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About the author:
A three-time Caldecott Honor winner for Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity, Mo Willems has also won two Geisel Medals for There is a Bird on Your Head! and Are You Ready to Play Outside? and his books are perennial New York Times bestsellers. Before he turned to children’s books, Mo was a writer and animator on Sesame Street, where he won six Emmy Awards. Mo lives with his family in Massachusetts.
About the book (from Amazon.com):
Gerald is careful. Piggie is not. Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can. Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to. Gerald and Piggie are best friends. In Listen to My Trumpet! Piggie can’t wait to play her new instrument for Gerald! But is she ready to listen to his reaction?
My take on the book:
If you’ve followed Book Dads, you know we are big fans of Mo Willems and Elephant and Piggie. I enjoy reading all of Elephant and Piggie books with my daughter, and it’s hard to pick a favorite. Depending on the day you ask me, I would probably say the name of the last one we read together. Right now, our very favorite is “Listen to My Trumpet.” It has my daughter giggling almost from the very beginning. And when I say giggle, I mean full-out belly giggles. It’s just fantastic fun. I read this at the story time I do at the local library and the parents were laughing as much as the kids were. I can’t recommend this series enough. We’re slowly collecting the series and look forward to Mo’s next release!
0 Comments on Review: Listen to My Trumpet! as of 1/1/1900
About the author (from Amazon.com):
Mark Fearing is an award-winning illustrator, cartoonist and animator. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife, daughter, two dogs, and a cat.
About the book (From Amazon.com):
Every kid worries about making friends at a new school, but when nine-year-old Bud accidentally catches the wrong bus and finds himself launched into deep space, new friends are the least of his problems! At Cosmos Academy, Bud learns that Earthlings are the most feared creatures in the galaxy, and even Earth’s location has been hidden! With the help of his new friend, Gort, Bud goes undercover as a Tenarian exchange student. Unfortunately that means everyone thinks he’s a pro at anti-gravity Zero-Ball (even though he’s really only a pro at watching sports). And with paranoid Principal Lepton threat ening to expel any Earthlings (into outer space) and only Gort’s hacked Blip computer to help them determine Earth’s co-ordinates, will Bud ever find his way home?
My take on the book:
Graphic novels are some of my favorite reads, but they’re not always suitable for young readers. Meet author/illustrator Mark Fearing and his new book, “Earthlings.” The day I received this in the mail from Chronicle Kids, I read it from cover to cover. I loved the story as well as the fantastic cartoon illustrations.
The next morning my three year old daughter saw the book and was immediately intrigued by the cover and the colorful illustrations. Within minutes, she was even pagin through the book and asking me to read it to her. So we’ve been reading and I’m not sure how much she’s really getting, but she’s having a hoot with the pictures.
All in all, this is a brilliant, fast-moving science fiction adventure dads will have a blast reading along with the kids. I highly recommend checking this one out.
0 Comments on Review: Earthling as of 6/17/2012 7:23:00 AM
Good News, Bad News by Jeff Mack (Published by Chronicle Books)
Review by Chris Singer
About the author (from Amazon.com):
Jeff Mack is the author and illustrator of many books for young readers including Hush Little Polar Bear, Frog and Fly, and Clueless McGee. He lives carefree in Western Massachusetts where all the clouds have silver linings and everyone’s glass is half-full. Visit him online at www.jeffmack.com.
About the book (from Amazon.com):
Good news, Rabbit and Mouse are going on a picnic. Bad news, it is starting to rain. Good news, Rabbit has an umbrella. Bad news, the stormy winds blow the umbrella (and Mouse!) into a tree.
So begins this clever story about two friends with very different dispositions. Using just four words, Jeff Mack has created a text with remarkable flair that is both funny and touching, and pairs perfectly with his energetic, and hilarious, illustrations.
My take on the book:
This has become an instant favorite in our home and for a variety of reasons. The artwork is fun and the expressions on the animals really convey their emotions very nicely. This is an excellent book for toddlers and young preschoolers. The cause and effect nature of the story is really relatable to young readers and will elicit lots of giggles.
We’re big fans of wordless picture books and although not completely wordless (Mack uses only 4 words in the story), I love that my daughter can look at the pictures and determine what is going on and tell me the story. We’ll definitely be looking for more books from Jeff Mack to enjoy!
If you’d like to purchase Good News, Bad News, please click on the affiliate link below. Thanks for your support!
0 Comments on Review: Good News, Bad News as of 1/1/1900
If you’re looking for a pre-schooler friendly app that will get your child into the writing spirit, then you’ve got a winner with Write On. Baccizrecognizes the importance of learning the proper strokes in forming letters. This will make for fewer frustrations down the line for you and your children when they start writing prolifically later on. The app does a fantastic job of modeling how each letter is formed and allowing for your child to practice his or her writing in a very enjoyable setting. Write On gives your child a wonderful head start in learning their letters, sounds, and animals. Both you and your child will start pre-school with more confidence, knowing that they’ve already mastered the alphabet.
Learning Block Letters
Write On Homescreen
The homescreen has the whole alphabet displayed with inviting wide-eyed animals next to their corresponding letters. Kids LOVE animals, and these animals are very appealing to the eyes. Tapping on the speaker icon will play a wonderful rendition of the alphabet song, which your child will be sure to play and sing along to again and again and again. The letters are highlighted as the song is sung, so your child can learn each letter in no time. Tapping each individual letter will take your child to the handwriting page introducing that letter, its beginning sound, and an animal that begins with that letter. (A new 99 cent add-on allows you to add 70+ more animals to the app.) A short animation is played when you tap on the animals. If you tap on the letters (upper-case and lower-case), it will announce the letter, the sound, and will also demonstrate how to write it. Your child can trace the letters in blue, green, red, or yellow. If you have a stylus, it will give your child an even better feel of writing the letters and words. The eraser serves as an undo button. There is even an option to learn the cursive letters! Young children appreciate the “sophisticated” letters, too.
David Axe is a military correspondent living in Columbia, South Carolina. Since 2005 he has reported from the U.K., Iraq, Lebanon, Japan, East Timor, Afghanistan, Somalia, Chad, Nicaragua, Kenya, Gabon, Congo and other countries. He is a regular contributor to Voice of America, C-SPAN, Wired and many others. David can be reached at david_axe-at-hotmail.com.
Matt Bors is a nationally syndicated editorial cartoonist and illustrator based in Portland, OR. His work has appeared in newspapers and magazines across the country, including The Nation, The Los Angeles Times, The Village Voice, The Stranger and The Boston Phoenix. He also contributes local cartoons to The Oregonian.
About the book:
Street battles with spears and arrows in sweltering East Timor. Bone- jarring artillery duels in Afghanistan's mountains. Long patrols on the sandy wastes of southern Iraq. For four years, war was life for David Axe. He was alternately bored out of his mind and completely terrified. It was strangely addictive.
As a correspondent for The Washington Times, C-SPAN and BBC Radio, Axe flew from conflict to conflict, reveling in death, danger, and destruction abroad while, back in D.C., his apartment gathered dust, his plants died, and his relationships withered. War reporting was physically, emotionally, and financially draining-and disillusioning. Loosely based on the web comic of the same name, with extensive new material, War Is Boring takes us to Lebanon and Somalia; to arms bazaars across the United States; to Detroit, as David tries to reconnect with his family-and to Chad, as David attempts to bring attention to the Darfur genocide.
My take on the book:
It's only been over the last few years that I've developed a new appreciation for the graphic novel. Reading Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 got me hooked into reading more graphic novels, and I have learned they are a fantastic medium for non-fiction as well, with Greg Neri's Yummy being one of the best I've ever read.
For David Axe, the author of War Is Boring, war was his life. For four years he covered military conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor, Somalia, Chad and Lebanon. During that time as a correspondent for The Washington Times, C-SPAN and BBC Radio, David flew from war zone to war zone, getting to the story about the true victims of the world's conflicts.
If you're looking solely for the gritty details from someone up close and in the midst of real life combat situations, you're going to be a bit disappointed. While there is some of that, this graphic novel is mostly about Axe's inner conflict between what he describes as being "alternatively bored out of [his] mind, and completely terrified. It was strangely addictive."
What gets shared in War Is Boring, is very similar to the soldier memoirs I have read. Axe gets an exhilarating rush from surviving artillery duels and the like just as many combat soldiers do. The longer he covers conflicts, the more his personal relationships deteriorate, and he seems lost and drained when he's back stateside trying to reconnect with friends and family. When the phone rings with an assignment, Axe is almost relieved to be leaving his family and to be off chasing another dangerous story abroad.
The narrative is very compelling and jarring in a manner I didn't expect it to be. Instead of being shaken by the details of the conflicts Axe
1 Comments on Review: War Is Boring, last added: 3/11/2012
War Is Boring » ‘Compelling … Jarring’: A R said, on 3/11/2012 3:22:00 PM
[...] From BookDads: The narrative is very compelling and jarring in a manner I didn’t expect it to be. Instead of being shaken by the details of the conflicts Axe covered, I found myself disturbed by his attitude and behavior which makes you believe he had a sort of death wish. Just as I found myself even more compelled to get to the heart of Axe’s inner conflict, the graphic novel was over and the reader is left with a bit of an empty feeling. Whether intentional or not, as I’ve thought about this, it actually makes a lot of sense. Unless we’ve been involved in an armed conflict, we’ll always fall short of a true understanding of what that is like. Perhaps Axe and other combat journalists know that better than anyone as they still traverse the bridge that separates the two worlds of civilian life and combat. Share this:ShareFacebookStumbleUponEmailRedditRelated posts: [...]
About the author (translated from Dutch from the author's website):
Loes Riphagen is a Dutch author from Oene, a small farming village in the Veluwe. She graduated in 2007 at the Art Academy in Rotterdam. Loes debuted in 2008 as a children's author and illustrator of the picture book Bedroom Nocturnal animals (the fountain). With her cheerful and cheeky illustrations Loes Riphagen falls on the public, the press and various juries. For her illustrations in the book house beestenboel (Fountain), it Flag and Pennant 2010 and receive the book Bedroom Nocturnal animals, she was nominated for the children's retail 2009/2010. Superheldjes (Fountain) is even elected core title of the Children 2011. Currently lives and works in Rotterdam Loes.
About the book (from Amazon.com):
Part picture book, part game, and all fun, Animals Home Alone, introduces readers to fifteen animals who begin to act in unusual ways when the humans are away. In wordless pages, each animal finds a unique activity or bit of mischief to get into. At the book's conclusion, readers are asked questions about what the animals have done.
My take on the book:
We discovered Animals Gone Home on our most recent visit to the library. When they're well done, I really enjoy wordless picture books and we've discovered a few lately which have been big hits in our home so we decided to check this one out.
Animals Gone Home is part book, part game and a lot of laughs. The illustrations are so cute and quirky and they have had my daughter laughing out loud and squealing with delight. Each page gives readers a hilarious view of what happens when families leave the animals alone at home.
Today, while Tessa was supposed to be napping, I could hear her laughing. When I opened the door to her room, she was sitting in the corner in her little rocking chair, leafing through the pages of Animals Gone Home and just having the time of her life!
I'm not sure I've ever seen my daughter enjoy a book more (and that's saying a lot!). What's been so much fun for us is that we can tell a different story each time we "read" it. Tessa is about to turn 3 and I get such a thrill listening to her tell me what's going on in the pictures. We've literally sat and poured over the pictures and telling and retelling for an hour at a time. The best part is that neither of us have grown tired of it yet!
0 Comments on Review: Animals Home Alone as of 1/1/1900
We're coming up on the 2nd anniversary of my tenure here at Book Dads. I got my yearly reminder of this when I received an invoice for another year of web hosting.
I've enjoyed managing the site and am proud of how much has been accomplished over the past 2 years including 443 posts (with well over 300 being apps and book reviews).
If you're into stats, we've done pretty well there as well:
For a good amount of time, I was averaging over 25-30 posts a month but that has dramatically gone down and has my life has gotten busier, my time available on the site has decreased and I'm lucky to get 10 posts up a month these days.
All that said basically hints at what's coming next but it will be a bit different than you might expect.
For one thing, I don't want to simply drop the site and walk away. Like I mentioned above, I just got an invoice to pay for another year of hosting. I intend to make that payment. And gladly as a matter of fact. The truth is while I don't have time to contribute like I used to, I'm hoping someone is and I'm willing to front the hosting fee. For one thing, we've built up quite a resource here at Book Dads. With over 300 reviews on the site, anybody visiting can find lots of great books to share with their kids and there's no reason for me to take that away at all.
But I am looking for a person or two or three who want to take on the site and do the bulk of the work posting reviews. I intend to catch up on all the reviews I haven't gotten to yet, so I'll be sticking around. I just can no longer handle the daily grind this site deserves and needs.
FlyingBooks Reader is a terrific interactive e-book reader for kids with many cool additional features (and more to come in the very near future). It allows you to create different personal profiles so one e-book can be read aloud and recorded by many different narrators. So, if you’re away on a trip, or if the grandparents are not in town, your child can still feel that bond of reading with loved ones. Better yet, if you’re on a road trip and you have the iPad in your hands, you can listen to recordings of your child reading to you! Another feature your child will love is the ability to create your own books with the photos from your iPad Camera Roll or you can take live shots with your iPad camera and put them right into a book. You can also add text and record your voice(s), too. Cool, right?
FlyingBooks e-store
Create Your Own Books!
Record your own narration!
In terms of book choices, the FlyingBooks store currently offers over 40 books, which are labeled with recommended age levels. More and more books are being added, as they are getting a great response from talented and passionate writers from all over the world. Currently, the book narrations can be heard in English, German, French, and Spanish. Another great feature is that you can see a short trailer of each book when you tap on it. You could also download a demo of the book, which lets you preview and listen to a few pages, so you and your child can decide if the story is a right fit for you. Each book costs $2.99. There are some discounted bundles available, too. In the coming weeks, mini puzzles will be offered for each book to encourage active learning, along with coloring pages. There will also be an auto-play option on the read-to-me feature to make it easier for the little ones.
The FlyingBooks app is a FREE download, so I highly recommend you give it a try. Go ahead. Create a book. Download a demo. Record yourself. Record your child. Let the joy of reading begin!
3 Comments on iPad Kids App Review: FlyingBooks Reader, last added: 2/28/2012
Jennifer Luitwieler wrangles The Dog, a cat and 3 perfect angels who adore her and find her to be the best homeschool teacher ever in the universe. When she is not filling their sponge-like brains with limitless knowledge, she wrangles ideas into sentences with an imaginary golden lasso. (Of course it's imaginary. No one has a real golden lasso.) She writes on crafts and sports in monthly columns. Her first book, "Run With Me: An Accidental Runner and the Power of the Poo," was released in 2011. You can find her at http://jenniferluitwieler.com, on Twitter @jenluit and Facebook.com/jenluitwieler
About the Book:
Author Jennifer Luitwieler shares her insightful and often hilarious journey of accidentally running to stop the dog from pooing under her sewing table. What starts as a way to deal with the dog, ends up providing the space to confront some deep issues: from endlessly comparing herself to others, to competing with herself to be stronger, faster, and to pursue endlessly her own reasons and goals.
Run With Me: An Accidental Runner and the Power of Poo is about finding the unapologetic courage to confront who we are as humans. As women. As men. As parents. As spouses. As divorcees. As managers and employees. As people. And who we are, as a whole, are people created by a loving God to do good things. We are strong, capable, confident, intelligent, creative and amazing. Discovering the courage is the first step towards realizing the life we’re all seeking.
My take on the book:
Scooch over, Tiger Mom. Make room for Samurai Mom, Jennifer Luitwieler. Her book, Run With Me: An Accidental Runner and the Power of Poo, brings to light many of the issues and challenges life has thrown at her (that many Prime Parents like me can relate to), and how she has battled back. I’m not a runner and not very fond of dogs (I definitely loathe dog poo), yet I found this book to be an enticing read, thanks to Luitwieler’s whimsical, honest, and charming writing, right down to her must-read endnotes. She unabashedly reveals her battle scars and courageously confronts all the “poo” in her life.
As a reader, you feel as though Luitwieler has invited you to run with her. One appreciates her candor and trust, as she opens up and shares about her personal story and life. Her powerful narrative and vivid childhood memories evoke emotions many can identify with. As you go running and training with her, you feel stronger and liberated knowing that it’s okay that you do
0 Comments on Review: Run with Me: An Accidental Runner and the Power of Poo as of 1/1/1900
A three-time Caldecott Honor winner for Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity, Mo Willems has also won two Geisel Medals for There is a Bird on Your Head! and Are You Ready to Play Outside? and his books are perennial New York Times bestsellers. Before he turned to children’s books, Mo was a writer and animator on Sesame Street, where he won six Emmy Awards. Mo lives with his family in Massachusetts.
About the book (from Amazon.com):
Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.Gerald and Piggie are best friends.
In Happy Pig Day! Piggie celebrates her favorite day of the year! But will Gerald the Elephant be included in the festivities?
My take on the book:
For my daughter and I, every time we read a Gerald and Piggie book, it’s like celebrating Happy Pig Day! As usual the inside book cover also had my daughter howling, “Look, the Pigeon!”
This latest Gerald and Piggie book is another instant classic that has had my daughter walking around and exclaiming “Happy Pig Day!”
It’s not only a fun story, but it also is a nice little lesson about friendship and being included in others’ holiday celebrations. While it doesn’t provide the laughs like some of Mo’s others, the added touch of the friendship lesson is nice and gives an extra dimension to this story.
Here’s some other reviews of Mo Willems’ books. Enjoy!…
Eric Van Raepenbusch said, on 2/14/2012 9:19:00 AM
Chris — Is this a new Elephant and Piggie Book? I haven’t seen it before. The funny thing about Elephant and Piggie is that I think I like them more than my kids! I think they get a little annoyed with how excited I get when I read the books.
Besides being Valentine’s Day, February 14th is also International Book Giving Day. The mission of International Book Giving Day is to get new, used, or borrowed books in the hands of as many kids as possible.
Three simple ways you can get involved with International Book Giving Day:
1. Give a Book to a Friend or Relative
Is there a child in your life who would enjoy receiving a book on February 14th? In lieu of or in addition to a card or box of chocolates, choose a good book from a bookstore or public library. Do not underestimate the value of a library book lovingly selected and wrapped in pretty paper.
2. Donate a Book(s)
Wrap up a box of children’s books that your kids have outgrown and get them in the hands of children who could really use a book or two. Donate your books to your local second hand store, library, children’s hospital, or shelter. Alternatively, donate your books to an organization working internationally to get books in the hands of kids.
3. Leave a Book in a Waiting Room or Lobby.
Choose a waiting room where kids are stuck waiting and there are few to no good books available. Purchase a good book, and deposit your book covertly or overtly in your waiting room of choice. The goal here is to spread the love of reading to kids, so choose a fun book, nothing controversial.
Please, help get new, used, or borrowed books in the hands of as many kids as possible this February. Spread the word:
Hooray Chris! Thanks for spreading the word – I’m looking forward to hearing what book(s) you give to whom
Amy said, on 2/9/2012 6:48:00 PM
Hi, Chris and readers! Leave a comment on the International Book Giving Day webpage here to have your name included on the list of people participating in International Book Giving Day! Thanks!
“World Read Aloud Day is about taking action to show the world that the right to read and write belongs to all people. World Read Aloud Day motivates children, teens, and adults worldwide to celebrate the power of words, especially those words that are shared from one person to another, and creates a community of readers advocating for every child’s right to a safe education and access to books and technology. By raising our voices together on this day we show the world’s children that we support their future: that they have the right to read, to write, and to share their words to change the world.”
With just about a month away from LitWorld’sWorld Read Aloud Day celebration (March 7, 2012), and we want to start the celebration early with this special caption contest and giveaway.
* And in honor of World Read Aloud Day, one lucky winner (must be a librarian or school teacher) will also receive a free ($250 value) Skype reading/workshop (45 minutes) with author Mina Javaherbin for their classroom on World Read Aloud Day.
Mina Javaherbin is the award-winning author of two children’s picture books (GOAL!and The Secret Message), both of which debuted in 2010.
This is a fantastic opportunity for teachers/librarians to celebrate World Read Aloud Day with their classroom.
How to enter:
* Comment below with your caption idea for the photo above. Be sure to include an e-mail address in your comment. Also please write who you will donate the Skype presentation too.
One winner will be chosen. You will have until 11:59 PT on Sunday, February 19th to enter. (Sorry, but U.S and Canada only please). I’ll be choosing the winner then and notifying them by e-mail. If I don’t get a response within 48 hours, I’ll pick new winners.
Monica Barrois became inspired to write a children’s book after spending so much time reading and re-reading her grandson’s favorite book to him. Squirrelly Squirrels is her first published children’s book.
About the book:
Come along on a delightful and surprising journey guaranteed to make you smile and perhaps giggle. Be amazed at the antics of some backyard squirrels who attempt to outsmart a little boy and his grandpa. Discover how the story ends, or if it ends after all?
My take on the book:
This book was a lovely surprise. One of my favorite things about being a father is watching my daughter take in all the wonders in the world. It’s like reliving your childhood all over again.
In this story, the play and adventures of the squirrels are captured and seen through the eyes of a child. The illustrations are really well done and their colorful and playful depictions of the squirrels add so much to the story.
Barrois has some suggested activities included at the end of the book to help enhance reader’s storytelling experience.
This is an excellent first effort worthy of a spot on your bookshelf.
2 Comments on Review: Squirrelly Squirrels, last added: 2/6/2012
I have a few squirrelly squirrels in my backyard! We put out a few peanuts the other day on our deck. Now they come right up to the window begging for more. It kinda creeps me out just like the part in the new Willy Wonka movie with Veruca Salt. Yikes!
Nice review, Chris!
Shonnette Smith said, on 2/6/2012 3:08:00 PM
Squirrelly Squirrels is like that greeting card that makes you laugh out loud and you know it’s a keeper.
Chocolate Me by Taye Diggs and illustrated by Shane W. Evans
Review by Chris Singer
About the author:
Taye Diggs is an actor whose credits include motion pictures (How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Chicago), stage (Rent, Wicked), and television (Private Practice). He lives in Los Angeles and New York City with his wife, the actress Idina Menzel, and their son.
About the illustrator:
Shane W. Evans is the illustrator of numerous award-winning books for children, including Black Jack: The Ballad of Jack Johnson, and Osceola: Memories of a Sharecropper’s Daughter, winner of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. He lives with his wife and daughter in Kansas City, Missouri.
About the book:
The boy is teased for looking different than the other kids. His skin is darker, his hair curlier. He tells his mother he wishes he could be more like everyone else. And she helps him to see how beautiful he really, truly is.
For years before they both achieved acclaim in their respective professions, good friends Taye Diggs and Shane W. Evans wanted to collaborate on Chocolate Me!, a book based on experiences of feeling different and trying to fit in as kids. Now, both men are fathers and see more than ever the need for a picture book that encourages all people, especially kids, to love themselves.
My take on the book:
I love the title and cover art of this enduring children’s book. To me, “Chocolate Me” and the boy’s open arms grabs your attention immediately and invites you to dive right in. The illustrations are fantastic and the story involves an important message both kids and parents can relate to.
I give a lot of credit to Taye Diggs for writing this book. As I learned when I had the opportunity to participate in an interview with Taye, this was obviously based on some deeply personal experiences. While I got caught up a few times in some awkward wording in the story, I still enjoyed the creative and compassionate manner in which the story was shared.
All in all, a nice book for parents, teachers and librarians looking for a story with a worthwhile message to share with children and their families.
Anorak is a kids magazine for boys and girls between the ages of 5-12 years old. Anorak is packed with stories, games, things to make and places to visit.
My take on the magazine:
As a kid one of my favorite things was receiving mail and I had a few magazines that come to me as a kid (Highlights and Ranger Rick are just two I distinctly remember). Even my daughter (approaching her 3rd birthday in April) loves getting mail from her grandmother and her own little Baby Animals magazine.
If Anorak was around when I was a kid, I would love getting a magazine like this in the mail. Anorak is full of brightly colored, cartoon-like illustrations, comics, stories and games. There are also some articles parents can read with their kids. For the edition I had, the theme of the issue was toys so there was cool article about toys people have enjoyed over many generations (doll houses, Legos, etc…).
I thought the magazine was really creative and entertaining. There were a few things I think parents will also really enjoy. One, there’s no advertisements or ads. As a result, this magazine is packed with over 60 pages of fun for young readers.
The second and my favorite thing though were the book reviews written by kids. This issue had 8 book reviews written by kids from age 6 to 12.
I highly recommend Anorak, which is now available in the United States. Visit any of the sites below to see where you can purchase copies:
Thanks for letting me know that Anorak is now available in the US! I have heard great things about this magazine. We are a tad magazine-happy at our house.
Scot Ritchie is an award-winning illustrator of more than 30 books for children including Why? by Catherine Ripley and Let’s Go! by Lizann Flatt. He loves to travel and his work has taken him to London, Berlin, and Hawaii. He lives in Vancouver.
About the book:
Six lucky children have won first prize in a geography competition: an amazing trip around the world by hot-air balloon. Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, a huge shopping mall in the United States, a bustling Beijing market, a Bollywood film set — each stop is an adventure. The reader’s challenge is to find all six children at each of the 12 destinations. Young readers get a captivating snapshot of many different parts of the world as they use their detective skills to round up the travelers for the next leg of their journey. Scot Ritchie’s wonderfully detailed illustrations make each vibrantly colored spread a treat to delve into over and over again.
My take on the book:
Up, Up and Away reminded me of the Where’s Waldo? books except here you’re tasked with looking for seven characters (6 students and 1 of their teachers) instead of one. There are 12 puzzles (destinations) in all: Bolivia, United States, Canada, England, Denmark, Italy, France, Egypt, China, Thailand, India and Australia. The puzzles are definitely challenging enough for kids ages 6 up to 11.
This is a fun book and would please any young reader interested in world geography and travel. The back of the book has additional information about the pictures depicting real travel destinations. For example, readers will learn about the Incas, who believed they came from Lake Titikaka, or “Womb of Mankind” as they called it. They’ll also learn how the king of Denmark gave permission to Georg Carstensen to build an amusement park in the center of Copenhagen and is the oldest operating parks of its kind in the world.
The back of the book also has solutions to each of the puzzles. You’re definitely going to need to check your answers because the children are really well hidden and there’s lots of phony look-alikes.
My daughter enjoyed looking at the pictures but she was a bit young to really be able to find the solutions. All the same, if you have elementary-age children, this is a great book to take on a trip with you or to take to the doctor’s office.
1 Comments on Review: Up, Up and Away, last added: 1/23/2012
Last week, I was asked, along with four other bloggers, to take part in a phone interview with Taye Diggs about his new children’s book calledChocolate Me!
Before we dig into the interview, let’s take a quick look at what Taye’s new book is all about:
Chocolate Me! is a children’s book based on Taye Diggs’ experiences of feeling different and trying to fit in as a kid. Originally written in college as a poem about his difficulties understanding his looks and differences as a child, Chocolate Me! was transformed into a children’s book after teaming up with longtime friend, illustrator, Shane Evans. According to Taye Diggs, Chocolate Me! is a book about “Self-esteem, self awareness and self-love.”
Here are some highlights from the interview:
* Taye on his struggles as a child to understand race and how he fit in:
“There was that bout , my bout with my struggle at that time as a 5 year old, just understanding the nature of race as far as white people and black people are concerned or black people and black people are concerned. Right about that time when I was 5, after that conversation I had with my mother, that kind of sustained me because things remained fairly simple until, it was around 5th grade, because we moved a bunch of different places. And then later, we moved back into another suburb where the neighborhood was very diverse, but my grade was not. It was an interesting kind of contradiction, where the suburb we moved to was when I was first introduced to upper-middle class black people, but I was the only black person in my class. So there were still issues. I remember there was one black girl and me and whenever people would pair off, they would immediately just assume that we would partner. They weren’t very liberal with their thinking, the teacher included. When I got into high school I started to hear, just from the black community, “oh everybody is more attracted to the light skin girls and the light skin dudes and the light eyes.” And from within the race the light skin black people and more lighter brown people would make fun of the darker people. So then it was a completely different kind of struggle. And then funnily enough it was when dark skinned men, and this was just from my perspective, there seemed to be a shift where all of a sudden we saw Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, Tyson Beckford. For me personally, when I saw Tyson Beckford kind of haled as this beautiful man by all people, that caused a shift in my being. And I remember literally waking up and walking the streets feeling a little bit more proud.”
“The idea to write this book came far before I was a father. I knew that I wanted to be a father, but that had no influence on the actual writing of the book. The inspiration came straight from more of an experience of being a son… my mother’s son. That being said, once we got pregnant, my perspective completely transformed and though the words didn’t change, though the message didn’t change, how I felt about what I was writing changed and I just started to get really excited for the day
1 Comments on An interview with Taye Diggs about his new book, “Chocolate Me”, last added: 1/23/2012
Young authors from Alabama and Washington chosen over writers from 27 states
MrsP.com announced today the names of the two Grand Prize winners in its third annual “Be a Famous Writer” contest, a nationwide creative-writing competition for children held every September.
Sara Smale
Sarah Smale, age 8, from Washington State, won top honors in the 4-to-8 year-old category for The Treasure Decision, an adventure story featuring a mysterious treasure, pirates and an unusual bookstore. Emma Stowe, age 12, from Alabama, won in the 9-13 age group for Thinking Cap, a compelling and amusing detective story, set in a grade school, following the search for a lost gerbil.
“Every year I look forward to sitting by the fire with a cup of tea and reading what the kids have written. I was thrilled that the number of stories submitted continues to grow every year, and the quality remains so high,” said TV star Kathy Kinney, who portrays Mrs. P and is one of the creators of the website. “I feel very good about this generation of kids and the great jobs their parents and teachers are doing educating them.”
The Grand Prize winners will have their stories produced as videos featuring Mrs. P, which will be presented on her popular, free critically-acclaimed website. Original artwork by award-winning Portland, Oregon-based illustrator Robin E. Kaplan will help bring the stories to life. The videos will be posted on the website (www.MrsP.com) beginning in March. Each winner will also receive an actual bound copy of the story and illustrations.
Emma Stowe
MrsP.com announced that it will also produce two Honorable Mention stories from the contest as videos: Sally’s Poor Brain, written by 8-year-old Andrea E. Langholff from Wisconsin, because of its witty lesson about a brain that literally walks away in search of intellectual stimulation; and Eugene Fitz and the Impish Sly Mischievous Garden Gnome, by 13-year-old Jared Spry of Arizona, for its funny and clever depiction of a boy who suspects the family garden gnome has committed a crime.
The winners for this year’s contest were selected by a panel of celebrity judges: Bonny Becker, best-selling author of the Mouse and Bear picture books; David L. Ulin, literary editor of the Los Angeles Times; and Renèe Watson, author of the acclaimed novel A Place Where Hurricanes Happen; and Mrs. P herself.
MrsP.com was launched in 2008 to encourage a love of reading. The website is the recipient of the American Library Association’s “Great Website for Kids.”
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793 million adults worldwide lack basic reading and writing skills. This World Read Aloud Day, the globe will connect like never before. Let us together read and share to advocate for the power of words and stories.
Be sure to register at litworld.org and check out our Activity Page where you can download our WRAD badge, flyers, worksheets, recommendations, certificates, and more to help spark your World Read Aloud Day preparations and celebrations!
Upcoming events: * LitWorld Presents: WRADvocate Ambassadors - Read about the people who will publicize WRAD locally in their area, and act as liaisons for citizens in the community. Detailed profiles will be posted on the World Read Aloud Day blog as we count down toward March 7.
* LitWorld’s Live Orange Broadcast Series: “The Raw Power of Words: The Art of Spoken Word in the Classroom.” January 17, 7:00PM EST: In what will be a fantastic episode to kick-off this year’s Live Orange Series and the countdown to WRAD 2012, Pam Allyn will host two acclaimed guests: internationally renowned spoken word performance artist and HBO Def Poetry Jam veteran Kelly Tsai; and New York City’s Youth Poet Laureate of 2012, Ishmael Islam. More information on our special guests can be found on the Facebook page, where you can also RSVP for the event. See you then!
* Books of Wonder in New York City!: We are excited to announce that Books of Wonder will host LitWorld’s signature World Read Aloud Day event. Stay tuned for the official schedule with details about our special guest authors and exciting workshops all day long.
* Join a LitWorld Video Chat: If you would like to take part in a video chat on World Read Aloud Day as a LitWorld classroom or special guest reader, please sign up at litworld.org.
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With A Dad’s Point-of-View, you’ll get the man’s perspective on issues such as: being the best parent, man, and husband you can be; dealing with a second marriage, blending family traditions, and raising strong families; surviving the teenage years; and being a single and SAHD (Stay-at-home-dad). The author offers advice, insight, and a reality check on family-related subjects as well as the bigger issues of life, morals, and faith.
My take on the book:
A Dad’s Point Of View is collection of columns by Bruce Sallan written over a number of years and compiled into a book. Bruce is a National columnists who has written from the Dad’s Point of View for a number of years now. He has been a Stay At Home Dad long before the trend caught national notice and has been a strong voice for fathers on the radio, in print, and on twitter where you can follow him and his weekly DadChat twitter parties. He has two teenage boys and lives with his family in Southern California.
The book is broken up into sections like Marriage, Holidays, Faith and Religion, Family Life, and Big Ideas and each of the pieces in those sections tie in with the chapter title. That makes this book great to pick up and read at any point without worrying about continuity or context.
I enjoyed reading the pieces on parenting and marriage more than those on Religion and Big Ideas but I think that says more about me then it does about the writing. As a columnist Sallan is paid to have a strong opinion and to clearly communicate that opinion in a way that people can resonate or respond to. There a number of times when I do not share that columnist point of view but I do enjoy reading his thoughts and helping me articulate my own.
1 Comments on Review: A Dad’s Point Of View, last added: 1/23/2012
James, what a nice review. TYVM. As you know, #DadChat has become a great place for parents to hang, learn, and network. We are growing more each week. I invite your readers to join #DadChat any Thursday, from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., PST. And, of course, I would be happy if people bought the book and passed it around.
If you’re a regular visitor to Book Dads, you may have noticed a few changes in recent weeks. Besides the small cosmetic and layout changes, I’ve been working hard to make the site more community-driven. One reason I’ve decided to do that is simply that it’s just time for a change. I’m approaching the 2nd anniversary of my time here as Book Dads editor and principal book reviewer. In that time, there have been over 400 posts to the site as well as my participation with several non-profit campaigns, giveaways and even a trip to the 2011 KidLitCon in Seattle. I’ve invested a lot of time and energy into Book Dads and really hope I’ve achieved my goal of making Book Dads a go-to source for dads (and moms, teachers, librarians, etc…) to find great reads to share with their kids. And honestly, I’m getting a bit burned out. I have a few new projects that I’d like to devote more time too and while I want to continue keeping Book Dads a relevant resource, but the reality is, I can no longer do it chiefly on my own.
All of that serving as an introduction can finally lead me to share with you some of the changes here at Book Dads and how you can be involved, if you so choose…
1.) Making Book Dads more of a community
Remember Ning? Ning was a platform used to create a community-driven website centered around a particular theme or issue. Ning used to be free, but is no longer. I wanted to do the same thing with Book Dads so I am using BuddyPress (basically as they call it: Social networking in a box. Everything you need to run your own self-hosted, WordPress-driven social network). BuddyPress is built to bring people together. It works well to enable people with similar interests to connect and communicate.
2.) Who can join?
The simple answer is anybody can join. But who might want too? That’s the better question. I’m hoping dads will join and might consider reviewing a book from time to time, especially if it’s one they really enjoyed sharing with their kids and think others might enjoy it as well. By signing up and requesting to be a reviewer, I can give them the ability to post their review right here on Book Dads. I will also be posting review requests so any member dad can choose to review that book. I’m hoping this will result in more reviews on the site and will make Book Dads an even greater resource for parents and others.
I’m hoping moms will also get involved and while they won’t be given the ability (at least right now) to write up a full review, they can certainly recommend books and interact with other members on the site.
I’m also hoping teachers, librarians, literacy non-profits, authors, book app developers, etc… will think about getting involved and becoming a member. For example, teachers can share ideas with other teachers about books they’ve enjoyed using in the classroom. Authors can post news about their latest children’s book they think is perfect for dads. The potential for a great community and resource is within anyone’s grasp because all members can get involved with the Book Dads community in their own way.
3.) How does it work?
* You can register on the Book Dads home page (look for the sign-up/log-in bar on the right sidebar) or visit this link.
* After you register, please make a profile and start connecting with other members. Join a group. Start a discussion in the forum. Have ideas or requests? Feel free to friend me and we can start talking about it.
If yo
1 Comments on Become part of the Book Dads Community!, last added: 1/23/2012
Kitt Pirate: Snaggletooth’s Treasure by Ben Oliver and illustrated Juan Garcia
Review by Chris Singer
About the author:
Ben Oliver is making up stories almost every day of the week. Thinking up exciting adventures and daring heroes, there is nothing more fulfilling for him than to put these stories into written words for others to read.
“Kitt Pirate” is a character that has been rattling around his brain for some time until he thought the story was ready to be released for others to enjoy.
About the book:
X marks the spot! Everyone knows that, but where’s the island to go with it? Kitt Pirate knows that his crew of salty seadogs expects him to find the fabled gold from the treasure map. He is the youngest buccaneer captain sailing the Caribbean and he has more wits than any grown man, but Caverock Island? Well, that’s a bit of a problem. The treasure beckons. Weeks tick by without a sign. Then an uncharted speck appears on the horizon. Land!
My take on the book:
Even as I approach the ripe age of forty, I still like to read a good pirate adventure! Kitt Pirate isn’t your average pirate. In fact, he isn’t like any other pirate I’ve come across before. Kitt doesn’t pillage or plunder ships on the high seas. While indeed, he and his crew are on the search for a hidden treasure, they mean to share it with those less fortunate than themselves. Reminds me of one of my favorite stories growing up (Robin Hood)!
Parents will definitely approve of this I imagine as well as knowing that the villains in the story aren’t other pirates, but several species of a rather gigantic size and stature (I don’t want to spoil the story for you!).
The story is action-packed and well-paced. Readers will enjoy how Kitt Pirate and his crew have to work as a team to solve several problems in their search for Snaggletooth’s Treasure. Kitt Pirate is written for middle readers but I think it makes an excellent read aloud as well for younger children. All in all, a good read for both kids and their parents.
Ethan Zohn is a professional soccer player, a philanthropist, and a lecturer. He was the season winner on Survivor: Africa. He is a cofounder of the African AIDS/HIV project Grassroot Soccer, and he has hosted the environmental travel series Earthtripping. He lives in New York City.
David Rosenberg is an award-winning television and book author. He has written for the shows Rocket Power, Rugrats, and The Wild Thornberrys, and he has developed animated children’s programming for Walt Disney and Klasky Csupo. He was a contributor to the anthology Male and Female Under 18. He lives in Toluca Lake, California.
About the book:
Following professional soccer player Ethan Zohn on another global adventure, this entertaining and educational handbook explores the cultures and customs of Mexico. From a walking tour of Mexico City and visits to the ruins of the country’s ancient civilizations to a once-in-a-lifetime butterfly migration sanctuary and colorful Lucha Libre wrestling, this investigation explores the real Mexico, avoiding the commonplace tourist traps and border towns. Activities presented in each chapter include learning Spanish, science and math projects based on Mayan cultures, creative writing and art exercises inspired by Mexican folk art and celebrations, and even simple traditional recipes. Staying true to its series, this installation provides the opportunity to research a charitable project in Mexico and make a difference in this wonderful country.
My take on the book:
If you’re a parent of a young soccer player, Ethan Zohn and David Rosenberg’s Soccer World: Mexico is an excellent way to get him or her interested in reading and learning about Mexican culture.
In this book, the reader follows Ethan and his friend Gabriel in Mexico City through an exploration of Mexico’s culture and history. Throughout the book, there are also various projects: a recipe for avocado salsa, beeswax candles, composting, making your own currency system, and a water filter, as well as the opportunity to learn new Spanish vocabulary.
The book closes with a section called “Make A Difference.” Here, readers are encouraged to find a project in their community to give back too. Ethan even encourages readers to e-mail with news about their project.
Families will enjoy working together on the activities in this book. If parents and their young reader enjoy this book, there’s also several other books in the series: Soccer World South Africa and Soccer World Spain. Soccer World Mexico and Soccer World Spain are also available in Spanish.
I Can Draw People and I Can Draw Animals (Available from Usborne Books)
Review by Chris Singer
About Usborne Playtime:
Usborne Playtime is an exciting series of learning activity books, bursting with original, yet simple things for young children to do.
Other books in the series include: I Can Cutand Stick and I Can Crayon.
About the books:
I Can Draw People and I Can Draw Animals have very clear step-by-step picture instructions which show exactly what to do. Precise drawing is not required, so even young children will be able to achieve some delightful results using just crayons and felt-tip pens.
My take on the books:
I love Usborne Books and I couldn’t resist picking up these while at a book sale/fundraiser at my daughter’s school several weeks ago.
If you have a young child with any interest in drawing or who is constantly asking you to draw things (I can raise my hand for both of these), these books are just the kind of thing which can help you and your children out.
My daughter loves to draw and actually has blown us away with her ability as she can already draw circles for heads, complete with eyes and smiley faces and she’s not even three yet. She also is always asking me to draw animals and people.
Since I’m artistically inept, these books are perfect for me as well. The directions are easy to follow and you may be just as surprised as me when your finished drawing actually looks close to the one in the picture.
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With the holidays, we sometimes get a bit nostalgic, bringing back fond memories of our childhood. If you enjoy vintage children’s books with classic illustrations (e.g., The Little Golden Books) and would like to share them with your child(ren), then you should definitely consider The Ladybird Classic Me Books app. They are wonderfully narrated with British accents (as listening to The Three Little Pigs reminded me of the narrator from the Thomas the Train TV Series), and you are given to option of customizing stories with your own voice and sound effects.
Buying the app (99 cents) gives you access to one book, The Zoo, which is part of the Ladybird Learning to Read Book series. This book introduces children to the lion, tiger, monkey, elephant, giraffe, camel, brown bear, polar bear, kangaroo, sea lion, penguin, hippopotamus, and panda. The book is beautifully illustrated and will be enjoyed by young readers. My son enjoyed the animal sound effects and eventually recorded some of his own.
What makes these books interactive is that each of the pages contains editable “hotspots.” You activate the hotspots by touching the circle on the upper right hand side of the page. When you touch the hotspots with text, the text is read aloud, and when you touch the illustration hotspots, you hear dialogue or sound effects. Another great feature is that you could erase the default hotspots (double tap and swipe), create your own hotspots (draw and create), and then record yourself (hold down to record). So, if you want your child to hear your narrated version of the story or read it together with added sound effects, then you could record away. Children can also record themselves reading the text. You always have the option of going back to the original recording.
Additional books cost $2.99 each. I caught them on sale one day for 99 cents, so I bought a couple of extra books. Currently, there are ten classics available: Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Gingerbread Man, The Three Little Pigs, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, The Ugly Duckling, The Little Red Hen, Chicken Little, and Dinosaurs. Spoiler Alert and Warning: Because these books are from London, the story you may be used to might differ from what you are used to hearing. For example, in this classic version of The Three Little Pigs, 2 out of the 3 pigs are eaten, so you might not want to share this with very young children. Also, for The Gingerbread Man, this version doesn’t contain the rhyming pattern of “Run, run, as fast as you can. You can’t catch me, I’m the Gingerbread Man,” but you could always create a hotspot and add on to the text.
Sometimes, you listen to a book recording, and you might be thinking, “I could read that st
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Listen to My Trumpet by Mo Willems (Published by Hyperion)
0 Comments on iPad Kids App Review: Write On as of 1/1/1900
[...] From BookDads: The narrative is very compelling and jarring in a manner I didn’t expect it to be. Instead of being shaken by the details of the conflicts Axe covered, I found myself disturbed by his attitude and behavior which makes you believe he had a sort of death wish. Just as I found myself even more compelled to get to the heart of Axe’s inner conflict, the graphic novel was over and the reader is left with a bit of an empty feeling. Whether intentional or not, as I’ve thought about this, it actually makes a lot of sense. Unless we’ve been involved in an armed conflict, we’ll always fall short of a true understanding of what that is like. Perhaps Axe and other combat journalists know that better than anyone as they still traverse the bridge that separates the two worlds of civilian life and combat. Share this:ShareFacebookStumbleUponEmailRedditRelated posts: [...]