A Box of Chronicle Books!

Here are some titles you DO NOT want to miss in book world!

Follow the Moon Home by Philippe Cousteau and Deborah Hopkinson is a fabulous children's book.  It is the story of a little girl who finds a baby sea turtle who is not near the ocean.  This prompts her to ask why he is so far from the water and leads to her discovery that the beach houses, with their lights on at night, are luring the turtles away from the water.  The community kids work together to get their whole community excited about helping the turtles.  I loved the story and the illustrations are watercolor that fit perfectly with the story.

Let's Play by Herve Tullet is a fun, interactive book that kids just love.  We have Press Here and Mix It up!, his other titles as well and kids are always begging to be read these over and over.  The illustrations are simple and yet so clever that kids are drawn to the feel and interactiveness of the book.  HIGHLY recommend these!

This is Not a Picture Book!  by Sergio Ruzzier is quite a romp!  Little ones will love this - they will be talking back to the book and that's what we love - interaction!  And I love how the story starts even before the title page - Clever!  This is an adorable picture book with even more adorable pictures!

For the younger set - the Cozy Classics by Jack and Holman Wang are board books, based on classic stories, with only one word per page.  At first glance, I wondered how much these would be used, but what I LOVE about these is not that they introduce the children to a classic, but that they broaden vocabulary!  The pictures as illustrations are also endearing in these baby board books.  I liked these FAR more than I thought I might!

* I was sent copies by the publisher for an honest review on my blog.

Chronicle Finds....

Chronicle Books sent me a box today! I will share these fun titles.

Peek-a Boo! by Nina Laden is an adorable board book in their series Peek-a.... The simple cut-out pages for little ones as you guess which animal could be hiding behind that small hole.  This title is all focused on Fall and will be a fun addition to our fall board books.


I Can Play and I Can Dance are both by Betsy Snyder and are board books that I can just see our little ones enjoying!  Each title has two small holes for fingers to come through and be the legs on the characters.  They are adorable!


Big Bear Little Chair by Lizi Boyd is such a fun picture book.  It is a "study" of size and shape and being able to figure out which items will go together.  The opposites are shown in such a fun way and the illustrations are AMAZING!  This will be a fun book to share with our little ones!


Ninja Baby by David Zeltser is one that just made me smile.  It's about Nina - the baby that was just born a ninja.  I mean really - if a baby can karate chop the doctor, plan sneak attacks on her parents, and obliterate applesauce - what other kind of baby could she be!?!?  You will LOVE this one and your kids will too!  AND if I knew anyone having a baby - THIS would be their shower gift!  Everyone should have a ninja baby!!


**I was sent review copies by the publisher for an honest review on my blog.

More Chronicle Books!

Sometimes you just need a new board book - I hear you!  Well I have a few new ones that crossed my desk today that I think you will enjoy.

Friends and Trucks by Sara Gillingham are adorable board books.  The baby in these books is playing with friends - experiencing all different activities throughout the day - but what sets these books apart is the spinning head on the baby - you can make him/her sad or happy depending on what you'd like.  How fun to interact with you little one with these engaging books!



Two others that you will enjoy sharing with your little ones are Who's There?  and  All Shook Up by Alain Crozon.  Both are colorful books with flaps - you can turn each page and have your child guess what is hiding under the flaps.  These are fun and the illustrations are hilarious as well. 



Lastly, a picture book for the older set - The Bear's Surprise by Benjamin Chaud.  This is a book that will provide HOURS of entertainment.  The illustrations are so intricate that you want to look over and over to see what you missed the first time.  The cut outs in the pages also make for a fun way to read/guess with your child what will happen next.  AND the author has given you questions right in the text to get you talking and thinking as you read.  This would be a super title for a circus theme as well - and sometimes those are hard to find.



I was sent these titles by the publisher for an honest review on my blog.

Chronicle Books

I got a couple of Chronicle Books today that I really HAD to share!

Swan by Laurel Snyder is one of those beautiful books that I think any young child will be entranced by.  The illustrations by Julie Morstad are amazing - the soft colors and intricate designs are stunning.  The story, the life and dance of Anna Pavlova, is one that is not well-known, and possibly not one that young children may be drawn to, but I think when they find this gem, they will open a world they didn't know existed.  Our young dancers and ballerinas will LOVE it as well!



Kate Messner has written Tree of Wonder that is a delightful story about the rainforest and how many animals can live in one tree - the Almendro Tree - in the rainforest.  The illustrations, by Simona Mulazzani, are colorful and yet realistic.  And on each spread, you can see the number of animals or insects housed in that one tree all displayed visually as well - it puts 1,024 leafcutter ants right into perspective.  Great new picture book on the rainforest - welcome addition.



I was sent both of these books, by the publisher, for a fair and honest review.

Chronicle Books Newest Titles

I got a Chronicle Books box - ALWAYS a good day!
And I wanted to share a few of the goodies with you!

How to Read a Story by Kate Messner
Simple, Step-by-step teaching kids how to read a book!  Fabulous, funny and yet right on their level.  The illustrations are light-hearted and fun as well.  Step 1 - Find a story, Step 2 - Find a reading buddy, Step 3 - Find a cozy reading spot - couldn't agree more!!

I Wish You More by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld
This is an author combo that time and time again writes and illustrates books that are endearing and make kids smile.  This is a simple story of what we wish for - either for our kids or for each other.  It is certainly not a story to read aloud in storytime, I don't think.  But one to cherish together, side-by-side, and talk about as you go.  It would also make a lovely coffee table book or gift for just the right friend.

Beach House by Deanna Caswell and illustrated by Amy June Bates
Here is a book that makes you feel sure you've been transported to the beach!  I love this - it's told in rhyme which is fun and different - the simplicity and flow of the words tied in with the amazing illustrations give the reader a beach experience all from the comfort of home.  I think this would be a fun read-aloud and one kids will explore all on their own again and again.



**I was sent preview copies of these books from the publisher for honest reviews of the titles.

Chronicle Valentine Goodies

Chronicle had two Valentine's Goodies that I could not pass up!!

Who Loves you, Baby? by Nina Laden is an adorable board book in their series with the peek-a-boo windows. When your little one looks at the book - they see their face in each of the adorable animals in the book - TOO CUTE!! This is a board book your little one will come back to over and over!

Cake Pops by Bakerella is the one that will be my demise!!! My daughter POURS over this book and is insistent that we make these goodies SOON!!! It is a gorgeous recipe book - great "cake" ideas - and step-by-step directions that make it do-able. BUT, all of that said, this mom is not sure she is up to the challenge - I think we'll bribe Dad!!! (I'm a chicken!!)

**I was provided copies of both of these books by Chronicle Books for review purposes.

Chronicle Goodies

I have to share some of my latest and greatest!

I have gotten a few Chronicle books that I just have to share!

By FAR my favorite: Just One Bite by Lola Schaefer - what a wonderful book! Giant illustrations that come to life so that you, the reader, can see what it is that 11 animals are eating - in LIFE SIZE! What a fun concept - reminiscent of something by Steve Jenkins - this is truly a new children's book not to miss!

Chicken Big by Keith Graves is one for many good laughs!! When the other chickens see this giant egg with a giant chick inside - they hardly know what to make of it. And that is the crux of the story - the chickens are baffled and have to figure out who or WHAT this giant thing really is. It isn't until Chicken Big does something extraordinary that he is one of them!! LOVE this one - the humor is wonderful!!

Oh, oh this one is pretty much another of my favorites as well!! (I know, how many favorites can one have?!?!) A Long Piece of String by William Wondriska is so clever. The story is told all in red and black - red pictures/items in the story and black string tying them all together. But there are no words - just pictures - but here is what I love - it is an alphabet book - yep, the kids will get it - even without any words. It is wonderful!!! And it ends with the only words found in the book, "What do you have on your string?" This was originally published in 1963 and I am SO glad someone found it and brought it back for us!

Day and Night by Teddy Newton is a Disney Pixar book - I like this one because it focuses on how our differences are good and just might bring us together! Yep, Day and Night meet - they find out what one another like and dislike - what fun things they each have to share - and in the end, even what they can do together! Fun read aloud.

Lastly, Shadow by Suzy Lee - and this one may be one of the last we'll talk about but certainly NOT least! Lee is imaginative and inspirational in her work. This books begins with a girl, and a light bulb, in an attic - and ends with a girl, and a light bulb, in an attic - but what comes in between all of that is PURE JOY!!! What fun one can have with shadows and a little creativity! I was enthralled to watch what she comes up with - and kids will be too - SUPER read aloud, and yet even more fun with a child cuddled up beside you! There is SO much to enjoy in this one!

*All books were provided by Chronicle Publishers for the purposes of review.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

I was taken with this book from the start. Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland has been a favorite for almost one hundred and forty-five years now. Truly it is one of the most beloved children's stories of all time. This book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, is the text that we have come to know and love with illustrations by many different artists. That is what I enjoyed so much about this book - it is looking at the story the way countless artists have imagined the story - all together in one book. I loved looking through this and can't wait to share it with others.

*I was provided a copy for review from Chronicle Books.

Hachette Books/Chronicle Books

When a box comes from Hachette - It is a BIG deal!!! And this box is no exception!!
I received the book, When Louis Armstrong Taught Me Scat by Muriel Harris Weinstein and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. I am pumped about this book - we don't have very many books on Jazz/Scat and this one will be a wonderful contribution. It is PERFECT for our Summer Reading Program theme this summer AND a beautiful tribute to Louis Armstrong - read, you'll be doing Scat in no time!

Also in the box were three Rosie Flo coloring books. These are NOT your normal coloring books and let me just tell you - my daughter thinks she NEEDS all of them. They are beautiful - I mean exquisite - coloring books - designed by Roz Streeten. She designed the books based on ideas from her daughters - they used to ask her to draw dresses so they could color them - and that is just what she did. THEN, you can add arms, legs, heads, etc. They are WONDERFUL - you do NEED to see these!

Chronicle Box!!

Awhile ago now Chronicle Books sent me a WONDERFUL box of books to preview. All I can say is that I Loved them all!! I have since had my kids test them for me and ALL have passed the Mom test and the kid test!!

First - the Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook, Jr. Edition - this one my son just laughed and laughed over and then in the next breath would say, "There's some useful stuff in here!" So, from my 12 year old son, "It's a good one!!"

Second - Squiggles by Taro Gomi - what can I say about this one except BUY IT!!! I have used it in story hour here at the libray and the kids BEGGED me for more pages, I have let my boys doodle in it and they love it as well. It's a great one and I already have the second one ordered too!

Third - Olive, the Other Reindeer by Vivan Walsh and J. ooto Seibold - another GREAT one!! I collect a new Christmas book every year and this is mine for this year! I loved Olive, the book, but this deluxe edition is wonderful with pop-ups and other fun details.

So - Christmas gifts, books for your library, books for yourself - go check these out - they are WONDERFUL!!!