Argus

Ivy and I discovered Michelle Knudsen's heartwarming tale of a young "chick" named Argus.  Andrea Wesson's whimsical illustrations depict the tale of a young girl name Sally and her struggles with having a "different" chick, Argus, in the class science project.  Her classmates have adorable fuzzy yellow chicks, but Sally's "chick" tries to eat the other chicks and likes to dig holes in the ground.  When Argus disappears one day, will Sally be able to get another chick like the other students.....or will she decide "different" is something special?  Find out in Argus.

Sally's class was doing a science project.  Mrs. Henshaw 
handed out the eggs. 
"Mine looks different," said Sally.
"Now, Sally," said Mrs. Henshaw, "don't be
 difficult.  Some eggs are just different."  

Brian Lies

Brian Lies has created an adorable series about bats and their nocturnal adventures.  Bats at the Beach tells the story of a night at the beach with bats in rhyme.  They have picnics, swim, build sand castles, moon bathe, and much more.  The illustrations are beautifully done and surprisingly not scary for Ivy.  (Well...she is not as fond of bugmallows.  She had her first s'more and was quite worried I would put bugs in it!) We got from the library tonight Bats at the Library.  She instantly recognized the catchy rhymes and adorable bat illustrations.  I appreciated the pictural references of bats in famous stories.  We are most excited to read Brian's latest - Bats at Bat!

Quick, call out! Tell all you can reach:

the night is just perfect for bats at the beach!

So pack your buckets, banjoes, and blankets - don't forget the moon-tan lotion - and wing with this

bouncy of fuzzy bats to where foamy sea and soft sand meet.

(Although Ivy is only two, I pointed out the alliteration.  She just said, "Ohhh.") 

The Night Before Summer Vacation

I just love Natasha Wing.  She covers every major holiday using the rhyme scheme of "The Night Before Christmas".  Ivy has been obsessively readying "The Night Before Summer Vacation" this week.  She is so excited by s'mores (we made them outside tonight for the first time!), sandbox toys, suntan lotion, and picnics -  all of which are covered in this book.  A family gets ready to leave for their summer vacation, packing everything known to man.

Twas the night before leaving

on summer vacation. 

My family was bursting with anticipation.  

Dad made a checklist 

which he checked as he went -

the bug spray, the backpacks

the umbrella, the tent. 

Millicent and Meer

When an unexpected box drops from the sky, young Millicent is convinced she has received the cat she has always wanted - never mind the fact that he does "uncat-like" things.  When Millicent's dad insists that Meer leave until he can behave like a proper cat, she is heart-broken.  Meer meets a cat named Marvin who kindly offers to teach Meer to be like a cat.  Will poor Meer ever find out why he is different?  Will Millicent ever get the kitty she deserves?  Find out in Richard Byrne's Millicent and Meer.  Ivy loves this, other than the page with a slightly scary looking dog on it!

Ivy Meets An Author

    Ivy meets Ammi-Joan Paquette, author of The Tiptoe Guide to Finding Mermaids.  

Tracking Mermaids

Upon entering the Blue Bunny bookstore last week, Ivy and I were lucky enough to discover Ammi-Joan Paquette signing books and making fairy wands with visitors to the store.  Never one to pass up a book signing, I blindly purchased The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Mermaids.  It is a magical book about a young boy and girl searching for ever elusive mermaids.  The children find themselves on a deserted beach ripe with magic.  As they search tide pools, the shore, and hidden alcoves, adorable hand-drawn mermaids are secretly there in the photos.  Some of the drawings are just so lovely - mermaids combing their hair with shells, seahorses dancing, etc.  Ivy loves to point out the mermaids on each page.  Well worth the impulse buy!  Next we will try The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies.

Peter Reynolds

One of the exciting things about moving to Dedham is the Blue Bunny, an independent children's bookstore run by Peter Reynolds, a well-know author and illustrator.  We did not know much about Peter until we visited the store for the first time a few months ago.  We have since read two lovely stories by Mr. Reynolds: Rose's Garden and The Dot.  Both have such depth and charm.

Rose's Garden is about a young girl who will not lose faith in the garden that she plants (with seeds collected from her travels) to beautify the site of her future home (in a whimsical teapot!).  When seasons pass and nothing happens, Rose still will not lose faith.  Will her garden ever grow?  Find out in this lovely tale dedicated to Rose Kennedy, Rose's Garden.

The Dot speaks to me, a woman with little artistic skill who found herself in a beginning art class a few years back.  Young Vashti, like myself, finds herself at the end of her first art class with no marks on her paper.  Her teacher encourages her to just make a mark and sign the paper.  The following week Vashti finds her dot framed above her teacher's desk.  Convinced she can do better than a dot, she pours her heart and soul into creating a better dot.  This book is the first in a trilogy about creativity.  Next on our list is The North Star and Ish.  

Boss Baby

Marla Frazee has done it again.  She has managed to bring adult humor once again to a children's book with her amazing illustrations.  Boss Baby compares a newborn baby to a boss used to getting everything he wants.  His workers are his exhausted parents working around the clock.  Finally, his staff falls asleep and is unable to give him the usual attention he demanded.  Will he be able to reclaim their attention?  Find out in Boss Baby!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Finally!!  Ivy has taken an interest in The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (looks just like Grandpa she says!).  Ivy is studying caterpillars and their transformation into butterflies at daycare.  She loves looking through this book for the caterpillar after he has eaten his way through various fruits.  She also adores listing off all the junk food the little guy crams into his stomach.  Well done, E. Carle.  

Maine Adventures

On the way to Maine last weekend, Ms. Ivy discovered Robert McCloskey.  On a whim I picked up "One Morning in Maine" thinking it contained too many words for Ivy and not enough color.  Wrong! The connection to Maine and the simple yet beautiful story of Sally's loose tooth made Ivy request the book over and over.  Poor Sally dropped her tooth while clamming with her dad.  Will her wish she made on her tooth ever come true?  Find out as Sally travels from her beautiful island in Maine to get groceries in town on another island with her little sister and dad.  

After trying "One Morning in Maine", I picked up a copy of "Blueberries for Sal" at the library.  Ivy liked this one almost as much.  It is the story of two simultaneous moms and daughters picking blueberries to store for the winter - one bear - one human.  When the two "cubs" follow the wrong mom, the adventure begins.