I want one too!

I saw the link for this on PW ShelfTalker (11/27/12). Isn't it fantastic?? Hal Taylor is the designer who created it after his third child was born. He had run out of  lap space at story time. So clever!

Award winning Story Time Rocking Chair

Hal Taylor demonstrates the chair

Review: Jasper John Dooley: Star of the Week by Caroline Adderson

 

 Jasper, the Star!

At last, it's Jasper John Dooley's turn to be Star of the Week at school. Unfortunately, nothing turns out as planned. His Show and Tell falls flat. A new baby at his friend Ori's house steals his spotlight. And worst of all, the new baby has only-child Jasper wondering if his own family is too small. When Jasper decides to build himself a brother (named Earl) out of wood, Earl's schoolyard shenanigans send Jasper to the principal's office But with a little help from family and friends, things turn around for Jasper. And by the time Friday arrives, he is once again sure that he has what it takes to be a star. Jasper John Dooley: Star of the Week is the first in a series of chapter books featuring a charismatic and funny central character. An only child with active, loving parents (and a most impressive lint collection), Jasper John Dooley is a true original.
(Goodreads.com)
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review
Wouldn't we all love to be Star of the Week?  Unfortunately for Jasper, he isn't getting the attention he expected and his week is going down hill fast. He desperately searches for ways to regain the focus of his classmates but nothing is working. Not even the idea of getting a new brother. And Jasper only has one week!

 The idea for the story was cute and I sympathized with Jasper although I think I felt worse for his sleep-deprived friend Orin. This book should be entertaining to kids who can relate to Jasper's frustration. His antics were humorous and the adorable black and white illustrations by Ben Clanton make it even more appealing. The other characters added to the quirkiness and enforced the importance of support of friends and family.  I look forward to reading more from this new series and other work for author Caroline Adderson.

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc (ebook) to review.

Publisher
Author
Illustrator 

Release date: 3/1/12
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Pages: 128 (hardcover)
Type: children's fiction, middle grade

Giveaway: Poopendous! by Artie Bennett

I have one autographed copy to give away provided by the generous author!

My review of Poopendous!


Rules:
- Fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter.
- U.S. only (sorry everyone else!)
- Extra entries available
- Ends 9/7/12, 11:59 pm EST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading and asks you to :
1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3 . Share 2 "teaser" sentences also citing the title of the book and the author and in that way people can have great recommendations if they like the "teaser".
4. Please avoid spoilers!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The hunt for Great Uncle Tony's workshop had been a wild and exciting chase, sprinkled with danger and magic, and now another quest was beckoning. But for what? What was the price this time?
 ~page 36 (arc)
Horten's Incredible Illusions (book #2) by Lissa Evans

 **Signed galley giveaway coming up!**

Winner Cows Can't Quack!

Congratulations to:

Chris H

I sent you an email. Please respond with your mailing address. Thanks to everyone for entering and I'll have another giveaway posted soon!

Giveaway: Cows Can't Quack by Dave Reisman

Thanks to the author I have one copy to give away!
My review of Cows Can't Quack

Rules:
- Fill out the form below to enter. (I'm trying a new one, hope it works!)
- U.S.and Canada only
- Ends 3/15/12, 11:59 pm EST
- Extra entries available 

Review: Cows Can't Quack by Dave Reisman

Come inside and sing,

 laugh and howl

 




Young listeners and early readers, ages six months to six years, will be enchanted by the bright and expressive illustrations and the rhythmic and engaging text. This companion to the highly praised Cows Can't Jump imparts a humorous and empowering tale of tolerance, respect and humility and is bound to become a beloved bedtime and storytime favorite for kids and parents alike.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review
Last year Cows Can't Jump (my review) came in the mail and we read it right away. My favorite three year-old thought it was fun and silly and so did I! We recently received Cows Can't Quack and the grand-kiddos declared it a success too! Author Dave Reisman and illustrator Jason A. Maas did it again with another charming book that's suitable for any age.

Each page describes what a different animal can and can't do with colorful paintings depicting the comical critters in action. Cows can't quack...but they can moo. As we were reading those lines and others we took great delight in making the animal noises and laughing at their silly antics. Even with simple text it incited conversation. When harder words like bleat and bray were used my favorite four year-old (she had a birthday!) didn't always know their meaning. But after discussing them in context and using the illustrations to help she was able to figure them out.

These books are great companion pieces since the second one introduces new animals and actions. The cow and duck are the only recurring characters and we were happy to see them again. We will be reading these often and have already shared them with the baby boy. He may be too young to understand the story but reading together is a wonderful bonding experience. We look forward to snuggling up with future books in this series.

Thank you to the author for an autographed copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
www.JumpingCowPress.com

Publisher: Jumping Cow Press
Release date: 11/15/11
Pages: 46
Price/format: $7.99/paperback
Type: children, 3 months - 6 years

"Reading" to baby brother.

She remembered most of the book after only hearing it once!

He's impressed too!

Review: Cows Can't Jump by Dave Reisman

 

Is it really true that cows can't jump, gorillas can't swim and sloths can't leap? 

Yes, but discover what these and other animals can do, as they swing, scamper and glide through Cows Can't Jump! In this humorous and inspirational adventure, animals focus on what they do best, comfortably aware they can t do everything, but proud of their own special skills. Vibrantly illustrated, Cows Can't Jump will help young readers learn diverse and dynamic words, while absorbing a subtle yet powerful message that builds self-esteem and teaches respect and humility.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review
 This is a delightful children's book with a silly, simple story about animals. Did you know that cows can't jump but they can swim? And gorillas can't swim but can swing? The bright and playful illustrations are fun for everyone. Combined with the repetitive verse they offer teachable moments on every page. Little tots will enjoy learning to identify the animals and their special abilities. 

This is a book that is meant to be shared. My favorite three year-old loved it and we've read it again and again. She took home the boardbook to read herself and I kept paperback copy here for us to keep reading together. I recommend sharing it with the little people in your life!

I also received a nice note from the author on adorable cow stationary. And there was a matching cow return address label! I'll be keeping those forever along with my book.


Publisher

Thank you to the publisher for autographed paperback and boardbook editions to review.

Publisher: Jumping Cow Press
Release date: 10/19/08
Pages: 44
Price/format: $7.99/paperback & $11.99/boardbook
Type: children

Review: Say Hello To Zorro! by Carter Goodrich

Mister Bud had it pretty good.

Mister Bud is a dog of routine. He has wake up time, nap time, rest time, dinner time, etc. And everyone knows to follow his schedule.

Then disaster strikes. A stranger comes home at "make a fuss time" and throws everything off! Zorro is little bit bossy and Mister Bud wants nothing to do with him. But when the dogs discover they like the same things (like chasing the cat and napping), everything becomes more fun. As long as everyone follows the schedule.

Review
You don't have to be a pet lover or a kid to enjoy this book! The story is told with few words on each page while the adorable, colorful illustrations tell the rest. Having two dogs of my own I can tell you that the actions and expressions of the main characters, Mister Bud and Zorro, are spot on! Whether it's lounging on the bed or snarling at the food dish their faces are priceless.

This is a touching story about sharing, compromise and friendship. Even the littlest readers will understand the message and enjoy the relationship that blossoms between these two pups. I read this to my favorite three year-old and she immediately demanded we read it again. I happily obliged her request and plan to enjoy this for a long time to come. We can't wait for the next Mister Bud and Zorro book!

Author Biography

Acclaimed artist Carter Goodrich has illustrated thirteen New Yorker covers and has worked as a character designer on many beloved animated films, including The Prince of Egypt; Shrek; Monsters, Inc.; Finding Nemo; as well as the forthcoming Open Season. He is a two-time gold-medal recipient from the Society of Illustrators in New York and a graduate of the Rhose Island School of Design. His work has also appeared in Newsweek, Forbes, and Time. Mr. Goodrich resides in Los Angeles, California.

Publisher
Author *check out slide shows of his amazing artwork!*

Thank you to the author for an autographed copy to review.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release date: 3/22/11
Pages: 48
Price/format: $15.99/hardcover
Type: children ages 4-8

New book - My Princess Boy

I saw this family on TV recently and instantly adored them. The parents and older brother are so supportive of a little boy who just wants to be himself. Their book just came out and I haven't read it yet but I had to share it here with all of you.

My Princess Boy is a nonfiction picture book about acceptance. With words and illustrations even the youngest of children can understand, My Princess Boy tells the tale of a 4-year-old boy who happily expresses his authentic self by wearing dresses and enjoying "traditional girl" things like jewelry, sparkles or anything pink. The book is told from a mother's point of view, sharing both positive and negative experiences the Princess Boy has with family, friends, classmates and even total strangers.

My Princess Boy is designed to open a dialogue about embracing uniqueness, and teaches children -- and adults -- how to accept those who cross traditional gender lines when it comes to clothing and self-expression. The book ends with the understanding that 'my' Princess Boy is really 'our' Princess Boy, and as a community, we need to accept and support young children for who they are and how they wish to look.

www.myprincessboy.com

From Simon & Schuster

Review: The Lion and The Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

Sometimes
even the king
needs help...
and little friends
may prove to
be great friends.

This is a wordless adaptation of a famous Aesop's Fable by the award winning artist Jerry Pinkney. Although it's a children's book the amazing watercolor illustrations will be appreciated by everyone. I was entranced by the detail and the beauty of each painting. Every page is entirely covered with artwork that represent this story of an unlikely pair who share acts of kindness.

I loved this book and will be sharing it with the little (and not so little) members of my family. I haven't had my own paintbrushes out in a long time but this has inspired me to dust them off and get back to work. I've included a few pages below so you can taste a morsel of this delicous and decadent dessert!


Although Jerry Pinkney suffered from undiagnosed Dyslexia he coped very well, graduating with honors and receiving a complete scholarship to Philadelphia Museum College of Art. His artwork allowed him to focus and bolstered his self-esteem from an early age. He is an award winning artist and had illustrated more than 75 books over 40 years. Since first winning a Gold Medal from The Art Director's Club in Boston in 1964, through The Coretta Scott King Honor Award from the American Library Association in 2009, he has won approximately 103 national awards.

"My dyslexia always made me envious of people as they talked about a book being a great read, while it was difficult for me just to finish a novel. I decided to look for projects that put a fine point on the importance of staying focused. If the goal was to illustrate the book, then visually interpreting the author’s words was my carrot. Though I read slowly, I can hold on to great amounts of detail and this made me quite suitable for illustrating full novels, like James Michener’s The Covenant, a whopping 1000 pages!"

"For the young person who is struggling in school, never forget there are many different ways to learn. Be curious. Do not be afraid to try. Do not be disappointed when making mistakes. You will discover your own unique way of understanding the things being taught. Learn from mistakes. Everything that happens to you will frame who you are, and who you will become. Your path to success will follow." - Jerry Pinkster from website

Thank you to Hatchette Books for a copy to review!
author's website
publisher's website

Publisher: Little Brown
Release date: 9/1/09
Pages: 40
Price/format: $16.99/hardcover
Type: Juvenile fiction, picture book

Emmaline and the Bunny by Katherine Hannigan

This is a lovely children's book about a lonely little girl who wants a bunny. Emmaline lives on Shipshape Street in Neatasapin. Everything there was very tidy. The mayor, a portly man named Orson Oliphant, demanded order and neatness. If anything didn't meet his standards, it was removed. The trees were removed for being leaf litterers, the weeds were whacked and the wild animals were sent away. Emmaline is not a tidy, quiet child. She tries but she likes to play and dig, to sing and dance. She likes to hop, hop, hop and yell "Dinglederrydee!" when she's happy. But this made her unpopular with the other children who were tidy and quiet. This also made her lonely. She desperately wanted a bunny to keep her company. Her parents were worried she would be sent away like the wild animals so they made her a promise. If she could be quiet and tidy for a month she could have her bunny.

The author writes a sweet story about Emmeline's efforts and her heart's desires. She makes good use of alliteration and creative words. The rhyming, sing song verse is reminiscent of a toned down Dr. Seuss. There are approximately 100 pages but the chapters are only one or two pages long. There is at least one soft pastel watercolor in every chapter painted by the author herself. The targeted age is 7-12, grades 2-7 but I thoroughly enjoyed it myself. It's the perfect story to snuggle up and read together this winter.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books for this Advanced Reading Copy.