Cheese, catches us up with Captain Riff Raff and his trusty crew, who are dealing with, horror of horrors.... the theft of their big cheese! As they set out to retrieve their missing cheese, they soon realize with the help of their friend, Ali the Gator, that a word that sounds like "hat", is where their cheese has been taken.  Embarking on a voyage through the waters of the underground sewer pipes, Captain Riff Raff and his devoted mice travel to "Roly-Poly-Mat", only to find that the little bugs of the same name living underneath a shaggy "Welcome" mat haven't seen their cheese.  Soon, they realize that their beloved cheese has been taken to, shudder the thought....the dreaded Cat Island!  Will Captain Riff Raff and his tried-and-true crew mates of the Sea Cat ever get their stolen bounty back again?
       Both tales, which are filled not only with the lively, rhyming text which will assist your little ones in developing their reading and vocabulary strength, but best of all, are loaded with whimsical adventures as your little pirates-in-training (and you!)  will delight in trying to help the mice decode the mysteries of the hidden treasures!

Riff Raff the Mouse Pirate (I Can Read! Reading 2 With Help)
Written by Susan Schade & Pictures by Anne Kennedy
Publisher: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Childrens (2012)
Website: www.harpercollinschildrens.com
ISBN: 978-0-06-230508-4
Retails for $16.99 (Hardcover)
For ages 4 thru 8

Riff Raff Sails the High Cheese (I Can Read!  Reading 2 With Help)
Written by Susan Schade & Pictures by Anne Kennedy
Publisher:  Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Childrens (2012)
Website: www.harpercollinschildrens.com
ISBN: 978-0-06-23-509-1
Retails for $3.99 (Softcover)
For ages 4 thru 8