Posted on November 29th, 2011 by Carolyn - Storytime Standouts
I Want My Hat Back written and illustrated by Jon Klassen
Poor Bear, he has lost his pointy, red hat. He searches the forest, politely asking, “Have you seen my hat?” He meets Fox, Frog, Rabbit, Turtle, and Snake. None has seen his hat. Bear is bereft and despondent. He frets that his hat is gone forever.
When Deer finally asks, “What does your hat look like?” Bear remembers something important.
Picture book, I Want My Hat Back is a breath of fresh air with a hint of mystery and, perhaps a touch of revenge.
Best suited to older readers, adults and children (aged five and up) will thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to “read between the lines” and enjoy the gallows humor.
Would I read it to a group of three year olds? “Maybe not.” Would I read it to a group of jaded six year olds who think they know all there is to know about picture books? “You betcha!”
Posted on October 20th, 2011 by Carolyn - Storytime Standouts
This thought-provoking picture book introduces a young Paul Gauguin. As a child, he sails with his family from Denmark to Peru. While onboard ship, his father dies and Paul feels lost. He does not mourn like his mother and sister do. He watches as the giant sun sinks below the horizon and imagines his father’s heart. When his ship arrives in Peru, Paul, with the help of an elderly man, discovers that one can bring things to life with a paintbrush.
Best suited to children aged 6 to 9, Mr. Gauguin’s Heart in an insightful and reflective look at grief and passion.
Posted on September 21st, 2011 by Carolyn - Storytime Standouts
Adults and young readers will enjoy this thought-provoking fable, a picture book for older children
The Painted Chest by Judith Christine Mills
The Painted Chest is a lovely fable that has an important message for both children and adults…
In this picture book for older children, stars twinkle above and wildflowers bloom in the fields but life in Maddie’s village is barren and grey. A distant memory of famine casts a worrying shadow. The villagers toil day after day, focussed only on growing food.
“One day, while clearing rocks from the fields, the villagers unearth a large object caked in mud.”
The long-lost painted wooden chest has an important message for the townsfolk: “Days will all be long and cold, If you nourish body but not soul.” Once opened, the musical instruments and dancing shoes from the chest bring renewed joy to the small community.
Share it with a child and let it speak to your heart.
Posted on August 19th, 2011 by Carolyn - Storytime Standouts
Wordless picture books are great for encouraging language development in young children. These books usually tell a story, clearly depicting a series of events. Before attempting to tell a ’story’, children should be encouraged to look through the entire book and get a sense of what is about to happen and how the story ends. Many children delight in the discovery that there are no words to ‘read.’ This can make for an exciting role reversal as young children have an opportunity to ‘read’ the pictures and ‘tell’ the story to an adult or another child.
I am happy to introduce two new special wordless picture books… Once Upon a Banana written by Jennifer Armstrong and illustrated by David Small
In this (almost) wordless picture book, hilarious events are set in motion when a small monkey tosses a banana peel onto a sidewalk. Before long it would appear that the entire town is upset – dogs break loose, a cyclist goes flying, a grocery cart is upended and, oh no, look at that baby carriage! Terrific fun.
Flotsam created by David Wiesner
Here, we join a boy and his family as they spend a day at the beach. Clearly an enthusiastic scientist, he arrives equipped with binoculars, a magnifying glass and a microscope. As he searches for interesting ‘flotsam’, a huge wave crashes over him and leaves an old underwater camera just above the waterline. The boy races to a nearby shop and waits as the film is developed. When handed the photos, he can’t believe what they reveal. Flotsam is truly a ‘treasure chest’ of visual delights.
Storytime Standouts offers dozens of early literacy printables, All of the printables are in PDF format. Here is a sampling of our beach-related printables. Check the tab above for more resources.
Beach Picture Dictionary Please become a member of Storytime Standouts to download this file.
Interlined Paper - Sandcastle Please become a member of Storytime Standouts to download this file.
“It all started a few months ago, during school recess. I noticed Katie whispering to a group of girls and looking at me. I went up to them and asked Katie what they were talking about. She said, “Oh nothing, Mon-ICK-a. I’ll tell you later.” then some of the other girls giggled like it really was something, and that made me feel bad.”….
“Things didn’t get any better after a while. in fact, they got worse. Much worse. It got to the point where no one would play with me at recess.”
My Secret Bully explores “relational aggression” or “emotional bullying.” In this instance, the relational aggression includes exclusion, humiliation and manipulation. Katie bullies Monica until no one is willing to play with her at recess. Monica is bewildered by her ‘friend’s’ behaviour and worries that something is wrong with her. When she finally confides to her mom, she says, “She’s really nice to me when we’re playing alone, but really mean to me when we’re around other people.”
Monica’s mom is a great listener. She acknowledges that this will be a difficult problem to overcome and then she suggests some role-playing. Monica practices some ways to respond to Katie and is ready when faced with Katie’s whispers. Resisting a fairy tale ending, My Secret Bully provides a reasonable resolution that empowers Monica to find new friends and to enjoy her time with them.
Suitable for children five and up, My Secret Bully offers all sorts of extra materials including a forward by Susan Wellman, founder of The Ophelia Project, notes for parents and teachers, suggestions for what to do if you are a target, discussion points, additional resources, websites, recommended readings and a list of ten ways to be a better friend.
Posted on March 27th, 2011 by Carolyn - Storytime Standouts
The Three Silly Billies – written by Margie Palatini, Illustrated by Barry Moser
Here is an altogether new and modern take on the Three Billy Goats Gruff. When the three Silly Billies can’t put together enough change to pay the $1.00 toll to the grumpy stumpy troll at the Trollgate Plaza, they decide to form a rather unconventional ‘car pool.’ Enter a family of three bears, a boy named Jack and young girl carrying a basket and wearing a red hood. Mama Bear fretted. “What ever will we do? If we don’t get home soon, our porridge will be cold.”…. “Why not add your money to our money?” blurted out Billy Bob. “Join our car pool so we can cross the bridge together.” “Makes a lot of cents (sic) to me, ” said Baby Bear.
Lots of fun wordplay, delicious language and vivid, clever watercolor illustrations make The Three Silly Billies well worth a careful look especially for students in the primary grades who are familiar with The Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood and Jack and the Beanstalk. The illustrations include “inside” jokes for readers to discover including Jack’s “Giant Buster” ax and the “Wolfbanextra” in Red’s basket. Be sure to follow the link (above) to Ms. Palatini’s website. You will find all sorts of treats for young readers.
Posted on March 24th, 2011 by Carolyn - Storytime Standouts
The King’s Taster – written by Kenneth Oppel, paintings by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
Max is the king’s tester and the cook’s dog. Life is mighty fine until a new and very young king refuses the cook’s gourmet fare. “The cook went straight to work on the coronation feast. He chopped, he topped, and he tailed; he sliced, he stirred and he whisked.” Despite the cook’s valiant efforts, the obstinate young king refuses to eat. The cook is desperate – he must find new recipes to satisfy an extremely picky and powerful sovereign. After travelling the world and experimenting with all sorts of exotic culinary treats, the cook finally uncovers the truth: the New King is devouring candy, cookies and other sweet treats rather than the delicious and nutritious food prepared by the cook. To avoid having his mother hear the truth, the young king decides to make better choices. He soon rediscovers his appetite and relishes meals that are truly ‘fit for a king.’ The King’s Taster serves up a banquet of delicious language and fascinating collage illustrations.
Tackling all sorts of missteps and awkward social situations, Oh, How Sylvester Can Pester!: And Other Poems More or Less About Manners offers twenty poetic suggestions for demonstrating good manners for children. Covering topics as diverse as picky eating and tardiness, talking during a movie and sneezing in public, book has been illustrated cheerfully with a diverse cast of ill-mannered characters.
Probably best suited to a classroom or library, readers will appreciate the lighthearted approach, When someone is speaking- a grown-up, let’s say- can you interrupt? In general, no way. There’re exceptions to that, but they’re rare. They occur in those instances where lightning is flashing its bolts from the sky and they’d land on your friend, or at least land nearby.”
I Want My Hat Back written and illustrated by Jon Klassen
Beach Picture Dictionary 
explores “relational aggression” or “emotional bullying.” In this instance, the relational aggression includes exclusion, humiliation and manipulation. Katie bullies Monica until no one is willing to play with her at recess. Monica is bewildered by her ‘friend’s’ behaviour and worries that something is wrong with her. When she finally confides to her mom, she says, “She’s really nice to me when we’re playing alone, but really mean to me when we’re around other people.”
well worth a careful look especially for students in the primary grades who are familiar with The Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood and Jack and the Beanstalk. The illustrations include “inside” jokes for readers to discover including Jack’s “Giant Buster” ax and the “Wolfbanextra” in Red’s basket. Be sure to follow the link (above) to Ms. Palatini’s website. You will find all sorts of treats for young readers.
serves up a banquet of delicious language and fascinating collage illustrations. 
offers twenty poetic suggestions for demonstrating good manners for children. Covering topics as diverse as picky eating and tardiness, talking during a movie and sneezing in public, book has been illustrated cheerfully with a diverse cast of ill-mannered characters.
