Sunday, February 28, 2010

NO STORYTIME THIS WEEK

There's no stories this week at Cover to Cover, but we'll be back with a Seasons themed storytime on Monday March 8th.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Around the World


Ben and Gran and the Whole Wide Wonderful World by Gillian Shields. This one may be difficult to source in America, but try your local bookstore, they'll certainly try to find a supplier for you. Ben lives on one side of the world and Gran lives on the other side, although sending messages is fun, it's no substitute for seeing your favourite person. So Gran goes on an epic journey to get to Ben whilst Ben prepares for her arrival. This is a great book to read to a transportation loving toddler, as Gran uses any means necessary, including camel and high speed express train to get to Ben.

The Pet Dragon
by Christophe Niemann A simple story with a legendary feel which uses Chinese characters as the basis for the illustrations. Also, there's a dragon, who plays soccer.

Mama Do You Love Me?
by Barbara M Joose
Toddler's love to push their parents and test the limits of the love. In this charming book with an Innuit theme, the Mama in question calmly explains that Mama's love knows no limits, no matter what side of your personality you show and even if you turn into the meanest polar bear there ever was.


Lisa's Airplane Trip by Anne Gutman. Lisa has never been on an airplane before, which is not surprising as she is a cuddly rabbit. This translated French travelogue is really charming and has lots of jokes for the grown ups. I would highly recommend this as a storybook to introduce toddlers to the concept of air travel, if you're about to take a trip yourself.

The Story of Ferdinand
by Munro Leaf This 50 year old story of a pacifist bull who just wants to smell the flowers and won't be goaded into violence is a real classic and for good reason.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Random Favourites



Yes, I've been watching the Winter Olympics and knitting and not researching this week's theme. So it's time for some of our favourites:

BeBop Express by H L Panahi
This book is a pleasure to read, the illustrations are lively and when you've read it, you know much more about the American Jazz Symphony. I love this book.

Wibbly Pig's Silly Big Bear by Mick Inkwell
"Wibbly Pig has a bear so big he can hardly fit on the page..."so he doesn't, he steps off the page and into our imaginations and when he is gone, we are very sad too.

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Another one I never tire of reading. I like to get the kids to roll their terrible eyes and show their terrible claws.

Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
A classic lift the flap book about choosing the perfect pet.

Sadie the Airmail Pilot by Kelly Strom
Amazing illustrations and a great adventure story. As Sadie the cat pilot battles through a terrible storm and a frightening crash to get the airmail through.

We'll be singing Jenny Jenkins, I'm a Little Airplane and we'll take some requests.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

123 - Books with Numbers


My Truck is Stuck by Kevin Lewis and Daniel Kirk
This is a strange book, the meter is complicated and the rhymes are seemingly random. But the subject matter and bright illustrations, make it a really popular choice. It also has some sneaky counting in it.


The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
This is a classic, with a caterpillar so hungry he eats through pages of fruits, counting them as he goes and then moves on to cake and sausage, which gives him a tummy ache. There are many different editions of this book, including a beautiful pop up version, which I'll be reading from.

Over in the Jungle by Marianne Berkes and Jeanette Canyon

This sing-a-long book is full of actual jungle animals in their actual jungle settings. The crazy half sculpture half illustrations are fascinating and strange.

Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang
A bedtime countdown book, my favourite is 7, because surprisingly, that's shoes.

The Three Little Pigs
I have a ladybird board book version of this story, but I change the words so that the pigs say "no no not by the hair on my chinny chin chin". I will encourage huffing and puffing by all.

We'll be singing "Zoom, Zoom, Zoom", "Five Little Monkeys" and "Five Little Ducks"