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 Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature
by Joyce Sidman and Beth Krommes (illustrator), c2011
Some of my new favorite read-alouds are non-fiction titles. Children love
learning new facts and exploring the world around them. In Swirl by Swirl,
sparse rhyming language is paired with breath-taking illustrations that
invite children to search for spirals in nature---from curled-up animals to
tightly furled roses to spinning galaxies.
Pages at the back of the book give more detailed information about the
different spirals presented in the book, as well as giving a brief
introduction to Fibonacci numbers and DNA! Perfect for your budding
scientist that likes to know the why and how of everything.
Interstellar Cinderella
by Deborah Underwood and Meg Hunt (illustrator), c2015
Children like to be in the know, so they usually eat up favorite tales with
a twist. If Cinderella lived in space what would be her dream? To fix fancy
rocket ships, of course! With some help from her Fairy Godrobot and her
mechanical mouse, Murgatroyd, Cinderella just may get her wish when she
fixes the Prince’s broken space ship during the Royal Space Parade. I was
worried this book might be a little on the long side for my smallest
listeners, but they sat wide-eyed, entranced by the skipping rhyming
language and the clever plot twists. They especially seemed to love all of
Cinderella’s tools and gadgets and had a special fondness for Murgatroyd. My
favorite thing about the book was the surprise ending---and no, I’m not
telling!
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Friendshape
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld (illustrator), c2015
This simply sweet book can be used as an introduction to shapes, but
really is about friends and how they shape our lives. Lichtenheld’s
cheerful bright illustrations are a perfect match for Rosenthal’s
wise (often humorous) snippets of text that share the joys of
friendship. There are visual and verbal jokes throughout the book
which will tickle the funny bones of older children, but may not be
fully appreciated by the littlest. An example would be, that
“friends sometimes quarrel, but they don’t stay bent out of shape
for long”. The well-known duo that created the fabulous Exclamation
Mark! and Duck! Rabbit! have hit another homerun with this new
title. Enjoy!
Hiccupotamus
by Steve Smallman and Ada Grey (illustrator), c2015
Boom-ba-da-boom-boom!
Ooh, ooh, ooh!
Tip-tap-a-tippy-tappy, tweet-tweet-tweet.
Squeak, squeak, bubble, bubble, squeak, squeak, squeak!
Filled with riotous brightly colored illustrations, a driving rhythm
and lots and lots of noises for children to make, this new title was
a big hit during our summer reading program.
A squeaky mouse that sits near a bubbling creek starts the jungle
on a musical adventure. Before the end of this animal concert, a
crocodile playing his teeth like a xylophone, a screeching monkey
and a toe-tapping centipede (among others) will join the fun. But
who really started it all? Kids will giggle at the big reveal as an
unexpected participant in the band introduces himself. Such a fun
read-aloud, except for maybe at bedtime, as children will be
drumming and singing and moving along to all the jungle silliness!
To check out these books or get recommendations for other great
reads, please come see us at the Lincoln Public Library, 725 Pekin
Street.
[By
MELISSA OXBORROW,
Lincoln Public Library District] |
