the kids are picking away

Today's the day folks are sharing their offsprings'  favorite recent reads over on 5 Minutes for Book in this month's edition of Kids' Picks.  Man, I love this one, because it's always cool to read about kid's books!  Here are a couple books that are bringing my three goofballs some reading joy.

Pudge, the two year old wonder boy, is still loving on last month's selection of Far, Far Away by John Segal, and another of the library books we checked out reminded us all of that story.   Lulu the Big Little Chick by Paulette Bogan features the same type of independent-seeking child character, and apparently that theme resounds with him.  He's also a gigantic fan of two other books we found on the "new books" shelf at the library ("new" is often used quite liberally).  Regis Faller's Polo and Lily and Polo and the Magic Flute are wordless books and absolute gems.  Each time we read them together, I get to put on a new performance of sorts, and the illustrations are adorable. 

Red set her sights on a wordless book of her own, as well, in Mercer Mayer's Frog Goes to Dinner.  I oh-so-clearly remember reading this book with a three year old JAM and his emotional outburst when he was afraid that the chef was going to throw the frog out the restaurant door.  Funny how his also-emotionally-charged little sister had the same exact reaction upon the first read!  But, she didn't hold a grudge, and actually came to really love the story, reading it to herself again and again.  And happily, we even got to honor April's National Poetry Month status in our multiple readings of Button Up! Wrinkled Rhymes by Alice Schertle, a collection of hilarious poems centering on animals and their clothing, and perhaps the best illustration of an ostrich that I've ever seen!

As far as JAM goes, well, the bookshelf is currently covered with many books in the Star Wars: Jedi Quest and Star Wars: Last of the Jedi series.  Needless to say, I'm not reading these along with him, so I'll just have to take his word that they're enjoyable to a Star Wars loving nine year old type of reader.

And as a slight twist to this carnival's theme, I'm going to share what I've dubbed "Mommy's Big Library Mistake."  As a teacher, I would prepare like mad for group storytimes, pre-reading books, thinking about how to read it, what parts to emphasize, and predicting how my class would receive the book.  Now that I've traded in the grand preschool teacher salary for the just-as-rewarding mommy role, I grab books off the library shelves as quickly as I can, usually glancing at the illustrations and a page or two of text before I make my snap judgment about putting it in the checkout bag.

Well, my haste bit me in the butt this time.

Big Cat Pepper by Elizabeth Partridge is a touching and gentle story about the love between a boy and his cat, and when the kids pulled it off the shelf before naptime one day, we were going along just fine until my stomach began to sink.  I saw it coming several pages in advance, but I knew that if I stopped the story midway, I'd have two irate kids on my hands.  So, in conclusion, this is a lovely book to read with a child who is grieving the loss of a dear pet, but not the best reading selection when you'd like your kids to be calm and peaceful as they begin their much needed naptime.  Unless you like comforting a weeping little girl and a confused little boy.


Link up and share your kids' book love,