Hellobee

Here’s this month’s edition of What’s in Our Library Bag, where I share some of our favorites from recent library visits. Some of the books are newly published ones, others are new to us, and still others are old favorites that we just had to check out again!

My Basketball Book, My Football Book: Lately, Lil’ CB has been into sports books and we check out at least a couple on each library visit. Gail Gibbons is my non-fiction queen and she does not disappoint in these books about basketball and football. There are also books in the same series about soccer and baseball.

Theo’s Mood: Young children need to learn how to express their feelings and moods and this book does a wonderful job of teaching about different feelings. The story revolves around Theo who is unsure of his feelings after his new baby sister is born, so it’s also a great story for new big brothers and sisters!

Yoko Learns to Read: I adore Rosemary Wells and Lil’ CB and I have been enjoying her stories about Yoko, a Japanese-American cat. This one was one that Lil’ CB really connected with as a Kindergartner learning to read himself.

1000 Times No: Parents of toddlers, you are going to have a major text-to-self connection with this book! Celebrating (??) all the ways little ones can tell us “NO,” this one is sure to elicit some laughs…or, perhaps ideas for new ways to to tell you “no”….

Hands Off, Harry!: Another gem by Rosemary Wells! Her story about the Kindergators are just marvelous and actually follow the same social curriculum (Responsive Classroom) that our school uses. This story is about Harry who needs to learn about respecting others’ personal space — lots of great reminders for active little ones!

McDuff Comes Home: So, yeah, I might be on a big Rosemary Wells kick lately. Lil’ CB has loved the stories about McDuff, the sweet, and sometimes naughty, Westie. I love the illustrations in these books — they take place in the 1930s and the pictures are just lovely and instantly classic.

Leon the Chameleon: A simple and great story about being yourself and finding value in that, no matter how different you may seem!

Who Wants a Hug?: This book had us in stitches! It reminded me of an old Looney Tunes cartoon with the scheming skunk and the kind, lovable bear that just wants to give Skunk a hug. It’s so silly, but also has a sweet message.

The Storm Whale: There’s something about this story that is beautifully sweet and almost sad, but in the best way possible. The beautiful illustrations only add to the sweet story about Noi and his dad and their life by the sea.

Love Waves: Rosemary Wells does it again! This is a great story for children of working parents or for children who are heading to school for the first time. The idea of love waves that follow us through the day, even when we are apart are comforting and easy for even the littlest of little ones to understand.

Edwina The Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct: In true Mo Willems’ fashion, here is an incredibly silly story about Edwina, who, as the title suggests, is a dinosaur, but doesn’t realize she is extinct. Featuring an equally silly villain, Reginald Von Hoobie-Doobie, this story (probably best for kids 4.5 and up) will have both you and your little one laughing!

Cheetah Can’t Lose: Bob Shea has been seriously cracking me up lately. This one is no exception! Cheetah is arrogant and super duper competitive and thinks he can beat some sweet, seemingly unassuming kittens at anything. Little does he know that the kittens have their own tricks up their sleeves! This story has been quite appropriate for our competitive little guy!

Fancy Nancy and the Wedding of the Century: Lil’ CB will sometimes balk when I put a “girl” book in our library bag, but Fancy Nancy always draws him in because the stories about her are so great! Similar to other Fancy Nancy stories, at her uncle’s wedding, things do not go the way Nancy has hoped or planned, but she learns that things don’t have to be so fancy to be just right after all.