One Shoe, Two Shoes (Caryl Hart)

Title:  One Shoe, Two Shoes 

Author: Caryl Hart 

Illustrator: Edward Underwood 

Target Ages:  1-7 

Genre:  Concept, Early Reader 

Publisher Summary:  Shoes, shoes, and more shoes…This book is bursting with shoes of all different colors, sizes, and shapes.  There’s a pair here to suit everyone—even a family of mice. 

First Lines:

One shoe
Two shoes
Red shoes
Blue shoes
Old shoes
New shoes 

Evaluation:
Author Caryl Hart has written a fresh, new text in the vein of the Dr. Seuss classic One Fish, Two Fish.. 

Edward Underwood’s vibrant illustrations add another engaging dimension to the text with his dog and mouse shenanigans. 

One Shoe, Two Shoes is a exciting frolic with a band of mischievous mice and a lively dog.  It is ideal for parents and educators looking for exciting early readers. 

Hart and Underwood also collaborated on another excellent early reader:  Big Box Little Box.  This fun cat and mouse tale is sure to delight children.

Activities and Extension Ideas for Lesson Plans:

• Math:  Practice counting and numeral words.
• Onomatopoeia:  Identify sound words.  Kids can add some of their own sound words to go with the action of the text.
• Colors:  Primary colors are highlighted and often referred to in the text. 
• Rhyming Words:  True and slant rhymes abound for practice saying and identify.
• Reading:  Simple, often repetitive text make for an ideal early reader.  
• Verbs:  Identify action words in the text. Then, create a list of other action words based on the illustrations. 

Perfect Picture Book Friday.

Peter & Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths (Graham Annable)

Title:  Peter & Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths

Author:  Graham Annable

Illustrator:  Graham Annable

Target Ages:  5-10

Genre:  Early Reader Graphic Novel

Publisher Summary:

Peter and Ernesto are sloths.

Peter and Ernesto are friends.

But Peter and Ernesto are nothing alike.

Peter loves their tree and never wants to leave while Ernesto loves the sky and wants to see it from every place on earth. So Ernesto leaves to have a grand adventure and Peter stays behind and frets.

Evaluation: 

This first book in a new series by cartoonist Graham Annable is an flawless early reading experience. 

Adorable characters. Who doesn’t love sloths? Both have loveable character qualities.  Peter is set in his ways, but a devoted friend.  Ernesto is wide open, longing for adventure.  Their friendship is endearing. 

Universal conflicts.  All ages experience friendships, differences, and fears.  The overarching message is the importance of honoring and appreciating those differences.  When Ernesto returns, he brings new information and experiences to his time together with Peter.  For instance, he shares his knowledge of constellations and other animals. A secondary message is learning to overcome fears and to experience adventure (even small ones). 

Both characters grow.  Peter tackles his fears as he searches for his friend.  Ernesto comes to have a greater appreciation for his home and Peter.

Subtle humor.  For instance, Fox says, “What an odd duck.” Raccoon corrects him, “Sloth.” Also, after Peter crosses the river, he says, “And I didn’t need swim trunks!”  The encounter with the monkeys is hysterical. 

Appealing story.  The illustrations and well-chosen simple vocabulary work to create an engaging narrative.  Annable illustrates, for readers and writers alike, that you do not have to use complicate words to write a page-turning story.

When I was done, I thought:  I am ready for the next book.  Unfortunately, Peter and Ernest: The Lost Sloths does not come out until April 2019! 

I highly recommend Peter & Ernesto: A Tale of Two Sloths.  It is sure to appeal to early and reluctant readers alike. 

Carlos and Carmen Early Reader Series

I just received set 1 of the Carlos and Carmen early reader series.  I was immediately impressed with the quality of the illustrations and the books’ durable construction.  Then, I read them.  I am officially a fan of this superb series! 

The Carlos and Carmen books are available in Spanish and English.  I read the English version.  However, Spanish words are sprinkled throughout which provides two learning opportunities. First, children are exposed to a second language.  With as many as 50 million people speaking Spanish in the United States, it is valuable for English-speaking children to be exposed early to common Spanish words. In addition, the foreign words allow children to practice using context clues.  They can figure out what the unknown word is by identifying clues in the text and by looking at the illustrations.  There is also a Spanish to English key at the back of each book. 

Each book is divided into five short chapters.  The text is written at a second to third grade reading level.  McDonald does not make the stories feel like a Basal or easy reader though.  She incorporates suspense, humor, and personality into each chapter. 

The series is family oriented.  The parents are active and present. When the twins are running around the backyard, the parents are looking on.  When their yard floods, the parents play in the water and mud with their children. When Carlos and Carmen are concerned about a noise in the night, their dad takes it seriously and investigates. The family sits down together at mealtimes.  Extended family members come over to help out or to spend time with the twins.  The Garcias are a warm and close family.

Author Kirsten McDonald has created multi-faceted young Latino protagonists who have qualities parents want their children to emulate.  They are kind, fun, inquisitive, respectful, and helpful.  They demonstrate a wide range of experiences from fear and boredom to enthusiasm and playfulness. 

Erika Meza’s illustrations are vivid and gorgeous.  The actions are lively, and the facial expressions are wide-ranging.  The best part is how the parents are represented.  They are shown working and parenting side by side.  Their expressions toward each other convey love, playfulness, and admiration.  The illustrations work in perfect harmony with the text.

I highly recommend the Carlos and Carmen series—in Spanish and in English—for public and elementary school libraries.   Parents and teachers should also consider adding these books to their classroom or home collection. 

There are currently 16 books in series.  I read the following four.  I have included the publisher’s summaries.

The One-Tire House

Carlos and Carmen get some unexpected news. They're moving to a new house. The new house is big, red, and has one tire. What! A house with one tire?! The twins worry and worry but soon discover a house with one tire can be fun.

The Nighttime Noise

Carlos and Carmen have a hard time falling asleep in separate rooms. Once they solve that problem, they're kept awake by a spooky noise. The twins get their mom and dad to help them solve the mystery of the noise, which turns out to be something not very scary at all.

The Big Rain

It's been raining and raining and raining. When the sun finally peeks out from behind the clouds, Carlos and Carmen find their entire backyard is one big puddle. But the twins don't mind once they discover it's not just a puddle of water--it's a puddle of fun!

The Green Surprise
Tío Alex is joining the Garcia family for a cookout, and he's bringing a surprise. A big green surprise. At first, Carlos and Carmen are disappointed in the lumpy green surprise. But with their mom's help and a few poles and stakes, the lump becomes a green surprise filled with fun. 

Cici: A Fairy’s Tale Series (Cori Doerrfeld & Tyler Page)

Cici: A Fairy’s Tale is an entertaining graphic novel series for early readers written by Cori Doerrfeld and Tyler Page.  The series is realistic fiction with a dash of magic and imagination. 

The series features a multi-faceted Latino protagonist and family. The young protagonist deals with many typical experiences like friendship struggles, family issues, and fitting in. The plots and characters are relatable for elementary children.  The graphic novel style and vocabulary are accessible, even for reluctant readers.

There are currently three books in the series. 

#1 Believe Your Eyes

Cici’s father moves out of their home and her abuela moves in as her tenth birthday approaches.  Her plans are turned upside-down when a popular classmate schedules a party on the same night as her birthday celebration.  If all that wasn’t challenge enough, Cici wakes up on the day of the party with fairy wings and the ability to see people in a new way! Fortunately, her abuela is there to help her figure out this magical change.  With her new abilities, Cici finds that navigating friendships and family is harder than she expected.

#2 Truth in Sight

Cici is learning to deal with her family’s new living situation—the weekdays with mom and weekends with dad.  Her younger sister is fussy, and her parents are frazzled.  Her classmate Kendra seems to have it all together—pretty, popular, and rich!  Cici acts out toward her “perfect” classmate, thinking it is all a joke. However, her actions have larger consequences than she anticipated.

#3 A Perfect View
Cici invites her new friend, Kendra, to go on her family’s annual camping trip.  Cici has everything planned for the “perfect” trip.  Cici struggles with a bad attitude when plans change—from bad weather and a campsite mix-up.  Her new magic powers have some unexpected results while in the woods as well.

Author Spotlight: Jan Thomas (Part 2)

One of my favorite picture book author-illustrators is Jan Thomas.  I first discovered her work when I came across The Doghouse.  I loved it so much, I sought out her other available titles at my local library. Afterwards, I did an Author Spotlight covering some of her books, such as Rhyming Dust Bunnies, Can You Make a Scary Face?, and Let’s Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy.

Thomas’ books are ideal for emerging and early readers. Suspense and questions encourage reader and listener interaction. Unexpected reversals and ironic situations bring humor and liveliness to the reading experience.

She appeals to children’s proclivity toward cute animals. Her reoccurring characters include Duck, Cow, Dog, Mouse, Chicken and Pig.  Bunnies and other animals also have  made appearances.  Her energetic characters are endearing. 

One of the most remarkable aspects of her writing is its simplicity.  She uses sight words and simple vocabulary, often repetitively, which allows for early readers to master the reading experience and to gain confidence.

Every book is a delight!  For anyone who interacts with children ages 0-8, I recommend having some (or all) of her books on your shelf. 

Here are the books I read since her last Author Spotlight…

A Birthday for Cow!

Mouse and Pig want to make Cow’s birthday special.  They work together to make a cake for him.  Duck tries to help out with a special ingredient!  Mouse and Pig do not agree with Duck.  Which friend knows Cow best?

Is Everyone Ready for Fun?

Some unexpected guests show up at Chicken’s house.  They are ready for some fun, but Chicken isn’t so enthused about their rambunctious behavior—jumping, dancing, and wiggling—on his tiny couch. 

What Is Chasing Duck?

Something is chasing Duck.  What is wild, hairy, and big-toothed?  Duck and his friends are afraid to find out.  Who will protect them?  What exactly is chasing Duck?

There’s a Pest in the Garden!

When a pest begins eating up all the vegetables in the garden, Duck figures out a way to get rid of him.  Unfortunately, it does not turn out the way he expects. 

Is That Wise, Pig?

Cow and Pig help Mouse make some soup.  They each bring items, such as one onion, two cabbages, and so forth.  When Pig tries to add some of his items (like three umbrellas), the others question if it is a good idea for the soup.  In an unexpected and hilarious reversal, Pig ends up being wise after all.  This selection is one of my favorites! 

Pumpkin Trouble

Duck is excited to carve a jack-o-lantern.  A little mishap, though, sets off a series of silly misunderstandings.  This fun fall read aloud can be enjoyed all year long, just beware of the pumpkin monster!   

Jan Thomas has two additional books that debuted in January 2018…

My Toothbrush Is Missing!

My Friends Make Me Happy!

Penguins Love Their ABC’s (Sarah Aspinall)

Title: Penguins Love Their ABC’s

Author:  Sarah Aspinall

Illustrator:  Sarah Aspinall

Target Ages:  1-6

Genre: Concept Picture Book—Alphabet

Publisher Summary:

It’s an alphabet hunt!  Join the fun as six playful penguins follow simple clues that lead them to find each little letter of the alphabet.

First Lines:

Once there were six little penguins—

six little penguins who loved to play

games with the alphabet.

Today they had put on their special

hide-and-seek glasses because…

Memorable Moment:

“We love our abc’s, and we love alphabet soup,” said the little penguins.  “But not as much as we love… Mama Penguin.”

Evaluation: 

As soon as I saw the cover, I had to read this book!  The penguins pulled me in like a girl to a platter of chocolates. The illustrations inside do not disappoint!  Lively penguins roll off the pages and into the hearts of readers of all ages!  The pictures alone are enough to cause children to beg to read this book over and over.  

The text is highly engaging.  For instance, children are asked questions, like what color they like best and which letter comes next. Also, they are encouraged to make predictions, such as how the penguins should carry the letters back to mama and what’s for supper. There are additional opportunities built in for parents or teachers to encourage responses. For instance, each letter has the same sentence pattern:  ___ is for ___ (h is for heart). A penguin is holding the item near the sentence. Children can figure out the answers with the visual context clues. Finally, the story has humor (imagine penguins in their underwear) and heart (see memorable moment quote).   

Penguins Love Their ABC’s is the perfect early childhood read.  You can check it out at the library, but I think it is worth buying for your personal bookshelf.

Ideas for Extension Activities at Home or Lesson Plans for Teachers:

• Food Fun: Make alphabet soup together: Alphabet Soup Recipe.
• Art:  Penguin Crafts here and here.
• Letter Sounds:  List of activity ideas here.
• Science:  Read some juvenile non-fiction about penguins.
• Letters:  Practice identifying letters using flashcards or other creative activities.
• Games:  Play hide and seek.
• Writing:  Write out this sentence from the book: ___ is for ___.  Either pick the letter or allow the child to pick the letter.  Then, instruct the children to write a word or draw a picture to go with the letter.  Older children can write out the sentence themselves.