Book Reviews

How do Dinosaurs Eat Cookies? Book Review

Scholastic Canada has provided momstown with a great title to tie into the Five Senses theme - our sense of smell and taste are tantalized in How Do Dinosaurs Eat Cookies?

 

With scratch and sniff as well as cookie recipes, this is a great book to delight all cookie lovers and readers.

 

how do dinos eat cookies

 

The book takes us through how dinosaurs might make, eat, and bake cookies... it might look different than you'd expect from a dinosaur! Kids will love the question-and-answer format.

 

how do dinos eat cookies

On each page, readers can scratch and sniff different cookie smells, like cinnamon, chocolate chips, and lemon!

how do dinos eat cookies

 

 

The last page spread has two recipes: Cinnama-Saurus Rex cinnamon cookies and Fossilized Lemon Tracks. With some dinosaur cookie cutters, you can make some yummy treats with your little reader!

 

Image credit

Posted by Teacher Mom on 02/13/2012 - 20:34
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We share everything! by Robert Munsch

momstown kids are always learning about sharing - every time there's a playgroup, a circle time, or an event, kids have experience learning to share with others.

 

we share everything!So it's fitting and also fun to share our Scholastic Canada sponsored book - Robert Munsch's We Share Everything!

 

In typical Munsch-style, he turns an idea on its head when two preschoolers have trouble sharing... they decide to share everything - even their clothes!

 

Here's an excerpt from Munsch's website that helps explain the origins of the story:

In 1992 I was in grade 1 telling stories and that is where the teacher in the story first said, “This is Kindergarten! In Kindergarten we share!” The kids joined in and I found that I had a neat choral response phrase. I kept telling the story both in daycare and in schools, always with different kids, and it slowly turned into a really good story.


momstown loves Munsch! Here are some other book reviews with Robert Munsch stories:

The Sandcastle Contest

Love You Forever

Mud Puddle

Posted by Teacher Mom on 01/17/2012 - 13:44
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Book Review - Mix and Match theme

The Mitten by Jan Brett  

the mitten by jan brettThis is based on a Ukrainian folktale and has become a classic winter tale. Though it’s not based on a matching theme, it would go well with the mitten matching craft in a playgroup.  A little boy named Nicki has a pair of white mittens made for him by his grandmother. He drops one in the woods and can’t find it because it is the same colour as the snow. However, it serves as a cosy resting place for the woodland animals who find it, and eventually return it to Nicki through a bit of magic.

 

 

A First Book about Mixing and Matching by Nicola Tuxworth   

Mixing and matchingThis is a great book to get kids interacting and finding items to mix and match, for example, finding ‘pairs’ of things on one page, matching colours, looking for patterns, sizes, etc. Not a ‘story’ book but a great book to use visuals to engage children in mixing and matching.

 

 

I’m a Baby by Tish Rabe   

I'm a babyMix and match book for babies. Each page has three parts – babies head, middle, and feet. The pages split apart so that you can mix and match the parts. As you do, the words change – “I’m a baby, I like purple blocks, my dinosaur matches my purple socks”. As you flip the pages the colours of the blocks and matching toy changes.

 

 

Learn a Word: Mix and Match by Nicola Tuxworth   

learn a word mix and matchSimilar to the ‘first book’ above, teaches new vocabulary as well as showing mixing and matching.

 

 

 

 

 

Three Little Kittens by Jerry Pinkey

three little kittensThis nursery rhyme is brought to life with detailed illustrations of the three feisty little kittens who can’t seem to keep track of their mittens! A nice accompaniment to our mitten matching craft.

 

Posted by Teacher Mom on 01/17/2012 - 13:06
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Book Review - Barbara Reid's Perfect Snow

momstown is especially drawn to Canadian authors like Barbara Reid - and our Scholastic Canada partners introduced us to Perfect Snow - a terrific wintertime read for young children.

 

perfect snow

Snow comes one night, and the next morning it's Perfect Snow for the schoolyard. Scott is making snowmen, and Jim wants to build the world's best snowfort. They find a way to work together to make a great creation from the perfect snow!

 

Kids will delight in the vibrant illustrations - made with Plasticine that is shaped and pressed onto illustration board. It's engaging and inspiring - you might want to pick up some blocks and start creating with your kids!

 

Here's a video excerpt for a preview of the Perfect Snow story.

 

 

momstown's reviewed 6 other winter favourites to enjoy with your children.

 

Do you have a favourite winter story?

Posted by Teacher Mom on 12/14/2011 - 20:53
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Book Review - Winter Wonderland books for kids

 momstown's got some great books about winter to share with your kids - all about snow and the winter wonderland that it brings!


its winter

It’s Winter by Linda Glaser  

This charming story takes the readers through winter scenes from the perspective of a little girl. It shows her doing all kinds of winter activities, and also shows how animals survive during winter when they are hibernating. A happy celebration of winter!

 

chaucers first winterChaucer’s First Winter by Stephen Krensky  

Chaucer is a baby bear who doesn’t want to hibernate like his parents – he wants to stay awake and play! His animal friends show him all the fun things to do in the snow. Chaucer makes it all the way until spring, but when his parents wake up and he wants to tell them all about winter – he is too tired! Cute illustrations will appeal to all ages.

 

snowy blowy winterSnowy, Blowy Winter  by  Bob Raczka  

Simple rhyming text and bright illustrations show the fun of winter, from getting dressed to making snowmen, to sipping cocoa and warming up by the fire. Also shows animals in wintertime, both hibernating and outside. Perfect for a young audience!

 
 

winter babies wear layersWinter Babies Wear Layers  by Michelle Sinclair Colman 

Simple board book with text on one page and pictures on the opposite page. Takes the young reader through fun winter activities, from dressing in layers, to catching snowflakes, to getting cozy by the fire. Great winter book for the youngest ones!

 

 

the biggest best snowmanThe Biggest, Best Snowman by Margery Cuyler 

Little Nell is the smallest in her family, and is often told that she is too small to do things. But she shows her big sisters when she goes out in the woods with her friends Reindeer, Hare, and Bear Cub, to make the biggest, best snowman. A great story about teamwork and proves to young children that they too can do big things, when they work together and don’t give up.

 

snowy's special secretSnowy’s Special Secret by Guido van Genechten

Snowy is a polar bear who loves his mommy ‘more than anything in the world.” He works hard to build a special secret project for her, to show her how much he cares. This is an oversize book with gorgeous illustrations – and snowy is fuzzy and soft to the touch throughout (touch and feel). Although babies may not follow the story, they will enjoy the pictures and the fuzzy polar bear to touch. Snowy builds his mommy a snow ‘bear’ and ‘little bear’. A sweet read celebrating the love between mommies and little ones.

 

 

Do you have a favourite winter book to share? Let us know in the comments below!

Posted by Teacher Mom on 12/13/2011 - 11:09
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Great kids books for Hanukkah

momstown is so proud to be partnering with Scholastic Canada - and we're thrilled that they've given us some great recommendations on Hannukah books for kids this season.

 

Hanukkah - A Counting Book  by Emily Sper

hanukkah counting bookGraphic, vibrant artwork and die-cuts in the shape of candles combine to create this informative and elegant book about one of the most joyous Jewish holidays. The symbols of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, are visually presented to stunning effect as young children learn to count in three different languages from one to eight. The importance of the menorah, shamash candle, dreidels, and more are explained in this simple retelling of the story of Hanukkah.

 

A Chanukah present - for ME!  by Lily Karr

chanukah presentA great miracle happened…and now it is time for a great celebration.A playful holiday book that mimics a wrapped gift box. With glitter and an embossed “bow,” this simple story highlights the most popular Chanukah icons and traditions. A perfect gift for one of the nights, or every night! 

 

 

On the First Night of Chanukah by Cecily Kaiser

on the first night of chanukahThis story introduces young children to the traditions of Chanukah through rhyming lyrics to a familiar tune! Gifts of latkes, gelt, dreidels, donuts, and more are hidden throughout every page, inviting children to read and sing this Chanukah version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" again and again!

 

 

My Two Holidays by Danielle Novak

my two holidaysWhen Sam's classmates take turns talking about which holiday they celebrate, Sam becomes very nervous. Some people celebrate Christmas and some people celebrate Hanukkah. But Sam celebrates both! Written by a child psychologist, My Two Holidays offers comforting explanations that shine a light on how special it can be to celebrate two treasured holidays instead of one!

 

 

Thanks again to Scholastic Canada for their great suggestions!

Do you have a suggestion of your own? We'd love to hear it!

Posted by Teacher Mom on 11/20/2011 - 21:57
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