Storytime Standouts Weblog - Raising Children Who Love to Read!

Last Wednesday evening I had the privilege to attend the Seventh Chocolate Lily Choice Award Gala at Kidsbooks in Vancouver. It was a lovely evening and a very special celebration of British Columbia authors and illustrators.

Author Joan Betty Stuchner and illustrator Cynthia Nugent were awarded the Chocolate Lily Book Award for their novel, Honey Cake, published by Tradewind Books.

Chris Tougas, author and illustrator of Mechanimals, by Orca Book Publishers, won the Chocolate Lily Book Award picture book category.

The nominees who spoke at the event charmed the audience with anecdotes about writing and how their nominated books came to be. It was truly inspiring to hear their stories.

Chocolate Lily Book Awards is a choice award that showcases and celebrates the best of BC children’s fiction by encouraging BC grade school students to read the shortlisted titles and vote for their favourite at the end of each school year.

The Imaginary Garden by Andrew Larsen, illustrated by Irene Luxbacher
Published by Kids Can Press
Theo is blessed to have a very special relationship with her grandfather, Poppa. When Poppa moves into an apartment, they decide to create an imaginary garden on his balcony. The first Saturday of spring is marked by the arrival of a giant, blank canvas. Before long, Poppa and Theo have created a long stone wall and beautiful blue sky. Soon they have added beautiful spring flowers to their masterpiece. When Poppa leaves for a holiday, Theo worries about tending their special garden by herself. With gentleness and love, Poppa assures her that she will know what will nurture their imaginary garden. This lovely story would be a great Father’s Day gift for a special Grandpa.

The Imaginary Garden at Amazon.ca

If you have not yet enjoyed a wordless picture book with your child(ren), I would like to introduce you to this genre. “Reading” wordless picture books together with your child stimulates language development because the “reader” takes an active part in telling the story. Once you and your child have “read” the story from beginning to end hopefully your child will enjoy the opportunity to retell the tale – a key reading readiness skill. In Chicken and Cat Clean Up we follow the misadventures of two dissimilar friends who operate a housekeeping business. The bright, cheerful illustrations provide a fun account of operating a small buiness, an enduring friendship and how an opportunity for heroism might be just around the corner. Really good fun!

Chicken and Cat Clean Up at Amazon.ca

What a delight! Four young animal friends decide a dry but dark cave is the perfect place to take shelter from a downpour. They have just settled into a sociable game of cards when a weary, bad-tempered bear chases them out of the cave and into the rain. Three of the pals decide that the bear’s misery must be due to his rather nondescript appearance. When their ill-advised makeover does nothing to improve the bear’s mood, it is left to ‘a plain but thoughtful sheep’ to make the cantankerous bear comfortable.

The Very Cranky Bear at Amazon.ca

The First Rule of Little Brothers written by Jill Davis, illustrated by Sarah McMenemy
Published by Alfred A. Knopf.
Oh dear, life can be awfully complicated when a younger brother or sister arrives on the scene. Before long, favourite toys are grabbed, tall towers are destroyed and ‘me too’ is an oft-heard phrase. For older children who are learning to get along with a little brother or sister, this picture book will ring true and inject some humor and insight into the experience.

The First Rule of Little Brothers at Amazon.ca

I want to let you know about four new eye-popping picture books that are sure to appeal to youngsters. I sincerely hope you will make time to share special books with the children in your life each and every day.

Welcome Winter
Written by Jill Ackerman, illustrated by Nancy Davis
This sturdy, fun board book caught my eye and will have great appeal for toddlers. The illustrations and text are simple and yet very engaging. I especially liked the description of “snow crunching under boots” and a matching slippery, noisy surface that begs to be touched. Very young children will thoroughly enjoy checking out a variety of textures as they learn about the season of swirling snowflakes, cold temperatures and wind.

Little Scholastic: Welcome Winter at Amazon.ca

Written by Danielle Simard, illustrated by Geneviève Côté
Originally published in French, The Little Word Catcher won a Governor General’s Award for Illustration. It was written with Alzheimer patients and their families in mind but also illustrates the impact of aphasia (an acquired communication disorder that is often due to stroke). Elise’s grandmother is losing her words. When in conversation, she has difficulty coming up with the right word to use. The affliction is terribly difficult for her young granddaughter to understand. Eventually, Elise takes comfort in the thought that perhaps Grandma has given her the words to use. A lovely story about the special relationship between a grandparent and a child, The Little Word Catcher will have special poignancy for families dealing with aging and loss.

Little Word Catcher at Amazon.ca

Smart-Opedia Junior
The Amazing Book About Everything from Maple Tree Press
It is all too easy to get locked into the idea that bedtime stories or even picture books ought to be fictional. For many children, a good nonfiction book will have terrific appeal not to mention loads of valuable information. Smart-Opedia Junior is intended for children aged 5 through 8 and provides all manner of interesting facts. Generously illustrated, youngsters will learn about body science, inventions, plant and animal life, our universe and more.

Smart-Opedia Junior Smart-Opedia Junior: The Amazing Book about Everything the Amazing Book about Everything at Amazon.ca

The 3 Bears and Goldilocks
Written by Margaret Willey, illustrated by Heather M. Solomon
I wonder how many different books tell the recognizable tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. I expect there are dozens and dozens of interpretations but perhaps none quite as original or fascinating as this one. Here, a bold and daring Goldilocks discovers a small, cave-like cabin that is home to three extremely untidy creatures. Should we really be surprised that bear porridge is not at all like the oatmeal humans enjoy or that a bear’s bed is similarly unfamiliar? Children who know the traditional story well will thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to consider an alternate account of Goldilocks’ adventure.

Little by Little written by Amber Stewart, illustrated by Layn Marlow
Published by Oxford University Press
For young children who are attempting to learn a new skill, learning ‘little by little’ is a great approach to take. Here we follow Scramble, a young otter, as he learns to swim in spite of his own reluctance and unwelcome criticism from Bear and Beaver. Lovely, warm illustrations accompany a gentle story that will give confidence to toddlers and preschoolers as they take on new challenges.

Little by Little at Amazon.ca

Snow written by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Lauren Stringer
Published by Harcourt Inc.
What could be more wonderful for a young child than waking up to freshly fallen snow? Ms Rylant’s evocative writing and Ms Stringer’s lovely paintings beautifully capture the wonder and delight of a snowy day. An exuberant young girl shares the special day with a friend and her grandmother. This beautiful book will surely leave you wishing for a magical snowy day to share with your youngster.

Snow at Amazon.ca

The Jewel Box Ballerinas by Monique de Varennes, pictures by Ana Juan
Published by Schwartz & Wade Books, Random House

To an outside observer, Bibi Branchflower appears wealthy. She has many, many prize possessions but is terribly lonely; she does not have a single friend. One day she visits a small shop and purchases an exquisite jewel box. Upon opening the box, she is captivated by the two beautiful but sad ballerinas inside. Little does Bibi know that her purchase of the jewel box and the care she shows the ballerinas will result in an amazing transformation for herself and the dancers. This thought-provoking story is best-suited to children aged 4 and up.

The Jewel Box Ballerinas at Amazon.ca

In early September 2008 I will be presenting Ready for Reading in Burnaby and North Vancouver. The presentations are part of a speaker series offered by Trust Parenting. I will be at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, Room 103, 6450 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby on Monday, September 8th. Doors open at 6:30, the presentation will be from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

The following evening I will speak in North Vancouver at the Lynn Valley Main Library – Meeting Room, 1277 Lynn Valley, North Vancouver. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The presentation will be from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Please refer to the Trust Parenting website for further information

For many adults, books are a great source of information as well as entertainment. Whether searching for a delicious recipe, researching an upcoming family vacation or deciding if a visit to the doctor is necessary, books can be inspiring, entertaining, informative and reassuring.

Just as adults seek information from books, children gain understanding and confidence as they explore new and unfamiliar situations through books. Whether heading off to preschool or elementary school, there are many delightful picture books available to help you and your child make the transition with relative ease.

Ready, Set, Preschool!
Written by Anna Jane Hays, illustrated by True Kelley

Ready, Set, Preschool! features stories , poetry and detailed illustrations that will enable youngsters to explore a typical preschool classroom, experience a field trip, observe playground activities and more. As well, the illustrations and text offer opportunities to practice counting, identifying colours, shapes, recognize rhyming words, the alphabet and letter sounds.

Extensive notes for parents provide helpful suggestions of ways to extend learning and prepare young children for their first school experience.

Ready, Set, Preschool!: Stories, Poems and Picture Games with an Educational Guide for Parents at Amazon.ca

Off to First Grade
Written by Lousie Borden, illustrated by Joan Rankin

I can still recall vividly a recommendation that was made when I attended my eldest son’s kindergarten orientation: make sure your child is not expecting to ride the school bus to school (unless he actually is going to climb aboard)! It was great advice. In those days he was captivated by large vehicles. Discovering at the last minute that he would not be riding the bus to school could have been terribly disappointing. The transition from kindergarten to grade one is explored thoroughly and with thoughtfulness in Off to First Grade. The author tells the story from a variety of perspectives. We discover some children will ride the bus and others will walk. Some are eager to begin grade one and a few think they would rather stay in kindergarten. Mrs. Miller is hoping to remember everyone’s name, the school bus driver is excited and the principal wonders which book to read aloud to the new grade one students.

Off to First Grade at Amazon.ca

How Do Dinosaurs Go to School?
Written by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Mark Teague

The latest How Do Dinosaurs title by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague is How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? Here the reader visits a conventional elementary school. The school, its staff and students appear quite unremarkable except for eight or ten extraordinary pupils. Enormous creatures from the Jurassic period demonstrate proper behavior enroute to school, on the stairs, in the classroom, during show-and-tell and at the playground. Lots of funosaurus for dino fans.

How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? at Amazon.ca