Reading with Little Miss Muffet: April 2015

New Book Behavior

• Distractions. One of the things librarians know best about toddlers is that their attention spans are very, very short. Up until now, Little Miss Muffet has been fairly content to sit for a whole book almost any time, but as she becomes more interested in exploring the rest of the world, her patience for books is beginning to dwindle. I have been prepared for this, having done so many toddler story times, so I'm being careful not to let it discourage me from continuing to read with her. Sometimes I find myself finishing a book while she runs a lap around the living room or wanders off to check on a stuffed animal. Other times, we abandon a book mid-story because Miss Muffet decides she would rather climb the stairs or dig through the kitchen garbage, or do dangerous somersaults, than sit and listen. It's definitely easier to read to a child who will sit in one place and listen, but it's also fun to see her developing other skills, and I know it won't be long before she comes back around to being able to sit still again. 

Current Favorites

• Things That Are Small
  I received a batch of review copies (all board books) from Little Bee Books recently, and I will be doing a review of them in a few weeks, but until then, I just want to mention this tiny little book that came as part of this set. Miss Muffet absolutely loves that the book fits so perfectly into her little hands, and she has been carrying it all around the house with her - sometimes even to bed! It is a very simple board book, with just one word and one image on each page, but she asks to have it read over and over again, and she especially loves trying to say the word "fish" and identifying the ball and bug. 
• Stanley the Builder, Stanley's Garage, and Stanley the Farmer by William Bee
  I originally learned about these books from Jennifer's reviews at Jean Little Library, and they have turned out to be some of Miss Muffet's favorites. We own a copy of Stanley the Farmer (which was sent to me by the publisher - review coming soon!) and have had both Stanley's Garage and Stanley the Builder out of the library. Miss Muffet loves to wave to Stanley at the beginning and end of each story, and she is just fascinated by the names of the different machines and tools he uses. We have already asked Grandma for a copy of Stanley's Diner (due out in September) for Miss Muffet's birthday this Fall. 
• From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
  This is one of my favorite books to perform, and Miss Muffet is happy to let me make a fool of myself acting out all the animals' movements. Her favorites - and the ones she will actually imitate herself - are the buffalo, who raises his shoulders, and the gorilla who thumps his chest. I especially like this book as an alternative to the many, many toddler books out there about making animal sounds. And it helps a lot that Miss Muffet thinks it is funny - few things are cuter than a toddler belly laugh. 

One Tip from Mom 

• Read poetry! I have had poetry on the brain this month, because it was National Poetry Month and I have been sharing poems on my Facebook page. But even when it's not April, poetry is a great way to share language with kids who have very short attention spans. Generally, poems are pretty short, so your toddler only has to listen for a brief moment, and they often use rhymes, vocabulary, and interesting sentence structures that kids don't usually hear in everyday conversation or regular prose. My go-to poetry books for the one-year-old crowd are Here's a Little Poem, Read-Aloud Rhymes for the  Very Young, and Good For You: Toddler Rhymes for Toddler Times. I also make it a point to recite nursery rhymes throughout the day and to memorize a few poems to break out whenever there is a free, quiet moment. 

Every Hero Has a Story: Chapter Book Reading List

In my final list for this year's summer reading theme, I have recommendations for those kids in the transitional phase between easy readers and middle grade novels. Kids who love these books will be in luck, because all but one are part of a series.

• Agent Amelia: Ghost Diamond by Michael Broad
  Amelia Kidd, a child secret agent, must fight evil and ego-maniacal villains who want to take over the world. 
• Gloria Rising by Ann Cameron
  When Gloria meets her hero, astronaut Grace Street, at the grocery store, she is thrilled, but when she writes about the experience for a school assignment, she is disappointed to find that her teacher doesn't believe it really happened. 
• Jake Drake, Bully Buster by Andrew Clements
  Jake Drake is frustrated that no one ever seems to be able to curtail bullying at his school, so he decides to find a way to end it himself. 
• Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo
  When Mr. and Mrs. Watson's bed crashes through their bedroom floor in the middle of the night, they assume their pet pig Mercy is going to alert the authorities, but Mercy's heroic mission is interrupted by her intense love for buttered toast. 
• The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale
  When monsters attack, Princess Magnolia becomes the Princess in Black, but she must do her best to keep her alter ego secret from the prim and proper Duchess Wigtower. 
• Superduper Teddy by Johanna Hurwitz
  Teddy is a shy little boy who clings to his superhero cape as a security blanket. As his story unfolds, life experiences slowly bring him out of his shell. 
• Andy Shane, Hero at Last by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
  Andy Shane wants to be a hero, but he isn't sure how to make that happen until he enters a bike parade and sees something wrong that he can fix. 
• Zapato Power: Freddie Ramos Takes Off by Jacqueline Jules
  Freddie Ramos's whole life changes when he comes to own a pair of super-fast shoes that give him Zapato power! 
• Captain Awesome to the Rescue by Stan Kirby
  Eugene McGillicudy, also known as Captain Awesome, uses his superhero alter ego to cope with his move to a new school. 
• Kung Pow Chicken: Let's Get Cracking! by Cyndi Marko
  When trouble strikes in Fowladelphia, Kung Pow Chicken, a second grade superhero, and his sidekick, Benedict, who is only partially hatched, are on the case.  
• Roxie and the Hooligans by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
  Roxie Warbler wishes she could be brave like her adventurous Uncle Dangerfoot, but whenever she comes up against Helvetia's Hooligans, she runs scared. When she and the hooligans are stranded on an island together, however, it is Roxie's resourcefulness that saves the entire group. (Note: This is the only book on this list that is not part of a series.) 
• Calvin Coconut, Hero of Hawaii by Graham Salisbury
  When a tropical storm hits, one of Calvin's friends is swept out to sea, and he must act quickly to save his life. 
• Jinxed, A Topps League Book by Kurtis Scaletta
  In his job as a bat boy for the Pine City Porcupines, Chad meets his hero, Mike Stammer, who is convinced he is jinxed until Chad finds a way to make him feel confident again. 
• The Quirks: Welcome to Normal by Erin Soderberg
  Every member of the Quirks family wants their newest town, Normal, to become their permanent home, but if that means having to control their strange magical quirks, which range from invisibility to bending time,  they’re sure it’s just a matter of time before they’ll be forced to move again. 
• Melvin Beederman, Superhero: The Curse of the Bologna Sandwich by Greg Trine
  Though Melvin Beederman graduated at the top of his class in superhero school, he has some trouble flying and a sensitivity to bologna that keeps him out of delis. He finds himself with a real problem when his superpowers suddenly fade away. 
• Ellray Jakes, the Dragon Slayer by Sally Warner
  EllRay Jakes doesn’t like bullies, so he is naturally very upset when he learns that his little sister Alfie is being bossed around by a friend at her day care center. While he works on a plan to rescue Alfie from her unhappiness, he must also fight off an accusation that he has been bullying one of his own classmates during recess.

Every Hero Has a Story: Middle Grade Reading List

Middle grade literature is filled with heroes of all types. This list includes superheroes, an Army lieutenant, a spy, a babysitter, a lunch lady, and a Jedi in training.

• Fake Mustache by Tom Angleberger
  When Lenny Flem, Jr.'s best friend, Casper, buys a fake mustache and uses it to brainwash the entire country into committing robberies, Lenny teams up with TV star Jodie O’Rodeo to  unmask his friend as the fraud he really is. 
• El Deafo by Cece Bell
  When she starts public school, Cece's Phonic Ear hearing aid makes her stand out as different from her classmates, until she discovers that the device also gives her a superpower - access to the teachers' private conversations.
• Star Wars: Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown
  The learning curve is steep for Roan, a native of Tatooine when he is accepted to the Jedi Academy instead of the Pilot Academy.
• Ruby Redfort: Look into My Eyes by Lauren Child
  Ruby Redfort, a precocious middle schooler is recruited into a secret society known as Spectrum, where she finds herself in pursuit of a truth others have died trying to uncover.
• Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
  In letters addressed to his favorite author - some sent, others saved in diary - Leigh Botts records the details of the events in his life, such as a classmate routinely stealing from his lunchbox, and his struggle to cope with his truck driver dad’s long absences. 
• About Average by Andrew Clements
  Jordan Johnston, a girl who feels terribly average, becomes an unlikely hero when disaster unexpectedly strikes her school. 
• Crunch by Leslie Connor
  When Dewey is left to look after his parents' bike shop, he never imagines that a gas shortage will make their business crucial to the town's survival, or that he will catch a thief stealing parts from the shop.
• Hunter Moran Saves the Universe by Patricia Reilly Giff
  Troublemaker Hunter Moran and his twin brother, Zack, suspect a local dentist is planning to destroy the town with a bomb, and they begin gathering evidence to expose him. 
• Superheroes by Jimmy Gownley
  Disguised as their superhero alter egos, Amelia McBride and her friends wage war against a rival group, the Legion of Steves. This is third of eight books in the Amelia Rules! series. 
• Fashion Kitty by Charise Mericle Harper
  On her birthday, Kiki Kittie makes a wish and suddenly becomes Fashion Kitty, a superhero with the power to solve fashion crises. 
• Babymouse: Our Hero by Jennifer and Matthew Holm
  In this second book of the beloved graphic novel series, Babymouse faces off against her nemesis, Felicia Furrypaws, in a game of dodgeball, which she hates.
• Squish: Super Amoeba by Jennifer and Matthew Holm
  An amoeba named Squish imagines that he is his favorite  superhero, Super Amoeba, as he goes through his regular day-to-day life at school.
• The Problem with Being Slightly Heroic by Uma Krishnaswami
  In this sequel to The Grand Plan to Fix Everything, Dini and her best friend, Maddie, reunite in Washington, DC for a movie premiere starring their favorite Bollywood star, Dolly Singh, whose many bizarre troubles they must try to solve. 
• Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett Krosoczka
  In this first book of a series, Hector, Terrence, and Dee discover that the lady who serves their lunch is actually a superhero with a variety of kitchen-themed gadgets which she uses to defeat enemies such as a robot substitute teacher. 
• Mary Anne Saves the Day by Ann M. Martin
  When Mary Anne's babysitting charge comes down with a very high fever, her quick thinking saves the little girl's life.
• Capture the Flag by Kate Messner
  While stranded in an airport due to snow, Anna, José, and Henry discover that the Star Spangled banner has been stolen from a DC museum, and they take it upon themselves to uncover it from the thieves, who are also snowed in. 
• Postcards from Pismo by Michael Scotto
  In this contemporary epistolary novel inspired by Dear Mr. Henshaw, Felix Maldonado writes to Marcus Greene, an Army lieutenant serving in Afghanistan whose advice helps Felix when his own brother decides to enlist. 

Every Hero Has a Story: Easy Reader Reading List

While there are lots of media tie-in books for beginning readers that suit this summer's theme, many parents (including me!) are not crazy about books that promote TV shows and movies. On this list are a dozen great books featuring community helpers, unlikely heroes, a couple of detectives and regular kids dressed up as superheroes - without a licensed character in sight.

• Extraordinary Warren: A Super Chicken by Sarah Dillard
  This easy reader in graphic format follows the adventures of a chicken named Warren who, in an effort to become Chicken Supreme, hero, nearly becomes Chicken Supreme, dinner! (This book was a 2014 Cybils finalist in the Easy Reader category.)
  
• Wedgieman: A Hero is Born by Charise Mericle Harper, illustrated by Bob Shea
  Veggieman, a superhero who wants kids to eat and enjoy vegetables is given an unfortunate new name by a group of kids who love toilet humor.
  
• When Pigs Fly by Lisa Wheeler, illustrated by Frank Ansley
  Fitch is nervous about showing up to school on Hero Day dressed as Timberwolf when everyone else in the class is a fan of Hyper Hog. When he and his friend Chip actually become heroes, however, they realize that helping others feels good no matter what they wear.
  
  

• Super Fly Guy! by Tedd Arnold
  This second installment in the Fly Guy series follows Buzz and Fly Guy to the school cafeteria, where Fly Guy saves the day!
  
• The Fire Cat by Esther Averill
  This classic book for beginning readers tells of Pickles the cat, who strives to be a great feline firefighter.
  
• Oliver the Mighty Pig by Jean van Leeuwen, illustrated by Ann Schweninger
  Oliver Pig is thrilled when he receives a Mighty Pig cape, which gives him the power to accomplish all kinds of household missions, from setting the table, to emptying the trash. When his cape goes missing, however, he fears his powers are gone for good.
  
  
  
  
• Sparky and Tidbit by Kathryn O. Galbraith, illustrated by Gerald Kelley
  When Sparky receives a K-9 badge for his birthday, he is excited to become a hero, but has trouble finding a problem to solve. When he finds that Tidbit, a puppy is struggling with learning to read, he decides to take on the challenge of helping him.
  
• Young Cam Jansen and the Dinosaur Game by David A. Adler, illustrated by Susanna Natti
  In this and subsequent titles in the Young Cam Jansen series, Cam uses her photographic memory and deductive reasoning skills to save the day for friends who have mysteries in need of solving.
  
• Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, illustrated by Marc Simont
  In this beginner's noir story, Nate the Great solves his first of many cases, all of which take place in his neighborhood.
  
  
  
  
• The Best Teacher in Second Grade by Katherine Kenah, illustrated by Abby Carter
  Luna adores her second grade teacher, Mr. Hopper, because he champions her creative idea for family night when no one else in the class likes it.
  
• The Littlest Leaguer by Syd Hoff
  The smallest boy on the little league team, Harold has trouble keeping up during games - until an important game comes along, and Harold proves he can make a big impact.
  
• Molly the Brave and Me by Jane O'Connor, illustrated by Sheila Hamanaka
  Beth idolizes her brave friend Molly, but in a dangerous situation, Beth proves to be the hero that gets them both safely home.