Week 5 of the Library Club (Updated)

Updated: originally titled Week 4 of the Library Club. This is actually week 5.

Ah, it’s nice to be back with a new stash of books. We didn’t make it to the library last week. Well, technically we did. On Sunday. When it was closed.  I checked the website before we left … but I stopped reading after it said “Sunday 1:p to 5:p.” I didn’t read the next line that says “closed Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day.” At least we got all our books returned by the due date.

Before we went to the library, I had created a list for me. I had just checked the Top 30 Picture Books list and wrote down some titles still marked in black, as well as a money math book Dawn Morris recommended.  I knew where to go to find the books on the shelf, but I took the opportunity to use the online card catalog to show Catherine how you can find books.  I wrote down the info, then we went to the shelves. In the process, she found a book she liked and then asked me if we could search for scary books. But of course! For her it was a game of discovery. For me, it is another step in her journey to reading independence. She learned that she can research something she is interested in, pick out a book that matches her interest (in this case A Monster Is Born), and then go find it.  She is also developing what I call her dictionary reading skills. She’s parsing words to see how they fall alphabetically next to another word.  Now on to the books.

We’re once again awash in new picture books. I snuck in a Cam Jansen book in hopes of luring Catherine toward reading a new (for her) series. She loves chapter stories and once we start, she usually reads “extra.” Still, it’s getting past that initial whining about too many words! When we sat to read Cam Jansen this morning, Catherine wanted to alternate sentences. It is a little bit little different and it takes some practice, but I’m getting used to it.  I’ve decided that it is better than alternating pages or chapters because she has to pay attention all the time, so she’s following along with words I’m reading that she doesn’t know.

Benny’s Pennies by Pat Brisson (Ill. Bob Barner) – One of our summer projects is helping Catherine with money math. She can count coins once she knows what they are, but she continues to struggle with identifying them. At Dawn’s suggestion, we’re starting with pennies and building our way up. This is a mom pick.

Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds by David A. Adler (Ill. Susanna Natti) – This is a mom nudge. I gave her a choice between this and another easy reader series (Iris and Walter). She picked Cam.

Don’t Let the Chicken Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems – There is probably some special group meeting somewhere  for people who haven’t read the pigeon books. “Hi, I’m Terry. I love Mo’s books, but I don’t know the pigeon.” Catherine practically shouted when I pulled it from the shelves at the library.  She, of course, can recite it! UPDATE: Where was my head? or my editor? the chicken drive the bus? That’s like coming home from a party and seeing the price tag sticking out the back of your blouse … that nobody mentioned to you ALL DAY! Mea culpa … and a 1,000 apologies to Mo Willems.

How Weird is It? A Freaky Book All About Strangeness by Ben Hillman – This is a nonfiction picture book that Catherine picked out. She liked the green people on the front.  We’ve read this a couple of times already, and the information is quite fascinating. This is definitely a book that would appeal to dormant readers.

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey – I’m sure I read this as a kid, but I don’t remember the story. This is from my picture book TBR list.

Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein (Ill. Ed Young) – This was on the “new arrivals” shelf in our library. I’ve heard a lot of great things about this book and just saw it reviewed again recently. I l-o-v-e the art.  Can’t wait to read it. update: corrected author spelling

When a Monster is Born by Sean Taylor (Ill. Nick Sharratt) – This picture book was Catherine’s selection from her “scary books” search.

With the weather heating up this weekend, I’ve got a ready made excuse to grab some lemonade, a book, and a cozy spot to read.  Hmmm … another good habit to pass on to Catherine.