Out for a Walk

A Good Night Walk
by Elisha Cooper

A child and parent decide to take a walk one evening along their block to see what they can see before bedtime. The lady next door is done with her gardening and is resting on her wheelbarrow. A pair of squirrels are chattering with one another in the big oak tree. Then they watch as the squirrels make their way over toward a bird feeder that one of the neighbors has hung on their porch. There is also a black-and-white cat that is moving into the shade of an apple tree. There also seem to be some good apple pie smells coming from one of the neighbors’ houses, while other neighbors are finishing up the yard work and putting mowed grass into the trash can. What do the two see on their walk back home? What other things do you see going on in the pictures? Are these the kinds of activities that you see when you go for a walk around your neighborhood?

Please Take Me for a Walk
by Susan Gal

A dog asks his owner to please take him for a walk. There are many things that this dog needs to do while on a walk. He needs to chase away the neighbor’s cat, and keep the squirrels up in the tree. He also likes to say hello to the neighbors and be petted, though some neighbors do not want to. There are a lot of people that the dog needs to say hello to, such as the florist, greengrocer, baker, bookseller, and especially the butcher. The dog would also like to catch balls, get Frisbees, and race to the water fountain. What other activities is the dog looking forward to? What kinds of things do you do with your dog while you are on a walk together? Does your dog like to do some of these things, too?

Lily Takes a Walk
by Satoshi Kitamura

Lily likes to go on walks with her dog, Nicky. They sometimes walk for hours until it is almost dark. Lily is not scared on her walks, because she has Nicky with her. She does not even notice when Nicky is protecting her from all of the monsters that you can see in the pictures. Today, Lily is doing the shopping for her mother, while Nicky is protecting her from the mailbox monster. Then she stops to show Nicky the evening star, and she tells him that it is the Dog Star. Nicky is too busy taking care of the bridge monster to notice. Lily waves at Mrs. Hall’s window as she walks past. What kind of monster is Nicky seeing now? She also sees some bats on her way home, while Nicky is taking care of another monster? What does this one look like? What is he doing? Does Lily make it home safely with Nicky protecting her? Does she ever notice any of the things that Nicky protects her from? What kinds of monsters did you see in the pictures?

The Dawdlewalk
by Tobi Tobias and pictures by Jeanette Swofford

Every morning a little boy and his mother walk to school together. The little boy likes to stop and look at things, such as the sparrows that are eating breakfast and drinking some water. The mother tells the boy to stop dawdling, so they can make it to school on time. So they start walking again, when the little boy stops to look in the window of the supermarket. He sees all of his favorite cereals, when his mom tells him that they need to hurry to make it before the light changes colors. After walking a little longer, the boy stops to look in the bakery at the fat black-and-white cat that lives there. The cat looks up at the boy, just as his mother tells him that they need to keep going. What other kinds of things will the little boy and his mother see on the way to school? Will it only be the little boy who stops to do something? Will they be able to make it on time?

Moms

Your Mommy was Just Like You
by Kelly Bennett and illustrated by David Walker

Can you believe that your mommy used to do all of the things that you do, too? A grandmother shows a little girl pictures of her mommy as a baby and a little girl. She tells her granddaughter that her mommy used to play Peek-a-boo, have a special friend named Whiney Baby, have some time outs, pretend to be things like a frog, robot, and a princess. The little girl also used to dress herself in “kooky” costumes, just like the little girl used to do, too. When she started school, the little girl’s mommy was learning to tie her shoes and blow bubbles with chewing gum. What other things did the little girl’s mommy used to do? Did you mommy ever show you pictures of herself doing things that you like to do, too?

Little Bear
by Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrated by Maurice Sendak

In the first story Little Bear decides to go and play outside, but he soon comes back in and tells his mother that he is cold. So his mother makes him a hat, a coat, and some pants, but Little Bear is still cold. What else do you think that Little Bear’s mother will make for him? Will he need anything else to be warm? In the second story it is Little Bear’s birthday, and he cannot find his mother or a birthday cake. He sees a pot of water warming on the fire and decides to make Birthday Soup with potatoes, carrots, peas, and tomatoes. Little Bear’s friends Hen, Duck, and Cat come to celebrate Little Bear’s birthday with him. When the soup is ready, Little Bear’s mother is still not there yet, so Little Bear gives everyone a bowl of Birthday Soup. Will everyone like Little Bear’s Birthday Soup? Will Little Bear’s mother make it home to have some Birthday Soup, too? Will she remember Little Bear’s birthday? In the next story Little Bear decides to go to the moon. He tells his mother that he will fly to the moon, just like a bird. Little Bear’s mother tells him to be back in time for lunch. Little Bear tries really hard to fly by climbing into a tree and jumping. Will Little Bear make it to the moon? Will he be back in time for lunch? In the last story Little Bear tells his mother that he cannot sleep. When she asks him why, he tells her that he is wishing to fly and sit on a cloud, find a Viking boat and sail away with them, go to China and bring back chopsticks, and several other things. Will Little Bear have any of his wishes come true? What does Little Bear really wish for? What does his mother wish for?

What Should I Make?
by Nandini Nayar and illustrated by Proiti Roy

Neeraj’s mother is making chapatis with some dough. She gives some dough to Neeraj to play with. Neeraj starts rolling the dough around, and soon he has made a long rope with a head and a pointed tail. It is a snake, and Neeraj is afraid that the snake will bite him. Neeraj’s mother tells him to roll it up really fast. Then Neeraj starts rolling it into another shape. Soon the dough forms into a mouse, but Neeraj is afraid that the mouse will run all over the house. Neeraj’s mother tells him to roll up the dough really fast again. Then Neeraj starts rolling the dough into a cat. Neeraj is afraid that the cat will drink all of the milk, but the cat keeps growing into another shape. What do you think that the dough cat will turn into? Will Naeeraj be able to roll the dough back up into a ball in time? What will Neeraj finally turn his little ball of dough into? At the end of the story, there are instructions for making some chapatis.

The Wedding Planner’s Daughter
by Coleen Murtagh Paratore

Willa is happy that her Nana talked her mother, Stella Havisham, into moving back to Cape Cod, where she was born. Willa’s mother has been moving them around, and Willa has lived in seven different towns with her mother. Even though Willa wishes for the same thing every year, she hopes that her thirteenth birthday will be the special one, where her wish comes true and Willa will finally get a father. Willa’s mother has a lot of rules about things, such as having great expectations, staying away from the weddings, not counting on Prince Charming, and many others. Willa, on the other hand, would rather play soccer, and she is not happy that her mother does not attend her games and cheer like the other parents. Willa’s father died the day after he and her mother got married, and Willa thinks her father would want her mother to meet someone else and be happy. Willa is also starting to make friends this time, and she is not in a hurry to move again. Willa has hopes that her mother will like Sam Gracemore, their new neighbor and Willa’s new English teacher. What Willa’s mother does not know is that Willa is the thirteenth ingredient to her twelve ingredients for the perfect wedding. Then Willa has the opportunity to invite Sam to the Memorial Day picnic. Will Willa be successful in fixing up her mother and Sam? Will Willa finally get the wish that she has been wishing for so many years? Will Willa’s mother find out about Willa’s thirteenth ingredient to the weddings? Will Willa’s mother appreciate Willa’s help with the weddings?

Some New Books for May

Trundle’s Quest
by Allan Jones and Gary Chalk

Trundle is the lamplighter for Shiverstones, and he is very happy with the way that his life is going. Then one night Trundle is looking forward to the cabbage broth he is cooking, but he is knocked over by a strange girl hedgehog who asks him where his sword is. She tells him that she is Esmeralda Lightfoot, Princess in Darkness, and that they need to leave quickly to catch a windship. She shows him the Badger Block that has a picture that looks like him, and Esmeralda tells him that they must follow the prophecy of the Badger Blocks to find the first of the Six Crowns of the Badgers of Power. Trundle does not believe in the tales of the Badgers of Power, and tells Esmeralda that he is not going anywhere. When Trundle shows her to the door, though, they both her an explosion from the docks, and Esmeralda says that the pirates have found them. Trundle just wants things to stay normal, but he knows that Esmeralda needs help. The pirates attack the town pillaging and looting the poor townsfolk, but Trundle cannot help them. Trundle and Esmeralda slowly make their way to the docks, and even though the pirates almost capture them, they get away by falling onto the canvas tarpaulin of a windship. On the windship, Esmeralda tells him about the Badger Blocks and how she knew what she needed to do. She says that they need to get the crowns and stop pirates like Grizzletusk from attacking little towns like Shiverstone. Will Trundle and Esmeralda be able to find the first of the Six Crowns? Are the Crowns real or just a story? Will Trundle become the hero that Esmeralda seems to think he is?

How to Teach a Slug to Read
by Susan Pearson and illustrated by David Slonim

There are some rules that a little boy needs to share with Mama Slug, so that she can successfully teach Little Slug how to read. The first rule includes labeling all of Little Slug’s favorite things, and then the second rule includes finding the right book to keep Little Slug interested. What kind of books do you think Little Slug would like to read? What kinds of books do you like? Mama Slug must make sure to prop the book up on a rock, so it is easier to read, and to make sure Little Slug is up high enough to see the pages clearly. The other steps include repeating words over and over and sounding them out. He tells Mama Slug to make sure to help Little Slug with new words. What are some words that you could help Little Slug learn? See if you recognize some of the words Mama Slugs teaches Little Slug. What do you think are the rest of the rules to help Little Slug with reading? Are you using some of these rules yourself?

Smooch Your Pooch
by Teddy Slater and Arthur Howard

The author shows her appreciation for man’s best friend by sharing some ways to show your dog how much you love them. You can give your pooch a smooch, hug, bone, or even a pizza. Does your dog like to eat pizza? Does your dog like to help you sing or play music by howling like the dog in the book? You can also tickle your dog’s belly or rub his snout. You can also do things with your dog that he likes to do, such as swim, roll around, or dig some holes. What kind of things does your dog like to do? Do you do them, too? (Make sure it’s okay with Mom and Dad first!) You can throw things like tennis balls, Frisbees, or just a stick. Does your dog like to play fetch or catch things in his or her mouth? What are some other things that you can do for your dog? This book is full of ideas.

All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel
by Dan Yaccarino

This book is a biography that Dan Yaccarino wrote about his family, how they came to America, and how a little shovel from Italy came to be his. In Sorrento, Italy Dan Yaccarino’s great-grandfather, Michele, is given a little shovel by his father to help the family tend to the vegetables and fruits that they sell in the village. Everyone works really hard, but the family is poor. So Michele decides to go to America when he is grown for new opportunities, and his father gives him the shovel and tells him to work hard. Michele’s mother gives him the few photographs of the family that they had and her recipe for tomato sauce, and she tells him never to forget his family. On Ellis Island, Michele Iaccarino became Michael Yaccarino. Michael works in a bakery of another man from Sorrento, and he uses the little shovel to measure flour and sugar. Michael then becomes a pushcart peddler, and he uses the little shovel to measure dried fruits and nuts. Michael and his wife, Adeline, have a son named Aniello, but they call him Dan. Dan starts working with his father at twelve years old, because the family needs him to work. When Dan grows up, he owns a market with his wife Helen. Dan uses the shovel to measure out things. Then Dan decides to open a restaurant, where they make pizza and spaghetti, with his grandmother’s tomato sauce recipe. Dan’s son, Mike, helps out in the kitchen after school. Mike is Dan Yaccarino’s father. He also uses the shovel at his barbershop. How does Dan Yaccarino use the shovel? Who does he pass the shovel down to?