Some great finds in Infosoup!

 

This trilogy was a hit at story time. First we talked about the word “kahuna” which can mean both wise one and a big wave.

In PIG KAHUNA we meet Fergus and his little brother Dink who like to go beachcombing. A treasure they find is a surfboard that they name “Dave”. Fergus overcomes his fear of the water when he does a daring rescue of Dave. Dink had tossed Dave back in the water when he thought he was sad.

In PIG KAHUNA PIRATES! Dink is having a bad day. Fergus helps him out by showing Dink that he can channel his unhappiness into playing a very scary pirate!

In PIG KAHUNA: WHO’S THAT PIG? Dink and Fergus meet a fabulous personality named Tallulah. She is larger than life and a bit intimidating to Fergus. (Tallulah reminds me a lot of the character Fancy Nancy.) In the end they all become friends.

I am hoping that there are more planned for this fabulous series!

Shark week, 2025. Learning!

 

Walter feels self-conscious about his small teeth. He tries to replace them with seashells (during lunch) and then seaweed (during playground time) and then shrimp (during story time). With all three items, they all fall out. He goes home from his first day at school and tells his mom how sad he is about his teeth in comparison with the other sharks who all have big teeth. She explains to him that they are not that “kind” of shark. *I did a further investigation and found out that Walter and his family are filter feeders! Some filter feeders are basking shark or whale shark or megamouth shark. Filter feeders strain the water with their small teeth to grab and eat small organisms such as plankton from the water. Fascinating!

Love this trilogy, use it time and again for story time to school aged children!

I love this trilogy because Mr. Magee and his dog Dee are happy and enjoy adventures in nature.

There are similarities between the books that can be conversed about with children. These are just a few of them:

Each book starts with what time they get up.

Each book starts with Mr. Magee and Dee making a plan for an adventure.

Each book ends back at home. 

Each book features a creature from nature that creates tension! (Bear, whale, moose.) In each book, that same creature saves the puzzling situation.

All books have beautiful and vibrant illustrations.

Thank you to the author & illustrator Chris Van Dusen. 

In praise of ice fishing...three terrific picture books (very belated posting)! I am not allowed more renewals! ;)

 

I love regional customs and ice fishing is one of ours due to the climate and location. I like how this custom is passed on through the generations. These books celebrate ice fishing!

A beautiful story about a grandfather teaching his grandson how to ice fish. The paintings are vibrant in this book from Minnesota.

Seven little mice help their mom to ice fish and realize why she holds the title of Ice-Fishing Princess.

Milton sees the glass half empty and Odie sees the glass half full. They are both attempting to get a bigmouth bass. When their fishing poles get tangled they meet each other and agree to work together. Odie's optimism rubs off on Milton. Fun!

The moral of the story...

 This is an offbeat picture book. Sy Kravitz is great at selling fruit until he disappears one day. He has to rework his life for invisibility. And then in an unexpected way he becomes visible again. The moral of the story on the last page is, "Time, and fruit, heals all wounds." Written by Arthur Yorinks (currently aged 71). I love his signature lesson in each of his tales. 

(I could not believe that I discovered this book while  I was simultaneously reading a novel about becoming invisible called TILDA IS VISIBLE by Jane Tara.)

Our assumptions can be false--even our youngest readers can get this concept from this book!

 Stork makes an assumption about black cat;

black cat makes an assumption about raccoon;

raccoon makes an assumption about frog;

frog makes an assumption about stork.

All are set straight at the end through conversation, laughter and sharing a (fish) meal.

Wonderful!

This picture book works on two levels--love it!

 I love how this picture book teaches the haiku poetry style  (the 5, 7, 5 syllable pattern) but also is posing riddles. It makes both haikus and riddles accessbile.

GUESS WHO, HAIKU By Deanna Caswell and Bob Shea