2012 Picture Book Challenge: February Wrap-Up Post

This year I'm participating in the Read To Me Picture Book Challenge hosted by There's a Book. My goal is to read 700 qualifying books. (The challenge focuses on not just picture books, but board books and easy readers as well. Read more about the challenge, and my goal, here.)

Each month, I'll be posting a list of the picture books I've read, with links* to related reviews and story time posts. Below are the books I read for this challenge in February.

	The Shape of Me and Other Stuff by Dr. Seuss
	Shadow by Suzy Lee
	Pete the Cat: Rocking in my School Shoes by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean
	Groundhog Day by Gail Gibbons
	Groundhog Stays Up Late by Margery Cuyler, illustrated by Jean Cassels
	I Went Walking by Sue Williams, illustrated by Julie Vivas
	Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
	Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens
	Red Sings from Treetops by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski
	Outside Over There by Maurice Sendak
	1 is One by Tasha Tudor
	Umbrella by Taro Yashima
	Drummer Hoff by Barbara and Ed Emberley
	Letting Swift River Go by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Barbara Cooney
	Have You Seen My Cat? by Eric Carle
	Just Like Jasper! by Nick Butterworth, illustrated by Mick Inkpen
	A Hug Goes Around by Laura Krauss Melmed, illustrated by Betsy Lewin
	Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
	Black Dog, Red House by Lizi Boyd
	Won't You Be My Kissaroo? by Joanne Ryder, illustrated by Melissa Sweet
	Hug Time by Patrick McDonnell
	Bink and Gollie: Two For One by Alison McGhee and Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Tony Fucile
	Working Cotton by Sherley Anne Williams, illustrated by Carole Byard
	Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey
	Valentine's Day by Anne Rockwell, illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell
	Yours 'Til the Ice Cracks: A Book of Valentinesby Laura Geringer, illustrated by Andrea Baruffi
	All Kinds of Kissesby Nancy Tafuri
	Where is Baby's Valentine? by Karen Katz
	Duck for President by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin
	My Teacher for President by Kay Winters
	George Washington's Birthday: A Mostly True Tale by Margaret McNamara, illustrated by Barry Blitt
	Here Come the Girl Scouts! by Shana Corey, illustrated by Hadley Hooper
	Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold
	Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
	Hello, Goodbye by David Lloyd, illustrated by Louise Voce
	Hoot Howl Hiss by Michelle Koch
	Knick Knack Paddy Whack by Steve Songs, illustrated by Christiane Engel
	Crafty Chloe by Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Heather Ross
	First Ballet by Deanna Caswell, illustrated by Elizabeth Matthews
	Tales for Very Picky Eaters by Josh Schneider
	Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet by Jane O'Connor, illustrated Robin Preiss Glasser
	Loose Tooth by Lola M. Schafer
	Only the Stars by Dee Boyd
	A New Home by Tim Bowers
	Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss
	Blue Sea by Robert Kalan, illustrated by Donald Crews
	Peek-a-Boo by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
	Mr. Putney's Quacking Dog by Jon Agee
	Best Friends by Miriam Cohen, illustrated by Lillian Hoban
	The Neat Line: Scribbling Through Mother Goose by Pamela Duncan Edwards, illustrated by Diana Cain Bluthenthal
	The Mixed-Up Rooster by Pamela Duncan Edwards, illustrated by Megan Lloyd
	Up the Wall by Nicholas Heller
	Domino by Claire Masurel, illustrated by David Walker
	I Can't Get My Turtle To Move by Elizabeth Lee O'Donnell, illustrated by Maxie Chambliss
	A Tree is Nice by Janice Udry, illustrated by Marc Simont
	Swimmy by Leo Lionni
	Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang
	Tuesday by David Wiesner
	Flotsam by David Wiesner
	The Paperboy by Dav Pilkey
	The Graphic Alphabet by David Pelletier
	Shadow by Marcia Brown, illustrated by Blaise Cendrars
	Many Moons by James Thurber, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin

*Some reviews for these books will post in March. I will update this page with those links when they are available.

6 Novels About Religious Kids & Teens

	The God Box by Alex Sanchez Paul, a Christian teen, struggles with some new questions when he meets Manuel, the first openly gay person to live in his small town.
	OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy Ellie attends a Christian debate camp, hoping to win a scholarship, but is faced with the unexpected question of whether to deny her Jewish roots in order to cement her victory.
	Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr Family problems and a local kidnapping cause Samara, the pastor's daughter, to question her faith in God and his miracles.
	Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith Joy, a Mormon teen living in Utah, where her religion permeates the culture, finds comfort in mocking her classmates with boyfriend Zan, until he leaves early for college without saying goodbye.
	Clay by David Almond A Catholic altar boy is urged by his priest to befriend a strange newcomer who claims to have the power to create life from ordinary clay
	Ringside, 1925 by Jen Bryant This novel in verse tells the events of the Scopes Monkey Trial from the points of view of several people directly affected by it.

Baby/Toddler Story Time, 2/28/12

It's so hard to be sick on story time day. And for me, with the way the weather has been this Winter, that's been happening more often than usual, and it's kind of messing with my momentum. Today, thanks to a very nice coworker, I only did one session so I didn't have to totally kill my voice, but even that was a challenge, and people were not at all sympathetic. In fact, the more I lost my voice, the louder they talked to be heard over me. But I stuck by my decision not to use recorded music, and I think, all things considered, it could have gone a lot worse.

I would like to know, though, what the magic trick is that will make adults sit quietly and listen to a picture book. Because really, it's not that hard, but none of them do it.

Anyway, here is this week's baby/toddler story time:

Opening Song: Hello, how are you?

Book: Shhhhh by Kevin Henkes (1989)
I love this book, but it didn't have its full effect because I couldn't read as loudly as I wanted. Making the shhh sound at the end of every page was fun, though. I know it's a cliche, but I like some librarian shushing action now and then.

Rhyme: Two Little Blackbirds (Soft and Loud edition)

Rhyme: Wiggle Fingers 

Book: I Can't Get My Turtle To Move by Elizabeth Lee O'Donnell, illustrated by Maxie Chambliss (1989)
My innocent children's librarian mind didn't realize it right away, but this book kind of makes it seem like the turtle might be dead. And once I realized that, I understood why the adults weren't so on board with it. (Also, I did not plan this at all, but apparently I read two books in a row published in 1989!)

Song: I'm a Little Teapot

Song: Head and Shoulders

Song: The Wheels on the Bus

• ...wheels...round and round
• ...doors...open and shut
• ...wipers...swish swish swish
• ...driver...move on back

Rhyme: This is Big, Big, Big

Book: Domino by Claire Masurel, illustrated by David Walker (2007)
This book is adorable, but it had too much of a plot for the kids to grasp it and too boring a plot for the adults to pay attention. Sad.

Song: If You're Happy and You Know It

• ...clap your hands
• ...pat your knees
• ...beep your nose
• ...tickle your tummy
• ...shout hooray

Song: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Song: Where is Big Toe?

Song: One Little Finger

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This