Tag: Sue Fliess

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We’re Getting A Pet!

Do you remember the wonderful Little Golden Books® from your childhood, the ones with the gold foil on the spines? Random House Kids still publishes them, with over 200 books in the series and new titles coming out all the time.  A recent release, We’re Getting a Pet! (Little Golden Book) by Sue Fliess and illustrated by Jana Christy, captures that special childhood moment when a child adopts a new pet.

Wanting a pet can be intense for children and being asked to wait can be difficult. Once the okay is given, it can also be difficult to bypass an adorable kitten or puppy for a more reasonable older animal. We’re Getting a Pet! helps young readers deal with both these issues.

As she proves once again, Sue Fliess is a master of the gently-humorous, fast-paced rhyming text that is so appealing to little ones.

Wishing, hoping for a pet.
Last year, Dad said, “Not quite yet.”
Now I’m ready! “May I, please?”
Mom says, Yes,” and Dad agrees!

The text is paired with Jana Christy’s illustrations, which are fun and dynamic. I particularly loved the tiny furball of a hamster in its plastic exercise ball.

Check out the official trailer, which gives a preview of the book as well as some adorable photographs of real pets.

We’re Getting a Pet! is a must-have book for children wanting or about to get a pet. It also will appeal to any youngster who loves animals or wants to learn more about them.

Related Activities:

1. Show-and-Tell with Pets

We’re Getting a Pet! would be great to accompany an activity where children share about their favorite pets or reveal what sort of pets they would like to have. Arrange a show-and-tell session with photos, stuffed animals, or with parental permission, real pets.

gerbil-56_IMG

2. Try some science activities with pets.

Suggestions include:

Age Range: 2 – 5 years
Series: Little Golden Book
Publisher: Golden Books (July 14, 2015)
ISBN-10: 0385375549
ISBN-13: 978-0385375542

Disclosures: This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes. I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at not extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

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Let’s Build

One of our favorite authors, Sue Fliess, has a new picture book out, Let’s Build, with illustrations by Miki Sakamoto.

Sue truly gets young children, plus has a real flare for rhyming text. The text is fast-paced and gently humorous, as you can see in the book trailer:

Yes, hardware stores do seem to go on for miles! (Although certain DIY types don’t seem to mind that.)

Let’s Build is a quick, lively read for a slow summer day when the kids are looking for something to do. Perhaps it will inspire them to build their own “fort” out of blankets, chairs, and couch cushions.

Other activity suggestions:

For those who want to give something more concrete at try, This Old House has instructions for building a fort they say can be constructed in about three hours. Yes, you could build a fort in a day!

Danae has a great Pinterest Board of Tree Houses and Forts (plus other play structures. Check out the A-frame made out of wooden doors!

Age Range: 3 – 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool – 3rd
Hardcover: 24 pages
Publisher: Two Lions (May 6, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1477847243
ISBN-13: 978-1477847244

Disclosures:  This book was supplied by the publisher for review purposes. I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at not extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

 Nonfiction Monday is a blogging celebration of nonfiction books for kids. Join us at the new Nonfiction Monday blog.

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Treasure for Toddlers/Preschoolers: How to be a Pirate

Yesterday I saw an adorable toddler tell his brother he was sending his paper boats to “Davy Jones’ Locker.” How to be a Pirate (Little Golden Book) by Sue Fliess and illustrated by Nikki Dyson would be a perfect book to share with this pirate-obsessed youngster because it is tightly packed with similar pirate talk as well as swashbuckling adventure.

how-to-be-a-pirate

As she proves once again, Sue Fliess is a master of the fun-filled, fast-paced rhyming text that is so appealing to little ones.

Ahoy, landlubber! Come with me.
Board me ship upon the sea!
Not a pirate? Don’t know how?
Ye can learn to be one now!

The text is paired with Nikki Dyson’s illustrations, which are full of bright colors and movement. Check out the official trailer:

 

 

Looking for treasure? Reading How to be a Pirate will reveal the gold is not only on the binding of the book, but also inside.

Activities to accompany the book:

1. Make a paper boat and float like a pirate.

If you don’t have a favorite pattern, Paper Boat has instructions, more links and stories.

 

paper-boatGrowing with Science has a bathtub buoyancy challenge for older kids. Just try not to send your boats to Davy Jones’ Locker!

2. Dig for buried treasure

What youngster doesn’t love to play in sand? It is also an important sensory/tactile activity. You can add to the enjoyment by burying some pirate treasure a small sandbox or plastic bin full of sand for your child(ren) to find.  Supply plastic sand toys to help with excavation.

Suggestions for treasures for over three year olds (some of these might be choking hazards for children younger than three):

  • gold-painted rocks
  • marbles
  • fake coins
  • plastic gems
  • buttons
  • colorful sea shells
  • bead necklaces

Older kids might enjoy a treasure map and treasure hunt in the sand.

For more ideas, visit:

The Stuff for Junior Pirates page at the Official International Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19) website

My Pirate Activities for Toddlers/Preschoolers Pinterest page

Age Range: 2 – 5 years
Series: Little Golden Book
Hardcover: 24 pages
Publisher: Golden Books (January 7, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0449813096
ISBN-13: 978-0449813096

Disclosures: This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes. I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at not extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

 

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Robots, Robots Everywhere!

Do you remember the wonderful Little Golden Books from your childhood, the ones with the gold foil on the spines?  Robots, Robots Everywhere! (Little Golden Book) by Sue Fliess and illustrated by Bob Staake is a delightful new addition to the classic line. robots-robots-everywhere

The text is fast-paced and energetic, sure to hold a young person’s attention:

“On the ground
And in the air
Robots, robots
everywhere!”

Although it looks and sounds like fiction – with Sue Fliess’ pitch-perfect rhymes and Bob Staake’s whimsical and imaginative illustrations – Robots, Robots is really nonfiction. It points out how ubiquitous and useful robots have become. Once you start reading this book to a child, you will realize robots are indeed everywhere.

You can get a good feel for what the book is like in this trailer:

 

Yes, I do want one. (Robot vacuum cleaners, which are mentioned in the book, are a writer’s best friend because you can vacuum and write at the same time.)

Reading Robots, Robots Everywhere! is an innovative way for children to find out more about robots and all their uses. It is so catchy, young readers are sure to want it read over and over again. Let’s introduce the next generation to the thrill of Little Golden Books by introducing them to this book!

Related activities:

The illustrations in the book are sure to inspire children to want to make a robot craft.

Gather:

  • Paper plates
  • Paper bowls (optional)
  • Chenilles
  • Markers and/or crayons
  • Assorted doo-dads like pom poms, wheel pasta, nuts and bolts, plastic straws (make sure the sizes are age appropriate)
  • Glue
  • Aluminum foil strips
  • Construction paper (cut into shapes for the pre-scissors crowd)
  • Paint (optional)

Allow the children to use their imaginations and design their own robots. Encourage them to think outside of the human-form stereotypes.

If you want more ideas, Kids Craft Weekly has a Robots Issue.

Age Range: 2 – 5 years
Series: Little Golden Book
Hardcover: 24 pages
Publisher: Golden Books (August 6, 2013)
ISBN-10: 0449810798
ISBN-13: 978-0449810798

Disclosures: This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes. I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at not extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

 

Nonfiction Monday is a blogging celebration of nonfiction books for kids. We invite you to join us. For more information and a schedule, stop by Booktalking to see who is hosting each week.

Today’s round up is at Sally’s Bookshelf.