The Hare and The Tortoise

Today we read The Hare and The Tortoise adapted by Ronne Randall.

It is a take on the Aesop's Fable. The story is about a bunny who thinks he can beat anybody so he challenges the Tortoise. The Hare thinks he is so fast he stops to rest, falls asleep and the Tortoise beats him. Very amusing to pre k-2nd grade.

The book is full of great picture that engaged my daughter. She enjoyed it so much she wanted me to read twice.

The Leaf Men

The Leaf Men
By William Joyce
Readers Pre-k- 3grade

My reason for picking this story was due to a movie preview my kids watched. This book is not new, it has been out for a few years. The story is about a garden that is in trouble because the lady who owns the garden becomes sick. While she is sick, an evil Spider Queen wants to make snacks out of all the bugs in the garden. The leaf men come in to save the bugs and the garden. The garden is saved and the lady gets better when the leaf men bring her a item from the garden.

The story is the good vs evil theme. The pictures are beautiful. A first grader should be able to read it with help from mom or dad. My son enjoyed it and is looking forward to seeing the movie spring of 2013. We will read this book again and again.

Happy Reading

We Both Read

The Mouse In My House
By Paul Orschski
Illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler
Reading level K-2

This new book I found at the library. It is a book where parents and children read the book together. I have read other books where parents and kids take turns reading but this one stands out. The story is good and the pictures will make you laugh as you read.

The point of taking turns while reading is to encourage a child to want to read. This book is great for a beginner reader or childern who do not like to read. By taking turns you can help your child read and understand the story. There are plenty of opportunities to raise your child's reading level with new vocabulary words. Together you can discuss the book, talk about the plot and look at the picture to understand new words.

This book is about a mouse who takes over a little boys house. The mouse is such a problem that the boy takes the mouse to the country. The mouse is chased out of the country and finds his way back to the boys home.

The book has rhyming words and new vocabulary in bold print. The book encouraged my son to make up his own rhymes that we incorporated into the story. The book made us laugh and feel closer together as mother as son.I was able to give my son some one on one time. I could see his confidence boost as he was able to read along. I won't give up these moments with my son for anything. Before you know it the kids are teens and in their own world.

Thank you to Treasure Bay for encouraging my son to read and letting me spend some quality time with him.

Happy Reading

Hopscotch Hill School

Hopscotch Hill School Series

The Fair-Share Pair
Reader Pre-K to 2nd grade
By Valerie Tripp, Illustrated by Renate Lohmann


This delightful series is put out by the American Girl company. The stories focus around Miss Sparks classroom. The stories are easy reader level 2. The pictures are colorful and funny. The stories teach manners, sharing, taking turns and being kind & considerate and more. At the end of each book is a parents sections to review the lesson learned in the story.The books are great for early readers and encourage parents to help develop thinking and reading comprehension skills in children by asking questions. My daughter loves these books. You can find them at the library in the series book section.

Happy Reading

P.S. My son brought home a Good Reader Award, so we must be doing something right!!

50 Below Zero

50 Below Zero

By Robert Munsch

Pre-k to 2nd grade

This is a delightful story about a dad who sleep walks and a son who finds him in the middle of the night. I found the story to be very funny. The reader needs to read it out loud to get the full effect of the joyful writing. My daughter enjoyed this book. We will read it again. Stay warm!

Happy Reading

Twas The Night Before Christmas

By Clement C. Moore

This is a publisher requested review. I received the book for free. This is a fresh version of an old classic. When you read it through you may not notice the change. But it has been updated to leave out smoking. The artwork is lovely and the expressions on the faces are priceless. Thank you for the newer version. It will be enjoyed for years to come.



Marketing Kit:
A letter from Santa Claus: In this special twenty-first-century edition, select lines have quietly slipped from the pages. Here at the North Pole, we decided to leave all of that tired old business of smoking well behind us a long time ago. The reindeer also asked that I confirm that I have only ever worn faux fur out of respect for the endangered species that are in need of our protection. This includes my dear friends the arctic polar bears. Publishers note: It was our sincere pleasure to act on Santa’s express wishes. As the direct link between the exposure to the depiction of characters smoking and youth initiation to nicotine has been well established, we were compelled to make these recommended changes. This influential poem has been at the very center of holiday reading for close to two hundred years, and our wish is that it will remain vivid and treasured for many generations to come.

Clement C. Moore(1779–1863) is widely regarded as the very poet of Christmas Eve. Much of the way we have come to celebrate December 24th is based on his portrayal of a jolly Santa, who along with his team of reindeer brings happiness to children and joy to the world. Twas the Night Before Christmas was originally published in the New York Troy Sentinelnewspaper in 1823. It has become the most famous poem in the English language. In 2011, various editions of this enchanting poem spent thirty-six weeks on the New York Times best-seller’s list in the children’s category.


Happy Reading

Change The World Before Bedtime

Change The World Before Bedtime

By:Mark Kimball Mouton, John Chalmers, and Karen Good

Grades Pre-K to 2nd grade


I picked this book from a publisher galley. I have been looking for books to read to my son and for him to read to me. We found it in this book.He is 1st grade reading level and this book was perfect for him. We loved the book. It is a rhyming book. It is all about reuse, recycle, donate used items and be kind to your fellow man. The artwork incorporates recycled items. Is shows how just an everyday child can help save the world.We enjoyed the fact that he could read and I could read. I will recommend this to his teacher for others to enjoy.

Marketing Kit:

● A rhyming story about changing the world by doing little things ● An ordinary kid becomes a superhero, along with his friends, by learning what’s important in life ● Educational and inspirational read-aloud fun for Pre K –2nd Written in simple, engaging rhyme, this story takes an inspirational look into how the little things in life – a smile, a kind word, a simple deed – can help change the world in a big way. Through 18 stunning illustrations, children will read about eating right, cleaning up the Earth by recycling and conserving, helping the sick and those less fortunate, and working in a group to make bigger miracles. Even an ordinary kid can be a superhero before bedtime! For pre-k to 2nd. About the Authors Once upon a time, coincidence, fate, and magic conspired to introduce three big dreamers – Mark, Karen, and Josh. And new friends became forever friends who, separately and together, use their creative talents to change the world a little bit at a time. Happy Reading