Books about Growth and Change for ages 3-5

Books about Growth and Change

Fiction

 

1.       I Can See Just Fine by Eric Barclay: Paige doesn’t want to get the glasses that she needs, but changes her mind once she has them.

2.       Your Daddy Was Just Like You by Kelly Bennett: Daddy was once a baby who had to grow up.

3.       Finding Spring by Carin Berger: It’s time to hibernate, but all that little bear wants is spring.

4.       I’m Not Moving! by Wiley Blevins: A little girl does not want to move to the city, but once she gets there she decides that it’s not so bad.

5.       Clifford Grows Up by Norman Bridwell: Clifford the dog was once a tiny puppy.

6.       Little Gorilla by Ruth Borstein: Everyone loves little gorilla, and when he becomes a big gorilla, they love him still.

7.       How Did You Grow So Big, So Soon? by Anne Bowen: A little boy and his mama talk about his first day of school tomorrow and all the growing he had to do to get there.

8.       A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle: As Hermit Crab grows, he must move from shell to shell, and he decorates them with new friends who live with him.

9.       Plant a Little Seed by Bonnie Christensen: Kids plant a garden that grows fruit , vegetables and flowers and then cook with them.

10.   My Brave Year of Firsts: Tries, Sighs and High Fives by Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell: A little girl lists her firsts: bike ride, pet, day of first grade, etc.

11.   Tadpole Rex by Kurt Cyrus: Rex Impresses his dinosaur neighbors when he grows from a tadpole to a frog.

12.   Where’s Jamela? by Niki Daly: Jamela and Mama are moving to a new house, but Jamela isn’t excited. On moving day, after packing, she disappears. Will she be found and could her new home be okay after all?

13.   Kangaroo Christine by Guido Van Genechten: Christine doesn’t want to leave her mom’s pouch, until kangaroo Ben invites her to play.

14.   Leaving the Nest by Mordicai Gerstein: Baby Jay is not to leave the nest, but when she falls out, it is witnessed by a little girl, a kitten and a baby squirrel.

15.   Say Hello To Zorro! By Carter Goodrich: Doggie Mister Bud is happy with his routine until new dog Zorro comes on the scene and Mister Bud has to adapt.

16.   One Little Lamb by Elaine Greenstein: A lamb’s wool is made into mittens that a child wears when she visits the lambs.

17.   When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes: If you wait, spring will bring about changes to winter and then change itself into summer

18.   Perfect Square by Michael Hall: Square is happy being square , but it also changes and is  fountain, a park and more.

19.   Tadpoles by Betsy James: Molly’s frog eggs become tadpoles and then frogs, and her baby brother Davey learns to walk.

20.   As an Oak Tree Grows by Brian Karas: An acorn grows into a 200 year old oak tree.

21.   Now I’m Big by Karen Katz: Compares what a baby does with what a big kid can do.

22.   The Growing Story by Ruth Krauss: A boy has chicks and a puppy and over time they grow. His mom assures him that he is growing too, but he is doubtful until he sees that he has outgrown last fall’s clothes.

23.   Once Upon a Memory by Nina Laden: Shows how things change with “before” and “after” drawings.

24.   Little Tree by Loren Long: Little Tree has little leaves, but when the seasons change, he is unwilling to drop them and can’t grow until he lets go.

25.   Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin: Speculation on what you will do as you grow up.

26.   When I Grow Up by Colin McNaughton: Kids share what they want to be when they grow up, except one who doesn’t want to grow up.

27.   Kittens! Kittens! Kittens! By Susan Meyers: Kittens do kitten things until they grow into cats and maybe have more kittens.

28.   How You Got So Smart by David Milgrim: A child is told all the things s/he did from babyhood on up that contributed to being a successful person.

29.   I Feel Five! by Bethanie Deeney Murguia: On Fritz’s 5^th birthday, he still feels 4, because he still can’t tie his shoes or snap his fingers, but when he reaches apples in a tree for a friend, he feels a little older.

30.   If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson: You can plant seeds that will grow, seeds of carrots, cabbages, tomatoes, selfishness and kindness.

31.   Water Can Be… by Laura Purdis Salas: Things water can be, like ice, fog and snow.

32.   First the Egg by Laura Vacarro Seeger: Things that change into other things.

33.   Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow? by Susan Shea: Things that will grow and things that won’t.

34.   A Big Boy Now by Eileen Spinelli: Big boy bunny can do lots of things, but he has a little trouble learning how to ride his bike without training wheels.

35.   Pouch! By David Ezra Stein: Kangaroo Joey wants to leave his mom’s pouch and hop, but meeting new friends can be scary at first.

36.   Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? by Audrey Vernick: Things your growing buffalo might experience when he goes to kindergarten.

37.   Look What I Can Do! By Nancy Viau: Young animals learn how to do new things.

38.   Puffling by Margaret Wild: a baby puffin waits until he is old enough to leave his burrow.

39.   Little Boo by Stephen Wungerli (holiday): Seed Little Boo must be patient until he can grow into a scary jack-o-lantern!

40.   Baby Bear’s Big Dreams by Jane Yolen: Baby Bear plans for when he is grown up in a year or more, because he knows just what big bears do.

 

 Non-fiction

1.       See How They Grow: Chick by Jane Burton

2.       See How They Grow: Kitten by Jane Burton

3.       From Seed to Sunflower by Dr. Gerald Legg

4.       See How They Grow: Pig by Bill Ling

5.       See How They Grow: Frog by Kim Taylor

6.       Flowers Bloom! By Mary Dodson Wade

7.       Seeds Go, Seeds Grow by Mark Weakland

 

Everything Is a Poem By J. Patrick Lewis

Everything Is a Poem: the Best of J. Patrick Lewis, Illus. by Maria Cristina Pritelli, 2014.

The guest author for this year's MELSA Camp Read-a-Lot is former United States Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis. So, one of our reading choices is any of his works and I picked Everything Is a Poem.
This includes more than 59 illustrated poems on a variety of topics written between 1982-2010. The mood ranges from serious to silly.

Poetry subjects include:

•  animals ( for example, "Elephant Bill & Jackrabbit Jack")
•  people  ("The Greatest"),
• reading ("The Gentleman Bookworm")
•  sports ("My Baseball Glove")
•  riddles and epitaphs ("A Dairy Farmer")
• Mother Nature ("Her-i-Cane")
• Places ("Okefenokee Swamp Song")
• a mix ("Say, Hay Won't You Be Mine?")

Here is my favorite silly poem in the collection:

"Snake Song"

Toad gots measles
Frog gots mumps
Both got such
Disgusting bumps.

They so ugly
It's a sin.
They be jumpin'
Out that skin.

Pay no mind
These creepy items
Close my eyes
I bite 'ems, bite 'ems.

J. Patrick Lewis

Sing-Along with Miss Donell and Miss Carol Program

My colleague Miss Carol and I did a sing-along program for kids ages 2-12 and it was very successful! We sang, danced, read, pretended and blew bubbles. We handed out bells and shakers for the kids so we could make a lot of noise.

Here is our "set list":

• If You're Happy and You Know It
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star/ABC Song/ Baa Baa Black Sheep (What do these songs have in common?)
• Duet for Librarians: We read I Yam a Donkey by Cece Bell
• Row Your Boat: regular, then alligator version, lion version, snake version and round
• I'm a Little Teapot/Eensy Weensy Spider
• Dance along: "The Auctioneer" by the Okee Dokee Brothers
• Duet for Librarians: Three Myopic Rodents, then kids sing Three Blind Mice
• Bananas!
• Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
• B-I-N-G-O
• Five Little Monkeys, Hap Palmer version
• Music Maestro
• The Hokey Pokey

Additional Info:

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
If you see an alligator, don't forget to scream.

Row, row, row your boat
Gently to the shore
If you see a lion, don't forget to roar.

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the creek
If you see a great big snake, don't forget to shriek.

Three Myopic Rodents

Three Myopic Rodents, three Myopic Rodents
Observe how they perambulate, observe how they perambulate
They all circumnavigated the agriculturist's significant other
Who amputated their extremities with a carving utensil.
Did you ever regard such an occurrence in your existence
As three myopic rodents?

Bananas! (Miss Carol version)

It is a hot, hot day. And you're so hungry! Your stomach is grumbling. But, you look ahead of you and you see a tall tree.
Then you walk, walk, walk...
When you get to the bottom of the tree, you look up and see bright yellow bananas!
You climb, climb, climb (pause)
And then you pick, pick, pick, bananas
Peel, peel, peel bananas
Slice, slice, slice bananas
Eat, eat, eat bananas
And then, you go, go, go BANANAS!

Music Maestro

Leader: I am the music maestro I come from Deutschesland. 
(All repeat) 
Leader: Ich con spiele
(All repeat) 
Leader: On my [instrument] 
(All repeat) 

Instrument verses: 

Viola: 
Vio Vio Viola, Viola, Viola
Vio Vio Viola, vio viola!
HEY! 

Piano: 
Plink, plink, plink, plink, plink, plink etc.
HEY! 

Tuba: 
Oompah Oompah Oompah pah, etc.
HEY! 

Bass Drum:
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, etc.

HEY!

Triangle: 
Ding A Ling A Ling A Ling 
Ding A Ling 
Ding A Ling 
Ding A Ling A Ling A Ling 
Ding A Ling A Ling 
HEY! 

Bagpipe: 
(In a bagpipe-like sound) 
Eh Eh Eh Eh Eh Eh Eh 
Eh Eh Eh 
Eh Eh Eh 
Eh Eh Eh Eh Eh Eh Eh 
Eh Eh Eh Eh Eh 
HEY! 

Conductor:
Wave arms around

Orchestra: 
(All groups sing their instrument in unison)

 

Action

As each group sings they do an action related to their instrument. 
Viola: Motion like bowing a viola 
Piano: Motion like pounding on a piano 
Tuba: Oompah style arms (like an accordion)

Bass Drum: Bang imaginary drum
Triangle: Motion like ringing a triangle 
Bagpipe: Plug nose

Food Storytime in the Park

 

 

Fun books about food:

• Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candace Fleming: bunnies want Mr. McGreely's garden veggies.
• Monsters Don't Like Broccoli by Barbara Jean Hicks: or do they?
• Senorita Gordita by Helen Ketteman: a southwestern version of The Gingerbread Man.
• The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli: a crocodile swallows a watermelon seed and worries, will a watermelon grow inside him?
• Rah, Rah, Radishes!: a Vegetable Chant by April Pulley Sayre: hooray for tasty veggies!
• Foxy and Egg by Alex T. Smith: Foxy invites Egg over for dinner, but she is hoping to make him her breakfast!
• Snack Time for Confetti by Kali Stiles: Confetti is a hungry little bird who asks her animal friends for tips on what she should eat.
• Rude Cakes by Rowboat Watkins: a bratty cake gets his comeuppance when he is stolen by a Giant Cyclops!

IPad Storytime a.k.a Apps for Laps

Toca Band Dancing Clock

This month was the first time that my library branch offered IPad storytime to an audience of 3 to 6- year-olds and their grownups. We did two sessions two weeks apart. Here's what I showcased:

Session 1:

• The Monster at the End of This Book ... Starring Grover! by Sesame Street, $4.99

Grover reads The Monster at the End of This Book,or you can read it yourself. The screen allows interaction, so kids can untie rope knots or knock down the wall that Grover builds. The group enjoyed it.

• Toca Band by Toca Boca AB, Free

Put characters that make different sounds and do various actions onstage to make the band of your choice. Move them up higher on the stage and their routines become more complex with each level. There is a rapper, a whistler, some lady singers, various dancers, etc. This is my personal favorite, although it admittedly can become very annoying very fast. My favorite characters are scattered throughout this post. The 5-year-olds in the groups loved this app and played it most of the session!

 

Toca Band Cat

 

 

 

• Endless Alphabet by Originator, Inc., $6.99

This is a fun app to learn the sounds that letters make and increase vocabulary and it features monsters! You choose a word that you'd like to learn, like "itchy" and the screen shows the word. Then the monsters run through, scattering the letters. Your job is to drag the letters where they belong and as you do, the letter you're touching makes its correct sound. When the word is reassembled, the monsters act it out, and the narrator defines the word. New words appear monthly.

Toca Band Frogs

Session 2:

Toca Band Piano Dancer

• Go Away, Big Green Monster, No longer in ITunes :(

Just like the print book, Big Green Monster is described, and then you take him apart to make him disappear. Ed Emberley can read it, a child narrator can read it to you or you can read it yourself. You can touch the monster's eyes, nose, mouth etc. and they will react. Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to be available now.

• Dr. Panda's Handyman by Dr. Panda Ltd, $2.99

I think that we have the free version of this, and it might be limited. In the one we own, kids can help repair and paint items in two rooms, for elephant and polar bear families. You can fix chairs and decide what color they should be, or put together a bunk bed, repair plumbing or knock down a door, replace it and paint it. It can even be polka dotted!

• Finger Paint with Sounds by Inclusive Technology, Ltd, Free

As you choose colors and "paint" you make music or sound effects. Each color has a different type of music or noise. You can erase as you go or scrap the whole thing and start over. You can also save your favorites. This was the big hit for the 3 1/2-year-olds in the group.

Additionally, I told the adults about:

 

 

Felt Board by Software Smoothie, $2.99

This functions as a flannel board. You can choose your background, create characters and tell a story. There is lots of potential here. It is probably better for adults to direct the activity, because I think that it is a little harder to use than the other apps in this post. For example, when clothes are chosen for the characters, they don't just "hop" on. You have to line them up and put them on the body, so that, say, skin doesn't show beyond the edge of a sleeve. If your child isn't  frustrated by that, then let him or her go to it!

Toca Band Stomper says goodbye!

Aviary Wonders Inc. By Kate Samworth

Aviary Wonders Inc: Spring Catalog and Instruction Manual By Kate Samworth

Although this book is made in a 32 page picture book format, it is perfectly suitable for a 4th-5th grade audience. On the surface, it is a catalog for us to buy parts that when assembled, make our perfect bird, and that is amazing and fun. Beyond that, it invites us to consider a world without natural birds, one where they must be taught to sing, their beaks must be strapped on and where a clumsy human hand can create a bird with so much decoration that it cannot lift its head. These lovely creatures are made from silk and leather with the finest craftsmanship, but something essential is missing. The message is subtly presented and the reader will be lost in the beautiful artwork.

El Deafo by Cece Bell

The first book that I read for Camp Read-a-Lot this year is El Deafo by Cece Bell. You are probably aware of this recent Newbery Honor winning graphic novel for kids. Based on Bell's childhood, Cece ( now an anthropomorphic bunny) deals with her sudden hearing loss at age four and learns to handle her large hearing aid, the sometimes weird attitudes of her classmates and neighborhood friends and her own feelings about her deafness.

This book is funny and sweet and true to childhood, capturing the things kids laugh at, the intensity of a first crush and the wish to have a best friend, even one that's too bossy. Through it, Cece learns how to stand up for herself, express her inner super hero and accept herself for who she is.


Learn more about Cece Bell and her books here: https://cecebell.wordpress.com/

Camp Read-a-Lot 2015

I'm a counselor again for MELSA's Camp Read-a-Lot, this year to be held at Como Zoo! The featured author is J. Patrick Lewis. Camp will be Thursday, August 6. Find more details here: http://www.campreadalot.org/

I'm going to be discussing the Camper's Choice books with teachers that work with 4th and 5th graders. The reading list is:

2015 Camp Read-A-Lot: Grades 4&5 Reading List

Fiction

Aviary Wonders, Inc. Spring Catalog and Instruction Manual: Renewing the World’s Bird Supply Since 2031 by Kate Samworth

The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm  

Reign Rain by Ann M. Martin

 

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

The Abominables by Eva Ibbotson

Kinda Like Brothers by Coe Booth (Scholastic, 2014). 9780545224963.

 

Camper’s Choice

Camper’s Choice by J. Patrick Lewis – choose any title by our keynote author to read and review.

Camper’s Choice – Any title of your choice (fiction or nonfiction) that meets the following criteria:

a. You have not read it before this summer

b. Original copyright is no older than 2012

c. Ideal for classroom use or free reading

d. Avoid highly popular titles, books recently made into movies, major award winners

Nonfiction

El Deafo by Cece Bell
 

If…:A Mind-Bending New Way of Looking at Big Ideas and Numbers by David J. Smith

The Pilot and the Little Prince: The Life of Antoine de Saint-Exupery by Peter Sís

When Lunch Fights Back: Wickedly Clever Animal Defenses by Rebecca L. Johnson  

Mysterious Patterns: Finding Fractals in Nature by Sarah Campbell

Twenty-Two Cents: Muhammad Yunus and the Village Bank by Paula Yoo

New Babytime Companion and toys!

Meet Nora, my new storytime puppet. I love her. If you are looking for a well made puppet, I recommend this. She is very soft and easy to manipulate. You can move her mouth and both front legs. I plan to dress her up in cat costumes and get her a name tag that says "Nora the Library Cat".

Nora is a Folkmanis puppet and I got her from Amazon:

This photo is from Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Folkmanis-Black-Cat-Hand-Puppet/dp/B00I0GWSQK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426008321&sr=8-1&keywords=black+cat+puppet


I was worried from the Amazon photo that she might be scary, but as you can see from my photo, she is rather more goofy. I ordered Nora myself, because I want to keep her.

My library ordered me some nice new things also. I got them all from Lakeshore Learning.

Photo from Lakeshore Learning

Mix & Match Farm Animals ! These were well received as soon as the toddlers figured out that they came apart.

Photo from Lakeshore Learning

Colorpillar Sorting Mat ! With wooden blocks,rubber/plastic items and soft fuzzies to sort.

Photo from Lakeshore Learning

Baby Band Rhythm Set ! I have six other bells like the ones in this set, and they are great for little hands.

Photo from Lakeshore Learning

Activity Scarves ! Super for Peek-a-boo.


Finally, a wonderful colleague of ours gave us her Play Tunnel, similar to this red one:

Thanks, Kathy! The babies love it.

Altogether a swell haul.

Shoo Fly Storytime

Shoo Fly Family Storytime:

Book Possibilities

• I Spy Fly Guy! by Tedd Arnold*
• Old Black Fly by Jim Aylesworth, Illus. by Stephen Gammell*
• The Fly Flew In by David Catrow
• Horsefly and Honeybee by Randy Cecil
• The Spider and the Fly by Tony DiTerlizzi
• Soup for One by Ethan Long*
• Tiny Little Fly by Michael Rosen, Illus. by Kevin Waldron*
• A Fly Went By by Mike McClintock, Illus by Fritz Siebel
• When the Fly Flew In... by Lisa Westberg Peters, Illus. by Brad Sneed
• There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Simms Taback*
• Shoo Fly! by Iza Trapani

*Books I used this time


We started with Old Black Fly and I sang the beginning and ending verses to the tune of "Buffalo Gals" and after "Shoo fly, Shoo fly, Shoo" we all gave a big "Swat!" and clapped our hands together.

I used the CD/Book set of There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Simms Taback along with our Library system's Alma's Design There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly puppet. This was a huge hit, as the kids loved feeding her the animals as they listened to the song.

We also swatted flies along with Hap Palmer's song "Flick a Fly" from his CD Walter the Waltzing Worm. Warning: that song is infectious!

There are some excellent ideas for Fly Storytime on Storytime with Miss Tara and Friends and Sunflower Storytime . Don't miss them!

From Norvelt to Nowhere by Jack Gantos

From Norvelt to Nowhere by Jack Gantos, 2013.

This is the hilarious sequel to Dead End in Norvelt and this entry will have spoilers for that book. So be warned!


I will give you some space to avoid accidentally reading things that you don't want to know.










This book picks up with Jack on the Halloween after the events of Dead End in Norvelt . Now that the old lady murders in Norvelt have ended and the killer has confessed, original resident Mrs. Custard moves back home. This means that Miss Volker is no longer the earliest Norvelter in town, so she won't have to honor her promise and marry the dangerous Mr. Spizz. This turns out to be unfortunate for Mrs. Custard, who eats a poison-laced cookie just as Jack and his friend Bunny are trick or treating at her house. Is Spizz back? Who does Jack hear prowling around his former office?

Then Miss Volker suddenly receives word that her sister in Florida has died. Angry Miss Volker, blaming the still- at-large Spizz, sets off on a road trip with Jack in tow. She can bury her twin and also catch and punish Mr. Spizz, who is still in love with her. Things are complicated by two other people trailing along behind them. Will Spizz go to prison? Or to the chapel? Plenty of funny moments and comparisons to Moby Dick make this book a great read.

Stubby the War Dog by Ann Bausum

Stubby the War Dog: the True Story of World War I's Bravest Dog by Ann Bausum, 2014.

Animal lovers will welcome this heartfelt non-fiction title about a loyal dog . Stubby was an amazing canine hero during World War I.  A mixed breed stray, he adopted soldier James Robert Conroy when enlisted men were training on Yale University's athletic grounds. He watched the men as they drilled and he learned how to march in formation and salute, and soon he became the mascot for Conroy's Unit. Smuggled aboard a ship to France, Stubby then participated in 17 battles, keeping close to his buddy Conroy.  He killed vermin in the trenches, warned the doughboys when a gas attack was coming, helped to find wounded on the battlefield, and more. One of his greatest acts was  capturing a German soldier and holding him by the pants until help arrived. The gallant dog survived severe wounding by schrapnel and poison gas and returned to duty each time. Through all of his service he remained Conroy's best friend.

After the war until the end of his days, the wonderful Stubby was honored and led an exciting life. His special uniform was decorated with many medals and he earned three bones a day and a place to sleep at the YMCA. He and his pal Conroy marched in parades, performed vaudeville and promoted the American Humane Society. Stubby & Conroy also met presidents Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge. The outstanding dog was always loved and cared for by his friend. Conroy made sure that Stubby would be remembered by donating his memorabila to the Smithsonian Museum.

Bausum's book is a fine read for history lovers, as she skillfully tells the dog's story and gives a view of  the Great War and the life of the American fighting men. The Foreword is written by Conroy's grandson, who shares his memories of his grandfather and his bond with Stubby. The book is full of photos of Stubby, Conroy and military life in the teens. A timeline and bibliography is included.

The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata

The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata, 2013.

In this quiet and unusual story, 12 year old Japanese-American Summer spends the summer helping her family harvest wheat around the country. Her parents have been called to Japan to take care of aged relatives, so Summer is travelling with her strict grandparents, her unpopular and quirky younger brother and her beloved dog. She expects to help her Obaachan (grandmother) cook meals for the harvesting crew, but she doesn't suspect that a boy that she's known for years has become really attractive and she doesn't plan on her Jiichan (grandfather) getting too sick to drive the combine and maybe not get the wheat harvested before the rain comes. Summer's mom told her that a lot changes in the summer before seventh grade, but Summer didn't realize that she'd have to get along with prickly Obaachan, worry about her brother, deal with her fear of/obsession with mosquitoes and malaria and possibly save her family's jobs.

Kadohata's strong characterizations make this book a great read. Summer is a thoughtful girl who loves her family, who makes mistakes and learns to face her fears. Summer's brother Jaz is an unusual boy who has had three different psychological diagnoses, but to Summer, he's just her intense brother and she hopes that he can find friends. Obaachan and Jiichan, while funny when they quarrel, are multi-dimensional people and not just comic relief.