The Beetle and the Berry

Written by Eve Heidi Bine-Stock

Arthur is a very hungry beetle. Even though he is smaller than a freckle, Arthur has a voracious appetite. One day he discovers a huge berry that will provide him with food for a week. He tugs and pushes but the berry gets stuck on a twig with a thorn. Arthur uses problem-solving skills until he is able to release it.

This short and simple story with huge, colorful illustrations will teach toddlers persistence and resilience. Recommended as a bedtime story or read-aloud for discussion with small children.

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Little Bunny – I Can

Written and Illustrated by Alexandra Dannenmann

Translated by S. Paterson

This is a cute little picture book for toddlers that features a little bunny as the protagonist. Each page features the bunny with an I can sentence that demonstrates skills mastered. Some of these skills are simple, like brushing teeth, getting dressed by oneself, and throwing a ball. Others are fanciful like taming lions and protecting a princess from a dragon. The book can serve as encouragement to acquire skills yet unlearned or as a self-esteem book rewarding toddlers for achieved goals.

Recommended as a read aloud or bedtime story for children ages two through four.

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DOWN AND DIRTY!

Baby Chomper’s BATH TIME

Written by Jeff Minich

Illustrated by Renam Garcia

I am delighted to read and review another charming book in the nuggies book series. Chomper is an adorable pup, who has a penchant for getting dirty just like his young readers. After all when you spend your days playing in garbage cans, rolling in the mud, and chasing skunks, a price will have to be paid. That price is being a candidate for a good scrubbing in the bathtub. Chomper does all he can to resist his fate, but his owner tracks him down.

Once in the tub, Chomper discovers a world of imagination. He can imagine adventures like swimming with the fishes, surfing, and sailing across the seas in a pirate ship. Chomper discovers feeling fresh as a daisy after a bath might not be so bad after all.

The text consists of simple sentences and the illustrations are simple, bold and creative. I love the image of Chomper’s owner giving him a bath dressed in a suit. Parents of reluctant toddlers and preschoolers who hate bath time will grab this book as an effective way to change young reader’s behavior. Recommended especially for children ages two through five. The short tale is perfect for bedtime story or nursery classroom read aloud

I received an advance review copy from the publisher and decided to voluntarily read and read with my honest opinions for no compensation.

Baby Chomper’s Bath Time

Written by Jeff Minich

Publisher’s Synopsis: Baby Chomper’s Bath Time is a lovable tale about a little puppy who learns to have fun doing his least favorite thing— taking a bath! One day, baby Chomper escapes from home and gets muddy and stinky beyond belief. He rolls in the mud, takes a dive in the trash, and even gets sprayed by a very stinky skunk. After returning home, he finds that it’s his least favorite time of all: BATH TIME! With nowhere else to go, Chomper realizes that bath time can be one of the most fun times of all! He imagines himself diving into the deep blue sea, being the captain of his own ship, and surfing to a faraway shore. Baby Chomper’s Bath Time is a playful story that encourages children to see the bright side of every situation.

Ages 2-5 | Publisher: Nuggies Inc | November 7, 2017 | ISBN-13: 978-0999298404

Available on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2xpzBlx

Available on Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/baby-chompers-bath-time-minich-jeff/1127135121

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GIVEAWAY

Potty Training: Simple Training Plan to Potty Train Your Child in 3 Days and Zero Hassle

Written by Nicky Forbes

The author views potty training as a practical necessity that is dreaded by many parents. She takes a pragmatic approach. The introduction lists the reasons for training before a child reaches kindergarten. She talks about its importance in the social environment, a child’s self-esteem, and impact on the environment. After stressing the need for discussing hygiene with the child and choosing the right potty, the parents are ready to begin training.

Stage One involves telling the child what to do, Stage Two proceeds to show the child what to do. Once that is accomplished, the period of practicing by establishing routines, rewards and dealing with a child’s fears is set in motion. Forbes insists that there is no right time for every child, and the possibility of setbacks and delays is a real one. Nevertheless, she insists that patience, praise, and rewards will make success inevitable. She believes that this can be accomplished with most children using this program within three days.

This guide is a good choice for new parents who do not have a clue on how to approach toilet training. It is practical and easy to follow. Personally, I used common sense in training my own children and did not feel the need to consult the experts, but parents who experienced a negative experience themselves or who fear their children might be reluctant will certainly find this no-nonsense guide useful.

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Busy Wheels

Written by Peter Lippman

My April choice for a vintage classic is one that I read to my son, who like many young boys was enamored with anything that had wheels. Published by Random House in 1973, this book would be considered a new kids classic. While not as well known as some of the classic fairytales or animal favorites like Charlotte’s Web, I do believe it had widespread popularity.

Lippman employed everyday scenes witnessed by children living in city or country environments. He wrote with colorful adjectives, alliterative phrases and onomatopoeia. “Early in the morning garbage trucks roll down the street. Cans clatter. Men shout.” Lipmann put into words what children saw and heard everyday. Moms pushing baby carriages, tow trucks, ambulances, fire trucks, trains, tractors, airplanes, mail trucks, ice cream trucks and school buses. Stretching their imagination to the stars, he reminds us that wheels of the moon rover have even gone to the moon and moved moon dust.

My son and I loved to study the illustrations for the hilarious hidden pictures like an alligator on top of the school bus or a dalmatian driving the fire truck. On each reread, something new remained to be discovered. There are limited copies of this book available in hard or soft cover on amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Busy-Wheels-Peter-Lippman/dp/0394827066/

Lippman produced these board books for toddlers who love wheel books:

I can’t end this post without mentioning Richard Scary whose books also included transportation favorites:

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What’s Missing: Faces A Toddler Learning Activity

Written and Illustrated by Bonnie Ferrante

What a delightful way for a parent or caretaker to share playing a game and learning all at once! In this fun book for toddlers, simple multicultural faces are presented with one part missing. The child then guesses what feature is missing. The author explains in simple fashion how that part of the body is used. Eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth and hair are explained. Ms. Ferrante goes on to include eyebrows and tongue. Near the end of the book, a few familiar animals like ducks, cats, and elephants are presented. They possess additional facial features such as whiskers, trunks and bills that are an important part of that animal’s face.

Children ages two to five can have lots of fun with this book while stretching their minds, using their senses, and moving their little bodies. Highly recommended for parents, grandparents, teachers and librarians as a must have for their kindle or bookshelf.

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Zen Parents, Cooperative Toddlers: Your parenting tool set to staying calm, eliminating whining, and living a fun family life.

Written by Anna Anderson

Sound like pie in the sky? This brief book is not meant to be the definitive how-to guide by an expert but a sympathetic parent who is sharing her experiences. The author offers some common sense approaches to maintaining sanity and family peace during this trying time. Andersen encourages parents to be nice to themselves, develop a positive attitude of love and cooperation, and to learn to let go and be more patient while letting go of stress. It is necessary to set home rules, but at the same time relax unrealistic expectations and give the young child choices within reason.

When communicating with a toddler, a parent needs to connect in a way that the child can understand and to listen as well as speak. Parents must learn the fine line between firmness and gentleness. Use the philosophy, “walk a mile in my shoes.” Toddlers are curious, but must also learn how to respect boundaries while exploring. Give them chores and realistic expectations to spark creativity.

Finally, the author sets forth scenarios in which toddlers do make unreasonable demands and recommends different approaches to handling them. By making the young child see that their behavior is inappropriate, ignoring it, and then astonishing them by doing something that is playful; you will allow your child to feel as if you are able to understand their thinking and not demand compliance with your way of doing things. If parents allow themselves to develop tools to handle stress and be grateful and proud of their children, life will become easier and more enjoyable

Andersen offers a free download of a morning and evening routine chart. I would recommend this book to parents, teachers, grandparents and daycare personnel as an easy to read helpful guide from which you will surely pick up at least one or two ideas you can use.

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Brush Your Hair, MEDUSA

Written by Joan Holub

Illustrated by Leslie Patricelli

This board book targeted for little ones ages one to three is the newest addition in the mini myths series for tots. This story is based on the myth of Medusa, the sea monster with hair of snakes who turned anyone who dared to look at her to stone. In Holub’s version children are introduced to a tot of the same name who does not like to brush her hair. Grandma is coming for a visit so dad chases Medusa around the house trying to get her to tame her hair. Medusa has other plans. She comes up with all kinds of stalling tactics. But Grandma is wise. She comes up with a solution that makes everyone happy.

Each pages contains a large, simple illustration and no more than one sentence of text. As with other books in the series, the complete mythological story is included at the end for reference.

Make a Wish, MIDAS!

Written by Joan Holub

Illustrated by Leslie Patricelli

Main characters are Mom and little Midas. There is no doubt that Midas is a stubborn child. He is finicky about what clothes to wear and the foods he eats, all of which must be yellow. When he decides to paint, the chosen color is yellow, but he gets upset when he can’t get the yellow paint off his stuffed dinosaur pet. Does everything have to be yellow? Will Dinoboo ever be the same? How can Midas solve his problem?

Cute story with the moral, “Be careful what you wish for.” Like Midas in the myth who got his wish to turn everything to gold, sometimes one has to think about the long-term consequences. Children will realize this when an adult explains to them what the myth is about.

The author does a good job of simplification for little ones. The books have vibrant illustrations that are somewhat marred by smudge marks on some of the pages. This is clearly a printing issue that will probably not bother a toddler, but one that the adult buyer might want to examine.

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About the Books

Title: Brush Your Hair, Medusa! (Mini Myths) | Author: Joan Holub | Illustrator: Leslie Patricelli | Publication Date: March 24, 2015 | Publisher: Abrams Appleseed | Pages: 24 | Recommended Ages: 1 to 3

Summary: Medusa refuses to care for her hair, her long locks getting messier with each passing page. Her hair rebellion elicits frozen expressions of shock from her family, but nothing will convince Medusa to brush. Only her hairdresser approaches Medusa with bravery and scissors, successfully solving the problem . . . with a short haircut! All are pleased with this drastic yet adorable solution. Leslie Patricelli’s depictions of this physical comedy bring a lively visual narrative to Joan Holub’s expertly focused text. Includes a summary of the original Medusa’s Wild Hair myth at the end.

Purchase “Brush Your Hair, Medusa!”

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | iTunes

Title: Make a Wish, Midas! (Mini Myths) | Author: Joan Holub | Illustrator: Leslie Patricelli | Publication Date: March 24, 2015 | Publisher: Abrams Appleseed | Pages: 24 | Recommended Ages: 1 to 3

Summary: Midas wants everything to be his favorite color – yellow! He chooses yellow clothes, eats yellow foods, and uses only the yellow paint at his art easel. But when he impulsively paints his beloved green Dinoboo, Midas discovers that too much of a good thing is a big mess! Joan Holub’s carefully crafted text is brought to life by Leslie Patricelli’s famously humorous illustrations. Includes a summary of the original Midas’ Golden Touch myth at the end.

Purchase “Make a Wish, Midas!”

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | iTunes

The Buzz About Mini Myths

Patricelli’s preschool-age Pandora couldn’t be cuter, and an endnote explains the original myth in greater detail. Genuinely funny and sweet. ~ Publishers Weekly, starred review

Amazon Editors Pick and Amazon Best Books List for September

Remarkably entertaining . . . delightful painted cartoons in rich colors . . . the life lessons the source material inspires are spot-on. ~ Kirkus

About the Author: Joan Holub

About the Illustrator: Leslie Petricelli

Leslie Patricelli is the bestselling author-illustrator of many adorable board books, including Yummy Yucky and Toot!