Preschool Reader

Audiobooks - we love them!

2011-04-13T12:59:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of the books on CD that my boys (age 5 and 7) have enjoyed in the last six months of so. Audio books are what they wind down with before bed.

Wind in the Willows

The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright

Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes

Pinky Pye by Eleanor Estes

Freddy the Detective by Walter R. Brooks

Half Magic by Edward Eager

The Borrowers by Mary Norton

A Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

Alice in Wonderland

Frindle by Andrew Clements

Chronicles of Narnia (Magician's Nephew; Lion, Witch & Wardrobe; Prince Caspian; Voyage of Dawn Treader) by C.S. LewisThe

Humphrey - we love you!

2011-01-26T18:54:00.000-08:00

My boys like rodents. We have 2 guinea pigs and they are our only pets. My youngest son has several rodent stuffed animals. His favourites are Hammy (a hamster puppet) and Squeaky (a mouse puppet).

When I discovered the Humphrey books by Betty G. Birney, it was love at first squeak. :)

Here is a list - note: you don't need to read them in order.
1. The World According to Humphrey
2. Friendship According to Humphrey
3. Trouble According to Humphrey
4. Surprises According to Humphrey

5. Adventures According to Humphrey = my personal favourite. The audio version has excerpts from Treasure Island included.
6. Summer According to Humphrey

Why do I (and my boys) love the Humphrey books?
- they are funny
- they have positive messages
- the situations in the books are ones that my boys can relate to. Humphrey is the classroom pet in maybe a grade 2 or grade 3 classroom.
- they also come in audio versions
- they contain lots of vocabulary words

I've even started talking like Humphrey - these books are good good good!

Reading level: 4

Reviving and Changing!

2011-01-26T18:19:00.000-08:00

I decided to revive this blog and change it!

I'm going to post mini reviews and lists of good quality children's books. My sons are both advanced readers and it can be difficult to find books for them. I hope to help other parents find good books!

This week's books from the library

2008-05-07T19:15:00.000-07:00

Bedtime for Frances (re-read) by Russell Hoban
Doctor De Soto by William Steig
Our Marching Band by Lloyd Moss
Midnight on the Moon (Magic Treehouse) by Mary Pope Osborne - my son reads through these books so fast! He finished the Lions book in less than a day.

Some books from Paperback Swap

2008-04-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

I love PaperbackSwap.com
You mail out books you don't want, receive points, create a wish list and receive the books you do want. Check it out!

I recently got this gem for my son. I can Draw Animals.

I have some others coming soon:
Giant Steps for Little People by Kenneth Taylor
Usborne Book of Christmas Carols

I haven't update for a while

2008-04-23T16:50:00.000-07:00

so this list will be long. These are our recent library reads.

Pinocchio (re-read) by Carlo Carllodi
The Very First Easter (re-read) by Paul Maier
What Makes Me Happy by Catherine Anholt
A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
Corduroy Lost and Found by B.G. Hennessy
Ed Emberley's Picture Pie: A Circle Drawing Book- we LOVE this book!
Over In the Ocean by Marianne Berkes
The Bear's Toothache by David McPhail
The Solar System by Paul Sipieri
Easy Street by Rita Gray
Because a little bug went ka-choo! by Rosetta Stone
Thank you Bear by Greg Foley
Put me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire
What's in a Box by Kelly Boivin
You Can't Take a Balloon into the Metropolitan Museum by Jacqueline Weitzman

Some gems from the used book store

2008-04-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

My oldest is currently *very* interested in space, specifically the planets. So I found something to nurture that.
All About Space - Scholastic First Encyclopedia

He also enjoys tracing so drawing books are fun.
Usborne Drawing Fun: Fun with Pencils

And, I love old Golden books so I added to the collection.
When Bunny Grows Up
A Day in the Jungle

Another full bag from the library - mainly Spring books

2008-04-08T13:07:00.000-07:00

My Spring Robin by Anne Rockwell
The Caboose Who Got Loose by Bill Peet
An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston
Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak
Bear Wants More by Karma Wilson
Small Pig by Arnold Lobel
Richard Scarry's Best Mother Goose Ever
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
Whose Chick Are You? by Nancy Tafuri

Library books this week and last week's

2008-04-04T18:43:00.000-07:00

Alligators All Around by Maurice Sendak
Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni
Morris and Boris at the Circus by Bernard Wiseman (this is a re-read)
What's In a Box by Kelly Boivin
Is Your Mama A Llama? by Deborah Guarino
The Story of Me by Stanton Jones
Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel
Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss

Adding to our Richard Scarry collection

2008-04-02T13:08:00.001-07:00

We found this gem in the used section at our library.

Richard Scarry's Busy Busy World published in 1970.

A has been reading it almost non-stop since we bought it!

Books purchased from Amazon

2008-03-25T17:56:00.000-07:00

The House that Jack Built (Golden Book) by J.P. Miller
Gotta Have God: Fun Devotions for Boys Ages 2-5 by Lynn Ittner Klammer
Fingerprint Drawing Book by Ed Pemberly

we bought a book today

2008-03-21T16:48:00.000-07:00

Percy's Chocolate Crunch by Rev. Awdry

Potty books for little brother + Spring and Easter for A

2008-03-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

No More Diapers for Ducky by Bernette Ford
Potty Time by Guido van Genechten
When Will It be Spring by Catherine Walters
Usborne's I Can Draw Animals by Ray Gibson
Peter's First Easter by Walter Wangerin
Jim Along Josie: A Collection of Folk Songs by Nancy Langstaff
Astronaut Piggywiggy by Christyan Fox
Firefighter Piggywiggy by Christyan Fox

Pile of picture books

2008-03-12T22:56:00.000-07:00

well, some readers too!

- George and Martha Back in Town by James Marshall
- Found Alphabet by Ramon Shindler
- Firebears: The Rescue Team
- Fishy Field Trip (Magic School Bus) by Martin Schwabacher
- I'll Be You and You Be Me by Ruth Krauss

Easter books:

- Benjamin's Box: a Resurrection Story by Melody Carlson
- The Very First Easter by Paul Maier

A couple more from the library

2008-03-06T19:14:00.000-08:00

Animals, Animals by Eric Carle (poetry, not too popular with A, so far)
Big Smelly Bear by Britta Teckentrup
Henry and Mudge and the Long Weekend (book 11 in the series) - no, we aren't reading them in order. :)

New book from Brighter Vision

2008-03-05T19:02:00.000-08:00

Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
It is a Caldecott Medal book.

This book is hilarious! I also has great safety tips for kids.

Just a couple this week

2008-03-03T21:14:00.000-08:00

All Afloat on Noah's Boat by Tony Mitton
Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go - my son was VERY excited to see this one!

This is so cool!

2008-02-27T22:14:00.000-08:00

I found a cool website courtesy of Kids Lit.

The site is called Lookybook. You can page through children's books online! I think my son will love this. It is great for parents trying to make a decision about a book.

You can also embed the Lookybooks onto your blog or website.

Here is an embedded book so you can see how it works:

Another fun place for Mommy to waste time at!

Some new and old books aquired

2008-02-26T22:59:00.000-08:00

God's Wisdom for Little Boys: Character Building Fun from Proverbs by Jim George and Elizabeth George - I got this one through Paperback Swap.

Morris and Boris: Three Stories by Bernard Wiseman - I found this one in the library's used section for 25 cents.

Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever. My son has wanted this book FOREVER! I found it at Half Price Books. Yeah!

The Country Mouse and the City Mouse (Golden Book) by Patricia Scarry. I collect vintage Golden books.

Tuesday = library visit

2008-02-26T22:52:00.000-08:00

The Usborne Children's Book of Art by Rosie Dickins
Ten Apples Up on Top - Dr. Seuss
The Busy Body book - A Kid's Guide to Fitness by Lizzy Rockwell
Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban

we also took out Mouse Soup by Arnold Lobel but my son hated the weasel in it and insisted that we take it back immediately. Who knew?

Loading up at the library

2008-02-20T17:35:00.000-08:00

A Hole is to Dig by Ruth Krauss
Pierre: A Cautionary Tale by Maurice Sendak
The Complete Adventures of Curious George by H.A. Rey
Slow Days, Fast Friends by Erik Brooks

Library books this week

2008-02-14T17:26:00.000-08:00

Give Me Grace by Cynthia Rylant
Adam, Adam, What Do you see? by Bill Martin
Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin
Cars (book about the movie)
What Moms Can't Do by Douglas Wood
If You'll Be My Valentine by Cynthia Rylant

Animal books from the library (mostly)

2008-02-05T17:43:00.000-08:00

Wake Up, Big Barn by Suzanne Chitwood
Fire Truck by Peter Sis
A Good Night Walk by Elisha Cooper
Digger Man by Andrea Zimmerman
Chickens to the Rescue by John Himmelman
Ebb and Flo and the New Friend by Jane Simmons
Will You Be My Valenswine? by Teresa Bateman

Best books of 2007

2008-02-01T22:46:00.000-08:00

according to the New York Public Library.

Childrens books 2007 - 100 titles

Some of these titles look like fun.

Love that library!

2008-01-29T16:43:00.000-08:00

Best Buds - Maxwell Eaton
Harry the Dirty Dog - Gene Zion
Lyle, Lyle crocodile - Bernard Waber
Fire Engine Man - Andrea Zimmerman
The Bremen Town Band - Brian Wildsmith
Zoo Animals - Brian Wildsmith
hello Mrs. Piggy Wiggle - this one will be a read-aloud

Big stack from 2 libraries today

2008-01-22T12:39:00.000-08:00

Mr. Putter & Tabby Pour the Tea by Cynthia Rylant
Henry and Mudge in the Green Time by Cynthia Rylant
Love You When You Whine by Emily Jenkins
Scaredy Squirrel makes a friend by Melanie Watt
If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Joffe Numeroff
Have You Seen Birds? by Joanne Oppenheim
Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a Ball by Vicki Churchill
Oh, Look! by Patricia Palacco
Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars - space poems by Douglas Florian
A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston
Actual Size by Steve Jenkins

Discarded books from library

2008-01-22T12:37:00.000-08:00

I love our local library. They have a used section that includes discards from the library. I found some great hardcover books today!

Farm Life by Elizabeth Spurr
Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr.

Thrift store find

2008-01-19T21:34:00.000-08:00

Little Bear's Visit by Else Homel Minarik.

My youngest son realy loves the Little Bear stories. His favourite is Birthday Soup.

Finished Pinocchio!

2008-01-19T21:27:00.000-08:00

My husband finished reading Pinocchio to A tonight!

I'm currently reading (in bits and pieces) The Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken A Child's Moral Imagination. There is an entire chapter on Pinocchio and how valuable it is! (patting myself on the back). :) Be sure to read the original by Carlo Callodi and not a watered down story (like D*sney's) that takes away the lessons.

Library stack

2008-01-15T16:59:00.000-08:00

Hug by Jez Alborough
Teddy Bear by David McPhail
You Are My I Love You by Maryanne Cusimano
Farm Flu by Teresa Bateman
What Dads Can't Do by Douglas Wood
New Year's Day by David Marx
Fun With Dick and Jane

New books from the library

2008-01-07T16:45:00.000-08:00

A Kiss for Little Bear by Else Homel Minarik
Father Bear Comes Home by Else Homel Minarik
A Day in the Life of a Firefighter by Linda Hayward
Happy New Year Everywhere by Arlene Erlbach

Received for Christmas

2008-01-06T21:16:00.001-08:00

My ABC Bible Verses - Hiding God's Word in Little Hearts by Susan Hunt(from us)
Stuart Little by E.B. White (from Grandma and Grandpa)

Brighter Vision book

2008-01-06T21:02:00.000-08:00

Twelve Hats for Lena: A Book of Months

Catching up

2008-01-06T20:53:00.000-08:00

More books from the library:

Tiki Tiki Tembo by Arlene Mosel
B is for Bulldozer: A construction ABC (more for little brother)
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
New Year's Day
The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown
Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush by Iza Trapani
Froggy Went a Courtin by Iza Trapani
Preschool to the Rescue by Judy Sierra
I Like Winter by Lois Lenski
The Little Train by Lois Lenski

Latest library books

2007-12-19T14:36:00.000-08:00

A Small Miracle
Mouse Count
Usborne book of Christmas carols
Henry and Mudge - book 2
Love Songs of the Little Bear
Corduroy bakes a cake
Rosie's walk
Police cars
Dig, dig, digging
Snowmen at Christmas
The cow who clucked

More books from the library

2007-11-20T21:43:00.000-08:00

Morris the Moose by Bernard Wiseman
Morris and Boris at the Circus by Bernard Wiseman
Giggle, Giggle, Quack by Doreen Cronin
Rockabye Farm by Dianne Johnston Hamm
Museum ABC - Metropolitan Museum of Art
Thanksgiving Fun by Ronne Randall
Henry and Mudge: The First Book of Their Adventures by Cynthia Rylant

Books from the library

2007-11-16T20:14:00.000-08:00

Animals should definitely NOT wear clothing by Judi Barrett
Tell me something happy before I go to sleep by Joyce Dunbar
Pinocchio (complete unabridged version) by Carlo Collodi
The Busy Little Squirrel by Judy Tafuri

Library books today

2007-11-13T22:16:00.000-08:00

In November by Cynthia Rylant
Mouse Mess by Linnea Riley

New books from the library

2007-11-10T22:37:00.001-08:00

George and Martha Tons of Fun by James Marshall
Richard Scarry's Mother Goose
Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh
* Ed Emberley's fingerprint drawing book
The cow who clucked by Denise Fleming
Dog and bear : two friends, three stories by Laura Vaccar Seeger

His first ever book/CD combo - A Pocket for Cordoroy

Latest book from Brighter Vision

2007-11-08T23:14:00.000-08:00

My Amazing Body - A First Look at Health and Fitness by Pat Thomas

More books from the library

2007-11-08T23:09:00.000-08:00

It's Pumpkin Time by Zoe Hall
Five Minutes' Peace by Jill Murphy
*Read Aloud Bible Stories, vol. 1, 2 and 3

New books from the library

2007-10-19T07:51:00.000-07:00

I Know It's Autumn by Eileen Spinilli
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff
Bunny Mail by Rosemary Wells (we're big Max and Ruby fans around here)

Books from Brighter Vision

2007-10-18T22:46:00.000-07:00

My son has received a package from Brighter Vision for about the last 18 months. Each package contains a workbook, a craft, an activity and a hardbound book - all in the same theme.

Here is the book list:

- Bear and Bunny Grow Tomatoes *
- Grandma Elephant's In Charge
- Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin
- I'm a Little Teapot by Iza Trapani
- What Is Your Language by Debra Leventhal *
- Going To Sleep on the Farm by Wendy Cheyette Lewison
- Hoppameleon by Paul Geraghty
- I Love You Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt
- Five Little Ducks illustrated by Pamela Paparone
- How Will We Get to the Beach? by Luciani/Tharlet
- What Am I? by MacKinnon/Sieveking
- Teeny Tiny Mouse A Book About Colors by Laura Leuck
- Robert Frost's Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening illustrated by Susan Jeffers
- The Completed Hickory Dickory Dock
- Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck
- When Winter Comes by Nancy Van Laan
- What Makes the Seasons by Megan Montague Cash

Scholastic book order #1

2007-10-16T21:27:00.000-07:00

These are the books we recently bought through my son's preschool.

Click, Clack, Moo - Cows that type by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin *
If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Numeroff, Laura

Books currently borrowed from the library

2007-10-16T21:12:00.000-07:00

Hutchins, Pat - The Doorbell Rang *
Hutchins, Pat - Ten Red Apples *
Miller, Margaret - Whose Shoe?
Waring, Richard - Hungry Hen
Lindvall, Ella - Read Aloud Bible Stories - Vol. 1, 2 and 3 *
Wells, Rosemary - Bunny Cakes
Suess - Fox in Socks
Scarry, Richard - Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever *
Suess, Dr. - Green Eggs and Ham
Alborough, Jez - Hit the Ball, Duck
Zuckerman, Linda - I Will Hold You 'Til You Sleep
Banks, Kate - Max's Words *
Lyon, George Ella - Trucks Roll
Allen, Jonathan - I'm Not Scared
Hennessy, B. G - The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Lenski, Lois - The Little Farm *
Tudor, Tasha - Around the Year