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a blog about usborne books & more

the thank you dish

4/25/2017

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"And thank you, kangaroos," said Grace.
"Kangaroos?" said Mama. "Why would you thank the kangaroos?"
"Well, I'm thanking the kangaroos for not eating all the carrots," said Grace.
"Ah," said Mama.

These days, it's not always easy to tell where our food comes from. And when we do know, it still doesn't always make sense. Apples from Chile? Peanuts from Georgia? Avocados from Mexico? Well, The Thank You Dish​, written by Trace Balla and published by Kane Miller, opens up that discussion.

Grace and Mama are sitting down to dinner, giving thanks. While Mama starts out with typical items for gratitude - "the rain, the soil, and the sunshine" - Grace pipes in with more abstract gratitude: kangaroos, alpaca, road workers. 

Mama asks Grace to explain each choice, and we discover the alpaca provided the wool for the scarf that kept Uncle Fred warm when he caught the fish... and the road workers fixed the path Grace and Mama used to get to the nearby farm stand. Each time a new object of gratitude is mentioned, a little silhouette doodle of that origin story is added to the scene, so that by the end of dinner, you can see a whole food community supporting this seemingly simple dinner.

I love this story because it highlights (or at least begs the question) of where our food comes from. And while we can't always afford, or don't have access to, locally grown produce, it's so meaningful when you can help your kids pick out an apple grown in a nearby orchard instead of flown in from New Zealand.

It's that book that invites the food discussion while encouraging questions and gratitude equally.

Book benefits: 
  • Storyline of food origins invite questions about where our food comes from, and why
  • Silhouette doodles accumulating through the story encourage kids to track the storyline from start to finish
  • The running theme of gratitude reminds us all to give thanks for what we have, wherever it came from!
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Buy ​The Thank You Dish​ here! (hardcover, $9.99)
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jonathan james and the whatif monster

4/22/2017

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What if I'm not doing enough for my kids? What if my students don't like that lesson plan? What if I run out of gas halfway between here and Denver? These questions aren't part of the book, or a quote from my kids... it's just a sampling of my inner dialogue from time to time when I'm not paying attention. One of the many beautiful things about Michelle Nelson-Schmidt's picture book, Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster, is that its message is just as beneficial for adults as it is for kids!

Jonathan James is a regular kid. He plays sports, he goes to school, he hangs out with friends. But when it's time to try something new, the little "whatif" monster following him around pokes doubt into Jonathan's mind. When Jonathan James is climbing a tree, the Whatif Monster wonders, "What if you tumble? What if there's wind? What if you slip, and your knee gets all skinned?" The Whatif Monster sews these seeds of doubt as Jonathan James is playing baseball, trying a new dish at dinner, running in a race, and more. 

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But finally, Jonathan James confronts the monster: "Now wait just a minute! I have something to say, after hearing 'what ifs' all through the day. I hear all your worries; I hear all your claims, But what if you're wrong?" And Jonathan James poses different scenarios, in which he has fun climbing trees, hits a triple home run in baseball, really likes the new dish...  And, in the end, the Whatif Monster is having fun, too!

The lesson in this book is clear, but it doesn't bonk you on the head. It's Jonathan James that has to decide to think differently - not an adult or a friend. He's the one who decides to try new ventures, rather than being held back by fear and doubt. And yes, this is a lesson adults need to hear, too! We are all confronted with that little Whatif Monster from time to time, but we will miss out on some pretty great adventures if we let it decide how our day will go.

This sweet story is fun to read beyond the message, though - it has lyrical words and rhythm that help kids predict what's coming next, bold and playful illustrations that bring you into the story... and you can bring home your own Whatif Monster, too! There's a sweet - and really soft - plush available to accompany the book. 

It's that book with a message so timeless and valuable, you'll remember it as much as your kids.

Book benefits: 
  • Bright, bold illustrations make the story engaging visually
  • Simple words with lyrical rhythm are great for kids learning to be more confident readers
  • The message is a beautiful and important one
  • Have I mentioned the adorable Whatif Monster plush? :)
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Buy Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster here! ($6.99, paperback)
And don't forget your matching Whatif Monster plush ($12.99)
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how do flowers grow?

4/21/2017

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"Mom look, sunflowers just like we have!" My garden isn't quite as abundant as I would like yet, but I love that my boys are excited about "working" in it and tending to our plants. And now that they've seen flowers growing in real life, they are even more curious about how they work. 

And behold, now we have a book that explains it all! How Do Flowers Grow? from Usborne (written by Katie Daynes, illustrated by Christine Pym), is a hardy lift-the-flap book that takes you through the many questions that might pop up about flowers. Do plants need food? What does pollen do? What's inside this pod? Why do some plants have tasty berries? ...and, of course, What's making that smell?

Each page is filled with flaps that answer these questions - and of course, like with all Usborne flap books, the flaps aren't  formulaic. One flower has four flaps that open outward, another has spikes to mirror the spiky seed it's explaining... a tree flap even has a mini flap of a bird nest to peek through. And besides the flaps, the pages also contain textile elements like finger tracing lines to follow a bee from flower to flower as it collects pollen, cut-outs to highlight changing weather (snowflakes, raindrops), and smell lines to emphasize stinky flowers. 

Essentially, each page has lots of detail to keep your kiddos engaged while learning about flowers! The illustrations are fun, too - they are detailed enough to accurately depict what's going on with the growing process, but cartoony enough to not feel like you are reading a science textbook. And the info provides an effective balance of teaching but not overwhelming.

It's that book that will make your kids see flowers in a while new way... and want to go plant some of their own!

Book benefits: 
  • In-depth facts presented in a fun, engaging manner
  • Hardy cardstock pages withstand lots of exploring
  • Q&A format encourages kids to ask questions
​Order your copy of How do Flowers Grow? here! ($14.99, hardcover)

If you are a fan of these early flap books, check out others in the "first questions" series! 

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goldilocks and the three bears

4/13/2017

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"Once upon a time, there was a delightful young girl named Goldilocks. Well, Goldilocks wasn't THAT delightful... she was actually very naughty and very, VERY fussy." Ok, I'll admit: elements of fairytales can be hard to explain to kids. "Wait, why did they get married? they just met!" "Why did he steal that giant's goose?" "Why did that little girl go into a stranger's house and eat their breakfast?" Often, these questions aren't addressed in the fairytale, so you are left on your own to justify behavior we wouldn't normally put up with.

Fortunately, this refreshing take on Goldilocks and the Three Bears, illustrated by Ellie Jenkins and published by Kane Miller, doesn't let the fairytale off the hook. You're probably familiar with the basic story: girl smells oatmeal, wanders into house, eats oatmeal, breaks chair, falls asleep in a bed. Bears come home to an untidy house and frighten little girl away. This edition follows the same plot, but with a few exceptions: 
  1. Goldilocks, as you see from the first lines above, comes across as a bit of a brat: bored from lack of TV, a snoop, and quite naughty. I like that the book doesn't excuse her bad behavior, but rather points it out (without being condescending or prudish).
  2. The house still belongs to bears, but in this version, the family are people dressed in bear costume. This artistic choice isn't overtly explained, but it adds to the conversation and once again doesn't excuse the storyline because it's a "fairytale".
  3. When Mama Bear discovers Goldilocks, she gently pats her hair and asks kindly, "Do your mama and papa know where you are?" Goldilocks, however, doesn't "speak bear language," so all she hears is "Grrrrrr". I like this twist, too - despite Goldilock's bad choices, Mama Bear is still a compassionate mom and is looking out for the little girl.

And, of course, there's another fun twist: the book comes with two masks (attached to a removable dust jacket and easily poked out from perforated edges). There are instructions to put on the bear mask whenever you see the word "bear," and to put on the golden hair mask when you see the name Goldilocks. Besides it being a novel idea, the masks help kids stay engaged and learn to identify repeated words.

​It's that book that playfully refreshes an old favorite - and allows for meaningful discussion all the while.

Book benefits:
  • Story re-tells a classic with fresh twists that add meaning to the plot
  • Wording includes changes in font to highlight important words and help young readers identify patterns
  • Playful text with emphasized words makes this a perfect read aloud!
  • Masks encourage interactive play and reading

Order your copy of Goldilocks, a Masked Fairy Tale, here! (hardcover with two masks, $11.99)

Also available: Little Red Riding Hood (hardcover with two masks, $11.99)
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Can I Join Your Club?

4/8/2017

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"Duck wanted to make some new friends. So he decided to join a club." We've all been there... we find ourself in a situation where we want or need to put ourselves out there. How do we act? Sometimes it goes well, sometimes not. Can I Join Your Club,​ by John Kelly and Steph Laberis, explores this situation in a sweet and endearing - and funny! - way.

Duck's first foray into friendship is an appeal to the Lion's Club. He dons a mane-like wig, approaches Lion, and asks to join Lion Club. Lion replies, "Well, I see you already have a magnificent mane. But can you ROAR like a lion?" Lion takes a deep breath, puffs out his chest, and roars. So Duck gives it a try: 

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As you can see, it doesn't go so well. Duck is exposed for what he really is, and his application is denied: "You're not really what we're looking for in Lion Club." Duck tries similar bids for entrance into Snake Club and Club Elephant but faces the same defeat.

Now, here comes the best line: "Duck felt down, but he knew what he had to do. He started his OWN CLUB!" I love this because, despite being shot down three times in a row, Duck doesn't wallow or feel sorry for himself - he takes matters into his own hands. He forms Duck Club, and when Tortoise asks to join, Duck admits him... and just like that, "Duck Club" evolves into "Our Club." And, as it turns out, that's a club Lion, Snake, and Elephant want in on, too!

And of course, what's great about this lesson is that, although the first three clubs are all based on connecting with those who are similar to you, the most successful and fun club in the end is the one that welcomes everyone.
​It's that book you hope your kid models when it's time to make new friends.

Book benefits:
  • Story has a simply-told but oh-so-important lesson on making friends
  • Illustration style is playful, vivid, and relatable
  • Animal characters are each given a distinct personality - each of which begs to have a unique voice when the book is read aloud!

Join the club here (hardcover, $12.99)
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    Hi there! I'm Christine - Usborne Books & More independent consultant, kids' book fan, English teacher, mom of two boys. 


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Christine Bailey
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This website is designed by Christine Bailey, Independent Consultant with Usborne Books & More. Usborne Publishing Ltd and Usborne Books & More - EDC Publishing - Kane/Miller books have no connection with this web site and the pages therein and do not sponsor or support their content.
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