The Field Guide to Parenting

 

Great Advice and Book Reviews
for Parents, Teachers, Child Care Providers,
and Anyone Who Loves a Young Child

 

 


The Field Guide to Parenting-- Home: Highlights

Children's Book Reviews

Field Guide Great Advice

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  Book Reviews for Children, Parents, Child Care Providers, and Teachers
           Picture   Board   Fiction   Adults

 

Special Guest Picture Book Reviews

 

Little Boy by Aillson McGhee, illustrated by Peter Reynolds
Simon & Schuster, 2008

This story is about a day in the life of a little boy. He wakes up, plays with his favoriote things and goes about his day enenjying the little and happy things in life. The illustrations bring the story to life and the writing hasd a nive rhyme and rhythm. It is refreshing to see a child enjoying his day without all of the bells and whistles of modern electronics. This boy lives in an environment that encourages his sense of adventure, allows him to make mistakes, and encourages playfulness as it should be for young boys.

We highly recommend this book to parents to help us stop and "smell the roses: of the wonder of childhood."

 

  --Reviewed by Janine Ketchel and Debra Kellermann,
KinderGardens Child Development Center, Hugo, MN

 

Way Up and Over Everything by Alice McGill, illustrated by Jude Daly
Houghton Mifflin, 2008

Alice McGill shares a folktale that caputres the desire for freedom in a  story passed down through the generations of African-American families. The tale is set in 1842 and vividly captures the day that five newly purchased slaves arrive at the plantation. By the end of the day, they magically achieve freedom by flying away.

Panoramic illustrations capture the feel of a plantation. The author brings the tale inot the present by relatng how the desire for freedom had to be told and retold throught the generations.

Younger schoolagers will appreciate this story as borth an introduction to the issues of slavery and freedom, and as personal inspiration for how they feel free in their own lives.

--Reviewed by Cathy Goh and Melissa Prokop, Room For Growing, Forest   Lake, MN

 

 

Picture Books

 

 






 

A Taste of Colored Water by Matt Faulkner 

Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2008

It was Abby Finch who started it all. She'd come back from the big city with tales of bubbling water fountains that promised colored water, if you could believe the sign. Well, the boys decide they have to see this for themselves, and pester Uncle Jack into giving them a ride. The city was different and a little scar, full of buses and people with signs and police.

But, sure enough, they found the colored water fountain in front of city hall. At the same time, marching singers came up one side of the street while police and fireman came up the other. When they met, firemen opened the fire hoses at the people. A policeman with a snarling dog tells the children that the fountain is not for them and to "git." Uncle Jack manages to get them safely to the truck, but it was a day the kids will never forget even if they don't understand what it all meant.

A well-written story illustrated with pen and ink, and watercolor. The contrast between the city and the country underscores the much larger contrast between a child's view of an adult world. Through the eyes of the children, the anger and violence don't seem to make sense, and in the end, they wonder just what a person has to do to every get that drink of colored water.  Exceptional treatment of a challenging topic.

 

 

Just What Mama Needs by Sharlee Glenn, illustrated by Amiko Hirao
 Harcourt, 2008

Abby loves to play dress-up, and on each day of the week, she dons a different costume. One day she is a pirate while the next a detective and so on throughout the week. The amazing thing is that on each day that Abby becomes a character, that kind of help is exactly what Mama needs. Pirate Abby helps swab the deck, Cowgirl Abby helps round up the toy livestock, witch Abby helps stir a pot of brew and so on. On shopping day, Queen Abby rides high and the store doors even open on her command.

A WONDERFUL story of the mgic of make-believe and a clever mom who uses her daughter's imagination to get done whatever needs getting done. Brightly colored pages, a soft, huggable-looking collage of Abby, and Mama's priceless expressions make the visuals a joy. 
 

The Dog Who Loved the Moon by Cristina Garcia, Sebastia Serra (Illustrator)
Atheneum, 2008

Pilar got a puppy for her birthday. She adored him. Paco was a happy pup during the day but grew melancholy at night. On full moon eves, he hollowed. Pilar and her family realize that he loves the moon, and all get together to sing and dance to cheer Paco up. And then am amazing thing happened: the sky darkened, the moon seemed to disapear, and then...

I don't want to spoil the delicious surprise ending. Digital illustrations are somewhat flat, but Pilar and Paco are appropriately adorable. The family and world around them are colorful and full of energy. 

 

 

Board & Specialty Books

 

What's Up, Duck? A Book of Opposites by Tad Hill
Schwartz & Wade/Random House, 2008

 Duck and Goose are back in a wide-eyed look, as only they can do, at opposites--far and near, clean and dirty, etc. The sprightly Thistle and sweet blue bird join in the fun as well. As you can tell from the cover, the characters demonstrate the opposites; Thistle is loud while on the next page, blue bird whispers quietly in Goose's ear. Colorful backgrounds follow white backgrounds, but as always, Duck and Goose are the center of attention. "heavy" is my favorite; With buckling legs and his head straight up so all you see is the bottom of his beak, Duck struggles mightily to hold Goose, who looks innocently at the reader.

If you haven't been a fan of this captivating duo before, you surely will be upon sharing What's Up, Duck? with the young child in your life.

 

 
Bow Wow Hears Things by Mark Newgarden & Megan Montague Cash
 Harcourt, 2008

Another picture book character enters a board book, and Bow-Wow is perfectly suited for this format. Simple illustrations with clear, chunky-outlined characters transfer to the small page with nothing lost. A small yellow bird asks Bow-Wow a series of questions, each being a different sound. "Oink?' asks the bird, "No," answers Bow-Wow. The little one eventually gets it right and in a big way.

Littlest readers will delight in all the sounds the bird tries to make in the Q & A format, especially since they will know the right answer. Very cute concept book about sounds.

 

 

What Kind of Rabbit Are YOU? by Liz Goulet Dubois
Little Simon, 2008

You will find nearly every shape, color, pattern, and whatnot you can think of in the wide variety of rabbits. Pop-ups are fun and with moving parts. I especially liked the pretty blue flowered rabbit in the wheelchair with the colorful moving wheel. Some are loud, some are soft-spoken, some smile, some frown, but no matter what a rabbit looks like on the outside, you have to get to him/her them on the inside to decide,"Nice or not?"

For a small, colorful, board-size book, this one has a big message delivered in a larger than life way! Yes--kids will love it.

 

 

 Like It When...Me Gusta Cuando... by Mary Murphy
Harcourt, 2008

A cheerful little penguin and parent go about their day, as the little one lists all the  "I like it when..." things in a day: splash about/salpicamos el agua, we play peekaboo/jugamos al escondite, etc. Single characters pop off plain but deeply colored backgrounds, and speak a few words, too.

Despite two languages describing the same thing, the pages are remarkable uncluttered and easy to read both in words and pictures. VERY cute!

 

Fiction

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry
Houghton Mifflin 2008

Four children make do with neglectful parents until the parents go off on a long adventure leaving them with a nanny and a much-improved home life. Making reference to classic children's tales of old and with tongue firmly planted in cheek, the characters are winsome and the plot fortuitous--a journey home by a lost boy, the widower/candy-maker next door, odious parents, and even a baby left on the doorstop all intertwine in a most agreeable fashion. The parents place their house up for sale, even though the children still live there, but nanny and the four will not be defeated. They are destined for a happy ending, being old-fashioned children with good character who can pull themselves up by their bootstraps.

The writing is divine, characters well-defined or at least well-caricatured, and the language is glorious. If one does not know the meaning of words like "nefarious," "lugubrious," or "winsome," a glossary near the end explains and is as fun to read as the story itself. But above all, dialogue is king, masterfully crafted, and brings humor to even the humorless characters. Consider this exchange between the dolt-ish parents before they plot to abandon the children:
    "Do you like our children?"
      "Oh, no," Mrs. Willoughby said..."And then there are the two that I can't tell apart..."
      "The twins."
      "Yes, them. Why on earth do they look so much alike? It confuses people and isn't fair."

Refreshing, delightful, wickedly funny--what more can I say? Simply a best book of the year.

 

 

 
Could You? Would You?: A Book to Tickle Your Imagination by Trudy White
Kane/Miller, 2007

Could you imagine waking up one morning as a baby again?

Make a list of words you like saying.

Would you swap your arms for wings?

An ENTIRE book of questions and creative suggestions to notice, explain, use your senses, and imagine yourself and the world--Fantastic! If ever a book should be read by parent and child, or teacher and student, or any caring adult and young child, this is it. I can imagine the beginnings of creative, unique conversations from every page. Not a storybook, but maybe even better; kids can use their knowledge and imagination to write their own stories.

  LOVED Could You? Would You? -- Highly recommended!  

 

Books for Parents, Child Care Providers & Teachers


 

 

 

Book Announcements

 

Carry-Along Kit OLIVIA: Everything You Need to Be a Star Artist!

A coloring and activity book, 8 delightful crayons, fabulous stickers.
A nice little carrying case with a few items are sure to please Olivia lovers.

Stickers show a variety of classic olivia looks and expressions, and yes, there is a red crayon included. 

 
    Field Guide Great Advice   

 

Fostering the Skills of Paying Attention and Following Directions

Typically, by age five, children are able to undestand and follow four simple, related directions. To help kids master this skill, offer them opportunities to practice understanding and following directions by asking them to accomplish a series of tasks, such as:

"Please, go to the bathroom, wash your hands, brush your teeth, and brush your hair."

--From The Field Guide to Parenting by Shelley Butler & Deb Kratz, "The Growing Child at Age Four," p.93

 

 

    Spotlight On Ways You Can Help    

 

Children's Defense Fund  Freedom Schools

This program provides critical summer and after-school enrichment through a model curriculum that supports children and families around five essential components: high quality academic enrichment, parent and family involvement, civic engagement and social action, intergenerational leadership development, and nutrition, health and mental health.

 

To find out how you can help this important program or find one in your area, click here.