Counting Curls

We usually go to the library every week. I’m going to start posting some of the good books that we find! I usually go with a list, but always come back with more, which is of course fine. We have found some treasures in the random books Curly has pulled off the shelf! Here are this week’s favorites.

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes is a classic. I remember someone reading this book to me in either preschool or Kindergarten. I still vividly remember the illustrations. This book struck home for me as my name is also rather long and unique, although I’m not named after a flower like Chrysanthemum. If you don’t know this book, Chrysanthemum loves her name until she goes to school, where she gets teased because of her name. It all works in her favor at the end. I think this book is a good way to teach children how bullying and teasing makes others feel. Curly was certainly very into the story, and we had a short conversation afterward about being nice to others. She even requested we read it again! If she wants a second read, it’s a winner.

Muncha Muncha Muncha by Candace Fleming was one that Curly brought to me to put into the library bag. I’m glad she did! This book is about poor Mr. McGreely, who wants to grow a vegetable garden. But no matter what he builds around his garden, the rabbits always get in and Muncha Muncha Muncha his vegetables. This book has lots of onomatopoeia, making it fun to read and to listen to, apparently. Curly loved this one.

Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham is an alphabet book, but not like one you’ve ever read! Moose is so excited to get to the page that features him that he makes a mess of most of the pages, and behaves quite badly when he finds that he’s not even supposed to be in the book at all! His friend Zebra makes up for it at the end. This one had us all giggling.

Step Gently Out by Helen Frost is a beautiful book. The text is simple and pretty poetry, encouraging you to look at the world from an insects point of view. The pictures in this book are the best part, in my opinion. High definition close up shots of bees in flight, ants on leaves, and spiders spinning webs. At the end of the book there is more information about each insect. Really well done!

And Then It’s Spring by Julia Fogliano is a book about patience. I could absolutely relate to this boy’s plight as he anxiously waits for the brown world after winter to turn green. I liked this book more than Curly; the poetic wording may not have been her cup of tea. The illustrations are full of detail, however, and just looking at those could make for enjoyable snuggle time.

This may have been my favorite book of the week. Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature by Joyce Sidman is just stunning, particularly in the illustrations. The art is extremely detailed and completely absorbing. And this book also introduces spirals (obviously), so this has a science, art, and even a math aspect to it. It illustrates how a spiral grows, and gives plentiful examples of spirals in nature; everything from a spiral galaxy to unfurling ferns to a snake curled up in a den, this book covers it. At the end it gives more information about all the animals pictured. I was happy when Curly also enjoyed this book!

Overall, this was a particularly successful week in library books!

Tea I Drank Today: Big Red Robe from Teavivre.com