Dads

Blue-Ribbon Dad
by Beth Raisner Glass and Illustrated by Margie Moore

A little squirrel knows that his dad will be home in five hours, and he wants to make his dad something special as a surprise. His dad wakes him up in the morning, gives him hugs and kisses. So with four hours to go, the little squirrel gets out his glue, glitter, pencils, and clay. His dad also packs his favorite lunches and watches his swim lessons at the pool. With three hours left, the little squirrel adds bright sequins to a number one for his dad. His dad also helps him with his homework and reading. With two hours left, the little squirrel adds a golden star sticker to his surprise. What other things does the little squirrel’s dad do for him? Will his dad really like the surprise that the little squirrel has made for him? What kinds of things does your dad do especially for you?

My Dad the Magnificent
by Kristy Parker and illustrated by Lillian Hoban

A little boy’s friend Alex tells him about how his dad, the fireman, had pulled a baby and a dog from a burning building. So the little boy decides to tell Alex how great his dad is, too. He tells Alex that on Mondays, his dad is a lion tamer, and the lions listen to him. Then on Tuesdays, his dad is a cowboy that rides on the range and rounds up wild cows. On Wednesdays, his dad plays professional basketball, and he slam dunks the basketball. Then on Thursdays, his dad is a deep-sea diver that digs up treasures and saves babies from sharks. On Fridays, he explores the North Pole on a dog sled. Do you think that the little boy’s dad does any of these things? There are things, though, that his dad does that make him magnificent. What does your dad do that makes him magnificent?

All Shook Up
by Shelley Pearsall

After his grandmother falls and breaks her hip in Florida, Josh’s mother tells him that he will be staying with his father in Chicago for a few months, while she is helping his grandmother get better. Josh is shocked when his dad comes to get him at the airport with black slicked back hair, side burns, and a blue Hawaiian shirt with orange parrots on it. Then he notices when someone says that his dad looks like Elvis. His dad responds to the people, and Josh is shocked. Josh’s dad tells him that he lost his job when the shoe store closed down. Then one day he had entered an Elvis singing contest at the mall and won. Then Josh’s dad decided to work impersonating Elvis temporarily, until he could find another job. He also finds out that his dad is better at taking care of his house and can even cook. Josh then starts worrying what the other kids at school will think about him and his dad that pretends to be Elvis. Josh is afraid that his dad will make him the laughing stock of the seventh grade. On the first day of school, Josh is feeling pretty good, until he finds a Post-it note on his locker signed “Elvisly Yours.” Then he knows he’s in trouble of being ashamed on his dad. However, his dad forgets his Elvis costume one night, and Josh gets to meet his dad’s friend, Viv. He also meets Viv’s daughter, Ivory, and he finds out that she is the one who has been writing the notes. Josh thinks that Ivory is really weird, but she seems to like him anyway. Josh finds a job that he thinks will be great for his dad, but his dad tells him that you have to take chances in life, if you want to do the things you love. Josh’s dad is really enjoying being an Elvis impersonator. After hitting a ball in gym class, Josh gets invited to sit at the more popular kids’ table, and he starts to think that things are looking up. After school, though, Josh finds out that his dad has been invited by the choir director to sing at the school. Josh is horrified at this, and he starts thinking of ways to get his dad to not sing at the school. So Josh comes up with a plan to keep his dad from singing at the school. Will Josh’s dad find out about Josh’s plan? Will Josh ever be proud of his father’s Elvis impersonation? Will Josh feel bad about his idea, and will he tell his dad what he has done?

Bertie: Just Like Daddy
by Marcus Pfister

At breakfast time, Bertie decides that he wants coffee, just like his daddy drinks, but Bertie’s daddy tells him that he will have to wait until he is bigger to drink coffee. Daddy does let him have a little bit of the foam, though, because he is so big. Bertie then says that he wants to read the newspaper like his daddy does. Daddy tells him that he will learn to read when he gets bigger, but his daddy does help him make a paper hat out of the newspaper. Bertie then tells his daddy that he wants to shave, too. Daddy tells him that he can have some of the shaving cream on his face. There are other things that daddy does that Bertie wants to do too, such as shopping with a credit card, cooking, and not taking a nap, but his daddy tells him that he can do (or not do) those things when he is bigger. Are there some things that your daddy does that you can’t wait to do, too? Is there something that Bertie does that his daddy wants to do, too?

Summer Stories

The Summer Solstice
by Ellen Jackson and illustrated by Jan Davey Ellis

This nonfiction book gives facts about the summer solstice and how it was celebrated in the ancient world. Villagers in Lithuania would cover a wheel in tar and bundles of straw. They would roll the wheel up a hill, set fire to it, and then let the wheel roll down the hill and into the river. If the wheel was still burning as it sank, there would be a good harvest. American Indian tribes in the United States and also in Canada built circles of stone to point to where the sun would rise on the summer solstice (over 2,000 years ago). In Egypt, the summer solstice came at a time when the water of the Nile would rise, and they had a special festival to honor the goddess Isis, whose tears they believed were the reason the river rose. In Ireland, solstice bonfires were burned and the festivities included music, dancing, and storytelling. After the bonfires were out, farmers would spread the ashes on their fields, in order to bless the future crops. In Swaziland, in Africa, the king would eat the fruits of the new season and then dance a special dance with his warriors. In some places, such as Wales and Ireland, bonfires are still burned. In Sweden, homes and other buildings are decorated in birch boughs and flowers. There is a description of other ways the summer solstice is still celebrated. There is also an explanation as to why the days are longer in the summer, and an experiment that you can try that shows this effect. There are also some facts about the sun. At the end of the book, there is a summer solstice story, “How Summer Came to the Island People.”

Peter Spit a Seed at Sue
by Jackie French Koller and illustrated by John Manders

There are four bored children sitting on the porch looking for something to do. Then they all hear a man yell that he is selling watermelons. The children race over and buy some. The children are enjoying their watermelon, when Peter decides to spit a seed at Sue. It sticks to her cheek. (Ewww!) Sue spits one back at Peter, and then all the children start spitting seeds at one another. Seeds are flying everywhere, and some of the seeds get on to the laundry hanging up on the clothesline. After buying some more watermelon, the children keep up their game. Then one seed hits to traffic cop, but he gets some watermelon and joins in the fun. Will everyone in town join in on the spitting? What will the town look like after this happens? Who will stop them from spitting? Will she find another way of having fun for the people of the town?

Annie and Snowball and the Book Bugs Club
by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Suçie Stevenson

Annie is having a lot of fun during her summer. She rides bikes with her cousin, Henry, and his dog, Mudge. She also goes swimming and works in the lettuce garden for her bunny, Snowball. There is more fun to be found at the library. There is a sign that says to join the Book Bugs Club. Annie wants to join the book club, but Henry is not sure. Henry likes to do outside things with Mudge during the summer. Henry knows, though, that Annie is always doing fun things for him, so it is time that he did something fun for her. The librarian, Mr. Malk, gives Annie and Henry special pencils and notebooks. They are supposed to write down all the titles of the books they read over the summer. They will get stickers, stars, and other fun things for the books that they read. There will also be a Book Bug picnic. Will Annie and Henry read a lot of books over the summer? Will Annie and Henry find some good outside places for reading? Will they both enjoy the Book Bug picnic?

Firefly Mountain
by Patricia Thomas and illustrated by Peter Sylvada

A mother and father tell their daughter that there might be a firefly mountain that night, after it gets dark. The little girl is not sure what that is, but she cannot wait to see it. That day, they had seen butterflies, drank lemonade, and heard the bobwhites whistle. The little girl would like to day to go on and on, but she cannot wait to see the firefly mountain. Before that time can come, though, it is time to eat supper. After dinner is eaten and the dishes are washed, the little girl asks if it is time yet. Her father tells her that it is not quite time. Soon everything starts melting into black shapes, and it is dark. Then, they seem them. There are fireflies all around them. The family walks down to look at the mountain, and the fireflies walk with them. What do you think that they will see when they look up at the mountain?

Some New Books for June

Little Mouse’s Big Secret
by Eric Battut

One day, Mouse finds a delicious treat. He decides that he will keep the treat a secret. So he hides it by burying it in the ground. Squirrel asks Mouse what he is hiding, but Mouse only tells him that is his secret, and he will not tell Squirrel. Mouse will also not share his secret with Bird, Turtle, Hedgehog, Rabbit, and Frog. While he is keeping his secret, something is happening behind him. What happens to a fruit when you bury it in the ground? What will come from it when it finished growing? What happens so that everyone will know what Mouse’s secret was? Will Mouse share his new discover with his friends?

How Things Work in the Yard
by Lisa Campbell Ernst

This book discusses everyday things that you will find in your yard, such as birds, balls, dandelions, fireflies, caterpillars, squirrels, bubbles, dirt, ants, sprinklers, and clouds. Each page of the book discusses the different items and how they work. For example, a ball rolls down hills, because of gravity, and the book evens talks about certain balls that should not be bounced or thrown, such as cheese balls. The book discusses why fireflies light up and how caterpillars become butterflies. Are there things in your yard that you have always wondered how they work?

Meet the Dogs of Bedlam Farm: A True Story
by Jon Katz

This is the story of Jon Katz’s four dogs that live on his farm in New York. The four dogs, which are Rose, Izzy, Frieda, and Lenore, all walk together at the beginning of the day. They all like each other, but that was not always the way it was. Three of the dogs have jobs to do every day. Rose herds the sheep, Izzy visits sick people, and Frieda guards the farm. Lenore has an important job, too, but it is different from the other dogs. Before Rose met Lenore, she did not know how to play or cuddle. All she did was work very hard all day. Lenore taught Rose how to play and have fun. Izzy had a sad beginning, and it took a long time for him to feel safe. Now Izzy goes to visit sick people and help them feel better. Lenore became Izzy’s first friend. She taught him how to eat from a bowl and live in a house. Frieda was a wild dog before living on the farm. Frieda started guarding the farm as soon as she got there. Sometimes Frieda goes back into the woods, but Lenore goes, finds her, and brings Frieda home again. Lenore also shows Frieda how to be friends with other animals. What do you think Lenore’s job is? What does she do best?

Labracadabra
by Jessie Nelson & Karen Leigh Hopkins and illustrated by Deborah Melmon

Zach’s parents tell him that they have a surprise for him. When they get home, Zach cannot wait to see what it is. It is a dog, but it is not the kind of dog that Zach wanted. Zach has wanted a dog for a very long time, but he wants a dog that he can be proud of. This dog has big nostrils and a really long tail that wags in a funny way. Zach’s mom tells him to be nice, though, because “Larry” has had a hard life. Zach does not like the dog’s name, either and decides not to call him that. When Zach takes him on his first walk, Larry does something unbelievable. The neighborhood bully tries to pull Larry’s tall, and Larry wags his tail around and shrinks the bully. The next time Larry does something unusual with his tail is a couple of days later. Zach is going swimming at the beach with his cousin Seymour, when a bee comes in the window and tries to sting Seymour. Seymour is allergic to bees, and he begins to yell. Zach and his mother try to get the bee out, but Larry ends up knocking the bee out of the car with his tail. Larry even manages to wake Zach up in his tree house, when it is time to go to Brandon’s house for his birthday party. Will Larry be able to do any other spectacular tricks with his magic tail? Will Zach ever call his dog by name? Will Larry end up being the perfect dog for Zach?

Dinosaurs

Dear Tyrannosaurus Rex
by Lisa McClatchy and illustrated by John Manders

Erin wants to invite a real dinosaur to her sixth birthday party, so she gets a piece of paper and her dinosaur pen. Then Erin writes a letter to Tyrannosaurus Rex, and she asks him to come to her party. She also sends him a map to her house, and tells him that there will be big, red balloons and signs on her street, to show Tyrannosaurus Rex the way. Erin also tells Tyrannosaurus Rex not to be frightened of her dog, Violet, when she barks at him. Erin also tells Tyrannosaurus Rex that they will have toys that look like him, and they will play pirates on the play set. There are also other activities that Tyrannosaurus Rex might enjoy. What games do you think a Tyrannosaurus Rex would like to play at a party? Erin also tells Tyrannosaurus Rex that there will be pepperoni pizza, too. Erin would also like Tyrannosaurus’s help in blowing out her candles and opening presents. Do you think that Tyrannosaurus Rex will make it to Erin’s party?

Little Rex, Big Brother
by Ruth Symes and illustrated by Sean Julian

Rex believes that he is the scariest dinosaur in the world with the pointiest teeth, and the loudest roars, but Rex’s friends Spikey and Three-Horns tell him he will have to try harder to scare them. Rex’s mom and dad call him “dear little Rex,” but Rex always tells him that he is big, not little. So Rex jumps in the lake and tells his Auntie Fang and Uncle Claw that he is a mud monster that will eat them, but they call him a funny little tyrannosaurus. Rex tells them that he is big and scary. That afternoon, Spikey and Three-Horns are having a jumping contest, and Rex jumps up so high that his teeth get caught in a branch. Once again, his friends call him “little,” and Rex tells him that he is big. Rex’s mom and dad ask him to watch after the eggs while they do swimming, and Rex tells them he will. Rex lays down next to the nest, and he is almost asleep, when he hears a “tip tap” noise. He looks up to find where the noise is coming from. He looks around all over to find the sound. Then he sees what the sound is. What do you think Rex heard? Will he be a little scary to his little brothers and sisters, because of his size? Will he be a great big brother?

The Super Hungry Dinosaur
by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Leonie Lord

Hal and his dog, Billy, were playing in the backyard, when along comes a “super hungry” dinosaur. The dinosaur tells Hal that he is going to eat him, but Hal tells him that he is too small. Then the dinosaur tells him that he will eat Hal’s mom, but Hal says no. Then the dinosaur tells him that he will eat his dad, but Hal says no. Then the dinosaur tells Hal that he will eat Billy. Hal is a little scared, but he tells the dinosaur a big NO! The dinosaur starts chasing Hal and Billy, but Hal rides on a scooter and jumps on the trampoline, and Hal and Billy get the dinosaur tied up with the garden hose. Do you think the hose will hold the dinosaur? What does Henry make the dinosaur do with the backyard? What will Hal’s mom make the “super hungry” dinosaur to eat? Does the dinosaur enjoy it? Is the dinosaur full by the end of the story?

How to Raise a Dinosaur
by Natasha Wing and illustrated by Pablo Bernasconi

A boy wants to help you find the perfect pet. There are a lot of choices, such as horses, mice, cats, dogs, snakes, lizards, birds, and dinosaurs. There are some things you need to know before choosing a dinosaur, though, and the boy is going to share them with you. First, you need to decide where you are going to keep your dinosaur. It has to be somewhere where the dinosaur has plenty of room. Then you can go to the Dinosaur Shop. Would you prefer a big dinosaur or a small one? Do you want a dinosaur that eats plants or meat? You will also need to buy the dinosaur a big bowl, food, toys, and a leash. What name will you give your dinosaur? Dinosaurs need to be fed ten times a day and walked five times. What are some other things that you think need to be done for a dinosaur? What are some tricks you would like to teach a dinosaur? What do you think a dinosaur would need most?

Frogs

Frog Knows Best
by Foster and Erickson with illustrations by Kerri Gifford

T.J. frog notices a log, as he is sitting by the bog. Then along comes a dog and a hog jogging around the bog. Frog warns them not to jog by the bog, but they ignore him and continue jogging. Hog thinks that she knows more about the bog than frog. All of a sudden, it gets foggy by the bog. Frog warns dog and hog not to jog in the fog, but once again, hog tells him that she knows best and continues to jog. Suddenly, dog and hog fall into the bog. Frog was right. They both climb onto the log, but frog warns them not to. What do you think will happen with dog and hog? What will the log turn out to be? Is frog right? Should they have listened to him all along?

Ribbit Riddles
by Katy Hall and Lisa Eisenberg and illustrated by Robert Bender

Are you ready from a hopping good laugh? This riddles will have you giggling to yourself. Some of these riddles include: “What happened when the Frog Prince married the Frog Princess?: They lived hoppily ever after,” and “Why did the frog say, ‘Tweet?’: She was speaking a foreign language.” These are a couple of the very funny frog riddles in this book. Make sure that you share these funny jokes with your family and friends. You can also share them with any frogs you meet. I am sure they will appreciate them, too.

The Croaky Pokey
by Ethan Long

Have you ever done the Hokey Pokey? Well, this is the Croaky Pokey, so you will have an idea of what is going on. You start by putting your right hand in and out, shaking it around, but then don’t forget to hop the Croaky Pokey as you chase those flies around. You will have to see whether the frog can successfully catch the fly he is chasing around while doing the Croaky Pokey. Will any of the animals be able to catch the fly? Who ends up catching that pesky fly? Are the animals happy about it?

Leap Back Home to Me
by Lauren Thompson and illustrated by Matthew Cordell

A little frog is ready to do some leaping. He leaps over the clover, the daisies, the creek, and splashing beaver, but his mother is always ready for him to leap back home to her. She also has a fun activity for him when he comes leaping home. Every time the little frog leaps, are his leaps getting bigger or smaller? Who is always waiting for him to come back, though? What is the last thing that his mama is ready to give him when he gets home? Does your mother give you the same thing when you get home?