Grimelda: The Very Messy Witch

Title: Grimelda: The Very Messy Witch

Author: Diana Murray
Illustrator: Heather Ross
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (July 26, 2016)
Editor: Katie Bignell
Book Type: Fiction
Ages: 3-6
Themes: Witches, Messiness, Consequences

Opening:

Grimelda’s house was black with grime
and stacked with jars of mold and slime,
and ogre’s breath, and spotted snails,
and oozing goo in rusty pails.

Synopsis (from Amazon’s website):

Grimelda’s house may not be tidy, but it’s cozy, and that’s just the way she likes it. She also likes pickle pie. There’s only one problem—she can’t find the main ingredient in her messy house! Readers who enjoyed Norman Bridwell’s classic The Witch Next Door will love this funny, charming story about the everyday life of a witch.

Activities:

• Check out these fun witchy related activities on Pinterest. (pickle-candied cupcakes, bat crafts)

Why I Like This Book:

A cheery, roll-clicking rhyme of a book that is sure to entertain the child reader while its theme of messiness is sure to please parents.

Grimelda is a happy, go-lucky witch who enjoys her messy house until she can’t find the pickle root. So she begins her search of the house and the yard.  While successful in finding last year’s bathing suit, no luck on the pickle root. She flies to Zelda’s store but no luck there either. Then she does what everyone has been waiting for and starts cleaning and finds the pickle root. But don’t worry the story doesn’t end there on such a predictable note, the twist thrown in is true to Grimelda’s character and the accompanying consequence.

Kids will enjoy getting immersed into Grimelda’s world – missing pickle root, spell book, scream cheese spread. The illustrator’s child-appealing, messy loose art is a perfect match for Grimelda. I loved the richness the art brings to the character’s world.

The book definitely has read-aloud and re-readability charms.

Now I’m off to search for some missing pink binoculars.

Check out the book trailer. Enjoy!

Find Grimelda: The Very Messy Witch at the following spots:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Goodreads
ISBN-10: 0062264486
ISBN-13: 978-0062264480

Disclosure: I received and F&G of this book from the author. This review nevertheless reflects my own and honest opinion about the book.

Calling All Cars Spotlight Tour & Giveaway

Today I am participating in the Calling All Cars Spotlight Tour! Be sure to enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post.

I am a fan of Sue Fliess’s rhyming, engaging books which are perfect for the youngest readers. This new book CALLING ALL CARS reminded me a bit of her previous book TONS OF TRUCKS which I reviewed in 2012. I love the colorful, adorable illustrations in this new book. I also liked some of the innovative car names  such as “rainbow-bug” cars. This book is good for playing the “finding” game where the older reader asks the younger reader to find a particular type of car based on visual clues.

Title: Calling All Cars
Author: Sue Fliess
Illustrator: Sarah Beise
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2016
Editor: Aubrey Poole
Book Type: Fiction – Concept
Ages: 0-4
Theme: Cars
Activity Guide: click here to download

Opening Lines:

Big cars, small cars
let’s call all cars

Beach cars, town cars
tops-go-down cars

 

About the Book:

Big cars, small cars, let’s call ALL cars! This bouncy text explores the wonderful world of cars zipping up, down, fast, and slow. A perfect basic concept books for eager young learners from the author of Tons of Trucks. Then cruise into bedtime!

Rest cars, Hush cars

No more rush, cars.

Cars pull in, turn off the light.

Sweet dreams, sleepy cars…goodnight!

Filled with vibrant art, adorable animal characters, and cars of all kinds from love bugs to the demolition derby, Calling All Cars is for every child who loves to read about things that go! Surprise bonus—follow one long road throughout this vividly imagined world and don’t miss the hidden clues in the artwork!

Check out the book trailer:

Praise for Calling All Cars

“Each double-page spread offers a surplus of amusing sights: three pigs in a convertible, a kitten chauffeuring a royal pair of lions, love-struck snakes hugging and tugging their cars too close together. Beise’s digital illustrations pop with vivid colors…. [Fliess’] rhyming couplets bounce off the page.” —Kirkus Reviews

“This successful collaboration combines brisk and spirited writing with bold, effervescent pictures and will have wide appeal to young readers. Fliess’s punchy rhymes mimic the speed and energy of the cars being described, making for a lively read-aloud… Young car enthusiasts will enjoy the ride through this zippy, robust picture book.” —School Library Journal

Find Calling All Cars at the following spots:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Goodreads
10×10 Hardcover, ISBN 9781492618812
8×8 Hardcover, ISBN 9781492638353

About the Author
Sue Fliess is the author of more than a dozen children’s books, including the popular Tons of Trucks and Robots, Robots Everywhere! Her background is in copywriting, PR, and marketing, and her articles have appeared in O, the Oprah Magazine; Huffington Post; Writer’s Digest; and more. Her article from O, the Oprah Magazine was chosen for inclusion in O’s Little Book of Happiness (March 2015). Sue lives with her family and a Lab named Charlie in Northern Virginia. Visit her online at www.suefliess.com.

Connect with Sue Fliess

Connect with Sue Fliess

Website: http://www.suefliess.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sue.Fliess.Author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/suefliess
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/suefliess/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4484623.Sue_Fliess

About the Illustrator

Sarah Beise, a graduate of Minneapolis College of Art and Design, is an innovative illustrator and designer who loves to create fun and unique characters that help tell stories. Originally from Matthews, NC she now makes Kansas City her home along with her two dogs, Maxwell and Mazzie May. For more info visit www.SarahBeise.com.

Connect with Sarah Beise

Website: http://www.colordotstudio.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sarah-Beise-Art-Design-LLC-233477983374912/

Calling All Cars Giveaway

Runs March 1-31 (US and Canada only)
Click HERE to enter!

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher. This review nevertheless reflects my own and honest opinion about the book.

Mummy Cat

Can’t believe summer has come to an end. Hope you have had a great one. Here is my final classroom pick for this month. Here are the other classroom picks from this past month. Water is Water, It’s a Seashell Day, Nature Books for the Classroom, and Marvelous Cornelius.

I’ve got a lot more new titles to tell you about in the Fall. Stay Tuned!

Title: Mummy Cat

Author: Marcus Ewert
Illustrator: Lisa Brown (interview at 7 Imp’)
Publisher: Clarion Books, 2015
Book Type: Fiction
Ages: 4-8
Themes: Ancient Egypt, Mummies, Cats, Friendship

Excerpt:

And one cold night, each century,
he gets up, and he checks to see

if she’s come back, his loving friend …
so that this lonely time can end.

Synopsis (from Amazon’s website):

Mummy Cat prowls his pyramid home, longing for his beloved owner. As he roams the tomb, lavish murals above his head display scenes of the cat with his young Egyptian queen, creating a story-within-a-story about the events of centuries past. Hidden hieroglyphs deepen the tale and are explained in an informative author’s note.

 

Activities:

• Informational website for kids on everything Ancient Egypt
• National Geographic Kids website with fast facts on Ancient Egypt, plus more in-depth links on pyramid building, hieroglyphs, and mummification.
• Printables coloring sheets, word searches, and mazes.
• Pinterest board – links to crafts, printables, books, games, and more.

 

Why I Like This Book:

In a market filled with all sorts of friendship stories (realistic, imaginary creatures, animal stand-ins), this story of a cat and her beloved queen truly stand out. This is a tender friendship story set against the backdrop of Ancient Egypt. Readers will get a taste of Egyptian life, rituals, afterlife, mummification, and art. This dynamic duo has made learning about history and cultures engaging and heartfelt. Perceptive readers will be rewarded with extra story information when they decode the hieroglyphs. The extensive back matter can be used as a good starting point for learning more about Ancient Egypt.

Check-out this behind the scenes look

MUMMY CAT at the following spots:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Goodreads
ISBN-10: 0544340825
ISBN-13: 978-0544340824

It’s a Seashell Day

Today I’m back with another pick perfect for classrooms. Also check-out my previous review about the wonderful non-fiction title Water is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle. See ya next week for more great titles for the classroom. Enjoy!
Title: It’s a Seashell Day

Author: Dianne Ochiltree
Illustrator: Elliot Kreloff
Publisher: Blue Apple Books, 2015
Book Type: Fiction
Ages: 3-5
Themes: Seashells, Beach

Opening Lines:

When the sun peeks up over the bay,
Mommy tells me, “It’s seashell day!”

I rush down the path, over the dune.
Salty breeze blows. We’ll be there soon!

Synopsis (from Amazon’s website):

Sunny-as-a-summer-sky rhymes chronicle a mother and son sharing a day of sand digging, seashell collecting, and seashore exploring. Kids will learn about a variety of shells and count along with the boy as he totals up his collection, puts his shells away, and then drifts off into a well-earned bedtime. A spread of seashell facts caps off the story.

Activities:

• Seashell sorting game
• Free printable coloring sheets
• Seashell craft ideas

Why I Like It:

A charming book to use at the beginning of the school year when kids recap their summer holidays. A young boy and his mother go down to the beach to explore and collect shells. The story is told is simple rhyming couplets with dialogue mixed in. I particularly enjoyed the voice of the little boy as it rings true of his age. “Go away, wave, so I can dig!” Kids will learn about seashells and enjoy counting the variety of seashells as the boys collects them and then makes a display for them at home. The final spread also has some fast facts about mollusks – the soft-bodied animals that wear their skeletons on the outside as seashells.

The simple text is complemented by the bright-colored yet soft-featured cut paper collages.

One of my favorite spreads is near the end when they return home with a sunset casting shades of orange all around. To see more interior spreads click here.

A good book to use in a preschool classroom, followed up by some seashell sorting or crafts.

Find IT’S A SEASHELL at the following spots:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Goodreads
ISBN-10: 1609055306
ISBN-13: 978-1609055301

Water is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle

Hope your summer has been relaxing and enjoyable. Can’t believe kids’ school starts in less than three weeks. In light of that I will be reviewing fiction and non-fiction books this month that can be used in classrooms. Enjoy!

Title: Water is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle

Author: Miranda Paul (interview)
Illustrator: Jason Chin (interview)
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press, 2015
Book Type: Non-Fiction
Ages: 4-8
Themes: Water Cycle, Seasons, Weather

Opening Lines:

Drip. Sip.
Pour me a cup.
Water is water unless…
it heats up.

Whirl. Swirl.
Watch it curl by.
Steam is steam unless…
it cools high.

 

Synopsis (from Amazon’s website):

This spare, poetic picture book follows a group of kids as they move through all the different phases of the water cycle. From rain to fog to snow to mist, talented author Miranda Paul and the always remarkable Jason Chin (Redwoods, Coral Reefs, Island, Gravity) combine to create a beautiful and informative journey in this innovative nonfiction picture book that will leave you thirsty for more.

 

Activities:

• The Classroom Bookshelf – Lessons on written responses, visual narratives, finding rhymes, the hydrologic cycle, drama, and more are available for grades PreK-5.
• Sally’s Bookshelf – Questions and Water Mapping activity for kids / STEM Friday

 

Why I Like It:

I love this book for oh so many reasons. This is a MUST HAVE for any home or school library. I predict this book will become a mainstay. Here are my reasons why.
– It’s creative non-fiction book about the water cycle!!
– And it’s in rhyme with great page-turns. Picture book writers pay attention, the “unless …” is a great cliff-hanger to get the reader to turn the page.
– The watercolor and gouche illustrations are gorgeous and beautifully capture the wholesome and simplicity of kids playing outdoors. (see more inside pages here) The art reminds me of growing up in rural Pennsylvania. I can almost smell the fresh air of spring or the icy chill of winter as I look at the illustrations.
– Aurally pleasing rhyme with kid engaging visuals – a perfect combination to enrapture young minds.
– Extensive backmatter to complement lesson plans on the water cycle.

 

Find WATER IS WATER at the following spots:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Goodreads
ISBN-10: 159643984X
ISBN-13: 978-1609055301

Disclosure: I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher Roaring Brook Press. This review nevertheless reflects my own honest opinion about the book.