Pete's A Pizza, William Steig

Oh if ever there was a little boy who could wish nothing but unlimited pizza, it would be my son Joseph. :0) He would eat pizza morning, noon, night as well as for snack. It is no wonder that Pete's A Pizza is considered a classic at our house. Joseph also loves to watch the video on you tube.

Pete's A Pizza is a delightful story about a little boy named....Pete!

 Poor Pete.  He’s having a bad day. But his father knows just what to do to cheer up his son.  Dad sets Pete down on a kitchen table, starts kneading him like dough, stretches him out, and tosses him back and forth with his mother. Then Dad begins to cover him in pizza ingredients. Although he pretends to pour on oil and flour, these substances are really water and talcum powder. Checkers come out next, substituting for tomatoes, and already Pete can’t control his giggling. Kids will be laughing long before then. Eventually, Pete the Pizza runs away, gets hugged, and heads out to play with his friends, happy at last. 

The story, accompanied by Steig’s watercolor and ink illustrations, is perfectly paced. Even the layout of the text, set in capital letters, makes it look like a printed recipe. Pete's A Pizza is an easy read for independent readers or make a great group or family read. Don't forget the pizza!

See you on the couch~

This week is National Children's Book week,,,what are you reading?

Fire truck Joseph created in Lego Class.

 Joseph is a huge fireman fan. Everyday on our way to Joseph's school we pass the Lynnwood Fire Station. The fire station is huge. It houses 8 fire trucks including a ladder truck and EMS vehicles. When the trucks are outside Joseph gets so excited to see them! His class recently went on a field trip to the fire station. Joseph was beside himself the whole time. :0)
I bet you can imagine the excitement when I read Fire Fighters A to Z to Joseph! He loved the large pages and the beautiful illustration. We have read it numerous times and has become a bedtime companion. The book we have been reading has been borrowed from the library. Something tells me that I might be making an amazon purchase! I hope the fireman in your family enjoys Fire fighters A to Z as much as we have.









What an awesome book! Fireman A to Z tells the story of firefighters leaving the fire station to
arriving and fighting the fire, and then returning home, all one alphabet letter at a time. In case you're wondering, X is for eXtinguished.

Along the way, tools and techniques of the trade are mentioned in simple single sentences. For example:

• "H is for hoses and hydrants we need."
• "L is for ladders that rise several floors."
• "K is for K-tool to open locked doors."

Chris Demarest, a professional illustrator, took his young son, Ethan, to a fire station open house. Ethan was smitten with the trucks, and Chris committed to becoming a fully-trained volunteer firefighter in his small community in New Hampshire. He then wrote and illustrated this alphabet-style book to show what firefighting is really like. It's exciting, and it's dangerous, and it takes skill and professionalism and dedication. And this book is exciting, it's professional, it's entertaining, and it's educational. Demarest's illustrations are bright and colorful and full of action. 

Sheep in a Jeep!

What is not to love about Nancy Shaw's silly sheep?! 

"Beep! Beep! Sheep in a jeep on a hill that's steep. Five silly sheep cram into one jeep, their high spirits and occasional lack of foresight (like forgetting to steer) combine to make a riotous, if ill-fated, road trip. Plummeting over a hill, tumbling into a mud puddle, yelping for help and the list goes on.

Nancy Shaw's rhyming story "Sheep in a Jeep" is funny, short and easy to read. The illustrations by Margot Apple bring the humorous story of five silly sheep to life. This picture book appeals to toddlers, preschoolers and beginning readers. "Sheep in a Jeep" would make a great read-aloud book.

Hope you enjoy Nancy Shaw's Sheep in a Jeep. There are 6 more books by Nancy Shaw; shop. ship, blast off, eat, hike, rick or treat. Nancy has a new book called Raccoon Tune.
Joseph's has loved all the sheep books. Looking forward to reading Raccoon Tune.

See you on the couch~ blair

More Spaghetti, I Say! Rita Golden Gelman

Wacky, wild, and absurd! A little monkey named Minnie can’t get enough spaghetti. Her friend Freddy, wants her to stop eating and play.  But once Freddy takes a bite of spaghetti......

It’s guaranteed to make children giggle.

There are many wonderful things with this book. It is an easy to read level 2, Joseph's favorite food next to pizza, is spaghetti, and it is a sure fire laugh out loud book. The rhyming story and colorful illustration make it a low to medium sensory book.

A few links I have found. Some include lesson plans. (Once a teacher, always a teacher!) If you would like more lesson plans than below, you can find a wealth on Google. Here a just a couple:
http://www.he.k-state.edu/fnp/BIB/spaghetti.html
http://bookwizard.scholastic.com/tbw/viewWorkDetail.do?workId=1150

There are video's on you tube that are darling with children acting out the story! There is also a scholastic video located there as well.
See you on the couch!

Somebody and the 3 Bears, Marilyn Tohurst

Somebody and the 3 Blairs is a fun new twist on the classic tale of Goldilocks the 3 bears. Rather than Goldilocks visiting the bears, a little bear named "Somebody" comes to visit the Blair family while they visit the park. During his visit he makes a huge mess in the kitchen, breaks baby Blair's chair, turns the bathroom into a lake and chooses baby Blair's bed to take a nap. When the Blair's return home and they are in shocked to find their house turned upside down. The biggest surprise is finding "Somebody" in baby Blair's bed. While the Blair's decide who to call, "Somebody" sneaks out the window.

Can you guess what attracted me to this book? For those of you who do not catch the connection, my first name is Blair!

Rarely do I hear others that I share this name with and usually they are guys or a last name. :-)

The first time I ever read this book was to our second daughter, Sarah Elizabeth when she was very small. Somebody and the 3 Blairs was an instant hit. Many a bedtime was spent sharing this book with my daughters. A each child thereafter fell in love as well. We have gone through several copies because they have been loved so much. Somebody and the 3 Blair's illustration are charming. The book does not stray far from the original story but is silly enough to make any young child laugh.

See you on the couch~

Excuse Me! Lisa Kopelke

WARNING: 

Be prepared for gobs of glorious gaseous gluttonies in this goofy comedy of bad manners! 

Excuse Me is laugh-out-loud funny! The topic might be a bit yucky but not too gross or disgusting. It is right up there with Walter the Farting Dog by William Kotzwinkle. 

The plot is simple.Frog has a gift and love for burping. Little does he know that he is grossing out everyone nor does he see what the big deal is about burping. The people of his town have had enough and send him up the river. Banished to where other frogs are just as gross if not worse. Frog finally realizes that his behavior is rude and down right disgusting. He grows tired of living with others that do not say excuse me. He misses his home and friends. So Frog develops a plan to sneak home.

The books illustrations are wonderful. I love how each frog depicted in the story has their own simple characteristics; for example the mayor wears a sash, while his wife wears pearls. :0)

Lisa's next book is on the wonderful topic on boogies, in Tissue Please. 

Luck for us her third book, The Younger Brother's Survival Guide addresses how to get along with your older sister. I am looking forward to reading both of these with the kids. Joseph thinks sneezing is the funniest thing in the world. I am sure he will enjoy Tissue Please. Emily wants to read YBSG. She thinks it might help her with her older sisters! :0)

Don't let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Mo Willems

Would you let a pigeon drive a bus? A pigeon driving a bus you ask yourself? This is no ordinary pigeon! He pleads, begs, offers to be your BFF throughout the book. He is very persistent.

All  my children love this book. It is really hard to read through with out a giggle or two. The simple pages and colors are a great contrast to the excitement it generates! My son Joseph gets so excited telling the pigeon NO! He loves to follow along listening to "Pigeon". Sometimes we play our game, could the pigeon do or drive......? There are several other books by Mo Willems. Visit his site here.
Or better yet follow pigeon as he "tweets"!
See you on the couch!

Goldie Locks and the Three Bears, James Marshall

A classic favorite. At one point, this was the ONLY book I was allowed to read to my son! It does not matter the version of the story or the book now in general but by far James Marshall's book is his favorite. The illustrations are funny and not too bright or busy.

I love how James Marshall portrays Goldilocks. She was not the curious child that ended up wandering to the Bears home. Instead, her reputation preceded her! When a new villager makes the statement, "What a lovely child." A village sets him straight by commenting, " That's what you think!" Goldilocks is a misbehaving, rude little girl with no manners! Little bear is so over dramatic. He makes me laugh.

James Marshall has several other favorite classic books. We love them all. Here are links for biographical information or a list of books written and or illustrated by James Marshall.

See you on the couch!

Click, Clack, Moo. Cows That Type, Doreen Cronin

It is only fitting that I should start with one of my sons favorite books. I can not even begin to imagine how many times I have read this darling book. 

You see, Farmer Brown has a problem. His cows and hens would like an electric blanket. Farmer Brown will not given them electric blankets because they are animals. The cows and hens go on strike. Duck is a neutral party. He delivers messages back and forth between Farmer Brown, the cows and hens. After much negotiation the cows and hens win. This is  much dismay to Farmer Brown. Duck might be neutral but gets a sweet deal in the end!

Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin make a terrific team. Their books are eye appealing, colorful, and easy reads. We love all their books but this by far is the best! You may also watch Click, Clack, the book on you tube.

This book is given ***** 5 stars from Joseph!