Spring has finally arrived and with it comes beautiful books to dig into. I am planting seeds in your heart (encouraging you) to go discover these books and to share them with your little ones. In so doing you will water their imaginations and their intellect and produce bloomin' great readers. Watch them grow into strong, vibrant lovers of words, language and books.... read on!
Here are a list of books to get your started....
A Perfect Day for Digging
In the spring when trees unfreeze and grass grows green and pansies say, "Please plant me!" Nell and her dog, Rusty, can't wait to dig in dirt just right for digging. But Norman, their neighbor, says "Ewww!" to digging and dirt.
Until Nell and Rusty begin to dig up unexpected treasures: a pretty striped marble, the mini stegosaurus that Nell lost last summer, and most intriguing of all -- part of a tiny china doll. Who played with it? Is there more? Norman wonders.
Now, even Norman can't resist. He rolls up his sleeves, picks up the extra trowel, and starts to dig in his own careful way -- in the process discovering all the simple joys of digging, dirt, and the fun of trying something new. Words and pictures brimming with humor and exuberance capture one of the true rites of spring: Hooray for dirty digging!
Author: Carl Best
Illustrator: Christine Davenier
Ages: 3-7
This educational and enjoyable book helps children understand how to plant bulbs, seeds, and seedlings, and nurture their growth. "The stylized representations of flower species are labeled throughout, allowing young children to get an idea of how each flower type contributes to the rainbow effect." -- Booklist
"Ehlert combines simple, stylized shapes of flat, high intensity color into abstract yet readily identifiable images of plants and flowers while clearly and colorfully labeling each plant on an adjacent garden marker. Children will especially delight in the six pages of varying width depicting all the flowers of each color of the rainbow. A celebration of the garden, the power of shape and color, and the harmony of text and image in a picture book." -- School Library Journal
Author: Lois Ehlert
Ages: 3-7
The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed A City Forever
Katherine Olivia Sessions never thought she'd live in a place without trees. After all, Kate grew up among the towering pines and redwoods of Northern California. But after becoming the first woman to graduate from the University of California with a degree in science, she took a job as a teacher far south in the dry desert town of San Diego. Where there were almost no trees.
Kate decided that San Diego needed trees more than anything else. So this trailblazing young woman singlehandedly started a massive movement that transformed the town into the green, garden-filled oasis it is today. Now, more than 100 years after Kate first arrived in San Diego, her gorgeous gardens and parks can be found all over the city.
Part fascinating biography, part inspirational story, this moving picture book about following your dreams, using your talents, and staying strong in the face of adversity is sure to resonate with readers young and old.
Author: H. Joseph Hopkins
Illustrator: Jill McElmurry
Illustrator: Jill McElmurry
Ages: 4-9
Grandma's Gloves
A child who loses a beloved grandparent finds comfort in carrying on the activities they shared in this sweet, genuine look at a universal rite of passage.
Grandma is always on her knees in the dirt, with her gardening gloves on, talking to her roses and laughing with the birds-of-paradise. Her home brims with plants and blossoms, and on hot days, she waters her granddaughter, her "most special flower of all," with the garden hose. But a day comes when Grandma is no longer there to care for the little girl, who feels sad and small and alone until she remembers all that her grandmother taught her -- and all that she now has to teach.
Full of light and life and the solace of green growing things, this moving and beautifully illustrated picture book explores a timeless bond with warmth and joy.
Author: Cecil Castellucci
Illustrator: Julia Denos
Ages: 4-8
Plant a Kiss
Little Miss planted a kiss . . .One small act of love blooms into something bigger and more dazzling than Little Miss could have ever imagined in this epic journey about life, kindness, and giving.
New York Times bestselling author Amy Krouse Rosenthal and award-winning illustrator Peter H. Reynolds have teamed together for the first time, creating what may soon prove to be a perennial favorite.
For more Mighty Girl stories about the value of compassion, visit our Kindness / Compassion section.
Author: Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds
Ages: 2-8
Readers who loved Lola at the Library, Lola Loves Stories, and Lola Reads to Leo are in for a backyard treat. After Lola reads a book of garden poems, she wants to plant some flowers. She gets books from the library and chooses her plants. Then Lola and her mommy buy the seeds, make the garden, and mark the rows. Now it's time to wait...
" This fourth, sweet story about Lola delivers with brightly colored acrylic depictions of an adorable child sharing special moments with her mother, reading books, and patiently waiting for her seeds to grow. Lola's bright, cherubic face shows curiosity, joy, and determination as she completes her project." -- Carol Connor, School Library Journal
Author: Anna McQuinn
Illustrator: Rosalind Beardshaw
Ages: 1-4
Winnie Finn, Worm Farmer
Winnie Finn is crazy about earthworms and knows everything about them. When spring arrives in Quincy County, all she can think about is the county fair coming up. This year, she would like nothing more than to win a prize for her worms so that she might buy a shiny new wagon for transporting them around. Trouble is, there's no prize at the fair for worms.
Bright, energetic illustrations accompany this jaunty tale about a young girl's creativity that will inspire readers of all interests-- but especially those with a love for something wiggly
Author: Carol Brendler
Illustrator: Ard Hoyt
Ages: 4-8
Rosie Sprout's Time to Shine
Violet runs the fastest, sings the highest, looks the fanciest, and talks the loudest. Everyone agrees that she's the best. Except Rosie. Rosie isn't fast, or loud, or fancy, but she's tired of hearing that Violet is the best. When their class grows pea plants, Rosie's and Violet's are the first to sprout! But Violet's is a little taller. So Rosie pushes some soil over Violet's sprout to slow it down. And for a moment, Rosie's plant is the best -- but she feels terrible.
And she feels even worse when she learns that Violet has the chicken pox. So for the next two weeks, Rosie waters her plant -- and Violet's too. She turns them in the sun, and sings them quiet growing songs. And her teacher says that Rosie is the best gardener she's ever had. Definitely the best.
This empathetic story captures every child's desire to be noticed and praised, and the subtle competitions that go on in a classroom. It's a book to swell every shy child's heart.
Author: Allison Wortche
Illustrator: Ard Hoyt
Ages: 4-8
Miss Rumphius
A beloved classic is lovelier than ever! Barbara Cooney's story of Alice Rumphius, who longed to travel the world, live in a house by the sea, and do something to make the world more beautiful, has a timeless quality that resonates with each new generation. The countless lupines that bloom along the coast of Maine are the legacy of the real Miss Rumphius, the Lupine Lady, who scattered lupine seeds everywhere she went.
Miss Rumphius received the 1983 National Book Award for Children's Books and was included in School Library Journal's list of "Top 100 Picture Books" of all time.
Author/Illustrator : Barbara Cooney
Ages: 4-8
Follow me:
*Instagram: Storywraps
*Email: Storywrapsblog@gmail.com
*Facebook: www.facebook.com/Storywraps
*Twitter: Storywraps@Storywraps1
I put hours of work finding the best kid's books to review for you each day. If you enjoy visiting Storywraps and would like to donate something for my time and effort I would greatly appreciate it.
Go to the top of my blog on the right hand corner (above my photo) and please donate what you feel lead to give. The amount you donate and the frequency you donate is totally up to you. I thank you in advance for your support. I love what I do and appreciate any amount that you may give so I can make our Storywrap's community even better. Thanks a million!
Read on and read always!
It's a wrap.
No comments:
Post a Comment