Where Is the Green Sheep?

 


by Mem Fox, "read" to you by Judah Bailey

saturdays {in october} are for sharing a scary story

the little old lady who wasn't afraid of anything from Kathi Bailey on Vimeo.

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything
Linda Williams

children's book monday: does a kangaroo have a mother, too?

Does A Kangaroo Have A Mother, Too?
by Eric Carle


I picked this book up at Kohl's a few years back as part of their Kohl's Cares for Kids campaign. It pretty much sat on the shelf until about a year ago, as I am not a huge Eric Carle fan. Love that Hungry Caterpillar, but that's about it for me.

Last summer, one of the little, bitty boys picked it off the shelf when my parents were down. And my mom read it to the boys over and over. And they loved it! And we've continued to pull it down ever since.

It's a perfect pre-school book. Very simple, repetitive sing-song style, only a sentence or two on each page. With, of course, Carle's well-known, colorful illustrations that capture any reader's attention.

The book moves through about ten different animals(giraffe, dolphin, kangaroo, etc.), asking, "Does a bear have a mother, too?" And of course, to ensure the smallest of children, "Yes! A BEAR has a mother. Just like me and you." (which your child will start to 'read' with you, after only a few pages) *At the back of the book is a section that names animal babies, parents, and groups. Something every small child likes to know!

:: Happy Giving NEW Books a Chance! ::
(you can see what Elise and her children are finally reading, here)
~Kathi

children's book monday: miss lina's ballerinas

Miss Lina has eight little ballerinas in her cozy white house in Messina. Christina, Edwina, Sabrina, Justina, Katrina, Bettina, Marina, and Nina. In four lines of two, they dance...doing math, while reading, into bed, at the park, at the zoo, and at the beach.

plie' . releve' . pirouette . jete' .

But when a new ballerina, Regina, is added to the group...the girls are unable to twirl in their well-loved four lines of two, and 'befuddlement' follows. When Miss Lina kindly shares with her ballerinas how nice it will be in three rows of three...order returns, and dance practice continues until it's perfect! (all the number regrouping makes it a perfect living math book)


Just look at those illustrations in perfectly beautiful pastel (pink!) colored pencil! I love the ones of the sweet granny piano player and her cute, little tabby cat (sure beats a CD player...ahhh, to go to dance class pre-technology)! And the story itself is simple, rhyming, and so much girly-twirly fun! P.S. The reviews are right, we immediately thought of Madeline!

We bought this book for our Big Girl Ballerinas, and we all love it, and we're sure your Little Ballerina will love it too!

***speaking of Ballet...it's Trump de la Lumiere week! Saturday night is THE big night! Pirates, and Spirits, and Smugglers, and swords, and bandannas (NO buns!), and black tights...our first NON-traditional ballet, oh my!***


:: Happy Reading and Twirling and Pirate-ing! ::

children's book monday: madeleine takes command

Madeleine Takes Command
by Ethel C. Brill

We finished this Read Aloud last week, and let me just say that we all (Momma, Girls, and Boys) thoroughly enjoyed it, and we were so sad to see it end.

Madeleine Takes Command is a true historical novel about the 17th-century Canadian frontier (New France). In the story Madeleine de Vercheres, a 14 year old girl, along with her 12 and 10 year old brothers, bravely and heroically hold down their father's fort (while both he, their mother, and youngest siblings are away) against the Iroquois Indians, in defense of faith, family, and New France.

Not only was this a refreshing and welcome 'educational' story (we have not learned much about Canadian Colonization...OK, we hadn't learned anything up until this point), but it was also a wonderful book for my children (siblings) to hear because of the combined effort of Madeleine and both of her brothers to stick together, talk things through, and encourage each other through the attack. Their love and respect for one other was very evident.

If you haven't had the opportunity to share this story with your family, I highly recommend it, not only for it's historical content, but also for it's life application for families.

:: Happy Reading! ::

~Kathi

P.S. You can see other Children's Book Monday Reviews over at Elise's place...or Kristin's place.

children's book monday: grasshopper on the road

"A New House" in Grasshopper on the Road

by Arnold Lobel

 

 

This week, I am (finally) continuing my 26 reviews on the Literature selections from TJ's Kindergarten Curriculum.

 

:: This week's Letter/Science Topic/Bible Truth is "Aa", Apple, If I stay in Jesus I will have much fruit ::

 

This is a short and simple story about Grasshopper (who is ready to have lunch) taking a big bite out of Worm's house (an apple).

Worm tells Grasshopper, "It is not polite to eat a person's house." Grasshopper apologizes to Worm, but just as his apology comes out, the apple starts to roll down hill. Worm calls for help, and then describes in hilarious-to-a-5-year-old-terms, what is happening to his house as it rolls down hill, "my bathtub is in the living room...I am getting dizzy...my attic is in the cellar!"

Once the apple makes it to the bottom of the hill, it is not much of a house anymore. Grasshopper feels very sorry for Worm, but Worm assures Grasshopper, "It was old, and it had a big bite in it anyway." And Grasshopper watches Worm climb to the top of a tree, filled with apples, to find a new house.

Then Grasshopper smiles, and goes on down the road.

This is a very funny story, that was easy to read with aloud in a silly, wormy voice. There were many giggles as we read this together. As an activity, TJ (and Wesley and Ben) drew Worm's new Apple House...making sure to put all the furniture in the proper place!

You can read all of my Kindergarten Literature reviews here.

children's book monday: a tree is nice

A Tree Is Nice

By Janice May Udry

Pictures By Mark Simont

 

This week, we are continuing our 26 reviews of the Literature selections from TJ's Kindergarten Curriculum.

:: This week we will study "Ll", Leaf, I will live and grow in Jesus ::

First of all, you should read this book outside, either under or in a tree. Because trees are very nice. They make the woods. Their leaves whisper in the breeze all summer, and come down to play with you in fall. You can play pirate ship in trees, and pick apples from trees. You can hang a swing from a tree. Cows and babies can nap in the shade of trees. You can also plant a tree, watch it grow (after you put the shovel back in the garage) for years, and tell people , "I planted that tree."

This is a simply written and illustrated Caldecott Medal Book, perfect for 5 year olds. It introduces children to the beauty of nature, which they see everyday, but may not have noticed just yet.

We are just beginning our "Ll" study this week, but I remember reading this book to the boys, back when Connor was doing K. They got quite a kick out of some of the illustrations...the children "playing pirate" in the tree was a favorite, *AND* one of the last pages, when the "dog's tiny, little tree" doesn't do a very good job of protecting the "doghouse roof" from blowing off during a windstorm, made them laugh out loud.

One of the suggested activities for A Tree Is Nice, is to have your Kindergartner illustrate his own version of the book (by their name, of course), to show a few different ways they think a tree is nice. This will give TJ something to really think about, and I'm excited to see what he comes up with. Maybe I'll add it to his Art Gallery later this week!

You can read all of my My Father's World Kindergarten Literature reviews here.

:: Happy Reading! ::

children's book monday: little bear goes to the moon

Little Bear Goes to the Moon (from Little Bear)

By Else Holmelund Minarik

Pictures By Maurice Sendak.

 

This week, we are continuing our 26 reviews of the Literature selections from TJ's Kindergarten Curriculum.

 

:: We studied "Mm", Moon, We are the light of the world ::

 

In our book, Little Bear wants to fly to the moon. But Mother Bear explains that he is not a bird, and he cannot fly. Little Bear decides he will make a Space Helmet, and try anyway. He lands on the moon, which appears to be just like Earth. He wonders off to a house, that appears to be just like his house. He finds a lunch, that would be a great lunch for a little bear...Mother Bear is playing along at this point, and says, "My little bear did the same thing. He put on his space helmet and flew to Earth. So I guess you can have his lunch." But Little Bear hugs Mother Bear, and asks her to, "Stop fooling." So Mother Bear does (because children need reassurance that all is well), and tells him he may eat his lunch, and then have his nap (because children under age 6 need a nap).

 

I do not enjoy Sendak's illustration style (Where The Wild Things Are), but the story of Little Bear and his relationship with his Mother are so sweet, that I've been easily able to overlook the illustrations, and really fall in love with this series.

One of the Activities to go along with Little Bear Goes to the Moon, are for the Kindergartner to act out the story (Narration) wearing his newly constructed (foil) Space Helmet. We have not done this yet, but TJ is anxiously awaiting the fun!

To read all of my My Father's World Kindergarten Literature Selection reviews, click here.

 

:: Happy Reading! ::

children's book monday: bear shadow

Bear Shadow

by Frank Asch

 

I thought I would spend the next 26 (schooling) weeks reviewing the Literature selection from TJ's Kindergarten Curriculum.

 

:: This week we studied letter "Ss", Sun, Jesus is the light of the world ::

Our Literature selection this week was Bear Shadow by Frank Asch. In our book, Bear tries to get rid of his shadow he finds while fishing. He tries running away, hiding, climbing, hammering, digging...which finally works, because it's noontime, and the sun is high in the sky (hence no shadow). And then Bear gets tired and is ready for nap (very good for Kindergartner's who so desperately STILL NEED THEIR NAP). But when Bear wakes up, there is Shadow again! So they make a deal...and while Bear is nodding his head (of course) Shadow is nodding his head too! They both go fishing again...and each of them catch a fish!

The illustrations are great for explaining and discussing shadows, and then you can go outside and do the easiest Science Experiment ever!

***We also read My Shadow by R.L. Stevenson out of our brand new version illustrated by Tasha Tudor!***

To read all of my My Father's World Kindergarten Literature Selection reviews, click here.

:: Happy Reading! ::

children's book monday: snip snap croc

Snip Snap Croc

by Caroline Castle

Illustrated by Andrew Crowson

This is a Picture Book that was specifically written for sharing with Little Ones. There is even a page in the back to help parents create the perfect Storytime atmosphere. Ideas for rhyming and poetry, discussing animals from another land, and studying a map of the Nile River.

The text is simple, and the pictures are very colorful. The story is easily read aloud using different voices, one big, loud voice for Snip Snap Croc, and one smaller and softer for all the other animal Mommas.

As the story starts, Snip Snap Croc is shouting to everyone about her big, sharp teeth...and Mommas Baboon, Meerkat, and Lion are warning their precious babies to stay away.

Then Snip Snap Croc hears a humming sound and feels the ground begin to move, and discovers eggs. And the 23 things that "hammer" their way out of these eggs is very fascinating.

As the other animal babies are watching safely from the riverbank, Snip Snap Croc suddenly snip snaps each of her 23 babies up, and eats them! But the other animal Mommas know what is really going on.

And you'll just have to read the Story to find out for yourself.

This is a very different, but fun story, that helps express to children the kind of special love that is between a Momma and her Baby. TJ has requested it almost everyday since we've brought it home from the Library.

:: Happy Reading! ::

children's book monday: prayer for a child

Prayer for a Child

By Rachel Field

Illustrated by Elizabeth Orton Jones

 

This sweet poem/prayer was written for the author's little daughter, Hannah. It is a prayer asking for blessing, protection, peace and health. It has all the simple, little, everyday things within it, that are cozy and comfortable to a child.

 

"Bless my little painted chair.

Bless the lamplight, bless the fire,

Bless the hands that never tire

In their loving care of me."

 

I adore this little book because it expresses how safety, routine, love, and care affect a small child. My girls love it, and TJ loves it, he calls it "The Blessing Book".

:: Happy Reading! ::

children's book monday: before i was your mother

Before I Was Your Mother

By: Kathryn Lasky

Illustrated By: LeUyen Pham

I bought this book for the Girls for Christmas back in 2003, and we have read it many times over 7 years. It's always fun for children to find out that, believe it or not, their parents were little once just like them. And I know, from my own childhood, how important your parents' stories become to you. This book reminds me to share *MY* stories with my children.

 

Little Katie finds out her Momma wasn't always making lists and wearing pencils in her hair (which I SOOO do). She also finds out her Momma "stood perfectly still in first position" (and we all know how much we love BALLET in our home).

 

She finds out that her Momma had a special place, with special things, an imaginary friend, and a doll, a teddy bear, a fuzzy duck and a velvet seal named Katie.

This book is Very Sweet with Very Pretty watercolorish-illustrations. I recommend it especially for Happy Mommas with their own Sweet Little Girls.

children's book monday: the napping house

The Napping House

by Audrey Wood, Illustrated by Don Wood

We have owned this book, since I took it home from one of Kylie's doctor's appointments when we were preparing for her spinal surgery back in 2008. She had brought it home from her public school library before that, and I remembered how fun it was. Cincinnati area residents and Half Price Books donated tons of used Children's Books to Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and afterwards, they posted signs to take one (or two or seven) home with you. I did. It was one of those, Mom-You're-Embarrassing-Me kind of moments...me asking the nurse, "You mean, we can really take a few (or seven) of these?"...So sorry Kylie, moving on...

This book is by a husband and wife team. Audrey Wood is the author, her husband, Don Wood is the illustrator. Audrey came from a family of circus performers and artists. She knew she would be a Children's Book author in grade school. She read a Children's Book to her husband on their honeymoon, and he was hooked. She started writing her books once they had their first son. Isn't that one of the neatest stories about a Children's Book author you have ever heard?

This Children's Book is a very easy (would be great for a beginning reader), light, and silly story about a Child who has a sleepover with their Granny. Outside the bedroom window, it's dark and rainy. But the bed is cozy, the Granny is snoring, and the Child is dreaming. Through the night, the Granny, the child, and all their pets (and their pet's pets) end up in bed together. As the story progresses, and the night turns to morning, each picture gets a little lighter. And a surprise wakes them all up together, with the bright Sunshine spilling in through the bedroom window.

 

The house in the book is illustrated after the author's (and illustrator's) own home. And the last page in the book is such a wonderful picture of the relationship a Grandma can share with their GrandChild. It shows the Granny (donning her Apron) and the Child playing out in the yard... complete with a tricycle, tree house, tree swing, flower-boxed windows, white picket fence and a rainbow. Heavenly!

This is a very fun Children's Book that the kids and I have enjoyed reading and laughing at many, many times. It would also be a great book to keep at Granny's house (or Nana's or Mamaw's, as we like to call our Grandmas:)

children's book monday: a quilt for baby

A Quilt for Baby

By Kim Lewis

 

The title of this Book says it all, Quilts and Babies. Two things I absolutely LOVE. That is the reason I snatched it up at the library. But the Book itself tells a very soothing story about Family and Farm Life and HOME, and all the Comforts they can bring.

A Quilt for Baby is about a Mother who is sewing a Patchwork Quilt for her new, Little Baby. When she is through, the Quilt is to tell the Story of their Farm, and all the Animal Families who live there with them. What makes this Book even Sweeter, is that Mother "talks" with her Little One as she is sewing the quilt, and shares with Baby what each little Patchwork Square is about.

There is the Blue Patchwork Square for their old, stone Farmhouse, a Yellow one for their Sheep and Lambs and Ram, "with curling horns. He is the little lamb's father." and another Blue one for Floss (the soccer-playing Border Collie) and her Puppy, Sam. There's a Red square for their Cows and the little Calf who says, "Watch me run," as the Big Red Bull stands nearby, a Green one for their Mare and her little Foal, and another Red square for their Rooster, Hens and their Cheeping Chicks.


Then there's this little, yellow square for their Goose and her little Gosling that wonders, "Will I have wings like that?" ( and just look at the Laundry hanging on the line :)


A Purple Patchwork Square follows for the Nanny Goat and her Twin newborn Kids who are butting and nuzzling for their Mother's milk, and finally, a Brown one for their prowling Tom Cat, Mother Cat, and their sleeping Kitten.


When Mother is all finished, she wraps Baby Comfortably and Warmly, and tells the Story again, and how soon, Mother and Daddy and Baby will be walking the hills of their Farm together, because it is their Home.


And to make the Story even more Wonderful, the Illustrations are Beautifully done by the Author herself in Colored Pencil, with Inspiration from her own Farm and Family. Of A Quilt for Baby, Lewis says, "From an early age, I remember my mother quilting. It seemed natural to use the idea of the quilt as an heirloom for passing on my hopes and feelings for the farming way of life." Exactly. I must Learn to Quilt.

children's book monday: hush little baby

Hush Little Baby

by: Sylvia Long

We checked out this Special Book on our Library visit Saturday. Sylvia Long is New to us, and I am so Happy we found her.

I have already read this Sweet Book aloud a few times. And again, this morning, I read it to my TJ as everyone else was busy playing or doing schoolwork. He then "read" it to me, as I Softly Sang along, and as we continued, he stopped "reading" and began to Hum with me.

Sylvia's Book is a completely new Version of Hush Little Baby. She states in her Introduction, "One of the songs that bothered me as an adult is the original version of "Hush Little Baby." Me too. Instead, Sylvia shares all new words that soothe Children with the things of Nature and the Comforts of having a Loving Mother.

 

Hush Little Baby is a Song of Hummingbirds (which remind me of my Mother and Grandmother), Evening Skies (which remind me of my own Children who love Sunsets and Sunrises), Bugs, Stars, Rocking Mommas who Read Books to you (NOTHING is more Heavenly than Rocking Babies), Quilts (Oh, how I LOVE Quilts), Teddy Bears, Banjos, and the Moon.

This is the Perfect Story to Read with your Child. Please don't miss the Chance to Share it with them.

children's book monday: "there are rocks in my socks!" said the ox to the fox

"There Are Rocks In My Socks!"

Said The Ox To The Fox

by: Patricia Thomas, Illustrated by: Mordicai Gerstein

 

This is a very old book. It was mine, that my Mom bought for me from the Weekly Reader Children's Book Club. It even has my name inscribed on the inside of the cover, in my Mother's beautiful handwriting. It says, "Kathy Wood." Because I changed the spelling of my (nick)name in Jr HighSchool.

 

My Mom even read this book to me. It was the only book she read to me. Because she is NOT a reader. BUT, my Mom read this book to me (and my little sister) many times. And she used a very funny voice for the bird. I can still hear her now...

 

Anyhoo...

 

"There Are Rocks In My Socks!" is about an Ox who has "Bumpy, lumpy, clumpy rocks" in his socks. He takes waaay too much advice from a FOX on how to remove the rocks from his socks, and gets into quite the predicament.

 

And then, a bird comes "Skippety...Hippety-Hopping" along, and shows him, very simply, how to remove the rocks from his socks.

Needless to say, the FOX, ends up with "Rocks on his head!"

 

A funny, entertaining story. But, I may be a little biased :)

children's book monday: h is for honor

Our book this week is H is for Honor by Devin Scillian, Illustrated by Victor Juhasz...another Military Brat must (this is a library copy, but it's definitely on our Amazon Wishlist)

"Using the alphabet format, this picture book describes the many situations and experiences that militarty families, especially their children encounter. For example history, rank, and quarters are explained." - the publisher

The author takes you through the entire alpahbet, and writes a little about each letter. A is for Army and Air Force too (but Army first:). D is for drill sergeant. F is for families who wait for their return. I is for initials...R and R, T.D.Y., M.R.E. (and if wife wants to understand husband, you must learn them too:). O is for orders (wish we'd get some for Hawaii), and S stands for sacrifice.

"Not everyone hears it. It's just a few. But there's no denying it once you do. When your country calls, you do your part. So H is for honor in the American heart." - from the book

 

You could not fully understand these statements, until you are a wife or child of someone who heard the call in their heart. It is true. There is no denying it.

 

K is for kiss. I know, so sappy. I have wanted a copy of Eisenstaedt's photo to hang in our home for years now. This page makes the kids giggle. Connor and Korinne are so romantic...

 

L is for letters. You must write them...draw them. Even in a time when there is Facebook, Blogger and cell phones that work anywhere. You still send handwritten letters, crayoned pictures, and homemade "eyes of God"...

 

 

Y is for the reason. The reason is you.

 

Z is for Zulu, or rather, Zulu is for Z. One of the coolest things about the military (to just learning little boys anyway) is that they have their own alphabet!

children's book monday: the relatives came

The Relatives Came

By Cynthia Rylant, Illustrated by Stephen Gammell

Another Rylant, I know...but I haven't found one of her's I dislike. We love this one. It's about family coming to visit. Which happens often here.

With my family, you know they're coming...the horn honking is a dead give away. Brian's parents arrive much quieter. But there's always a mad dash to the door, lots of screaming, kisses and hugs.

Where does everyone sleep in our little 4 BR house when they come down? Wherever they can.

We always wave good-bye, we always cry, we always second guess our choice to be in the military. It's sad, but it's our life. This book is special to us, for that reason.

children's book monday: november

We checked out this book from the library last week, just read it today, and I have to share.

Maybe it's still postpartum hormones, maybe it's knowing we're not going home this year, maybe it's just that I do love November, and all it means.

I got a small lump in my throat and quiet tears in my eyes by the end of this book. I am so blessed to see the beauty fall turning to winter brings, and I am so blessed to have my sweet children to read to and share this special time of year.

This page struck me, mostly because I've always thought of bare trees as lonesome, ugly, and tired...this page reads, "they are lovely...spreading their arms like dancers..." So much nicer.

Cardinals ALWAYS remind me of home, we always had so many visit our little yard on Whippoorwill Hollow each winter.

...giving thanks for blessings like food and babies in arms...

In November by Cynthia Rylant...now on my Family Library Wishlist

children's book monday: captain cat

Captain Cat by Syd Hoff.

This is a very special book to our family about a tabby cat that joins the Army. I bought it for Bubba just a few months after Brian deployed to Afghanistan in 2005.

Captain Cat sneaks onto post when noone is looking, learns to keep in step, help with kitchen duty and befriends Soldier Pete.

I couldn't tell you how many times I read this book to my little boy who was missing his Soldier Daddy sooo much it broke my heart.

It's a MUST HAVE for all Military Families!