Tag Archives: food

Ice Cream Everywhere!

Posted on February 13, 2014 | Comments Off on Ice Cream Everywhere!

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This very simple early reader has sweet pictures and rhymes that are not forced.  But the biggest draw, of course, is that it is about one of the boys’ very favorite subjects.

Author:  Marjorie Blain Parker
Illustrator:  Stephanie Roth

 

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Posted in Early Readers

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Good Night, Gorilla

Posted on February 5, 2014 | Comments Off on Good Night, Gorilla

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My youngest loved this book as a young toddler.  He’d ask for it every night before bed and we’d watch the gorilla release all of his animal friends so they could follow the zookeeper home.  We’d loved the details, like the toy in each animals’ cage,  the balloon that drifts through each double-page spread, and the mouse constantly lugging around a huge banana.  He would giggle and giggle when one of the characters got a big surprise.  A real charmer and, of course, perfect for bedtime. (He also loved the Scholastic video version of the book, which is less detailed but equally sweet.)

Author:  Peggy Rathmann
Illustrator: Peggy Rathmann

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Posted in Board Books

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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Posted on February 1, 2014 | Comments Off on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

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I’m not going to pretend this book needs an introduction.  I read it on my honeymoon and now I’ve read it to my six year old.  I loved it then.  He loves it now. 

Author:  J.K. Rowling
Illustrator: Mary Grandpre

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Posted in Chapter Books

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I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato

Posted on January 28, 2014 | Comments Off on I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato

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Lola was sitting at the table,
waiting for her dinner.
And she said,
“I do not eat
peas or carrots or potatoes
or mushrooms or spaghetti
or eggs
or sausages.
I do not eat
cauliflower or cabbage or baked beans
or bananas or oranges.
And I am not found of
apples or rice or cheese
or fish sticks.
And
I absolutely
will never
not ever
eat a tomato.”
(My sister hates tomatoes.)

If this list sounds familiar, this may be just the book for you.  With some creativity and a sense of adventure two siblings turn a meal full of forbidden foods into a delicious feast.  There are no carrots, peas, fish sticks, mashed potatoes, or tomatoes on the menu (perish the thought!).  Instead, orange twiglets, green drops, ocean nibbles, cloud fluff, and moonsquirters rule the day.  Perfect for parents who may be looking for a different way to present dinner and kids who are looking for a good laugh.

Author:  Lauren Child
Illustrator:  Lauren Child

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Posted in Picture Books

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The Lady with the Alligator Purse

Posted on January 27, 2014 | Comments Off on The Lady with the Alligator Purse

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Miss Lucy had a baby,
His name was Tiny Tim,
She put him in the bathtub
To see if he could swim.

Does anyone else remember jump roping to this song?   If so, this book starts out as you remember it, but things soon start to change.  Before you know it, the lady with the alligator purse is prescribing pizza to cure what ails the baby and the doctor, the nurse, Miss Lucy, et al. are happily feasting away.  My youngest has a tradition of reading this “pizza book” with his Dad at bedtime when we’ve had pizza for diner.  It’s a keeper and it comes in both board and picture book form.

Author:  unknown
Illustrator:  Nadine Bernard Westcott

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Posted in Board Books, Picture Books

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Diary of a Wombat

Posted on January 22, 2014 | Comments Off on Diary of a Wombat

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This funny story is entirely narrated by a deadpan wombat (an Australian marsupial that look like a brown bear cub that somehow got mixed up with a koala and groundhog).  Initially, her days are unvaried; she spends her time sleeping, eating grass, and scratching. But when some new neighbors move in, her life (and theirs!) starts to change. After some consideration (and a lot of carrots) she decides “that humans are easily trained and make quite good pets.”  (One suspects the humans have reached a rather different conclusion about wombats.)

This story, with its brevity and constant sleeping, is perfect for bedtime.

Author:  Jackie French
Illustrator:  Bruce Whatley

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Posted in Picture Books

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Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Posted on January 19, 2014 | Comments Off on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

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I tried reading the original version of Alice in Wonderland to my oldest about a year ago as our before-bed-chapter-book.  It did not click; we abandoned it.  This version, on the other hand, has been entirely successful.  It contains the essence of the story, the visuals are wonderful, and it never feels too long (unlike the various movies).  Both boys are thrilled when I pull it out.

Author:  Adapted from Lewis Carroll’s book
Illustrator:  Robert Sabuda in the style of John Tenniel

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Posted in Picture Books

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Kitten’s First Full Moon

Posted on January 17, 2014 | Comments Off on Kitten’s First Full Moon

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It was Kitten’s first full moon.
When she saw it, she thought,
There’s a little bowl of milk in the sky.
And she wanted it.

Kitten tries (and tries) to reach the little bowl of milk that she wants so much.  Things do not go well.  (Poor Kitten!)  But, as you might expect, there is a happy ending waiting.

This soft, sweet, short story is perfect for just before bed.

Author:  Kevin Henkes
Illustrator:  Kevin Henkes

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Posted in Picture Books

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When Dinosaurs Came with Everything

Posted on January 9, 2014 | Comments Off on When Dinosaurs Came with Everything

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Today, dinosaurs come with everything!

Like George Shrinks, this book has an irresistible premise (instead of balloons or stickers, or other more common giveaway items, dinosaurs come with everything from a dozen donuts to shots at the doctor’s office) coupled with charming and witty pictures that expand the story well beyond its text.  The book loses a bit of narrative steam around its final third, but it makes a strong finish, sparks the imagination, and is a lot of fun to read aloud.

Author: Elise Broachs
Illustrator: David Small

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Green Eggs and Ham

Posted on January 7, 2014 | Comments Off on Green Eggs and Ham

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Sure, I could talk about what a classic this book is.  How funny it is.  Its cadence.   Its illustrations.  All wonderful.

But the most wonderful part of all is that last night my oldest read (not recited!) about the first 25 pages of it to us.  He’s an official reader now!

Thank you!
Thank you,
Sam-I-am!

Author:  Dr. Seuss
Illustrator: Dr. Seuss

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Posted in Early Readers

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