Bedtime with Big Trucks

Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night?
by Brianna Caplan Sayres & Christian Slade

Diggers, dump, garbage, monster, fire trucks, cranes, and other large vehicles are personified in this bedtime story. Written almost entirely in rhyming questions, each two page spread ponders where each of the pieces of machinery sleeps at night. One of my favorites is the tractor, "Where do tractors sleep at night after plowing all day long? Do their dads sing "Old TruckDonald" for a barnyard bedtime song?" The car transporter page is a little misleading, I think. It shows a picture of a car transporter loaded with cars. After asking where the car transporter sleeps it then asks, "Do they tell those cars a story as they sleep beneath the stars?" The issue I have with the illustrations is the car transporter is wide-eyed and appears to be driving down a highway. If we are being asked where the car transporter sleeps, then why is it awake, let alone driving down the highway?

This is a cute book (the board book version was used for reviewing purposes) and will be enjoyed by children who love large vehicles and machinery. However, if you want a great bedtime story with construction machinery, I would look to Sherri Duskey Rinker's Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site. 

"I Like to Read" - Holiday House Emergent Reader Series

As I was looking through a mountain of preview books, I stumbled across almost twenty of the fifty-nine current titles available in the Holiday House I Like to Read emergent reader series. Each book has been written and illustrated by well known and loved authors and illustrators. They have also all been evaluated and assigned a Guided Reading Level from B to E based on the Fountas and Pinnell system. All books also meet the Common Core State Standards which have been adopted in forty-three states and the District of Columbia. Books in the I Like to Read series meet the Common Core State Standards in Reading Standards for Foundational Skills and Literature. There are currently 59 titles in the series. Reading levels range from B to E.

Level B Readers:

Happy Cat
by Steve Henry

A cold cat enters an open window to get warm. As he goes up each floor of the house he not meets a number of new animal friends, but also receives a gift from each of them. Cat makes his way all the way to the top of the house, decorates his new surroundings using the gifts received on the way up and settles in the warmth to read. Each brightly illustrated page is filled with details which are helpful in predicting the text. Themes associated with this title include the following: animals (fiction), easy readers, and friendship.

I Have a Garden
by Bob Barner

Bob Barner, the author and illustrator of wonderful titles such as, Bears, Bears, Bears, Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!, Bug Safari, Fish Wish and many others, has written I Have a Garden for Holiday House and the I Like to Read series of books for emergent readers. The book has been evaluated and assigned a Guided Reading Level of B (the lowest level) based on the Fountas and Pinnell system.

Through the eyes of a small white dog, the reader is introduced to a variety of animals and insects founds in a garden. The basic text consists of repetitive words, "I have a...." The colorful illustrations help beginning readers to be successful as they work through the text. Themes associated with this title include the following: community, easy readers, and science & nature.

I Have a Garden is aligned with the Common Core State Standards for kindergarten and first grade in Fluency, Phonics, and Word Recognition. It is also aligned with Print Concepts for first grade.

Pig Has a Plan
by Ethan Long

All Pig wants to do is take a nap, but everyone else on the farm is making too much noise. When Pig comes up with a unique solution to his problem, all of his farm friends surprise him. Wonderfully vibrant illustrations and simple text make this a great emergent reader. Young readers will come back again and again to show their successful accomplishment in reading this book. Themes associated with this title include the following: animals (fiction), easy readers, farming & farm life, friendship, and humor.

These titles (Happy Cat, I Have a Garden, & Pig Has a Plan) are recommended for kindergarten, or children between the ages of 4 - 8. It is leveled at the lowest level - B based on the Fountas and Pinnell Guided Reading Level and focuses on reading standards for Literature and Foundational Skills in the English Language Arts Common Core Standards for kindergarten through second grade.

Level C Readers:

Bad Dog
by David McPhail

David McPhail never "phails" to please when it comes to his books. The illustrations, in his traditional style using pen and ink and watercolors, are warm and pleasing to the eye. The picture clues provide the young reader clues to help them predict the text while reading. The use of speech bubbles shows this book is on a little higher level than the previous titles reviewed.

Tom is a naughty dog and has been banished from the house because of his many bad deeds. However he redeems himself when the family cat is lost and Tom is the only one who can locate the other four legged family member. Themes associated with this title include the following: animals (fiction), easy readers, and humor.

Can You See Me?
by Ted Lewin

Ted Lewin, the Caldecott Honor Award winning illustrator of Peppe the Lamplighter, brings his talent and skill to this wonderful non-fiction text for beginning readers. Can You See Me? features animals the author saw when he visited Costa Rica. At the end of the book each of the animals is identified in a color photograph and labeled with their name. The illustrations were created using pencil, watercolor, and liquid mask on Strathmore bristol. Each animal is camouflaged within each two page spread. Once found, the hidden animals help the emergent reader to predict the simple text and be a success in reading the book. Themes associated with this title include the following: animals (non-fiction), easy readers, and science and nature.

Little Ducks Go
by Emily Arnold McCully

Beautiful pen and ink and watercolor illustrations perfectly set the stage for this wonderful story about a mother duck and her six ducklings. With the repetitive sentence, "Little ducks go," and the ducklings responses of "Cheep, cheep, cheep" to their mothers calling, young readers will quickly pick up on these words and feel successful as readers. Themes associated with this title include the following: animals (fiction), easy readers, and science and nature.

These titles (Bad Dog, Can You See Me?, and Little Ducks Go) are recommended for first grade, or children between the ages of 4 - 8. It is leveled at C based on the Fountas and Pinnell Guided Reading Level and focuses on reading standards for Literature and Foundational Skills in the English Language Arts Common Core Standards for kindergarten through second grade.

Level D Readers:

Car Goes Far
by Michael Garland

Michael Garland is one of my favorite authors and illustrators. His brilliant use of colors in his mixed digital art work is phenomenal and always fun. In this story a little red sports car is personified with a very cheerful disposition until he encounters a number of obstacles and challenges along his drive. At the end of his journey he arrives at a car wash which helps him to regain his happiness. Themes associated with this title include the following: easy readers and humor.

Ed and Kip
by Kay Chorao

Two playful elephants, Ed and Kip, are playing with their friend Monkey when their "ball" (a rock) rolls into a cave disturbing the nap of a big bug. When the four begin to play together they encounter a problem when their "ball" again rolls away. This time into a crocodile's pond. The end result will have beginning readers seeing that friends, no matter their size, can be helpful when problems arise. Themes associated with this title include the following: animals (fiction), easy readers, and friendship.

Fireman Fred
by Lynn Rowe Reed

Young readers will love this story of Fireman Fred and how he helps save the home and kitten of a family. Using her classic gouache style, she has created a wonderful early reader for young children. Firemen are favorite characters with my library patrons and I have a feeling this one will not stay on the shelf long. I love the vocabulary used and the conversation that occurs between the characters. Beginning readers will be success reading this book because of the predictability of the text based on the picture clues provided by Reed. Themes associated with this title include the following: easy readers and safety and security.

Fix This Mess!
by Tedd Arnold

Tedd Arnold, the genius creator of the Fly Guy series, has written Fix This Mess! as part of the Holiday House I Like to Read series of books for emergent readers. The book has been evaluated and assigned a Guided Reading Level of D based on the Fountas and Pinnell system. With his vibrant colors and fun caricatures, Arnold brings to life a fun story of about ROBUG (Remote Operating Basic Utility Gizmo). Jake, the dog needs a mess cleaned up and expects ROBUG to "fix this mess". Jake's plan does not come to fruition the way he thought it would in this story with repetitive short text, familiar vocabulary, and illustrations which will help beginning readers make predictions. Themes associated with this title include the following:  easy readers and humor.

I Said, "Bed!"
by Bruce Degen

Bruce Degen, author and illustrator of Jamberry and co-author (with Joanna Cole) of The Magic School Bus series, brings his imaginative creativity to the I Like to Read series in I Said, "Bed!". Reminiscent of Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, a young boy struggles with bedtime, even telling his mother, "No". He is transported in his magical bed to float on the ocean and then flies to the moon where his bed is taken over by moon children. Only then, when someone else wants his bed, does the boy see how good his bed can be as he flies back to his own room to fall asleep. Themes associated with this title include the following: easy readers and humor.

Look!
by Ted Lewin

A variety of jungle animals are introduced through pencil and watercolor illustrations on two page spreads. Each is doing something (eating, drinking, digging, etc.) which is easily identifiable. Using the picture clues, young readers will easily be able to pick this book up and be success in reading the text of this non-fiction book. At the end of the story is a surprise which makes me think of Michael Hall's book My Heart is Like a Zoo. Themes associated with this title include the following: animals (non-fiction), easy reader, science and nature.

Me Too!
by Valeri Gorbachev

With his easily identifiable illustrations, Valeri Gorbachev has brought a wonderful story beginning readers will quickly find success in reading. Bear and Chipmunk love snow. Together they have a day filled with fun and exciting events in the snow. Each time Bear makes a statement, Chipmunk's reply is a repetitive response of "Me too". Themes associated with this title include the following: animals (fiction), easy readers, friendship, and humor.

See Me Dig
by Paul Meisel

Following in the footsteps of his success with See Me Run, Meisel creates another great book about our great four legged companions ~ the dog. A large group of dogs are digging holes all around the forest. The other animals are mad and run the dogs to the sandy beach. Observant readers will see hints of foreshadowing in the illustrations. As the dogs dig they begin to uncover a treasure chest. When the treasure chest has been completely uncovered and opened, the dogs are scared away from the gold inside by the ghosts of pirates who have been protecting the hidden bounty. As the dogs run away, one stops and decides to be brave in order to scare the ghosts away. Again, observant readers will see the dog is not really the one scaring the ghosts away, but large excavator behind him. Who also likes to dig. A fun read for lovers of dogs, pirates, and construction machinery. Theme associated with this title include the following: animal (fiction), early readers, and humor.

These titles (The Big Fib, Car Goes Far, Come Back, Ben, Ed and Kip, Fireman Fred, Fix This Mess!,  I Said, "Bed!", Look!,  Me Too!, See Me Dig, ) are recommended for first grade, but can be appropriate for children who are reading at an advanced level. It is leveled at a D based on the Fountas and Pinnell Guided Reading Level and focuses on reading standards for Literature and Foundational Skills in the English Language Arts Common Core Standards for kindergarten through second grade.

Level E Readers:

Sam and the Big Kids
by Emily Arnold McCully

When Sam's big sister and her friend are playing outside, he asks if he can play too. She responds by telling Sam he is too small. Each time the big kids go to a new activity Sam wants to be involved too, but the response is always the same, "You are too small." the use of conversation between Sam and his sister increase the reading level of this text. A surprise ending will have young readers learning that although one can be too small to do some things, you can never be too small to help in a crisis. Themes associated with this title include the following: acceptance and belonging, early readers, and family and relationships. 

Pete Won't Eat
by Emily Arnold McCully

When mom makes green slop for dinner the piglets slurp it down, except Pete. Mom tells him he must stay at the table until he eats. The other piglets go out to play while Pete sits and sits and sits. At the same time Mom begins to struggle with making Pete eat something he doesn't like and decides to make him a sandwich, Pete decides to try the green slop and finds that he does indeed like it. Conversations between Mom, Pete, and the other piglets increases the reading level of this text. Children familiar with Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham may make a prediction of the ending. Comparing it to a personal experience is a great way to introduce this book to young readers. Themes associated with this title include the following: early reader, family relationships, and humor.

Fish Had a Wish
by Michael Garland

Michael Garland again presents a beautifully illustrated early reader for young children. Fish has a wish to be a variety of other animals (including a bird, skunk, and snake) because of their specific traits. In the end he realizes it is "good to be a fish" and changes his wish "to stay a fish". The art work for this book was created in digi-wood and lends very well to the text. The repetition of the statements, "If I were a..." and "I could..." will be helpful to emergent readers. The themes associated with this title include the following: animals (fiction), easy reader, and self-esteem.

These titles (Fish Had a Wish, Pete Won't Eat, and Sam and the Big Kids) are recommended for first graders or children from 4 to 8. It is aligned to the Common Core State Standards in kindergarten and first grade for Reading Standards for Foundational Skills, Informational Text, and Literature. In addition to the above, the book is also aligned to the CCSS for Language for first grade. Second grade CCSS alignments include Reading Standards for Literature and Speaking and Listening.

I have to say the Holiday House I Like to Read series is a great place to start early readers. By pulling together great authors and illustrators to create these wonderful books for emergent readers, they are capturing new readers for their previously published works. Once a child can read these books successfully they will be excited to find out books by these same authors to enjoy. The text is deliberately selected and the illustrations created in order to masterfully present a book for young readers which is inviting, colorful, and fun to read. These are not the typical Dick and Jane books of the past. They have a message and a story to tell and will be a great addition to any children's library, whether home, public, or school.

Sesame Street - Brand New Readers

 

Candlewick Press has published the series Brand New Readers for over ten years. The addition of the Sesame Street characters is new to this wonderful series of books which are "short, funny stories with words and pictures that help children reading for the very first time succeed - and have fun!" Each book opens up to information for parents on "Helping Your Brand-New Reader". For parents of young children, these are wonderful tips in helping to make the child's reading experience a success. For instance before each of the four short stories included in each book there is an introduction. The first tip is to read the introduction to your child, then do a picture walk through the story. This will help your child see what is happening in the story and allows them to predict the text.

The Brand-New Readers series has always had fun stories for young readers, but the addition of the Sesame Street characters is exciting. I believe these characters will motivate young children to want to read the books. My young students flock to favorite characters' books all of the time. By making these books with predictable text and information for parents, I truly believe these titles will not be on the shelf for long. I highly recommend this series of Sesame Street Brand New Readers for preschool libraries and personal libraries of families with young children.

Goose and Bear (and Fox too)

Fox Forgets
by Suzanne Bloom

Goose and Bear are back again in their fifth book! As the title suggests, Fox is also back. In this tale, Goose is leaving to go somewhere (a satchel full of books leads the reader to believe to the library). Goose asks Fox to "be sure to tell Bear" that she will "be right back". As you can guess, Fox forgets. Bear wants to look for Goose, but Fox wants to play. They begin by playing Looking for Goose and then move to a game of Checkers. Bear is not concentrating on the game because he continues to search for his friend Goose. Two different times Fox tells Bear she has something to tell him, but each time it is about the game they are playing. Finally Fox remembers the message he is supposed to deliver, right as Goose is returning.

Fox Forgets, like all of the other books in the series [A Splendid Friend Indeed (a 2006 Texas 2x2 Reading List selection), Treasure, What About Bear?, and Oh! What a Surprise!] is beautiful because of its simplicity. The blue background with uncluttered double page spreads with minimal words and bright, colorful details. The inclusion of books in all of her illustrations helps to show the importance of reading and her love of books. I love Bear, Fox, and Goose, and I know children of all ages will be able to relate to their situations and relationship. Highly recommended for preschool and elementary school and home libraries.

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet and present with Suzanne Bloom during the 2006 Texas Library Association's Annual Conference. As a member of the Texas 2x2 Reading List Committee we selected Ms. Bloom's book A Splendid Friend Indeed as one of the twenty titles of books for children age two to grade two. We invited her to be a speaker during our session introducing the new reading list to the librarians of Texas. She was a very enthusiastic speaker. We had a wonderful time creating and learning together. Ms. Bloom was the first author invited to speak during these annual sessions. Since then each year an author / illustrator from the current list has been invited to attend and speak about their book, characters, routines, etc. It is a fun tradition I hope continues for many years to come.