New Hanukkah Books

Two new delightful books on Hanukkah have arrived at the library:

Hanukkah! by Roni Schotter with illustrations by Marilyn Hafner (Little, Brown Children, 2008)

On the eighth and final day of Hanukkah, a family is busy lighting the menorah, making dreidels and decorations, preparing latkes, and sharing in song, food and celebration. A brief explanation of Hanukkah is given in a note at the end of the book.



The Hanukkah Mice by Steven Kroll (Marshall Cavendish, 2008)

Author Steven Kroll ahs written numerous holiday books and his newest addition, The Hanukkah Mice, is another great addition to the genre. In The Hanukkah Mice a young girl receives a dollhouse for her first Hanukkah gift. As she and her family continue to celebrate Hanukkah, a family of mice enjoy their own holiday celebration in her new dollhouse. Miniature latkes are prepared and served alongside applesauce in tiny dishes; a miniature menorah is placed in the dollhouse; and the holiday is wonderfully celebrated by both big (human) and tiny (mouse) families alike.

New Book on Boys & Education

The Trouble With Boys: A Surprising Report Card by Peg Tyre (Crown Publishers, 2008)

"From the moment they step into the classroom, boys begin to struggle. By eighth grade huge numbers are reading below basic level. Perhaps most alarmingly, boys now account for less than 43 percent of those enrolled in college, and the gap widens every semester! The growing gender imbalance in education portends massive shifts for the next generation: how much they make and whom they marry. Interviewing parents, kids, teachers, and experts, journalist Peg Tyre drills below the statistics to examine how the educational system is failing our sons. But this passionate, clearheaded book isn't an exercise in finger-pointing. Tyre, the mother of two sons, offers the testimony of teachers and school officials who are trying new techniques to motivate boys to learn again, one classroom at a time. This book is a manifesto for change--one we must undertake right away lest school become, for millions of boys, unalterably a "girl thing."--From publisher description.

This book follows the author, Peg Tyre's previous article in a 2006 cover story on "The Boy Crisis" in Newsweek. A September 8, 2008 article, "Struggling School-Age Boys" in Newsweek can be accessed here.

Are you an educator, child care provider or parent of boys? What do you think?

Snowy Fun

The weather report hints at snow for the weekend, so I thought I'd share a few snow-related books and activity ideas.

That's Not My Snowman...by Fiona Watt (Usborne Touchy-Feely Books)

This touch and feel board book is irresistible for little eyes and hands. I shared this with a group of one-year-olds this morning and they just could not resist interacting with this snowman book. New copies of this board book can be found at the library in the board book bins.

All You Need for a Snowman by Alice Schertle (Harcourt, 2002)

Lists everything that one needs to build the perfect snowman, from the very first snowflake that falls. Great for building narrative skills!

Snowden by Nancy Carlson (Viking, 1997)

Kelly doesn't know how to ice skate. But, fortunately, she meets a magical snowman who teaches her that with a little help and patience, wonderful things can happen!

Snow by Roy McKibe and P.D. Eastman (Beginner Books, 1962)

Two children enjoy sledding, skiing, making tracks, building a snowman, and other activities in the snow. This early reader is lots of fun to share with preschoolers and young school-aged kids.

If you're looking for snow-themed crafts and activities, try:

Preschool Snowman Arts & Crafts from Everything Preschool.com http://www.everythingpreschool.com/themes/snowmen/art.htm

Winter Fun: Snowmen Snacks & Crafts from Family Fun online:
http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/specialfeature/winter-fun-snowmen-ms/

Pick of the Week: What Do Wheels Do All Day?

What Do Wheels Do All Day? by April Jones Prince, illustrated by Giles Laroche (Houghton Mifflin, 2006)

Many a small child is fascinated by things that go and what makes things turn. Wheels! This fantastic book introduces a variety of wheels with great cut-paper illustrations and very simple text. Certain to be enjoyed by fans of transportation and curious young minds. This would also be a useful title to use to prompt conversations about wheels, how they are used and how they work to make things move. A simple math lesson could even follow.

Fun for Little Ones

As the weather becomes colder, you might find yourself looking for more indoor activities to do with a very small child. Check out these resources for great ideas to keep boredom at bay:

http://familyfun.go.com/parenting/child/dev/specialfeature/famf0703familyfun123-games/

http://www.lil-fingers.com/: Lil' Fingers Storybooks is a site for toddlers with educational games, storybooks and coloring pages.

http://www.literacycenter.net/lessonview_en.htm: Literacy Center Play & Learn - get to know letters, numbers, colors, shapes and more.

http://www.preschoolexpress.com/toddler_station.shtml Preschool Express: Toddler Station offers a wealth of activities to enrich your toddler's day.

http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/: Preschool Rainbow provides ideas and inspiration for early childhood educators, care providers and parents alike!

Feeling Under the Weather?

With cold and flu season here, you might be looking for a book to share with young children about those unfortunate days when they are not feeling so well. Iris Has a Virus by Arlene Alda, with pictures by Lisa Desimini is a funny, sympathetic, and informational story. When Iris comes down with a virus, her brother Doug is upset that she has spoiled the family's plans to visit Grandpa. After much rest, TLC, wild dreams about what made her sick, and a trip to the doctor, Iris gets well.

Get Ready to Laugh: Wild Boars Cook

They're bossy. They're stinky. They're hungry. They're wild boars! The wild boars are back and are ready to cook. One of them has found a sweet, sticky, incredibly messy recipe for a Massive Pudding that only a wild boar could love! Certain to tickle your funny bone and keep listeners begging for you to read it one more time.

Wild Boars Cook by Meg Rosoff and Sophie Blackall (Henry Holt and Company, 2008)