Halloween Board Book: Room on the Broom

Room on the Broom
by Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler
Puffin Books, 2003
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5 out of 5

We bought this last fall when my daughter was one and read it to her at night while we rocked her before bedtime. Although it stayed out year round, we only picked it up a few times since Halloween. Until this past month when I started pushing it again.

"How about Room on the Broom? The one about the witch?"

"Hmmmm okay!"

It's the book I pick every other night before bed and the book I sneak into her back pack when we go out to eat. My daughter is fickle--she's two so it's to be expected--but she takes this book and opens it and points to the witch and how she loses her hat, then her bow, and finally her wand.

I realize that this book is over 10 years old, but for us, it relatively new. Next year I'm sure it will seem new to my daughter again, but eventually she'll start to recognize it each Fall as a staple to our reading repertoire.

The pictures are fun and engaging, the story itself is a poem with a great rhythm for young book lovers. I absolutely love it and so does my daughter!

Image Source: Goodreads

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Children's Book Review: When Santa Was a Baby

When Santa Was a Baby
by Linda Bailey
Illustrations by Genevieve Godbout
Tundra Books, 2015
Source: Netgalley in return for an honest review
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I realize it seems early for a Christmas book, but we're getting close to November!  That means that Christmas is just around the corner and somebody better get a move on her Holiday shopping.  Or I'll wait until after Thanksgiving and order as much as possible online. :)

Here's a bit about this book:
How did Santa become Santa?  Well you'll find out in this story about how Santa grew up.  With his need to wear red and his big belly laugh, his parents knew he was something special right away.  We watch as he grows up and gives away toys, instead of asking for his own birthday gifts.  His parents dote on him, and love him, and are extremely proud of him as they watch him from the time he is a baby, until he's an adult.

The pictures are beautiful and bright and fun, filled with rosy cheeked people and bright toys.  There isn't too much going on on each page, but enough for kids to find interesting images throughout.

My daughter has a box of Christmas books that we wrap up (most are borrowed and passed down) and open each day leading up to Christmas.  We'll use the same books each Christmas, but add one or two each year to it.  She only has 20 right now and I'd like to have 24.  This might be a great addition to our Christmas book round up.

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Book Review: The Day the Mustache Took Over

The Day the Mustache Took Over

Alan Katz
Bloomsbury USA, 2015
Source: ARC from Netgalley
Rating: 3 out of 5

David and Nathan are....well they're a lot of trouble.  They're so much trouble that they been through 347 nannies!  Or maybe it's 734?  No one is really sure about that.  When their parents are starting to think that they'll never find another nanny, someone shows up: Martin Healy Discount.  The boys shrug him off--just another nanny, or is he?

This was a cute book.  David and Nathan are over the top funny in a way that many kids will enjoy.  They are argue a lot of the time, and even when they aren't arguing, there is still an underlying teasing that takes place.  Pretty quickly the boys realize that they are actually smarter than their new nanny and will have to help him out (if they lose another nanny the yearly ski trip is cancelled) and hijinks ensue.

The story moves along quickly and the boys learn lessons and grow up over the course of six months with Martin Healy Discount. No heartfelt moments, or big reveals here.  This story is purely for humor and it was full of funny moment, at which I know my students would laugh.  Sometimes it did feel like it was one prank after another, but I know my kids would eat it up nonetheless.

I recommend this for younger readers, 3rd--6th grade.  3rd grade may need some help reading, but will enjoy the story.  6th graders may be getting a little old for this book, but will also still enjoy the funny situations in which David and Nathan find themselves.

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Top Ten Board Books

My daughter will be two in a week and a half.  I can't believe that it's already time to celebrate her birthday.  So today I'll be counting down some of our favorite board books.  I've only included the board books that we own and that she asks to be read to her again and again.  There are others that I really like as well, but my daughter isn't as interested in those.

In no particular order:


1) Hello Ninja by ND Wilson  Illustrated by Forest Dickinson

This is a cute story about a ninja going to bed.  I enjoy reading it to my daughter in different voices and she likes to laugh at those voices.

2 and 3) Belly Button Book and Barnyard Stomp by Sandra Boynton

We love some Sandra Boynton here.  These are two of our favorites.  I'm not quite as much of a fan of the Belly Button Book, but my daughter laughs and points to her "bee-bo" when we read it.  I do like Barnyard Dance because it's great for learning animals and different movements like stomp and turn and slide.

4) Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney   Illustrated by Anita Jeram

This is such a sweet little book.  It's also a classic that I'm sure many people know of.  My daughter likes the bunnies.

5) Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig and Marc Brown

Lots of moving here!  The different animals have different movements and sounds from their moves.  I read each animal in a different voice as well, trying to imitate what I think it would sound like with my voice.  My daughter loves it!

 6) Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees

This is the first book I read my daughter where she actually reacted to it.  We were reading to her from day one, but this is the first book where she started to smile at the pictures.  Plus, I loved this story of a giraffe who is tall and awkward and thinks he can't dance until he finds out that he just needs to find his own music.

7) That's Not My Monkey...by Fiona Watt and Rachel Wells

My daughter loves interacting with this book.  Although at this point, I think she's a bit board with this book, you can tell by the binding that it was a favorite for quite awhile.

 8) Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle and Jill McElmurry

Not only are there lots of sounds for little ones to emulate and help while reading, there is a great a story about being kind and helping others.

 9) Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

A great story for any time of the year.  A witch and the friends she picks up on her night who help out when she needs it most.

10) Five Little Monkeys Jumpin on the Bed by Eileen Christelow

My daughter likes to tell the monkeys "No jump bed! It's fun and cute.

Review: And Tango Makes Three

And Tango Makes Three

by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Illustrated by Henry Cole

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Children 

Source: borrowed from our local library 

Rating: 5/5

A beautiful story of two penguins who want their own family. Roy and Silo are both boy penguins who love one another and want to be like the other penguin couples and have a baby. Tango is that chance.

This true story of two penguins at the Central Park Zoo is told so simply. The idea that families are made up of people who love one another is woven seamlessly into the story. The illustrations are beautiful and compliment the story perfectly. My two year old daughter enjoyed the pictures of penguins building their nest, swimming together, and cuddled together as a family. 

What makes a family? Love.