What My Child Is Reading :: Week of 6 September 2010

I came across this wonderful meme, "What My Child Is Reading," over at my newest blogging discovery, Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns! Take a minute to peek inside this wonderful blog ... I know that I am super-thrilled to have found it!

Fall is most definitely in the "literature" air here in our little corner of the world! This is my favorite, favorite time of year, especially when sharing children's literature with my little ones. 

We can be found reading all manner of books about apples, school, fall, leaves, and Halloween!

Here are our latest picks:

Who Will Haunt My House on Halloween?

Written by Jerry Pallotta

Illustrated by David Biedrzycki

Publisher's Summary:  It's Halloween night.  While a mother is upstairs getting her daughter's costume ready, lost of trick-or-treaters stop by the house - from werewolves, ghosts, and zombies to witches, bats, dinosaurs, and more! But are they really ... real?

Let It Fall

Written and Illustrated by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

Publisher's Summary:  Mounds of color, raked up high - jump right in and watch the sky.

One Smart Cookie:  Bite-Size Lessons for the School Years and Beyond

Written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Illustrated by Jane Dyer and Brooke Dyer

Publisher's Summary:  One Smart Cookie offers a fresh batch of words that encompasses everything you might say to a child, whether it's the first day of preschool or the last day of high school.  Cookie-centric definitions range from wanting to know everything about cookies (curious) to thinking carefully about what kind of cookies to make for your friend (ponder).  This book mixes Amy Krouse Rosenthal's morsels of wisdom with the delicious illustrations of mother-daughter duo Jane Dyer and Brooke Dyer.  This is one vocabulary list that will resonate well beyond the school years.

What have your children been reading lately??? I would love to know!!!

Book Blogger Hop Time!

Book Blogger Hop time is here again, courtesy of Jennifer over at Crazy for Books!

This week's question is:  Do you judge a book by its cover?

And my answer is ... a resounding YES!!!

Yep, folks, this avid reader and teacher is guilty of picking up a book based only on the cover illustration! I must say, however, that my intuition here has proven correct most of the time.

In fact, I discovered my absolute favorite series (pictured below) based upon the delicious cover illustrations!

 

The Complete Wreck (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Books 1-13)

The children's novel I just finished was swiped off of the library shelves only because I fell in love with the darling mouse on the cover! (Come on, admit it - she's adorable!!)

The story was just as heartwarming as the illustration, too!

So, yes, I do judge a book by its cover ... and I'm proud of it!!

Book Review #16 :: My Mother is So Smart!

My Mother is So Smart!

by Tomie dePaola

Published by  G.P. Putnam's Sons, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group

Copyright 2010

"I knew from the time I was really little that my mother was smart.  She always knew when to change my diaper.  She always knew I was hungry before I cried."

Publisher's Summary:  Moms are pretty awesome.  They know just what to do to make a kid happy and the world a better place.  They are so smart! Tomie dePaola's heartfelt ode to the fabulousness of moms is a perfect book for the whole family to share.

Mary Elizabeth's Musings:  How can anyone go wrong with a book by the simply marvelous Tomie dePaola??? This lovely book is no exception to Mr. dePaola's gift to the world of literature.  Written from the absolutely unadulterated perspective of a little boy, this book reveals the many ways that mothers are able to know every last need of her child.  Mr. dePaola's simple, yet always effective prose gives us a glimpse into the genius of his wonderful mother. 

A message of warning to all mothers:  Grab a tissue before reading this book ... you will cry!!!

I recommend this book for ages 3-8 years.


Other books by this author:

 

Back in the Blogging World!

Hello, dear readers...

I'm officially back in the blogging world!

Where have I been??

Well, let's just say that August of 2010 was not the greatest month in the world for me.  My husband's dear grandmother passed away, which was exceptionally difficult on our family.  In addition, I underwent sinus surgery.

On the flip side, August marked our eldest son's start of the first grade.  He is off to an amazing year!

I can't wait to dive back into children's literature with all of you!!!! 

FINAL Mystery Friend Friday :: Meet Laura Numeroff!

Hello, readers!!

Or to quote the lovely spider, Charlotte, from the classic book, Charlotte's Web :: "Salutations!"

Photo :: weheartit.com

 
You might have not noticed that I have been MIA most of this week ... I have taken a much-needed, impromptu blogging break.  At home, we have been swamped (even more, if that's possible!) with summer activities, back-to-school errands, and a very, very sick relative who lives out of town. 

In fact, I participated in last weekend's amazing "Got Books?" blogging event from a hotel room while visiting our sick relative! I will be honest ... at the moment, I am feeling extremely overwhelmed!

[Insert deep breath HERE, along with peaceful visual element to inspire readers ...]

Photo :: weheartit.com

Okay ... now that I'm feeling (a little) better, back to the [book] business at hand!

As a result of our last-minute weekend travelling and my unplanned break from the blogosphere, I realized I had not revealed last week's mystery children's author!! So ...

Meet the talented Laura Numeroff, the author of the incredibly successful "If You Give a Mouse ..." books!!!

Here are five facts you might not know about Laura Numeroff ... (information source - www.lauranumeroff.com):

1. She was born in Brooklyn, New York.
2. She is the youngest of three girls.
3. Her favorite possessions growing up were:  a microscope, a box of 64 crayons, and her library card.
4. She loves oatmeal with bananas and raisins.
5. Some of her favorite books are:  Stuart Little, Eloise, and anything by Beverly Cleary.

Ms. Numeroff has a very creative, interactive website for all of her readers, including kids, parents, and teachers.  Take some time to explore the world of Laura Numeroff!!

** Special announcement:  This will be my final "Mystery Friend Friday" post, unless I decide to bring it back at a later date.  I just did not have the kind of response to this feature that I had hoped.  No worries, though!! I have a brand-new weekly feature planned for Wednesdays that I will begin next week, so be sure to come back and take a peek!! **