Preschool + Storytime Books

The following books are books that I recommend for storytime for preschoolers and early elementary students.  I have tested them myself in storytimes with children ages 3-5, and they have proved to be engaging and fun.


*Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad, Day by Judith Viorst


Baby Bird by Joyce Dunbar


Big Bear Hug by Nicholas Oldland


*Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina


Click, Clack, Moo by Doreen Cronin


Clocks and More Clocks by Pat Hutchins


The Fantastic Mr. Wani by Kanako Usai


Giggle, Giggle, Quack by Doreen Cronin


I Am the Best! by Lucy Cousins


*Ira Sleeps Over by Waber


It’s My Birthday by Pat Hutchins


Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes


*Leonardo the Monster by Mo Willems


Mostly Monsterly by Scott Magoon and and Tammy Sauer


My Garden by Kevin Henkes


Not Last Night, But the Night Before by Colin McNaughton


Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
 
*Denotes personal favorite.

Toddler Storytime - Good Books

The following books have been tested during toddler (18 months-3 years) storytimes.  I have personally tried the following books, and highly recommend them. 

Airport by Byron Barton

*Bark, George! by Jules Feiffer

Big Fat Hen by Keith Baker

Book! Book! Book! by Deborah Bruss

*Can You Make a Scary Face? by Jan Thomas

Chicken Little by Ed Emberly

Dinosaur Vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea

The Farmer in the Dell by John O’Brien

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle

Good Morning, Chick by Mira Ginsburg

Hooray for Fish by Lucy Cousins

*I am the Best! by Lucy Cousins

Machines at Work by Byron Barton

My Car by Byron Barton

*Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin

*Rosies Walk by Pat Hutchins

Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort


*Denotes personal favorite.

Education Revolution!

According to Sir Ken Robinson, it is time for an education revolution, and SCHOOLS KILL CREATIVITY.  What do you think? 

"Human intelligence is richer and more dynamic than we have been led to believe by formal academic education."

The Developing Brain and Apps Vs. Books

I've been pondering the effect that learning to read primarily through books might have on the developing brain.  If Nicholas Carr was right, in his Atlantic Monthly article published three years ago, Google may be making us stupid.  It may be impeding our ability to think deeply, and to concentrate for long periods of time, and the act of reading from an electronic device that constantly tempts us to shift our attention from one subject to another may be decreasing brain activity that is responsible for helping us think deeply and for a sustained amount of time.  If this is the case, then it would seem to follow that learning to read from an e-reader with interactive apps may increase distractibility in the developing brain.  ADHD is already in full-on epidemic mode.  What are we doing to our brains? 

Here is an article that promotes the reading apps.

"Nation" by Terry Pratchett

I found the book, Nation, by Terry Pratchett to be a wonderfully engaging read.  The book featured a young woman who is the sole survivor of a shipwreck on an island that has suffered a devastating tsunami, and on this island is a young man who is the sole survivor of the tsunami that hit the island.  Just as any good bildungsroman, or coming of age novel would, this book questions realities – cultural, spiritual, religious, etc.  But for some reason, the questions in this book burn loudly.  There is an urgency, a deep need to know WHY.  Why do people die?  Why do we not know what happens after death?  Why do we believe in religious stories?  Why do bad things happen to good people?  Do the gods answer us?  Terry Pratchett has set the perfect scene for asking these questions – an island where a young man is forced to bury the drowned victims of the tsunami – where everyone he knew and loved is gone.  And for the young woman – the island is a place where she is forced to be something other than a “good girl.”  It is a place where she must confront the sexist rules of her day.  Nation is a coming of age story on steroids.  Nation strips reality to its bare bones and asks the deep, important questions at the top of its lungs.

Terry Pratchett is one of my favorite authors.  Shortly before beginning the writing of this book he was diagnosed with Alzheimers.  He describes how his diagnosis, and his intimate need for answers is reflected in his writing of this book here.  He considers Nation his best writing to date.

Nation is a good read for advanced elementary students to adults.  The questions asked in Nation are universal, and most definitely are not age-specific.  Everyone will grow through reading this book.

Robot Dreams

I love this book!  It is a bittersweet, whimsical graphic novel with a Frenchy-French feel to it.  For those who love graphic novels with a mature, artistic vibe - check out Robot Dreams.

Review for "Stitches: A Memoir"

Bibliography: Small, David. Stitches: A Memoir. 2009. New York: W. W. Norton & Co. Print. ISBN: 978-0393338966

Critical Analysis

The beauty of this graphic novel is contained in the transparent healing that it's creation offered it's author. The text opens when the author is six, and it is immediately clear that David Small's childhood did not take place in a happy, loving home environment. We are introduced to his family and their particular languages - his mother coughs, sobs, and bangs cupboard doors, his father punches a punching bag, his brother beats on drums, and the author gets sick. Throughout the book we never see one character smile, except the cheery smiles of strangers, and the frenetic smiles of his father and his medical team when he gets sick.

Throughout the story, Small continues to find solace in his artwork, and his books, which his mother disapproves of. The tone of the story is serious, heavy, stressed, and depressed. It would be an exhausting read if Small didn't give so much back to the reader with his gift of illustration. The tightness we see on the characters faces is not apparent in his drawings, which are loose, pleasant to look at, and done with a great skill with shadow and light. Although all of the characters are three-dimensional and believable, the author focuses mainly on his own growth and dynamism, and at the end of this difficult story the reader is left with a quiet hope. Because this isn't a story that is plot driven, but focuses on the protagonists home life, the reader's main concern is that the protagonist make it out of his abusive home with his sense of self in tact, and an authentic purpose. The reader is not disappointed.


Review Excerpts

Library Journal: "Stitches is compelling, disturbing, yet surprisingly easy to read and more than meets the high standard set by the widely praised Fun Home . With some sexual issues; highly recommended for older teens up."

Booklist: "Like other “important” graphic works it seems destined to sit beside—think no less than Maus—this is a frequently disturbing, pitch-black funny, ultimately cathartic story whose full impact can only be delivered in the comics medium, which keeps it palatable as it reinforces its appalling aspects. If there’s any fight left in the argument that comics aren’t legitimate literature, this is just the thing to enlighten the naysayers."


Awards and Recognition

YALSA Alex Award
National Book Award Finalist

Connections

This is a good read, but it doesn't necessarily look like a book that a young adult might be immediately drawn to. This would be a book that could really benefit from a book talk. Because the story centers on the pain of isolation the protagonist feels, and this is a pain felt by many in their young adult years, book talking this book may heighten interest amongst possible readers. The story ends in hope, it is ultimately an "It gets better," message that many young adults could find useful. Hopefully, book talking this title would increase it's circulation, and help young adults learn that finding a passion to focus one's energy on can be a life-saver.