Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Library Day

We went to the library again today. Z wasn't in the mood to deal with the other kids that were running around there today so I did the book choosing. I seem to have done a good job because he enjoyed reading them all.

First we read One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root. This book has it all ... numbers, animals and a bunch of fun onomatopoeias (sound words!). I mean, how can you resist a book with words like "splish" and "pleep". The book also has a good message about working together to achieve a goal. It even has a set-up for a sequel with another animal getting stuck in the muck at the end of the book! The illustrations by Jane Chapman are bright and are good depictions of animals without fake cartoony eyes or smiles.

The next book we read was Edwina, The Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct by the always popular writer and illustrator Mo Willems. Z was a big fan of the dinosaur and of the chocolate chip cookies that she kept baking for everyone! The story has a good message about accepting who you are but also communicating with others who don't understand you and winning them over to your side.

And how could I let Z grow up without reading Ludwig Bemelmans' classic Madeline? (The picture is of the French version and for some reason they spell it Madeleine in the French and Madeline in the English version.) I have always loved the simple story, the emotion, the caring between friends. Even though this was the third book we read today, Z was engaged and enjoyed the story. I would love to find the animated version of it and show it to him now that he knows the story. I loved it when I was young ... when they show all the girls who drew scars all over their arms and tummies and legs. But I also love the simplicity of the book. "In two straight lines they broke their bread and brushed their teeth and went to bed." Classic.

We had a good library day today and I can't wait to enjoy these books some more this week.

Happy reading,
K and Z


Buy One Duck Stuck, Edwina, The Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She Was Extinct and Madeline on Amazon or find them at your local library like we did!

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