Bear with Me

Description:
Everything in Owen's world is just peachy-till his parents bring home a bear named Gary-without even asking! Gary changes everything: he takes up way too much space and makes a mess of all of Owen's toys. Gary means well, though, and eventually Owen starts to see that there are some good things about having a bear in the family.

Because Gary is such an unusual addition to the family, this story will appeal to kids getting used to any kind of new family member, be it a baby, grandparent, pet, or even sharing with a friend. Refreshing humor, expressive illustrations, and characters full of personality make this warm, funny debut a book that will be treasured.



written by Max Kornell
ISBN:9780399252570

Comments:
"I had a mom and a dad and my own set of blocks," a redheaded boy reflects at the outset of Kornell's first picture book. "I had everything I needed." And then... no, it's not a new sibling that upsets the apple cart; it's a huge bear named Gary, who, according to the narrator's parents, makes the family "complete." But this is a displacement story with a twist: while Gary does cause all kinds of trouble (requiring constant parental attention, snoring, leaving caps off markers), the bear isn't a blithe or oblivious usurper; in fact, from his sad-sack eyes and hesitant posture, he looks seriously out of place. Could it be that Gary needs a friend? Portraying vulnerability without making one's characters look like whiners or wusses is no easy task, but Kornell succeeds. With a sadly matter-of-fact text and pictures composed of cutout images on painted backgrounds, he sets a sweetly plaintive mood that makes even the expected happy ending ("Maybe surprises are not so bad") quietly gratifying. It's not a flashy debut, but it's a promising one. from publisher weekly~

Firefighter Frank Board Book Edition

Description:
Bright pictures of a firefighter and his big red truck make this board book perfect for the very youngest. In twelve eye-catching spreads, Frank shows scenes from his day, from cleaning the truck to putting out a fire. With lots to look at, this book is sure to be a favorite of every truck-loving tot.




written by Monica Wellington
ISBN:9780525423737

Comments:
Bright pictures of a firefighter and his big red truck make this board book perfect for the very youngest. In twelve eye-catching spreads, Frank shows scenes from his day, from cleaning the truck to putting out a fire. With lots to look at, this book is sure to be a favorite of every truck-loving tot.

The Strange Case of the Missing Sheep

Description:
1, 2, 3 . . . hey, where'd all the sheep go??

In a place called Happy Valley, there live ten sheep. Every night, the ten sheep are counted into their beds by one Super Sheep Dog named Doug. But one day, the sheep are missing! Who could have stolen them? Might it be Wolf, who lives in the Dark Forest? And for what nefarious purpose? Does he want to knit them into a blanket? Bake them into a pie? Or maybe he wants to . . . count them?

With kooky, creative illustrations and an unexpected ending that will get kids giggling, this is a lively story about the fun of counting .. . and a bedtime surprise.




written by Mircea Catusanu
ISBN:9780670011315

Comments:
Mircea Catusanu's THE STRANGE CASE OF THE MISSING SHEEP is inspired by true events and tells of ten sheep last seen entering a mysterious dark woods. Doug, the Super Sheep Dog, is on the case in this fun mystery for ages 3 and up that blends in basic counting.

Very odd story. The illustrations are fun, but the various labels and assorted miscellaneous text are distracting. It's a short story and fun to read aloud, if you don't get too sidetracked. Otherwise, it's a good book to look at the pictures and point out the things you see.

Maisy at the Farm

Description:
Kids will flip for this Maisy novelty book! Now reissued in its original size, with a bold new design.

From their tactile matte-and-gloss covers to the brief guidelines for parents on the back, these lift-the-flap, pull-the-tab favorites now have a whole new look -- and are sure to have instant appeal for both Maisy fans and grown-ups who love them.




Written by Lucy Cousins
ISBN:9780763640965

Comment:
I am now raising my fourth Maisy fan, and I do consider myself rather an expert on the little white mouse. This is by far our favourite Maisy book – and we do have a few! Three boys all adored her, so how could Ella do anything different? This is a ‘flap n tab’ book, and is just very very sweet. We meet all the animals on the farm, but for once the tabs don’t just reveal a new animal – they have Maisy’s tractor chugging (and convincingly scaring a bird into the air out of the corn), the bottle-fed lamb drinking it’s milk, Maisy clearing the pigpen with a shovel (yes, really!) and our personal favourite, giving the excitable geese a drink. Sadly, Ella has just loved our copy a little too much, and it is much the worse for it – this is definitely one that will have to be replaced.

Mister Seahorse

Description:
When Mrs. Seahorse lays her eggs, she does it on Mr. Seahorse's belly! She knows he will take good care of them. While he swims waiting for the eggs to hatch, he meets other underwater fathers caring for their babies. Now Eric Carle's heart-warming New York Times bestseller is finally available in a board book edition, complete with the clear "peek-a-boo" pages that made the original such a hit. Brimming with bright, colorful sea life, this new board book will be irresistible to young children everywhere.



Written by Eric Carle
ISBN:9780399254901

My comment:
Despite the negative commentary from some reviewers, I say the real truth comes in the "true raters"--the children!! My 2+ yr old daughter was given this book as a gift (that she picked out in the bookstore). She absolutely loves it, and in the month that we've had it, we've read it nearly 50 times at her request. She loves the colors and the transparency overlays, and definitely points out the "daddy" seahorse (as well as the "mommy") every time we read it together. Her favorite page is the last one as Mr. Seahorse releases his babies with love and points out that it's time for the little ones to be on their own. She simply adores this book!

Given the commentary of many of the reviewers on the father fish "babysitting" the baby fish....If you do look to nature, many animals (and many male animals) do abandon their offspring...so I saw the book more as personifying family in nature rather than making a sexist commentary on fatherhood, patriarchal society, or gender roles in parenting.

Likewise, with older children, it could be a great springboard for discussions on responsibility and caring. I plan to use it in this manner in my 3rd grade class this year. It's at this point a person could discuss the phrasing, and talk about the parental role--moms and dads both babysit at times while the other does an errand...and "babysit" is a term children understand.

Perhaps at times, we can get so caught up in being politically correct, that we miss the forest through the trees, or miss a great book on an over-exaggerated technicality that's taken too seriously.

Cloudette

Description:
Sometimes being small can have its advantages. If you’re a little cloud like Cloudette, people call you cute nicknames, and you can always find a good spot to watch the fireworks. But what about when you want to do something big, like help a giant garden grow, or make a brook babble?
This charming book gets at the heart of what it means to make a difference no matter your size. Young children will find much to relate to in Cloudette as they follow her on her pursuit for greatness.



Written by Tom Lichtenheld
ISBN:9780805087765

My comment:
This was a charming read and one of my favorites for today. The story is about a small cloud - aka Cloudette. She is not able to do all the things the other bigger clouds can do nor does she necessarily want to do them.
She wants to find her place in the world. After trying to make her mark with no luck, she pursues a new direction thanks to the wind. Then she finds something to really go after which earns her the attention of the bigger clouds. Lovely illustrations work to enhance and bring alive the text.

Oscar and the Moth

Description:
A lively introduction to the key science concept of light and dark. Oscar is an adorably naive, googly-eyed kitten, filled with curiosity and wonder about his natural surroundings. In this fun, informative series, he meets friends who introduce him to key science concepts - this time, light and dark. The perfect starting place for young children to begin learning about the way the world around us works. Part of a brand new series featuring Oscar, the kitten. Other titles are "Oscar and the Frog", "Oscar and the Bat" and "Oscar and the Cricket".

written by Geoff Waring
ISBN:9781844287383


my comment:
This book is loverly book. I gives this for 4 or 5 year old kids a great introduction to some scientific ideas in a very simple way. It is beautifully illustrated and is a 'must have' if your child wants to know why things are the way they are.

They are brilliant for boys who love facts but sweet enough for girls too.

I recommend this book~