January 17, 2016

Books to Celebrate Valentine's Day

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 Valentine’s Day books.  Below is a list of Valentine’s Day books for you to create your own themed browsing box at home.  Happy reading and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love Monster by Rachel Bright
A Crankenstein Valentine by Samantha Berger
Foxy in Love by Emma Dodd
Happy Valentine’s Day, Mouse! by Laura Numeroff
Where Is Love, Biscuit? by Alyssa Capucilli
Lily’s Chocolate Heart by Kevin Henkes
Clifford’s First Valentine’s Day by Norman Bridwell
Clifford’s Valentines by Norman Bridwell
Love Bugs by David Carter
Llama Llama I Love You by Anna Dewdney
Love From the Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Pete the Cat’s Groovy Guide to Love by Kimberly and James Dean
Pete the Cat: Valentine’s Day is Cool by James Dean
Fancy Nancy: Heart to Heart by Jane O’Connor
The Night Before Valentine’s Day by Natasha Wing
Valentine’s Mice! by Bethany Roberts
Splat the Cat: Funny Valentine by Rob Scotton
Love, Splat by Rob Scotton
Olivia and the perfect Valentine by Natalie Shaw
Lego City: Wrecking Valentine’s Day! by Trey King
The Day it Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond
Pinkalicious: Pink Hearts by Victoria Kann
Happy Valentine’s Day, Curious George by N. Di Angelo
Ollie’s Valentine by Oliver Dunrea
Happy Love Day, Daniel Tiger! by Becky Friedman
Happy Valentine’s Day, Charlie Brown! by Charles Schultz
A Charlie Brown Valentine by Justin Fontes
Arthur’s Valentine by Marc Brown
Max’s Valentine by Rosemary Wells
Be My Valentine by Rosemary Wells
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose! Lucille Colandro
The Backyardigan’s: A Royal Valentine by Wendy Wax
My Little Pony: Hearts and Hooves Day by Jennifer Fox
Where’s Baby’s Valentine? by Karen Katz
Barbie: Secret Hearts by Rebecca Frazer
Be My Sparkly Valentine by Bill Scollon
Minnie’s Valentine by Sheila Higginson
Doc McStuffins: My Huggy Valentine by Sheila Higginson
Valentine’s Day is Here!  by Matt Mitter
Roses are Red, Your Feet Really Stink by Diane DeGroat
The Valentine Express by Nancy Wallace
Amelia Bedelia’s First Valentine by Herman Parish
The Biggest Valentine Ever by Steven Kroll
Valentine’s Day by Jason Cooper
Valentine’s Day Is _ by Gail Gibbons
What is Valentine’s Day by Elaine Landau
Crafts for Valentine’s Day by Kathy Ross
Holiday Ha-Ha’s Valentine’s Day Jokes and Riddles by Craig Yoe
Cam Jansen and the Valentine Baby Mystery by David Adler
I Spy: Little Hearts by Jean Marzollo
I Spy: I Love You by Jean Marcelo
Scooby Doo: Valentine’s Day Dog Napping by Gail Herman
Geronimo Stilton: Valentine’s Day Disaster by Geronimo Stilton
Babymouse: Heartbreaker by Jennifer Holms
Rainbow Magic: Juliet the Valentine Fairy by Daisy Meadows
Dork Diaries: Not-So-Happy Heartbreaker by Rachel Russell
Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew: Valentine’s Day Secret by Carolyn Keene
Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentime by Barbara Park
Junie B. Jones: Loves Handsom Warren by Barbara Park
Attack of the 50 Foot Cupid by Jim Benson
Heart to Heart with Mallory by Laurie Friedman
Captain Awesome Gets Crushed by Stan Kirby
Katie Woo: No Valentine’s for Katie by Fran Manushkin
Calendar Mysteries: February Friend by Ron Roy
Candy Apple: Totally Crushed by Eliza Willard

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney

January 16, 2016

The Challenge Continues . . . Buckeye Book Award Reading Challenge 1999


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 1999, Verdi by Janel Cannon.

The story begins by introducing Verdi, a just-hatched yellow python, who after seeing how crotchety and lazy his elders are decides not to become like them.  Verdi is a spry snake that flings himself about the trees, a little too adventurous for his own good.  While fretting over the color change in his scales and slithering about, Verdi gets himself into a heap of trouble and is rescued by the adults.  As he recovers from an injury, he learns some interesting things about his peers and discovers that getting older isn't such a bad thing after all, so long as you remain young at heart.  Cannon's layout and illustrations are similar to those in her popular Stellaluna, with stunningly realistic and vibrant pictures in acrylic and pencil that feature bright greens and yellows.  I love the message of this story about growth and choices, and ultimately discovering that age is merely a number.

Ashley, your upcoming 1999 is a Wayside School book by Louis Sachar.  At least it’s not another scary book!

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.

January 6, 2016

My One Little Word 2016

After watching others choose their “one little word” over the years, I’m finally ready to join in the fun!  So, my one word for 2015 is POSITIVE.

At work, I plan to take a positive approach to uncomfortable changes.  As I push myself to master new skills and accomplish new projects, I’ll endorse a positive attitude and embrace a sunny outlook.

At home, I plan to create positive experiences with my family.  I want to reconnect with my daughter and husband, and savor every joyous minute.

For myself, I’d like to adopt a positive lifestyle.  I will take time for myself, exercise, eat right, and get plenty of sleep.  My own personal happiness and well-being will no longer be neglected.


I’m excited for a new vision and a new approach - positive changes for a positive new year.

January 3, 2016

Books to Celebrate Winter

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 winter books.  She loves snow and all the cold weather activities that winter brings.  Below is a list of winter books for you to create your own themed browsing box at home.  Happy reading!

Before Morning by Joyce Sidman
Best in Snow by April Pulley Sayre
Little Penguins by Cynthia Rylant
Pablo in the Snow by Teri Sloat
Mouse’s First Snow by Lauren Thompson
The Mitten by Jan Brett
Splat the Cat: Blow, Snow, Blow by Rob Scotton
Clifford’s First Snow Day by Norman Bridwell
Olaf’s 1-2-3 by Winnie Ho
Welcome Winter by Jill Ackerman
Frosty the Snowman by Steve Nelson
Big Bear Little Bear by David Bedford
Bedtime for Bears! by David Bedford
Where Snowflakes Fall by Claire Freedman
Hello Kitty: Hello Winter! by Sanrio
Snowmen at Work by Caralyn Buehner
Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner
Snowmen All Year by Caralyn Buehner
Minions Snow Day by Brandon T. Snider
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
The Very Bouncy Bear by Jack Tickle
Snow Family by Daniel Kirk
How Do You Know It’s Winter? by Allan Fowler
Baby Loves Winter! by Karen Katz
Biscuit’s Snowy Day by Alyssa Capucilli
Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London
Pooh Welcomes Winter by Kathleen Zoehfeld
Palace Pets: Petite’s Winter Wonderland by Amy Koster
Curious George: Snowy Day by Rotem Moscovich
Peanuts: Snow Day! by Charles Schulz
Clifford’s Puppy Days: The Smallest Snowman by Sarah Fisch
Daniel Plays in the Snow by Becky Friedman
Strawberry Shortcake: The Snow Dance by Amy Ackelsberg
Splat the Cat and the Snowy Day Surprise by Rob Scotton
Little Bea and the Snowy Day by Daniel Roode
Snow Dog Marley by John Grogan
Snowflakes Are Falling by Melvin and Gilda Berger
Snow by Marion Bauer
The Snowy Day by Ezra Keats
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow! by Lucille Colandro
Snowflakes Fall by Patricia MacLachlan
The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming
Winter by Aaron Carr
What Happens in Winter? by Sara Latta
It’s Snowing! by Julie Richards
It’s Winter! by Linda Glaser
The Missing Mitten Mystery by Steven Kellogg 
Poppleton in Winter by Cynthia Rylant
Skippyjon Jones: Snow What by Judith Schachner
Disaster Strikes: Blizzard Night by Marlane Kennedy
Captain Awesome Saves the Winter Wonderland by Stan Kirby
Ready Freddy: Ready, Set, Snow! by Abby Klein
Katie Kazoo: It’s Snow Joke by Nancy Krulic
Rainbow Fairies: Gabriella the Snow Kingdom Fairy by Daisy Meadows
Rainbow Fairies: Crystal the Snow Fairy by Daisy Meadows
Magic Tree House: Winter of the Ice Winter by Mary Pope Osborne
Breyer Stablemates: Snowflake by Suzanne Weyn
It’s Snowing! by Gail Gibbons
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Martin
Animal Camouflage in the Snow by Martha Rusted
The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett
Snow is My Favorite and My Best by Lauren Child
Snow Day! by Lester Laminack
Snow Trouble by Malinda Crow
The Biggest Best Snowman by Margery Cuyler
In the Snow by Sharon Denslow
Snowballs by Lois Ehlert
Snow Day by Lynn Plourde
Snow by Cynthia Rylant
Pip and Squeak by Ian Schoenherr
Trucktown: Snow Trucking! by Jon Scieszka
Rescue Princesses: The Snow Jewel by Paula Harrison
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney
Whatever After: Cold as Ice by Sarah Mlynoski