Charlie and Lola Look After Your Planet

Title:Charlie and Lola Look After Your Planet
Author: Lauren Child

• Reading level: 3-5 and Beyond
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dial (March 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803733356

Price: $16.99

Classification: Picture Book

Notable Features: Encourages Recycling, Includes Recycling Poster, Printed on Eco-Friendly Paper

Annotation: Favorite siblings Charlie and Lola are book and ready to clean out their room. But what should they do with a the stuff? Learn all about recycling and start your own project with an included poster to keep track!

Evaluation: Charlie and Lola always delight the entire family. A great read aloud that has a fun relatable story with a great message, savvy parents can appreciate.

Author Website: http://www.milkmonitor.com/

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale

Title: Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale
Author: Mo Willems
Publish Date: 1St Edition edition (July 12, 2004)
Publisher: Hyperion Book Childrens
Pages: 40
ISBN: 0786818700

Price: $15.99

Classification: Picture Book

Age Range/Reading Level: Preschool through First Grade

Series: Knuffle Bunny

Annotation: Daddy and Trixie and Trixie's favorite toy, Knuffle Bunny go to the laundromat. But, something very important get left behind!

Evaluation: The mixed media style and relatable content not only make this book a fun choice for read aloud, but deals with real-life connections to favorite toys that lots of children have. Especially great for exploring emotions and print awareness. This book will become a funny favorite for the entire family!

Author Website: http://www.mowillems.com/

Olivia Counts

Title: Olivia Counts

Author: Ian Falconer
Pages: 12
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's; Board Book edition
Publisher Date: 2002
ISBN: 0689836732
Genre: Counting/Concept Books
Classification: Board Book

Annotation: Join your favorite picture book pig as she counts her way through all her familiar antics!

Evaluation: I would follow Olivia into almost any concept. Falconer's illustrations and memories of the original picture book make this little board book (great for little hands) both a wonderful size for young readers and a wonderful addition to concept books in general. It's hard not to feel the fun with Olivia, even when learning concepts!

Author Website: http://www.oliviathepiglet.com/

Fancy Nancy's Fancy Words

Title: Fancy Nancy's Fancy Words

Author: Jane O'Connor

Pages: 32

Price: $12.99

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publisher Date: April 22, 2008

ISBN: 0061549231

Classification: Concept Book/Picture Book

Annotation: An "fancy" A-Z word book in resplendent Fancy Nancy ways!

Evaluation: Fancy Nancy gives a word and a sentence for each letter of the alphabet side by side with the every amazing illustrations Fancy Nancy Books always have!

Fancy Nancy Website: http://www.fancynancyworld.com/

Richard Scarry's Cars And Trucks And Things That Go (Giant Little Golden Book)

Title: Cars And Trucks And Things That Go

(Giant Little Golden Book)

Author: Richard Scarry

Pages: 69

Price: $14.99

Publisher: Golden Books

Publisher Date: June 1, 1998

ISBN: 0307157857

Classification: Picture Books

Annotation: A little pig family looks at every imaginable form of transportation on their way to a family outing.

Evaluation: This book is so iconic in some grown ups today that it begs the question: why? One grown up I know said he read the book almost daily and held onto it as the only survivor of his childhood library until he was well in his twenties. Now he is a pilot in a "thing that goes" - coincidence? For starters, this book (much like many books these day) is much like a picture dictionary. But it's drawn in the Richard Scarry way, (like a fantasy world we are visiting), and it has a bunch of little stry bonuses like the little hidden pictures and the piggy's story that ties it all together. Lastly, like dinosaurs or princess, cars ad trucks are often a source of inspiration to young children! It's giant form make it toddler and child friendly. This book will no doubt be one that your toddler grows into and rereads through the years! A classic in its own right!

The Monster At The End Of This Book

Title: The Monster At The End Of This Book

Author: Jon Stone

ISBN:037582913X

Price: $8.99

Pages: 32

Publisher: Golden Books

Publisher Date: May 11, 2004

Classification: Picture Book

Annotation: Suppose there was a monster at the end of this book! Grover is here to try and help you from getting to the end...although the monster at the end may not be so scary after all!

Evaluation: This book is so simple and old school sesame street, one may look right over it. I am here to tell you to STOP! Don't turn another page. Stay right here with lovable, furry old Grover! To this day (since I was a child) it remains one of my favorite humorous children's books of ALL TIME! It still makes me laugh and it's humor is developmentally appropriate for the little ones. It makes for a wonderful interactive read aloud with all sorts of fun "Grover" voices! HAVE FUN! And if you love this one, try this after: Another Monster at the End of This Book!

Corduroy

Title: Corduroy

Author: Don Freeman

Price: $16.99

Pages: 28

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Publisher Date: March 11, 1986

ISBN: 0670241334

Classification: Picture Book

Annotation: This iconic little bear with a missing button, is desired by a little girl, but her mother says no because he's broken. But when he goes searching for a button, ultimately what he ends up finding, is even more special.

Evaluation: I always enjoy reading and hearing this story, and I equally enjoy watching children fall in love with Corduroy. Every time I think that this story, having been written in 1968, will be to dated for modern children, the basic heartstring, pulls almost every child in. It's just a sweet story that may just end up being a favorite for even the most modern child!

Ultimately I love the message behind this book, more then anything!

Author Website: http://donfreeman.info/

Rainbow Fish Opposites

Title: Rainbow Fish Opposites

Author: Marcus Pfister

Pages: 24

Price: $4.99

Publisher: North-South Books

Publisher Date: March 1, 2005

ISBN: 0735819823

Classification: Board Book

Annotation: Concepts like: Big and Little, In and Out, Up and Down, introduce themselves to the little ones here with favorite children's literary character Rainbow Fish.

Evaluation: The great thing about this little concept board book is that not only introduces developmentally appropriate concepts (and is a little board book perfect for little hands), but it's length is shorter then the main Rainbow Fish story. The first story, a hugely popular one that was turned into a television show, is very lengthy and though lengthier stories may be nice at times, this book brings back a favorite character, making new concepts higher interest for children who love Rainbow Fish and more appropriate in length for the much younger child. And in the tradition of Rainbow Fish who learns to share his rainbow scales in the first book, this tale of opposites ends in Give and Take!

Author Website: http://www.marcuspfister.ch/index.htm

Good Morning Maisy - DVD

Title: Good Morning Maisy

• Price: $14.98
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
• Number of discs: 1
• • Rated: NR (Not Rated)
    
    
• Studio: Universal Studios
• DVD Release Date: February 10, 2004
• Run Time: 153 minutes
• ASIN: B0000WN0OG

Annotation: Explore ABCs, Colors, Shapes, and other comcepts with Maisy and her best friends in this collection of some of Maisy's TV shows, put together here, on this DVD.

Evaluation: There's something about Mary. Scratch that. Maisy. There's something about Maisy! We love her and her friends. Her simple shapes and colors in illustrations come to life here in this concept rich collection. A great collection for a great price! Shows included on DVD:

- Count with Maisy
- Maisy’s ABC
- Maisy’s Colors and Shapes
- Maisy’s Farm

Maisy's Fun Club Webpage: http://www.maisyfunclub.com/

Maisy Goes to the Library: A Maisy First Experience Book

• Title: Maisy Goes to the Library
• A Maisy First Experience Book
• Author: Lucy Cousins
• Price: $6.99
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (March 10, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763643718

Annotation: Maisy goes to the library and experiences all the things the library has to offer! From Story hour to xerox copies to a quite place to read, join Maisy in this first experience book!

Evaluation: This is also one of my favorite titles, especially of Maisy's collection. The way Maisy is illustrated so simply and in mostly primary and bright colors, really appeals to the early development of babies and toddlers. Furthermore, her "first experience" collection (which this book is a part of) is always wonderful things that help parents introduce complex places that often have wonderful programs for children (like the museum and the library). It helps make these places less scary and more fun and definitely dispels the mystery!!

Maisy Website: http://www.maisyfunclub.com/

Dora the Explorer - Big Sister Dora - DVD

• Title: Dora the Explorer - Big Sister Dora
• Format: Animated, Color, DVD, Full Screen, 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: Unrated
• Studio: Nickelodeon
• DVD Release Date: March 22, 2005
• Run Time: 30 minutes
• ASIN: B0007989HU
• 
  
• Annotation: Dora can't wait to share her excitement and all that goes along with the new baby (she'll be a big sister!!) in her house!
• 
  
• Evaluation: A great way to add support and deal with the new baby on the way! Especially helpful with such a beloved and fun favrite character such as dora. Dora is alway fun to read and watch! This could be the biggest adventure yet!
• 
  
• Dora Webpage: http://www.nickjr.com/dora-the-explorer/

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

Sesame Street: Elmo and the Bookaneers - DVD

• Title: Elmo and the Bookaneers
• Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Sesame Street
• DVD Release Date: April 21, 2009
• Run Time: 41 minutes
• ASIN: B001PPLJJU

Annotation: These Pirates LOVE books! They're the Bookaneers! Tina Fey and Elmo take you on this Sesame Street Treat!

Evaluation: What could be better then Sesame Street for the wee ones and Tina Fey for the parental units, and pirate for all? This is a brilliant combo of literacy, looting, and loony behavior as Sesame Street gives us a another star studded educational piece of entertainment! This CAN NOT be missed! It's awesome!

100 Storytime Classics DVDs

• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 16
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: NEW VIDEO GROUP
• DVD Release Date: October 27, 2009
• Run Time: 1146 minutes
• ASIN: B002PTBSE6

Annotation: 100 classic children's stories are collected here in this boxed set on animated adaptations.

Evaluation: I always loved the classic adaptations and would hunt them down one by one, library by library, store by store, until one day it dawned on me I should just check if there is a collection. Sure enough there are two! This is the first. It has classics such Corduroy and Curious George and although kinda "old school" in their animations they provide a storybook experience that can't be found much any more on television. And clearly they are ALL children's book, literary giants! This is somewhat pricey but if you find that you are hunting down classic stroybook treasure like me, it may be worth it. Each DVD has more then one storybook classic on it! One really cool bonus is all the professional narrations from famous actors (like Meryl Streep and Sarah Jessica Parker just to name two)! What fun! And what a collection!

(Extra Information of Every Story In This Collection!)

Alphabetical Title Listing:

Alligators All Around

The Amazing Bone

Angus and the Ducks

Angus Lost

Apt. 3

Arnie the Doughnut

The Beast of Monsieur Racine

Blueberries for Sal

Cat & Canary

The Caterpillar and the Polliwog

Chicka Chicka 1,2,3

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Chicken Little

Chicken Soup with Rice

Chrysanthemum

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type

The Cow Who Fell in the Canal

Curious George Rides a Bike

Danny and the Dinosaur

Diary of a Spider

Dinosaur Bones

Dot the Fire Dog

Drummer Hoff

The Elves and the Shoemaker

Emily s First 100 Days of School

Five Chinese Brothers

Five Creatures

The Foolish Frog

Fourteen Rats and a Rat-Catcher

Frog Goes to Dinner

The Great White Man-Eating Shark

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Harold s Fairy Tale

Harry the Dirty Dog

Here Comes the Cat

Hondo & Fabian

Hot Hippo

How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food?

How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon?

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?

How Much is a Million?

I Stink!

I Want a Dog!

I, Crocodile

If You Made a Million

In the Night Kitchen

Inch by Inch

The Island of the Skog

Let s Give Kitty a Bath!

A Letter to Amy

Lon Po Po

Make Way for Ducklings

Max s Words

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

Millions of Cats

Moon Man

Mouse Around

The Mysterious Tadpole

No Roses for Harry

Norman the Doorman

Officer Buckle and Gloria

One Was Johnny

Owen

Pet Show!

Peter s Chair

Pete s a Pizza

A Picture for Harold s Room

Pierre

Princess Furball

Rapunzel

The Remarkable Riderless Runaway Tricycle

Roberto the Insect Architect

The Snowy Day

Stanley and the Dinosaurs

Stars! Stars! Stars!

The Stonecutter

A Story A Story

The Story About Ping

The Story of the Dancing Frog

Strega Nona

The Swineherd

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

T is for Terrible

The Talking Eggs

Teeny-Tiny and the Witch-Woman

Time of Wonder

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Trashy TownThe Trip

The Ugly Duckling

Waiting for Wings

Wallace s Lists

A Weekend with Wendell!

What s Under My Bed?

Where the Wild Things are

Whistle for Willie

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People s Ears

Wild About Books

Wings: A Tale of Two Chickens

The Wizard

Spanish Versions of:

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type

Curious George Rides a Bike

Danny and the Dinosaur

Harry the Dirty Dog

How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?

Make Way for Ducklings

Moon Man

Owen

Strega Nona

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

The Caterpillar and the Polliwog

The Snowy Day

Where the Wild Things Are

Whistle for Willie

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People s Ears

And:

Where the Wild Things Are (French)

Interview with Maurice Sendak

Raffi's Singable Songs for the Very Young

• Title: Raffi's Singable Songs for the Very Young
• Musician: Raffi
• Audio CD release Date: October 15, 1996
• Original Release Date: 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rounder / Umgd
• ASIN: B0000003H4
• Also Available in:
• Audio CD, Cassette, Vinyl, MP3

Classification: Music

Annotation: Raffi sings very singable, fun songs that are fun for the whole family.

Evaluation: Raffi is the KING of children's music. After all these years there is nothing like him still! He's fun, and developmentally appropriate without being condescending. Though I was first introduced to him through my baby brothers (who had every lyric memorized from a very young age), I still have some of the lyrics memorized. I still share it will my read aloud children and it is still just as beloved to all! A must hear for your little ones, this is the key to supporting many developmental stages. It also supports literacy equally, while all the time being the best fun ever!!

Raffi's Website: http://www.raffinews.com/

Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!

Title: Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!

Author: Mo Willems

Price: $14.99

Pages: 40 pages

• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
• Publisher Date: February 28, 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786837462

Classification: Picture Book

Annotation: Ever just not want to go to bed? Well, pigeon DOES NOT WANT to go to bed and will think up any and every reason why not to!

Evaluation: The cleverness of Mo Willems is most definitely giving a pigeon a children's mentality. And it comes to life once again in another of his Don't Let The Pigeon...series. He mirrors children's behaviors in a fun and sarcastic way without condescending them. Everyone, as a result, can relate to this silly little pigeon. A fun book to read and reread! Note to fans: notice a little Knuffle Bunny there?

Author Website: http://www.mowillems.com/