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Cybils Time- four reviews

December 17, 2016 Claire Annette Noland 3 Comments

As a reader, I always have a stack of books waiting. But, right now, my stack is extra tall.

I am excited to be a first round judge for the easy reader and early chapter book categories of the Cybils Award given to the best children’s books of the year selected by children’s book bloggers. In the next few days, I’ll share some of the great books I’ve been reading.

Many of you are familiar with books written and illustrated by Mo Willems. I am especially fond of his Elephant and Piggy books for beginning readers and two of these books have been nominated for this year’s award.

I Really Like Slop! By Mo Willems (author and illustrator)
Easy Reader ages 4-7
Hyperion

Gerald the Elephant and Piggy are as different as night and day. Elephant is a worrier. Piggy isn’t. Gerald is serious. Piggie is a happy-go-lucky character. Gerald thinks things through before doing something. Not Piggie. But, they are best friends. So, when Piggie prepares slop and wants Gerald to try it, what’s a best friend to do?

I Really Like Slop is a super funny book which will appeal to young readers. The illustrations are simple but very expressive. The witty text is written in speech bubbles with back and forth dialogue. Hand this to children who are hesitant to try new things and be prepared for lots of laughing out loud.

Themes: Friendship, politeness, trying new things

 

The Thank You Book by Mo Willems (author and illustrator)
Easy reader ages 4-7
Hyperion – 2016

Please, Mo – say it isn’t so! The Thank You Book is the final title in the Elephant and Piggie series. (I’m wiping away a tear here.) Once again, negative Gerald and exuberant Piggie banter back and forth as Piggie goes about thanking ALL of his friends. Gerald is sure that Piggie will forget someone. The suspense builds as Piggie finally realizes that he forgot to say thank you to his best friend, Gerald. But, Gerald isn’t worried about himself. He wants to make sure that their faithful readers aren’t forgotten.

The Thank You Book is a truly satisfying ending to the series which has helped so many young people become readers. The text is deceptively simple and says so much in so few words. This books show the importance of saying “thank you” and the illustrations show how much these simple but heartfelt words mean to the recipients. The Thank You Book is one that should be in every home, school, and public library.

Themes: friendship, thankfulness

Fortunately, Mo Willems has started the new series,  Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! These easy readers are written by various children’s authors and Gerald and Piggie are featured in the beginning pages introducing the book to readers.

Two books in this series have been nominated for the Cybil Award in the Easy Reader category:

We Are Growing! By Laurie Keller (author and illustrator
Easy reader ages 4-7
Hyperion 2016

This is a book about grass growing. Yes, really. As each blade of grass grows, it describes what special characteristic it has. One is tallest, one is curliest, and another is silliest. But poor Walt, he doesn’t know what he is. This book is clever and hilarious!

Themes: friendship, encouragement, self-esteem

 

The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat (author and illustrator)
Easy Reader ages 4-7
Hyperion 2016

Hippo, Crocodile, and two Squirrels are excited about cookie time but, there is a big problem. There are only three cookies! The animals become frantic as Hippo keeps breaking the cookies. Readers will laugh but also be trying to figure out the math so that each character gets their fair share. The book contains great vocabulary such as nervous, fiasco, and equal which a young reader can figure out from the surrounding text and great illustrations.

Themes: friendship, sharing, problem solving

 

On a final note, a few weeks ago we took a field trip to meet some beautiful elephants who happen to be movie and television stars.

Here are a few snapshots of our adventure:

 

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Previous Post: « Field Trip Friday – book review and a visit to the jail
Next Post: Knitting + Picture Books = Love… six books to keep you warm »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Joan Schoettler says

    December 18, 2016 at 3:38 pm

    Thank you for sharing. Great ideas for the holidays.

    Reply
  2. Tina Cho says

    December 19, 2016 at 1:15 pm

    I want to read all those books! Thanks for sharing, and great photos!

    Reply
  3. Cynthia says

    January 5, 2017 at 6:54 am

    Have fun serving as a judge for the Cybils Awards!

    My children love the Gerald and Piggy books. Recently, my daughter was reading The Cookie Fiasco too. It looks like you have some great selections to review.

    Reply

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Hello. I’m Claire Annette - reader, writer, teacher, and field trip planner extraordinaire. Here at A Field Trip Life you will find ideas for adventures large and small and the kids’ books that inspire them. Sign your permission slip. Let's go!

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Members, you can vote for books in all of the regions.
Cast your vote at this link: 

https://www.scbwi.org/crystal-kite/CK8

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and I'll be doing story time and craft at the Three River Public Library on July 11th at 10:30

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We are enjoying a lovely summer’s day with CARL’S SLEEPY AFTERNOON thanks to our friends @laughingelephantbooks who sent us a copy signed by Alexandra Day and Carl!
Happy 40th Anniversary, Carl! You are such a good dog 🐾❤️
Carl has an opportunity to have a quiet and sleepy afternoon but does he rest? Not our Carl!
We’re on our 3rd generation loving this noble good dog and look forward to reading about his adventures for many more years!

#gooddogcarl #picturebookdogs #summerreading @mrernierecommends @christinabeeghly @laurennolandhajik @roxannenoland @gn705
Summer is the best time to beat the heat by taking Summer is the best time to beat the heat by taking your young ones to a museum. And I suggest, before you go, you share the delightful picture book, MousterWorks, written and illustrated by @angelac.hawkins
Young mice, Cosette and Pépin, join Grand-mère on a splendid adventure through a mouse hole into a museum. They gaze at brilliant interpretations of well-known painting by famous artists such as Claude Monet, Mary Cassatt, and Edward Banister. Cosette excitedly engages with the art while her brother, Pépin, searches for cheese in the art and eventually realizes that he can be an artist and paint his favorite things.

The final photo is 2.5 year old Alice at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento. She was captivated by "Home Sweet Home" (after Seurat, Manet, and Pippin) painted by Wangari Mathenge

Art is for all ages.

To read my full review, visit my blog https://afieldtriplife.com/mousterworks-lets-go-to-a-museum/

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Look what we found featured at the library! #nancy Look what we found featured at the library! #nancybesshadadress 
Thank you @tularecountylib 
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Happy Summer! At the top of our summer "to do" lis Happy Summer! At the top of our summer "to do" list is visiting libraries where I love to see staff recommendations. SUMMER: A Solstice Story written by @kelseyegross and illustrated by @renataliwska is such a lovely picture book.
Owl, Squirrel, Raccoon, Bear, Sparrow, Rabbit, Woodpecker, and Deer gather to celebrate the arrival of summer with its gifts of light and new life. The friends share sprouts, fresh water, flowers, and fruit each accompanied by special wishes for the little ones to shine, glow, shimmer, gleam, and blaze bright with solstice light. They spend the day with festivities as they dance, splash, hop, and savor a forest feast.
I shared this with a group of children the night before the Solstice so that they understood how special this date is. Then, we read it again as the sun set on the longest day of the year after partaking of many of the same activities done by the woodland animals. They really enjoyed the center pages that fold out.
This is a soft, gentle, and breathtakingly beautiful picture book that should be enjoyed all summer long. @pbspree #summersolstice #summerasolsticestory
We have been Good Dog Carl fans for almost 4 decad We have been Good Dog Carl fans for almost 4 decades so we are excited to celebrate 40 years of our favorite picture book series! I love the book mom and Carl’s adventures are the best!
So let’s raise a toast to Carl, the very good dog, and to  @laughingelephantbooks Here’s to many more wonderful years of ❤️ filled stories.
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This is a wonderful book for all families and will help everyone understand the sacrifices that our brave service members make. I just wish this book had been available when I was teaching children in military families.
Written by Forrest Zenone, Skyler Zenone, and Tricia Stone-Shumaker
Illustrations by Penny Weber
@poppysadventures1 @pennyweberart @laurennolandhajik #militaryfamilies #asmuchasthestars
#mrernierecommends
FYI… sweet peas are blooming on Old Creek Road a FYI… sweet peas are blooming on Old Creek Road around Whale Rock Reservoir
The story of how they got there reminds me of Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney “You must do something to make the world more beautiful.” 
Read how these delicate blossoms came to grace the highways in San Luis Obispo County: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/johnny-appleseed-sweet-peas-planted-120000196.html

Lupine, poppies, and wild mustard are also blooming.

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