Book Review: Builders and Breakers by Steve Light

9780763698720

$16.99

When their dad forgets his lunch box on his way to the construction site, a young brother and sister set out to take it to him, and along their way witness all the noisy, exciting action of a build site in the city. With builders building, breakers breaking, and a whole host of impressive machines and vehicles hard at work, this book bursts with color and offers children plenty to enjoy. In his trademark intricate style, Steve Light captures the satisfaction of working hard to create something new — and, of course, taking a well-deserved break.

First question: how come nobody ever brings me my lunch when I forget it? Hmph.

Light is well known for his intricate illustrations, such as those in Have You Seen My Dragon (a former Cybils contender). My personal favorite of his is Swap (also a Cybils nominee).

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The illustrations in Builders and Breakers aren't quite as complex, but rather a mixture of large spaces and tiny details that beg exploration. Look for the eagle being hoisted onto the dome, or count the tiny people in the crane picture! 

If you're going to get hung up on the children running willy-nilly through a construction site with no hardhats, you are going to miss the guy rescuing the flower, or the fun parallels in the sparse text. 

This is a book for fun, and for reminding us of the simple truths spelled out in the author's note:

"To build anything, something must be broken, even if it's just ground. It is this balance - destroying in order to create - that, we hope, leaves us with something of beauty."

This book was NOT nominated for Cybils, which is a pity. It would, however, make a great Christmas gift for the youngster in your life who either loves construction, or who loves creating. My own kids have taken to calling the trash can "the treasure box", so this would be great to gift with a box of pieces parts from things that have outlived their current usefulness. Challenge them to create something new and beautiful out of those. Or, break up some leftover tiles together, and create a mosaic on an old table top. Get busy building and breaking!

Book Review: Ten Horse Farm by Robert Sabuda

9780763663988

$29.99

Watch with awe as majestic horses leap off the page when you open this stunning full-color pop-up book. Glorious images of horses grazing, prancing, and galloping in an idyllic farm setting are inspired by everyday scenes in rural America as well as by the real Ten Horse Farm (now an art studio) owned by artist and designer Robert Sabuda in upstate New York. This 3-D gem will draw horse enthusiasts of all ages.

Pop-up books generally have no place in a public library, and with a $30 price tag, this is probably not one you want to casually hand off to a baby or toddler.

That being said, this would be a wonderfully unique gift for the adult horse person in your life. The amazingly intricate designs go well beyond the typical pop-ups found in children's books. Each would make a perfectly suitable artistic centerpiece for a coffee table or shelving nook.

The designs literally jump off of the pages, demanding closer inspection. Ignore the 5-8 marketing range, and buy this for an adult you know without small children at home!

Book Review: Oliver Elephant by Lou Peacock and Helen Stephens

9781536202663

$16.99

When Noah goes Christmas shopping with his mom and baby sister, he’s glad to have his toy elephant, Oliver, along in the boring shops. They play peekaboo and hide in a dolls' house, and Noah even dances Oliver across the displays. But just as Mom has checked off the last thing on her list, disaster strikes: Oliver is nowhere to be found! And the department store is VERY big. Will retracing their steps be enough to reunite Noah and his beloved toy elephant?

The themes of holiday shopping, business, and of course of losing a beloved toy are all familiar ones to any child. I liked the subthemes throughout the book that you could pick up on to discuss - matching just the right gift with each person, the way Noah keeps himself occupied throughout, 

So many cute stuffed elephants to gift this with - like this one!

Book Review: Coming Home by Michael Morpurgo and Kerry Hyndman

9781536200423

$17.99

I have learned to approach Michael Morpurgo books with some caution - whether it be a chapter book or a picture book, he is likely to make me cry at some point.

A plucky robin, lost and alone, sets out on an epic journey, guided only by a call in his heart saying “come home!” He wills his wings to beat faster, lifting him over great mountains and dark forests, through blinding blizzards and rolling fog, across the wide, wild sea. Can he find his way back to his family in time for Christmas? 

Yeah, this isn't going to be pretty. I mean, just a few pages in:

"Heavy my wings and heavy my heart,

Will I ever see my home again?"

Good gravy, Michael, you're writing for children!! (And sniffling librarians). 

Don't worry, of course he arrives safely home (although with Morpurgo you can't be too sure), and it was actually the people who made my eyes prickle. Not a lighthearted read for story time, but maybe one to read with a slightly older child whose parent is sometimes away, but who will always make it home to them.

Hyndman's beautiful illustrations are in mostly grays, blue, greens, browns, and of course that splash of red. She is especially adept at showing the motion and drama of each scene. Notes at the front about this particular type of robin, and about the migration habits of robins in general, are worth reading beforehand.

If you want to give this as a gift, pair it with a bird feeder and seed for your local avian friends, and perhaps a guide book to help identify them.

Review: The Stuff of Stars by Marion Dane Bauer and Ekua Holmes

9780763678838

$17.99

Before the universe was formed, before time and space existed, there was . . . nothing. But then . . . BANG! Stars caught fire and burned so long that they exploded, flinging stardust everywhere. And the ash of those stars turned into planets. Into our Earth. And into us. In a poetic text, Marion Dane Bauer takes readers from the trillionth of a second when our universe was born to the singularities that became each one of us, while vivid illustrations by Ekua Holmes capture the void before the Big Bang and the ensuing life that burst across galaxies. A seamless blend of science and art, this picture book reveals the composition of our world and beyond — and how we are all the stuff of stars.

Note that "poetic text" - I read the book before reading the description, and one of my first thoughts was that this might belong in the poetry section! Beautifully written, slow and quiet then exciting and loud, with Holmes's illustrations matching perfectly. So many art extensions begging to happen.

And then
the beginning
of the beginning
of all beginnings
went
BANG!

One of my friends in college was a dual major in art and chemistry, and he liked to explain that they were really the same things. This book brought him and that comment to mind. The language, concepts, colors and textures are all rich and deep. I found myself running my fingers across the pictures, expecting to feel texture.

This is a beautiful volume you will find yourself re-reading and leafing through over and over again.

Gifting ideas:

It's that time of year again! Gift this to your science-minded child with a microscope or telescope. Gift it to the artist with a set of oil paints and good heavy paper.

*** This book has been nominated for a Cybils Award. I am one of many first-round panelists, and my opinions should not be construed to mean inclusion on or exclusion from the final short list.

Mother's Day Story Time

Mother's Day doesn't happen for a couple more weeks (so don't panic!) but we don't run preschool programs in May. Besides, any day is a good day to celebrate our grown-ups!

Some of the books I chose are specific to moms, others will work for any caregiver. This is where it helps to know your parents, and where there might be a sensitive topic, so you can switch things around if needed. We read:

9780060088606

My monster mama loves me so! Let me tell you how I know: When I wake up, she tweaks my nose, tickles all my pointy toes,combs the cobwebs from my bangs,and makes sure that I brush my fangs....At once tender and funny, this monster bedtime story is guaranteed to generate giggles, tickles, and plenty of monster hugs.

Did your mama make you cookies with bugs this morning? She didn't??? Well, then tell her you want some for supper!

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In this sweet, rhyming book, toddler and (Mother? Grandmother? Aunt? Nanny? It's open!) go through a fun day together, ending with the narrator saying how lucky she is to spend it with her. 

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Seven bitty baby birds are hungry, hungry, hungry—and they’re letting Mama know. “Feed us! Feed us!” the little ones chant, and Mama calms them as only a mother can—before she frantically flies away to gather more delectable worms. Readers can count with Mama Bird as she zooms back and forth across the pages, going from seven hungry babies to none…until one by one the babies wake up again…hungry!

Mamas and Papas can both identify with the feeling of, "I just FED you, how can you be hungry again?", while the kids enjoyed yelling "FEED US! FEED US!" along with the babies. At the end, Mama bird tells Daddy it's his turn, so we talked about how grown-ups share the work, rather than let it be a Dad-bashing moment.

Our craft this year was a lot of fun, thanks to someone else's trash! A local businessman found himself in possession of a stack of old machine parts trays he didn't need, and graciously donated them (probably wondering why on earth I wanted the old things!) I gave each a coat or two of spray paint, and set out t-shirts and acrylics:

I love when an art project is aesthetically pleasing before you even start. Look at all the pretty colors:

Those became pretty flowers,

and people

and...other things.

I'm not sure what it was, exactly, but she was VERY serious about it!

And the only person who got paint on the tables was Miss Ami. Now everybody has trays to make Mom breakfast in bed!

Review: Everyone is Yawning by Anita Bijsterbosch

978-1605372273

$14.95

It’s time for bed! The kitten yawns. Look. I think it is tired. All the little animals yawn. And the little kid? Does the little kid yawn too? You’ll find out as you lift-the-flaps in this surprising book.

Normally I am not a big fan of lift-the-flap books, because a) they can be a bit gimmicky, and b) they last all of ten seconds in a public library. This, however, is a lot of fun! I am going to have to keep it and use it wherever I can - in story times, and at home when I need the kids to fall asleep.

The latter should be a good bet, because you can NOT read it without yawning yourself. That's part of the fun, though: the turtle yawns sloooooowly. The alligator shows all his teeth when he yawns. And the hippo yawns three times! My 2yo thought it was hilarious when I yawned along with each animal - although I had to stop a couple times to wipe my eyes.

The illustrations are bright and colorful, simple shapes, and the word count is just right for the age group. This would be fun gifted with a special bedtime pillow or blanket.

***This book has been nominated for the Cybils Awards, and I am a first-round panelist in this category. There are many other panelists, and many MANY other great nominees, so a good or bad review here does not necessarily predict placement on the shortlist. 

Christmas Gifting: Newer Picture Books

Okay, so let's say your giftee has all the old classics and series already. What is hot and new this year?

I ran a report of books we added this year, published in 2014 or 2015, and sorted by number of check-outs per month. The following titles checked out an average of more than once a month - which is pretty good, since they can theoretically be out for three weeks at a time!

9780375858604

The cute cover makes it easy to see why this one is snatched off the shelf. Our narrator explains how a bear might, in a string of increasingly improbable events, have ended up in the park where the reader's lunchbox happened to be sitting. The fact that the narrator is revealed to be the reader's dog should, of course, in no way cast doubts upon his reliability. This could lead to some fun exercises in fantastical story telling ("how do you suppose that shoe ended up on the side of the road?")

9780374360955

Mr. Fish is nervously awaiting his first day of school, and he frets about not knowing how to write his name, how to draw shapes, and how to do math—until he's reassured that school is the perfect place to learn how to master all of these new skills.

I will happily admit we were one of those check-outs. Sheridan came to me in TEARS last month, because she isn't at ALL ready for second grade, AND she doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up! This is the child who is finishing her first semester of Kinder. I assure you, neither her teacher nor her parents are putting undo pressure on her, this is all her. She got a kick out of all Mr. Fish's grumps and moans, and by the second reading most of my kids were joining in on the 'refrain'. A great gift for a little one who may be starting school next year - perhaps with a backpack, or school supplies to practice with, or even a miniature fish to keep in his pocket to remind him he doesn't have to know it all right away!

I did a quick review of this series a couple months ago:

9780399167539

and it is still hugely popular. The set of three (so far) would be a perfect gift for a pair of sisters! Maybe even gift with the promise of planting a tree for each in the Spring.

Are owls still big in decor, or did I miss that boat?

9780670016501

Either way, I think I want this cover stenciled on a nursery wall somewhere. A companion to Little Owl's Night (2011), this beautiful story of a baby owl finding himself awake during the day, introduces little ones to differences they might not have been aware of. Pair both titles with a promise to go on a nighttime walk together, and see how things are the same or different around your home.

Other 2015 titles that have been popular:

The Moon is Going to Addy's House by Ida Pearle

15 Things Not to Do with a Baby by Margaret McAllister

Otter in Space by Sam Garton

A Crow of His Own by Megan Lambert

One Thousand Things by Anna Kovecses

One Word from Sophia by Jim Averbeck

Winnie and Waldorf by Kati Hites

The Nuts: Sing and Dance in Your Polka Dot Pants by Eric Litwin

Janine by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson

Bunnies!!! by Kevan Atteberry

2014 Titles:

One Busy Day by Lola Schaefer

The Book with No Pictures by B. J. Novak

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett

A Perfectly Messed-Up Story by Patrick McDonnell

Bad Bye, Good Bye by Deborah Underwood

The Nuts: Bedtime at the Nut House by Eric Litwin

Fix This Mess by Tedd Arnold

Before After by Anne-Margot Ramstein

Found by Salina Yoon

Duck, Duck, Moose! by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

The Farmer and the Clown by Marla Frazee

Green is a Chile Pepper by Roseanne Thong

Max and the Won't Go to Bed Show by Mark Sperring

My Grandfather's Coat by Jim Aylesworth

Louise Loves Art by Kelly Light

Review: A Tale of Highly Unusual Magic, by Lisa Papademetriou

9780062371218

Kai and Leila are both finally having an adventure. For Leila, that means a globe-crossing journey to visit family in Pakistan for the summer; for Kai, it means being stuck with her crazy great-aunt in Texas while her mom looks for a job. In each of their bedrooms, they discover a copy of a blank, old book called The Exquisite Corpse. Kai writes three words on the first page—and suddenly, they magically appear in Leila's copy on the other side of the planet. Kai's words are soon followed by line after line of the long-ago, romantic tale of Ralph T. Flabbergast and his forever-love, Edwina Pickle. As the two take turns writing, the tale unfolds, connecting both girls to each other, and to the past, in a way they never could have imagined.

This is exactly the kind of book I would have fallen in love with around middle school. So much in this lovely (when you are talking about forgotten romances and bioluminescent moths, you have to use words like 'lovely') book. The many characters couldn't be more different, but they are all tied together - implying that we all are (the author's note is a must-read!). Stories of the past and present weave in and around each other until everyone is tightly meshed. Older readers will see the connections well before the characters do, but they won't care.

Other themes include the different types of magic in the world, the power of music, and the things that really matter. A thoroughly enjoyable read, and a must for every library.

In keeping with the gifting theme, there are many avenues to go down. The Celestial Moth (not real as far as I can find) figures prominently - perhaps a pretty glass paperweight with a blue moth or butterfly in it (not real! Doodle would kill you!) Leila is visiting family in Pakistan, and food is mentioned frequently - a Pakistani cookbook would be a lot of fun. Kipling's novel Kim, as well as parts of his life, weave in - a biography of Kipling would be a great extension, finding out which parts of the story match up. A book of magic tricks. A glass vial like the one Ralph has. Last but not least, your very own copies of The Exquisite Corpse - any blank book you can pass back and forth, continuing a story together (this might be especially fun if you live apart!)

Christmas Gifting: Classic Picture Books

Two days ago I posted that the Curious George series not only took the top three slots in highest circulating picture books, it held ten of the top 40 spots. Many of the most popular series were old classics, and that is true of many of the individual titles as well. It may be, partly, that parents and grandparents are checking out the titles they are familiar with from their own childhood, but I do also see little ones selecting these for themselves.

#4 on the list, right after our naughty little monkey, was one I read a million times when I was young:


9780531302972

Remember Whose Mouse are You? And Leo the Late Bloomer? Definite nostalgia kick here! Kraus's sweet stories and Aruego's soft but expressive illustrations are a timeless combination. Gift any of these with a set of watercolors and colored pencils.



9780679805274

This one surprised me, because it seems to me more like the kind of book you buy your high school graduate. Turns out, it's a favorite for the younger set as well. Other Seuss favorites in the top 100 are The Lorax, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Horton Hatches the Egg, and Happy Birthday to You. Gift a set of Seuss books with a Cat in the Hat hat!

Sheridan will be happy to see this one on the list:


9780064430173

Available in a multitude of formats and languages, I don't know that there is a single adult who doesn't recognize it immediately. Sheridan and Daddy used to read this one together every night at bedtime, looking for the mouse in all the colored pictures, changing the words to "the quiet old lady whispering BE QUIET!!!!!", because...well, our kids are weird. There is a Goodnight Moon matching game available on Amazon or Barnes and Noble that might go well - I haven't seen it myself to know whether to recommend it. You can also find stuffed bunnies like the little one in the story.

And, here's one for Christopher:


9780590480871

He LOVED the David books when he was younger, and he is obviously not alone. Like Curious George, David just can't help getting into trouble, and all he ever hears is "NO!" The childlike illustrations are a perfect match. At the end of this one, David receives a big gold star for a job well done: you might include a pack of star stickers with the book, and encourage your young trouble maker reader to give them to people he sees doing a super duper job at anything.


9780399215926

NOT The Very Hungry Caterpillar, can you believe it? I'm am willing to bet that is only because all our copies somehow got lost partway through the year, and the newer copies haven't had as much time to amass check-outs. The Very Quiet Cricket is also up there, so why not give all three together? (There is also The Very Lonely Firefly, The Very Clumsy Click Beetle, and my personal favorite, The Grouchy Ladybug.) Then head over to Amazon and spend a couple hours exploring all the cool toys and games that can go with them!

Finally, the first book Christopher ever 'read' to me:


9780805017441

Martin's similar titles are not far behind it, including Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? and the lesser-known Adam, Adam, What Do You See? There's a cute puppet and props set here, but it might be just as fun (not to mention cheaper) to make your own set together with construction paper and popsicle sticks.

Next up, some of the newer titles that have been a big hit already!

Christmas Gifting: Picture Book Series

As mentioned yesterday, I am going through our circulation records here at the library to see what the most popular books have been this year, in hopes of sparking some Christmas gift ideas. Today I start looking at what we call the "easies", or picture books. Many of our most popular are part of an ongoing series, so we'll begin with those. 

Curious George swept everyone away, taking the top three spots, and ten of the top 40! Most popular were the original, Curious George Feeds the Animals, and

9780395912157

There's just something about that irrepressible little guy getting into trouble without ever meaning to, that speaks to pretty much every child. You can find everything from stuffed Georges to cocoa mugs to clothing to alarm clocks to gift with the books.

Fancy Nancy is another continual favorite, with picture books, early readers, and a chapter book series (I have been pleased with the chapter books, which are good in their own right - not just coasting along on the popularity of the character.)

This has been our most popular title:

9780061235900

and of course it's perfect for Christmas. Gift this one with an ornament making kit, or several in the series with a collection of accessories or glittery art materials.

Another series that is standing the test of time are Numeroff's "If You Give a..." series:

9780060278670

These lead well into writing activities. Maybe grab a couple blank books at the dollar store and write on the first page, "If you take (child's name) to the (favorite location)...", then finish the story together over cocoa and cookies!

And who can't love Mo Willems' Pigeon?

9781423109600

Gift the set with a pack of hot dogs. You kids will get it.

Here's another series that may last forever:

9780310719403

Both the old classics and the newer titles are read over and over. Consider getting a live tree you can plant later, or decorate a tree outside for the critters, and read this title together!

The four original Pete the Cat books are checked out more than they are in:

9780062110589

I saw quite a few costumes based off this one at Halloween this year! You could decorate a jacket with fun buttons all over, or buy a pair of white canvas shoes to decorate with I Love My White Shoes (that just happens to be our story time craft today!)

A personal favorite for reading out loud:

9780142404034

You lose you librarian license if you don't do the voices. A stuffed kitty would go well with any of these.

Finally, one more with a predominantly female cast:

9780803731950

Kids might be surprised to learn that each story has a 'life lesson' to teach - and probably won't care. The lesson is never obvious or heavy handed; the characters are realistic and endearing; and, forget the wings, who wouldn't want those boots?!

None of these are brand new series, are they? That surprised me, too! There are many other great ones out there (Llama Llama and Arthur just missed the cut), so browse around your local library to see what else they have to suggest. And, happy gifting!

Christmas Gifting: Board Books

Books always make a great gift for Christmas, either by themselves or paired up with something else. This year, I decided to run a few reports, and see what titles were the most popular at our library this year. Some are new, some are old classics. Today I am going to feature the most-checked-out board books.

Far and away, The Chickies series by Janee Trasler were the favorites. This made me happy, because I love them, too! Their puffy covers are sturdy and easy to clean, but feel great in chubby little hands. The most popular, for probably obvious reasons, was:

Trasler also has Bedtime, Dinner Time, Bath Time, and A New Chick for Chickies, as well as Big Chickie, Little Chickie. Give the whole set with a cute stuffed chick!

In second place:

9780545418782

There are also Star Wars board books for the alphabet and colors. Those would probably be on this list as well if they hadn't been lost! Pair them with a couple action figures, and they will probably be the last board books your little one outgrows.

9781858545035

An oldie, but obviously still a goodie. If you can't find a new copy of this one, try 

9780060837747

which was just a few steps behind it in line! You can give this one with a toy train, or with an engineer's cap (or a train whistle, if you live far enough away from the giftee).

9781419701511

This one came out a few years ago, and is still going strong. The simple pictures and two-color pages are perfect for a baby's visual development. And it's cute!

9780763674939

Anything by Patricelli. But especially this one. My kids love it. But, my kids are warped. So...gift accordingly.

Hope this gives you a few ideas. If you are a librarian also, what seems to be popular this year at your library? 

Stay tuned for some picture book favorites!

Early Christmas Shopping, Anyone?

Oh, stop yelling at the computer screen, I know it' September - I'm offering you a good deal, here.

Last year we made up our own t-shirts for the Summer Reading Program, and everyone liked them so much, we had a few extra made. We are pretty much selling them at our cost - $5 each if you come in and buy them here, $10 each if you would like them shipped to you.

They come in black print on red, orange, yellow, light green, light blue, and purple.

Some colors are unavailable in some sizes. In children's sizes we have:

4T

Small (size 6/8)

Medium (size 10/12)

Large (size 14)

In adult sizes we have:

Small

Medium

Large

XL

XXL (only a few left!)

Roll them up and stuff them in a stocking - or, wrap them around a couple books and tie with a big pretty bow. Better yet, get a basic superhero mask and use that to tie up the package!

If you are interested in ordering some through the mail, e-mail me at ajones@ci.alamogordo.nm.us, and we'll get you set up!

14 Shopping days Left! Review: Lester's Dreadful Sweaters

9781554537709

A fastidious fellow, Lester likes everything just so. So when Cousin Clara moves in and knits him truly dreadful sweaters as fast as he can surreptitiously dispose of them, Lester must think of a way to get rid of them for good -- or be doomed to look like a clown forever.

Just in time for Holiday Gift Receiving!  Lester politely accepts each increasingly bizarre sweater, but then disposes of each in increasingly unbelievable accidents, until he is finally caught. The solution is just as unbelievable, but highly satisfactory for everyone involved. A fun way to broach the subject of receiving gifts with good grace, and considering others' feelings, without the feeling of having a moral lesson crammed down your throat (Jamie Lee Curtis I'm looking at you). Knowing my kids, I can already pick out which sweaters each will think are marvelous, so we can talk about different tastes and opinions as well!

The illustrations are absolutely wonderful, with Lester's expressions becoming more and more doleful (and at times rather evil), and fun details such as leaves drifting in the door or the dog batting at a bell from under the sofa. The setting seems to be the Louisiana bayou country, which makes a sharp contrast to Lester's persnickitiness (he measures his socks to ensure they are the same height). It may also pay to point out that those whose clothes are raggedy but clean don't seem to be embarrassed at all, while Lester of the carefully knotted tie is more consumed with how he looks.

If you are still doing your Christmas shopping (and who isn't?), gift this with

- a nice sweater

- a plain sweater to decorate for your own ugly sweater contest

- knitting needles and yarn and a promise of lessons

16 Shopping Days Left! Review of Backhoe Joe by Lori Alexander

9780062250155

Okay, I know, this is the third vehicle-related book I have reviewed for the holiday gifting season - but, really, can you ever have too many truck books? This one has a really cute twist:

When Nolan finds a stray backhoe in the street, he can't wait to adopt it. But this backhoe is not very well behaved. As Nolan tries to train his new pet, he learns that maybe this backhoe already has a home.

Yes, this backhoe digs in the flower bed, and leaks all over the driveway. Nolan's parents are less than thrilled, but kids will be all over the idea of a pet backhoe! Or a cement mixer...

Gifting Ideas

This one definitely needs a set of construction vehicles

I can just hear my kids creating all sorts of stories after reading this one!

19 Shopping Days Left! Review of the Our American Symbols series from Millbrook Press

History is kind of big in our house. I mean, how many eight-year-old boys dress up as Abraham Lincoln for Halloween? Car trips are peppered with questions such as, "Why does the Statue of Liberty have a book?" and "What number president was Teddy Roosevelt?" Sometimes we get so caught up in cute picture books, we forget how much kids thirst for stories that are 'real'.

Lerner comes out with some great nonfiction series, really making things accessible for the younger crowd. I was able to look at two from the "Our American Symbols" series: 

9781467721363

and

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Other titles include:

Is the Bald Eagle Really Bald?

What is Inside the Lincoln Memorial?

Why are there Stripes on the American Flag? (I have been asked that recently!)

Why is the Statue of Liberty Green?

I think I am going to buy this entire series for myself and stock it in the car, so I can just hand the appropriate book back!

Let's look at pictures first, because I noticed something right away. Lerner's junior readers all seem to have that must-include-all-ethnic-groups thing going on, which is great, but do you see the eyes? I don't think I have ever noticed an illustrator using different shapes, so huge props to Poling for that one! In general, the illustrations are bright and colorful, if somewhat formulaic (there were a couple places where a child was completely cut and pasted from another page - like, the redhead and ponytail girl on pages 4 and 18 in the first title). 

The text follows a class (not the same one each time) through a lesson or field trip centered around the item or event in question. A bit too wordy for a read-aloud, but perfectly suited to a classroom lesson where you wanted to stop and discuss each page. Small side bars add interesting trivia bits (no gum or candy allowed near the Liberty Bell!), and vocabulary is explained clearly, both in the text and in a glossary at the back. Each book also has a suggested activity - writing a patriotic poem, or a game involving hiding the Liberty Bell.

A good introduction to basic symbols of America, with plenty of facts for curious youngsters like mine. 

Gifting Suggestions

I have been eyeing this floor puzzle for the kids:

(did I mention I love Melisa and Doug stuff?)

and, what child doesn't like to wave a flag? Maybe let this one wave in a corner of their room:

Adopt a bald eagle from the World Wildlife Fund, and receive this plush to give as a gift:

Or, if you are close enough to a museum that features a bit of American History, experiences and memories always last longer than tangible gifts!