Books for fall and for starting school

Fall makes us think about picking apples, going back to school and walking through leaves. Going back to school can be exciting or scary, depending on who we are and where we live. Whether your child is excited to go to school, or is worried that she will not fit in, there is a book here for you to use. Enjoy these fall choices as the temperature finally cools off a little bit.

Hello, Fall! By Deborah Diesen, Pictures by Lucy Fleming

A young girl with her (assumed) grandfather reminisces about fall activities like walking through falling leaves, munching on crunchy apples and whispering with patient pumpkins. There is joy on every page, conveyed both through the words and the pictures. It would also be a great book to use if teaching memoir writing with young children, or using good word choice. Lots of ways to enjoy this joyful book!

Best Frints at Skrool by Antoinette Portis

I am not sure if this book is super clever or just very annoying. The story is a school story told about friends on Planet Boborp. While written in English, many words are changed to Boborp words. Luckily, these words often rhyme with English words, or use picture clues and context so the reader can figure it out. But, what about a struggling reader, or a young one who takes everything literally? The lessons are well told and the author is careful to point out that stoodents on earth don’t behave quite so badly as those on Boborp. Give it a read and let me know what you think.

Tractor Mac School Day by Billy Steers

Betty is an anthropomorphic School Bus who has a bad first day of school. Thanks to the advice of all her vehicle friends, including Tractor Mac, as well as the help of the farm animals, Betty is ready to go for her second day, which goes much better! A good book to read in the first weeks of school. Some days are not so great, but we can work together to make them better.

Geraldine by Elizabeth Lilly

Have you ever been that girl? The one that stands out and is known only by weird characteristics? Geraldine is the only giraffe in her new school and she definitely stands out. Here is the story of how she makes one friend and then another and finally fits in when she cannot literally fit in. For any child who does not fit in right now at this moment, this book gives hope. And it’s fun to read!

Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller, Illustrated by Jen Hill

 

When Tanisha has an accident with her grape juice, the narrator remembers that her mother always told her to “Be kind.” But, she does not know what to do to show kindness to Tanisha. She imagines many different responses and thinks up several ways to be kind to Tanisha and to others at home, at school and around the world. What a great book to share with early learners. They could share even more ideas!

Pie is for Sharing by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard, Illustrations by Jason Chin

With the help of beautiful, old-fashioned illustrations that reminded me of those by Alexandra Day in the Carl books, Ledyard tells the story of sharing. What can be shared, what is shared even when you don’t realize it and what is not usually shared. Set around a summer holiday picnic, maybe the fourth of July, this book would make a good introduction to a new classroom in the fall. What can the students in the room share and how will this help their year to go better?

Dude by Aaron Reynolds, Art by Dan Santat

A one word story with illustrations. A platypus and a beaver go surfing when they discover a shark, or maybe the shark discovers them. After an initial period of fright, they realize the shark wants to and can be a friend. This would make a marvelous story starter as a wordless picture book!

Fantasy Picture books for Young Readers

Animal Fantasy

One of the most common forms of fantasy for young children is that which is written about animals who act like humans. Here are a bunch of animal fantasy ranging from sloths who like to travel to philosophical ducks. There must be one here that you would love, too!

Peter and Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths by Graham Annable

Peter and Ernesto are content to live in a tree and play games. But, Ernesto grows tired of their limited view of the sky, so he runs off on an adventure. And thus ensues, Ernesto’s trip, followed by Peter’s quest to find Ernesto. The reader gets to see similar things from two different perspectives, like the floating footbridge that is shaky and funny to Ernesto, but scary and almost uncrossable for Peter. Lots of great reading, simple words, complex concepts!

What the Ladybug Heard Next by Julia Donaldson, Illustrated by Lydia Monks

When the chicken is annoyed that her eggs are disappearing, the Ladybug offers to listen and report back what she hears. And thus begins the tale of how the Ladybug saves the day and helps the chicken avoid being stolen by Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len. Told in rhyme with plenty of repetitive language, this is a perfect read for a short, fun-filled story time. Plenty of lessons here as well, if you want them!

Kit and Kaboodle  by Rosemary Wells

Rosemary Wells is a beloved children’s book author and illustrator who continues to write and illustrate loving books for children. Kit and Kaboodle are kittens who love to do what they are told. The problem is that Spinka, a tiny mouse, follows them around and adds a touch of mischief to their day. Cute stories with a touch of humor, best for the youngest readers in the house.

The Other Ducks by Ellen Yeomans, Pictures by Chris Sheban

A philosophical exploration of what it means to be yourself and how you learn about the world around you told through the eyes of This Duck and That Duck. This might be a little confusing for young readers or listeners, but with the right teacher or parent, it could be quite interesting indeed.

Somewhere Else by Gus Gordon

First the illustrations: these are a combination of line drawings and collage interspersed with photographs and other interesting pieces of artwork. Next the story: George is a goose who stays in one place because he has a secret; he never learned how to fly. With the help of a good friend, George travels the world in a hot air balloon and comes home to bake a pie. Something about this strange amalgam of pictures and words works for me. I love it!

City Mouse, Country Mouse by Maggie Rudy

An old story, retold with Tansy and Will, two young mice who find each other. They both love their own homes and cannot leave, but it turns out, they can’t live without each other. Eventually, they settle, quite platonically, next to each other in a half way town, half way between the city and the country. The illustrations are small sets with stuffed mice interspersed within the scene. The sets are made of scavenged material, inspired by the worlds of Beatrix Potter.

Through with the Zoo by Jacob Grant

If you are a goat in a petting zoo and you do not like to be petted or touched, you have a problem. Goat tries to escape and hide out in the larger zoo, but soon grows tired of being left alone. When he returns to the petting zoo, he realizes that it feels pretty good, but it’s also good to get away once in a while. A perfect story to help children solve simple problems.

Books for Young Scientists

There are so many good books for young people who are interested in science and the study of the world around us. Most of these are not technically nonfiction, but have plenty of factual elements in them. Perhaps my favorite of this group are the two based on women scientists, Rachel Carson and Katherine Johnson. Both lived in an era when it was unusual for a woman to pursue a career in science or math and they both overcame the odds to live their lives immersed in their chosen fields. Enjoy sharing these books with children you know!

Spring After Spring : How Rachel Carson Inspired the Environmental Movement by Stephanie Roth Sisson

A brief biography of Rachel Carson with highlights that tell of her journey to writing Silent Spring. Sisson has done a masterful job of writing and illustrating a book that can be understood by children and adults alike. She shows how miniscule poisons can affect not only bird’s eggs, but the wildlife that eat the birds as well, and ultimately the humans in the environment. The book ends with a brief note on the importance of Silent Spring to the environmental movement as well as additional information about the story that is being told on each page. Perhaps a copy of this should be sent to the Trump administration.

Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 by Helaine Becker, Illustrations by Dow Phumiruk

A short biography of Katherine Johnson, the mathematician who worked on several manned space flights, including the one that landed Americans on the moon for the first time. Katherine was an amazing math wizard and a self-effacing woman who achieved at the highest level allowed for a Black woman of her time. Becker interviewed Katherine before writing this book and includes additional notes on her life at the end.

Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years by Stacy McAnulty, Illustrated by David Litchfield

Tongue in cheek, earth speaks to the reader giving a bit of history and telling us how to take care of the planet we know of as home. While most events and information are given only a superficial treatment, McAnulty does a great job of introducing big ideas to children: what is a planet, why we should take care of the earth, etc. She concludes with a few additional facts as well as sources for her information. Get the scoop on Planet Earth!

One Day a Dot by Ian Lendle, illustrated by Shelli Paroline & Braden Lamb

Clever use of metaphor to tell the story of the Big Bang Theory appropriately for children. Moving quickly from the first life on earth to the cavemen and beyond, Lendle gives information in a way that children can relate. He even leaves room for questions and discussion. Where did that first dot come from anyway?

Hello, My Name is … by Marisa Polansky, Pictures by Joey Chou

As a small octopus floats into new territory, he realizes that all the other sea creature have names that reflect what they look like or what they can do. But, this little sea creature has no name, until a scientist taps on the tank window and calls him Adorabilis. While the story is told in an anthropomorphic way, it is based on facts and the end notes explain who Adorabilis was found and how this creature got its name.

What’s Your Favorite Bug? Eric Carle and Multiple Authors

In the tradition of Eric Carle and friends, this book poses one question and has multiple answers from many well known illustrators. This means that each page is illustrated in a different style giving us Carle’s colorful caterpillar as well as Eric Fan’s personified working bee complete with bowler hat and briefcase. Lots of fun details about the work that insects do for us as well.

If Polar Bears Disappeared by Lily Williams 

Another book about the effects of humans on the environment. While Williams uses big words and huge concepts to tell the story of what is likely to happen to polar bears, much of this book can be explained to young children with time and patience. The end notes give ideas that all of us can try to alleviate our negative effect on the environment. Throughout the story, multiethnic children encounter a variety of wildlife in nature. Let’s hope that this is something that can continue for many more generations.

Hawk Rising by Maria Gianferrari, Pictures by Brian Floca

A young girl watches a hawk family as young chicks hatch and the male hawk hunts for prey throughout the day. Poetic language matches the dreamy illustrations, giving a soft, hazy view of the hawk chasing and finally catching a small animal. The book ends with facts about raptors and hawks in particular. This will need to be read with care as it is clear that the hawk will kill and eat the squirrel it finally catches and young readers may need some context within the cycle of life.

Water Land: Land and Water Forms Around the World by Christy Hale

A concept book told with limited words and a refined color palette. Hale illustrates each land and water form with yellows, blues and simple cutouts to make her point. The end of the book is a foldout page with a map of the world, labeled with the vocabulary used throughout the book. Simple enough for first grade, but extremely useful for older learners who need to master this vocabulary.

Summer Reading: Where did the time go?

The Truth about Hippos and The Truth about Bears and The Truth about Dolphins by Maxwell Eaton III

   

All three of these books are filled with facts about the respective animals and while the facts are interesting and true, it would be difficult to classify them as nonfiction. The author uses a self-referential metafictional style to tell the story that keeps even the most bored student interested. These would be great books to use as a model for a report on animals. Ask the students to read and them copy the style to make their own metafictional report.

Words and Your Heart by Kate Jane Neal

The first thing that you notice when encountering this book is the red cover and the red, black and white drawings throughout. The second thing is that the author is speaking directly to the reader and trying to get their attention. While the message of this book could be perceived as somewhat didactic, the illustrations keep the tone light, fanciful and not so much of an I-told-you-so book as a suggestion book. This book needs to be read more than once for the message to sink in. To label it simply as an anti-bullying book does not do it justice. Check it out.

Nerdy Birdy Tweets by Aaron Reynolds, Pictures by Matt Davies

And now we have it, a story of two birds, one ignores the other to play online with Tweety Friends. How do they resolve their issues when tweeting gets in the way of their friendship?  Modern day book on manners in the age of electronic toys.

Not so Different: What you Really Want to Ask about Having a Disability by Shane Vurcaw with photographs by Matt Carr

Shane Burcaw has Spinal Muscular Atrophy which is a long name for a disease that causes his muscles to be very weak. He has had this disease since birth and it causes him to be in a wheelchair. In spite of this, Shane has a very positive outlook on life and has written this book to help others, particularly children, understand a little about his disability. One of the things I like about this book is that it is told in the first person. This is Shane’s story and there is no reason why he cannot tell it. While Shane never says it, it is clear that he does not see himself as disabled, rather he is differently abled. He gives frank answers to questions that he receives frequently in his life and he speaks from his heart.

Hooked by Tommy Greenwald, Illustrations by David McPhail

How can a father become close to his child? This could be an alternative name for this book. Joe loves to fish and his dad (perhaps a single father) emphatically does not like fishing. Until one day when Joe really needs his dad to go with him on an ice-fishing trip. Joe and his dad form a special bond that day; they talk and laugh and share memories while making new memories. And, finally, Joe’s dad is hooked on fishing. And that is how a father becomes close to his child.

The Bat Can Bat: A Book of True Homonyms by Gene Barretta

As Barretta explains in the beginning of this delightful book, a homonym represents a pair of words that are spelled the same, pronounced the same and have different meanings, like bat and bat. They are not to be confused with homophones which are spelled differently, but sound the same, like sea and see; or with homographs, which are spelled the same, but pronounced differently: like tear and tear. Barretta has set the book up to tell a story about animals playing various sports and uses at least one homonym on every two page spread. Sometimes, he cleverly works two homonym pairs into a single sentence like this one: “So, the FLY has to DUCK and the DUCK has to FLY.” Well, I’d say this was well done!

Vincent Comes Home by Jessixa Bagley and Aron Bagley

Vincent is a cat who lives on a cargo ship. He enjoys his life, eating fish, chasing seagulls and watching the stars in the night sky. But, he is unhappy because he does not get to go home. Finally, when docking in home port, he follows one of the sailors to see if he can find out what this place called home is and he finds that “Home is where the people who love you are.” With this realization, Vincent is unhappy because he feels he must not have a home. Just then, the captain finds him wandering the streets of the city, picks him up and says, “Let’s go home!” Vincent’s home is with the captain and the sailors, on the ship. A great way to introduce the idea of alternative homes and the importance of people in our concept of what a home is.

Goldenlocks and the Three Pirates  by April Jones Prince, Pictures by Steven Salerno

Following the trajectory of Goldylocks and the Three Bears, Jones introduces three dastardly pirates and then follows Goldenlocks around their ship, tasting gruel, and mending stools and hammocks. The use of sea-faring language gives an added dimension to the story, which is also enhanced by the liberal use of alliteration. Goldenlocks proves to be so handy that they invite her to join them on their ship. Fracture Fairy Tales could not have done better.

Books for Babies and Toddlers

Spring has brought our family a new baby. Congratulations, Zack and Lacey! In honor of the new little one and all our grand nieces and nephews, here are a few books for babies and toddlers. So much love here!

 

 

The Big Bed by Bunmi Laditan, Pictures by Tom Knight

Tongue in cheek, told in the voice of a toddler, explaining to her dad why he can’t sleep in the big bed anymore. There really is room only for two people and that would be Mommy and the child. Sorry, Daddy, but, you’ll just have to sleep on the cot next to the big bed from now on. Hmm, Wonder if this would work?

 

Love, Mama by Jeanette Bradley

When the little penguin’s mother goes off on a trip, maybe travelling for business, little Kip misses her terribly and cannot be comforted by pillows or pictures of Mama. But, when a box of goodies arrives from his Mama, he is comforted by the knowledge that his Mama loves him and thinks of him every day. A reminder to tell others every day how much we love them.

 

The Boy and the Blue Moon by Sara O’Leary, illustrated by Ashley Crowley

What do you do when you wake up in the night and cannot go back to sleep? The boy in this story explores the fields around his house and flies to the moon. When he gets lonely on the moon, he returns home, and falls asleep. I might try this next time I have a sleepless night.

 

The ABC Animal Orchestra by Donald Saaf

An alphabet book with an animal and an instrument on every page. Each letter is represented by four of five words and the words catch most of the multiple pronunciations of English letters. Take C for example: chimpanzee, cymbals, car cat and camera. Time to go check out the drum playing dog and the hedgehog playing harmonica.

 

Everything You by Elizabeth McPike, Pictures by Jay Fleck

No matter what baby animal is shown, it is special to two animal parents. Each baby gets the royal treatment because “You’re every HAPPY ENDING, our fairy-tale you./ You’re everything WONDROUS, the stars and moon knew.” Each animal is drawn in outline form with uncluttered backgrounds. Even the chicken has an expression of love on her face. We do love our babies!

 

I Love You for Miles and Miles by Alison Goldberg, Pictures by Mike Yamada

We often hear folks say, “I love you to the moon and back.” How else could we express that love? Wider than the widest big rig? Deeper than the deepest drill? Faster than the fastest fire truck? Working with anything that moves or builds or attracts toddlers’ attention, Goldberg has quantified love in a way that our littlest ones will understand. Bears with various colored t-shirts illustrate each two-page spread. Gender is neutral, so the reader can interpret as she/he feels led.  

 

Bunny Built by Michael Slack

LaRue cannot find any carrots, no matter where he looks or who he asks. His friends are out of carrots as well and he notices that Nevil has lost his boat, Stella has lost her house and Ivy has lost her table. But, LaRue finds a huge carrot seed which he plants and nurtures until he has a giant carrot, which he then cuts up like lumber and builds a boat, a house and a table. Lots of ways to use this book in a preschool class: compassion, resourcefulness, cause and effect and vocabulary!

 

The Little Fire Truck by Margery Cuyler, illustrated by bob Kolar

Cuyler tells her story about a fire-truck and the fire-fighters in rhyme. The illustrations are brightly colored and use simple lines to abstractly represent the fire fighters and their surroundings. On the first page, the firetruck driver is introduced as Jill. Nice touch! I thought. But, it turned out, that’s all it was, a little touch of gender neutrality. Although I looked on page after page, I only saw one other fire woman, and no police women. How hard is it to show women doing traditionally male jobs?

 

Peep and Egg: I’m Not Taking a Bath by Laura Gehl, Pictures by Joyce Wan

Following the usual pattern of Peep and Egg books, Egg gets dirty and Peep wants him to take a bath. But, Egg is not going to take a bath willingly! Several scenarios are presented, and Egg refuses them all: Too wet, too splashy, too fast, too fishy. So, Peep uses reverse psychology and takes all the bath toys to the pond. It works, and Egg gets a bath and does not want to come out. I haven’t yet understood what makes these books popular, but if they are getting kids to love books, who am I to argue?

 

You’re All Kinds of Wonderful by Nancy Tillman

The author of On the Night You Were Born is back with another beautifully illustrated book about the importance of each individual. I cannot say enough about the pictures in this book. They are lush and creative, the colors are exquisite and the children in the illustrations represent multiple ethnicities, both genders and many sizes. There is even a child who might have Down Syndrome. While the rhyme schemes are sometimes forced, the sentiment is as beautiful as the illustrations. Share this with your favorite child and you will both feel good when you are done!

 

If animals Said I Love You by Ann Whitford Paul, Pictures by David Walker

Imaginative, joyful, lush, loving. What else can I say about a book that tries to tell us how animals might say, “I love you” ? Told in rhyme, this is a perfect book to read before bed or naptime, or anytime you want to tell your toddler how much you love her!

 

 

 

Fantasy in picture books

While most picture books are full of fantasy, some is more fantastical than others. Here is a small selection of picture books for young children. Each book is full of fantasy at a high level, from a talking egg in Humpty Dumpty and the Peep and Egg stories to a troop of monkeys going to sea in Phillip Stead's latest book, to a cow who is not just a cow, but also an inventor, you will find not only fantasy, but hilarity through and through! Enjoy!

The Only Fish in the Sea by Philip Stead, illustrated by Matthew Cordell

When Little Amy Scott throws an unwanted goldfish into the sea, she starts a chain of events that are so ridiculous, so over the top, so hilarious, the reader cannot help but be engaged. Sadie and Sherman go to sea with a troop of monkeys and special rain gear to rescue a fish they call Ellsworth. And Little Amy is all alone at her birthday party. The illustrations are busy enough to keep up with all the developments in the story and show a few extra details to keep everyone’s imagination engaged. 

After the Fall by Dan Santat

What happened to Humpty Dumpty after he fell off the wall? If you ever wondered this, you are about to find out. Santat, who won a Caldecott medal for The Adventures of Beekle, lets Humpty tell his own story through words and pictures; a story of pain and sadness, but also of triumph in the end.

Prudence the Part-Time Cow by Jody Jensen Shaffer, illustrated by Stephanie Laberis

A new twist on what to do if you don’t fit in with your “herd.” Prudence is a cow, but she is so much more; she is an inventor, a scientist, an architect. All of this thinking and activity make her unpopular with the rest of the cows and she just doesn’t fit in. Finally, she figures out a way to use her inventions for the good of the herd and everyone is her friend. Maybe a little simplistic, but we are talking about talking cows here.

Flo Story by Kyo Maclear, Pictures by Jay Fleck

 

Flo is a small panda, in fact, she is the smallest panda in the group. She likes to stop and play with butterflies or talk to the moon, but the bigger pandas have all her time filled up with important activities. If you have ever been the smallest in your group; or if you just like to figure out how to use your time, then this is the book for you. Take a minute to get floppy with Flo.

Thunder Horse by Eve Bunting, Illustrated by Dennis Nolan

A modern-day fairy tale about a magical Thunder Horse who comes from a hidden Greek island. A young girl gets the thunder horse from her aunt as a present, but she is told as he grows, he will not stay with her forever. This amazing tale is illustrated with dreamy pictures of the horse and the girl that makes even those who do not love horses want to be in the story. But, who does not love horses, and magic and wondrous stories?

Floaty by John Himmelman

A preposterous story if I ever saw one! I know Wes will love it. Mr. Raisin, looking somewhat like Mr. Magoo of years gone by, likes to sit in his house and sew. One day a basket is deposited on his doorstep that hold and unusual dog. The dog floats. Luckily, Mr. Raisin realizes this before he sends the dog back out the door. He must throw food up in the air to feed the dog and put him on a leash to walk him outdoors. Eventually, he names the dog Floaty. What happens when the leash breaks? Read and find out how Mr. Raisin solves this problem.

Peep and Egg: I’m Not Using the Potty by Laura Gehl, Pictures by Joyce Wan

Peep and Egg are back and this time Egg is refusing to use the Potty. If you have a reluctant toddler, you may try using this book to encourage a new skill.