Books to Inspire, Thrill and Engage Children
Counting books are a dime a dozen, so to speak, and finding one that captures the attention of both children and their parents is quite the feat. That's why I enjoyed An Invitation to the Butterfly Ball by Jane Yolen. Yolen doesn't just count one through ten, she also tells a story about animals getting... Continue Reading →
How much is infinity? What does that mean? Infinity is an abstract concept, difficult for young children to understand. Which is why Infinity and Me by Kate Hosford is a great book to share with young children, even elementary school children. In Infinity and Me, Hosford explores the idea of infinity as her narrator asks... Continue Reading →
In Eggs 1 2 3, author Janet Halfmann combines a counting book with a nature book. As she takes readers through the number 1 through 10, she also introduces them to different egg-laying animals - from birds to butterflies, and bugs to fish. Betsy Thompson's paper art is a perfect compliment to the counting. Parents... Continue Reading →
When I first came across the My First Little House Books series, I was disgusted. Is there no end to repackaging, marketing and otherwise destroying my favorite books? But curiosity overcame my disgust and I picked up a variety of them and brought them home to read and evaluate. I was pleasantly surprised at... Continue Reading →
Author Keith Baker follows his lovely LMNO peas alphabet book with the equally enthralling 1-2-3 peas. Like most counting books, 1-2-3 peas embarks on counting up to ten. Each page features large, textured numbers which contrast nicely with the tiny peas as they do what the narrator tells them to do, like "look" and "row".... Continue Reading →
Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak sounds like a book about food. But really, it's a book about months of the year. As it says on the front flap: Each month is gay, Each season nice, when eating chicken soup with rice. Sendak takes readers through each month of the year, espousing the wonders... Continue Reading →
When my children were little, I read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr and John Archambault so many times I could say the entire book by heart. And honestly, I was OK with that. Many a children's book grows old after reading it for the one-hundred-and-fiftieth time, but not this one. I read... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 