Family Friday!

After a long hiatus, Family Friday is back! 

Family Friday is something that I do here on Book and Babes that features picture books. Since this blog was created by 3 moms we had our own families at heart when we started this. Since then I have to come to realize that a LOT of book bloggers I was coming across have kiddos themselves. They must obviously also be invested in quality books for their kids, too.

Not to mention the BIGGEST factor in all of this: THE MOMMY BLOGGERS! Seriously, you probably know what I'm talking about? The biggest blogging faction at the moment is the DIY-SAHM mommy bloggers. Why are we not blogging for them? We are we not bridging those gaps?

I know, such big questions, right? ;-) In the end, I decided to bring back Family Fridays. Children's and Picture Books might not be the big draw in the book blogging world, but it is STILL an important aspect I won't ignore.

Caterina and the Lemonade Stand

by Erin Eitter Kono

Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin Group imprint)

May 2014

Synopsis: Caterina loves making lists and planning big, creative projects, and this time she’s planning a lemonade stand – the perfect summer pastime. She’s hoping to earn enough money for a new scooter, but finds that she’s not the only one in town with the lemonade idea. Everybody seems to be selling the refreshing treat, so how can Caterina’s stand truly stand out?

Mom's thoughts: When I first saw this sitting on the shelf, I picked it up because the cover is gorgeous. It looks reminiscent of a well-loved handmade scrapbook. Lots of color hues, patterns, and rickrack. I LOVE the design of this book. Beyond the physical look of the book, let's take a quick look at the story. This book begins with the perfect intro:
"Caterina is a little brown bird with great big colorful thoughts."

I love it, don't you?

Also, Caterina is a list maker. My heart is singing. I love this small fact. I know many people, myself included LOVE lists. There is some weird satisfaction in crossing things off my list. When I get crazy, I even color-code my lists. ;-)

The BEST thing about this book?

The surprise ending. 

Spoiler Alert! (Trust me, you need this book.)

Really, I am going to spoil this book.

Are you ready?

The scooter she wants to buy? Is for HER BROTHER.

I know this is a common thing in picture books. Showing how to share and care for siblings....

but this book really hits the message home. You see, the pictures show her brother helping her out every step of the way. They look like loving siblings. The Author however never mentions him throughout the entire book. You think this book is all about Caterina. Her lemonade stand, HER money, etc. Not at any given point in the book is she told by a parent to remember her sibling. This truly comes from a selfless place, and I absolutely love this book.

Tater-tot's thoughts: Well, since Taters only has a handful of words right now, I'm going to do my best to interpret her thoughts for her. Tater-tot enjoyed this short book. She loved turning the paged and pointing out colors. (There are a lot!) She loved the owls, and since owls are 'the thing' right now, she loves being able to point them out and hoot to them. She is still a little small to understand the words of this book, but that doesn't mean much. When I tell her to to grab a book, this is one she commonly brings back to me. HOOT! HOOT!

Family Friday #3 ARC Review: The Snatchabook

The Snatchabook - Helen Docherty and Thomas Docherty - Sourcebooks

The Facts: This book will be released in October 2013. I received this Advanced Readers Copy through Sourcebooks at ALA Annual 2013

32 pages - paperback (I believe will be released hardcover) - 20 minutes

Summary from Goodreads: Where have all the bedtime stories gone? A delightful addition to the picture book canon about the love of reading

One dark, dark night in Burrow Down, a rabbit named Eliza Brown found a book and settled down...when a Snatchabook flew into town.

It's bedtime in the woods of Burrow Down, and all the animals are ready for their bedtime story. But books are mysteriously disappearing. Eliza Brown decides to to stay awake and catch the book thief. It turns out to be a little creature called the Snatchabook who has no one to read him a bedtime story. All turns out well when the books are returned and the animals take turns reading bedtime stories to the Snatchabook.

My Review: Oh my goodness! This book is one of my favorites, and I am already reading it often to Taylor. The story is quite simple, and very cute. Everyone's bedtime books are being stolen in the blink of an eye, and Eliza wants to stop it from going on. When she finds out why the books are being stolen by the Snatchabook, she befriends the creature. All books are returned and the rest of the town takes turns nightly including Snatchabook in their bedtime reading routines.

As you can see, this book cam easily demonstrate the power of sharing. Sometimes when people are left out, they will do bad things. Sometimes when people share, people will do nice things. While that is a very simple meaning that can be drawn from the book, it is still a powerful one. The rhyme and rhythm of this book does nothing but justice, creating an easy free-flowing read that helps younger readers to sound out unknown words. The illustrations are beautiful by themselves, creating an adorable animal world, with plenty of visual details that entertained my 6 month old as well as myself.

This is not your run-of-the-mill children's picture book. This one teaches morals, has wonderful illustrations and rhyme, and really remind readers the power and love of a bedtime story.

My Rating: 5 stars, hands down. Go buy this book for your kids or grandkids. It's absolutely wonderful.

Jenni

Family Friday # 2: Review - The Gruffalo

The Gruffalo - Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler - MacMillian Children's Books



The "Facts": Paperback, 32 pages, 20 minutes

Summary: From Goodreads

Walk further into the deep dark wood, and discover what happens when the quick-thinking mouse comes face to face with an owl, a snake "and "a hungry gruffalo . . .

Review:

Oh how I love The Gruffalo!  This was one children's book I had never heard of.  When at the bookstore I loved the bright colours on the cover and decided to add it to Emmett's book collection.

I am so glad that I did.

The Gruffalo is about a clever little mouse making his way through the forest.  At the bottom of the food chain, he encounters many animals who see him as lunch!  He develops a clever tale of what he thinks is a mythical creature - a Gruffalo - to keep these predators from eating him!

Then to the mouse's surprise he meets a real gruffalo! Of course the Gruffalo wants to eat the little mouse. 

Little mouse uses his quick thinking and tells the Gruffalo that he is the biggest creature in the forest!  He dares him to follow him through the forest to see.  When all the animals see him coming with the Gruffalo they run and hide.

I love that this story has a nice rhythm to it.  Even though it seems like it may be long for a younger child it is an easy read with a nice flow.

The illustrations are colourful and fun. 

Although the moral of the story may be to advanced for younger children it does teach about the food chain and animals in their habitat.

Rating: 4 stars

Jenn C

Family Friday Review: Zen Shorts

Zen Shorts – Jon J Muth – Scholastic Press

The “Facts”: Hard Cover, 40 pages, 20-30 minutes

Summary:  From Good Reads

Jon J Muth, author of the best-selling book, THE THREE QUESTIONS, has crafted another profound and winning picture book.

"Michael," said Karl. "There's a really big bear in the backyard." This is how three children meet Stillwater, a giant panda who moves into the neighborhood and tells amazing tales. To Addy he tells a story about the value of material goods. To Michael he pushes the boundaries of good and bad. And to Karl he demonstrates what it means to hold on to frustration. With graceful art and simple stories that are filled with love and enlightenment, Jon Muth -- and Stillwater the bear -- present three ancient Zen tales that are sure to strike a chord in everyone they touch.

Review:  I love children's book that have a lesson.  Even though Emmett is not old enough to understand this yet I feel better knowing that someday our beloved story time will also teach him things.

Zen Shorts does exactly this.  Three siblings befriend a Giant Panda named Stillwater.  Stillwater in the spirit of Zen teaches each child a life lesson about a situation that has presented itself to them at that time. 

The illustrations in this book change with each story and are vibrant and captivating for a young child.  They are also quite cultural.

This book keeps the characters simple and has a humble story line, allowing young readers to follow along with ease.

Anyone can enjoy this book.  Even an adult that needs a time out or a lesson in morals!

 Rating: 4.5 stars

While I enjoy reading this to Emmett at bedtime it is not designed for children his age.  Children 5 and up would likely be the best audience.

 Jenn C