Do you like hot cocoa, snuggly kittens, new friends, and dragonfruit? OF COURSE you do! How about frozen boogers, being told "no", stinky ghost burps, and even stinkier durian fruit? Maybe not so much? We don't blame you. But hey, don't knock it 'til you try reading about it...
The books we talked about during December's Book Share program for kids in grades K-3 feature all of the above! Missed the meeting? Keep reading for fun new book recommendations.
Winter Woes by Marty KelleyThis is one of my favorite seasonal Winter picture books. I don’t know a single New Englander (young or old) with whom this book won’t resonate. It begins with a small child’s excitement over a magical dusting of snow. Then, reality sets in. Think: runny nose, frozen toes, and YES, frozen boogers! The rhyming, outlandish, comical text is perfect for a family read-aloud. By the time the boy decides to skip the storm outside, settling down with a nice cup of hot cocoa instead, you’ll be so tickled you’ll have almost forgotten your own “winter woes.” But don’t get too comfortable: as you’ll learn, mini marshmallows come with their own set of dangers…
Piper Green and the Fairy Tree by Ellen Potter
In this first installment of Ellen Potter’s early chapter book series, we meet Piper Green: “a most unusual child.” She lives on an island. She rides a lobster boat to school. And she wears earmuffs wherever she goes: to breakfast, to bed, to class. That is, until her new teacher forbids it. What her teacher doesn’t understand is that she’s not just wearing earmuffs because they’re undeniably cool, or because they have a monkey on each ear (monkeys which she’s named: Glunkey & Jibs). She’s wearing them because they were a gift from her older brother, whom she misses terribly. When she climbs a tree (just like a monkey!) to escape everyone being mad at her, she hears a mysterious noise coming from inside the tree! Things only get stranger from there. Fortunately, Piper Green has always been a little strange. And that means, things are looking up. With short chapters, black & white illustrations scattered throughout, a unique setting off the coast of Maine, and a family of quirky characters, this is a great series for independent, early elementary readers – or for families looking for a book to read together.
The Haunted House Next Door (Desmond Cole, Ghost Patrol: #1) by Andres Miedoso
If you have a young reader looking for “spooky books,” this series about an eight-year-old ghost hunter might be just the thing! It’s lightly illustrated, has diverse characters, and the thrills and chills are offset by silly, age-appropriate humor. Concerns about fitting in, making friends, and choosing kindness are addressed with a subtlety and nuance – but that doesn’t mean that kids won’t be delighted by the occasional fart joke. It’s all about balance.
Try It: How Frieda Caplan Changed the Way We Eat by Mara Rockliff & Giselle Potter
This a fun new picture book biography for young foodies…or reluctant eaters! Have you ever had a kiwifruit? A purple potato? Mushrooms? Baby corn? Sugar snap peas? You probably have Frieda Caplan to thank (or curse)! She is responsible for introducing most of the funky (and not so funky) fruits & vegetables you see in grocery stores to the U.S. Before her influence and daring entrepreneurial spirit, it was just potatoes and tomatoes as far as the eye could see! Kids and adults alike will delight in naming which foods they’ve eaten and which are unknown to them (have you ever heard of a Buddha’s hand?). Follow this nonfiction book up with a trip to the grocery store and a culinary, taste-testing adventure! The overarching message about trying new things is an apt one to bring into the New Year.
If you’ve enjoyed reading about new-to-you Children’s titles, join us next month for our next Book Share! Bring a title you’ve read recently or just come and listen. Meet us on Zoom on Friday, January 14th, from 2-3pm.