Friday, March 26, 2010

Bonnie's Favorite (this week)


After looking over the list of my "classic" preschool books, I realized I have many favorites. Each week I will pick one to feature. This week's favorite is Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watts. I giggle every time I read it. Scaredy Squirrel is a squirrel who never leaves his nut tree because he's afraid of the unknown "out there." Then something unexpected happens that may just change his outlook. You must first read the fly page which warns the reader what he/she must do before reading the book. You will also want to read the other books in the series, Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach, Scaredy Squirrel at Night, and Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend. They can be found in the picture book "E" section of the library with the call number E WAT.

Do you think these are classics?

Here is my very incomplete list of preschool books that are classics or destined to become classics, that has been compiled from a variety of sites, and, of course, reflects my biases and favorites. Some titles were published 60 or 70 years ago and some in the last few years. Let me know your or your children’s favorites!

E BRE The Mitten by Jan Brett
E BRI Clifford, the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
E BRO Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
E CAN Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
E CAR The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
E CRO Click, Clack, Moo by Doreen Cronin
E CRO Giggle, Giggle, Quack by Doreen Cronin
E DEP Strega Nona by Tomie De Paola
E DEW Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
E EAS Are You My Mother? by Philip D. Eastman
E FAL Olivia by Ian Falconer
E FOX Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox
E FRE Corduroy by Don Freeman
E HEN Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
E JOH Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
E KEA The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
E MAR Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? by Bill Martin, Jr.
E MAR Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr.
E MCB Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
E MCC Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
E NUM If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff
E OCO Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor
ER PAR Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
E PFI The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
E PIP The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
E REY Curious George by Hans Augusto Rey
E ROH My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann
E ROS Little Pea by Amy Krause Rosenthal
E SCH Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner
E SEN Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
ER SEU The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
ER SEU Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
E SLO Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
E VIO Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
E WAT Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watts
E WIL Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
E WIL Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems
E WIS The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise
E YOL How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Bonnie's Favorites

I am often asked what my favorite children's books are. That depends on the week! Some titles make my list every time and Giggle, Giggle, Quack by Doreen Cronin is one of these. When Farmer Brown goes on vacation, leaving his brother Bob in charge, Duck makes trouble by changing all the instructions to notes the animals like much better. I especially like the instructions for pizza (not the frozen kind) with the added note that the hens prefer anchovies.

Blogging Biographies

When was the last time you read a biography or autobiography?
The question is; how to find a good one? Below you will find a few highly recommended biographies, either through reviews (New York Times, NPR, etc.) or …hmmmm….other blogs (librarian). You will find these titles and others in Helen Hall Library on a bookshelf next to the stairs and across from the music CD’s. If you need help finding more, ask a librarian. Please take a look and …. Have Fun Reading!
My American Journey by Colin Powell
Bad as I Wanna Be by Dennis Rodman
My Sergei: a love Story by Ekaterina Gordeeva
The Greatest Generation by Tom Brokaw
Eat, Pray, Love: one woman’s search for everything across Italy, India, and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert
In Espanol; Come, reza, ama: el viaje de una mujer pro Italia, India e Indonesia en busca del equilibrio entre cuerpo y espritu by Elizabeth Gilbert
Wild Swans: three daughters of China by Jung Chang
Escape by Carolyn Jessop
Persepolis by Marjane Strapi
The autobiography of Malcolm X
A long way gone: memoirs of a boy soldier by Ismael Beah
Tuesdays with Morrie: an old man a young man, and life’s greatest lesson by Mitch Albom
True Compass: a memoir by and about Edward Kennedy
Reading Lolita in Tehran: a memoir in books by Azar Nafisi

My Pick of the Week


For younger readers: Where to Sleep by Kandy Radzinski
This is a simple rhyming book where a kitten is looking for the best place to sleep. The illustrations are clear and bright. This a perfect book for parent and child at bedtime.

Pajama Story Time

Can't bring your preschoolers to our morning story times because they are in school or you work? We have a solution! Bring your children in their "jammies" to Pajama Story Time on Thursday nights from March 25th through May 6th at 6:30 pm in the Helen Hall Library Theater. Join Ms. Bonnie for a lively half hour of stories, songs, and finger plays!

Happy Birthday, Shadow Puppets

Who knew shadow puppets were one of the oldest puppet art forms? They are believed to have originated in China about 2000 years ago.
Kids can make simple shadow puppets at HHL on Thursday, March 18 at 4:30!

Explore the Universe @ your library

The American Library Association is offering a chance to win four prize packages for the Hubble 3D movie that opens March 19th. The contest is open to students in K-12. Please visit http://www.atyourlibrary.org/hubble to enter the contest. Answer the questions in the quiz, if you get all of the questions correct you will be entered to win the prizes. The contest runs through April 30th.

Prizes include:
Grand prize (1 winner): 25 IMAX® tickets, a telescope and a signed Hubble 3D poster
1st prize (1 winner): Family 4-pack of IMAX® tickets, a telescope and a signed Hubble 3D poster
2nd prize (2 winners): Family 4-pack of IMAX® tickets and a Hubble 3D poster
3rd prize (3 winners): Pair of IMAX® tickets and a Hubble 3D poster