Frankie is an orange tabby cat (who incidently looks just like my cat Garfield!). He lives, and works the night shift in a hardware store, where a mouse creates a huge ruckus. This new counting book by Lisa Westburg Peters has wonderful digitally enhanced photography illustrations by Jennifer Taylor. Frankie seems to really love the night shift, but is he really working? Read the book and make up your own mind.
Cinco de Mayo is a fiesta day celebrated on May 5th in Mexico and the United States. It is a celebration of Mexico's defeat of the French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. This account for early readers is written by Linda Lowery, and illustrated by Minnesotan Barbara Knutson. It is a good classroom resource for Cinco de Mayo this week.
Baby animals are part of Spring, and they are different from one another in many ways: their appearance, what they eat, or where they live. But one thing is sure--they all love their mother. Written by Marion Dane Bauer, with photographs by Stan Tekiela, this can be used to introduce children to families in nature. End notes provide more details about each animal, making it a resource for older readers too.
Six year old Andy has waited a long time for his own pet. The family has a cat and dog, and his mom isn't sure they can manage any more, except maybe fish. Andy's twin brothers John, Jason, and their dad go with Andy to the pet store to find a pet for Andy. While there, a little hamster literally finds them, and becomes Andy's new pet. But the hamster is an escape artist. Young readers will learn about friendship and pet care in this gentle story--as well as how the hamster gets his unique name, Pancake. Written by Judy Huebscher, with illustrations by Michaelin Otis, this is a good story for beginning readers.
Tango, a pampered Yorkshire Terrier, lives with a wealthy Manhatten couple. His sweet life changes when he is swept off the couple's yacht during a storm and he washes up at a small village on Prince Edward Island. An intersting cast of characters help him to recover from the trauma, while teaching lessons about loyalty, courage, and advocating for yourself. Written by Eileen Beha (who divides her time between Minneapolis and Miami), this story will be enjoyed by animal lovers.
What's an alphabeastie, you ask? It's an alligator made out of a's, or an elephant made of e's, or a zebra made of z's; and that's just to start. More than just an alphabet book, this is also a fun look at typefaces and fonts, and how with a little artistic enhancement, a letter can become a word. Created by the Minnesota team of Sharon Werner and Sarah Forss, this will make readers think creatively about how letters can be made into other wonderful things.
It's a car race, and hamster needs a new car. With the help of the junkyard dog and his friends, they build a new car from the ground-up just in time for the big race. With rhyming text by Cynthia Lord, and humorous acrylic illustrations by Minnesotan, Derek Anderson, this is a delightful story for young readers.
