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CREATION, Creative Non-fiction, EXPLORING, gardens, Insects, Life Sciences, Non-fiction, OBSERVATION, Perfect Picture Book Friday, Rhyming, SEASONAL, Spring

Perfect Picture Book Friday: Bustle in the Bushes by Giles Andreae

By Rene` Diane Aube-Jackson

So many of us are cooped up and restless. Who isn’t looking for ways to engage children in activities that will compliment their education? And what better time to do a little study in the life sciences than Spring when everything is coming to life?

I absolutely LOVE spring! Foliage is coming on and the landscape changes every single day! Watching the gradual changes is a wonder to behold! I’m always amazed at this wonderful world God created for His and our enjoyment. And the variety of critters, too!

Today I’m focusing on the littlest critters we meet as we begin cleaning out our gardens and enjoying warmer days after a long, cold winter.

TITLE:        Bustle in the Bushes

AUTHOR:       Giles Andreae

ILLUSTRATOR:  David Wojtowycz

PUBLISHER: Tiger Tales © 2011 non-fiction

THEMES: insects, gardens, exploring, observation

OPENING STANZA: At the bottom of your backyard,
You might just hear a sound ~
A chirrup from the treetops
Or a scuttle on the ground.

Mr. Andreae engages the reader by exploring the intricacies of a garden. Children learn that there are many tiny creatures that live on plants, in the ground, and under bushes.

WHAT I LIKE:

I enjoyed the rhythmic rhyming over-view of insects in the yard/garden. I felt like the rhythms tended to reflect the motion of the insect being studied. The author uses a lot of active verbs and alliteration along with nice rhymes.

The rhyming text pulls the reader through while teaching concepts about various bugs. This book can help children become more aware of their environment and spark curiosity so they pay closer attention to the wonders of God’s creation.

I would recommend this book for homeschooling families, schools, churches and children’s clubs that are studying insects, their habitats and creation. A nice life science enhancer.

ACTIVITIES:

 Some of these activities are quiet, indoor keep the kids busy work. Others will serve you well if you live in the suburbs or country and can get outside to help the littles burn off some of that inexhaustible energy.   

Download and print out some coloring pages. Can your child tell you where the various bugs live? What they eat? https://www.bestcoloringpagesforkids.com/

Make a bingo board using stickers. Go on a bug hunt in your backyard or garden to see who can finds enough for BINGO. Or make your own spinner board and chips, too. https://myfreebingocards.com/templates

Build a bug box with your child. Catch some bugs and study them with a magnifying glass. https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-Bug-Box/

Catch a caterpillar then take care of it until it turns into a butterfly or moth, and let it go. https://animals.mom.me/how-to-care-for-a-caterpillar-in-a-jar-until-it-becomes-a-butterfly-12182114.html

After all that bug hunting you might need to sit near a pond or lake and watch and listen. Maybe lay down on a blanket and see if you can identify the different insect sounds.

Here is a website with all kinds of insect activities! https://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/insects/index.htm

Once you have the kiddos busy with some of the above activities, grab a cuppa and head on over to Susanna Hill’s website where you can find a treasure trove of Perfect Picture Book Friday reviews from the kid lit community.

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Bears, Emotions, Fear, Friendship, Perfect Picture Book Friday, Picture Books Reviews Fiction, Worry

Perfect Picture Book Friday: The Worry Box by Suzanne Chiew

By Rene` Diane Aube-Jackson

Worry?? Who worries?? Not me … *cough cough cough* … yeah, right! I wish that were true.

Those of you that know me well are very aware that I could teach the art of worrying. I suppose that is nothing to brag about, but lo and behold, I wouldn’t want anyone to be under false impressions about me. Unfortunately, worrying seems to one of the crosses I bear. That said, today’s book is a great one to consider reading with your worrisome child and maybe even another adult!

TITLE:                       The Worry Box

AUTHOR:                  Suzanne Chiew

ILLUSTRATOR:        Sean Julian

PUBLISHER:             Tiger Tales © 2018                           PB 4 – 8 years

THEMES:                   Worrying; Friendship

FIRST TWO PAGES:

High up on his thinking spot, Murray Bear looked out across the valley. “There you are!” called his sister, Molly. It’s time for lunch.”

“I’m not hungry,” Murray sighed.

“You’re always hungry!” giggled Molly. “Come on, or we’ll be late meeting Oliver at the waterfall.”

“I don’t want to go!” sniffled Murray. “What if the waterfall is too LOUD? What if it’s so BIG that I get swept away!”

SUMMARY (from book jacket):

Murray Bear is supposed to go to the waterfall with his sister, Molly, to meet a friend, but Murray is worried. “What if it’s too LOUD?” he cries. “What if I get swept away!” So Molly tells him about her special worry box. “When I’m worried about something,: she says, “I write it down, then put it inside.” She offers to help make one for Murray, and he takes it on their journey – but will it really help?

WHAT I LIKE:          

This story has a very gentle way of helping readers who are worriers to harness their feelings and give those feelings boundaries thus setting them free to experience new things and make new friends. As Murray and readers learn, he’s not the only one in the forest who worries, and therefore shares what he learned from his sister. This story has a nice emotional arc and resolution.

Though, as Christians, we know that worries really need to be left at the foot of the throne of Jesus, The Worry Box gives children a concrete way to deal with their fears and worries.  

You can find other picture book reviews from Perfect Picture Book Friday at Susanna Hill’s blog.

ACTIVITES:             

Design a worry box with your child. Encourage him/her to write down the fear/worry, then pray to Jesus for help and finally drop his worries into the box.

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ANIMALS, Bears, Friendship, Perfect Picture Book Friday, Picture Books Reviews Fiction, Prejudices, SEASONAL, Sharing, Spring

Perfect Picture Book Friday: BEAR AND BEE by Sergio Ruzzier

By Rene` Diane Aube-Jackson

After watching Sergio Ruzzier’s 12×12 webinar replay in December, I borrowed all the books I could find that he illustrated/wrote from my library system. Not only to familiarize myself with his work, but to continue my quest in learning how to write a great picture book. (Which kind of goes along with Reading for Research Month, coming up in March.) On my trip through Ruzzier land, I discovered what will be one of my all-time favorites, BEAR AND BEE. And since Spring is on it’s way and knowing that bears and bees will soon be waking up from their long winter’s nap, what better time to review this delightful book for Perfect Picture Book Friday.

TITLE:  Bear and Bee

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Sergio Ruzzier

PUBLISHER:  Disney Hyperion Books, New York ©2013

GENRE: Picture Book, Fiction, Read Aloud

INTENDED AUDIENCE: 3 – 5 years

THEME: (credits page) 1. Bears – Fiction 2. Bees – Fiction 3. Sharing – Fiction 4. Prejudices – Fiction

OPENING PAGE: “I’m hungry,” says Bear.

SUMMARY: (credits page) A hungry bear discovers that bees are not terrible monsters who never share their honey.

WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK: I don’t like it! I LOVE it! I have been reading this book over and over and over and…well, you get the idea. (Everyone that stepped foot into my house last weekend endured story time.) I digress. My favorite part is in the middle ~ but I don’t want to spoil it for you, so that’s all I’ll say on that point. End papers effectively set the mood and draw the reader into the story and on to an oh-so-sweet ending. Illustrations are delightfully expressive. Sparse text characterizes Bear and Bee with just enough emotion to add richness while reading. And when Bear discovers his misconceptions, readers/listeners receive the added pleasure of a good belly – laugh. All this while learning, gently, to be careful of judging others by your own perception of reality.

This is one that I find highly re-readable. I’ve read it at least four times a day over the past four days and laughed every time!

ACTIVITIES/RESOURCES: I can see this as a great catalyst for a study on bears and bees. Coloring pages for little ones, a visit to a bee farm, tasting honey, learning about bee keeping would all be fabulous activities, too.

You can find more Perfect Picture Book Friday reviews on Susanna Hill‘s blog. In fact, you can even join the fun!

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ANIMALS, Board Books, First Day of School, Haircuts, Llamas, Milestones, Perfect Picture Book Friday, Picture Books Reviews Fiction, Picture Day, SEASONAL

Perfect Picture Book Friday: When Your Llama Needs a Haircut by Susanna Leonard Hill

By Rene` Diane Aube-Jackson

I know it’s quite late, but it is still Friday! And since my good friend, teacher, and mentor, Susanna Leonard Hill was so generous and gracious to send me her lovely new book, When Your Llama Needs A Haircut, what more appropriate way to kick off my debut Perfect Picture Book Friday post than a raving review?? You don’t mind, do you??

And I know you will be gracious about the hour, because anyone that has been painstakingly teaching and researching how to blog and post pages on their website should, indeed, be congratulated, right??

Since it is so late, though, I’ll get down to business so we can all get some sleep.

Book Title:    When Your Llama Needs A Haircut

Author:          Susanna Leonard Hill

Illustrator:    Daniel Wiseman

Publisher:     Simon & Schuster © 2018

Ages:              2 – 4 *although, I loved it and am way past 2 – 4, or even 24!*

Theme:          First haircut, School pictures

Opening page: “Uh – oh. It’s picture day, and someone’s a mess. Does your llama need a haircut? YEP!”

Brief synopsis: Who doesn’t want to look nice for class pictures? Llama, of course! Susanna Hill takes us on a rollicking romp as the child attempts to tidy up Llama. With so many haircuts to choose from, what will Llama’s choice be? A cute twist at the end is a fun, giggle-inducing surprise.

Why I like it: I love how Llama is characterized as slightly vain. Although his resistance is revealed through the adorable illustrations, Llama is actually pretty tolerant once caught. I love the expressions on both characters’ faces and the action that keeps the pages turning. I also think that perhaps things wouldn’t have ended as they did had there not been a little interference.

Resources: Visit a llama farm at shearing time. Video to watch of llama being shorn

Find more Perfect Picture Book Friday reviews at Susanna Hill‘s blog.