TLC Book Tour: Millie Fierce Sleeps Out

*Review Copy Provided

One of the best parts of being a kindergarten teacher was all the wonderful children's book I got to read and share with my students.  There are always a few titles you know from the second you preview it, that it'll be a big hit with the kids.  Millie Fierce Sleeps Out by Jane Manning is one of those.

Book Description:

Little girls can be strong and fierce and brave—and sometimes their ferocity is just the thing they need to save the day.

Millie is strong. Millie is fierce. But Millie has learned to keep her fierceness in check. And since she’s been sweet all summer long, Millie gets to have a sleepout with her friends. One where she promises to be well behaved. But things don't go as Millie planned, and our fierce little heroine is not happy. Still, she tries her best to keep her fierceness inside. But when the scary dog from next door howls at the girls' tent, Millie's ferocity saves them all!

A perfect addition to a bookshelf filled with Fancy Nancy, Eliose, Olivia, and Ladybug Girl.

The vibrant watercolor illustrations set the stage and perfectly match the exuberance of the title character and what a character Millie is!  I love that her individuality is celebrated and how the story shows that something we struggle with can turn out to be an asset.  That being able to be strong and getting fierce is sometimes necessary and a good thing.  It's a story kids can relate to as many have trouble controlling themselves, adults too at times!

On top of that, I really appreciated just how well written the book is.  It's full of little gems and text that doesn't talk down to kid but rather introduces them to a variety of very descriptive phrases such as "hair frizzed itself into a magnificent tangle" or "packed her fierceness away as tightly as a rolled tent", lines like that really give children something to think about and are what makes this an exciting story for young kids.

Besides kindergarten, I also taught special education for a few years and had students with emotional issues.  I was always looking for good books that could get us talking about conflict resolution and peer interaction and Millie Fierce lends itself to that well too.  I can think of a lot of interesting ways to use this title in the classroom.

My seven year old daughter liked it because, "It's about a girl who's been trying to be really good and she does it all summer.  So her mom lets her have a sleep out in the back yard and I've always wanted to do that.  When her friends come over there are issues and she tries really hard to keep it together, and her friend throws away the gummy worms!  I'd be super mad about that.

"At the same time there is a monster outside, but it turns out to be a dog.  So she lets herself go and gets really fierce and chases it away.  Then her friends get a new bag of gummy worms and they all end up having a fun time after all. It's a good book because everyone feels like crazy once in awhile.  Sometimes you don't get along with your friends but it all turns out well in the end  And the pictures are really good, I mean you can even see the shadows of the girls on my favorite page."

It's safe to say that although the recommended age range is 3-5 years, Millie Fierce Sleeps Out is still a compelling book for older children.  My struggling reader really enjoyed it and was very proud that she could read it herself, especially since it does have challenging vocabulary.

Jane Manning is the illustrator of dozens of children’s books, including Little Goblins Ten by Pamela Jane, Drip Drop by Sarah Weeks, Cindy Ellen by Susan Lowell, and the New York Times Bestselling The Witch Who Was Afraid of Witches by Alice Low. She wrote and illustrated 2008?s Cat Nights (Greenwillow).
Many of Jane’s books have appeared in Scholastic Book Clubs and ALA “Pick of the Lists”. She’s won several awards for her work, including Parenting Magazine’s Reading Magic Award for Drip Drop, and The Western Writers of America Storyteller Award for Cindy Ellen.

Jane lives in Deep River, Connecticut with Tim, Tatiana, Nellie, Ziggy, and Shep. She is usually very well behaved, but every once in a while, Jane turns fierce, just like Millie.

Learn more about Manning's series at the official Millie Fierce website.

Millie Fierce Sleeps Out

List Price: $16.99

Hardcover: 32 Pages

Publisher: Philomel

Available at booksellers such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon,  This post is part of a book tour on behalf of Millie Fierce Sleeps Out, organized by TLC Book Tours.  For the full schedule see this post.

Review & Giveaway: Room on the Broom Gift Set - Children's Book, DVD, and Plush Toy

This is a sponsored post.  Complimentary products were provided for review.  The experiences and opinions are both personal, unbiased, and completely my own. No other compensation was provided.

Lets start off the week with a giveaway!  I have an awesome collection from NCircle Entertainment for one of my readers that includes a Room on the Broom Gift Set AND 2 more great NCircle Halloween DVD's!  It's a terrific giveaway that's will have you all set for October fun!

Giveaway Package
"Room on the Broom” DVD

"Room on the Broom" softcover book

"Room on the Broom" plush toy - may differ from the Dragon shown

The Wiggles "Wiggly Halloween" DVD

Pocoyo "Boo" DVD

Total Prize Value: $65

"Room on the Broom" is the story of a kind witch who invites some unexpected animals to join her on her broom, much to the frustration of her cat. Just as the witch is about to be eaten by a hungry dragon, all the animals use their wits to work together and save her.

It's not your average Halloween book, and other than the main character being a witch it's not holiday-ish at all.  What it is, is a funny, heartwarming tale with adventure about friendship and working together.  It's a story both kids and parents can enjoy.

I really liked the charming illustrations by Axel Scheffler and how the story is more substantial than you might first expect.  It's a true read aloud that engages the reader and help establish a love of literature.  That's something this former kindergarten teacher really appreciates.

I love it when there is a way to extend the readers experience with well written and imaginative children's books.  "Room on the Broom," is an enchanting animated program starring "the voice" of Gillian Anderson, along with several other tantalizing prizes. It is based on the top-selling, perennially popular book of the same title by Julia Donaldson, and was created by the production company responsible for "The Gruffalo" and "The Gruffalo's Child."

If I was still in the classroom I would be all about using Room on the Boom as my centerpiece for a week long witch theme during October.  We'd read the book throughout the week and do thematic activities, such as a writing activity like this: "If I had room on the broom, I'd take along a...."  I can just imagine all the fabulous creatures students would finish that statement with!

Then on Friday I'd show this excellent DVD version of the book.  It's spot on for bringing the book to life.  No weird deviations and it's really thrilling to see the dragon brought to life!

My kids were mesmerized by the DVD, not just the featured program but also by the special features.  My seven year old really liked the animation gallery and the live retelling with the author.  She said it was like seeing a play without leaving your home and that it was cool to have a third version of the story.

You might have noticed my two kiddos were joined by a new friend while watching the Room on the Broom DVD.  Also included in the gift set is this sweet character plush!  We received the Dragon in our review pack but the winner may receive another one based on the book.

Dragon is super cute for such a ferocious beast, who just loves to eat witches with a side of fries.  My little guy got a hold of him and hasn't wanted to let go since.  It's very sweet to see him go grab the book and bring along his Dragon so both of them can listen to the story.

Can you tell I am super excited about this book and DVD combo?!  I've already emailed all my teacher friends to recommend they check Room on the Broom out.  I highly recommend it for classroom teachers because it's perfect for October, but it doesn't actually mention Halloween or the holiday.

That's great for those who work in districts that don't allow holidays in the curriculum or for when there is a child in the class who for religious reasons cannot participate in holiday related activities.  Usually, as long as it doesn't talk about trick or treating it can skirt the no holiday rule.  Plus the story has all sorts of great elements than can be used for teaching, like rhyming, the reading extension activity I mentioned above, etc.

Please use Rafflcopter widget below to enter.  Email subscribers will need to click over to access the form and enter.  Good Luck!  Open to US Residents, 18 and older.  Winner will be contacted via email and have 48 hours to respond before a new one is selected.  NCircle is the sponsor for this giveaway and responsible for giveaway fulfillment.

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Children's Book Review: Cooper and Me and the Winter Adventure

Cooper and Me is a delightful series featuring Cooper, a fun loving Labrador and his canine friends.  It's the brainchild of a mother daughter duo, Monique and Alexa Peters, who work together to write and illustrate the tales.  Each one helps kids learn how to cope with a challenge that a young child may encounter and is resolved with a solution that leads to a "happy ending".  I love the pictures that are based on Alexa's original drawings, they retain a kid drawn look that my five year old found very appealing.  The rhyming text is fun to read.

In Cooper and Me and the Winter Adventure!, the title character and his friend Bella the Morkie.  The pair go out to enjoy a day of playing in the snow and sledding down the town's biggest hill.  When they get to the bottom, they find themselves in an unfamiliar place.  They aren't sure what to do, should they sit and wait?  As it grows dark they realize they need to get home and begin to howl as loud as they could, and hear a bark back.  It's Trooper, the German Shepard, who helps them get home.

My daughter enjoyed the story, she really liked that it was about dogs. At the end of the story there is a space to add important information, that everyone should know if they get lost.  It's helpful to add your own there and practice it each time you read the book.  There's additional enrichment, like questions about the story and parents can go online and download  the Cooper and Me Theme song as well. 

Cooper and Me and the Winter Adventure! provides a nice, safe, way to introduce conversations about safety and what to do if you are lost.  It gave my daughter something to think about, without scaring her too much and worrying about getting lost.  She can see that things turned out okay and didn't get overly anxious, as she sometimes can when we talk about "scary" situations. 

She loved the idea that a little girl followed her dream and helped write a real book.  She loves to draw herself, and thought it was really neat that Alexa drew the pictures.  (I didn't go into detail about how the illustrations are based on drawings and just let her know Alexa helped.)  ER now wants to write books with me, so it's encouraged her interests in literature, always a good thing in my book!

Find out more about Cooper and Me on their website and blog.  Connect with Cooper and Me on Twitter and Facebook.  You can find about Cooper and Me's philanthropic causes on their about page.  I think it's wonderful how they are helping kids through their books and with their proceeds. 

Continuing Alexa and Monique's passion for giving back,$1 of every Winter Adventure book sold through February 2012 will be donated to the Lustgarten Foundation, which is America's largest private foundation dedicated solely to funding pancreatic cancer research.

You can help them help kids too!  Purchase one of the Cooper and Me titles on their website and through December 21st, for every book purchased they will donate one book to the Today Show Toy Drive! 

Use the code BUY 1 GIVE 1 at checkout!

Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of the book was provided.  However the experiences and opinions expressed within are personal and unbiased.  No other compensation was received.

Garter Snake at Willow Creek Lane: Children's Book Review

One of my go to gifts for kids has always been a quality picture book.  I like to pick out titles that can be enjoyed all year round and not just at the holidays.  Janet Halfmann's Garter Snake at Willow Creek Lane is just the title for children interested in nature, the outdoors, and wildlife.  It's both beautifully illustrated and full of interesting facts.

Here is a book synopsis:

Garter Snake has been on her own since birth. She has learned important skills including how to find meals and protect herself from predators like birds and dogs. Her biggest struggle of all will be finding a place to spend the cold winter months. Children can follow Gartner Snake on this exciting adventure.

We enjoyed the narrative because the storylinebrings Garter Snake in contact with a family.  My daughter liked how when she gets into the house, Papa deals with the situation in a kind manner and helps relocate her for the winter.  Halfmann presents the common Garter Snake in an interesting way and gives a creature that many are squeamish around, personality .  I thought she did an very good job giving how and why Garter Snake behaves as she does.  There are lots of cool facts to pick up as you read!

The paperback version retails for $8.95 and comes with free audio download!



Disclaimer: A complimentary review book was provided.  The opinions and experiences related within are personal and unbiased.  No other compensation was received.

Star of the Sea: A Day in the Life of a Starfish by Janet Halfmann, Book Review

One of our favorite children's authors is back with another title about sea creatures, this time featuring the common starfish of the Pacific Coast.  Illustrated with collages of hand-painted papers of watercolor stencils and textures Star of the Sea: A Day in the Life of a Starfish is as beautiful to look at as it is engaging and education.

With the ocean her home, an ochre sea star hunts for her morning meal.  She folds over her rays and grips the rocky shore with sticky feet as she feasts on shellfish.  When she takes too long, the tide flows back without her and Sea Star becomes easy prey.  But she is built to survive and eventually makes her way back to the sea, although with one less ray than before.  This inspiring story informs young children about the important role of a small but fascinating sea creature.

Every time I read one of Halfmann's books I am impressed by how seamlessly she blends the narrative with interesting facts about her subject.  Children are engaged following along with Starfish on her travels for the day, all the while learning tidbits of information.  I am always surprised when my daughter brings up some of the things she's learned at seemingly random times. 

For instance, over the weekend, we were watching some video I took at our last trip to the circus, she turned to me and said, "Hey, Starfish is better than those guys.  Bet no one had to teach her!"  I admit I had no idea what she was talking about at first.  It wasn't until she ran and brought me the book that I made the connection.  At one point Halfmann compares Starfish to a circus acrobat and ER had remembered, even though it had been over a week since we'd last read the book.

I always learn a thing or two about the Halfmann's characters and this time was no different.  I think that's why her stories continue to impress us so much.  Star of the Sea in particular is a lovely experience, between the interesting facts and captivating pictures it's a title to enjoy over and over.  I highly recommend it for teachers to use with ocean themes and as one for parents to pick up for their children after a trip to the ocean or aquarium.  It's sure to bring up memories and teach your child more about the sea life they've just seen. 

Children's Book Review: Gabby, God's Little Angel

Title: Gabby, God's Little Angel
Author: Sheila Walsh
Published by Thomas Nelson

Publisher's Description:

This first book in a delightful new series offers a comforting message for young readers—God loves you very much and is always watching over you!

What little girl wouldn’t love her very own guardian angel? Parents and children alike will be won over by this humorous tale of Gabby, a guardian angel in training who has much to learn about taking care of God’s little ones. Her new assignment is to protect a young girl named Sophie, but Gabby soon realizes that watching after Sophie is a bigger challenge than she had expected! After a close call while riding her pony, Sophie learns what the Bible says about guardian angels: “He will put his angels in charge of you. They will watch over you wherever you go” (Psalm 91:11 ICB).

Since getting this book, my five year daughter has really enjoyed it; the glittery book jacket and adorably illustrated pages delighted her from the get go.  I was especially interested in it because every night we say the Guardian Angel prayer together.  You might be familiar with it:

Angel of God, my guardian dear,

To whom God's love commit's me here.   

Ever this night be at my side

To light and guard and rule and guide.

When I requested it, I was thinking the book would be a nice tool to help explain the concept of a guardian angel to her in a way she'd understand.  The author Walsh does a good job doing exactly like that.  The story may be a bit predictable and I've never liked the idea of angels being presented as sitting up on the clouds but it's well geared toward it's target audience, little girls.  The underlying message is what's important and it's packaged up in a way that will interest girly girls very much and make it a favorite read.  There's even a pony in it and what little girl doesn't love a pony? 

The arrival of Gabby, God's Little Angel was well timed for our family because my daughter will be starting kindergarten tomorrow.  We've been talking about how even though I will not be with her, an angel will be watching over her while we are apart.  Reading it together has helped facilitate some very good conversations between us!  You can use the widget below to preview it for yourself.   

Buy		Read

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy via the Book Sneeze program.  No other compensation was received.

Good Night, Little Sea Otter: Book Review & Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed, thank you to everyone who entered and congratulations to Linda Kish, comment #40, who said, "Not an animal but a caterpillar book would be cute."
Award winning author Janet Halfmann's newest release Good Night, Little Sea Otter is the perfect bedtime story. Join Little Sea Otter as he bids each of his many ocean friends good night, all while being held tight in Mama's arms. His desire to put off bedtime reminds me of the antics my own daughter will try on occasion. This sweet story will help kids transition to sleepy time and ends the way all children will like, with Little Sea Otter being scooped by Mama.My four year old daughter especially likes the part where Little Sea Otter and Mama wrap themselves in ribbons of seaweed so they won't drift away during the night. She thought they looked like they were snuggling under green covers. Wish William's illustrations are absolutely beautiful, filled with soothing colors. We really enjoyed Good Night, Little Otter and it's ocean theme.
Giveaway:

Star Bright Books and author Janet Halfmann would like to offer an autographed copy of her newest book Good Night, Little Sea Otter

To Enter:

Please leave a comment on this post. Many of Janet's titles are about animals or insects and we'd love for you to suggest one you'd like Janet to write about.

Extra Entries:

You can also earn more entries to this giveaway by following me via Google Friends Connect, email, Facebook, or Twitter so you'll be the first to know about giveaway opportunities in the future! Spreading the word is also appreciated. Just let me know what you do in a separate comment for each extra method you do.

Giveaway open to US residents now through February 16 at midnight EST. Winner will be picked by random.org, notified by email, and have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.



Disclosure: A reviewers copy of the title was provided for me by the author and Star Bright Books. My personal experience and options with this book are unbiased by this relationship. Illustrations courtesy of the publisher website.

Review & Giveaway: Read and Share Bible

Thank you to everyone who entered and congratulations to Kim C., comment 28, who said, "I get your emails too!"
Brad and I feel that one of the most important things we can teach our daughter is to know and love the Lord. She has always loved story time and reading age appropriate books with a religious message has been one of the best ways for us to introduce her to Him and facilitate discussing His message with her.

I was sent The Read and Share Bible by Tommy Nelson and I've very happy with it! Over 200 Bible stories are presented in a short format, usually one to two paragraphs. It's just the right amount of text for young children. At four ER can sit through several at a time, while one or two at a time would be suitable for a younger child.

The illustrations are bright, colorful, and will appeal to preschoolers. My favorite part about The Read and Share Bible, and what sets it apart from others, is the discussion starter with each story. I think it's a great tool for starting dialog with your child and helping them see the real meaning of the story.

Just like I've recently started a Daily Devotional, The Read and Share Bible by Tommy Nelson is ideal for daily study with our child. I think it'd be a great way to end the day each night before bedtime prayers. The title retails for $16.99 and is priced right to make it the perfect gift for a preschooler or for a baptism or dedication ceremony present to help new parents start their collection of children's religious titles.

Giveaway!

One reader will win a copy of The Read and Share Bible by Tommy Nelson!

To Enter:

Visit the Tommy Nelson website and tell me something you liked on it, or how you share God with your child.

Extra Entries:

• Publically follow my blog using Google Friends Connect.
• Subcribe to my blog via email.
• Blog about or provide a text link somewhere on your blog to this giveaway, tell me where I can see it to confirm.
• Follow me and/or Tommy Nelson on Twitter, leave your profile name in your comment
• Like my blog and/or Tommy Nelson on Facebook, leave your profile name in your comment.

Don't forget to leave a separate comment for each additional entry. Please make sure your email is either visable in your profile or leave it with your entries so I can contact you if you win. Giveaway open to US residents now February 12 at midnight EST. Winner will be chosen via random.org, emailed, and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is picked.



Disclosure: A reviewers and giveaway copy of this title were provided by Tommy Nelson. This did not affect my review in any way. My personal and unbiased opinions are given.

Marshmallow Snowman

We made this cute snowman last weekend, and as ER was making it I was reflecting on how far she's come. Now that she's a big four year old, her control of the glue bottle is so good and she was able to finish it nearly independently. There was a time when I couldn't wait to be able to do more advanced art projects, instead of experienced based ones. Now that she can...sniff, sniff, I realize she really is growing up!We've had a lot of snowfall recently and having a great time reading all our snow themed books.Sadie and the Snowman, by pleasant surprise, has become one of my favorites. It's a school book order title, one that I hadn't read before getting it for my classroom. I think it was on sale, either only 99 cents or came with bunch of other books. I probably wouldn't have gotten it otherwise, but I'm so glad I did.

I think it's about something most of us wish at one time or another: Sadie can't believe it! For a whole winter, she builds and rebuilds a snowman who becomes her very special friend, but it always melts. At the end of the winter, she manages to save just a little bit of her snowman for next year.To make our own everlasting snowman, well it won't be around forever but at least awhile, I drew a simple snowman outline on blue paper. I wanted her to color them in with some white crayon, but she wasn't in the mood and I decided not to push. Hey, sometimes you've got to pick your battles! She put a put small dots of glue down along the line and stuck on a marshmallow. That's when I realized how far she come. At one time those small dots would've been gigantic pools.
We also glued on chocolate chips for eyes and buttons. I showed her how to make the arms on the newspaper and she copied me really well on the paper. Using a scrap of black paper, I drew a line across one edge. She cut it and then made a few more cuts to make the rectangle for the hat.

The last step was to make snowflakes all around the snowman, using Mommy's good wooden stamps. She always likes to use my "grown up" supplies. Then we ate up all the leftover marshmallows. It was a fun and sweet project.

This would be a great activity to do during a Letter S, Snow/Snowman, or Winter theme. You may also be interested in Snowball Counting, another related activity, shared previously.

Children's Book Review: Adopted Ed

Today is the last day of National Adoption Month. Its a cause near and dear to my heart because, as many of you know, my brother and I are both adopted. Growing up, there weren't that many resources available to my parents to help explain adoption or that showed adopted families. The concept of adoption is often odd and confusing to other children. I think every adopted child at one point or another has experienced some hurtful taunting or teasing on the subject.

In Darren Maddern's new book Adopted Ed he strives to, "Tell a story on adoption...and weave a broad message of understanding, acceptance, and empowerment." The story of Ed is told in a relatable manner, showing how Ed is very much like most children. He likes ice cream, cartoons, and comics. Then one day Ed has an altercation with some bullies, who say cruel things and make him feel very badly. Mom comforts Ed and tells him in a very simple way that, "Adoption is a great act of love. It's a gift of the Heavens sent down from above." That he is special. It also address how adopted children usually want to know more about their birth parents at some point, and that this is normal.

The entire book is told in a very positive manner, it doesn't delve too much into specifics. It focuses on what a positive thing adoption is, how adoptive parents love their kids, and how adoptive parents are...well just mom and dad to their kids. It concludes with some examples of famous adopted people. Adopted Ed is a nice introduction to the concept of adoption. I liked how it began with all the ways Ed is probably just like you. Then goes onto a situation, which sadly many of our kids have experienced...teasing. I thought that would be a good time to stop and talk about empathy and feelings. Then at the end it reinforces that an adopted child is a gift, just like any child is. If I was still teaching kindergarten, I would use this title as a read aloud during my beginning of the year unit on families. It is good to teach that families come in all shapes and sizes, so to speak.



Disclosure: I am reviewing Adopted Ed through a campaign coordinated by One2One Network. A reviewer's copy was provided, however, the opinions expressed within are my own and unbiased.

Thanksgiving Dot Pictures

We have been reading my large selection of Thanksgiving books from my classroom library. On of ER's favorites is One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims by B.G. Hennessy. Its cheerful rhyming text incorporates counting and has the Pilgrim boys and girls working with the Wampanoag children. It has a playful tone doesn't go too far into the hardships or history, but I don't know how much I want to talk about that with ER yet anyway. It's a cute story for preschoolers and introduces them to a very sanitized concept of pilgrims and Native Americans. Afterward, I wanted a quick and easy art experience for ER that would build on general Thanksgiving concepts. These these free printables from DLTK were perfect. They were also a good excuse to finally give ER the Do A Dot Art Markers I got back in September. Yes, it's a little bit of a "lazy" art project as far as prep goes. Brad's been working seven days a week for ten hours or more building laser system for a university in Kentucky at the office. I've been needing a few breaks during the day here and there.
I'd forgotten how great they are for a quick project when you need to keep little hands busy. I can't even begin to tell you what a huge improvement this is over when ER used to use dot painters at her playgroup when she was two! She colored them in the next day and has been asking for them each time we do art ever since. Yes it's important to drag out the watercolors, the paints and brushes, but man it's also nice to do this relatively mess free paint too! They're definitely something I'm thankful for!

Ten Timid Ghosts Book Art

I pulled Ten Timid Ghosts out of my classroom library last week and we read the cute backwards counting book about ten timid ghosts scared out of their haunted house by a witch. The twist on this rhyming tale is that the ghosts ban together to get rid of the witch in the end.We made our own handprint version of the story for a book related art extention project. ER traced the numbers of each ghost onto her handprints and made the eyes and mouth. I don't know how ghost like our prints look. She was not in an overly cooperative mood and kept spreading her fingers but likes the end result a lot, especially the one witch. It was a good way to practice counting, one to one correspondance, and pencil handling skills. It kept us busy for quite some time and she sure worked hard making those faces!

We made an extra one for our monthly handprint framed art. She got a little crazy with the mouth and it looks kinda like an angry ghost, don't you think? I might try to redo it for a cuter end result, cause I'm type A like that:) But so far, ER is very into her scary one!


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The Best Books to Read With Your Kids

As a former elementary teacher and certified reading specialist, it's safe to say I love children's literature. I'm a dedicated life long bibliophile; reading has always been an escape and favorite past time.

Parenting Magazine recently shared their picks for The Best Books to Read With Your Kids, as chosen by their editors. Their list is below, how do they stack up to your favorites? I agree with and am familiar with many of them. A few are new to me; I'll be checking those out during our next library visit.

If it were my list, I'd have to add The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis and the Little House Series. I think both have captures generations of young minds and continue to garner fans, although admittedly, the Chronicles may be considered young adult and not children's which is why I'm thinking the Potter books have also been left off. I also at a loss as to why none of Chris Van Allsburg's fantastic titles made the list.

Do you agree with the list, or are there titles missing you think should be added? Please leave your suggestions in the comments, I'm always ready for a new children's book to get lost in and share with my daughter.

1. Where The Wild Things Are Maurice Sendak
2. The Snowy Day Ezra Jack Keats
3. James and the Giant Peach Roald Dahl
4. Wonder Bear Tao Nyeu
5. When Sheep Cannot Sleep Satoshi Kitamura
6. No Flying in the House Betty Brock
7. Skippy Jon Jones, Lost in Spice Judy Schachner
8. Mrs. Piggle Wiggle Betty MacDonald
9. Ruby and the Booker Boys: Brand New School, Brave New Ruby Derrick Barnes and Vanessa Brantley Newton
10. Where The Sidewalk Ends Shel Silverstein
11. Amelia Bedelia Peggy Parish
12. Strega Nona Tomie dePaola
13. Five Little Peppers Margaret Sidney
14. Fancy Nancy Jane O'Connor
15. Free to Be You and Me Marlo Thomas
16. I Want to Go Home! Gordon Korman
17. Peppermints in the Parlor Barbara Brooks Wallace
18. The Great Brain John D. Fitzgerald
19. B is for Betsy Carolyn Haywood
20. Bobbsey Twins Laura Lee Hope
21. Heidi Johanna Spyri
22. The Lorax Dr. Seuss
23. Tar Beach Faith Ringold
24. Madeline Ludwig Bemelmans
25. If I Built a Car Chris Van Dusen
26. Bread and Jam for Frances Russel Hoban
27. The Ramona Series Beverly Cleary
28. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH Robert O'Brien
29. What Do People Do All Day? Richard Scarry

You can see the cover of each book and access purchase links through the original post.

Five Little Pumpkins

We been reading our copy of the traditional song and fingerplay, Five Little Pumpkins, doing all the normal things like showing the ordinal numbers on our fingers, singing it with a felt board activity in which we put up pumpkins onto the board and count them, and making a little booklet.

We also did this simple art project, putting the five little pumpkin onto their fence. I tried to have ER write the numeral on each pumpkin, I think you can tell how well THAT went by the 2 and 5! Those curves are still really hard for her; she traced the three to avoid tears. I probably shoud've started out with writing each in pencil and having her trace, live and learn:)


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