A Hole is to Dig

Tomorrow is Old Time Storytime again. I'm really looking forward to it. Afternoon storytime feels more right, and I get to read stories I like, and I know the kids will like, because 40 million kids have already liked them. Up next: A Hole is to Dig" by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by Maurice Sendak.

Old Fashioned Story Time is Back

To be honest, I missed doing Story Time. Since I work the late shift, our morning story time was out, and we have cut way back on the new children's picture books we order, so introducing new stories wasn't a priority. But I still like doing story time, so we're turning the whole thing on it's head - we're only reading classics, and we're doing it in late afternoon. It's actually kind of exciting to be able to crack open the old stuff - I'm looking forward to reading Blueberries for Sal now that the copyright dispute is settled. If you're in the area - join us starting May 6th.

Don't Worry

We received some new books today - and they fit right in with our last post! This charming series of three books - Don't Worry Bear, Good Luck Bear, and Thank You Bear are by Greg Foley. These sweet, simple books will give young readers a new perspective on their troubles, and have a wonderful calming atmosphere - far better than breathing into a paper bag!

The Best Thing You Missed...

One of the great things about owning a store is finding amazing things, and showing them to customers, who think they are amazing things too! Hooray for business! The other side of the coin is, finding amazing things, and then watching them sit, unloved and unnoticed. This is especially true for books. Toys can jump off the shelf and grab your attention better than books. I love books, and so I occasionally order what I think are really creative, clever books, and they gather dust. So I'm starting a blog feature! A book or toy you missed in our store. Maybe not you, but people kind of like you.
This week KNUCKLEHEAD
Jon Scieszka published his first book with illustrator Lane Smith, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!. Scieszka and Smith have collaborated on seven other books, including The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, a Caldecott Honor Book, and their most recent title, Cowboy and Octopus. Jon is also the author of the Time Warp Trio series for middle grade readers.
Obviously he is an authority on 9 year-old boy humor. Knucklehead is his tale of youth, and will have kids rolling on the floor. This book is so exhaustive in its detail that it includes an index:
P
Pee, We do not say that.
See urinate;swords, crossed;
sword fight!
Polish
counting to five in, 69
*note scieszka means "path" in Polish
poop, dog, 20-21
picking up, 20-22
puke
cat, 93; see also yak, cat
group, 93
You can see what crowd this book is aiming for.
Scieszka has also set up a blog for Knucklehead here.
Now you know.

Do You Have an Eco Cop in Your House?

More news from the NYT:
Pint-Size Eco-Police, Making Parents Proud and Sometimes Crazy
"Sometimes, Jennifer Ross feels she cannot make a move at home without inviting the scorn of her daughters, 10-year-old Grace and 7-year-old Eliza. The Acura MDX she drives? A flagrant polluter. The bath at night to help her relax? A wasteful indulgence. The reusable shopping bags she forgot, again? Tsk, tsk."
We see these junior Al Gores more and more at our store, and I love it! There are several new books coming along on this topic - Nancy Elizabeth Wallace is the author of "Recycle Everyday" pictured above - because of course you want to encourage this sort of thing!