A Modest Momma's Back to School Tales Spotlight #2- Biscuit Loves the Library

     The sweet adventures of Biscuit, the cuddly little Golden Retriever puppy continue with beloved author Alyssa Satin Capucilli's latest Biscuit Loves the Library. (an I Can Read! Shared My First Reading)   As our tale begins, it's "Read to Your Pet Day" at the library and the curious puppy and his best friend, the little girl, are so excited as they join other  two and four-legged furry friends to explore all the many things that the library has to offer.

     As our duo searches for what we like to call in our library at school as that, "just right book," Biscuit, just like most puppies, is very inquisitive and easily distracted by so many new things around him--- the straw basket filled to the brim with soft, snugly puppets, to not quite getting a grasp on why he can't get a nibble of the big, juicy looking bone on the cover of a book on dinosaurs. But, just when their search for that special book seems to be heading nowhere, along comes a friendly, helpful librarian to show the way with a very touching surprise guaranteed to bring smiles.
    Alyssa Satin Capucilli's text is filled with easy, repetitive words designed for building early recognition skills, and it is just right for beginning readers to handle. A simple tale that is perfect for sharing at nighttime story time,  not only provides your little ones with a perfect introduction of libraries (much to my joy!), but gives them a gentle lesson on the power of kindness.

Biscuit Loves the Library (I Can Read!-Shared My First Reading)
Written by Alyssa Satin Capucilli & Illustrations by Pat Schories
Publisher: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers (2014)
Website: www.harpercollinschildrens.com
Retails for $16.99 (Hardcover)
For ages 4 thru 8
ISBN: 978-0-06-193507-7

A Modest Momma's Back to School Tales Spotlight #1----Pinkalicious and the New Teacher

     The end of summer is sadly upon us once again, and the countdown to the days before the start of a new school year for our little ones has begun.  Now is an absolutely perfect time for you and your little ones to read stories together that are guaranteed to bring a smile to their understandably nervous faces as they prepare to embark on a new journey that will be filled with lots of adventure, knowledge and imagination.         Over the course of the next week, I'll be shining a spotlight on some of the latest as well as those familiar classic "Back-to-School" tales that will provide your little ones (and, well, let's face it, you too!) with a comforting sense of reassurance as they begin the start of a brand new school year.  Good luck to all!

Pinkalicious and the New Teacher
     Our ever-exuberant little heroine of all things pink is back again in Pinkalicious and the New Teacher,  yet another delightful new adventure by popular author/illustrator Victoria Kann.  Pinkalicious is all ready and very excited to start her first day of school.  But, quickly, her natural enthusiasm turns to hesitation as she soon realizes that a new school year means, well, all new and unfamiliar things----a different seat in the corner (which she doesn't like one bit), no more sitting on the oh-so soft reading rug during story time (which has been replaced with bulky bean bag chairs, which our Pinkalicious is not too thrilled about), new classmates (although the comforting sight of her friend Allison helps to lift Pinkalicious' spirits) and a brand new teacher named Ms. Penny. Will Pinkalicious find another "Pinkerrific" idea to save the day?
     Author/Illustrator Victoria Kann's thoughtfully delightful character shines once again in this well-written, timely story that shows that different experiences that occur during change can be a really "Pinktastic" thing to uphold!
   
***Momma's Note:  Pinkalicious and the New Teacher also contains a fold-out poster, stickers and 8 matching "Reading is Pinktastic! bookmarks just perfect for your little bookworm.  For more adventures with Pinkalicious and her friends, please check out ThinkPinkalicious.com



Pinkalicious and the New Teacher
Written & Illustrated by Victoria Kann
Publisher: Harper Festival, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers (2014)
Website:  www.harpercollinschildrens.com
For ages 4 to 8
Retails for $6.99 (Softcover)
ISBN: 9780062189134

Hug Machine by Scott Campbell

     The beginning of a new school year always signals a time of adjustments for my family and I.  Gone are the lazy mornings spent sleeping in late which have been (for this night owl) rather cruelly switched with having to get up at the crack of dawn to prepare for our day ahead.
     But, this year feels very different for me, and is filled with emotions as I am trying to come to terms with the fact that there is now a newly turned teenager in our house, when all I can't stop seeing in my mind is a little boy with a love of all things "Thomas the Tank Engine" and a sweet, gentle disposition which thankfully, has never left him.  Needless to say, if I had the chance to meet up with the self-proclaimed "Hug Machine" from acclaimed artist Scott Campbell's playfully adorable children's literary debut,  I would completely welcome the comfort from his hug!

     As our tale begins, the "Hug Machine" sets right out to convince us all that he is simply THE BEST hugger in, well,  the whole world, as his hugs can,
               "..make the biggest feel small.  The smallest feel big. I hug soft things.  Hard things. Square things.  Long things!" There is nothing, absolutely nothing that he won't hug!  This includes a small, green, spiky porcupine, who laments that no one is brave enough to try. But, donning a catchers mask and protective gear, the "Hug Machine" comforts the lonely porcupine with loving arms.
      However, our "Hug Machine" gets exhausted from a day soothing so many people, animals and things, and when his mommy wants a hug, your little ones may think that just when he's finally run out of hugging power, there's still enough left for the most special person in his life.
      I was very impressed by this endearingly charming debut from Scott Campbell, and I look forward to hopefully reading more of his children's tales in the future!

Hug Machine
Written & Illustrated by Scott Campbell
Publisher:  Atheneum Book for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division (2014)
Website:  Kids.SimonandSchuster.com
ISBN: 9781442459359
For ages 4 to 8
Retails for $16.99 (Hardcover)

Disney Mickey & Friends Go Green! A Family Guide To A Sustainable Lifestyle

     Right from the beginning when I first laid eyes on Disney Mickey & Friends Go Green!  A Family Guide To A Sustainable Lifestyle recently, I was immediately taken back on a trip to my childhood.  Let me explain.  One fall day back in the early 1980s, my mother purchased a series of hardcover books called Disney's Wonderful World of Knowledge.

Two of our families treasured, rare Disney's Wonderful World of Knowledge series originally published during the early 1970s.

 Originally published in the early 1970s by Grolier Enterprises, Inc, out of Danbury, Connecticut, each edition specialized in a specific topic, for example, nature, science, etc..  To this day, these treasured, yet very rare books remain in our family, happily taking space in my son's bookshelf, and frequently are used as reference for school projects.

      

     Resembling these childhood books both in design and tone, Disney Mickey & Friends Go Green!  A Family Guide to a Sustainable Lifestyle (published by Edda Publishing, USA), is the first in a new series written by Asthildur Bjorg Jonsdottir, Ellen Gunnarsdottir and Gunndis Yr Finnbogadottir, and illustrated by Magnus B. Oskarsson.  The book invites all to come along on an adventurous and informative journey with Mickey Mouse and his best girl, Minnie Mouse, as they show families and educators new ideas on how we can all benefit from "Going Green".  Featuring simple ways that families and teachers can implement and help in their own way to take care of our environment abound in this well-written book.  Focal points include teaching little ones the concept of sustainability and responsibility are composed in simple to understand terms, with numerous examples, tips and helpful "Did You Know?" tips included throughout this 94 paged hardcover book.  Some of our families favorite chapters included those that highlighted the importance of taking care of our soil  and organic and sustainable farming (we grown a vegetable and fresh herb garden every year), and the educator in me greatly appreciated the chapter on the importance of making good choices (which is perfect timing, as a new school year has already begun for my students).  Easy to create crafts utilizing household items are also featured throughout.  

     Families and students everywhere will be able to learn the importance of achieving not only a healthier lifestyle, but they will see first hand how incorporating some of the actions found throughout this book will help them to try to protect our planet and future, simply from little and big hands working together.  I am looking forward to reading the upcoming installments in this engaging series.

Disney Mickey & Friends Go Green!  A Family Guide To A Sustainable Lifestyle

Written by Asthildur Bjorg Jonsdottir, Ellen Gunnarsdottir and Gunndis Yr Finnbogadottir & Illustrated by Magnus B. Oskarsson

Publisher:  Edda Publishing USA, LLC (2014)

Website:  www.eddausa.com

ISBN: 978-1-94078-700-8

For ages 8 and up

Retails for $12.99 (Hardcover)

My Very First I Can Read! Learn to Read with Tug the Pup and Friends!

     The I Can Read! book program was created specifically to help children learn to read back in 1957.  Now, nearly 57 years later, the books in this program have won numerous prestigious literary prizes, including the Newbery and Caldecott Honor awards.  Additionally, with over 400 titles to choose from, the I Can Read! series has been a go-to source for interesting and enjoyable stories to read together with your children (my son was very partial to the Thomas the Tank Engine tales... I mean, let's face it, little boys just love those trains!), and as they develop their skills, will start to read on their own.
     Recently, inspired in part by some of the latest early literacy research studies of the practice of guided reading (which gives emergent readers the opportunity to take on more responsibility and initiative), Dr. Julie M. Wood, Director of the Jeanne Challl Reading Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, has created a new, comprehensive reading program that will assist and provide support to both families and educators to build upon a child's confidence as they start on their journey to becoming an independent reader.
     Utilizing the strategies of guided reading (which develop reading comprehension skills; identifies weaknesses as well as fosters strength in specific skills; builds a child's fluency and enlarges their vocabulary), the My Very First I Can Read! Learn to Read with Tug the Pup and Friends! series adeptly introduces these techniques and principles.  Through the introduction of new words, and fosters the development of early comprehension, phonemic and reading skills in this engaging three box set, your little ones will be entertained while at the same time, will build these extremely important skills.
      My Very First I Can Read! Learn to Read with Tug the Pup and Friends! series takes on a level-by-level approach that will take your beginning readers through a variety of steps to achieve and build their strength to start to read on their own.

The

1. Box Set One (GRL A-C):  This is the beginning set, where the eleven stories in the box are easy to comprehend, highlighted by the use of rhyme and patterns throughout.
2. Box Set Two (GRL C-E):   While the stories remain simple, the characters are now using dialogue throughout the text.  The stories also feature decodable and sight words.  These tales are slightly more advanced in skill than those in the A and B level stories in Box Set One.
3. Box Set Three (GRL E-G):  Vocabulary words in this set can be used either in a group and/or individual setting, by pointing to each word during read aloud.  The story line becomes a little more intricate in this set.

     The My Very First I Can Read!  Learn to Read with Tug the Pup and Friends!  three box set, containing 11 stories, a helpful parent guide, plus reward stickers can be purchased separately for $12.99 each.  For further information on the series, please visit HarperCollins Children's website.

Beneath the Sun by Melissa Stewart

     Having lived in a southern climate for well-over a decade, my family and I have learned how to adapt to the regularly hot and humid weather.  But, when my son was a little, he couldn't quite grasp the concept of why the backyard squirrels would drop their acorns and run away every time he would play with the backyard hose while cooling off in his small, ocean-themed plastic pool.  "But mommy, don't they want to feel cool, too?" he would ask, always with a hint of forlorn.

     Little ones, just like my son, often wonder how the animals and insects who live among us, are able to adapt to sweltering temperatures.  After all, just as award-winning author Melissa Stewart states in her latest book, Beneath the Sun, while it's so easy for us to, "... put on sunscreen and spend your afternoons zigzagging under a sprinkler and sipping lemonade," this is hardly the case for the animals and insects around us, as, "..many animals struggle to survive beneath the burning sun."

     The clearness and sweet simplicity of Stewart's text affords children with a down-to-earth introduction of how a woodchuck (who makes sure to eat all they can in the early morning, because they will head underground to escape the heat), a family of adorable wide-eyed ringtails (who snooze the day away inside a cool underground den) earthworms (who manage to loop their tail into a ball under the dirt)  and the majestic eagle (who, "..soars through the cool air high above the desert.  Its thick feathers shield its skin from the sun's hot rays.")  to name a few, manage to adapt to their surroundings.  Artist Constance R. Gergum's watercolor illustrations provide a realistic balance to Stewart's tale which takes children on a journey through many different types of ecosystems and the animals who call them home.
     I look forward to introducing my reading intervention students to Beneath the Sun, during our upcoming school year!

Beneath the Sun
Written by Melissa Stewart & Illustrated by Constance R. Bergum
Publisher:  Peachtree Publishers (2014)
Website:   www.peachtree-online.com
For ages 4 to 8
ISBN: 978-1-56145-733-5
Retails for $16.95

***Momma's Tip:  Please check out author Melissa Stewart's informative science website, Melissa Stewart's Science Clubhouse for many interesting educational activities and insights.

Kids in the City

   

     Planning a trip this summer to the New York City area with your little ones, here are some great reads from NYC The Official Guide's website to help give your kids a taste of the big apple!
http://www.nycgo.com/slideshows/kid-lit-city/1/