Guess Again!

Written by Mac Barnett

Illustrated by Adam Rex

Most enjoyed by readers of all ages

Be sure to take the time to read this book with your whole family when it comes home. This is one you don't want to miss.

Each two-page spread is made up of a simple rhyme on one page accompanied by a picture on the other page. Within the picture is a silhouette or object of something described in the rhyme. Think you know what it is? Just turn the page and find out that you need to guess again!

I would imagine that 'Guess Again!' would make a fun writing model for older students. They could write a rhyme describing something, then create a picture with that something in it. The true test would be to share the picture and rhyme with a classmate to see if they could guess what the picture it. This might even be a fun activity to do as a family when Thanksgiving dinner is done.

I'm so glad this book was at the book fair last week. Everyone who's heard it agrees it's a winner!

Max's Words

Written by Kate Banks

Illustrated by Boris Kulikov

Most enjoyed by Kindergartners through 3rd graders

Max's big brothers both have collections. Benjamin collects stamps while Karl collects coins. Max would like to have a collection of his own, but what can he collect? How about words? Max's collection begins with small words like 'the', 'a', 'was', and 'in'. But pretty soon, he's collecting bigger words. Color words, food words, words that make him happy. When his piles of words become to big for his desk, he puts them on the floor and begins to make stories from them. Soon, Benjamin and Karl want to join him, taken in by the magic of Max's words.

Max cuts his words from newspapers and magazines. When he uncovers a new word in the dictionary, he writes it on a scrap of paper. Why not try doing the same with new words you discover? This could be a great daily activity if you're just learning to read or if you want to increase the number of words you already know. If you're a first or second grader, you'll meet new 'Words to Remember' each week in your reading book. Try writing each word on a piece of paper and see how many you have after one month of school, then two months of school and so on until the end of the year. I'll bet you'll soon be like Max and have mountains of words in your collection. Now, what kind of story can you tell with all those words?

The Magic Hockey Stick

Written by Peter Maloney and Felicia Zekauskas

Most enjoyed by hockey fans in Kindergarten through 3rd grade

What would you do if you won Wayne Gretzky's hockey stick? Do you think it would make you a better player? For the narrator of 'The Magic Hockey Stick', that's exactly what happens when her parents come home with Wayne's stick. Won at a charity auction, her father tells her to keep the stick in a safe place, but she just can't resist sneaking it off to hockey practice. Pretty soon, she's scoring one or two goals each game and leading her team to a winning season. But when the great Gretzky himself goes into a slump, there's only one thing she can do.

It's pretty hard to keep your game up without your favorite hockey stick or baseball bat or running shoes. Young readers will identify with our narrator when she has to decide whether to give up her new stick, especially since it's improving her game. But she knows she can't stand by when her favorite hockey player needs help! With rhyming text and colorful illustrations, 'The Magic Hockey Stick' is just the book for hockey players and armchair hockey fans everywhere!

New Elephant and Piggie Books!

Yeah! We have the newest Elephant and Piggie books!

Kids young and not so young can't get enough of these two characters. I've had 6th graders ask if there are more on the shelves because they've read all the titles we have. They'll be happy to see the latest additions.

A good friendship can go sour when one party's toy gets broken by the other. In 'I Love My New Toy', Piggie can't wait to show Gerald his new toy, but Gerald accidentally breaks it. Piggie is upset and angry. Will he give up being friends with Gerald? Kids can relate to both Piggie and Gerald's feelings because they've been in their spots before. How the problem is solved gives them ideas for resolving toy crises themselves.

Isn't it fun to surprise your friend once in a while? Hide behind a door and jump out with a loud 'Boo!'? In 'I Will Surprise My Friend!', Elephant and Piggie watch two squirrels do just that. It looks like so much fun, the best friends decide to surprise each other. Except it doesn't quite work out the way they had planned. Watch the expressions on Elephant and Piggie's faces as the tension builds for them to surprise each other. You just may find yourself looking through your house to find someone to surprise!

Where's My Mummy?

By Carolyn Crimi

Illustrated by John Manders

Most enjoyed by Kindergartners through 4th graders

Only one week left until Ms. Crimi comes to Zion! We are so excited! This is the last of Ms. Crimi's books that we'll be reading to get ready for her visit. This is another title perfect for Halloween, especially for the younger set.

Baby Mummy is not ready for bed. He wants to play one more game of 'hide and shriek'. As Baby Mummy goes looking for Big Mama Mummy, he meets all sorts of characters who tell him that the woods are too scary for a little guy like him, but he assures them he isn't scared. At least, not until he meets up with the scariest creature of the forest!

Ms. Crimi has created a charming bedtime story that's not too scary. The creatures are all getting ready for bed and doing the things little ones do, like brushing their teeth and washing their face. When the 'scary' creature is revealed, little ones will laugh at Baby Mummy's fright. The ending is just right for one more bedtime kiss before turning out the lights. Illustrator John Manders has a knack for creating silly characters; just take a look at the pirates in 'Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies' and you'll see what I mean.

Read this one with the littlest in the family and get ready to hear 'Read it again!'.

Boris and Bella

By Carolyn Crimi

Illustrated by Gris Grimley

Most enjoyed by Kindergartners through 4th graders

Boris and Bella are neighbors who don't get along. Bella Legrossi is a slob, plain and simple. Boris Kleanitoff, on the other hand, can't stand a speck of dust. Both go out of their way to make the other miserable. When Halloween rolls around, Bella plans a party and invites everyone but Boris. When Boris hears this, he plans a party, too, and invites everyone but Bella. Soon the RSVP's start coming in, leaving both mad. Seems everyone is going to Harry Beastie's party to avoid getting bitten by Bella's dust bunnies or nagging by Boris about scuff marks. Bella and Boris crash Harry's party ready to give him a piece of their minds only to find the party in full swing and no one paying attention to them. When the music starts, Bella and Boris can't resist the urge to take a turn on the dance floor, leading them to realize that a little dust and a clean punch cup aren't so bad after all.

Another title by Carolyn Crimi, this one is just right for a Halloween read-aloud. The illustrations are perfect, showing just what a mess Bella is (does her room look like yours?) and how ultra-clean Boris is. The monsters partying away are a hoot, too.

Enjoy this one just before you head out trick-or-treating and see if you can spot Boris or Bella!

Don't Need Friends

By Carolyn Crimi

Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

Most enjoyed by Kindergarten through 4th graders

Rat's best friend has moved away from the junkyard and his heart is broken. He's sure he'll never have a friend again so he decides that he doesn't need any friends at all. No matter how nice the other animals in the junkyard are to him, Rat turns them away. One day, a big, grouchy dog moves in on the other side of the junkyard. The dog and Rat spend their days telling each other to stay on their own sides, which they do, until winter comes. As the temperature drops, Rat and Dog shiver alone in their own homes. But when a foot-long sub sandwich appears, the chance to step outside their own homes opens up a window to friendship.

This is a wonderful story about the highs and lows of friendship. Lynn Munsinger's illustrations show Rat and Dog's emotions so well. In fact, just when Rat's words on the page say 'Don't need friends, don't need 'em at all!', one look at Rat's face and the reader isn't fooled by Rat's words. A great reminder that friendships aren't always perfect but they're better than no friends at all!

The Louds Move In!

Written by Carolyn Crimi

Illustrated by Regan Dunnick

Most enjoyed by Kindergartners through 4th graders

This is NOT a bedtime story! As a matter of fact, it's not a quiet time story either. It is LOUD! Earmuffle Avenue is populated by Miss Shushermush, Mr. Pitterpatter, and Miss Meekerton who, as their names imply, are very quiet. But the neighborhood changes when the LOUDS move in. The LOUDS do everything loudly, from walking to eating. And no matter how friendly they are, the residents of Earmuffle Avenue want no part of them. Until the LOUDS go on vacation. Then things change, but is it for the better?

This is a fun read-aloud because it is so noisy! The size of the text changes when the Louds talk, reminding the reader to change the volume level, too. The illustrations are silly and make the Louds look as outrageous as they sound. Enjoy this one when it's time for a few laughs!

Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies

By Carolyn Crimi

Illustrated by John Manders

Most enjoyed by pirates in Kindergarten through 4th grade

Two years ago, when our current 3rd graders were in first grade, Mrs. Jones, teacher extraordinaire, read 'Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies' to her class. They had finished reading all of the Monarch Award books for that year and were still in the mode of evaluating good books. After reading this one, they asked Mrs. Jones if it could be an award book, too. So Mrs. Jones nominated it and here, two years later, the book is a candidate for the 2009 Monarch Award and is the reason we're going to meet the author in a few weeks! The power of a good book in a child's hand!

Henry is not like the other pirate bunnies on the ship. Instead of pillaging for treasure or making prisoners walk the plank, he'd rather read. His father, Captain Black Ear, orders the books thrown overboard but Henry saves them just in time, agreeing to swab the deck in the hopes that it will make him see reason and give up reading. But when the pirate ship is caught in a storm and wrecked, the crew is cast on a deserted island. Who will come to their rescue and save them? Might it be a little bunny who knows a thing or two from books?

Kids and pirates go together. A pirate is brave and fearless, just like a kid ready to devour a plate of peas. A pirate can swash buckle with the best, just like a kid trying to avoid homework. And pirates can learn lots from books, just like kids do with great teachers like Mrs. Jones who introduce them to awesome bunnies like Henry!

This is our favorite Carolyn Crimi book, although we're growing quite fond of a few others. Keep checking back here to find out about Ms. Crimi's other books!

Get Busy, Beaver!

Written by Carolyn Crimi

Illustrated by Janie Bynum

Most enjoyed by Kindergartners through 4th graders

On Friday, October 3rd, Zion will host a visit from Illinois author Carolyn Crimi. Ms. Crimi writes wonderfully fun books for young readers, including one of our favorites which I'll blog about tomorrow (sorry, you have to wait to find out what it is!). To prepare the kids for Ms. Crimi's visit, we're reading all of the books she's written. Today, we start with 'Get Busy, Beaver!', the perfect story for the dreamer in your house.

Pa, Ma and sister Babs Beaver are hard at work building a new house for the winter. Thelonious is supposed to be helping but he'd much rather spend the time looking at the clouds or watching a leaf spin on the water. Even the neighbors are hard at work on a den of their own, which worries Pa and Ma even more. If only they could get Thelonious to help out! But he does help, in a way no one expected and in a way they all enjoy.

Ms. Crimi has written a tribute to free thinkers everywhere. As one of our 3rd graders said today after listening to 'Get Busy, Beaver', since you 'can't judge a book by it's cover', we'd better not judge people by how they look!

Nora's Ark

By Natalie Kinsey-Warnock

Illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully

Most enjoyed by Kindergartners through 3rd graders

Young Wren lives with Grandma and Grandpa on a farm in Vermont. Grandpa is building Grandma a new house high up on a hill but Grandma's not too thrilled. She thinks the house is 'just gravy'. But her mind is changed when rains begin to fall, causing the river by the farm to rise. Grandma and Wren move to the new house and it isn't long before they're joined by some neighbors and their animals, filling the house with chickens, children, and three horses! When Grandpa doesn't return after going out in the storm to help a neighbor, Wren and Grandma make the dangerous journey into the flood waters to try to find him.

Based on the disastrous 1927 flood that caused widespread damage and loss of life in Vermont, this is a warm, reassuring story of how love and friendship win out in tough times. Share this book with your family and talk about how you weather tough times as a family. Isn't it reassuring to know that, like Wren, Grandma, and Grandpa, you'll have each other to fall back on? Another in the 2009 Monarch award titles, this one is a winner.

Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude

By Kevin O'Malley

Illustrated by Kevin O'Malley, Carol Heyer, and Scott Goto

Most enjoyed by Kindergartners through 3rd graders

Want to start off this short week with a laugh? Check out 'Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude'. The boy and the girl narrating the story have to tell their favorite fairy tale to you, the reader. But since they can't agree on which fairy tale they like best, they tell their own. At least, that's what they try to do. She has one idea that involves princesses, pretty ponies and spinning gold. He, on the other hand, favors rotten-toothed giants, volcanoes and one very cool motorcycle dude. These two very different views of a good fairy tale come to an ending that satisfies both. Sort of.

'Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude' is a great read aloud for two people, preferably one male and one female. Why don't mom and dad try reading it out loud to the kids after dinner, before everyone heads off to do homework? Talk about some dinner table fun! The three illustrators each take a point of view, making the artwork very distinct for each character. The princess and her ponies are so pretty done in pinks and purples. The motorcycle dude's coolness is reflected in dark, bold colors.

This is another title from the 2009 Monarch Award list and one that is sure to get lots of votes in the spring. Enjoy it now because it won't stay on the shelves once everyone has read it!

There is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me

By Alice Walker

Illustrated by Stefano Vitale

Most enjoyed by Kindergartners through 3rd graders

The weather has been beautiful here over the last few days, hasn't it? It's cooling down in the evening, giving us just a hint of the fall weather that hides around the corner. It's a perfect time to get outside, savor the last of summer's flowers, admire the green trees and smell the fresh air. 'There is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me' is just the book to read before you head outside.

Author Alice Walker was out walking one day, marveling at the beauty of nature, when she began to sing. She went home and wrote the words down, turning them into a celebration poem for our role in the natural world. Stefano Vitale's vibrant, colorful illustrations are a perfect match for Walker's words of praise. Combined, the result is a book that joyfully reminds us of our role in the world.

Another of the 2009 Monarch Award nominees, 'There is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me' is a delight for the senses.

The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County

By Janice Harrington

Illustrated by Shelley Jackson

Most enjoyed by Preschool through 3rd grade

There are three things our narrator likes to do to start her day - eat breakfast, tell her mama stories, and chase chickens. She has one favorite chicken who is tough to catch. No matter how the little girl tries to outsmart her, that chicken runs away fast. But one day, that ole chicken cannot be found. Where could she be hiding? As the little girl hunts for it, she discovers that the chicken has a very good reason for hiding. Can you guess what it might be?

This is one story you don't want to read silently. It begs to be read aloud. There's lots of squawking and prucking so don't save this one for bedtime. The illustrations in 'The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County' add to the fun. Part collage, part drawing, they give a helter-skelter feel to the pages, much like the chickens who run here and there when chased. The illustrations remind us that we don't have to draw every picture in the stories we write. Pictures from magazines and newspapers can be added to our drawings to help tell our stories.

'The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County' is a candidate for the 2009 Monarch award. Zion's Kindergarten through 3rd grade students will be reading the Monarch candidates and voting for their favorite in February. Each year when we read the Monarch candidates, we always find one or two stories that quickly become new favorites. This one is sure to be added to our list!

Go to Bed, Monster!

By Natasha Wing

Illustrated by Sylvie Kantorovitz

Most enjoyed by Preschool through 1st Grade

Lucy is not ready for bed; she's ready to draw. She pours out her crayons and creates a monster from simple shapes who comes alive to play. The two play until Lucy is sleepy, but Monster wants no part of going to bed. Even when Lucy draws him a bed, a drink and a cuddly teddy bear, the Monster still wants to play. When Lucy pulls out something special, though, the Monster is ready to snuggle. Can you guess what that something special is?

This is the perfect bedtime story for a little one who NEVER stalls when going to bed. Try it and see if it works!

Chester

Written and illustrated by Melanie Watt

Most enjoyed by Preschoolers through 3rd graders

Cats love attention, any time and any way. It seems they can be quite demanding about it, too. I once had a piano teacher who owned a Siamese cat that loved to walk in front of my piano music whenever I was trying to play. The teacher thought it very funny but I didn't because I usually lost my place and had to start over again.

Chester is a lot like that cat except he wants the author, his owner, to write a story about him and not the mouse she's trying to write about. He keeps interrupting the story, marking up the pictures with his own doodles, and adding his version to her writing. It looks like Chester will win the battle until the author turns the tables and creates a story about Chester that he doesn't like one bit. You'll love the last two-page picture of Chester! If you have a cat at home who rules the house, you'll recognize Chester right away!

You'll find that 'Chester' provides lots of inspiration for you to write your own story. Instead of a mouse and a cat, can you think of another animal pair that might not want to be in each other's story? Perhaps a fox and a rabbit, or a frog and a fly. Now how would they go about interrupting each other's story? I'll bet you can come up with some fun situations for your animal pair, just like Chester and the mouse! Try it!

Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Trucks and Trains

By Ed Emberley

Great for all ages

Looking for something to do next week during TV Turn-Off week? Grab some paper, a pencil or two and your favorite markers. Then pick up this book and start drawing! Ed Emberley is well known for creating books that show us how to draw. Here, he focuses on how to draw trucks and trains of all sorts. The amazing thing about any of Ed's books, and we have two of them in the library, is that after following his directions for a few drawings, you begin to be able to draw things pretty well on your own. It may be that your eye gets trained to see things differently; what once was something that looked too hard to draw now becomes easier because we see it as shapes and angles and lines. Or perhaps Ed's easy-to-follow directions give us more confidence to tackle other pictures on our own. Whatever the reason, 'Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Trucks and Trains' is great for the motor vehicle lover in your household.

The End

Written by David LaRochelle

Illustrated by Richard Egielski

Most enjoyed by Preschoolers through 3rd grade

Most stories stop with 'The End'. Everyone lives happily ever after and the story is ready to tell or read again. But in 'The End', David LaRochelle gives that happily ever after a different twist. Everyone lives happily ever after in this tale because the knight fell in love with the princess. The knight fell in love with the princess because she poured a big bowl of lemonade on his head. She poured the bowl of lemonade on his head because...

If you're starting the get the idea that this is a tale told backward, you're right. The end is really the beginning, while the beginning is really the end. Got it? It's a fun story to read out loud. Listeners can try to guess why something happened the way it did. When they turn the page, they discover if they were correct and what really happened. For young writers, 'The End' is a neat writing model. Instead of trying to tell a story from the beginning, try writing it backwards from the end. Does that give you a different perspective on your story?

There are lots of ways to use 'The End' at home or in the classroom. Make sure to read it yourself and see if you can come up with a different beginning for why everyone lived happily ever after!

It's Official!

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy!

Written and illustrated by Mo Willems

Most enjoyed by Preschoolers through 3rd grade

At long last, we finally know what the pigeon wants! Our Kindergartners through 3rd graders have been looking forward to the release of this book since January. Mo's pigeon books are some of the most popular here in the Zion library. Some of us even entered Mo's contest to see what kids thought the pigeon might like to have. And now we know! It's a puppy!

Zion's copy of the book arrived this morning gift-wrapped so no one, not even the librarian, could see what the book was. Many thanks to Read Between the Lynes bookstore in Woodstock for playing along with us and making sure the book was a surprise for everyone (they even checked the receipt to make sure the title didn't show up there - how's that for service!).

Now, if you're the parent of a Kindergartner through 3rd grader, you can skip the rest of this paragraph and go ask your child what 'The Pigeon Wants a Puppy' is about. We read it today as a whole group and loved it! What kid doesn't want a pet? And for many kids, the pet they wish for most is a puppy. The pigeon is no different. He's sure he'll take care of it, like watering it once a month and making sure it gets plenty of sunshine. But when the pigeon's dream comes true, he realizes he might have asked for a bit more than he can handle.

Mo Willems knows just how to create books that reach kids and tickle their funny bones. If you or your little one can't get enough of Mo and his books, be sure to head down to Anderson's Bookshop on Saturday, May 3rd at 11:00 AM. Mo will be there giving a presentation and signing books. Watch the Blue Notes for information about Mo's visit and don't be surprised if your little one starts begging you to please, pretty please take them to see Mo!

Waking Beauty

By Leah Wilcox

llustrated by Lydia Monks

Most enjoyed by Preschoolers through 3rd GradersI

Fractured fairy tales are so much fun. 'Waking Beauty' is another twisted fairy tale by the dynamic duo of Leah Wilcox and Lydia Monks. Their first venture 'Falling for Rapuzel' gave us a long haired lass who was a little bit hard of hearing. When asked to let her hair down, she tosses just about everything else but her hair out of the window. In 'Waking Beauty', it's the prince's turn to get things mixed up.

Sleepting Beauty has been asleep for a long time when along comes the prince who is told to wake the lass with a..... But the prince never listens to how exactly he's supposed to wake the lady because he's too busy guessing different methods. Shooting her out of a cannon? How about hollering or jumping on the bed? None of these ideas work and when the prince finally finds out how to wake the fair girl, he is shocked. All those years of morning breath? Hmmm...

Laugh-out-loud fun is what's in store here. Kids will enjoy trying to guess what new wake=up method the prince will come up with next. And guess what happens when he finally wakes the beauty! Pick this one up for a fun family read-aloud.