Search results matching tags 'picture books' and 'reviews'

Sitting Down To Eat

UndergroundLibrarian@evpl — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:23:00 GMT

Author Bill Harley calls this a "zipper" song. He defines a zipper song as one where each verse is the same except for one word being changed. He gives as an example Pete Seeger's If I Had a Hammer. In Sitting Down to Eat, the singer relates the story of being all set to eat when an animal appears and askes to join him. "If you've got enough for one, then you've got enough for two," the animal reasons, and that always makes sense to the singer. This continues until there are nine animals (well, 8 animals and the singer) sitting down to eat, including a crocodile and even a whale. But when the tiny caterpillar asks to join them, it's just too much.

This would be a good story to tell with the audience joining in -- they'll be able to remember the refrain easily.

Think Honda Is Only a Car? Think Again!

UndergroundLibrarian@evpl — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 23:45:00 GMT

I love my Honda Civic -- but I was surprised to learn that Honda is the last name of Soichiro Honda, born in Japan in 1906. Honda: The boy Who Dreamed of Cars is a picture book biography that begins with his early life and shows the long road to his eventual creation of Honda motorbikes and later Honda cars. He began working in a garage that repaired American-made cars, but all he was allowed to do was sweep the floor. It was almost a year before the owner decided he was dedicated enough to learn to become a mechanic. He spent six years there, and when he became an expert repairman he decided to open his own garage. Later he began to design specific motor parts, and even designed and drove race cars. At one time he built and drove the fastest car in Japan.

Mr. Honda was a perfectionist who expected all his motorcycles and cars to be built perfectly. He said that if things were't built properly, a customer's life was being put in danger. At the same time he gave his employees good salaries and built swimming pools and gyms in his company. He listened to his employees' ideas and they were allowed to keep the money that their inventions earned. He was an interesting guy!

When I read this book I found out how my Honda got the name Civic.

Ghost's Hour, Spook's Hour

UndergroundLibrarian@evpl — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:16:00 GMT

How does a kid feel when the electricity goes out in the middle of the night and he can't find anyone but his dog? That's what happens to the boy in Ghost's Hour, Spook's Hour by Eve Bunting. Donald Carrick's pictures are very realistic as boy and dog open a creaky bedroom door and look for his parents in an empty but still-warm bed. The clock strikes 12. "Ghost's hour, spook's hour, " he says. It's a perfect atmospheric story with a happy ending. Not in the Halloween collection, but good for this time of year!

What Can Kids Do About the Economy?

UndergroundLibrarian@evpl — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:53:00 GMT

Sheila Bair, FDIC chairwoman, has written a picture book for children on responsible money managing. Rock, Brock, and the Savings Shock relates the story of twins whose grandfather gives them one dollar a week for ten weeks. Gramps promises to match each dollar saved at the end of each week. Brock saved his money, but Rock bought whatever looked good to him. Brock kept getting more money, but Rock only got one dollar each week, because he had already spent his money. By the end of ten weeks Brock had $512; Rock had no cash and a lot of semi worthless stuff. By that time Brock had enough money to buy some really nice things and still save some money besides. You can read the story to see what happened to Rock.

After the story ends there are pages that explain the math and compound interest, and encourage kids ot save a portion of the money they receive.

Sheila Bair and her part in the present economic situation were highlighted on Nation Public Radio's morning show a few days ago. You can click here to read a transcript of the program, including a reference to Rock and Brock.

You never know what you're going to hear on NPR -- this morning I heard a person singing the praises of children's author/illustrator Mo Willems. But that's for a later posting.

The Bus for Us

UndergroundLibrarian@evpl — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:31:00 GMT

"Is this the bus for us, Gus?" That's the question Tess asks on every other page of this book, while they wait to go to school. Big brother Gus answers with varying degrees of patience. Meanwhile more kids keep lining up to ride too, and their wordless activities are worth watching. And check out the Bus Stop sign. What does it say on different pages? Prereaders will enjoy guessing what vehicle is pulling up now, after getting a view of its front bumper. Those who can "read" Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and its companions will soon be doing the same with The Bus for Us.