Golden Opportunity: Everything I Need to Know I Learned From a Little Golden Book by Diane Muldrow

What do you think of when you open up a Little Golden Book? Chances are you think of home cuddled up next to a favorite relative giddy to hear another story.

 Little Golden Books reflect hope, instill cheerfulness and  create a moral compass through charismatic and innately good characters which give this cold, cruel and sometimes downright rotten world a glimmer of safety and warmth.

Everything I Need to Know I Learned From A Little Golden Book by Diane Muldrow  makes even the least sentimental and rigid personalities long for a hug from their mothers or reminds them of heartfelt past remembrances.

Each page contains a lovingly rendered illustration from some of Little Golden Books most cherished tales. A chubby little elephant from The Saggy Baggy Elephant greets you with an impish smile and children swirl across the pages in bright shades of blue, red and yellow in a gleeful parade.

The words inked and message spoken through a gentle and direct voice, speak of the importance of savoring life to its fullest, worrying less, and truly living.

One of my favorite sections of the book bears an image of two children strolling on a beach with the simple statement "look up". This alerts us to the fact that we live in a big world whose actions are beyond our control, but can be contained and enjoyed by just being present.

If you are looking for bibliophile's valium, you've found it. Leafing through this story gives readers a "golden" opportunity to be wowed by the little things in life.

Source: Amazon.com Image 

IL-luminating Illinois: Books About Illinois

Illinois is a big state with more than corn, cows and of course, Chicago! Take a look at these books  whose plots take place in the “Prairie State” or are about the “Land of Lincoln”. They would surely make even Mr. Lincoln (himself) smile.

Young Adult 

Love, Amalia by Alma Flor Ada (2012) 

Pointe by Brandy Colbert (2014) 

Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles (2013) 

A Midsummer’s Nightmare: A Novel by Kody Keplinger 

Coal Town Jesus by Ronald Koertge (2013) 

Claim to Fame by Margaret Haddix Peterson (2010)

The Shadow Beside Me by Marie Rutkoski (2012) 

Just Your Average Princess by Kristina Springer (2011) 

Time Between Us by Tamera Ireland Stone (2012) 1st in series 

Roller Girls Falling Hard by Megan Sparks (1st in Roller Girl Series) (2013) 

Juvenile Fiction 

Let’s Go, White Sox by Aimee Aryal (2007) 

The Secret of the Painted House by Marion Dane Bauer (2007) 

Secrets of the Cicada Summer by Andrea Beaty (2010) Extra Credit by Andrew Clements Clues in the Shadows: A Molly Mystery by Kathleen Ernst (American Girl Mysteries Series) (2009)

The Summer I Saved the World...in 65 Days by Michele Weber Hurwitz (2014) 

Deliver Us From Normal by Kate Klise (2005)

Project Mulberry: A Novel by Linda Sue Park (2005) 

A Long Way From Chicago: A Novel in Stories by Richard Peck (2004)

On the Wings of Heroes by Richard Peck (2005)

Younger Children 

Bears ABC (2012) and Chicago Cubs ABC (2013) by Brad M. Epstein 

Good Night Chicago by Adam Gamble (2006)

Little Illinois: Lot of Fun with Rhyming Riddles by Esther Hershenhorn (2011) 

Pizza Pie in the Sky: A Story About Illinois by Karen Latchana Kenney (2009)

What Am I? : Illinois by Anne Margaret Lewis (2011) 

Larry Gets Lost in Chicago by Michael Mullin (2010)

Chicago Baby by Jerome Pohlen (2013)

1 2 3 Chicago: A Cool Counting Book by Puck (2009)

L is for Lincoln: An Illinois Alphabet by Kathy-Jo Wargin (2000)

Prairie Number: An Illinois Number Book by Kathy-Jo Wargin (2006)

One of the Best Non-fiction Social Studies Series for Preschoolers: Welcome Books by Lloyd G. Douglas

Social studies in preschool is a particularly sticky topic. Too much info, your little cutie-pies eyes glaze over, too little and an attack of ants in the pants settles in. Thankfully, during this patriotic Fourth of July week I was able to find an awesome series for preschoolers.

Welcome Books authored by Lloyd G. Douglas gives straightforward, simple facts which need little explanation for even the youngest of students. The photographs are large and stunning. Each volume offers an index and definitions of the bold words in the book. My favorites in the series include those on the American flag, Liberty Bell and the Statue of Liberty. Check out these small wonders at your local library for an extra special touch to your next civic-minded lesson plan.

In Need of Preschooler Friendly Books?: Check out Tiger Tales Books

Head on over to my Early Childhood Education blog Glitter and Glue sticks Forever to view a post devoted to the perfectly preschooler publisher: Tiger Tales Books whose stories are easily identifiable by their wholesome messages and cute-as-a-button illustration.

http://glitterandgluesticksforever.blogspot.com/2013/05/perfectly-preschool-book-publishers-eye.html

It's A Smallman World After All: Review of The Monkey with a Bright Blue Bottom by Steve Smallman

The Monkey With a Bright Blue Bottom by Steve Smallman
Publication Date: 2009

Smallman "paints" a splendiferous and zany picture of a primate with a passion for the arts in the outrageously bananas tale: The Monkey with a Bright Blue Bottom.

In this bubbly yarn, a monkey yearns for the rainbow colors of the birds aflight in the crystal clear blue sky. As he peruses a bevy of his ho-hum, so-so and decidedly blah-hued jungle counterparts he stumbles across a palette full of brightly colored hues and goes ape in no time flat.

With the flick of the wrist of this monkey Monet, zebras are dressed divine with black lines, a giraffe becomes quite "square" as his yellow skin is given a checkerboard air, but this little artiste is sure to find that some animals may not find their new coats as sublime.

Be sure to read on to learn that there's no if ands or "butts" about it:  this cheeky little monkey will surely pay his dues.

 Children will enjoy reading this lively and dramatic story that will lead to much laughter and a good dose of monkeying around.

Check Out My Newest Blog: Glitter and Gluesticks Forever!

I love getting crafty with glitter and glue sticks (and so do my preschool students)!

If you enjoy learning about early childhood education, are a preschool teacher or ece student, mom or just about anyone, why don't you click on the following link to see a blog developed to profile my teaching techniques, lesson plans and much more relating to Early Childhood Education?

Recent blog posts you may enjoy include:

Sea stars and Seahorses: Ideas for an Under the Sea or Below the Sea Unit (Circletime Ideas)

What's New? New Preschool Teaching Tips From a Newbie

Spring To It: Check Out This Springtime Jam and Other Creative Learning Activities


Check out this link to view Glitter and Gluesticks Forever (Go ahead click on it, you know you'll like it!)

http://glitterandgluesticksforever.blogspot.com/

Totally Tiaras: Princess Stories for Preschoolers

Being a child of the 80's, the whole pretty princess obsession is quite beyond me. I was raised in a time where She-Ra was the princess every girl wanted to be. She was strong-willed, vivacious and always ruled every show. The most girly of cartoons included the adorable Strawberry Shortcake and the lovely ponies of My Little Pony who frolicked in magical meadows.

Princesses were not really on our radar. Disney created the massive phenomenon with their princess-themed movies including favorites such as The Little Mermaid, Tangled, and The Princess and the Frog and their countless toys, straight-to-video DVDs, books, puzzles, and clothing lines.

I can definitely understand how a preschooler can get swept away by the romantic, simplistic and slightly contrived storylines of princesses whose only worries include looking pretty, going to balls and finding the perfect prince to marry. Everything in those stories end happily and are comforting to young children in a world that is ever changing.

Personally, the only royalty I feel I would enjoy being is a queen. Girls, queens have power. They rule nations, make rules, and build their countries fortunes through exploration and discovery.

 They are strong, independent and free-thinking. Yes, they have worries and many a sleepless night, but in the end they accomplished something during their day.

But enough of my anti-princess rant. Long live the princess and all that she encompasses to little girls everywhere: feminine beauty, innocence, love, and  a carefree spirit.

Below you will find some sparkling titles which don't require kissing a frog or losing a glass slipper.

Sofia the First by Catherine Hapka
Publication Date: 2013

Sofia is feeling rather ill-at-ease over becoming a princess after her stunning mother marries a prince. She tries in every way possible to be as perfect as her true royal step-sister Amber.

She studies up to the last minute learning steps for the latest ball, yet she feels majorly tiara-challenged in everything she tries to accomplish.

Just as she thinks her unpolished princess skills will be her downfall her step-sister Amber lends her a pair of shoes for the ball.

Have Amber and Sofia become royally grand step-sisters or will this courtly friendship fizzle before she steps on the ballroom floor?

Little girls will rejoice when a particular princess rock star waltzes into the picture in this pleasingly palace-perfect tale which will whisk them away into a stupendous fairy tale.

Will Princess Isabel Ever Say Please? by Steve Metzger
Publication Date: 2012

Steve Metzger's quirky and outrageous sense of humor and unique spin on classic fairy tales comes to life with a moral message: In order to be polite and win a prince's heart, you must unequivocally, say the magic word: please!

Princess Isabel is quite the looker with a major league attitude problem. Her looks may enchant the princes but her atrocious manners will repulse them from her wiles on any given day.

The story uniquely tangles a mish-mash of fairy tales such as Cinderella, Snow White and The Frog Prince to weave one flamboyant and hilariously regal gem of a yarn!

Hold on to your tiaras girls and get ready for one massively majestic romp!



Princess Pigtoria and the Pea by Pamela Duncan Edwards
Publication Date: 2010

In this takeoff of Hans Christian Anderson's Princess and the Pea, Pamela Duncan Edwards entices readers to enter the world of porcine Princess Pigtoria: the pleasantly pleasing princess whose castle is a pig-sty. In order to rehab her dilapidated palace, Pigtoria answers a personal ad from a swine-worthy prince.

Will this sow win the heart of this handsome porker or will a pesky pea get in the way of their blossoming romance?  Read this darling fractured fairy tale to find out!