Review: Noah Webster's Fighting Words by Tracy Nelson Maurer and Mircea Catusanu

9781467794107

Noah Webster, famous for writing the first dictionary of the English language as spoken in the United States, was known in his day for his bold ideas and strong opinions about, well, everything. Spelling, politics, laws, you name it—he had something to say about it. He even commented on his own opinions! With a red pencil in hand, Noah often marked up work that he had already published. So who edited this book? It certainly looks like the ghost of the great American author and patriot picked up a pencil once again to comment on his own biography!

My husband and I have been predicting a career in law or politics for a certain opinionated young lady we know. Perhaps we have a third option to consider! Editing books, articles, and even an entire language system may be right up the alley of someone who will happily make up reasons to argue with you.

I have been pleased with the ongoing trend towards picture book biographies, and this one is extremely readable, even without Mr. Webster's editorial comments injecting humor (unintended, I am sure). While I knew about Webster's dictionary, I did not realize he was involved with America's struggle for independence, so I learned a few new things as well. I may also want to try his trick of filling the walls with sand, to shut out the sound of screaming children...

A worthwhile addition to any school or public library!

Toddler STEM - Rainbows (2nd Edition)

Rainbows are such a fun and easy theme, we had to do it again! To see what we did during our first Rainbow STEM, click here.

I skipped the colored spaghetti this time (although that was LOTS of fun!) and went with Jell-O.

I sprinkled some sequins in so we could work on fine motor skills, as well as to hopefully dissuade eating it!

It actually took them a little nudging to really stick their hands in Monday, but then they decided it was pretty cool.

Some more fine motor, as well as colors, sorting, matching, and patterns with bead stringing:

I had the styrofoam blocks saved from some packages received earlier - good thing, that stuff can get expensive!

Perfect for the warm weather we have been having:

I just filled ice cube trays with water and added a few drops of liquid watercolors, which don't stain as badly as food coloring. I set aside paper hoping they would get the idea to put them together in some way.

That was okay, but it needed 'something'. I know: shaving cream!

One little cutie pointed to each ice cube in turn and instructed me to cover "this one. Now this one." They were just melty enough at that point to color the shaving cream when they touched it, then of course we had to mix it all together.

I didn't have time to make more ice cubes before Wednesday, so we went straight to the shaving cream.

I put some shaving cream in before kids arrived, then added coloring and more shaving cream (what happens if I drip it from up high?) when they were there. 

A little reading mixed in with foam letters and colored pet bedding (unused, of course!):

Find the letters to spell your name! Or, you know, jump in it, because that's fun, too.

More pre-reading, fine motor, tactile fun with colored sand (you can also use colored salt - just add a few drops of food coloring to regular salt, and keep stirring.)

Finally, a giant bag of rice and some food coloring/liquid watercolors, toss in some kitchen supplies, and let the cause and effect learning take place:

I started out with different colors of rice in each of three sleds, 

but of course they got mixed pretty quickly. 

I probably could have just had this center, and the kids would have been perfectly happy! We actually went over by almost half an hour both days, because the kids were happily pouring and sifting, transferring from one container to another, seeing what would stack, etc. Very zen-like, as well as educational!

FYI, if you go from the Jell-O to the sand to the shaving cream to the rice, in that order, you end up with quite the spectacular look.

Teen Cafe - Cupcake Wars

I love when we have new faces at Teen Cafe! Funny what the promise of playing with food will do. 

Our Cupcake Wars are pretty simple: each teen gets three cupcakes, and can pick whatever they want from a spread of frostings, fondant, and candies. They have to decide on a theme and decorate accordingly, then we all vote for the best plate. And then we eat them!

Tonight we had:

Snowman Princess Leia, a Skittle, and...Barney?

An M&M

Emojis (love the border - nice presentation!)

Valentine's Day (again, nice presentation)

Easter

Generation of Miracles

America (note orange gummy bear. I am not saying a word.)

And, our winners (a tie):

Red and white blood cells, an open wound, and a sutured wound.

Moana

 Side view so you can see the gummy bears playing beach volleyball under the palm tree:

So much fun - and so much sugar! Remind me next year that this is NOT a good day to skip lunch. Pardon me now while I go slip into a coma...

Review: How the Queen Found the Perfect Cup of Tea, by Kate Hosford and Gabi Swiatkowska

9781467739047

Each day when the Queen wakes up, three maids dress her, two more style her hair, and her butler James makes her tea. But when she grows dissatisfied with her brew, the Queen and James set out in search of the perfect cup. 

Now that was a fun surprise! At each stop along the way (Japan, India and Turkey according to the author's note) the queen encounters a different child, who gently challenges her to try something new. "Her Majesty does not dribble," said James. "Well then, it's time she tried," said Sunil. Each child then makes tea a different way, with the queen learning to be a bit less passive each time. The story ends with a newly independent queen hosting a tea party, where she declares that the secret to a perfect cup of tea is to make it yourself and then share it with others.

The illustrations are fun and whimsical, and worth a second look through the book all by themselves (would those be corgis accompanying the nameless queen, perhaps?)

You can NOT read this book without following up with your own tea party. Read through the author's note and do a little internet searching for different ways to make tea. Milk? Honey? Tea bag or loose? Try them all and decide which you like best!

Review: Yaffa and Fatima Shalom, Salaam by Fawzia Gilani-Williams and Chiara Fedele

9781467789387

Two neighbors—one Jewish, one Muslim—have always been best friends. When they both fall on hard times, can they find a way to help each other?

While the women in this story are of different religions, neither religion is mentioned by name, and great care is taken to show how similar they are. So much so, in fact, that some parents may be uncomfortable with the connotation that all religions are the same.

The main theme, however, is that the two women are friends regardless of any differences, and that friends are concerned about each other's welfare. When hard times come, each thinks only of the other, and takes action to make sure her friend is taken care of (with humorous results). If children can take away that caring attitude, then the story is well worth the read!

Review: I'm Big Now! by Anthea Simmons and Georgie Birkett

9781512439472

When you are big, you're not the baby anymore, but sometimes you want to do the baby things you used to do before! In this funny journey of discovery, one little girl decides to try out being a baby again, but discovers it is more fun being the big sister of the family.

A good basic read-together for an only child transitioning to the older sibling role. Big sister decides on her own that she likes being able to do things the baby can't, while parents are generally understanding and encouraging. Written in rhyming couplets, after a few reads children will be able to predict/read along - although the rhythm is off in just a couple places, and the word 'nappy' may throw them a bit. Illustrations are bright and eye-catching (love the bunny holding its nose during the diaper change - but it seems to start off stuffed and become real - not quite sure what is going on there.) 

Not a must-have for every library, but if this is a subject your patrons seek out books for, it will fill the need nicely.

Review: The Hole Story by Paul Bright and Bruce Ingman

9781512439502

When Hamish and Hermione Hole are chased out of the cheese where they live, they search the palace for a new place to call home. But the Holes cause havoc wherever they go—no one wants holes in their underwear, bike tire, or boat! Exhausted, the pair rest in a piece of wood, only to be discovered by the palace carpenter, who knows that holes can be really useful—especially when you are making beautiful musical instruments.

Mmmm, I like my cheese with holes in it...but my socks, not so much, so I can see the problem.

I love the very beginning of the story: "In a land of strange happenings..." What wonderful things might happen there?! I also love that the royal family has a compost heap. Plus, you know, you get to explain what "knickers" are. The whole story is a fun little kid pleaser, and will be showing up in a story time here at some point!

The holes themselves are cute little blobby spots in changing colors. This story just begs for an art and writing extension! Let your kids write or dictate their own story of where the holes might find a new home, then get out the paint and brushes and go to town illustrating!