Multicultural Children’s Book Day Today! (Book Review)

Kiely was born a star!  Her many talents include dancing, singing, and dramatics. Her parents (aka paparazzi) capture every cute moment whether Kiely wants them to or not. I can definitely relate to that aspect of having my first little ones (twins) and wanting to capture everything (and then posting it for family and friends to enjoy).

Many parents will see their child in Kiely, the protagonist in I Am Famous by Tara Luebbe and Becky Cattie. Having two littles myself and even thinking back to when my sister was little, I recognize the spirit of Kiely in them. Even my mom while reading the book, kept saying “this is you!”

Kiely’s big break comes when she performs at her grandpa’s birthday party. She finds the perfect outfit to “hit the red carpet”. In front of her live audience she performs her grandpa’s favorite song, but OH! “What were the words again?” Well, the show must go on, so now to dancing. Oops! Kiely has another embarrassing moment. Will it stop her from performing ever again? You have to read the book to find out.

This is a super cute book with the message that no matter what, family--I mean fans, will love you. Make sure to check out the sequel, I Used to Be Famous! especially if you have a child who feels like a "has been" with a new sibling.

Oh, Little Mouse! Your Secret Is Out!

Recommended for PreK-K

There must be something about a little mouse and a big red edible object that is irresistible to young children.  In the new picture book by Éric Battut, Little Mouse’s Big Secret, kids go crazy for this book that focuses on humor, science, and sharing.  The text on one page and the cheerful illustrations on the opposite page interact wonderfully to tell the story of the adorable Little Mouse who finds a “delicious treat” (the illustration shows a cherry).  Little Mouse decides the cherry will be a secret and hides the cherry in the ground.  Lo and behold, Little Mouse is visited by multiple friends, one at a time, who wants to know his secret.  

“It’s my secret, and I’ll never tell, “ answers Mouse.  This is the repetitive refrain in the book.  The preschoolers I read to through the volunteer program Ready Readers, love to say this and wag their fingers back and forth.

With each animal visit, the reader will notice the illustrations in which Mouse’s cherry is sprouting from the ground and growing into a cherry tree with every consecutive page turn.  The funny part is (preschool verified), Mouse doesn’t notice this is happening because his back is turned.  The illustrations make it easy to identify stages of a plant’s growth—the tree sprouts, becomes a sapling, grows into a mature tree that blossoms, and when the blossoms disappear, cherries appear.  Mouse doesn’t even realize his “secret is out” until the cherries fall from the tree.  Mouse decides that his secret is then best shared with his other animal friends. 

Battut, E. (2011). Little mouse's big secret. New York, NY: Sterling.

“Moo”ve Over Dr. Seuss

Recommended for grades PreK-1

From the author of Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs

Judi Barrett combines numbers, rhyming, and animals in this colorfully illustrated story, I Knew Two Who Said Moo. Silliness takes over from the very beginning, with an elephant lying “on a toasted bun…playing the accordion…” Barrett makes sure that the rhyming words are in a different color from the rest of the text making them more readily identifiable. Sometimes she might get a little carried away with the rhyming, but at the same time it works because it adds to the humor of the book. We also have to remember that this is from the author who made it rain French toast with syrup.

The illustrations are brightly colored and mirror the text, making this a good choice for read aloud. In fact, kids can guess what the rhyming words are based on the numbers (the selected words rhyme with the featured number) and the clues in the illustrations. This book integrates language arts and math concepts very well.

Barrett, J. (2003). I knew two who said moo. New York, NY: Atheneum.