I just wanted to share what I have learned this week through blogging. Just think, cue A Whole New World from Disney's Aladdin or if you'd rather Dvorak's New World Symphony. Can you hear the music? Good I had no idea the kind of people I would meet through book blogging. It really is a whole new world for me and my sister and we're having a lot of fun. We've learned so much and met some...

  Adorable illustrations bring this wonderful board book to life. Children will love the vivid colors and love to crunch and munch along with the caterpillar. The story is brought to life with many creatures telling the caterpillar that he is going to have to get used to the idea that he is not made for flying. A beautiful butterfly encourages him that his dreams of flying may come true one day....

Okay so here are the alphabet books for this week. The first two I will just put the links so you can check them out. The other five will be listed below                       Alphabad Mischievous ABCs by Shannon Stewart Illustrated by Dusan Petricic This book is hilarious as it chronicles some very "bad" kids through some alliteration adentures. Kids getting themselves in trouble for doing some...

The cover of this book fascinated me when I saw it displayed on the library book shelf. A chicken riding a wave on a log like a surf-board just cried out, “Read me!” So, I did. The adventure is composed of three chapters, each with a new story, starring Louise, the Chicken. I have to admit, my hopes were dashed a bit when I discovered that Louise doesn’t actually surf, she just hangs onto a...

Reading is an important skill and helping children develop a love of the printed word often is a family affair. Part of why we love reading so much also has to do with our grandparents reading to our parents and taking them to the library. So we thought we'd give a thank you to our grandparents (who also let us eat lots of ice-cream). Grandparents B and Grandparents O read to us as children and...

This alphabet book was on a recommended biography list in a book about literature. The author Cynthia Chin-Lee also has written several other alphabet books including A is for Asia and A is for the Americas. Amelia to Zora is a picture book for older children 3rd grade on up. Each page gives a brief history of the particular woman and their contributions to the world She uses examples from all...

"Big A little a what begins with A? Aunt Annie's Alligator A A A" I couldn't resist and I just had to start the alphabet review books with Dr. Seuss's ABC. I love the rhymes, and zaniness of Dr. Seuss. This one comes with lots of alliteration and fun pictures I think it is a great book to use with young children to introduce them to the letters of the alphabet. My daughter loved the book. There...

The House on Mango Street is like a breath of fresh air. Part funny, part tragic and part hope. It's a lovely coming of age story for a Chicana girl growing up in Chicago surrounded by messages  telling her not to succeed. Somewhat biographical it details what life is like in the barrio. I read it for the first time in Spanish and since Spanish is my second language it became clear that I missed...

What a fun way to bring life to pictures through patented scanimation technology. The animals literally move across the page encouraging parent-child interaction and adding to any child’s wonder of the world.   Ours was a gift from generous ‘Uncle Charles’ who purchased it at Costco for my little horse-lover. Can we say brown noser? Needless to say it was and continues to be a hit in our house!...

A book filled with beautiful, serenity inducing photographs written by Lauren Thompson. This book was inspired by the tragedy that unfolded on September 11th and else where. Thompson reminds me that hope is always there. After reading this book I felt very calm and believe in the humanity of all people. It is so easy to turn on the news and think this world is full of despair. Thompson gives me...

After much reluctance and foot dragging, I finally gave in and read the 'Mormon Vampire' book. I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't gory and disgusting and terribly frightening- which were the main reasons I couldn't bring myself to read a book about vampires- I don't like creepy things. It was interesting and fun with just the right amount of creepiness. I will probably read the rest of the...

First off I love Ryan's books. I think she is a fantastic writer. This is 6th book I have read written by her. The others being Esperanza Rising, Becoming Naomi Leon, Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride, When Miriam Sang and Riding Freedom. All of which I highly recommend. Paint the Wind is about a girl named Maya and a paint horse named Artemisia. Maya is orphaned when her parents are killed in a...