EIEIO: How Old MacDonald Got His Farm with a Little Help From a Hen by Judy Sierra illustrated by Matthew Myers

Spring is in the air....well it will be eventually...it is still quite cold but the good news is the snow has begun to melt.  With that in mind I thought today's book should help us get in the mood for warmer weather and being out doors.

EIEIO: How Old MacDonald Got His Farm with a Little Help from a Hen by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Matthew Myers.  I love how Ms Sierra takes child staple and mixes it up a bit.  How did Old MacDonald start his farm?  All we have known is the song we sing with children but she takes it to another level.  This is a fun way to take something old to teach us something new.  I love the environmental aspect of the story.  It would be a great book for Earth Day next month but more importantly it teaches children about how the earth works as well as being a great introduction to gardening and all it entails.  Just as important as the message  is that it is a fun read aloud with cheerful illustrations that will be read again and again.  A must have new book for spring...even if I am a bit early....

Happy Arbor Day!

                                        


Today is Arbor Day~I remember this used to be such a big thing when I was a kid.   Now I only realized it because I was looking for something to write about.   It is still celebrated and there is a great website devoted to it ( http://www.arborday.org/)  but I don't think it gets the press it deserves.  I always liked the idea of planting a tree to commemorate an event or person, it is very uplifting.   I discovered two new books that I think would be perfect for today and would be a nice way to remember what this day stands for.

We Planted a Tree by Diane Muldrew illus by Bob Staake (2010 from Golden books).   This book shows people from different parts of the world planting trees.  It talks about the benefits trees provide us in a beautiful poetic way.   It is not preachy or boring~but very sweet.   I love the illustrations....it is said that it is a modern style by I feel like they are almost retro with an art deco sensibility.   I just love them.  

Arbor Day Square by Kathryn O. Galbraith illus by Cyd Moore  is the perfect book for today ( 2010 from Peachtree Publishers).  Usually books like that are specific to a theme can seem institutional and not something for everyday story time with your kids.   This is an exception. This sweet story about a girl and her father is simple and pointed but a joy to read.  The illustrations really evoke a time and place much more simpler than today.  

Flashback Tuesday: A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter

A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter is not necessarily a kids book.   It is really considered a book for adults but I have found that it is great story for  ages 10 and up.   I read it when I was around 12 years old because my Mother said it was one of her favorites.   I am suggesting it today as a book that is perfect for Earth Day.  This is a book that was first published in 1909.   It is a great book because it talks about nature and conservation before Earth Day was ever conceived.   The book has mature themes so it is meant for an older child but the descriptions of nature and the Limberlost Swamp are wonderful.  The author Gene Stratton-Porter was not only an author but a wildlife photographer and amateur naturalist. She is someone all young conservationists should know about.   This book is a must read for any older child who is really into saving the planet. 

The Falling Raindrop by Neil Johnson & Joel Chin

This week brings us Earth Day on April 22nd.   I thought I would start the ball rolling by writing about a beautiful new book that shows the life cycle of a raindrop.

The Falling Raindrop by Neil Johnson and Joel Chin is the simple story of a raindrop falling to earth.   Initially there is an exuberance while the raindrop is flying....then the panic sets in as he realizes he is falling only to rise up to become steam and then form into another raindrop.   It is the perfect way to explain the science of a rain....but it is also a great way to explain change to a child.   We all experience change in our lives, sometimes we can feel the wonder of it and sometimes change can bring fear.   This book is a great way to show not only children but adults that change is not always a bad thing.  

I love the illustrations but unfortunately the cover does not come off very well online~best to it see in person....