Book Review - CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

Ages: 4-8

I can remember sitting with my first grade class, mesmerized by this book as our librarian read it to us (back in the days when elementary school kids when to library once a week). It brought a smile to my face as I read it to my kids, seeing that same mesmerized look on their faces. After we finished I couldn't help but check the copyright date -- 1978. That's the same year my husband was born. That's pretty impressive, but not surprising that more than 30 years later, this book is still relevant (and even a movie).

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is a modern tall tale about the town of Chewandswallow. It's like any other town, except rather than getting meals from a grocery store, the residents wait for their food to fall from the sky. Three times a day, they enjoy things like pancake and syrup rains, falling hot dogs and soda, hamburger winds, a Jell-O sunrise. Life in the tiny town was delicious until the weather turns bad and the food gets out of control -- becoming bigger and erratic. Eventually, the food grows so large it forces the people out of Chewandswallow.

If nothing else, this silliness of this book will keep your little librarian intrigued. The idea of food falling from the sky had The Little Lady Librarian giggling with glee. The story is so simply told, yet so full of detail and imagination. The illustrations by Ron Barrett switch from black and white to vibrant colors. Each page is full of teeny, humorous, sometimes ironic details -- like a bird eating an egg, a sanitation truck made of a giant fork, spoon, plate and tupperware-type bowl, or a tomato tornado (especially hilarious to the LLL).

The Little Librarian Dude didn't sit through the entire book. He made it about halfway before moving on to his monster trucks, but occasionally stopped back in to check out the pictures and ask questions, much to the chagrin of his sister who was in no made to wait for him to get all his answers before moving on to the next page.

This is definitely a classic and a must-read for every child. I would just suggest waiting until they're atleast pre-school age for them to really enjoy it.

When we read memorable books such as this, I always love to think up little activities we can do to go along with the book. It always makes it more fun! Here's a few ideas:

-Make extra LARGE food: pancakes, cookies
-Make peanut butter sandwich sailboats
-Keep a weather chart or weather jars
      *Weather chart --- make a weeklong calendar and have your little one draw a picture representing the   weather for each day (sun, cloud, rain, etc.)
      *Weather jars --- using clear cups or canning jars, mark each to represent a type of weather (sunny, rainy, thunderstorms). Then, using little pom poms, buttons or pennies, have your little librarian keep track of the weather over a week or month by dropping a pom pom into each type of weather as it occurs. At the end of the week/month, see which type of weather you experienced most frequently.

Friday Fave -- FIREBEARS THE RESCUE TEAM

In honor of The Little Librarian Dude' 2nd birthday today, our very first Friday Fave will feature his very favorite book: Firebears the Rescue Team by Rhonda Gowler Greene.

Before I begin, can I just say that I am schocked that the Little Dude is already two?! Really, where did the time go? Two is a full-fledged toddler, he's not a baby anymore. When I see him run and jump and talk and annoy his sister I am just in awe of how quickly he got to that point. I guess all moms feel that way. I think I'm having a harder time with the whole "growing up" thing this time around. With The Little Lady Librarian (my first) I was just always so excited for her to get to the next phase -- rolling, crawling, talking, walking. But with my little guy, it's just different. Maybe because I've been through it before. Don't get me wrong, I love, love, love the excitement that each stage brings. Every day is an adventure with the Little Dude, it just seems like he wasn't a baby very long.

Firebears the Rescue Team by Rhonda Gowler Greene

Ages: Infant-Early Elem. School

Alright, now that I have that out of my system, on to the book. I got "Firebears" about a year ago at a Scholastic Book Sale. The first week we had this book the LLD and I read it together ATLEAST 20 times (not to mention he read it a handful of times with Daddy). After that, it was his go-to bedtime book. Now we read it about once a week, but he always has it nearby. And I don't even THINK of traveling without it!

The firebears are relaxing around Fire Station Number Eight when the alarm rings. They thrown on their fire gear and they're off, racing through town "sirens wailing up and down." From saving a cat in a tree, to putting out a store-fire, to rescuing a mother and her baby from a house fire, the firebears are always "Racing, rushing to the scene. Fire bears the rescue team!" After a busy day of hero work, the firebears return to Fire Station Number Eight.

The little dude loves any and all things with wheels and an engine, but especially firetrucks. His eyes light up when he sees the engine speed through town, carrying the brave firebears! I love how involved he gets in the book, adding his own siren sound effects, shouting "HOORAY!" when the firebears rescue the puppy and telling them "night night" at the very end. The story is rhythmic and holds his attention to the very last word. As for the illustrations, I read they're "rendered oils on illustration board," I'm not an artist and definitely don't claim to know much about various illustration methods, but here's what I do know: they're darn cute! The animals in the book have very exxaggerated noses and teeny little eyes. Each page is full of fun little details, yet still clean and simple enough to not overwhelm the LLD.

This is a must read for all Little Librarian Dudes!! For my age recommendation, I suggested Infant-Kindergarten. I really think the rhythm of the story and colorful pictures make it a wonderful book to read with to even the littlest librarians, yet the story is still age-appropriate for a kindergartener learning to read on his own, or even a 2nd grader taking a field trip to a fire station.

Book Review - FANCY NANCY: BONJOUR, BUTTERFLY

The Little Librarian Lady is all girl. She loves anything pink and twirly. If it sparkles or has ruffles she has to have it. She's a tutu dancing, Mommy's high heel wearing, frou frou girly girl. She goes to the store in a princess dress and crown, in the winter she adds snow boots and a winter jacket to the ensemble. She's Fancy Nancy to a tee (a very fancy, bedazzled tee).

Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly by Jane O'Connor
Ages: Pre-K-2nd Grade

The little fashionista is tres excited to attend her friend Bree's butterfly birthday party. She even has the perfect outfit. There's just one problem, the party is on the same day as Nancy's grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary shindig. She is furious when she learns she'll miss out on the party. But, despite her dramatics she ends up having quite an extraordinary time -- staying in a "fancy" hotel, wearing fashionable clothes and even visiting a butterfly garden at the local zoo.

The Fancy Nancy stories are adorable, but the Little Lady Librarian and I get much more excited about the illustrations. Robin Preiss Glasser is one of my absolute fave illustrators. No one can draw little girls like she does! Not to mention each page is full of intricate detail, humor and creativity. The Little Lady and I spend an inordinate amount of time on each page searching for cute little details, like the butterflies in Nancy's hair or her makeshift bed canopy with a broom and mop for posts, or the not-so-fancy box she turns into a fancy table for her doll Mirabelle. This book is cute, it's entertaining, but best of all, it's the perfect excuse to cuddle with your little lady and have some girly time!

Book Review - THE GOOD LITTLE BAD LITTLE PIG

I'm a sucker for Margaret Wise Brown. Like most parents, I've read "Goodnight Moon" a million times with each of my kids. Since my little girl was born four years ago, I've accidentally come across other Wise Brown books. I never go to the library looking for them, but they somehow find me, often in the most unassuming places (like under the couch near the Storytime Circle... which I happened to be looking under after my toddler threw my keys there).

So, just like every other non-"Goodnight Moon" experience, I came across "The Good Little Bad Little Pig" by accident. I was perusing the books on CD for the Little Lady Librarian, and there atop the shelf lay this little gem. Of course, seeing who the author is, I snatched it right up.

The Good Little Bad Little Pig by Margaret Wise Brown

Ages: 2-7

The story is about Peter, who wants a pig. He doesn't want a dirty little pig, as his mom assumes, instead he wants a clean "good little bad little pig." So, Peter and his mother send a letter to a farmer with their request. He sends them the perkiest of his five baby pigs, which soon arrives to Peter in a box. Through a series of experiences the pig proves itself to be just as Peter wanted, a good little bad little pig. He's good when he does things like eat all the food on his plate, but he's bad when he makes a mess in the process. Get it? In the end, Peter's frustrations with the pig are forgotten as he hugs his pig with this written below: "Sometimes the little kid was good and sometimes he was bad, but he was the best pig any boy ever had?"

It's a cute book. It's a fun read, the illustrations by Dan Yaccarino are bold, geometric and simple. All in all, it's definitely not my favorite MWB. What's my favorite you ask? Ahhh, that's for another post, my friend. There are plenty of Wise Brown posts in your future.

Anyway, back to this one... while I have my opinions, the ones that really matter belong to the smallest people in our home and they L-O-V-E-D -- loved it! The Little Librarian Dude usually pummels me with a series of questions for each page, "Who dat guy?," "Why he do that?," What happening, Mama?" you get it. But for this book, he was absolutely silent, sitting quietly next to me, his chubby little paws folded in his lap. When I asked the Little Lady Librarian what she thought of the book, her answer surprised me. "I like it because I'm like the little pig and you're like Peter." Not making any such connection myself I of course asked, "How?" "Well, most of the time I'm good but sometimes I make bad choices. But you still love me and we're best friends." So tru, but... HUH?! How did I not see that? I'm a little embarrassed to say I made no correlation, but I'm glad she did. I want my kids to get something from each book we read together, whether it's learning an academic concept, manners, a specific subject, or just an important little life truth such as the one my LLL did.

All in all, it's a Margaret Wise Brown book. You can't go wrong. The message is sweet, each page flows, there are sound effects (what kid doesn't enjoy sound effects... or hearing their grown-up make them?) the illustrations cute, there are animals involved. It's a good little, not bad little book.

Book Review - BURGER BOY

The Little Lady Librarian is a big kid. At least that's what she tells me. She's four now and four makes her big. And four-year-olds certainly don't need naps or quiet time. So, while the Little Librarian Dude (who will be two tomorrow, and definitely not a big kid) naps, the LLL and I attack our new stack of library books.

First up, Burger Boy by Alan Durant.
Ages: Pre-K - 2nd Grade

I'll be honest, I didn't have high hopes for this book. I'll admit, I judged it by it's cover. But, I was pleasantly surprised. It's actually really cute. Burger Boy is the cautionary tale of Benny who will only eat burgers. His mom warns, "If you don't watch out, you'll turn into a burger one day." And he does. The book follows him as he has a run-in with a pack of dogs, a herd of cows, a hungry group of boys and a greedy burger shop owner. His mother saves him by stuffing him full of veggies, which help him morph back into a boy. But as a result, veggies become the only foods Benny will eat. Again, his mother warns him and, well, you can guess what happens next.

This book is simple and sweet. It moves fast and had the LLL giggling at the end. I don't have picky eaters, but I know them and I really think this could be a great book for those kids who will only eat chicken nuggest, or green beans, or rice... okay, okay, I'm talking about my best friend's son (and the LLL's future husband... haha). But you know kids like that, you may even have kids like that. The story could very well help those picky kids understand, in a humorous way, just why it's so important to eat a balanced diet. Heck, it could be a good tool to help introduce balanced eating to any child. Just an idea.

Check Out What We Checked Out -- 5/27/10

We've been in our new town for less than two weeks and the woman in the children's book section of the library already knows my kids by name. She chatted with the Little Lady Librarian about her finds for the day, and with the Little Libriarian Dude about his upcoming 2nd birthday. They left with a bag full of books and two big smiles. What more could you ask for?

Here's what we checked out:

The kids are dino-obsessed these days. Okay, let's be honest -- THIS YEAR! Each library trip must include some dinosaur book. But since this is my very first blog, you don't know that. But you mark my words, you'll see. Dino books. Every. Week. I'm not complaining, I love that they're so interested in learning about them and it brings me back to the 2nd grade when my friends and I would spend our recesses digging for dinosaur fossils next to the seesaw. But, that's a story for another day. Or another blog.

Okay, really, here we go...

Three-Horn: The Adventure of Triceratops by Michael Dahl
Thomas-saurus Rex by Rev. W. Audry (I should add that the LLD also loves trains)
Burger Boy by Alan Durant
The Good Little Bad Little Pig by Margaret Wise Brown
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (we own this one, but since our belongings are on a moving truck we checked it out)
Fancy Nancy Bonjour Butterfly by Jane O'Connor
Better Homes and Gardens New Junior Garden Book
Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinksy
The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot (The LLL looooves chapter books. She couldn't resist the tiara on the front. This will be her first chapter book without pictures, so I'm anxious to see how she does!)
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

A few notes:

We own The Very Hungry Caterpillar. But, all of our belongings are currently somewhere int he U.S. on a moving truck. The Little Librarian Dude loves it so much he insisted we check it out.

The Princess Diaries may be a little advanced for the Little Lady Librarian, being that she's only four. But, she loves chapter books. I mean loves them. She sits through them, and she really takes them in. Ask her her favorite chapter book and she'll say "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Ask her the plot of the book and she'll give it to you... in full detail. We'll see how she does with this one. It's the first we'll have read without pictures, but she couldn't resist the tiara on the front. I'm anxious to see how she likes it.

As for Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. I'm doing what I should have done months ago and finally reading this one to my kids. I broke one of my long-standing rules and watched the movie before reading the book (to them. I've loved it since childhood). The movie was cute, but I'm just kicking myself in the tail for not just running to the library and checking it out before the movie. Darn.

So, here's how we'll do this... I think. As we read a book, we'll review it (we being myself, the LLL and the LLD). It's always nice to have a mom's opinion about a book, but sometimes I think it's even better to have a child's.

Please, leave comments or suggestions, I'd love to hear them! Alright, off to turn some pages with my Little Librarians.