friday's five

Summer reading programs are starting up at public libraries all over the country right now, so we're always on the lookout for new (or new to us) books for our daily reading. Each Friday, I like to focus on five picture books that my five and three year old children have enjoyed during the week. This week is a mix of a brand new and older releases. Enjoy!

1. Bugs by the Numbers by Sharon Werner and illustrated by Sarah Forss -- I usually don't spotlight books on here that I've already written up for review on 5 Minutes for Books, but this one (and the next one, too) is so fabulous, I could talk about it all day long. HUGELY creative and visually appealing, and it provides interesting facts for bug-ophiles like me and my kids. Some familiar bugs as well as more unique and perhaps lesser known critters are included, and every page is just delightful and eye-catching. On Monday, this will be featured in our column on 5 Minutes for Mom, along with a giveaway!!

2. A Butterfly is Patient by Dianna Hutts Aston and illustrated by Sylvia Long -- Here's another book that will be reviewed this week on 5 Minutes for Books, but I wanted to include it here as well because the kids and I have been oohing and ahhing over its beauty! With our flower gardens blooming, we're beginning to see more butterflies fluttering around, so this is a welcome addition to our collection as a resource as well as a story-time-readable nonfiction option. Gorgeous illustrations that are amazingly life-like.

3. The House that Mouse Built by Maggie Rudy and Pam Abrams with photographs by Bruce Wolf -- Here's another new one that is simply adorable. A story that builds upon itself is great for reading with young children as they can contribute to the read-aloud by repeating the parts again and again. In addition, the photographed scenes to illustrate the story are so fun to look at- my kids enjoyed pointing out what little things were used to create Mouse's home and outdoor area. (The window shutters on the cover are cut-in-half buttons!)

4. Big Sister, Little Sister by LeUyen Pham -- Here's a book that my kids just keep requesting over and over. I think Red enjoys it since she can relate to both positions in the family, and Pudge may not be a girl, but he fully understands about being the youngest sibling. A friend loaned us this book, and I imagine each of her three girls has a special feeling about this story, too! I enjoy Pham's illustrations- lots of earthy tones make up a cool color scheme, and they're just full of life, with the girls' expressions portrayed very realistically for cartoon-like drawings. This is a great one for families with more than one child, regardless of gender.

5. The Chicken Thief by Beatrice Rodriguez -- Here's my "controversial" pick of the week.Okay, maybe not controversial so much, but it's a book that lots of folks love that I have tried and tried to like, but just can't seem to. My kids, on the other hand, like pulling this one out to read, although they seem to be upset by the plot in a similar way as I am. It's a wordless book that depicts the tale of a fox who steals a hen right from the yard of a little cottage where she was pecking at the grass along with a couple other hens and a bear and rabbit were eating at a table on the lawn. The picture of her being grabbed shows her reaching out a wing to her supposed friends and calling out to them, while they all look equally as distressed. (Look at the cover- he's squeezing her beak closed as he runs off with her!) As the story goes on, her friends travel through the forest in pursuit of her and her captor, though she and the fox seem to be getting along kinda chummy. Yes, they become friends, even though he blatantly kidnapped her. It creeps me out, and being wordless, I don't know how else to tell the story without it sounding all Stockholm Syndrome-like. Anyone else feel differently about this book??


Another week of fun reading,