Kiddy Litter

Moving Madness

Our family is going to be moving to a new house in about 2 weeks.  So, there will be a bit of a break here on kiddylitter.  I will try to get back to you as soon as possible!  In the meantime, enjoy the new school year and may you discover some great new books to enjoy together!

I Just Forgot (A Little Critter Book) By Mercer Mayer

Little Critter is trying hard to do all the things he's supposed to do and trying hard to do them right.  But, sometimes little critters just forget!  He gets it almost right over and over, like when he remembers to take a bath, but forgets to use soap.  Kids will relate to Little Critter's forgetfulness and parents will feel like maybe their little one isn't the only one of his kind.  The entire Little Critter series is worth a look.  Full of great illustrations that kids love with lots of little details and creatures to spot.

There Is a Bird on Your Head! (An Elephant and Piggie Book) By Mo Willems

Elephant and Piggie are besties!  They have lots of different adventures together.  This is a fabulous series for new readers and also great for reading aloud to tots.  My 2 year old ran around the house for months saying "fly, fly, fly, fly..." after we read Today I Will Fly.  I chose There Is a Bird On Your Head! because I cannot read it without laughing out loud.  The illustrations work so well with the words to create a very definite feeling.  Elephant asks Piggie if he has a bird on his head and Piggie proceeds to narrate all that is happening on Elephant's head.  This includes the bird falling in love, building a nest, laying eggs, and then eggs hatching.  A book to make parent and child happy!

The Time Travelers (The Gideon Trilogy) By Linda Buckley-Archer

If you have an adventure lover in your home this is a good book to get in their hands.  Kate and Peter are modern day kids who are transported to the past (the 1700's) by a machine they happen upon when they accompany Kate's father to his office.  This is not your typical visit to the past book.  It is full of danger and humor and mystery.  It will keep the reader going and wanting more.  My only complaint about this intriguing tale is that it is truly a trilogy and you will not know the end of the story until you read the third book in the series which is due out this October.  But, even without everything being wrapped up neatly, this is well worth a read. 

Creole By Stephen Cosgrove

When I was a little girl I collected the books in this series (called Serendipity Books).  They are beautifully illustrated and each teach a lesson.  I have great affection for all the books in this series, but narrowed it down to one for this review.  This is a beautiful and sweet story of a creature who has a heart full of beautiful things to share, but is horribly ugly.  She is shunned by all the other animals who are afraid of her until one day she has a chance encounter with a baby alligator with a stutter.  The alligator is also an outcast and is not afraid of Creole.  He sits with her and gets to hear all the beauty in her heart.  He becomes determined to introduce her to the other creatures.  They come up with a plan that has surprising effects on all of them.  A great story to help kids understand the concept of not judging a book by it's cover.

Owen By Kevin Henkes

Here's a selection in honor of back-to-school season.  This is the story of a small mouse named Owen who is about to attend school for the first time ever.  He has a fuzzy yellow blanket that is his closest companion.  His well-meaning neighbor, Mrs. Tweezers, suggests he get rid of the blanket before school starts.  Owen is horrified by this suggestion, but his mom comes up with a brilliant idea that makes going to school a fun experience for everyone (and even Mrs. Tweezers approves). 

Bark, George By Jules Feiffer

We all know what a dog is supposed to say, but George seems a little confused.  His mom tries repeatedly to get her pup to bark, but instead he moos or quacks or even meows.  A trip to the vet seems to sort things out as he pulls animal after animal out of George.  The illustrations are really cute and you can watch "mom" get more and more frustrated with George.  This is a silly tale that little ones just learning their animal sounds will especially enjoy!

We're Going on a Bear Hunt By Michael Rosen

This is such a fun book to read as a family.  It's got a great rhyming rhythm.  When we read it, I read one line and then the kids repeat it.  They also love to get up and act it out as we read.  The story tells of a family going on an adventurous bear hunt.  As the obstacles appear they discuss ways to get around them.  For instance when they come to the mud, they can't go over it and can't go under it, they have to go through it.  The kids love pretended to tromp through the mud.  We have the pop-up version of this book and it adds a whole other element to the book, but even without any bells and whistles this is a great story that stands on it's own.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz By L. Frank Baum

Most of us are familiar with at least parts of this story thanks to Judy Garland and MGM studios.  I grew up on the movie and didn't lay hands on the book until my first child was in kindergarten.  Then I decided I would read it aloud to her.  We had so much fun and she was enchanted by the story.  It is quite different than the movie and has so much more to it, including more characters (very entertaining ones).  A great tale of fantasy that children will eat up and adults will enjoy feeding them. 

Tails By Matthew Van Fleet

If your little one loves the touch and feel books, this is a great choice!  Your child will be introduced to all different sorts of animals and, of course, their tails.  There are flaps to lift, different textures to feel, and tabs to move.  It quickly becomes a favorite because of how interactive it is.  The illustrations are cute and full of personality and it's written in rhyme (which means you, as the parent, will be quoting it in your sleep).