I Want Your Moo: A Story for Children About Self-Esteem (2010) by Marcella Bakur Weiner, Jill Neimark and illustrated by Joann Adinolfi explores how lack of confidence is tied with not liking parts of oneself. Toodles the turkey doesn’t like her feathers or her legs, but most of all she doesn’t like her voice. As she tells her problem to other animals at the farm, they all have something to say, but they don’t want to exchange voices. The rooster compromises and lets her have half his song, with hilarious results. Finally, when a crisis occurs, Toodles learns her own voice is important after all.

I Want Your Moo is an absolutely wonderful read-aloud book, especially because all the farm animals make sounds. You will be mooing and neighing away in no time. The text also has a lively pace, with the occasional rhyme thrown in to add interest. It’s no wonder it won a Teacher’s Choice Award in 2010.

Friendship can be a tricky business, even for adults. The newest title, Toodles and Teeny: A Story About Friendship by Jill Neimark, Marcella Bakur Weiner and illustrated by Joann Adinolfi (2013) centers around the problems Toodles encounters when she finds a new best friend. Her old friends are all out of sorts because they feel she has been ignoring them. Can Toodles keep both her new best friend and remain in good standing with her old friends?

The inside flap of the book jacket has one of the warmest descriptions of why friendships are important that I’ve ever encountered. It reads in part:

“Friends are part of who we are, and they often reflect who we wish to become. Friends add to the joy of being alive. “

Both books are illustrated with cartoons that have a deceptively simple, colorful look, almost like they were drawn by children, yet they are also gently expressive. Some of the illustrations contain collage elements. Both books also have a “Note to Parents” in the backmatter that helps explain how to use the book and gives helpful advice to parents whose children are struggling with these issues.

Children can often detect books that are “educational” a mile away and avoid them. These two Toodles books, however, are both so fun and informative that children will be sure to enjoy them. Parents and educators will find them valuable tools for helping children who need just a little extra boost to deal with their self-esteem or friendship issues. It’s a win-win combination!

I Want Your Moo

Age Range: 5 and up
Publisher: Magination Press
ISBN-10: 1433805421
ISBN-13: 978-1433805421

Toodles and Teeny

Age Range: 5 and up
Publisher: Magination Press
ISBN-10: 1433811987
ISBN-13: 978-1433811982

Both these books were provided by the publisher for review purposes.

TM & © 1997 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. and NEA. Cat in the Hat image TM & © 1957 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. All Rights Reserved.

The National Education Association is sponsoring the 16th annual Read Across America on March 1, 2013, as the start of the NEA’s National Reading Month. Even if you don’t participate today, you might be interested in their extensive lists of resources to help with future projects.

Also on tap this month, the children’s literature experts are rounding up some fabulous and exciting information about women’s history at Kidlit Celebrates Women’s History Month.

I am pleased to announce that this year’s theme is for Women’s History Month is women in STEM. Look for more about that next week.

Also next week comes World Read Aloud Day, March 6, 2013.

This event is for everyone, adults and children. It is designed to promote worldwide literacy. You can also download LitWorld’s picture book New Day, New Friends on the page linked above.

If you are a serious bibliophile, you might want to check out the 50th anniversary Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Monday March 25 through Thursday March 28, 2013, although it is “is rigorously reserved to professional operators.”

Are there any events I missed? How are you celebrating children’s literacy this month?

Most children discover Amelia Bedelia around second or third grade, when they are emerging readers. For those who haven’t tried the series yet, Amelia Bedelia takes many of the sayings in the English language literally, with disastrously funny results. Fortunately Amelia Bedelia is a wonderful cook, and her food always saves the day. Although the illustrations may seem a bit old-fashioned to a jaded eye, the humor is as fresh as can be.

In honor of the big day, Greenwillow Books is releasing a special Amelia Bedelia Fiftieth Anniversary Edition by Peggy Parish and illustrated by Fritz Siebel. It features the jacket, artwork, and story from the original 1963 edition, as well as seven additional pages of information about how the book came about.

If you haven’t seen the series, check out this video of an older student reading one of the Amelia Bedelia books:

I noticed in the comments of the video that one person says when he was young his school had an Amelia Bedelia Day, during which his teachers dressed up as Amelia Bedelia, read the books and served some of the food. Sounds like a memorable way to celebrate!

For a give-away contest and ideas for a Amelia Belelia party, check the Greenwillow Website.

What are you going to do to celebrate Amelia Bedelia Day?

Amelia Bedelia Fiftieth Anniversary Edition by Peggy Parish and illustrated by Fritz Siebel.

Reading level: Ages 4 and up
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Greenwillow Books; 50 Anniversary edition (January 29, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062209698
ISBN-13: 978-0062209696

The first book I read was Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet, which was one of the 2012 Boston Globe-Horn Book fiction honor books.

I did finish it, but it wasn’t what I was in the mood for. It was too masculine for me. I will save my other snarky comments about phallic symbols to myself.

I also finished The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. As promised, the books were compelling reading and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next.

Before I read them, I have to admit that I had Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” in mind (horror/suspense isn’t my favorite genre) and I wasn’t sure I would like them. I enjoyed the first person voice and the no nonsense pace. I can see why they are so popular.

Books added to the TBR list:

The Blue Cat of Castle Town at Charlotte’s Library

Jenny and the Cat Club and Bon Appetit! The delicious Life of Julia Child from Carol Rasco

Abby the Librarian reminded me I have Temple Grandin on my shelf to read

Everything at Ms. Yingling Reads

And many, many more for you to check out at the Finish Line…

Thank you to Mother Reader for keeping this going!

Have you heard that the 2012 Boston Globe-Horn Book winners were announced yesterday? The first book I plan to read is Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet, which was one of the fiction honor books. (My library didn’t have No Crystal Stair, the winner.)

I also recently received The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay (thank you, Karen), and not wanting to be the last person on the planet to have read them, will probably start those as well.

My TBR stack so far:

Let the reading begin!

Have you read any of these? I would love to hear your comments and recommendations.

This year the sponsor, MotherReader, is asking that reading marathon participants pledge to Reading is Fundamental. First you need to sign-up at MotherReader. Gather your books, from chapter books on up, and decide how much time you want to devote reading in a single 48 hour period during that weekend (there are different levels). Then June 8–10, 2012 read, blog about what you’ve read, and Tweet your thoughts with the #48hbc hashtag.

I participated last year and found myself spending as much time visiting the blogs of the other participants as reading. I found out about some great books and book blogs. It was a blast!

Check out the FAQ’s if you have any further questions.

I’d love to hear what you are reading!

Here are a few places to find wonderful children’s books and tales read aloud online: (Note: It’s always a good idea to watch or listen to the story through once yourself, because you never know when a site might have been hacked and inappropriate material added.)

• AOL Kids with books shows the pages of children’s books as a voice reads to them
• Storyline Online presents members of the Screen Actor’s Guild reading children’s books. If you aren’t convinced, click on “More Stories” and try Pamela Reed reading Stellaluna. Wow!
• Mrs. P (TV Star Kathy Kinney) reads books to children while in character.
• The Aesop’s Fables website is a classic. Now you can hear the fables as well as see the text. (Act out the fables when you are done listening).

If you go to YouTube and search for “children’s books read aloud” you can find a wealth of videos, some read by professionals and others not.

‪For example, you can find Bill Martin reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?‬

Isn’t that wonderful?

You can find a number of books read aloud at the Penguin Storytime channel.

‪Penguin Young Reader’s Channel has book trailers as well as Llama Llama Mad At Mama read aloud by Anna Dewdney‬.

Weaver718 has several videos of favorite children’s books, as well as many, many others.

Do you have a favorite website or YouTube channel where readers share children’s books aloud? Please leave a comment and let us know.

And thank you to Karen for leaving the comment that inspired this post.

I was first introduced Asterix the Gaul by Rene Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo in my high school Latin class many years ago. The text had been translated from the original French into Latin. Does that sound dry? A book about Gauls from Roman times written in Latin? Wrong! My classmates and I loved the spunky cartoon characters so much, we would spend hours trying to figure out what each was saying. I’m sure all my success in Latin is due to the foresight of our teacher to provide us with Asterix books.

Several years ago, I stumbled on an English version. It turns out that there is a whole series featuring Asterix and Orion publishers has been re-releasing the books. I immediately bought several for my then elementary-school-age son. He loved them, too. In fact he went in costume as Asterix the Gaul on Halloween, and was bitterly disappointed when everyone thought he was a Viking.

What’s to love:

• Incredibly clever word play and side-splitting puns
• A humorous overview of history and geography during Roman times
• Sly references to classics, films and famous pieces of artwork

What a few parents may not love:

• Cartoon violence in the form of fighting

Most of the violence is the direct result of the conflict between the Gauls and the Romans, which is historically appropriate. To me, it seems so over-the-top slapstick that it is not objectionable, but I did want to mention it for those that are sensitive to such things.

You can get somewhat of a feel for the flavor in the film version. (The books are better. They don’t have the dated feel.)

Although listed as for ages 9-12, the Asterix books are really for all ages. Our local library files them in young adult or sometimes in graphic books. If your child is learning a language or you want to brush up on the language you took in high school, you might consider the French or Latin versions as well.

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Publisher: Orion (September 1, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0752866052
ISBN-13: 978-0752866055

Asterix the Gaul is the first in the series.

A selection from the Asterix series in English

A selection from the Asterix series in French

A selection from The Asterix series in Latin

Have you seen the Simon’s Cat videos on YouTube?  If you like the videos, you might be interested to know that Simon Tofield has a new book out called Simon’s Cat: Beyond the Fence.

The videos and books are for cat lovers, as you will find yourself saying, “My cat does that!” The cartoons are appropriate for older children, say 9 and up. Note: A few of the earlier videos contain a bit of physical violence that is probably mild by today’s standards. For example, in one of the first videos the cat hits its owner with a bat.

If you haven’t seen one of the videos, here’s Simon’s Cat in “The Box” as a short example:

The trailer shows a bit of how this new book expands beyond the original Simon’s Cat book.

British author Tofield has added some vignettes with North American animals to the new book to draw in readers from across the pond. Let’s just say that silliness ensues.

If you are looking for something light this summer, give Simon’s Cat: Beyond the Fence a try.

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (June 2, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446560073
ISBN-13: 978-0446560078

First of all, if you donate $3 to Macy’s for their Be Book Smart campaign from June 24, 2011 to July 31, 2011, they will give you a coupon for $10 off on a $50 purchase. You may visit any Macy’s store in the United States to donate. Macy’s then gives the $3 to RIF.

Secondly, if you visit the Be Book Smart Facebook page, you can sign-up for a sweepstakes to win a $500 gift card. (Just be aware that you will be asked to reveal some personal information.)

So, look for a Macy’s store near you, and help get books into the hands of children.

Happy shopping!