Tiny Treasury

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends daily reading to children beginning by six months of age.

So now the question…How do you read to a baby? It is easy! Babies love to hear the human voice. Hearing language is crucial to developing language. Parents, caregivers etc… should spend time each day not just talking to babies but reading to them as well. Don’t worry about being a “good” reader…your baby is no critic!

Here are some tips on reading to babies.

The 24th installment of the Junie B. Jones series centers around Halloween. After a classmate fills Junie B.’s head full of Halloween tales…she does her best to avoid trick or treating. Finally she gives in but only after deciding to be the scariest of the scariest. Readers will be relieved to know they are not the only ones who get anxious about Halloween and that Junie B. makes it through Halloween safely (and with a bag full of candy).

The Junie B. Jones series is well written and uniquely insightful. Park really seems to really understand what it is like to be a first grader.
first grade, junie b. jones, children’s books, halloween

first grade, junie b. jones, children’s books, halloween

A spirited collection of 13 poems tells the story of 3 young people and their event filled adventure! The rhymes are catchy and the illustrations are the perfect compliment. Just the right amount of creepiness for little ones! An enjoyable way to share poetry with children.

Halloween, poetry, children’s books, Prelutsky

A wonderful counting book for you and your little monster. The rhythmic text is fun to read aloud. The illustrations are bold and exciting. A spook-tacular Halloween read!

This is a wonderful coming of age story about four friends and a “magical�? pair of pants. The book is narrated in turn by each of the four friends. The transitions are smooth and each girl’s story stands alone as well as being a integral part of the others. As the girls go their separate ways they are forced to stay connected because of the pants. They go through ups and downs and live realistic lives. By the end of the book you feel like a part of the sisterhood. You have probably experienced some of their experiences and this gives the story that extra credibility that makes you want to read more. The reading level of the book is deceptive. While the vocabulary and structure of the book may be “4.5�?…the content is not. I would say this would be a more appropriate read for the middle school set. I would encourage mothers and daughters to read this book together. It would be a perfect selection for a mother and daughter book club.

Reading Level - 4.5
Accelerated Reader - 9.0

sisterhood, leukemia, divorce, book club

This is the story of Oscar, a young dog who doesn’t quite fit in with the other dogs at obedience school. The other dogs make fun of him for being a “wiener�? dog. His mother only makes matters worse by referring to him as her “little vienna sausage.�? Then she commits the ultimate sin…a ridiculous Halloween costume. Of course in the end Oscar prevails as the hero and wins the bullies over. The children will love the captivating illustrations and parents will enjoy the wordplay. A great Halloween read!

Reading Level - 3.2
Accelerated Reader Points - 0.5

Halloween, Halloween book, wiener dog, children’s books

The perfect “scary” book for little ones. This not so scary Halloween treat combines the wonderfully fun rhymes of Eve Bunting with the beautiful illustrations of Jan Brett. A perfect match. The story and the pictures work together to create a tale that is just spooky enough for little ones. Little goblins can see that there is fun and mischief to be had on Halloween without worrying about the scary things that go bump in the night.

Reading Level - 2.5
Accelerated Reader Points. - 0.5

Loved it!
I have been a huge A Series of Unfortunate Events fan since I finished the first page of The Bad Beginning. Having read books 1-12… I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of the 13th book. The 13th book is somewhat bittersweet. It finally answers some of the questions we have been dying to have answers to…but it is the last book. I want more. I love Lemony Snicket. I love his clever wit and his entertaining and educational use of unusual vocabulary. There are some who were unhappy with the The End. They felt it didn’t answer all the questions. I don’t think it was supposed to answer all the questions. I think that was part of the point! In life there are some questions that are never answered and such is the life of the Baudelaire children. I think it was a fitting end and more importantly we find out the answer to the biggest question “Who is Beatrice?�?
I highly recommend it.

Reading Level - 7.3
Accelerated Reader Points – 9

I will read anything. (I read the back of the shampoo bottle everyday.)
When I was very small my mother read to me every night. She suffered the endless “one more story” every night. Her patience and her own love of reading helped foster an undying love of reading in me. It is important for families to read together and to (more importantly) discuss what is being read.
I have a special place in my heart for children’s literature. In college I took every lit class I could fit into my schedule…but my favorite was Children’s Literature.
I will be reviewing/discussing books from all genres and for all ages of children. Feel free to make suggestions, recomendations and comments.
Thanks for stopping by…and come back anytime!