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.

Sleep Well, Siba and Saba (Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl)

Title:  Sleep Well, Siba and Saba

Author:  Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl

Illustrator:  Sandra van Doorn

Target Ages:  3-7

Genre:  Picture Book

Awards:  Kirkus Best Picture Books of 2017, A Might Girl’s 2017 Books of the Year

Publisher Summary:

Forgetful sisters Siba and Saba are always losing something. Sandals, slippers, sweaters – you name it, they lose it. When the two sisters fall asleep each night, they dream about the things they have lost that day. Until, one night, their dreams begin to reveal something entirely unexpected…

First Lines:

Siba and Saba lost things. Not a day slipped by when the sisters hadn’t lost something…somewhere.

Memorable Moment:

And from that day on, Siba and Saba never again dreamed of the things they had lost.  They only dreamed about the special things they would someday see.

Evaluation: 

Sleep Well, Siba and Saba can be enjoyed on many levels. Young children will love this story of close-knit sisters who have a knack for losing track of their possessions while they are caught up in the moment.  The glimpses of Ugandan culture and the scenic views are enchanting.  The soothing alliterative language floats like dream, making it an ideal bedtime story. 

However, the narrative works on another level.  The sisters are holding on to the past, even in their dreams.  By doing so, they are kept in place—in their childhood. When their dreams begin to look to the future, though, the possibilities are endless. 

Finally, it illustrates the girls’ maturity.  Siba is entrusted with money…for her future.  Saba receives a school uniform…in preparation for a new chapter in her life.  Even as they move forward, it is clear that their family’s love is constant. 

The illustrations add to the dreamy experience.  Eye-catching yellows, greens, and reds fill the pages with lively shapes and fanciful flora.  Realist scenes such as market day and sleepovers are countered with surreal ones with animals wearing shoes and sweaters flying through the air.  

Sleep Well, Siba and Saba is a poignant and whimsical look at childhood—full of beautiful moments in the present as well as hopeful ones for the future.

Nothing Can Frighten a Bear (Elizabeth Dale)

Title:  Nothing Can Frighten a Bear

Author:  Elizabeth Dale

Illustrator:  Paula Metcalf

Target Ages:  3-8

Genre:  Picture Book Fiction

Publisher Summary: 

Daddy Bear insists that nothing can frighten a bear – but when there’s a noise in the night, Baby Bear isn’t convinced. The bears set out to make sure there aren’t any monsters but, as they vanish one by one, it looks like Daddy Bear might not be so brave after all!

First Lines:

Deep, deep in the woods, with the moon shining bright, some bears snuggled up in their beds for the night. 

There was Mommy Bear, Daddy Bear…Grace, and then Ben…and Baby Bear, too, who lay dreaming but then…

Memorable Moment:

When Baby Bear realizes the source of the roar (I won’t spoil it though).

Evaluation

In this up-side-down bear “hunting” narrative, the bears are the ones searching for the monster after Baby Bear is awoken by a loud noise.  The story is full of suspense and nighttime adventure.

During the hunt, various family members get caught in the forest (in a tree, a stream, and some mud).  Initially, Father Bear and Baby Bear are oblivious that the others have gone missing.  When they finally realize it, they panic. For a moment, both wonder---Did the monster get them?  

Out of the darkness appear not one, not two, but three fierce looking dark creatures.  As they are about to flee, they hear the “monsters” say “Hey.”

Baby Bear realizes it is his mother and siblings!  They are a mess because they got caught in forest brush.  The family ventures back home—deep, deep in the woods—to go back to sleep.

A roar awakens baby Bear again.  He is certain it is a monster.  His family—who are still awake—know the source though…and it is not a monster.

Nothing Can Frighten a Bear is an amusing bedtime story that assures children what they hear go “bump” in the night is not a monster or any other scary creature.  It is the imagination rather than real danger that frightens us.   With some gentle encouragement from this storybook, young “bears” learn to be “brave as can be.”   

Activities and Extension Ideas for Lesson Plans:

• Nighttime Walk:  Go on a dusk or night walk together to observe what comes out during that time.  Investigate the noises and discover their origins. 
• Fears: Use the book to discuss and dispel nighttime fears. 
• Science:  Learn more about bears and their habits. 
• Math:  As each bear gets caught in the forest, explain it as a math problem.  There were 5 bears and 1 is caught in the forest.  How many are left?  Count them together.
• Literature:  Compare and contrast the story with other bear hunt stories like We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.

Where, Oh Where, Is Baby Bear? (Ashley Wolff)

Title:  Where, Oh Where, Is Baby Bear?

Author:  Ashley Wolff

Illustrator:  Ashley Wolff

Target Ages: 2-8

Genre:  Picture Book

Publisher Summary: 

Where, oh where, is Baby Bear? 

Inside the log? 

Behind the waterfall?

Between the cattails? 

Join him and Mama Bear for a cozy moonlit game of hide and seek.

First Lines:

One by one, bats fly out of the deep, dark den.

“Where are they going?” asks Baby Bear.

“They are going to look for food,” says Mama Bear.

“Can we go look for food too?” asks Baby Bear.

“Yes,” says Mama.  “Let’s go.”

Memorable Moment:

“Where, oh where, is Mama Bear?” he calls.

“Here I am, Baby Bear,” says Mama, “right beside you.”

Evaluation:

I had my own game of where, oh where, is Baby Bear.  I spotted a young bear in my yard a couple weeks ago.  He was quite a neighborhood sensation as many others saw him too—getting into items on a patio and peaking into a shed while one man was working.  I caught a glimpse of him a week later running across a lawn. Then he climbed a tree. He apparently found his way back to the wild because there have not been any recent spottings. He was so cute though.  Here is a picture one of my neighbors took of him.  

I came across Where, Oh Where, Is Baby Bear? at the library this week.  From the cover picture to the last scene, I became smitten with this book.  (It probably helps that I LOVE bears!).  

The illustrations are absolutely adorable!  The vibrant blues and blacks contrast with the sprinkles and brushes of whites, neutrals, and yellows.  Baby Bear’s playful personality is captured as he hides from his mother, but always close by.  Along the way, young readers learn about bear habits like foraging for berries and catching fish in streams.  Other busy nocturnal creatures are also shown, such as raccoons, frogs, bats, owls, deer, and rabbits. 

The focus of the narrative is a back and forth—Where are you?... Here I am.  This predictable technique invites children to “read along.”  In addition, they can find Baby Bear and explain where he is, such as behind the waterfall and between the cattails. 

The rhythmic language is soothing, and the mother-child dynamic is comforting, which makes Where, Oh Where, Is Baby Bear? a perfect addition to bedtime reading.  Let’s be honest, children will enjoy it anytime of day though! 

Activities and Extension Ideas for Lesson Plans:

• Science:  Study more about bears and their habits.
• Categorization:  Explain how some animals are primarily active at night (nocturnal) while others are in the daytime (diurnal). Print out pictures (or use some you already have).  Together put all the animals that primarily come out during the day in one spot (like under a sun picture or word like “day”) and those that like the night in another spot (like under a moon picture or word like “night”).  Here is an online activity.  
• Choral Reading:  Because of the repetitive pattern--where are you...here I am--and predictable responses (based on the pictures) use in a class or at home to prompt listeners to chime in for the question/answer and even responses like "behind the waterfall." 
• Characterization: Identify Baby Bear’s primarily personality trait (playful, mischievous).  Identify ways that character quality is depicted (illustrations like climbing a tree or hiding behind something, his desire to play games, his interactions with is mother).
• Survival:  Discuss how to act if a bear ever crosses your path. 
• Pretend Play:  Play your own game of hide and seek or a variation by hiding a stuffed bear.  
• Story Time: Listen to this read-aloud if you don't have access to the book.

Goldilocks and the Just Right Potty (Leigh Hodgkinson)

Title:  Goldilocks and the Just Right Potty

Author: Leigh Hodgkinson

Illustrator:  Leigh Hodgkinson

Target Ages:  1-4

Genre:  Fractured Fairy Tale Picture Book

Publisher Summary: 

Little Goldilocks wants to wear underwear—big-girl underwear that’s not too silly and not too frilly, but just right.  Then she needs to find the perfect potty.  But will she know what to do when she needs to go?  And will she get to the potty in time?

First Lines:

Once upon a time, there was a very little girl named Goldilocks who lived in the woods with her mommy and daddy.  Goldilocks was tired of wearing soggy diapers, so she decided it was time to wear BIG girl underwear. 

Evaluation:

 I am well passed potty training with my kids, but the fairy tale format caused me to pick up this book from a library display.  I am a sucker for a fractured fairy tale. 

I love the way the author used the format of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” in a realistic and creative way.  Instead of dealing with the obstacles in the bears’ home, this Goldilocks must learn how to understand her body’s cues for when to go potty, find a place to go that is “just right” for her, and accept sometimes she makes potty mistakes.  After some ups and downs, she learns to go on the potty.  Her parents praise her for being a clever girl.

The predictable format and structure as well as the child-friendly phrases are conducive to early childhood reading interaction.  After a couple readings, kids can “read along” with you.  For instance, they can predict (based on pictures and lead in prompts) phrases like “too frilly,” “too silly,” “too big,” and “too small.”  There are some other engaging words they will want to say along with the characters, such as “uh-oh,” “yay,” and “just right.”

The bright colors and vivid illustrations include things children love, like animals, rainbows, stars, hearts, and toys.  Goldilocks is pictured in everyday situations like playing with her toys, eating with her family (appears to be an allusion to the porage from the original fairy tale), and reading books.  Mom and dad are present, but the focus is on Goldilocks feeling empowered to understand her own body and to learn to read its cues. 

This book is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, whether they are being introduced to the concept of potty training or struggling to perfect it. 

My Parenting Potty Training Experience: 

Around the mom-table you may hear about  “advanced” kids fully trained at 12 or 18 months. However, those situations are extremely rare. The average age for being fully potty trained is 3 years old, meaning some master it before but about just as many master it after.  Do not fret if your child is not an early potty master.

Do not compare your child’s progress (or lack thereof) to others’.  I made that mistake with my first child.  Fortunately, she got the BM down early, but peeing on the potty did not interest her.  I pushed her.  She pushed backed.  One day, I put her on the potty.  She did nothing, so I put big girl panties on her.  A couple minutes later, she was standing watching TV.  She nonchalantly peed in her spot.  I quit pushing.  A couple days before she turned 3, she decided on her own she was tired of wet diapers.  She was fully potty trained. 

I did not push my son.   He was a child that was always on his own milestone schedule.  It took him slightly longer to be fully trained, about 3 years, 4 months.  I barely remember his experience because I did not push and stress.  I encouraged, but waited patiently.

Bottom Line: Whether you stress and push or you relax and wait, your child will eventually be potty trained.  In the grand scheme, it does not matter if it is 24, 36, or 40 months. 

Activities and Extension Ideas:

Potty Training Milestones

30 Best-Ever Potty Training Tips

Potty-Training Games

Potty Training Charts HERE, HERE, and HERE

5 Ways to Keep Toddlers Entertained While Potty Training

Do you have any potty training advice?  Tell us in the comments.

Visit Susanna Hill's Blog for more Perfect Picture Book Suggestions.