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This is a very sweet story about a boy and his dad. Tim has moved to a new town with his mom and his dad lives in another town. The story begins with Tim waiting at the station with his mom for the train to arrive that will bring Tim's dad to spend the day with him. Everywhere Tim and his dad go that day, he proudly states, "this is my dad." They go for hot dogs, a movie, pizza and the library before dad must return to the train station to return to his home. Before he does, he takes Tim onto the train and after getting everyone's attention the train, he loudly states, "This is Tim. He is my son. He is the best son anyone could have." Back on the platform, Dad hugs Tim tightly and promises another visit in the near future.Many children in similar situations will find comfort in this story that suggests that even with distance, the parent-child relationship can still thrive. Author Bo R. Holmberg and illustrator Eva Eriksson demonstrate their experience with wonderfully matched text and pen and colored pencil drawings.
Llama Llama
out with Mama
shopping at the Shop-o-Rama
Yucky music,
great big feet.
Ladies smelling way too sweet.
Look at knees and stand in line.
Llama Llama
starts to whine.
What parent hasn't experienced a toddler's meltdown while shopping past their ability to endure? Little Llama is not at all interested in bargains even if it means new shoes, socks and Cream of Wheat for him. It's Saturday and he wants to play!
In her second Little Llama adventure, author/Illustrator Anna Dewdney, recounts a common family situation. Her wonderfully expressive illustrations leave us in no doubt that Little Llama's temperature is rising and we're about to experience a major Llama Drama event. Just like its predecessor Llama, Llama, Red Pajama, the rhyming verses are fun to read aloud. She colors occasional words in the text to emphasize to both children and adults that these are the words to be emphasized in the stanza.
Not every parent will handle the public meltdown as well as Mama Llama, but this story is a gentle reminder to adults to set reasonable limits on what they can accomplish with a little one in tow. Little Llama and his Mama are two of the most charming characters of the last few years. Here's hoping that the next Llama adventure is just around the corner.
Kids (and adults) love stories that begin on the cover of the book. Starting this sequel with wordplay for "too", Knuffle Bunny Too, A Case of Mistaken Identity, by Mo Willems, finds our heroine Trixie back with her one-of-a-kind Knuffle Bunny sidekick beginning a new adventure - SCHOOL! Unfortunately, even as her daddy kisses her goodbye and leaves her in her new classroom, Trixie is shocked to find that her Knuffle Bunny is not so one-of-a-kind after all. Sonja also has one. The situation goes downhill from there until Ms. Greengrove, their teacher, takes both bunnies away for a time out because the two girls are arguing. Now all the pieces are in place for the accidental "switch" that leads to the case of mistaken identity.
Willem's clever use of illustration and photography, his ability to capture the unspoken conversation between Trixie's parents in a couple of glances, the pain of separation between Trixie and her Knuffle Bunny, and the pure joy and importance of a middle-of-the-night rendevous make this a must read.
Not only is this title a finalist for the Cybil's picture books award, but Mo had this to say about us "wacky bloggers". The Cybils' Awards have even attracted the notice of the International Reading Associaton in particular for Knuffle Bunny Too.
Check out Mother Reader's review here. Finalists will be announced on February 14th.
This is a very sweet story about a boy and his dad. Tim has moved to a new town with his mom and his dad lives in another town. The story begins with Tim waiting at the station with his mom for the train to arrive that will bring Tim's dad to spend the day with him. 
