Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad

Ivy was quite distraught I had to return Ladybug Girl and the Bug Squad by Jackie Davis and David Soman to the library.  This book is perfect for both boys and girls, but it especially touches upon the often fragile relationship between young girls.  Lulu is expecting to have the perfect Bug Squad play date complete with cupcakes, rock painting, and a little exploration.  When Kiki does not do exactly what Lulu had in mind, hurt feelings arise.  Will Lulu be able to use her Ladybug Girl powers to help her apologize to her friend?

Kevin Henkes

Kevin Henkes is a favorite of Ivy's, but I think I have read Owen 15 times in the past few days.  Owen owns a fuzzy yellow blanket that accompanies him everywhere, much to the dismay of his parents and their nosey neighbor, Mrs. Tweezers.  As school rapidly approaches, Owen's parents try a myriad of ways (all suggested by the omniscient Mrs. Tweezers) to stop Owen from taking Fuzzy to school.  In the end, perhaps Fuzzy can go to school after all thanks to some quick thinking done by mom!  For anyone who has ever struggled growing up or giving up a favorite blankie...

If there is a book I have read more than Owen recently, it is Chrysanthemum.  Chrysanthemum absolutely loves her name.  She and her parents think it is perfect until...Chrysanthemum goes to school.  Some of the other girl mice giggle and say her name is too long.  After all, it does not even fit on a name tag!  After a few discouraging days at school, the poor little mouse hates her name.  Then, Mrs. Twinkle, the music teacher, arrives at school and dazzles the mice with her voice.  Will she be able to turn things around for a poor, broken-hearted mouse?

New Year's Fun

Ivy has been loving Katharine Holabird's Angelina Ice Skates.  The illustrations by Helen Craig are the best part.  They seem almost Victorian in their beauty.  This particular book in the Angelina series is about how Angelina is preparing for an Ice Dance for New Year's with her best mouse friends - Alice, Flora, Felicity, and, of course, her little cousin Henry.  However, whenever they practice... Spike and Sammy, two big mouse boys from school, cause trouble.  How will she stop these boys from ruining the show?  With a little advice from mom and some creativity! 

Christmases Past

For the past two Christmas, the Grinch has been a bit too scary for Ivy.  Just a few weeks ago, we were able to get through the whole story, even though the Grinch was scary at first.  Now she loves How The Grinch Stole Christmas!  Ivy is quite fascinated by poor Max, the reindeer dog.  She feels so bad for him when he has to carry all the Christmas things up the mountain.  She is just thrilled when Grinch's heart grows two sizes at the end of the day!  Cindy Lou is, of course, a favorite!

Another book she is just getting into this year is The Night Before Christmas.  Since it was written by Clement Clark Moore in 1822, the vocabulary is a bit difficult for Ivy.  However, she is quickly picking up sugar plums, sash, kerchief, etc. Like every wondering 3 year old, she wants to know where Rudolph is!  She has even practiced putting her finger aside of her nose!  A must read for all.

Tell Me Something HAPPY Before I Go To Sleep

I thought this would be an appropriate post for all the moms and dads having trouble sleeping with the recent events.  Although oblivious to these events, Ivy has been having nightmares about bears.  This book by Joyce Dunbar and Debi Gliori helps her to think positive thoughts before bed.  Willa, a cute toddler rabbit, cannot go to sleep because she is scared.  Her big brother, Willoughby, helps her to think of all the happy things waiting for her in the morning - her toys, her chicken slippers, a delicious breakfast, and morning itself waking her up.  Willa is, of course, comforted most of all by the presence of her big brother.  Ivy requested this twice before going to bed.  

Hanukkah

Despite not being Jewish, Ivy seems to love Hanukkah.  She recently studied it at preschool and can sing the dreidel song.  She was excited to be invited to her first Hanukkah dinner at which she received a book by Susan L. Roth called Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah.  Roth's book is filled with whimsical drawings of a mouse family celebrating Hanukkah accompanied by the lyrics to the song,  "Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah".  When she gets to the part about latkes, she shouts, "Ivy ate those!"  Well...she had mac and cheese while mommy at the latkes, but....it is the interest and recognition that counts?  This is a fabulous book for preschoolers with just a simple introduction to this holiday.

The Little Red Hen...I mean Elf

The Christmas Spirit is in full swing in our household.  The next few weeks will be a flurry of holiday books.  Ivy has been loving Barbara McGrath's The Little Red Elf.  This is a clever retelling of the Little Red Hen with a holiday plot.  Poor little elf is exhausted from cleaning, planting a Christmas tree, wrapping presents, and getting ready for Christmas.  Her friends, hare, reindeer, and penguin, are too lazy to help, but they are perfectly willing to open presents Christmas morning.  Read this clever twist on a classic story!