tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12172142030374432122024-03-14T02:47:21.662-07:00my tiny bookwormA growing collection of favourite children's booksJulie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-28296889741245274872011-12-28T19:43:00.000-08:002011-12-28T19:52:27.665-08:00Hats off to this: I Want My Hat Back<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/December2012004.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 356px; height: 237px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/December2012004.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">I Want My Hat Back</span> (Candlewick Press, 2011), written and illustrated by Jon Klassen, tells the tale of a bear who can't find his hat. He goes about the forest asking anyone he passes if they've seen the hat. Initially he assumes everyone is telling him the truth when they reply that have not seen the hat, even when he receives a very defensive reply from someone who does, indeed, appear to be wearing the missing hat. The bear finally realises he has been told a fib and he literally sees red as he heads back to investigate.<br /><br />I think I may have actually enjoyed this story more than my daughters. I was laughing out loud and, while I think some of the humour may have been lost on them, they enjoyed the story too. When we finished reading the book they even asked me to reread their favourite parts. It was a great opportunity for us to start another conversation about fibs and how they can hurt others. I also appreciated the way the text is presented. It's written in a fairly simple, repetitive form and is great for beginning readers, like my daughter. She was able to help me read some parts of the story.<br /><br />Author/illustrator Jon Klassen, originally from Canada and now living in the US, is a past winner of the Governor General's Award for Illustration. He is a talented artist and the pictures in this book are extremely well executed. Some pages are simply illustrated as no words are needed. Klassen has an amazing way with drawing very expressive eyes in his characters so that readers know precisely what the characters are thinking.Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-44305875846859801042011-11-12T14:19:00.000-08:002011-11-12T14:58:31.115-08:00Creating a Stink: A Pet for Petunia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/November2011004.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 391px; height: 266px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/November2011004.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>All families seem to go through a struggle, at some point or another, over whether or not to get a pet. And all children, inevitably, beg their parents for a certain kind of pet. But some children make less reasonable pet choices than others...<br /><br />Petunia longs for a pet. Unfortunately the pet of her dreams is a skunk and her parents won't allow her to get one. For obvious reasons. However, Petunia thinks a skunk would make a perfect pet since skunks are so cute and they have stripes! Petunia's parents have the final word and tell her skunks stink. But Petunia is so shocked she can't believe it. And so, she decides to run away to the woods. Soon after entering the woods, as fate would have it, Petunia encounters a skunk. Petunia soon realises, though, her parents were telling the truth.<br /><br />Author/illustrator Paul Schmid has written a laugh-out-loud funny story. <span style="font-weight: bold;">A Pet for Petunia</span> (Harper Collins Publishers, Jan. 2011) is a fun read for the whole family. I especially liked the entire page dedicated to Petunia's rant in response to her parents' thoughts on skunks. I have to admit, though, when I first picked up this book I was a little disappointed in the images. The entire book is illustrated in black, white and purple. Where are all the colours? However, once we started reading the text we were giggling so much that it was no longer important. The pictures are well drawn, expressive and add to the hilarity. And besides, a book about skunks doesn't really need any other colours.Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-77313887554325268882011-11-01T14:09:00.000-07:002011-11-01T14:40:42.684-07:00Switching it Up: Children Make Terrible Pets<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/November2011002.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 429px; height: 286px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/November2011002.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Peter Brown has a way with creating books that are funny for kids and adults both in his use of animated illustrations and writing. You may know of him through his other books, including <span style="font-weight: bold;">Chowder</span> (2006).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Children Make Terrible Pets </span>(Little, Brown & Company, 2010) is a twist on the typical tale of a child and her first pet. Lucy the bear discovers Squeaker, a young boy, hiding in the woods. She takes him home to her mother and asks to keep him. Her mother reluctantly agrees but warns Lucy that Squeaker is her responsibility. You can probably tell where this is going. Lucy and Squeaker have a grand time until Lucy realises caring for a 'pet' isn't always fun. My girls found it hilarious when Lucy sends Squeaker to the litter box in attempt to train him.Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-4094333390635418482011-08-25T15:32:00.000-07:002011-08-25T16:09:17.222-07:00Starting School for the Very First Time: Kindergarten Diary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/August2011002.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 422px; height: 634px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/August2011002.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>
<br />My five year old starts Kindergarten next week. So I've made a point of finding books related to school to read to her just to get her a little more used to the idea. We found<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Kindergarten Diary </span>(HarperCollins Publishers, 2010)<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>the other day at the library and barely a day has passed when someone hasn't requested this one be read aloud.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>This book was written by Antoinette Portis, the same author as the best selling<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Not a Box </span>so we knew it was bound to be cute and funny, too.<span style="font-weight: bold;">
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<br /></span>This book presents like a diary, the first 'entry' dated September 1st (the next day being the first day of school). Annalina wants to return to preschool and has no interest in starting kindergarten. She has all the typical fears and worries of a new kindergartener. I had to laugh at the entry for the first day of school, "The teacher made all the grown-ups leave", accompanied by an illustration of some very sad looking parents staring through the window into the classroom. Although I have to admit I can totally picture myself doing this next week...<span style="font-weight: bold;">
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<br /></span>A fun, lighthearted way of helping to introduce your child to what Kindergarten might be like, Portis's accompanying illustrations run along the same lines. She uses mixed media, including photographs and illustration to create interesting visuals that are very appealing to young readers. <span style="font-weight: bold;">
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<br /></span>Happy Back-to-School!<span style="font-weight: bold;">
<br /></span>Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-15151799236147167022011-08-17T11:26:00.001-07:002011-08-17T11:33:20.247-07:00Starting with Chapter Books: Junonia
<br />Recently my oldest daughter turned 5. We'd been talking for a while about starting a chapter book. Then we found the newly released <span style="font-weight: bold;">Junonia</span> (HarperCollins Publishers, 2011) by Kevin Henkes. Henkes is a favourite author around here so we went for it.
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<br />My daughter isn't reading independently yet (and this isn't a beginning reader chapter book, either) so I read aloud one or two chapters to her each night before bed. I was amazed that 1. she could sit still long enough to listen without accompanying pictures and 2. that she could answer comprehension questions and discuss the chapters with me after we'd finished each one. A common characteristic of Henkes' writing is his strong development of his characters and settings. I think this was quite helpful to my daughter. While there were very few pictures in the book she could easily use the colourfully written descriptions to visualise the story in her head.
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<br />Junonia is a story about family, friendship and discovering oneself. On a yearly trip to Florida with her family, Alice is about to turn 10. She has one goal on this trip: to find herself a rare junonia shell. Amidst her desire to fulfill her quest Alice discovers important things about herself and how she has grown, as an individual, a daughter and a friend.
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<br />We both enjoyed reading our first chapter book together so much that we've started a new bedtime ritual and we've started our second novel together. What are your favourite childhood chapter books?
<br />Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-10690257819568532602011-07-01T14:45:00.000-07:002011-07-01T15:37:34.877-07:00Happy Canada Day! Celebrating the Canadian Environment: The Salmon Forest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/JuneandJuly2011029-1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 488px; height: 325px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/JuneandJuly2011029-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Whenever we leave the prairies and take a trip to the west coast I am reminded of a great book by Canadians David Suzuki and Sarah Ellis called <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Salmon Forest</span> (Greystone Books, 2003). We recently made such a trip and it was my oldest daughter who mentioned this book as we were driving through the forests on our way to the Pacific coast.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Salmon Forest </span>has all the elements of a typical picture book but the story revolves around the life cycle of the sockeye salmon. So while this book is a wonderful teaching tool it retains the appeal of a story book. Both my 4 and 3 year olds have sat and listened to this book on many occasions and it is one of their favourites.<br /><br />The reader is introduced to Kate and her dad. They are out walking in the woods while Kate's dad explains each step in the life cycle of the salmon as they encounter different elements in nature. Then they happen upon some old friends fishing. The friends invite Kate and her dad to help prepare and enjoy a salmon meal with them. The interconnectedness of nature is explained in such detail that children's questions are answered yet the book doesn't become dull.<br /><br />Sheena Lott's detailed watercolour illustrations are realistic and provide a lot of visual interest to the book.Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-50916084713574091862011-05-06T14:09:00.000-07:002011-05-06T14:21:17.594-07:00A Tale of Two Cultures: MirrorI've been a fan of Jeannie Baker's whimsical picture books since my student teaching prac in Australia. One of the librarians at my school recommended her books when I'd asked her for a list of notable Australian children's authors.<br /><br />Baker creates wonderfully detailed pictures from found objects and often her books have few, if any, words. Baker's books are great for encouraging children to retell stories.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/IMG_6879.jpg?t=1304716780"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 510px; height: 340px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/IMG_6879.jpg?t=1304716780" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mirror</span> (Candlewick Press, November 2010) is an especially unique book. It is comprised of two almost parallel stories, joined together in one book. One story is a day in the life of an Australian boy who lives with his immediate family in Sydney. The other story is that of a Morrocan boy who lives in a small village with his extended family. It's interesting to compare and contrast the two boys' lives since they are quite similar in many ways but very different in others. Amazingly, the two boys' lives/paths connect in a seemingly small yet significant way.<br /><br />We particularly enjoyed the way Baker constructed this book. Each story may be read separately, one after the other or they may be read at the same time which is how we first read the book. Also, it's interesting to note that the preface and the author's notes are written in both English and Arabic. I have to say, too, I like how books like this one help us, in the West, to better understand other cultures and their values, especially now during such difficult and uncertain times in the East.Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-7924571249589022582011-03-29T14:37:00.001-07:002011-03-29T14:42:34.217-07:00My Four Year Old Author: Jack Fell Down and Bumped his Knee<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/IMG_6877.jpg?t=1301434552"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 444px; height: 296px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/IMG_6877.jpg?t=1301434552" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />My oldest daughter has decided she wants to be an author when she grows up. So a couple of weeks ago she wrote a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Little Mr. Bump</span> story, complete with a zinger at the end (thanks to her playschool teacher). And now she's written her second book, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jack Fell Down and Bumped his Knee </span>(March, 2011). This is a picture of the front cover. Note Jack's sore red knees. Looks like he has a bit of a shiner, too.<br /><br />As soon as she showed me her story I told her it would make a great addition to this book blog. I think she'll get a kick out of seeing it on here. :)Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-40987130973405757722011-03-26T14:17:00.001-07:002011-03-26T14:20:38.670-07:00The Pursuit of Happiness: Magpie's Treasure<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/IMG_6874.jpg?t=1301174273"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 419px; height: 279px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/IMG_6874.jpg?t=1301174273" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />When we finished reading this book this afternoon, my eldest daughter asked me if she could become a librarian when she grows up. She said she wants to draw and write books, too.<br /><br />Magnus Magpie is a scavenger and a thief. Brightly coloured, shiny and glittery objects are particularly fascinating to Magnus and he steals whatever he can and takes it back to his nest in a tree. One evening Magnus is overcome by the stunning sight of the moon. He decides it would make a perfect addition to his collection so he heads off to snatch it. However, Magnus discovers the moon is more gray than golden and more dusty than luminescent. And he is very far from his tree. Soon Magnus is lonesome for his nest. It's then that he realises what he treasures the most: <span style="font-style: italic;">home</span>.<br /><br />Full of brilliantly coloured collages, Kate Slater's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Magpie's Treasure</span> (Andersen Press Ltd, 2010) teaches us a lesson in realising what is truly important in life.Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-39224468497641234202011-02-16T13:31:00.000-08:002011-02-16T19:39:27.419-08:00Little Owl Lost<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/IMG_6841.jpg?t=1297913824"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 478px; height: 318px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/IMG_6841.jpg?t=1297913824" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This book is just too sweet not to share. About a tiny owl who becomes parted from his mommy, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Little Owl Lost </span>(Candlewick Press, 2010) is written and illustrated by Chris Haughton. We are taken on a colourful adventure as the owlet searches for his mommy with some help from some friendly forest creatures. A little bit funny and a little bit silly, squirrel leads the small owl around to different animals who he thinks might be his mother, based on the owl's descriptions. What seems like a wild goose chase ends in a teary, yet happy reunion between mother and baby owl. But will baby owl soon be lost once more?<br /><br />Haughton's brightly illustrated images are reminiscent of Canadian artist Ted Harrison's boldly painted nature scenes. As a fan of Harrison's work, I think this may be partly why I was initially drawn to this book while flipping through it at the library. Colourful in every sense of the word!Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-66120708235424544512011-02-03T15:37:00.000-08:002011-02-03T16:03:09.659-08:00A Fairy Friend: The Dollhouse Fairy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/IMG_6631.jpg?t=1296776219"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 463px; height: 308px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/IMG_6631.jpg?t=1296776219" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />My daughters have asked my husband and I to read <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Dollhouse Fairy</span> (Candlewick Press, 2009) over and over again. Written and illustrated by Jane Ray, this story book is appealing on so many levels.<br /><br />One of the first things you'll notice is the art. Ray has used one of my favourite methods in creating colourful, fun imagery: collage. Watercolour, inked stamps, fabric and foil are just a few of the mixed media she has included in her illustrations. One could just sit and while away the time looking at the details in each picture. But even beyond the book's beautiful and intricate visuals is Ray's touching and sweet story of a young girl.<br /><br />Rosy loves spending Saturday mornings with her dad. One of their favourite pastimes is creating things for her dollhouse that her dad built for her. One Saturday morning, however, Rosy awakes to find her dad has fallen ill during the night and has been taken to hospital. Rosy is crushed but finds comfort in her dollhouse. She soon discovers that during the night a fairy has moved in! Rosy tends to Thistle, the fairy, and her injured wing. Soon she and Thistle have become good friends and Rosy's worries about her dad are lessened. When Rosy's dad comes home from the hospital Rosy confides in him about her new friend. But they discover Thistle is gone from the dollhouse. The fairy's wing has mended and she is nowhere to be found.<br /><br />This is our first encounter with Jane Ray's books but she has written a couple of others, that we know of, so we're off to find those!Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-11158684050650523272011-01-12T13:16:00.000-08:002011-01-12T15:50:00.474-08:00Counting and Rhyming: Wombat Walkabout<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/Christmas2010094.jpg?t=1294876052"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 333px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/Christmas2010094.jpg?t=1294876052" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This is another one of those great stories that uses rhymes to make it even more fun to read aloud. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Wombat Walkabout </span>(Dutton Children's Books, 2009), written by Carol Diggory Shields and illustrated by Sophie Blackall is a simple yet delightful picture book about a group of wombat friends who head out for a nice walk in the woods but end up being snatched up by a hungry dingo. One by one the friends disappear from the group until the last two very clever wombats hatch a plan to rescue their "mates." <br /><br />The dialogue and drawings are cute and funny. My daughters especially enjoyed searching for the dingo on each page as well as hearing the Aussie words and names scattered throughout the story, making it feel very authentic. Can't say the same for my attempt at an Aussie accent though! This book even offers a glossary of Australian words at the beginning in case you aren't already familiar. Have a go!Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-73020955001833011402010-12-22T14:41:00.000-08:002010-12-22T20:41:42.963-08:00Stick to It: Stick ManI've mentioned before how much I like the team of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. We probably own more books written and illustrated by that pair than by any other author. Donaldson is known for her amusing rhyming text and Scheffler's pictures pair so well with the writing. Scheffler is amazing at creating expression in the characters Donaldson develops.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/December2010003.jpg?t=1293059684"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 497px; height: 342px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/December2010003.jpg?t=1293059684" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stick Man </span><span>(Scholastic, 2009)</span> is somewhat seasonal in that the story ends at Christmas time but I think it would be an enjoyable read at any other time of the year as well. It's not too Christmassy. It's about a stick man (who is mistaken for a ordinary stick) who goes out for a morning jog and finds himself being taken, in various different ways, further and further from home. A dog picks him up, wanting to play 'fetch'; a girl tosses him into the river hoping he'll win a stick race and he is lost at sea. His adventures continue through the seasons but his one hope is that he'll eventually be reunited with his children, his wife and returned to the family tree. In the end, his helpfulness to another is reciprocated and, against all odds, he magically finds his way home, returning to his family on Christmas Day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stick Man</span> is a fun story that highlights the importance of family and helping one another. Of course it's also a sweet story that will make you smile. One thing, though. You'll have to put on your best Scottish accent (or English, at the very least) when you're reading aloud if you want 'scarf' and 'laugh' to rhyme in any way! Good luck.Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-78792522688482184782010-12-20T20:27:00.000-08:002010-12-22T20:43:29.720-08:00A Christmas Collection: Jan Brett's Christmas TreasuryWe have a huge collection of Christmas themed books we've been reading over the past month or so and I thought I'd be blogging about a different one each day but December has flown by. One of the books we've been reading a lot of is <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jan Brett's Christmas Treasury</span> (Penguin Young Reader Group, Sept. 2001). It is full of great stories and illustrations, both Christmas themed and just winter themed as well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/December2010005.jpg?t=1292973683"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 495px; height: 280px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/December2010005.jpg?t=1292973683" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />One of my girls' favourites in the treasury is <span style="font-weight: bold;">The </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mitten</span>. It's about a boy whose grandma knits him a pair of white mittens. After being warned not to lose them, he does just that when he drops one in the snow. Soon, one after another, different wild animals find the mitten and nose their way in to the warm space. Finally a tiny mouse decides there might be just enough room to squeeze himself in and he perches himself upon a bear's nose. This tickles the bear and he sneezes, sending all the animals flying out of the mitten. The boy recovers his lost item and returns home to his grandma who is left wondering what on earth happened to stretch the mitten out so much!<br /><br />Two other favourites feature trolls, much to my daughters' delight. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Christmas Trolls</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Trouble with Trolls</span> are stories that feature a little girl named Treva and her surprising and funny encounters with trolls. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Christmas Trolls</span> is a sweet story about the importance of sharing and being generous to others. In <span style="font-weight: bold;">Trouble with Trolls </span>Treva must figure out a way to save her dog from a persistent family of trolls who would like to have her pet for themselves. Brett is known for her use of small vignettes in addition to her stories' main illustrations and this is particularly effective here. A separate yet related story happens at the same time when underground, in the trolls' home, a hedgehog moves in and makes himself at home.<br /><br />Brett also puts her own spin on two Christmas classics, <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Night Before Christmas</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Twelve Days of Christmas</span>. Her fantastical illustrations make them not only fun to read but much more appealing to the younger set than more traditional versions of the stories. All the stories in this collection make you want to snuggle up in front of a fire with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy the season.Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-78338921459997915242010-12-07T13:44:00.000-08:002010-12-07T14:35:52.936-08:00Fairy Tales: The Elves and the Shoemaker<div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/IMG_6088-1.jpg?t=1291761229"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 413px; height: 275px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/IMG_6088-1.jpg?t=1291761229" alt="" border="0" /></a>My eldest daughter is a huge fan of fairy tales right now. My only problem is that she gets frightened easily and there are a lot of these stories that have scary elements. We recently discovered author/illustrator Jim LaMarche's retelling of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale, <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Elves and the Shoemaker</span>. This is a delightful story of a down-on-his-luck shoemaker and his wife who find a couple of shabbily dressed but lively young elves helping them to resurrect their business secretly during the night. Once the older couple discover the elves' identities they return the elves' generosity by surprising them with warm new outfits and shoes to replace their tattered clothing. This version of the fairy tale draws the reader in with its warmth, both in respect to its text as well as its illustrations. This is a great story for sharing the importance of giving, generosity and caring for the well-being of others, some of the most meaningful aspects of this holiday season. And the author leaves at just that. No fearsome elements needed to make this fairy tale appealing.<br /></div>Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-60848496161066095442010-12-02T20:18:00.000-08:002010-12-02T20:52:45.742-08:00Santa Claus is Comin' to Town: McDuff's New Friend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/December2010004.jpg?t=1291351787"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 447px; height: 252px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/December2010004.jpg?t=1291351787" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This is probably the most frequently read book in our house at the moment. Last year at this time it was also a hit but honestly I find myself getting requests to read <span style="font-weight: bold;">McDuff's New Friend</span> (Hyperion, Sept. 2001) by Rosemary Wells daily now. And I enjoy it, too. In fact, in terms of its illustrations alone, this is one of my all-time holiday favourites. Illustrator Susan Jeffers makes this story come to life with her cozy and realistic '40s/'50s inspired paintings.<br /><br />It's a snowy Christmas Eve and the anticipation is building at McDuff the dog's home. At every tiny noise outside McDuff's ears perk up into "the radar position" (my girls love that term) and he barks to alert his owners that Santa may be on his way. This results in the family getting very little sleep but Santa finally arrives with a bump in the night! A sweet story for those who still believe in Santa (as well as for those of us who still believe in the spirit of St. Nick!).Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-56740567550400637992010-11-23T15:18:00.000-08:002010-11-23T15:29:51.304-08:00Growing Up is Hard to Do: Knuffle Bunny FreeI've blogged about one of Mo Willems' books on here before. I'd like to blog about more of them (there are so many great ones) but I'm trying to limit my book reviews to one per author at the moment. However this one is worth mentioning now. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Knuffle Bunny Free: An Unexpected Diversion </span><span>(HarperCollins Publishers, Sept. 2010)</span> is the third in a trilogy about Trixie and her favourite stuffed friend. All three books are charming and appealing to children who can identify with Trixie and her different stages of growth. In this one, Trixie begins to realise just how hard it is to grow up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/November2010002-1.jpg?t=1290554604"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 366px; height: 549px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/November2010002-1.jpg?t=1290554604" alt="" border="0" /></a>Trixie and her family travel to Holland to visit her grandparents. Somewhere along the way Knuffle Bunny is lost and Trixie doesn't know if she can manage without him. Her family tries to make her feel better. They try to comfort her with a new bunny and other distractions. The situation doesn't improve, however, until Trixie has a dream about Knuffle Bunny. She begins to realise she will be just fine without him and that perhaps Knuffle Bunny will be able to comfort other children now that she no longer needs him so much. I particularly like how Willems sensitively addresses a topic we all, as children and parents, deal with yet manages to incorporate his great sense of humour. I'd also like to mention how well we liked Willems' use of real photographs combined with superimposed character drawings. I had to explain to my daughters the picture of Knuffle Bunny passing through the x-ray machine before Trixie and her family boarded the plane. One of my girls also noted the difference in toilets in Holland while looking through the pictures.:) The realism of the photographs juxtaposed with the almost cartoonish quality of the story's characters makes for really fun and interesting art.Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-84883950666274199082010-11-12T13:18:00.000-08:002010-11-12T14:33:09.632-08:00Kindness and Compassion: Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/PlayschoolandswimmingFall2010052.jpg?t=1289599195"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 372px; height: 248px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/PlayschoolandswimmingFall2010052.jpg?t=1289599195" alt="" border="0" /></a>Leo Lionni has been a favourite author of mine since my class and I discovered his stories and art back when I was teaching elementary school. His stories nearly always include a moral or an important life lesson but they aren't preachy. I introduced his collection of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Frederick's Fables</span> to my daughters a couple of weeks ago and they can't seem to get enough of it.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">One of the best stories in the book is <span>Caldecott Honor Book, </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse</span> (Random House Children's Books, Sept. 1974). It's an oldie but a goodie! But not <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> old...don't want to date myself!! Alexander is an ordinary mouse who encounters Willy, a toy mouse, mistaking him for real. He finds himself envying the other mouse who is a favourite toy of the children in the household. Alexander wishes he was special like Willy and that he was cared for. When Alexander is offered the chance to make a wish he initially decides he'd like to become a wind-up mouse like Willy. However, when Alexander finds Willy lying in a jumble of unwanted toys in a box to be thrown away Alexander makes a different choice. Instead, he wishes Willy would find another chance at happiness. Soon Alexander finds his wish has come true and the wind-up mouse has become his real, live friend.<br /></div></div>Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-77193292414980014992010-11-01T17:00:00.000-07:002010-11-01T17:14:09.767-07:00One of a Kind: Spork<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/November2010002.jpg?t=1288656006"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 437px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/November2010002.jpg?t=1288656006" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />We picked up this newly released book from the library the other day and I have to say I was thrilled to find out it's Canadian. Always trying to make sure I get a little CanCon in. :) <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Spork</span> (Kids Can Press Limited, 2010), by Kyo Maclear and Isabelle Arsenault, is a playful yet thoughtful story about a young spork who feels left out because he is different. This book is in a similar vein to the book <a href="http://mytinybookworm.blogspot.com/2010/07/book-reports.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Spoon</span></a>. Both stories highlight the importance of being different. That we need to accept and celebrate differences and that the world would be a very boring place if we were all the same. However, I like how <span style="font-weight: bold;">Spork </span>imparts the idea that it is also important to recognise mixed identities. We need to embrace our cultural differences. A "multi-cutlery tale," indeed!<br /><br />The artwork in this book is appealing and unique...contemporary yet retro. Instead of your typical brightly illustrated storybook filled with softly drawn images, Arsenault has used mixed media to create bold patterned pages full of interesting detail using hues of only red, black and white. A fun, thought provoking book!Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-66066952488994170752010-10-22T13:07:00.001-07:002010-10-22T15:17:36.683-07:00Trick or Treat: On a Dark, Dark Night<div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/DarkDarkNight002.jpg?t=1287778151"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 351px; height: 526px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/DarkDarkNight002.jpg?t=1287778151" alt="" border="0" /></a>The girls are getting quite excited about Hallowe'en and I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that the stores (around here, anyway) have been decked out for several weeks already. Both girls like the idea of Hallowe'en but only to a certain extent. That is, they like the fun aspects but need a lot of reassurance when it comes to all the scary stuff. That's why I was happy to come across the book <span style="font-weight: bold;">On a Dark, Dark Night </span>(Pleasant St. Press, 2009), written by Jean M. Cochran and illustrated by Jennifer E. Morris.<br /></div><br />This book is about a little boy and his dog who get so spooked hearing what they think is a witch's cackle that every little thing they hear and see from then on contributes to their wild imaginations. This book is appealing because, like the text, the drawings are cute yet just frightening enough to fascinate young children and satisfy their teeny tiny desires to be scared. Add in the book's rhyming verse and a surprise ending and this makes for one fun book for all the little ghouls and goblins in your life!Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-64625402267431046412010-10-19T14:45:00.000-07:002010-10-19T15:45:57.206-07:00The Perfect Apology: It Was You, Blue Kangaroo!<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/004-1.jpg?t=1287528198"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 478px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/004-1.jpg?t=1287528198" alt="" border="0" /></a>Some of the best books we've encountered lately have been found randomly at our local library. <span style="font-weight: bold;">It Was Y</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">ou, Blue Kangaroo!</span> (Harper Collins UK, 2003) is one such book. It is one in a series written and illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark. My youngest has fallen in love with each of the books and I don't blame her. With colourfully illustrated pictures and each book imparting an important life lesson I'm a fan, myself, and I look forward to finding ones we haven't read yet.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">It Was You, Blue Kangaroo! (just like the others in the series) features Lily and her stuffed friend, Blue Kangaroo. Lily's mischievous side presents itself and when she finds herself in trouble after letting the kitchen sink overflow or trying to dress the cat in her doll's clothes Lily blames Blue Kangaroo. Finally Lily's mother decides Blue Kangaroo needs to spend some time on his own until he learns to behave. Lily realises how sorry she is but it's ultimately Blue Kangaroo who saves the day.<br /></div>Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-38556903539442798502010-10-13T14:24:00.000-07:002010-10-13T15:27:54.546-07:00There are Witches in the Air: Spells<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/October2010004.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 395px; height: 594px;" src="http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp293/jephillips_2008/October2010004.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Don't let the title of this post fool you. There aren't any witches in this book, much to my youngest daughter's delight (I keep getting the question, "Mummy, witches aren't real, right?"). Nevertheless, I thought <span style="font-weight: bold;">Spells</span> (Macmillan Children's Books 2009) by Emily Gravett might be appropriate for this time of the year. It isn't a frightening book, by any means. It's the story of Frog. After escaping a jar (he was intended for a witch's cauldron) he finds a book of spells. He tears it apart, creating a pirate's ship (wishing he was a pirate) and then a castle and some paper princesses (wishing he was a prince). In amongst the torn up spells, Frog finds part of a spell to turn himself into a prince but the rest of the page is missing! So he combines the torn spell pages in attempt to create the correct one. This is where the book becomes really exciting. Gravett has made every other page a spell page, rhyming verse and all, and every page in between is an illustration of what that spell creates. Have I confused you, yet? Well there's more. Then she has cut each spell and creation page in half so the reader can combine any half of a spell with another to create different combinations of creations. So, for example, the spell words "Bim Bam, Barebum" together with "Slither kazake" work together to form a picture of a "Prake" (half prince and half snake). Although I have to admit the real draw for my girls in this spell was the word "Barebum". Ah, yes. The sillies arrived in full force. Eventually Frog becomes the prince he always dreamt he would be but, unfortunately, he misses some of the spell's small print!<br /><br />Gravett is known for using interesting elements of collage (such as postcards and maps) in her books and this one does not disappoint. She's used her imagination to make this a fun book for a variety of ages. Look out for Gravett's many other books as well. Besides <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span>Spells</span> we also own her board book, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Orange Pear Apple Bear</span> (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2007). My youngest daughter particularly liked its simple rhymes when she was a baby. Another of Gravett's books, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears </span>(Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2008), won the Kate Greenaway Medal for distinguished illustration in children's literature.Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-64183089618433477112010-09-24T13:31:00.000-07:002010-09-24T13:37:37.953-07:00Finding a Friend: Swim! Swim! and a PG Giveaway!I love it when a book makes my eldest daughter shriek and squirm with anticipation, clamping her hand over her mouth. And when my youngest giggles uncontrollably. Those were the reactions in which the book <span style="font-weight: bold;">Swim! Swim! By Lerch</span> resulted when we read it the other day. A couple pages in and I knew it would make a great book to review here. But now that I want to review it do you think I can find the silly thing? I've looked high and low but the book seems to have disappeared so I'm going to have to recall the story as best I can, without the book.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhun0s3HIu_TCpVN-gv7Sw8mPYHNC0OGZexv8T5ao1pKJhEOxIqlC_FyettVW7BWNq9NTQ-zR7DyTgrINmE9pCVRsQjbax21UDSwz5IC7R6VBgBXG9DQkaecQdsX0TycQq7FrF49GsZDO2r/s1600/September+2010+076.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhun0s3HIu_TCpVN-gv7Sw8mPYHNC0OGZexv8T5ao1pKJhEOxIqlC_FyettVW7BWNq9NTQ-zR7DyTgrINmE9pCVRsQjbax21UDSwz5IC7R6VBgBXG9DQkaecQdsX0TycQq7FrF49GsZDO2r/s320/September+2010+076.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520581201942198594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Swim! Swim! By Lerch</span>, written and illustrated by James Proimos (Scholastic Press, 2010) is a story about Lerch, an animated yet lonely goldfish, who is in search of a companion. Lerch makes several unsuccessful attempts at befriending inanimate objects until he meets a rather hungry looking cat. At this point in the story my eldest daughter was practically screaming at Lerch, trying to warn him about hobnobbing with the cat. But much to her surprise, and delight, the cat turns out to be a matchmaker, looking to set Lerch up with Dinah, another lonely fish who is also looking for love. Proimos's great animation skills paired with his witty plays on words make for one funny and thrilling love story.<br /><br />Completely unrelated to children's books but fun, nonetheless, check out my friend Kat's blog, <a href="http://penguinsgift.blogspot.com/2010/09/molly-newborn-on-etsy-giveaway.html">Penguin's Gift</a>. She is celebrating the first anniversary of her blog so she's giving away a pair of Molly Newborn on Etsy chandelier earrings to one lucky reader. Head on over there and enter!Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-63560615898296412312010-09-20T12:53:00.000-07:002010-09-20T12:59:39.823-07:00From Jolly Old: A Bit More BertWe've all been sick with the flu so that explains the lack of posts here lately. Fortunately we had a good selection of new library books to keep us occupied and we came across some really fun ones.<br /><br />If you have a true English sense of humour you'll enjoy this quirky storybook from Allan Ahlberg and Raymond Briggs, two of Britain's more influential children's authors of recent times. Ahlberg is well known for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Each Peach Pear Plum</span>,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>among many others, while Briggs is perhaps best known for his Christmastime favourites, <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Snowman</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Father Christmas</span> (and I know it's super early but can I just say how excited I am to share these last two with the girls in a couple of short months?).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCF0y6ikQNW2DSKeAk9P4vkKHXW2hmV43c7QB488nQYGhVfrl6-JpPF1h9tO2Q66_RxZxtIo4tmAvg_uoPuhaEjtnwXFElpp34fsfUhoiYrstcxij1vPEY9650RxgnPImpqE1_Idmh4a7/s1600/Sept+2010+014.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCF0y6ikQNW2DSKeAk9P4vkKHXW2hmV43c7QB488nQYGhVfrl6-JpPF1h9tO2Q66_RxZxtIo4tmAvg_uoPuhaEjtnwXFElpp34fsfUhoiYrstcxij1vPEY9650RxgnPImpqE1_Idmh4a7/s320/Sept+2010+014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519087065122280114" border="0" /></a>We came across <span style="font-weight: bold;">A Bit More Bert</span> (Penguin Books Ltd, September 2002) at the library recently. I chose it simply because of the author and illustrator. Sometimes I do that. I don't even bother looking inside if I recognise the author and know that we've enjoyed his or her books in the past. This one is charming in its unconventional qualities. In each short chapter of the book we meet and learn about Bert and his family, including his dog who is also named "Bert." I think one of the things my daughters like most about this book (beyond the humour) is how the author invites the reader to participate in the story. My youngest, especially, enjoyed helping give Bert a haircut and searching for his lost dog.<br /><br />Now we're off to find the book that precedes this one, <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Adventures of Bert</span>. How often do you read a sequel before you read the first book?? That's the nice thing about children's books...most often it doesn't really matter. :)Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1217214203037443212.post-27529807266959357132010-09-08T15:37:00.000-07:002010-09-08T15:53:51.890-07:00When Opposites Attract: Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend<div style="text-align: justify;">School started here last week. Often one of the hardest parts about beginning a new school year or starting at a new school is meeting new people and making friends. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend</span> (Kids Can Press, March 1 2007) is author and illustrator Mélanie Watt's first in her series of three Scaredy Squirrel books and it's our favourite.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvm9iesimt95_egicVM-cPAZc4lrbjTwiXAPDtknqf4wZo9Vhjq8hza4SgJ0AhqLsqDbopYlOJpXTmm5AHwoo-gfWKhlPR4N_gxmTJi0MKtFHd9-1XIV_HEwz51h_UpgADHFdUhSH2mXQ/s1600/062.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvm9iesimt95_egicVM-cPAZc4lrbjTwiXAPDtknqf4wZo9Vhjq8hza4SgJ0AhqLsqDbopYlOJpXTmm5AHwoo-gfWKhlPR4N_gxmTJi0MKtFHd9-1XIV_HEwz51h_UpgADHFdUhSH2mXQ/s320/062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514678979154793874" border="0" /></a>Scaredy Squirrel is frightened by many things and making new friends can be a dangerous business. Scaredy decides to take the safe route and attempt to make friends with a goldfish since goldfish are risk-free: they don't have germs and they don't have teeth so they won't bite. So Scaredy creates the "Perfect Plan" in order to make this new friendship happen. Things, however, don't quite go as Scaredy intends and he soon finds himself being chased by a dog! Making a new friend is much harder and more dangerous than Scaredy could ever have thought.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Mélanie Watt injects her great sense of humour into all her books, making them funny for both kids and adult readers. In this one, for instance, Scaredy's wardrobe accessories, including a pine scent air freshener belt and sweaty-paw-hiding mittens, along with his obsessive-compulsive teeth brushing habits may have been lost a little on my girls but I laughed out loud. This book will definitely make a "Perfect First Impression".</div>Julie @ my tiny bookwormhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13953200842266418044noreply@blogger.com0