Weekly Low Down on Kids Books – or, my obsession with water work
Title: The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark
Author: Deborah Diesen
Illustrator: Dan Hanna
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Although I hate the title, because I have a severe adversion to anything that even remotely sounds like it *may* be baby talk, I love this book. I picked it up at the library today, despite the title, because I have a soft spot for underwater children’s illustrations. Anything dealing with the ocean in the world of kid lit is right up my alley for whatever reason – it moves me. Just like I loved Memoirs of a Goldfish
My impulse for underwater things goes beyond kid book impulses every now and again. My guest bathroom is beach themed, a common choice, I believe, but part of my decor involves pictures from my honey moon and, yes, more books. The first that comes to mind is: Poseidon’s Steed
Impulses aside, once I read The Pout-Pout Fish in the Big-Big Dark to kiddo today, I was rather pleased. Kiddo was riveted, curled up in my arms, pointing out the fish on the page and colors she recognized, while soothed by the rhythm of the poem. She was in no rush for the story to be over and thoroughly enjoyed each and every page. If you have a toddler, you know how daunting it can be to find a book that your child doesn’t turn the pages ahead of the story for you, impatient for you to finish reading. The Pout-Pout Fish isn’t one to be rushed, and it was quite lovely.
P.S. This is a good title for dealing with older children who are scared of the dark.
Weekly Low Down on Kids Books – and other things
Title: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
Authors: William Joyce and Joe Bluhm
With great reluctance, I turned this book back into the library yesterday on our way to the Miller Outdoor Theatre to see a live *free* production of Cinderella. Cinderella actually has no relevance to this story/review, I just wanted to throw that in there because the whole adventure was pretty awesome, we even rode a train.
“Morris Lessmore loved words.
He loved stories.
He loved books.
But every story has its upsets.”
But not every story is so beautifully written and illustrated. For the last two weeks, kiddo has been getting a daily dose of Mr. Lessmore, not just because I thought it was so fantastic, but because she thought it was pretty awesome too. Flying books!? It doesn’t get much better for that for a kid.
Shamefully, I have to admit that if I hadn’t read this book to my daughter, she may have forever missed out on Humpty Dumpty – merely because I am so busy sharing books with her that I often forget the nursery rhymes. Yet, Humpty Dumpty is alive and well in Mr. Lessmore’s world, so thankfully, that is one she will not miss out on.
Mr. Morris Lessmore is also a good way to introduce a small child to the issues of aging, life, and death. It’s a beautiful story of a man’s life with books, and like all men do, he grows old and passes. Presented with a combination of calm serenity and passion, this story kept in a child’s library could be a little piece of fantasy and reality which their subconscious can cling to forever.
Part way through the very excellent play that I did not want to disrupt, kiddo got the urge to run. Cinderella still going strong in the distance.
Now, I am aware that I teased you a bit with that Cinderella business, so I suppose I cannot leave you hanging. This falls a bit under the When We’re Not Reading parts of my blog, but still encourages literacy and the arts. A.D. Players did a William Glennon play at the Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park yesterday morning. The weather was perfect as it kept teasing us with rain, but never did. The breeze was blowing, and there are so many things to do around the park that if/when your kiddos get antsy, its easy to take them for a walk or train ride.
To give you a full idea of how awesome these productions are, however, I am going to simply share with you a blurb from the program:
Founded in 1967 by Jeannette Clift George, A.D. Players pioneered a unique style of theater committed to producing plays and programs that uphold human value, offer creativity, and promote literacy and education. The company is one of Houston’s largest resident theater companies, impacting more than nine million people. Annually, the company produces five Mainstage shows and four Children’s Theater shows, and maintains a year-round Theater Arts Academy.
We share our mission with volunteers, community associates, and those who make our work possible through their support. For additional information, visit www.adplayers.org or call 713-526-2721.
Pretty neat, right?
Weekly Low Down on Kids Books 8/08/12
Story time at Half Price Books Humble has been quiet, has been loud, has been vacant, has been crowded. Today, it was just right. We had 9 children, all bright eyed and ready for me to read to them.
I always find it refreshing to be around other people who read, even if they are little people. So it was with great joy that I discovered Hooray for You! A Celebration of You-ness
This one is definitely a must-have, and I look forward to finding more of Richmond’s treasures tucked away on the shelves of Half Price Books. According to her website, her books are available through Barnes & Noble as well as most other book retailers.
Weekly Low Down on Kids Books 6/26/12
One Watermelon Seed
One Watermelon Seed reminded me of another recent favorite:Seed Savers: Treasure
Weekly Low Down on Kids Books – 6/05/12
There’s nothing better than coming home from an outing (story and play time at the library) to a tired, snuggly kiddo. Ayla and I hunkered down in the bean bag while reading through our haul from the library and Felicity napped. First on the roster: Bats at the Beach
As we closed the book, reading the last line: “Shh – now sleep. The moon’s out of reach. The night was just perfect for bats at the beach,” Ayla’s little eyes began to blink shut. She lazily pointed to the bag of library books and we made it half way through the first page of the next title before she started to pass out completely. After Bats at the Ballgame, I had no intention of hunting down Brian Lies other work any time soon, my nephew loved it, but I wasn’t sure our house was ready for those titles yet. After Bats at the Beach, though, I can’t wait to find a copy of Bats at the Library.
Weekly Low Down on Kids Books – Memorial Day Weekend
We’ve been in a bit of a funk here at the Klemm household this weekend. According to the online dictionary: Funk = A state of depression: “I sat absorbed in my own blue funk”. But I’d never say ‘blue funk’ because I’m more of a Holly Golightly girl – when I’m really depressed, it’s the mean reds. I didn’t have the mean reds, just a funk, which means I sat around watching awful television that I justified by what my baby might get out of it. Dance Academy = lame teen show that I’m hopelessly addicted to. What my baby might get out of it = an Australian accent and the desire to join a ballet class?
I didn’t read anything all weekend. This is an appropriate end of the month weekend to a month when I skipped out on all my Agatha Christie’s. Les Miserables may be one of the most amazing books I’ve ever read, but it definitely has put me in a funk. I started reading Chalice by Robin McKinley and I couldn’t be drawn out of it. I started reading Native Son by Richard Wright, still could be drawn out. I sat down with Ayla last night before bed (while my husband and his best friend repaired the air conditioning that had been out all day – reminder: I live in Houston, TX and its the end of May) and guess what finally drew me out of my funk? Ant and Grasshopper by Luli Gray.
Ant and Grasshopper is a sweet tale about an unexpected friendship between two very different bugs. I like bugs – illustrated bugs like the ones Guiliano Ferri portrays. Real bugs are interesting, but I don’t want them lurking about my house, so yes, despite my romantic take on all things living, I kill bugs (and eat cows and pigs). If a bug is exceptionally fascinating and harmless I might carry it out to the yard and give it a stern scolding about never coming back. But its citronella window washings once a month, my wonderfully diligent pest control guy, and egg shells and lady bugs in my kitchen garden for me. Little pests are not welcome – in real life. In books, I invite them often.
Ferri’s illustrations are wonderful, I love Grasshopper’s little hat and Ant’s old-fashioned glasses. The story is a good one, a nice little life lesson to be kind to all. My only issue with the book is when things have been deliberately mis-spelled. Delicious is Dee-lishus. Most likely for little eyes reading the words for the first time and to exaggerate Ant’s phrases, but I still don’t like it. I would prefer Ayla to struggle with the word and be taught through guidance the proper spelling and pronunciation than get used to seeing it spelled wrong. I went through my second grade year with a teacher who taught “inventive spelling,” where we only had to spell words how we thought they sounded rather than looking them up and discovering their true spelling. I found this activity detrimental to my education, and contradictory considering how rigorous our spelling tests were. (I distinctly remember being allowed to spell laugh as “laf” but had to memorize the word meteorologist for a weather themed spelling test the same year.)
Ant and Grasshopper
Another one we enjoyed is called Spells
Ladybugs and Dragons for Summer
The first time I saw Ladybug Girl
So lucky me when my daughter fell in love with the book too. I was certain she would because its familiar. She has walls of books. She has a hound (we have a beagle named Geoffrey Chaucer). She absolutely adored her ladybug costume when she tried it on after I decided to do a ladybug themed one year birthday party.
All these thoughts rushed over me when we were at the library this week and Ayla discovered a Ladybug Girl board book called Ladybug Girl Makes Friends, featuring moments from Ladybug Girl picture books. She loves finding familiar things, so of course we checked it out and I vowed to look for it today at the Half Price Books Humble Story Time today, where I bought Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad. (We already own Ladybug Girl, Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy, and I’m on a mission to find Ladybug Girl at the Beach.)
On top of all this Ladybug Girl excitement, we discovered The Touble with Dragons by Debi Gliori at the library this week. The Trouble with Dragons
Both these books are excellent choices to kick off your summer with, and they will both become long time favorites, through summer and beyond.
In additon to keeping your kiddos entertained, start your summer off right with by keeping your house smelling wonderful – lots of awesome summer scents available from Scentsy. Join the Summer Kick Off Party now: https://akklemm.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Buy?partyId=86754827
Weekly Low Down on Leprechauns… I Mean Kids Books 5/07/12
The Luckiest Leprechaun
The super challenge to parents: Read the whole thing with an Irish accent. I had to summon my inner Mrs. Paroo (from The Music Man), and I know that an actual Irishman would be ashamed of me, but I was quite proud of myself. Ayla may have just thought I was a weird-o, but she had me read it twice in a row even though its pretty lengthy for a kids picture book for her age, so I must have been entertaining.
I highly recommend this one. Justine Korman did a great job portraying a cynical, and somewhat rotten, leprechaun in need of an attitude change, unwillingly becoming best friends with the sweetest dog in the world (named Lucky). Its got the same illustrator as the Junie B. Jones books (Denise Brunkus) although I don’t know that I care for those books, the illustrations are awesome. I loved it. Ayla clearly loved it. It was an awesome library pick that I am sure to go buy, because I’ll be needing this every Spring for years to come.
The Mother’s Day Post
Mother’s Day is celebrated all over the world at various times in Spring to, obviously, honor one’s mother. In the United States, Anna Jarvis founded the day we know now that is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, in 1908. By 1914 it was made a National Holiday. By Jarvis’ death, she was renouncing her own holiday as having become too commercialized.
It is too commercialized. But, who wants to abolish a holiday that celebrates ones mom? No one. Its not like Valentines when you can commit to showing your partner you love them every day of the year. A lot of children (especially adults) don’t live anywhere near their mothers, and this is a good day to (of all days) let them know that you’re still thinking of them even from afar.
My proposal? Untraditional gifts. Token mother’s day gifts come in the form of Hallmark Cards and flowers. That’s all well and good, and if your mother loves those things, by all means, get them for her. But get her something more as well.
Always, I’m a fan of books, afterall I write a book blog. There’s always something special to be found at a bookstore. Whether its the latest and greatest of a beloved series, a funny gift book, a sappy gift book, a history book on a topic of interest that you both share, music, movies, or just a gift card so she can go have some time to herself and pick out something of her own choosing, there’s something for everyone at a bookstore.
For Dads helping small children, a newer (but not too new) overlooked title is Tomie DePaola’s My Mother Is So Smart. DePaola has been an award winning children’s author for years, but even I didn’t know this 2010 publication existed until I stumbled across in the library the other day. Its beautiful, as are all his books, and celebrates the love and awe he had for his mother as a child. Its sweet, and perfect for a young mother to read to her toddler… although I did notice how many things I’ve neglected to master as a mom, like the perfect cookie recipe, and the uncanny ability to always know why my child is crying.
Great Gift #2: I dream of having a cleaning service come through my house once a year. I keep a fairly clean house. I actually enjoy cleaning, when I find the time and energy to clean up blocks and toys that have been strewn everywhere for the 300th time that day. But the idea of having a cleaning crew come in every Spring and scrub my base boards, toilets, showers, and maybe also have my AC ducts cleaned out – that would be the BEST mother’s day gift EVER. (Aside from someone purchasing and installing all my hardwood floors over night without any assistance from me… that would be even better, but a little less practical as a mother’s day gift.) If this awesome treat proved unobtainable, I might settle for lawn fairies to come weed my gardens in the middle of the night.
Shop AKKlemm.scentsy.us
Great Gift #3: After books and a laziness enabler, I choose Scentsy products. I love candles and fabulous smells, but the wickless candle deal with mood lighting has proven to be the best choice when a toddler is running all over the place. When (I say when NOT if) your kid decides to lather themselves in hot candle wax and try to put every blessed thing you own under wax treatment, you want it to be low heat, no flame, I promise. My favorite spring scents available this year are Pixie and Cerise. The Just Breathe is also quite excellent and one of my year round favorites of all time. But you know your Mom and/or Wife, get what she likes.
Great Gift #4: Reloadable Starbucks gift cards. Who doesn’t practically live at Starbucks, or would if they could? Its become an American staple. Cliche, over-rated, over-priced, I agree, but hey, its pretty darn good coffee available on every street corner, I’ll take it. The reloadable gift cards are pretty sweet. Reload them a few times and you are an upgraded customer with free birthday drinks, free syrup add ons, free cups of coffee with your bean purchases, the list goes on. Buy the mother in your life a gift card and take the time to reload it for her a few times before the year is up and BAM! she is one happy caffeined lady.
Whatever you do, be sure to enjoy the day. Sundays should be lovely days anyway, but I hope one day Ayla will love to spend a lazy Sunday with me, reading, having coffee, or maybe picnicing in the sun if the weather is nice.
Anakalian Whims 