news from the book nook: feathered friends

I know it's been spring for a few weeks, but today it truly feels like spring. The windows are thrown open and a breeze that smells of mud and things that make me sneeze floats in. The sun is warm, but the air is cool. Blue herons fly low over the lake searching for murky, shallow waters. Geese honk and waddle about in pairs. In a few short weeks, we'll have a front row show to gaggles of goslings and all the ugly, cuteness they bring (even if it means listening to more honking in the middle of the night...).

So as tweets, songs, and honks fill the air, I think its time I revisit my news from the book nook series. Today in honor of all my chatty winged neighbors, let's talk about some of my favorite children's books featuring feathered friends. If you're new to the blog, visit here to find out the inspiration behind the news from the book nook series. Hope you find some old favorites and new ones to cherish in the list. 

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein {Preschool-2nd Grade}
Little red hen can't help herself. She constantly interrupts the bedtime stories her Papa reads. She must warn Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Grettel about their impending doom. Chicken Little needs to know that the sky is not really falling. If your a fan of Mo Willems, this is definitely a book for you! Your little one will adore little red hen. And she might even remind you of some interrupting children you may know ;)

Duck & Goose by Tad Hills {Preschool-1st Grade}

Duck and Goose have both claimed a gigantic mulit-colored egg as their own.  They each have their own dreams and plans for the egg. Neither wants to share with the other. Until they learn their egg isn't an egg at all... The first of many tales of friendship featuring Duck and Goose. 

Chicken Big by Keith Graves {Preschool-2nd Grade}
A hilarious take on the classic Chicken Little story. Out of a gigantic egg comes something large and all together not chicken-like. Maybe it's an elephant? Or a squirrel? Kids will cackle over the chickens' silly bird-brained reasoning and cheer when Chicken Big saves the day!

Blue Chicken by Deborah Freedman {Preschool}
A curious chicken watches the artist illustrate the pages of the book he's in. A bucket of blue paint is left out, and suddenly the chicken is no longer white but blue! The paint continues to spread across the pages and onto the other barnyard animals. Simple, rhyming text, but the magic here is in the illustrations. Great for little ones who love to imagine and anyone who enjoys the writing/illustration process. 

Big Fat Hen by Keith Baker {Toddler-Preschool}
Color illustrations and simple, rhyming make this a great book for even the youngest of listeners. A storytime favorite of mine for teaching rhyming and counting. Bonus: the kids love to do the motions that go along with the rhyme.

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman {Preschool-1st Grade}
Poor little baby bird can't seem to find his mother, but he's determined to find her. He asks a dog, a cat, a cow, and even a snort! In true Dr. Seuss style, this book is perfect for beginning readers.

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell {Preschool-Kindergarten}
Three little owls are left all alone. Where has their mommy gone? The two older owls have some ideas, but the littlest, Bill, can only repeat, "I want my mommy!" The illustrations flawlessly convey three tiny, anxious, scared owls in a big, dark forest. But before anyone can get too scared, in swoops mommy!

Looking for other book suggestions? Check out spring favorites and frogs and bogs for more spring reading inspiration!

news from the book nook: squirrel friends

Random observation of the day: did you know squirrels take dust baths? I thought dust baths were mostly reserved for elephants and chinchillas, but I just witnessed our little bushy-tailed neighbor enjoying a bath in the flowerbed. Naturally, I wondered if he remembered to dust behind his ears. Then I thought wouldn't that make a lovely story for a picture book...which brings me to this inspired blog post. You have the squirrel to thank for it.

Fall storytimes were always some of my favorites: farms, leaves, pumpkins, apples, and squirrels. Everybody loves a good squirrel story. Maybe it's because so many of us can relate to their squeaky, loud antics. Or perhaps it's because they often seem to purposely place themselves in the middle of traffic and then dart out of the way at the last second (remember that commercial where the car swerves and the squirrels fist bump afterwards). Maybe it's the twitchy, bushy tail or the way they sniff out last year's buried nuts. Whatever it is - there's some lovely squirrel picture books out there!

Personally, my favorite story is from my own childhood - we had a "pet" squirrel who lived in the grove of trees down the road. He'd take nuts from our hands, sit on our shoulders, and follow us to our houses every evening. Amazingly, he didn't have rabies, but he might have had some mites... He was our friendly squirrel friend named Paul. One day I'll write his story, but until then here's some of my favorite squirrel friend books:

introducing: news from the book nook

This post has absolutely nothing to do with food, crafts, or couponing. It's about another love in my semi-frugal life...books. Specifically, children's books.

I'm a children's lit nut. It's the truth. You might as well know now. I can spend hours in a bookstore devouring the newest children's books. I've been known to suggest personal favorites to complete strangers who look bewildered at the volume of books to choose from in the children's section. My heart is full when walking by a impromptu storytime featuring Pigeon and Duckling. Many of my best childhood memories include books...reading The Little House series aloud, devoting a whole tote bag to all the reading material needed while on vacation because I really would fly through ten of them, weekly trips to the library with my mom, bedtime fairy tales, reading/memorizing my first book - Green Eggs and Ham and reciting it to all who would listen...my life would not be my life without a stack of books somewhere nearby.

the library books that currently occupy our coffee table

And now begins my rant...
I believe the books you read your child should be chosen with the same care and attention as those that you read for yourself. Big words and colorful pages do not make a book worthy of bedtime. Nor does the fact that it cost you $3 dollars instead of $12 (let's put my frugalish self aside for today). Or that it has a lovely little pop up at the end of the book. Am I done ranting, yet? No, but I promise there is a point...

My heart hurts when I come across families that have turned reading into a chore. I grow teary (quite literally) and mournful about the problems parents are sometimes unknowingly causing by pushing reading into a mundane task. Never mind the implications of setting your child up for failure in school. It takes the magic, surprise, and enjoyment out of reading. I could write a whole book on the appalling acts I've witnessed against reading from the mouths and hands of parents and caregivers. I could, but I won't because it would a depressing and angry memoir. Thankfully, I could also write volumes about parents who understand the value of reading. Parents who believe in bedtime stories, read alouds, and daily storytimes. Parents who search for books with lyrical language, rich vocabulary, and relate-able books for their children. Parents who know that it is not simply about enabling your child to succeed in life, but providing an avenue for them to dream, imagine, play, learn and grow.

It is in this reading spirit that I present this little series entitled: news from the book nook. Old beloved classics, nonfiction newbies, and hilarious picture books recommendations rolled into informative and fun blog posts. Why? 1) You are never to old to laugh at a Mo Willems book 2) Even the best parents might need some new recommendations 3)  I miss recommending my faves and helping children find that one book that will forevermore be their favorite 4) Because you probably have a baby shower coming up where board books are requested...or maybe that's just my life :)

What does this have to do with being frugalish? Everything! Reading cost nothing and yet it provides so much! The library provides the perfect place to "shop" without sacrificing a penny (just make sure you return or renew on time!).

Stay tuned for the first installment!