Halloween

With two days left until the big day, Ivy has some suggestions.  Be sure to hit up Barnes and Noble for their 50% off Halloween sale!

The Berenstein Bears:  Trick or Treat is an oldie but goodie.  Ivy finds the antics of the cubs endearing, and is quite enchanted with the idea that appearances can be deceiving.  As Brother and Sister head out for trick-or-treating, there is one house they will avoid - the house of old witch Miz McGrizz.  When Miz McGrizz opens the door of her gnarled old tree house, what will the cubs discover?

Ivy continues to adore the antics of Froggy.  In Froggy's Halloween, Froggy just cannot decide what he should be for Halloween.  When he finally decides upon his costume, the positive reaction from Frogilina and the other girls is a bit more than he can handle!  The trials and tribulations of being a young and handsome frog!

Room on the Broom

With Halloween fast approaching, it is time to review Halloween books!  Ivy just received a wonderful book for her birthday from one of her friends called Room on the Broom by Axel Scheffler.  Normally witches scare Ivy, but the illustrations are just so appealing.  An young witch and her cat are flying through the air when her hat blows away.  An adorable dog finds the hat, but wants to join them on the broom.  As more items fall off and more new friends join on the stick, the situation becomes more and more precarious.  Will the broomstick be able to fit all of the witch's new friends?  Find out!!

Amelia Bedelia and the Baby

Ivy just loves babies and is really looking forward to being a big sister.  She loves any book about babies.  In Peggy Parish's Amelia Bedelia and the Baby, Amelia has to babysit for a baby named Missy.  Since Amelia doesn't know much about babies, she is relived that Mrs. Lane leaves her a list.  As usual, Amelia misunderstands all of the directions.  The ensuing hilarity is a page turner for Ivy.  She constantly wants to play Amelia Bedelia and Missy.

City Dog, Country Frog

Ivy has been rereading old favorites since moving.  However, this week we were able to go to the library only to discover a new "friend"- City Dog, Country Frog. When City Dog goes to the country for the first time, he meets a new friend - Country Frog.  As the seasons pass, the two friends introduce each other to their favorite games - fetching, hopping, etc.  When City Dog visits the country in winter, he is not able to find his friend.  Will frog return in the spring?  This is a rather heartbreaking tale of friendship, loss, and the ultimate renewal of the spirit.  I was quite surprised to find Ivy fascinated by it.  She, in fact, keeps returning to the desolate winter pages when City Dog is mournfully waiting for his friend.  Although a bit depressing in nature, the beautiful water colors and uplifting ending make the story engaging.  I was surprised to find this book to be by the author Mo Williams.  He is known for his more lighthearted books such as his pigeon series. 

Small Pig

This seemingly simple story seems to be packed with meaning for Ivy.   She just loves small pig, a plucky little fellow who loves mud.  When the farmer's wife decides to clean everything including the pig pen, small pig sets off to find a new home with mud.  When he finally discovers "mud" in the city, it is not quite what it seems.  Read about small pig's adventures in Arnold Lobel's Small Pig.  

Purplicious

Earlier on the blog Ivy favorably reviewed Pinkalicious.  Lately Ivy has been wanting to hear Victoria and Elizabeth Kann's Purplicious.  Pinkalicious is being teased by all the kids at school.  Pink is passé - the new pink is black.  Pinkalicious stands by her color until all of her friends desert her.  Her loneliness causes her to reconsider her love of all things pink.  Will Pinkalicious abandon her pink principles and begin wearing black?  Find out in Purplicious!

Because I Could Not Stop My Bike

Ivy has memorized parts of over twenty poems thanks to Karen Shapiro.  Karen has written parodies  of famous poems appropriate for children.  Instead of Dickenson's "Because I Could Not Stop For Death", a young girl tells a story called "Because I Could Not Stop My Bike".  All the poems follow the same rhyme scheme and meter as the original poem.  My personal favorite is "Macaroni and Cheese", a parody of Poe's "Annabelle Lee".  Ivy's favorite (a parody of Blayke) opens with:

Tiger, Tiger
Took a Bite
Out of my dessert last night.