Fairy Tales by Leah Wilcox

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.

The Mine-o-Saur

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? 

Doggone Dogs!

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

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

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

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

Llama Llama Mad at Mama

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

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

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

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...

Pumpkin Hill

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!

Favorite Easter Books

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!

Five Little Monkeys

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

There Once Was a Man Named Michael Finnegan

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.

Never, Ever Shout in a Zoo

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!

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!

Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef

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.

Dig Dig Digging

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"