The Night Before Preschool

Ivy has been very nervous about starting up preschool in the fall.  She is wondering if she will make friends and what school will be like.  Since books always help Ivy understand the world, I did some research on books about starting preschool!  Ivy has a few suggestions:

Natasha Wing has a wonderful one titled The Night Before Preschool.  Young Billy is nervous about starting preschool and cannot sleep.  The reader is taken through a typical day at preschool with Billy - circle games, snacks, projects, reading, etc.  When it is time for nap, Billy is so upset (he forgot his favorite stuffed animal) that he cannot fall asleep.  A little girl hands him one of her plush pets, winning Billy sleep and a new friend.  Ivy is left with the knowledge that preschool will get better!

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is another fabulous one.  Ivy has me practice kissing her hand and making the kiss go straight to her heart so she knows she is loved all day like little raccoon.    

An absolute Ivy favorite is Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney.  Little llama is heartbroken when his mama drops him off at preschool.  He cannot even be distracted by trains, stories, or snacks.  When he breaks down in tears, his classmates help to stop his sobs and help to make him enjoy preschool.  At the end of the day, little llama realizes he loves his mama and school too!  

I Love You All Day Long by Francesca Rusackas and Pricilla Burris

D.W.'s Guide to Preschool by Marc Brown

Maisy Goes to Preschool by Lucy Cousins 

What To Do If An Elephant Stands On Your Foot

We recently went to another book signing by Peter Reynolds.  Ivy missed the reading, but made it in time for a fun elephant project and to get her new book signed.  We read What To Do If An Elephant Stands On Your Foot on the car ride home.   A young explorer in Africa is warned, presumably by a little bird, what to do if an elephant stands on his foot.  The explorer keeps reacting incorrectly, setting off a chain reaction of stressful yet comical animal encounters.  It reminded Ivy of If You Give A Mouse A Cookie.  Ivy has requested to read this a few times - another hit!

Bread and Jam for Frances

Another oldie but goodie...The Frances Books by Lillian and Russell Hoban.  Ivy just loves Frances, a spunky and adorable badger.  Frances learns lessons dear to Ivy's heart - sharing with friends, trying new foods, stalling at bedtime, letting someone else have attention, etc.  Frances is famous for her little poems, ability to push the boundaries on everything, and strong personality. There are six of these delightful books and Ivy has read five this week.


Here is an example from Bread and Jam for Frances:

   Frances did not eat her egg.
   She sang a little song to it.
   She sang the song very softly:


   I do not like the way you slide,
   I do not like your soft inside,
   I do not like you lots of ways,
   And I could do for many days
   Without eggs.

Frog and Toad

Ivy seems to be getting more and more interested in Level 1 readers even though she is not yet reading.  She just discovered the 1970s series Frog and Toad!  As we read through The Adventures of Frog and Toad, memories came flooding back.  I couldn't believe how well I remembered the plots!  Toad, an irrepressibly grumpy creature, is always being dragged into exciting adventures by his BFF, Frog.  Ivy just adores Toad because he says, "Blah!"  She runs around the house yelling, "Blah!"  We just bought Frog and Toad Are Friends at a used bookstore in Concord today.  We have already read it three times.

After reading Argus, Ivy and I decided to try another book by Michelle Knudsen - Library Lion.  When a lion wanders into the city library one day, life is never the same again.  If he promises not to break any rules, Ms. Merriweather, the head librarian, agrees to let him visit the library and attend story hour.  Ms. Merriweather did not realize she would become so attached to this beast that dusted with his tail, carted books to various locations, and allowed the children to use him as a stepping stool.  When an accident occurs in the library, the lion is forced to break the rules to help a friend in need.  Will he ever be allowed in the library again?  Maybe some rules are meant to be broken.