Aaaarrgghh! Spider! by Lydia Monks

Title: Aaaarrgghh! Spider! 

Author/Illustrator: Lydia Monks

Reading Level: Ages 4 - 8

Hardcover: 32 Pages

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company

I have a spider-obsessed toddler at home. While I am still wondering whether it all began with the 'Little Miss Muffet' or the 'Itsy Bitsy spider' song, I knew when it really caught on. With the arrival of two spider hand puppets borrowed from the local library - a BIG spider hand puppet and a teeny weeny one. Now, she is completely nuts about them :) Nowadays, the 'Fidah' (that's how she calls it) puppets travel with us everywhere we go. Even though, it might be quite an unusual sight for someone who are used to seeing baby girls clutching dolls and doras, we go out with our 'Fidah'. The spider puppets came home with a few spider-related picture books, but THIS book is her most favorite of all. 

We love books illustrated by Lydia Monks. Not only are they captivating, they are downright hilarious as well. In this beautifully illustrated picture book, she tells the story of a spider who wants to be a family pet. The spider tries to impress them with his dainty dance and clean manners. But, the family throws him out, screaming 'Aaarrgghh, Spider!' When all his attempts fail, the dejected spider decides to live alone in the backyard... until, his innate talents pay off at the end or does it? With humorous twists and turns in the story, this is one book your toddler would love to read (well, at least mine does) Especially, the page that with the sparkly silvery webs with glitter glued all over is simply breathtaking. Not only babies, adults will find this book equally enjoyable as well. I feel that even after many readings, the story didn't lose its humor. We love reading it over and over again and its well worth a try!

My Rating: 4/5

How are you Peeling? by Saxton Freymann & Joost Elffers

Title: How are you Peeling?

Author: Saxton Freymann & Joost Elffers

Reading Level: Baby - Preschool

Hardcover: 48 Pages

Publisher: Scholastic

Just like us, little ones experience a whole slew of emotions throughout the day. From excited to frustrated, happy to sad, their moods vary. Often, they don't find the right words to express what they are going through. Crying seems to be their innate response when things don't go their way. But, the underlying emotion they feel might differ from frustration to confusion or anger. So, How do you teach your little ones to ask for help when frustrated or confused instead of throwing their toys or hugging your feet wailing their hearts out? Vocalizing their emotions might just be the first step. But, How in the world are you going to teach them that? Well, if you are an artist, it should be an easy feat for you. You can sit with your infant and make funny faces throughout the day repeating the words until they get it and say it along. Just Kidding ;o) If you are looking for an easy way out, just like me, go out and check this book out from your library. If you are successful, you might be able to teach them a thing or two...

This book just leaves me awestruck every time I pick it up to read with my little one. With one exacto knife and a few black-eyed peas, eggplants and squash, apples and oranges undergo a transfiguration to reveal all sorts of emotion from happy to sad, shy to surprised, jumpy to grumpy and bored to excited. As per the blurb on the back, the author shopped all around New York city to look for expressive produce and Oh, boy really EXPRESSIVE they do look! In this book, you will find a produce for almost every single emotion you would experience. How astounding! A Wailing Kiwi, Yawning Orange, In-secured Green onions, Mean Squash, Jealous Tomato, Happy Apple, Excited Lemon, Timid Radish, Shy Bell Peppers are just to name a few. In addition to learning different emotions, think about all the produce names they can learn as well! We love this book and DD has learnt so much from it. She loves sharing her toys with a crying orange or a pouting apple.  The produce are so expressive and very well-made. I'm surprised at how I yawn every time I look at the Yawning Orange or feel sad for a Wailing Kiwi. Nowadays, I can't help myself looking for some sort of an expression when I grab a tomato or an eggplant from the refrigerator to cook. I guess this book has changed the way I look at the produce now. And forever!!

My Rating: 5/5 

Mo Willems

Mo Willems began his career as a writer and animator for the PBS' Sesame Street where he garnered 6 Emmy Awards for his writing. He is also a creator of 2 animated series Nickledeon's 'The Off-Beats' and Cartoon Network's 'Sheep in the Big City'. His career as a children's books author and illustrator really took off when he created the Pigeon series books with 'Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus' becoming a NewYorks Times Best Seller and a Caldecott Award Winner in 2004. His latest works include the Elephant and Piggie books, a series of “Easy Readers”, which were awarded the Theodor Suess Geisel Medal in 2008 and 2009. His animated cartoon Knuffle Bunny was awarded Best Film during the New York International Children’s Film Festival in 2008 and received the Andrew Carnegie Medal in 2007. Mo lives in Massachusetts with his family. 

For more information, please visit his website www.mowillems.com

Bio Source: www.mowillems.blogspot.com

Kiss Good Night by Amy Hest

Title: Kiss Good Night

Author: Amy Hest

Illustrator: Anita Jeram

Reading Level: Baby - Preschool

Board Book: 30 Pages

Publisher: Candlewick

Babies and toddlers thrive on routines. Especially when it comes to bedtime. Its not an easy feat putting a toddler to bed, especially when he is jumping on his bed, ready for another round of play. But, an established bedtime routine can make little ones look forward to the next activity and help them get to bed with little effort. Routines need not be elaborate, but its important to stick to it every single night. They may not notice if you forget to brush their teeth, but what happens if you forget to kiss goodnight? 

In this beautiful board book, Mrs. Bear is putting Sam to bed. As the wind howled outside on the dark and stormy plum street, Mrs. Bear and Sam are warm and cozy in their bed reading their favorite bedtime story. Later, She tucks Sam in bed along with his animal friends. They have a cup of warm milk, as they listen to the rain making huge splats on their rooftop. Sam should be really ready for bed, but apparently he is not. Mrs. Bear wonders what she forgot and Sam offers no help saying she knows already. Finally, it occurred to her that she is yet to kiss him goodnight. Sam drifts off to sleep after Mrs. Bear smooches him with more night-night kisses. 

The charming illustrations and the heart-warming story makes this such a cute bedtime story book. I guess I started reading this to my daughter when she was about 9 months old. She never grew tired of this book and we have been reading it ever since. She loves everything about this book, including Sam's stuffed animal friends and his little white house. She always has to have her teddy bear while I read it to her and her favorite part is when we rock back and forth saying "Book..Blanket..Friends..Milk.." When I ask her what Mrs. Bear forgot, she smiles at me and gives me a big kiss :) Sometimes, we skip the words altogether and just flip the pages to look at the illustrations. The warm tones and the loving expressions makes you relax and sets the perfect mood for bedtime ^_^

My Rating: 4/5