Book Review: Your Baby's First Word will be Dada!!-Jimmy Fallon

For most new moms and dads, when their child starts talking, they hope their first word will be "Mama" or " Dada". But in the animal world, it is most likely that a piglet will " Oink", a puppy will " Woof" and a duckling will " Quack". And while it might be frustrating, in time ( and in some form), they may one day say " Dada".

This is a really cute book from Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show. I love the oddly-cute animals like the triangular-shaped mice and the half-circle chickens. I would have like a bit of a plot, but I'm assuming that the intended audience is for the under 3 set, they can just point at the pictures and say the animal sounds in the bubbles (or  perhaps I could use  this for the animal/farm section of Mother Goose on the Loose.) Perfect for new dads.







Your Baby's First Word will be "Dada" by Jimmy Fallon
Age Range: 2 and up
*** (3 stars)



Looking for more books celebrating Dad ? Here are some recommendations:

• Daddy Hugs  by Nancy Tafuri
• Saturday with Daddy  by Dan Andreasen
• Hero Dad by Melinda Hardin
• The Fathers are Coming Home by Margaret Wise Brown

By the way, Fallon wrote a children's book long before he was married and had kids. It's called Snowball Fight!! and it's a good read aloud for winter.

Bookworm List: Summer!!!

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Hello all!!

So this weeks marks the start of our Summer Reading Program, Every Hero has a Story ( and runs until August 1st). This week, it's all about summer!!! Is anyone heading to the beach or planning a big vacation? Or are just planning to relax and have some fun reading before school starts?

Well, about reading some books all about .... Summer!! Here are some recommendations-

• At the Boardwalk by Kelly R. Fineman
• The Night Before Summer Camp by Natasha Wing
• Sun Dance, Water Dance by Jonathon London
• A Couple of Boys have the Best Week Ever! by Marlee Frazee
• Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies
• Totally Polar by Marty Crisp
• Happy Birthday, America by Mary Pope Osborne
• Beach Day by Karen Roosa
• Sand Castle by Brenda S. Yee
• Fun in the Sun by David Catrow

To close, I felt like posting a Beach Boy song ( especially since I used one for tonite's Family Storytime and tomorrow's storytime for ages 2 and 3 and ages 4 and 5. ) Here is " True to Your School". Enjoy!!

Book Review: Bow Wow's Nightmare Neighbors-Mark Newgarden

About 7-8 yrs ago when I did my first outreach programs at the Merrillville public schools, I read a wordless, comic-like picture book called Bow Wow Bugs a Bug, in which a little yellow dog had some fun with a flea.  In his latest adventure, Bow Wow ventures to a spooky house to deal with some cats who bit him on the tail while napping and stole his doggie bed. With creeks and scares around very corner ( not to mention an even bigger tail-biting cat ), can Bow Wow retrieve his bed on a dark and stormy night?

Like the first Bow Wow, I laughed and laughed my head off ( plus felt the need to make spooky sounds and spooky music, like "Dun-Dun-DUNNNNN"). I'll have to keep this book in mind for upcoming Halloween programs ( or when things go bump in the night).


Bow Wow's Nightmare Neighbors by Mark Newgarden
Age Range: 2 and up
***** (5 stars)

Looking for more books featuring dogs? Here are some suggestions:

• Bow Wow Bugs a Bug by Mark Newgarden
• Traffic Pups by Michelle Meadows
• Homer by Elisha Cooper
• Shaggy Dogs, Waggy Dogs by Patricia Hubbell

Book Review: Who Wants a Hug?-Jeff Mack

Everyone loves Bear. He's always happy and he gives great big hugs. But Skunk find this annoying, and he has some stinky plans to stop him.

Someone needs a hug.....

This is a cheerful, brightly-colored laugh out loud  read.  I especially love it every time Skunk's plans backfire ( reminds me of  the old Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd cartoons.) Ending is a bit predictable, but kids will laugh their heads off.



Who Wants A Hug? by Jeff Mack
Age Level: 4 and up
**** (4 stars)

Looking for more books about hugs? Here are some suggestions:

• Big Hugs, Little Hugs by Felicia Bond

• Daddy Hugs  by Tim Warnes

• The Giant Hug by Sandra Horning

• Time for A Hug by Phillis Gershator

Book Review-Goatilocks and the Three Bears-Erica S. Perl

 

Most of us know the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. But what if instead of girl it was... a goat? Would she like porridge ( or perhaps eat the bowl)? Would she cause a mess? How will the bears react?

This is an oh-so-cute take on a beloved fairy tale, filled with bright colors, cute cartoon-like drawings  and a very happy, unusual ending.

Goatilocks and the Three Bears by Erica S. Perl
Age Range: 4 and up
**** ( 4 stars)

Want more alternative takes on Goldilocks and the Three Bears? Here are some recommendations:

• Goldie Socks and The Three Libearians by Jackie Hopkins- The bears help Goldie Socks look for the perfect book.
• Rolling Along with Goldie Locks and the Three Bears by Cindy Meyers-Goldie Locks befriends Baby Bear, who uses a wheelchair and goes to physical therapy.
• Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems- Goldilocks breaks into a house of ...dinos!!!

Book Review-Tap the Magic Tree-Christine Matheson

 

Trees are magical. Want to see? Tap it once, then again. Watch pink buds form, them blow away with a swish and a kiss. See apples grow and shake them from a tree with a plop plop kerplop.  And that's not all, there's more when fall and winter comes. And it happens over and over.

This is a neat and colorful book for teaching the seasons ( especially great for storytimes!!)

Tap the Magic Tree by Christine Matheson
Age Range: 3-8
***** ( 5 Stars)



For a preview, here's  the book trailer-

There's even more fun with some classroom activities ( click on the link)

Want more books about the season? Here are some recommended titles:

• A Year with Friends by John Seven
• All the Seasons of the Year by Deborah L. Rose
• Turning of the Year by Bill Martin
• What Makes the Seasons by Megan Cash

Halloween Story Time

The children had a spooktacular time hearing stories, finger plays, musical activities and making a Countdown to Halloween Calendar.  The 4 & 5 year olds trick or treated in the Children's Department.  LCPL staff were very generous. Those trick or treat bags were filled to the brim.  Many thanks to the LCPL family for making the story time a success!