Book Review: Books for Spring

According to the calendar it's already been spring for a few weeks here, but the weather says otherwise.  It's really just this week that the grass is starting to show and look not-quite-so-brown and that we've been able to go out without layers upon layers of clothing.  It's nice.  And so are new books.  Here are a few new (or resurfacing) ones that we've got out on our shelves these days...

The Icky Bug Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta

I used to have this book in my classroom and thought it was really good --an alphabet book that tells about different "bugs" for each letter.  The drawings are attractive and it has just the right amount of information on each critter.  Ages 4-6.  

I am a Bunny by Ole Risom

A classic!  This book goes through the year describing Nicholas Bunny's activities during each season.  The drawings are cute, but still have some interesting details.  We've decided to give this one to the little cousins for Easter this year.  Ages 2-4.

Ladybug Girl by David Soman

I am in love with this book.  Which is good, because both The Bean and Sprout have wanted us to read it to them multiple times a day for the past week, which is how long we've had it.  It was a lucky find at the Book Bank.  The story is about a young girl, who dressed up like a ladybug, has to entertain herself for an entire morning.  She heads outdoors where she finds lots to do, proving to herself that she is not too little as her older brother criticizes.  The illustrations are anime-like and the artists do a great job of showing expression on the main character's face.  Ages 3-6.  

Hatch by Katie Cox

A board book with little rhymes giving hints to each animal hiding behind an egg, which the child can "crack" open to reveal.  A nice introduction to which animals come from eggs vs. which are born live.  Ages 1-3.

Worms Wiggle, Bugs Jiggle A Reader's Digest Book

Another Book Bank find, this little book is full of rhymes about nature.  It was just too sweet not to include in this list.  Here's one of the rhymes:  

Only My Opinion

Is a caterpillar ticklish?

Well it's always my belief

That he giggles, as he wiggles

Across a  hairy leaf.

Ages 3-8.

The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss

Another classic.  A simple story with simple (almost monochromatic) drawings about a little boy who continues to care for the carrot seed he has planted despite his family telling him that "it won't come up."  His perseverance pays off when his carrot comes up!  Perhaps especially nice for impatient gardeners. :)  Ages 1-3.  

DewDrops

I have no idea where this book came from, but all it is is very simple illustrations of flowers with their names.  Nice for introducing new flowers to little ones.  I believe Lois Ehlert's Planting a Rainbow is somewhat similar, but we don't own that one.  Ages 1-3.

Book Review: Books for Winter

Winter is on it's way.  Though I didn't see them, Jen told me there were some flurries on her way home yesterday.  We haven't put these books out for the kiddos just yet, because goodness knows winter will last long enough for us to read them many times, but they're ready for when we finally are willing to admit that winter has arrived.  

*You can see another review of winter books here.  I included some again in this list, without really thinking about it.

When Snowflakes Fall by Carl R. Sams and Jean Stoick
The close up photos of animals in this book and the Winter Friends (below) are pretty cool.  This book is about various animals preparing for the coming of winter.  The Bean likes talking about the animals and what they're doing, and Sprout loves books with real photos, so this appeals to her too.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keates
I love "classics" like this book.  I'm sure everyone here is familiar with this book already, but if you're not it's truly lovely.  The artwork bold and appealing, illustrating the main character, Peter's, activities on a snowy day.  

Winter Friends  by Carl R. Sams and Jean Stoick
As I mentioned above, the photos in this book are great.  It's a simple story with lots of animals to point out and make the noises for.  Both kids like this one.  

Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson, Illustrated by Jane Chapman
A super-cute rhyming book about a bear who sleeps through the winter while his other woodland animal friends seek reprieve from the snow.  Fun to read and to listen to.  Perfect for preschool-age.

Snow by Uri Shulevitz
This is a new one to us and the kids haven't heard it yet (it's intended to be a holiday gift).  That said, I think they're going to like it.  A little boy excitedly notices the snow beginning to fall and happily announces his discovery only to have everyone tell him that it's not really snowing.  But, of course, it is really snowing and so the little boy goes out to play in it.

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
This book has become favorite for everyone at our house.  So much so that The Bean has brought home drawings of "The City of Geopolis" from daycare.  For those not familiar with it, Katy is a crawler tractor who puts on her snowplow and helps plow out the city after the "big snow." Love. Love. Love.

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner, Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
This is also one we have tucked aside as a holiday gift.  I fell in love with the illustrations and being a bit of an animal geek I couldn't resist picking it up to share with The Bean hoping to inspire some discussion about what various creatures do during the winter months.  I think it's a little "old" for him, probably better suited to school-aged children, but I'm hoping we still get to enjoy it together.  

Zoe's Snowy Day by Barbara Reid
This is in the "Zoe" series.  The text is quite limited, but the plasticine pictures are unique.  There's a lot going on in the pictures to point out and name to your baby.  The Bean still enjoys this simple story and after having been read it a few times can recite it by memory.  Like her brother at this age, Sprout seems to enjoy looking at the pictures.

The Snow Day by Komoko Sakai
Another book I picked up after falling in love with the illustrations.  A little bunny wakes up to find the snow falling, falling, falling.  He stays home with his mother on the snow day and waits and waits for the snow to stop so he can go outside to play.  It's a little solemn  and it's apparent the little bunny is a bit worried about his dad who's plane home has been delayed because of the weather, but the ending is optimistic.  I think it's particularly nice for kids who live in urban settings (the bunny and his family live in an apartment) and for kids whose parents have to travel for business.

What books make your winter favourites list?