Preschool Learning & Discovery Time

A few years ago I decided to give my Story Time a face lift. The children and families I have worked with were capable of so much more. While the original format of a story time program is still relevant and fun, I imagined I could make this experience so much more. An experience with more opportunity for creative, hands-on learning that goes beyond cutting and pasting. Enter Preschool Learning & Discovery Time. While much remains the same, we still read stories, sing, dance and etc., I have added hands-on learning experiences and STEM activities. Let's face it, kids are smart. I wanted to begin introducing concepts to these little sponges to spark their imaginations and create joy around learning. We do simple experiments, graph, measure, predict, count, sort and all of the things! Children are introduced to basic scientific terms and concepts in a fun way. Stay tuned for some of my favorite PL&D Time themes and concepts.

Update Your Holiday Repertoire

2017 Holiday Books 

Sharing books anytime of year is one of my most favorite things to do.  I am especially pleased when I can share quality holiday books.  My children and I had our favorites which we read year after year which is a great tradition but it also can become comfortable.  I always kept a watchful eye out for new books to mix in with the old standbys so as not to miss something great.  

Now that my kids are grown, I continue to seek out new and special holiday books to share with my friends, family and Library patrons.  Here are a few of my favorites published this year. 

Happy Reading! 

                                                                                                           

By Nicola Killen

An endearing tale about a little girl and her late night adventure with a lost reindeer.  The beautiful illustrations were the highlight of this heartwarming tale for me.  

By Martha Brockenbrough

A sentimental book about a child learning that Santa Claus is not real, but the spirit of Santa Claus is! A fun way to welcome children who are questioning to "Team Santa". 

Adapted by the Metropolitan Museum of Art

For families seeking a more traditional approach, this biblical telling of the Christmas Story is accompanied by medieval and Renaissance paintings from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  

Gorgeous from cover to cover! 

By M.E. Furman

A tasty look at Christmas traditions around the world.  Did you know that in Australia, because its summer, families leave Santa a cool glass of milk or BEER? 

By Bonnie Becker

Pickles, poems, presents... oh my! 

Curmudgeon Bear and the ever optimistic Mouse are back for another fun tale. 

These are a few of my favorite things!- My favorites of 2016 are abundant. There have been so many great books I've read and so many in my TBR pile I am excited about. I feel full of book love! Here I include a nice assortment, (historical fiction; spooky; graphic novel; survival; realistic fiction) a little something for everyone! Enjoy these few of my favorite middle grade reads of 2016 and you can look forward to many more posts with lots of gushing!

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk- Betty Glengarry's arrival at a rural Pennsylvania school changes everything for Annabelle, age 12. Annabelle's biggest worry in her life to date has been the war(WWII) but Betty's presence has created a more immediate threat. Betty is a bully and not at all harmless, although its hard for adults to believe that this pretty little blonde girl is capable of violence. Instead, its easier to blame recent wrong doings on an odd WWI vet who roams the nearby Pennsylvania hills. Annabelle makes difficult choices with a child's eye making the story believable. I loved this book so much, I couldn't put it down, although sometimes I wanted to. It was gripping and emotionally complex and at points hard to bear. <3 Well done Lauren Wolk.

All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook by Leslie Connor- Perry Cook has lived at the Blue River Correctional facility all of his life (12 years) with his mother, Jessica, who is a resident there. All is well until someone refuses to look the other way and Perry is forced into foster care. A look at prison life, what it means to have an incarcerated parent and a lesson in finding the goodness in life. SO well done. I loved every page. I think kids will eat this one up too.

The Door by the Staircase by Katherine Marsh- Mary Hayes is adopted from a deplorable orphanage only to learn that her new guardian, Madame Z (a Baba Yaga) is planning to eat her. Clever Mary, though, has a plan. Filled with magic and spookiness, this one should have broad appeal.

Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier- Telgemeier hits another one out of the park. Cat and her family are forced to move to a dismal (and ghost ridden) town in Northern California due to her little sister's cystic fibrosis. Cat wrestles with feelings of resentment towards her sister while still feeling fiercely protective of her. A great exploration of culture, family, death and sibling bonds. Totally realistic characters that lots of readers will identify with. I LOVED it!

The Skeleton Tree by Iain Lawrence- A fast paced and exhilarating adventure/survival story that also explores some pretty weighty topics (i.e. grief). Two boys must learn to cooperate, despite their dislike for each other, when stranded in the Alaskan wild. Angry and sullen teen Frank and the younger (12) Chris, creative and patient must work together and forge a bond in order to survive. Kids who love Hatchet, Lost on a Mountain in Maine and My Side of the Mountain are going to eat this up. I could not put it down. Well written and solid.

I Didn't Pass Out When I Read This Book, Hooray!

 Tooth Traditions around the World by Ann Malaspina

 Who knew there were so many tooth traditions? Being one who is a little squeamish about anything to do with dental topics of any kind, I found myself surprisingly engaged and less and less squirmy as I read. 

It is a perfect book for kids of tooth-loosing age and may help ease some fears or create new and different traditions.  I plan to buy this one for my crazy tooth-loosing-jack-o-lantern-looking nieces.
Suggested for ages 5 -8. 

   

Helping Children Meet the Right Book

There is No Such Thing as a Reluctant Reader-  I prefer to think that kids who are labeled as such just have not met the right book yet.  I encounter many parents who are concerned that their child is not interested in reading. Through many conversations with kids and parents I have discovered a few reasons why. Some kids prefer to experience life directly rather than through reading about someone else’s experiences. Other kids find it hard to sit still long enough to read for any length of time. And think about the competition! For many kids, books seem like inadequate entertainment when compared with video games, the Internet, television and other extra curricular activities. Sometimes well meaning adults place persistent stress on the child to read constantly which can be counterproductive. We want our kids to be better readers so we make them read. They are struggling with reading so they do not want to read. Reading becomes a battleground and is not associated with pleasure but viewed as a chore. Whatever the reason, the fact remains; some kids prefer not to read. So what can we do about it?

Give Them Freedom of Choice- Whether it is a cereal box, a comic, a magazine or a novel…it is all reading. Let them read their favorite series books too. It might not be great literature, but their predictable themes and familiar characters will instill confidence and help your child prepare for more substantial reading down the road. 

Play to Their Passion- Whether its trucks, horses or Sponge Bob your child has had a fascination with something and likely there is a book about it. Find it. If they are interested in it, they will read it or at least make the connection that there is something worthwhile and interesting inside of a book. 


Give Audio a Go- No, it is not cheating. Your child may not be reading the words, but an audio book is a great way to expose students to books that would otherwise be beyond their reading ability. It will also challenge their vocabulary and comprehension skills as well as model wonderful reading aloud. Try pairing a print book with an audio book so your child can follow along as they listen. 


Make a Connection-I believe that kids who do not read simply have not met the right book yet. When you understand the message of the story, use imagination while reading and think critically about the content, then you have made a connection with the book. Making these connections are what makes us love them and what makes us love to read. Once you read a book and have this type of experience, you are naturally going to crave more. When you crave more, you read more, when you read more you become more skilled at the practice. Unfortunately there is no one magic book which is going to hook every kid; however, we can help our kids find the right one. Respect your child’s likes and dislikes and be supportive of their choices. As your child samples new reading material they will become more discriminating in their own reading choice and development.

Librarian Gone Wild!

Roaring my terrible ROAR!

NOVEMBER

"In November's

gusty gale

I will flop

my flippy tail

and spout hot soup

I'll be a whale!

Spouting once

Spouting twice

Spouting checken soup

with rice. "

From Chicken Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak

A life long Maurice Sendak lover and recently inspired by the FANTASTIC exhibit at Portland Public Library I couldn't resist being a WILD THING for our annual Halloween event at my Library. 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Traveling to ALA (and enjoying more of Chicago than humanly possible in 4 days) didn't leave too much time for reading.  So forgive my sparse contribution this week!



I will admit I was skeptical about this one (no offense Jeff Probst).  Happily, my skepticism was completely unfounded.  This is a fantastic summer read for middle grade readers! 

4 kids in a newly formed blended family set off on a sailing adventure while their parents honeymoon. The trip was originally designed to help the kids get to know each other and bond as a family.  It accomplishes its mission, but not in the way it was expected.  The kids end up stranded (surprise!) on an island in the south pacific.  No adults, no guidance just the kids and their limited supplies. Kids will LOVE this fast and tense read! I also suggest you have the second in the series on-hand because once this one is finished, they won't want to wait. 

There is much buzz about Blue Balliett's latest and I promise you, the rumors are true.  I loved everything about this one.  Another fabulous middle grade read! 

While fantasy is not my favorite genre, I really enjoyed this one (even if it was a little on the long side at 464 pages).  While not perfect, readers will be invested enough in Jemma's fate to overlook imperfections in the plot.  Some darker moments were edge-of-your-seat exciting and a wee bit scary.
I look forward to seeing more from Kit Grindstaff!
Suggested for hardcore fantasy fans grades 6 and up. 


Check out the book trailer here.

Until next time, happy reading!

Fast & Fun Reads (picture book edition)

I always feel like I should have more time for family reading in the summer.  Somehow, with all the sunshiny temptations, we always seem to have less.  Constant interruptions can make it difficult to squeeze in that valuable together reading time.  Why not gather up some quick reads to sneak into those (rare) moments of downtime?  Here are some fast & fun reads which are guaranteed to make the whole family smile! 

Bark, George!

Classic! 

When prompted by his mother to "Bark, George." George makes many interesting sounds but none of them are what one expects a dog to say. This book proves, once and for all, that picture books are to be enjoyed by readers of ALL ages.  Delightful in every way! 

A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea

There was a day when I used to think that a pig parade sounded like a rather awesome and inspired idea.  That was before I read this gem of a book by Michael Ian Black, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes.  Pigs, it turns out, are actually quite uncooperative when it comes to parades. Who knew? 

Totally fun! 

*If you love this, which you will, you must check out Chicken Cheeks also by Michael Ian Black*

Chicken Cheeks

Because really, who doesn't love a story about butts? 

I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean

A perfect picture book to use for a quick and fun read or to generate a conversation about the food chain. 

The giant squid is almost as charming as the big, bold and beautiful illustrations that leap off from the double spread pages.  You can't help but adore her as she proclaims over and over  that she is the BIGGEST thing in the ocean.  Her positive attitude goes undaunted even after the cruel realization that she is in fact NOT the biggest thing in the ocean. 

A FANTASTIC read aloud!

Bright Ideas!                                                 

Check out the latest installment by Philippe Courdray.  Benjamin Bear and his companion have many interesting problems to solve in this series of one page comic strips.  Just right kid humor interspersed with more thoughtful stories make this a fun (and quick) blend.  The illustrations are top-notch! Sure to please readers from kindergarten to adulthood.
**disclaimer**
I understand this is not technically a picture book, but I couldn't do a post about fun books without including this one because it is SO SUPER FUN it deserved a spot amid the rest.
ENJOY!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Check out a few of my favorites from this week's picture book binge!

It's Monday, Mrs. Jolly Bones!  by Warren Hanson and Illustrated by Tricia Tusa

"It’s Monday, Mrs. Jolly Bones, there’s laundry to be done.
So gather up the dirty clothes and sort them one by one.
Wash them, dry them, iron them, and fold them nice and neat—
Then fling them out the window so they brighten up the street!"

A silly romp through the weekly chore list is sure to inspire some smiles.  I especially loved the charming watercolor and pen illustrations.  Suggest this to fans of the Amelia Bedelia series. 

See Me Dig by Paul Meisel

A super-fun, high quality early reader.  Large easy-to-read text with lots of repitition make this a fabulous choice for those just beginning to read. 

A rowdy bunch of digging dogs encounter a scary bear, buried treasure, pirate ghosts and find a kindred spirit in a back hoe.

This title is head & shoulders above other early readers in its ability to tell a bigger story with its amazing illustrations.  Engaging and fun! 

A few more titles you should check out!

Tiger in my Soup by Kashmira Sheth and illustrated by Jeffery Ebbeler

How to be a Cat by Nikki McClure

I Have a Garden by Bob Barner

 

It's Monday! Here's What I'm Reading.

Hooray for Monday!  Here's what I'm up to today:

 Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson
 
A disaster which has fascinated us for 100 years continues to do so. In fact, I set my alarm to wake myself up extra early this morning so that I could finish it! While we tend to think of this as well-known event, younger readers may not have had much exposure. This book geared for readers 8 - 13 years old was particularly well done.  Hopkinson uses eye-witness accounts, photographs, maps, letters, telegraph transmissions and quotes from survivors to tell the tale from the point-of-view of the passengers making this a particularly gripping account.

I lamented to a co-worker that whenever I read stories about real-life disasters, I'm always on the edge of my seat hoping that *this time* it will end differently.  This has never been more true than when I read this genuinely affecting version of the tale. 

I got the pleasure of running my Library's Toddler Time this morning and shared a few of my favorites for a Monday morning. 

My fast approaching lunch break means I get to start Fenway Fever by John H. Ritter (in honor of my annual Birthday trip to Fenway next weekend).  I'll let you know what I think...of the book and my trip to Fenway  ;)

Now tell me, what are YOU reading? 

Remembering Roald

The first book I remember my mother reading to me was "James and the Giant Peach".  It's not that she hadn't read me scores of other titles, its just that this was the first one that mattered to me. Ever a fan of dark and subversive, I thought the poems about Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker were wonderful.  I felt a sort of interesting mix of pride and shock as the story went on.  I truly felt as if that book had been written exclusively for me and I was proud that Roald Dahl felt I was grown-up enough to "get the joke".   I was shocked that my mother read this (and then many others) without batting an eye at what seemed too delicious for a child's ear. 

I had always liked books but after a few Roald Dahl titles, I LOVED books and began gobbling them up as fast as I could.  I have since read and re-read them many time. I have read them to my own children and shared them with library patrons.  Each time I open one of my beloved childhood favorites, I get the same rush of excitement as I did so many years ago for I know that what lies inside is going to fill me wonder and pride and shock all over again.  Thank you Mr. Dahl for understanding that children are just little people and are just as deserving of stories which shock and delight as are adults. 

Today we celebrate a masterful story teller and here is my tribute.

Summer Displays

I am always amazed at how fast books (any books) which are placed on display will get scooped up by patrons looking for their next favorite read.  I could just put an assortment of books out on easels and people would check them out.... but where's the fun in that?  

Here are a few of my latest displays, just for fun.

Dr. Seuss on the Loose!

Seuss books on display with home-made Trufulla Trees.  The only challenge with this eye catching display is keeping it stocked.  I stole the Trufulla Tree directions from this blog: 

                           

These were so much fun to make and really brighten up a book display. 

Better Together!

I find that many people request the print book along with the audio so that they can read along as they listen.  I wrapped these up into a pretty little display. It's a fantastic time saver and it looks super cute.               Give yourself the gift of reading!

 Easy-Peasy a book, an audio and some curling ribbon. 

The MVD (Most Valuable Display)

I work with the public school to get a copies of their recommended summer reading lists.  I have copies of the list available and we pull all the books (that are in) and put them on display together by school.  This saves staff time and is SO CONVENIENT for patrons who are searching for these titles. Having the lists here at the public library has been an amazing tool, many people forget them at home and are relieved to find that we have them. Totally makes us look like ROCK STARS!

 Don't Judge a Book by its Cover! 

Who hasn't heard this sage advice?  This displays doesn't allow any judging.  We covered up some of those books that have less than appealing covers.  The inside flap descriptions are copied and pasted onto the back so patrons can make their selections based on what the book is about, not by its cover.  We let them unwrap it after they read the book.  SO.MUCH.FUN!!

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday Everyone! I'm jumping on the Teach.Mentor.Texts (teachmentortexts.com) meme bandwagon. I love seeing what everyone else is reading and I have been reading some great stuff too. Here is what I've been up to:

 

Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead- Quirky & Wonderful!

The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen by Susan Nielsen- One of my favorites for 2012! Click HERE to see my brief review.

Another fine addition to the "Guys Read" series. My Red Sox loving soul especially liked Dan Gutman's contribution. Thanks to Walden Pond Press for the ARC of this one.

  Wishing you all a week full of wonderful books! See you next Monday.

Helping Children Meet the Right Book

I encounter many parents who are concerned that their child is not interested in reading. Through many conversations with kids and parents I have discovered a few reasons why. Some kids prefer to experience life directly rather than through reading about someone else’s experiences. Other kids find it hard to sit still long enough to read for any length of time. And think about the competition! For many kids, books seem like inadequate entertainment when compared with video games, the Internet, television and other extra curricular activities. Sometimes well meaning adults place persistent stress on the child to read constantly which can be counterproductive. We want our kids to be better readers so we make them read. They are struggling with reading so they do not want to read. Reading becomes a battleground and is not associated with pleasure but viewed as a chore. Whatever the reason, the fact remains; some kids prefer not to read. So what can we do about it?


Give Them Freedom of Choice- Whether it is a cereal box, a comic, a magazine or a novel…it is all reading. Let them read their favorite series books too. It might not be great literature, but their predictable themes and familiar characters will instill confidence and help your child prepare for more substantial reading down the road.

Play to Their Passion- Whether its trucks, horses or Sponge Bob your child has had a fascination with something and likely there is a book about it. Find it. If they are interested in it, they will read it or at least make the connection that there is something worthwhile and interesting inside of a book.


Give Audio a Go- No, it is not cheating. Your child may not be reading the words, but an audio book is a great way to expose students to books that would otherwise be beyond their reading ability. It will also challenge their vocabulary and comprehension skills as well as model wonderful reading aloud. Try pairing a print book with an audio book so your child can follow along as they listen.


Make a Connection-I believe that kids who do not read simply have not met the right book yet. When you understand the message of the story, use imagination while reading and think critically about the content, then you have made a connection with the book. Making these connections are what makes us love them and what makes us love to read. Once you read a book and have this type of experience, you are naturally going to crave more. When you crave more, you read more, when you read more you become more skilled at the practice. Unfortunately there is no one magic book which is going to hook every kid; however, we can help our kids find the right one. Respect your child’s likes and dislikes and be supportive of their choices. As your child samples new reading material they will become more discriminating in their own reading choice and development.

The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen by Susin Nielsen

Henry and his father are forced to pack up and move to a new city after Henry's brother commits an unspeakable crime. Grief stricken, lonely and confused, Henry is forced into therapy and given a journal which he (reluctantly) begins to write in. Through Henry's journal the story of what happened slowly unfolds. Henry is a responsible but confused young teen with an authentic and, at times, wryly humorous voice. This book beautifully blends drama and humor in a thoughtful and achingly poignant way. The cast of quirky characters charmed me and I missed Henry as soon as I finished the book. Beautifully done! Suggested for kids ages 12 & up. Review copy provided by Netgalley; Published by Tundra Books, September 11, 2012.

#bookaday

I'm always jealous when the kids at my library come in to sign up for Summer Reading.  Why should the kids have all the fun? My competitive nature makes me a person who is always up for a challenge. This year I came across The Book Whisperer AKA Donalyn Miller's Book-a-Day Challenge.  This is exactly what I needed to get me amped up for summer filled with many, many books! 

It's simple. You start when you want (TODAY!) and commit to reading a book a day.  You track by posting the title of the book read in your blog, facebook or twitter using #bookaday.  Visit this site for more information.

I am having fun participating and because I have a burning desire not to miss a single great book published, I love seeing what everyone else is reading- say it <busybody>.  I have gotten some GREAT ideas and my TBR pile is growing by leaps and bounds. 
Happy Reading!

The Adventures of John Smith Jr. AKA Houdini by Peter Johnson

John Smith (dubbed Houdini due to his obsession with the magician) is inspired to write his own novel after an author visits his school. He is the best writer in his class and feels he is better equipped to write about kids than a grown-up pretending to be a kid. Additionally, Houdini has plenty of real life fodder for his own novel; a brother serving in Iraq, a father on the brink of loosing his job, a bully who is plaguing him and two best friends who have plenty of their own issues to spice things up. Alternately affecting and hilarious. This realistic glimpse into the lives of middle-school boys will surely work its own magic upon readers. Suggested for grades 5 - 8.

Fans of "Charlie Joe Jackson's Guide to NOT Reading" by Tommy Greenwald will surely like this one!

Story Time... It's More Than Just Stories!

 I recently had a parent ask me why they should bring their child to a library story time. After gushing about the benefits, I decided it would make a good blog post. Because, sure, on the surface, it may look like typical story times are all fun and games but look deeper and you’ll see that the benefits are serious stuff.  Amidst the excitement, story time is actually a wonderful skill building activity for children.  Sharing stories, conversing, socializing, singing songs, counting and rhyming are all excellent ways to build the foundation for skills children will need later on. 

According to research there are six pre-reading skills that children must develop in order to learn to read. 

 Print Awareness- Knowing how to handle a book and noticing the printed word.

Letter knowledge- Knowing their names, sounds and recognizing letters everywhere.

Vocabulary- Simply knowing the names of things.

Phonological Awareness- Being able to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words.

Narrative Skills- Being able to describe events and tell stories.

Print Motivation- Being interested in and enjoying books.

Each week my programs include activities which help strengthen particular skills.  Story time participants learn how to handle a book by watching me hold the book and point to the words as I read (print awareness).  They start recognizing letters and sounds as they are exposed to them week after week (letter knowledge).  They build vocabulary by socializing and interacting with other children, by hearing new words in stories and experiencing new things. Children have fun and work on their motor skills as we sing and dance our mornings away!   In addition, by singing we break words down into manageable pieces (phonological awareness). Try it now!  The It-sy, Bit-sy Spi-der went up the wa-ter spout.

I engage children in conversation about the books we are reading. By asking a child to predict what might happen in a story or having them retell parts of a story they are developing narrative skills.  I also allow plenty of time for self expression.  Often books we read will spark a memory and children will want to tell a personal story.  The give and take in a group setting helps children learn persistence, cooperation and also how to communicate their wants and needs verbally.  

Children who attend library story times are exposed to fun and engaging activities. By making learning a fun experience, I believe I am encouraging a life long love of stories and the written word (print motivation). I think perhaps that parent got more than they bargained for when they asked that question, but it was a nice reminder to me that while I look forward to story time and have a blast doing it, it is important work that we are doing!  Goooooooo Librarians!

 

 

 

Picture Book Brouhaha

It has been an exciting year for the picture book. With nay-sayers touting the immiment demise of what used to be a childhood staple, it seems that picture book lovers have put on their rally caps in an attempt to educate and inform parents, booksellers, educators (and anyone else who will

listen) about their value.

The New York Times ran an article about a year ago which

detailed the downward spiral of picture book thus kicking off a great debate about the fate of a cherished and treasured format.

Librarians buzzed, publishers defended... in fact Publishers Weekly printed a response to the New York Times piece shortly after it was published claiming that picture books were alive and well. Many librarians, publishers, parents and other defenders have continued their quest to send the message that picture books need to be valued. A few of my favorite responses to the outcry include:

A Challenge!

Children's book illustrator Matthew Cordell issues the following challenge on his blog.

"This is my challenge to you, dear readers. Go into a book store (not a website, but a store with a roof, walls, people, books you can hold and browse over) and spend some time in the children's book section. Find something incredible (it ain't hard). Then, when you're all filled up, buy just one picture book. And in a week's time, repeat. Buy one picture book a week for your kid(s), some other kid(s) you love, or for yourself or some other grown-up you love. I can identify that it's hard to get, at first, but adults can also enjoy reading picture books. And if you absolutely can't swallow that concept, you can't escape appreciating them for the amazing artwork alone. It's like buying amazing art that can sit on your coffee table (or wherever you keep your favorite books with your favorite images) for, like, 16 bucks or whatever. Someone you know needs more picture books in her/his/their life/lives. You need to experience, again, what you loved when you read picture books as a kid.(Okay, okay.... if you absolutely, seriously, truthfully can't get to or find a brick and mortar book store, buy your books online. But try this first.)If you can't do a pic book a week, make it a pic book a month.And if you can't do that (understood, times are tight).... Go into your most excellent local library and check out 10 picture books a week. If you can't do it every week, do it once a month. Challenge issued."

Go to his Facebook page to join in on the fun!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Childrens-Book-Challenge/295366400481033

Picture Book Month -

an international initiative to designate

November as Picture Book Month, encouraging everyone to celebrate literacy with print picture books. Founders of the initiatve believe that with the predicted death of the print book, picture books need love.

As for this picture book lover, I continue to collect and cherish them. I read them again and again. I give them as gifts, I tell my friends about them. Do I worry about the death of the picture book? Not this girl. I believe that the picture book is will be alive and kicking for a good long time. :)

In Search of Sasquatch is an engaging work of non-fiction. The book examines the stories of Sasquatch over the years and compiles the evidence (both anecdotal and scientific) in one slick volume.

Fascinating facts about Sasquatch and background on how that information was obtained will keep readers turning the pages of this well put together book and begging their parents to add plaster of paris to their weekly shopping list!
In addition to legends, footprints and reported sightings, the author adds intresting facts about the "Sierra Sounds" i.e. Big Foot language, a transcript of a 911 call and a story about how actor Jimmy Stewart smuggled a Yeti finger to the United States in his wife's suitcase.

Illustrations, photos, and archival images and add intrigue to the text and make this a book that will be returned to again and again. A glossary and a healthy "learn more about it" section includes books, videos and websites - enough to keep an interested reader busy until the next Sasquatch sighting.