Guess How Much I Love You

Title: Guess How Much I Love You
Author: Sam McBratney
Publish Date: 2008
Publisher: Candlewick
Pages: 32
ISBN: 0763641758

Price: Hardcover $16.99
Classification: Picture Book
Genre: Fiction

Annotation: During a bathtime routine, nutbrown hare and his baby bunny go back in forth about who loves who more. Daddy Nutbrown Hare shows every daddy's sentiment by coming back with more each time.

Evaluation: Something about this book is very appealing. As if the sentiment wasn't enough to make for a sweet read aloud, the illustrations are classic and modern, somehow, at the same time. This book is a reassuring delight for young one's that need their daddy's (and parents in general) soothing words of love but in a "baby play" way. In this way it's also a developmentally appropriate illustration of emotions as well as a great pre-literacy to early literacy read aloud. It also encourages conversation, predictive guessing, and physical movement while copying the Hare's Gestures.

Authors Website:

Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Stories - DVD

• Title: Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Stories
• Author: Eric Carle
• Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Disney
• Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• • Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• DVD Release Date: January 3, 2006
• Run Time: 32 minutes
• ASIN: B000BMGEJI
• 
  
• Annotation: Join The Hungry Caterpillar and other amazing eric Carle stories as they are animated and brought to life by Disney DVD.
• Evaluation: This is one of my favorite children's DVDs. I get so much use out of it and love the stories that are included in it! Included are THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR, THE MIXED-UP CHAMELEON, THE VERY QUIET CRICKET, and my personal favorite PAPA, PLEASE GET THE MOON FOR ME (although for this one I recommend picking up the board book and reading it too, because it is a special little chubby book with lift up surprises). The sepcial thing about Eric Carle is his artwork and seeing it come to life is a cool thing. This video manages to maintain the artwork's integrity which is not always easy to do. Watches more like a read aloud book then a TV show.

Eric Carle Website: http://www.eric-carle.com/home.html

The Best Nest

Title: The Best Nest (Bright & Early)

Author: Philip D Eastman (P.D. Eastman)

Price: $8.99

Pages:

• 72 pages

• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
• Publisher Date: July 12, 1968

ISBN: 0394800516

Classification: Picture Book

Annotation: Mr. Bird goes out to seek the best nest for Mrs. Bird, when things seem to suddenly go a wry. But have no fear, The Best Nest has the BEST ending!

Evaluation: Another classic that could be overlooked but, alas, I am here to bring it back! It was a childhood favorite of mine, and though maybe not the most modern in style and illustrations, but the storyline is classically heartwarming. It's great for kids to see in a book the bonds between Mr. & Mrs. Bird and I think that in a why they will relate to the family! Also, it has a hidden meaning that makes you appreciate home. I think is simple enough and not to abstract for children to grasp and grow into. And the writing is lyrical, and when Mr. Bird sings, it makes you want to sing it instead of read it!