Play Library » Children’s Books

Decluttering With Kids~ Sorting Books

Linette Gerlach — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:59:34 +0000

We have a few summer decluttering projects in the works over the next couple weeks at our house. Today’s project was to sort through all my son’s books. He still had books on his shelves from when he was an infant. I think it’s harder for me to let go of some of his books than it is for me.

I gave him two large plastic totes one for books he wanted to keep, and one for books he wants to get rid of.

When we were done we had two full totes of books. The books he wants to get rid of are going in to the school, I know they go through tons of books there.

The books he wants to keep we put on the bookshelf (it’s really two old apple crates we use for a bookshelf). He still has quite a few chapter books on the bookshelves in my office, and up in his room.

We don’t have a shortage of books at our house.

Images (c) L Gerlach

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Win a Mark-My-Time Digital Bookmark

Susan Gunelius — Sat, 10 May 2008 22:31:04 +0000

I’m having a contest on my children’s books blog, One Book Two Book. The winner will receive a Mark-My-Time digital book mark. It’s a great product to help parents monitor their child’s reading!

It’s easy to enter – just leave a comment on the blog contest post. The contest ends on May 17th.

Good luck!

Image: Mark-My-Time.com

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Lakeshore Learning Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week

Susan Gunelius — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:01:32 +0000

Teacher Appreciation week is May 4-10.

This just in…..

I got an email from Lakeshore Learning today, which is a great company that offers a huge variety of educational toys, books and more for parents, teachers or schools. Lakeshore Learning is offering free shipping on purchases of $99 or more (excluding gift cards) to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week between April 29th and May 11th.

This is a great time to stock up on some cool products!

When you place your order be sure to use coupon code APM638 at checkout to get the discount.

Here are the disclaimers from the email:

*Free Shipping: Offer valid on orders placed online at LakeshoreLearning.com only. Valid 04/29/08 to 05/11/08, 11:59 p.m. PST. Not valid in stores. $99 minimum purchase excludes tax, shipping charges, and gift card purchases. Orders must ship to a single address within the contiguous U.S. Standard shipping only. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offers or prior purchases. No cash value.

Have fun shopping!

Image source: LakeshoreLearning.com

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Good Night Our World Books – Educational and Fun

Susan Gunelius — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:46:53 +0000

My husband takes our triplets to the library every week. The kids love it, and we discover a lot of cool books that way. For example, we found the Good Night Our World book series from our local library.

If you’re not familiar with the Good Night Our World series, it currently includes 33 titles each dedicated to a different city, state or area. The books are all set up the same, with children saying good night to various landmarks, animals and more related to the location in the title. For example, the “Good Night Florida” book says good night to the beach, Kennedy Space Center, etc. The “Good Night New York City” books says good night to the Statue of Liberty and more.

My kids are only 3, so they don’t completely understand all of the landmarks and so on that are including in the books, but I love that they’re being introduced to various parts of the world. I’m sure that older children would really enjoy these books as well, and they could probably learn so much from the Good Night Our World series.

Have you read these books with your children? What age are your kids and what did they think of the books?

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Play Library Welcomes a New Author

Susan Gunelius — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:29:55 +0000

My name is Susan Gunelius, and I’m very happy to be the new author of Play Library. I have some big shoes to fill, but with 3-year old triplets and 10 neices and nephews ranging in age from 3 to 18, I’ve been around toys, games, children’s books, children’s movies, and more for a long, long time. Suffice it to say, I’ve tried my fair share of toys and kids’ products, and with 3-year old triplets, I get to try them all again times 3!

I hope I can bring a unique perspective to Play Library, and of course, I’m thrilled to hear from Play Library’s readers. I’m always willing to try the next great toy or product. There are so many toys in my house right now that adding more doesn’t make a difference anymore. Anyone else out there in the same boat? Can you no longer see your floor through all the toys? Is there just no place left to put them all in your house? It’s nice to know I’m not the only one!

If you’d like to learn more about me, you can read my b5media bio. It’s chock full of all the details about my background, my other blogs, my books and more.

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Rasco and the Rats of NIHM

Julie Bonner — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:08:38 +0000

My 8 year old son is reading Racso and the Rats of NIMH and he says it’s the best book he has ever read. You have no idea how good it is to hear him say that because it’s pretty hard to get him to read most of the times.

His teacher gives them time every day to sit down with a book and read. She also challenges them to go beyond the reading level they think they can understand. He has really started to love books and thatmakes me one happy momma.

This book is the sequel to Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH . For the most part, everyone on Amazon gives this book a raving review. I told my son I get the book when he’s done.

Here’s a description of the book below the cut.

Grade 4-7 This sequel to Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (Atheneum, 1971), written by O’Brien’s daughter, continues the NIMH saga with a focus on the second rodent generation: Timothy, Mrs. Frisby’s son, and Racso, son of the rebel rat Jenner. On his way to classes at Thorn Valley, Timothy saves Racso’s life but is himself severely injured. Both reach the Utopian colony only to discover that the valley and surrounding farms are to be turned into a tourist lake and campgrounds. Insecure and arrogant when he first arrives, Racso learns more than just how to read. In fact it is he who suggests a plan to save the colonysabotaging the dam site computer. Although the rats’ plans fail, the dam opening is postponed by a heroic act of Racso’s father. While the continuation of the NIMH story is most welcome, Conly’s novel lacks the light touch of O’Brien’s work, as well as the richness of character development and description. Timothy, for example, is too perfect a mouse to be very interesting, and the leader Nicodemus is often a tedious moralizer. Racso, on the other hand, is most appealing when he gets into trouble. Mrs. Frisby, Jeremy and Mr. Ages are unfortunately peripheral characters in this story. Conly sets the stage for the next sequel, for one reporter appears to believe that the computer was sabotaged by intelligent rats. Perhaps in the next installment, Racso’s joie de vivre will rub off on the other rodents of Thorn Valley.Yvonne A. Frey, Peoria Public Lib . , Ill.

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The Fabulous Bouncing Chowder on Martha Stewart

Julie Bonner — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:34:49 +0000

I was watching the Martha Stewart show this morning and she was talking about the book The Fabulous Bouncing Chowder. I haven’t read any of the Chowder books and I don’t believe my kids have either. I’ll have to ask them, but this book sounds like one I will want to add to our library. This one is the second book in the series. The first one is just called Chowder. Here’s what the books are about:

Chowder: Chowder is not like most bulldogs. Instead of burying bones, he busily arranges them into a skeletal formation, as an archaeologist would. He gets about town with his doting owners in the type of backpack that a toddler would ride in, and he uses the toilet like a human. His quirkiness leads the neighborhood canines to conclude that he would be better off in a zoo, so it is with mounting excitement that he spots the grocery stores new Critter Corral through his balcony telescope and looks forward to making friends there. Browns static, acrylic-and-pencil compositions and the repetition of visual elements across the page yield strong designs. The rounded figures and precise patterning suggest a Playmobil™ world, with a touch of texture. The scenes depicted through the telescope are circular close-ups, framed in black. The parting shot, showing how Chowder communicates with his new friends even when they cant be together, requires a bit of visual sophistication, as does the book in general. Its wacky comedy and the quest for acceptance will best be appreciated by those whove been around the block a few times. Fans of Anthony Browne and Craig Frazier will sit up and beg for more.

The Fabulous Bouncing Chowder: When Chowder goes off to the Fabu Pooch Boot Camp, as usual he just doesn’t fit in. Chowder tries his best, but his attempts to make himself more fabulous all fall flat. When the First Annual Fabu Pooch Pageant is announced, Chowder anxiously tries to think of a way to stand out. After all, the prize is a one-year supply of Snarf Snacks! Some pups practice their pearly grins, other hounds get massages to relax. One pooch even gets permed! But Chowder finds his calling when he discovers a trampoline. He leaps, he flips, he bounces, and he wows the crowd!

Martha mentioned what a great lesson this book teaches. I think I’ve already fallen on love with Chowder without even reading the books! What a cute little dog he is.

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Magic Treehouse Book Series

Kerri Aldrich — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 21:34:15 +0000

Have you been introduced to Jack and Annie and their Magic Tree House? The Magic Tree House series, written by Mary Pope Osborne, is one that my daughter was introduced to last year. The series follows Jack and Annie, siblings, who find themselves on a variety of adventures through different times and destinations, beginning and ending at the Magic Tree House.

In addition to the series itself, there are Research Guides that include additional facts to the times, places, and situations that Jack and Annie have experienced. My daughter enjoys these as well, but the Twisters and Other Terrible Storms did have her a bit freaked out and watchful of storms for a few weeks!

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Literature for Young Minds

Kerri Aldrich — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:46:53 +0000

I have to say, I’m so very excited to have a child who loves to read! Okay, so the other two may have that also, but being that they’re only 2 and 3, I’m not sure, yet, whether they’re going to share with me that insatiable desire to have a book in hand at all times.

My daughter, though, shares my passion for reading. And because she does, it’s getting to be more of a challenge to keep her supplied with books that push the limits of her reading level while keeping her entertained. (Love the library!!!)

I’m thinking it’s time to introduce her to Laura Ingalls and Anne of Green Gables. I’m actually sad to say that I’ve never read either series of books. Of course, I watched Little House on the Prairie, but I never got around to picking up the books. However, it might make it fun to discover the stories with my daughter for the first time. And maybe now I’ll get to be on the receiving end of storytime for a change.

What are some of your favorite book series for young readers? (I’m fishing for suggestions!)

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Dinosaur’s Binkit by Sandra Boynton

Kerri Aldrich — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 04:43:35 +0000

One of the first books we received for my daughter upon bringing her home from the hospital was Dinosaur’s Binkit by Sandra Boynton. My daughter fell in love with this book (as did her mom and dad), and it has been well used through the infancies/toddlerhoods of both of her brothers as well. The text and the illustrations of the book are fun to read and look at, and lend really well to being expressed and acted out! This is one of my favorite kids’ books of all time.

Looking for other books to share with your kids? You can check out the suggestions at Great Books to Read Aloud.

ht: Hsien

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