Moon Moon and More...

Fairy Tales by Leah Wilcox

2011-07-02T12:01:00.000-07:00

These two books by Leah Wilcox take fairytales on a humorous spin. They both have very catchy, rhyming text and hilarious storylines. My two boys love them!

In Falling for Rapunzel, the Prince misunderstands her cries and calls to her to throw down her hair so he can save her. Rapunzel is a little hard at hearing (that or slightly dense) and throws down all sorts of items!

Waking Beauty is about a know it all Prince who, like Rapunzel in the previous book, is slightly dense). He stumbles upon Sleeping Beauty and her fairy godmothers and attempts to wake her. However, he doesn't take the time to listen to the fairy godmothers and goes about waking her in his own way.

Falling for Rapunzel

"Please, love, just your silky tresses!"

She thought he asked for silky dresses.

In lace and frills up to his head,

the prince's cheeks were blushing red.

"Rapunzel, do you have a rope?"

Rapunzel dropped a cantaloupe.

It burst in pieces on his head."

Oh, bad catch!" Rapunzel said.

Waking Beauty

"We see you finally made the trip,now give the girl a little lip.

"Okay," he said. "If you insist."He drew his mouth up in a twist,

and hollered "WAKE UP LAZYBONES!"Her snores drowned out the faries' groans.

They shook their heads, "No, not like this, you have to wake her with a-"

"Hey, I know! He tapped his headand started jumping on the bed.

Transportation Collection

2011-07-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

We recently discovered this collection of books by Patrica Hubbell at our library. We checked out Trains and Airplanes and the boys (and I!) loved them so much that I ordered all 5 from Amazon last night. I got them used for pennies and the total for shipping all 5 was $26 or something like that. The books have very interesting and eclectic, mod-podgey illustrations and catchy, rhyming text. The boys ask to read them over and over!

Cars

And the Winner of "Run Turkey Run" is...

2010-11-18T09:56:00.000-08:00

#5... Alison Levy!

I used Random.org (I promise!)... I'm just at work on lunch and can't do a screenshot.

Alison, email me with your address and I'll pop your book in the mail!

The Mine-o-Saur

2010-11-15T07:45:00.000-08:00

Mine-o-Saur by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

A group of dinosaurs are playing peacefully in the schoolyard when... oh no! Here come's Mine-o-Saur!

He snatched the jump rode and the ball.

He threw the cars against the wall.

And then he roard to one and all,

"MINE! MINE! MINE!

Throughout the day, Mine-o-Saur continues on his "MINE MINE MINE" rampage. Pretty soon, no one wants to play with him. And Mine-o-Saur realizes how lonely it is without friends to play with. Will he be able to make up with the other dinosaurs again?

Run, Turkey, Run! (Giveaway!)

2010-11-14T09:37:00.000-08:00

Run, Turkey, Run! by Diane Mayr

(description from Amazon.com)

With Thanksgiving only one day away, can Turkey find a place to hide from the farmer who's looking for a plump bird for his family feast?
Maybe he can hide with the pigs . . . or the ducks . . . or the horses . . .
Uh-oh! Here comes the farmer!
Run, Turkey, run!

I found an extra copy of this book and would love to give it away to another family to read together this Thanksgiving.

To enter, leave me a comment with your favorite holiday book!

Entries must be in by Wednesday 9am.

Winner will be chosen Wednesday evening via Random.org.

Doggone Dogs!

2010-11-14T07:36:00.000-08:00

Doggone Dogs! by Karen Beaumont

As the morning sun peaks through the dark,

Doggone dogs begin to bark.

"No, dogs. Down, dogs. Sit, dogs. Hey!"
Doggone dogs do not obey!

10 unruly, adventurous dogs take their pajama clad owner on an exhausting chase through Central Bark, Dog Obedience School, being captured and then plotting their escape. They ultimately end up back home on the couch, exhausted.

Three dogs, two dogs, one dog. Done!

Bow-Wow-Wow. That was fun!

Doggone Dogs from one to ten...

Cannot wait to go again!

This book is adorable and hilarious. The story is captivating and the rhymes are simple and quick. The pictures, I think, are my favorite part of the story. David Catrow was a perfect pair for Karen Beaumont in this hilarious dog book!

Sheep in Jeep

2010-11-13T18:48:00.000-08:00

Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw

"Beep! Beep! Sheep in a jeep on a hill that's steep. . . . Sheep leap to push the jeep. . . ."

A perfect rhyming book for beginner readers... five sheep pile in a jeep (of course!) and embark on a crazy journey resulting in a jeep in a heap... for sale... cheap!

First Dog

2010-11-12T18:34:00.000-08:00

First Dog by J. Patrick Lewis

Once upon a time there was a dog that was looking for the perfect place to live....

Llama Llama Misses Mama

2010-11-12T18:29:00.000-08:00

Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney

This was a perfect book to read before my son started preschool. Little Llama is nervous about school and leaving his mama. But it turns out he really does like school!

Llama Llama Mad at Mama

2010-11-12T18:27:00.000-08:00

Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney

This is one of our favorite books in our house... anything in the Llama Llama series!

Yucky music, great big feet.

Ladies smelling way too sweet.
Look at knees and stand in line.
Llama Llama starts to whine.

Little Llama doesn't like to shop and ends up throwing a tantrum in the store. Mama Llama calms him down and is able to make shopping fun for her and Little Llama.

Happy Halloween, Stinky Face

2010-11-12T18:24:00.000-08:00

Happy Halloween, StinkyFace by Lisa McCourt

StinkyFace is back with a boatload of questions... What if Mrs. Petry gets so scared by the costumed boy and his friends that she spills the candy? What if a friend's butterfly costume turns her into a real butterfly and she flies up to the sky? As always, Mama lovingly addresses each and every one of her child's concerns.

Snowmen All Year

2010-11-12T18:21:00.000-08:00

Snowmen All Year by Caralyn Buehner

An addition to Snowmen at Christmas and Snowmen at Night, the narrator dreams of all the things they'd do with their snowmen if only he could stay throughout the year.

I Need My Monster

2010-11-12T18:19:00.000-08:00

I Need My Monster! by Amanda Noll

Ethan is a little boy who can’t fall asleep without the ragged breathing and claw-scratching of his favorite monster, Gabe. But Gabe has left a note that he’s gone fishing, so Ethan knocks on his floor to summon a series of substitute ghoulies. This book is adorable and takes a spin on those creepy monsters that live under beds...

Christmas books...

2008-12-09T20:27:00.000-08:00

Last year I posted a few of my favorite Christmas books. While those are still high on the list, I thought I'd add some more this year....

The Stable Where Jesus Was Born
by Rhonda Gowler Greene

The Three Bears' Christmas
by Kathy Duval

Santa's Stuck
by Rhonda Gowler Greene

Pumpkin Hill

2008-10-21T04:09:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin Hill by Elizabeth Spurr

Unknown to the farmer and his wife, who can't agree on what to plant on their hill, a field of pumpkins has erupted from one single forgotten pumpkin. Soon, the hillside is rolling with pumpkins and they overtake the town!

If You're Happy and You Know It

2008-09-30T11:37:00.000-07:00

If You're Happy and You Know It by Jane Cabrera

We all know the children's song... sing along with this bright and fun illustrated book. Great song, and even better illustrations. I'm going to have to add some of my own photographs of the pages in this book. I love to look at the pictures as we read. Yes, I said *I*. ; )

Digger Man

2008-09-29T19:05:00.000-07:00

Digger Man by Andrea Zimmerman

Porter loves anything having to do with loaders, bulldozers and dumptrucks so this book was a definite hit. What I love even more about it is how closely it relates to Porter and Hudson (our youngest).

Digger Man is about a little boy who loves diggers. He talks about how he's going to buy a digger and have special digger man boots and he talks about all the things he's going to scoop and dig and work on with his digger. His little brother, though, is too little to help out. But, his mom and dad can bring him to watch and maybe he'll give him a ride in his digger.

Great storyline, cute illustrations and an easy read for short attention toddlers.

The Neat Line: Scribbling through Mother Goose

2008-09-27T19:01:00.000-07:00

The Neat Line: Scribbling through Mother Goose by Pamela Duncan Edwards

I picked this book up at the library hoping for an updated way to read Mother Goose Rhymes. I was pleasantly surprised. The book starts out talking about this baby scribble who practiced and practices and became a Neat Line. Then he decided to hop into his first book. He goes through a few Mother Goose Rhymes and his new-found skill of being a Neat Line helps the characters get out of their troubles.

Favorite Easter Books

2008-03-22T20:41:00.001-07:00

Five Little Bunnies Hopping on a Hill by Steve Metzger

This book is a cute rhyming spin off of "Five Little Monkeys". A cute, quick read. I wasn't able to find it for sale on Amazon or Barnes and Noble, but I think you can find it on eBay possibly.

What is Easter? by Michelle Medlock Adams

I always like books that explain the real reason for holidays (rather than just for candy or presents etc...). This book is a board book and is perfect for little ones. The author does a wonderful job of explaining what Easter is about- and still keeps it simple enough for little ones.

The Night Before Easter by Natasha Wing

This book is a spin off of a traditional Christmas story by Clement C. Moore. I love the rhyming text and the cute story. Its not long and too wordy- its just right!

Easter Bunny's on His Way! by Brian James

Sing along to the tune of "She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain" in this fun book about traditional Easter activities such as coloring eggs, hunting for eggs and eating lots of candy!

Gallop

2008-02-24T18:31:00.001-08:00

Gallop by Rufus Butler Seder

Porter just received this book for his birthday and it is very, very cool. Through a six-phase animation process, the animals give the illusion of movement. The rhyming text is full of simple questions and fun, nonsense replies: Can you gallop like a horse? giddyup-a-loo! Can you strut like a rooster? cock-a-doodle-doo!

Freight Train

2008-02-24T18:30:00.001-08:00

Freight Train by Donald Crews

This book is one of Porter's favorites, and one of the first books he's began to memorize. The book goes over the colors of the different train cars... "red caboose at the back, orange tank car next... yellow hopper car... blue cable car......" and goes through the trains trips "going through tunnels, crossing trestles". Porter loves this simple book and loves to "read" it to me.

What Do You Love?

2008-01-15T12:21:00.000-08:00

What Do You Love? by Jonathan London

A short and sweet book about a mother-dog and her puppy and all the fun things they do together.
"What do you love?"
"Park slides and piggyback rides, mud pies and Mommy's eyes."

Five Little Monkeys

2008-01-15T12:09:00.000-08:00

Five Little Monkeys Wash the Car by Eileen Christelow

I love these books- an updated version of the traditional hand rhyme. The stories are told in rhyme, and are funny and comical as well. We also have Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed and Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree

Other Five Little Monkey books by Eileen Christelow:
Five Little Monkeys with Nothing to Do
Five Little Monkeys Go Shopping
Five Little Monkeys Bake a Birthday Cake
Five Little Monkeys Play Hide-And-Seek
Five Little Monkeys Reading in Bed

Christmas Books

2007-12-25T08:03:00.000-08:00

I forgot to get around to this last month, but here are some of my favorite Christmas books.

This is the Stable by Cynthia Cotton

Who Will Guide My Sleigh Tonight? by Jerry Pallotta

The Night Before the Night Before Christmas by Natasha Wing

A Wish to be a Christmas Tree by Colleen Monroe

What is Christmas? by Michelle Medlock Adams

Where Does the Brown Bear Go?

2007-11-07T21:00:00.000-08:00

Where Does the Brown Bear Go? by Nicki Weiss

This book reminds me a bit of Goodnight Moon. One by one, the animals are introduced in this book, asking where they go at the end of the day. Each one is "on its way home." The end of the book shows a boy snuggled in bed surrounded by his stuffed animals, each kind from the book.

There Once Was a Man Named Michael Finnegan

2007-11-05T17:00:00.000-08:00

There Once Was a Man Named Michael Finnegan by Mary Ann Hoberman

Michael Finnegan is at it again... stirring up quite a "din-igan" with his "violin-igan." Follow along beyond the silly song and take a journey with Michael and other crazy characters.

Going to Sleep on the Farm

2007-11-04T11:21:00.000-08:00

Going to Sleep on the Farm by Wendy Cheyette Lewison

My mom had this book and Porter loves to read it at her house. Its a sweet book with dialog between a dad and son at bedtime. The little boy is putting away his farm animals, and each one he asks his dad "How does the cow (or other animal) go to sleep, tell me how." and the dad responds back "A cow lies down in the soft, sweet hay, / in a cozy barn, at the end of the day. / And that's how a cow goes to sleep--Moo-moo."

A definite must read at bedtime. In fact, I think I'll have to pick myself up a copy to read to Porter at home.

Never, Ever Shout in a Zoo

2007-10-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

Never, Ever Shout in a Zoo by Karma Wilson

Yet another great zoo book by Karma Wilson. A hilarious adventure about what happens when a little girl starts shouting in the zoo when her ice cream cone falls. It sets off a chain of events with a crazy spin.

Animal Strike at the Zoo. It's True!

2007-10-15T19:40:00.000-07:00

Animal Strike at the Zoo. It's True! by Karma Wilson

For some reason we've accumulated a lot of zoo books. Maybe because we like to visit zoos... I don't know. Anyhow, this is one of my favorites. The book has lots of rhyme as you read about each of the animals getting fed up with living without the luxuries they want. The great rhyming text along with the bright, fun illustrations makes this a perfect book!

Jamberry

2007-10-01T20:47:00.000-07:00

Jamberry by Bruce Degen

I've always liked this book, and luckily so does Porter. Lately, this has been his nightly read. He loves when the boy and the bear go over the dam in the canoe... he always says "Oh NOOOO!" right when we start to turn the page. And on some of the pages, the bears hat is flying off. He always says "Hat! ON!" LOL.

Anyhow... enough of how much my kid likes this book. Its just a fun, cute, rhyme-y book.

"One berry, two berry, pick me a blueberry. Hatberry, shoeberry, in my canoeberry."

Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef

2007-09-27T19:04:00.000-07:00

Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef by Marianne Berkes

Whenever we go on vacation or out of town I always buy a new children's book. When we went to Chicago for our "Mini-Moon" I bought a penguin book from the Shedd Aquarium. When we went to St. Louis I got an elephant book from the zoo. When we went to Holland for Father's Day last year I bought a book written by a local artist about a daddy reading to his son before bedtime, etc. etc...... I always try to pick up a book to remember the trip by. And on the inside cover I write the place of the trip, date and occasion (if any).

I bought this book when we were in Key West in 2005. I *LOVE* this book. The book is based on the children's rhyme "Over in the Meadow" and the pictures are AMAZING. Each page's picture is made out of polymer clay. Intricate details and absolutely beautiful.

And, while looking the book up on Amazon.com, I noticed she had another book to the same song... Over in the Jungle. I'll definitely be adding that one to my library.

The Seals on the Bus

2007-09-26T20:53:00.000-07:00

The Seals on the Bus by Lenny Hort

This is another favorite of Porter's. He went through a spurt of having to read this book ALL day long. He referred to it as the "Up and Down" book, as the part when the rabbits get on the bus goes....

"The rabbits on the bus go up and down, up and down, up and down..... etc..."

Basically, its the same as the song "Wheels on the Bus" except its about a bus ride where all sorts of animals from skunks to vipers to monkeys and tigers get on the bus and in the end the people are shouting "Help help help, help help help" and they get off at the zoo. Pretty cute. And a fun read.

Dig Dig Digging

2007-09-26T20:47:00.000-07:00

Dig Dig Digging by Margaret Mayo and Alex Ayliffe

This is a new book I bought Porter from the Scholastic Book Orders (love em!). Of course, he loves this book primarily because it features "lOOOHHHders" and "Bu-bo-bers" and "Duh-trucks". He loves anything that has to do with trucks.

MommyView: I enjoy reading this book... it has somewhat of a poem on each page, and a little rhythm and repetition on each page.

"Diggers are good at dig, dig, digging,
scooping up the earth, and lifting and tipping.
They make huge holes with their dig, dig digging.
They can work all day"

"Fire engines are good at race, race, racing.
Look out! Look out! Bright lights flashing.
Hoses at the ready for swoosh, swoosh, swooshing.
They can work all day"

Goodnight Moon

2007-09-26T20:39:00.000-07:00

Since this blog is named after this book, I think it is only fitting to have the first book posted about be Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown.

I honestly don't see what is so special about this book, what children LOVE about this book. Basically, its a rundown of some odd items in a rabbits bedroom. However, my son loves it, and maybe there is something comforting about the little bedtime story. He loves to repeat the items as we go, and his favorite part is "And the quiet old lady whispering hush" to which he always says "Hushhh".

Hey there, and Welcome!

2007-09-26T20:34:00.000-07:00

Another blog for the addicted soul of mine.

Tonight, as I was reading a book to my son before bed, I had the brilliant idea that I should start a book blog. We have far too many children's books (over 300 the last time I counted), and Porter definitely has his favorites. I have my favorites, too, and I though that it would be neat to have a blog dedicated to "good books" I've come across. Sort of like a review site, a Siskel and Ebert of the book world. Kind of.

The name... Moon Moon and More... well, for the longest time we did not own the book Goodnight Moon (GASP!). I came across one at a garage sale for a dime and I picked it up. It quickly became Porter's favorite bedtime book, and he still loves to read it before bed. He used to call it "Moon Moon", however, it has now been upgraded to "Night Moon". So, when naming this blog, I thought Moon Moon and More seemed pretty fitting.

Thanks for stopping by. Stick around, stay awhile, have a few reads, and I hope to hear from you!