Books to Celebrate New Year's

I did a previous blog encouraging themed browsing boxes at home.  I love playing librarian to my daughter and creating a collection of books for her learn about, enjoy, and celebrate current holidays.  I recently put together a small box of New Year’s books complete with fun party favors.  Below is a list of New Year’s books for you to create your own themed browsing box at home.  Happy reading!

Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution by Pat Miller

The Night Before New Year’s by Natasha Wing

Happy New Year! by Amy Ackelsberg

Happy New Year, Pooh! by Kathleen W. Zoehfeld

New Year’s Day by Davod F. Marx

New Year’s Day by Lynn Peppas

New Year’s Day by Kathryn A. Imler

New Year’s Day by Mari C. Schuh

Happy New Year, everywhere!  by Arlene Erlbach

Happy New Year, Mallory!  by Laurie Friedman

Amelia’s Must-Keep Resolutions for the Best Year Ever! by Marissa Moss

The Challenge Continues . . . Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge 1997

And the reading challenge continues!  As stated in a previous post, my librarian friend Ashley Lambacher of the Book Talker and I are hosting the Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge.  Our goal is to read all the past winners from the children’s book category in chronological order from 1982 to the present.  I will read the K-2 picture book winners and Ashley will read the 4-8/3-5 chapter book winners.  Because 1998 was skipped, today I continue my challenge by reading the winner of the K-2 Buckeye Book Award in 1997, Dogzilla by Dav Pilkey.

Dogzilla is a hilarious story featuring a giant Corgi.  The enormous dog emerges from a volcano at the smell of barbecue in the city of Mousopolis  - populated by mice, obviously.  Dogzilla wants the barbecue and accidentally destroying Mousopolis in her wake.  The leader of the desperate mice, the Big Cheese, hits on a plan to chase Dogzilla away by threatening her with a bath!  Pilkey's humorous narrative is full of puns and goofy jokes to make both kids and adults laugh out loud.  The unique  illustration are a combination of bright paintings superimposed with photographs of Pilkey’s pet mice, cat, and dog.  Fans of Dogzilla will also enjoy Pilkey’s Kat Kong and Dog Breath.

Ashley, your upcoming 1997 The Haunted Mask by R.L. Stine.  Yikes – another scary tale!  

Would you like to join Ashley and I as we read through Ohio’s award winning books?  We welcome any and all who are interested in participating in this fun reading challenge.  For more information, click here.

Books to Celebrate Christmas

I did a previous blog encouraging themed browsing boxes at home.  I love playing librarian to my daughter and creating a collection of holiday books for her learn about, enjoy, and celebrate the season.  I recently put together a few browsing boxes full of Christmas books.  She loves Santa and enjoys the songs and books of this special time of year.  Below is a list of Christmas books for you to create your own themed browsing box at home.  Happy reading!

Biscuit’s Pet & Play Christmas by Alyssa Capucilli

Llama Llama Jingle Bells by Anna Dewdney

Max’s Christmas Stocking by Rosemary Wells

Little Miss Spider: A Christmas Wish by David Kirk

Merry Christmas, Mouse! By Laura Numeroff

Frosty the Snowman by Steve Nelson

Nutcracker Twinkle Toes by Karen Katz

Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by James Dean & Eric Litwin

Mickey Saves Christmas by Sheila Sweeny Higginson

Twas the Night Before Christmas on Sesame Street by Lillian Jaine

Snow Princesses by Irene Trimble

Dora’s Christmas Adventure by Christine Ricci

Barbie: A Perfect Christmas by Christy Webster

Clifford Helps Santa by Sonia Sander

I Spy: A Candy Cane by Jean Marzollo

Frozen: A Christmas Party by Andrea Posner-Sanchez

Jingle Bugs by David Carter

Ten Gingerbread Men by Ruth Galloway

Corduroy’s Christmas by Don Freeman

If You Take a Mouse to the Movies by Laura Numeroff

A very Marley Christmas by John Grogan

Llama Llama Holiday Drama by Anna Dewdney

It’s Christmas, David! By David Shannon

The Story of Christmas by Patricia A. Pingry

Merry Christmas, Little One! By Sandra Magsamen

It Was Christmas Night by Sophie Piper

A Christmas Tree for Ruby by Rosemary Wells

Lego City: Save This Christmas! By Rebecca L. McCarthy

Cinderella’s Fairy Merry Christmas by Andrea  Posner-Sanchez

A Very McStuffins Christmas by Sheila Sweeny Higginson

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Dennis R. Shealy

Biscuit’s Christmas Eve by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Clifford’s Christmas by Norman Bridwell

Mouse’s First Christmas by Lauren Thompson

A Cars Christmas by Melissa Lagonegro

Counting Christmas by Karen Katz

Sofia the First: Holiday in Enchancia by Catherine Hapka

Arthur’s Christmas by Marc Brown

Merry Christmas, Splat by Rob Scotton

Katie the Candy Cane Fairy by Tim Bugbird

Georgie the Gingerbread Fairy by Tim Bugbird

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner

Christmas is . . . by Gail Gibbons

What is Christmas? By Elaine Landau

Reindeer Crunch and Other Christmas Recipes by Christi Johnson

Crafts for Christmas by Kathy Ross

Christmas Fun: A Spot-It Challenge by Jennifer Marks

Look-alikes Christmas by Joan Steiner

A Spy Christmas by Walter Wick

The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore

Christmas Jokes and Riddles by Craig Yoe

A Bad Kitty Christmas by Nick Bruel

A Not Very Merry Pout Pout Fish by Deborah Dieson

Froggy’s Best Christmas by Jonathan London

Merry Christmas Mom & Dad by Mercer Mayer

Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas by Jane O’Connor

Dragon’s Merry Christmas by Dav Pilkey

Dinosaur vs. Santa by Bob Shea

A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles Schultz

Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Christmas by Melanie Watt

A Christmas Kitten by Sue Bentley

Flat Stanley’s Christmas Adventure by Marc Brown

Miss Holly is Too Jolly by Dan Gutman

A Very Babymouse Christmas by Jennifer Holms

Ready Freddy: A Very Crazy Christmas by Abby Klein

A Katie Kazoo Christmas by Nancy Krulik

Holly the Christmas Fairy by Daisy Meadows

Paige the Christmas Fairy by Daisy Meadows

Galaxy Zack: A Green Christmas! By Ray O’Ryan

Christmas in Camelot by Mary Pope Osborne

A Ghost Tale for Christmas by Mary Pope Osborne

Night of the Living Eggnog by Kirk Scroggs

Horrid Henry’s Christmas by Francesca Simon

Christmas Catastrophe by Geronimo Stilton

The Christmas Toy Factory by Geronimo Stilton

Merry Christmas, Geromino! By Geronimo Stilton

The Challenge Continues . . . Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge 1995

And the reading challenge continues!  As stated in a previous post, my librarian friend Ashley Lambacher of the Book Talker and I are hosting the Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge.  Our goal is to read all the past winners from the children’s book category in chronological order from 1982 to the present.  I will read the K-2 picture book winners and Ashley will read the 4-8/3-5 chapter book winners.  Because 1994 was skipped, today I continue my challenge by reading the winner of the K-2 Buckeye Book Award in 1995, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairy Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka.

The Stinky Cheese Man is one of many genius books by Jon Scieszka.  Similar to The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, the illustrations are arranged unconventionally and the story is uniquely entertaining.  Scieszka takes familiar fairy tales and adds his own variations.  With individual tales, such as The Really Ugly Duckling and Little Red Running Shorts, this collection of short stories has something to please every reader.  The Stinky Cheese Man deconstructs not only the tradition of the fairy tale but also the entire notion of a book.  The narrator, Jack, makes a mockery of the title page, the table of contents, and even the endpaper.   Characters slide in and out of tales; Cinderella rebuffs Rumpelstiltskin, and the Giant at the top of the beanstalk snacks on the Little Red Hen.  There are no lessons or morals to be learned - just good, sarcastic fun that leaves readers laughing out loud!

Ashley, your upcoming 1993 Buckeye Book Award read is Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones by Schwartz.  This spooky tale might be best read beside your campfire!

Would you like to join Ashley and I as we read through Ohio’s award winning books?  We welcome any and all who are interested in participating in this fun reading challenge.  For more information, click here.

2015 Picture & Chapter Books - Hilliard U

 

Ashley Lambacher, from The Book Talker, and I presented at Hilliard U today.  We shared notable picture and chapter books of 2015.  Click here to see our list of recommended books.  Many thanks to all who came to our session!

Books to Celebrate Fall & Thanksgiving

I did a previous blog encouraging themed browsing boxes at home.  I love playing librarian to my daughter and creating a collection of holiday books for her learn about, enjoy, and celebrate the season.  I recently put together a browsing box full of fall and Thanksgiving books.  These books highlight the changing leaves and teach thankfulness.   Below is a list of autumn and Thanksgiving books for you to create your own themed browsing box at home.  Happy reading!

One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims by B.G. Hennessy

Marley and the Runaway Pumpkin by Susan Hill

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert

Hello Kitty: Hello Fall! By Meagan Bennett

The First Thanksgiving by Nancy Davis

Duck & Goose Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills

Five Silly Turkeys by Salina Yoon

The Leaves Fall All Around by Ellen Booth Church

Marley: A Thanksgiving to Remember by John Grogan

Fancy Nancy and the Fall Foliage by Jane O’Connor

Max and the Fall Parade by Rosemary Wells

Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks by Margaret Sutherland

How Do You Know It’s Fall? by Allan Fowler

10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston

Fancy Nancy: Our Thanksgiving Banquet by Jane O’Connor

Happy Thanksgiving, Biscuit! by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Clifford’s First Autumn by Norman Bridwell

The Littlest Pilgrim by Brandi Dougherty

Pinkalicious: Thanksgiving Helper by Victoria Kann

Mouse’s First Fall by Lauren Thompson

Peppa’s Windy Fall Day by Barbara Winthrop

Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving by Kimberly and James Dean

Countdown to Thanksgiving by Jodi Huelin

The Fairest of the Fall by Melissa Lagonegro

Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey

Growing Pumpkins by Melvin Berger

Emma Had a Little Turkey by Mary Lee

I Spy: Thanksgiving by Jean Marzollo

Franklin’s Thanksgiving by Paulette Bourgeois

There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves! by Lucille Colandro

Leaf Jumpers by Carole Gerber

Arthur’s Thanksgiving by Marc Brown

We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt by Steve Metzger

Fall Harvests: Bring in Food by Martha E.H. Rustad

Animals in Fall: Preparing for Winter by Martha E.H. Rustad

What Happens in Fall? by Sara Latta

Animals in Fall by Martha Rustad

Leaves in Fall by Martha Rustad

Autumn Leaves by Ken Robbins

Why Do Leaves Change Colors? by Betsy Maestro

Pumpkin Harvest by Calvin Harris

Pumpkins by Ken Robbins

Crafts to Make in the Fall by Kathy Ross

Leaf Trouble by Johnathon Emmett

Fall Leaves Fall! By Zoe Hall

Old Bear by Kevin Henkes

Poppleton in Fall by Cynthia Rylant

Fall is for Friends by Suzy Spafford

Leaves by David Ezra Stein

What is Thanksgiving? By Elaine Landau

P is for Pilgrim by Carol Crane

Let’s Celebrate Thanksgiving by Connie Roop

Thanksgiving Day by Gail Gibbons

Crafts for Thanksgiving by Kathy Ross

Thanksgiving Day Jokes & Riddles by Craig Yoe

Clifford’s Thanksgiving Visit by Normal Bridwell

Minnie and Moo and the Thanksgiving Tree by Denys Cazet

One is a Feast for Mouse by Judy Cox

I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson

Run, Turkey, Run! By Diane Mayr

Thank You, Thanksgiving by David Milgrim

Setting the Turkeys Free by W. Nikolas-Lisa

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving by Justine Fontes

Splat Says Thank You by Rob Scotton

The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing

Dr. Carbles is Losing His Marbles by Dan Gutman

Nancy Drew & The Clue Crew: Thanksgiving Mischief by Carolyn Keene

Reddy Freddy: Thanksgiving Turkey Trouble by Abby Klein

Katie Kazoo: Don’t be Such a Turkey by Nancy Krulic

Katie Woo: Katie Saves Thanksgiving by Fran Manushkin

Magic Tree House: Thanksgiving on Thursday by Mary Pope Osborne

Junie B. Jones: Turkeys We Have Loves and Eaten by Barbara Park

2015 Buckeye Book Awards

Voting is now open for the 2015 Buckeye Books Awards.  The books competing against each other are:

K-2
Splat the Cool School Trip by Rob Scotton
Sidney & Sydney: The Third Grade Mix-Up by Michele Jakubowski
The Day the Crayons Quit by Oliver Jeffers
Shark Girl and Belly Button by Casey Riordan Millard
Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle

3-5
Journey by Aaron Becker
The Misadventures of Salem Hyde: Spelling Trouble by Frank Cammuso
Rump: The True Story of Rumplestiltskin by Liesl Shurtliff
Secrets According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney
The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm

Click HERE to vote for your favorite book!

The Challenge Continues . . . Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge 1993

 

And the reading challenge continues!  As stated in a previous post, my librarian friend Ashley Lambacher of the Book Talker and I are hosting the Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge.  Our goal is to read all the past winners from the children’s book category in chronological order from 1982 to the present.  I will read the K-2 picture book winners and Ashley will read the 4-8/3-5 chapter book winners.  Because 1992 was skipped, today I continue my challenge by reading the winner of the K-2 Buckeye Book Award in 1993,The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle.

The Very Quiet Cricket is another celebration of nature by Eric Carle.  But unlike The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Very Busy Spider, this book has a special element sure to entertain young readers. In this story, a small cricket hatches one day and is welcomed with a chirp by a large cricket.  But when the tiny cricket rubs his wings, he is unable to speak in return.  On each double-spread page, the baby cricket is greeting by a variety of insects but he remains silent.  Finally, he spies another cricket and attempts to greet her.  "And this time . . . he chirped the most beautiful sound that she had ever heard."  Readers are then rewarded with a mechanically produced cricket's chirp as they turn the final page.  Typical of Carle's style, the language is simple, with rhythm, repetition, and alliteration.  The colorful cut-paper illustrations are classic Carle, full of color and expression.  It’s not surprising to find an Eric Carle book on the list of Buckeye Book Awards.  Carle’s distinctive illustrations and creative stories remain classic reads for children then and now, making The Very Quiet Cricket a notable winner of the 1993 Buckeye Book Award.

Ashley, your upcoming 1993 Buckeye Book Award read is Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones by Schwartz.  I know you dislike scary stories, so best of luck to you – it’s okay to read it with the lights on!

Would you like to join Ashley and I as we read through Ohio’s award winning books?  We welcome any and all who are interested in participating in this fun reading challenge.  For more information, click here.

 

Books to Celebrate Halloween

I did a previous blog encouraging themed browsing boxes at home.  I love playing librarian to my daughter and creating a collection of holiday books for her learn about, enjoy, and celebrate the season.  I recently put together a browsing box full of Halloween books.  Since Halloween has always been her favorite holiday, she loves reading spooky books full of witches, ghouls, and goblins.  Below is a list of Halloween books for you to create your own themed browsing box at home.  Happy reading and Happy Halloween - Boo!

Creepy Pair of Underwear by Aaron Reynolds
Mary McScary by R.L. Stine
The Scariest Book Ever by Bob Shea
What Makes a Monster? by Jess Keating
Boo Who? by Ben Clanton
There's a Monster in Your Book by Tom Fletcher
Monster Trucks by Anika Denise and Nate Wragg

Frankencrayon by Michael Hall

Fright Club by Ethan Long

Quit Calling Me a Monster! by Jory Jon and Bob Shea

I Dare You! by Nicole Maubert

Boo! Haiku by Deanna Caswell and Bob Shea

Nighty Night, Little Green Monster by Ed Emberley

Trick or Treat Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen and Dan Hanna

Happy Halloween, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt and Cyd Moore

Peppa’s Halloween Party by Eone

Eek! Halloween! by Sandra Boynton

Hooray for Halloween, Curious George! by H.A. Rey

The Very Fairy Princess: A Spooky Sparkly Halloween by Julie Andrews

If You’re Spooky and You Know It by Aly Fronis and Jannie Ho

Palace Pets: Berry’s Halloween Costume Trouble by Disney Book Group

Disney Princess: Sweets and Treats by by Kristen L. Depken & Gabriella Matta

Dora’s Spooky Halloween by Sonali Fry

Where is Baby’s Pumpkin?  By Karen Katz

Halloween Bugs by David Carter

Trick or Treat? By Melanie Walsh

Five Little Pumpkins by Ben Mantle

Ten Timid Ghosts by Jennifer O’Connell

Five Little Pumpkins by Dan Yaccarino

Max’s Halloween by Rosemary Wells

Curious George: Haunted Halloween by C.A. Krones

Silly Ghosts: A Haunted Pop-Up Book by Janet Lawler

My Little Pony: Tricks and Treats by D. Jakobs

Fancy Nancy: Halloween . . .Or Bust! By Jane O’Connor

Barbie: Hooray for Halloween by DianeWright Landolf

Disney Princess: Sweet and Spooky by Melissa Lagonegro

Sofia the First: The Halloween Ball by Lisa Ann Marsoli

Dora’s Costume Party by Christine Ricci

Splat the Cat: What Was That? By Rob Scotton

Olivia and the Haunted Hotel by Patrick Spaziante

Pete the Cat: Five Little Pumpkins by James Dean

Dora: Say Boo! By Molly Reisner

Pippa the Pumpkin Fairy by Tim Bugbird

Trick or Treat, Marley! By John Grogan

There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Bat by Lucille Colandro

The Berenstain Bears: Happy Halloween! By Stan Berenstain

The Berenstain Bears: Trick or Treat by Stan Berenstain

Happy Halloween, Daniel Tiger! By Angela Santomero

The Haunted Ghoul Bus by Lisa Trumbauer

It’s Pumpkin Day, Mouse! By Laura Numeroff

Mickey’s Halloween by Disney Junior

The Spooky Wheels on the Bus by Elizabeth Mills

The Night Before Halloween by Natasha Wing

One, Two . . . Boo! By Kristen L. Depken

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda D. Williams

Pinkalicious: Pink or Treat by Victoria Kann

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

Clifford’s Halloween by Norman Bridwell

Splat the Cat and the Pumpkin-Picking Plan by Catherine Hapka

Corduroy’s Best Halloween Ever! By Don Freeman

I Love you, Little Pumpkin! By Sandra Magsamen

You Got a Rock, Charlie Brown! By Maggie Testa

Hallo-wiener by Dav Pilky

Arthur’s Halloween by Marc Brown

Hello Kitty and Me: Trick or Treat by Jacqueline Ball

Disney Princess: A Fairy Tale Fall by Apple Jordan

T. Rex Trick-or-Treats by Lois Grambling

Lego City: Halloween Rescue by Trey King

Froggy’s Halloween by Jonathan London

Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Halloween by Melanie Watt

Scaredy Cat, Splat! By Rob Scotton

Mouse’s First Halloween by Lauren Thompson

What is Halloween? By ElaineLandau

Halloween is . . . by Gail Gibbons

2x2=Boo! By Loreen Leedy

Wormy Apple Croissants and Other Halloween Recipes by Brekka Larrew

Crafts for Halloween by Kathy Ross

I Spy Spooky Night by Jean Marzollo

Inside a House that is Haunted by Alyssa Capucilli

In a Dark, Dark Room by Alvin Swartz

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Swartz

Flat Stanley and the Haunted House by Lori Haskins

Katie Woo: Boo, Katie Woo! By Fran Manushkin

My Weird School: It’s Halloween, I’m Turning Green by Dan Gutman

My Weird School: Miss Mary is Scary! by Dan Gutman

My Weird School: Mrs. Patty is Batty! By Dan Gutman

Junie B. Jones: Boo . . . and I Mean It! By Barbara Park

Magic Tree House: Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve by Mary Pope Osborne

Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise by Kate DiCamillo

Zeke Meeks and the Horrendous Halloween by D.L. Green

Babymouse: Monster Mash by Jennifer Holm

A to Z Mysteries: Sleepy Hallow Sleepover by Ron Roy

Stone Rabbit: Night of the Living Dust Bunnies by Erik Craddock

Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew: The Halloween Hoax by Carolyn Keene

Captain Awesome vs the Spooky Scary House by Stan Kirby

Ready Feddy: Going Batty by Abby Klein

Ready Freddy: Halloween Fraidy Cat by Abby Klein

Ready Freddy: The Pumpkin Elf Mystery by Abby Klein

Katie Kazoo: Witch Switch by Nancy Krulik

Trixie the Halloween Fairy by Daisy Meadow

The Mummy with No Name by Geromino Stilton

It’s Halloween, You ‘Fraidy Mouse! By Geronimo Stilton

The Peculiar Pumpkin Thief by Geronimo Stilton

Night of the Creepy Things by R.L. Stine

Attack of the Jack-O-Lanterns by R.L. Stine

Dragonbreath: No Such Things as Ghosts by Ursula Vernon

My Dog’s a Scaredy-Cat by Henry Winkler