friday's five

Seriously, how in the world have so many cool books been published in the last twelve months that had until now gone under my radar? The kids have really enjoyed asking me on a daily basis if they can choose something from my "pile of those Cybils books." Slowly but surely, we're making our way through the gigantic piles, and it's been a blast. It appears to me that this year there are even more good candidates on the list, and I'm enjoying sharing a handful of ones that we've enjoyed each week.

1. Hurry Down to Derry Fair by Dori Chaconas and illustrated by Gillian Tyler -- Oh, the county fair. I don't think my kids have much of a concept of the county fair, for we haven't experienced anything like it together. But, with this gorgeous picture book, they can see the joy that can be found in a livestock show, petting zoo, quaint rides, and all the yummy fair food that one can eat. The last pages open up to a four-page spread that encompasses the entire fair and is simply beautiful.

2. The Ocean Story by John Seven and illustrated by Jana Christy --  The water cycle comes to life in full color in this richly told story, drawing in young children quickly and teaching them at the same time. There's a lot here, from a basic sense of the water cycle to an important message about the need to keep our oceans clean and a strong respect for all the creatures down below. My five year old daughter is a big fan of this one!

3. Back to School Tortoise by Lucy M. George and illustrated by Merel Eyckerman -- The What if's are getting to this adorable tortoise as the end of the summer approaches. Preparing to go to school can worry even the best of us, and this is a theme that young kids can certainly understand, making this a good title to pull out in late August. I do believe that kids and adults both will get a kick out of the fun ending. I know I certainly appreciated it!

4. Reading to Peanut by Leda Schubert and illustrated by Amanda Haley -- In our house, we're watching with wonder as Red is learning to read and write, sounding out words left and right, and using invented spelling to express herself in writing each and every day. So, this cute book couldn't come at a better time for us! This book perfectly captures the joy that kids experience as they learn to read and write, seeing the written word come to life around them, and suddenly being able to put their thoughts down in writing!

5. The I'm NOT SCARED Book by Todd Parr -- We all know Todd Parr, and this new offering from him lives up to all his others. Kids adore his illustrative style, which is so accessible to young artists, and his messages of connection, respect and acceptance are always welcome to parents reading with their children. This message works well with little ones, since this is a theme they will understand well.

As always, all opinions expressed here are mine alone, and not representative of the other judges or the Cybils Awards. I hope you find some books here that will bring a smile to your kids' faces! I encourage you to check out all the other nominated titles over at the Cybils Awards, and I am having a ton of fun reading through all the books and sharing my opinions with you all!


Bookishly yours,