As I sit typing this on my laptop, Isaac is across the room playing on his Fisher Price Cool School computer that is hooked up to our PC. He doesn't play on the computer much and has not used the Cool School program often since he got it for Christmas last year. But he rediscovered it over the holidays and requested that I set it up for him when he came downstairs this morning. While I am glad that he prefers playing with his toys or setting up a board game to being in front of the computer, I also know that he needs some exposure before he begins school next year. I hear comments from friends and acquaintances about their children playing computer games or with their DS Lites or knowing how to "google" at 3 years old and I worry that he will be behind. But I am not going to push him to use the computer. When the time comes, I am confident that he will acquire the skills he needs and soon enough we will not be able to drag him away from the computer or video games. For now, I will enjoy the fact that he still wants to curl up with a book.
We have been reading his new Christmas books over and over again this past week. I predicted correctly that the Fly Guy books would be a big hit. Last night, 4 of his 5 bedtime books were Fly Guy. Knuffle Bunny, Too by Mo Willems is also a favorite. He is the same age as the main character in the story and can relate to her anxieties. And Mo Willems is just fun to read. Superhero ABC, on the other hand, wasn't as popular as I thought it might be. Isaac prefers books about superheroes he knows, like Batman and Spiderman, but I think that book will come out again in about a year and become a favorite. We also read Bear Feels Sick and Bear Feels Scared a couple of times since Christmas. The characters are familiar and the repetitive rhyme scheme helps Isaac participate in the reading.
We did discover something very surprising and exciting when opening Tedd Arnold's Hooray for Fly Guy the first time. The book is dedicated to Arnold's alma mater, The University of Florida, and it's great sports teams. (In the book Fly Guy plays football.) Being the avid Gator fans that we are, we were very excited to read this. I knew there was a reason we liked Tedd Arnold's books so much. Go Gators!
Isaac has finished on the computer and is now sitting next to me badgering me to close my laptop and play. While I feel a bit rushed to wrap this up, how can I fuss at him? I am sure the situation will be reversed sooner than I think.
Showing posts with label Tedd Arnold. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tedd Arnold. Show all posts
03 January 2010
18 December 2009
All I Want For Christmas Is Books, and Maybe Some Cars
There is a Scholastic Warehouse near where I live and they have a half-off sale every winter. I go with the intention of buying gifts, which I do, and being restrained when choosing books for Isaac, at which I fail miserably. We have reached maximum capacity in books and hot wheels, yet I can't keep myself from buying more of either.
This year was an exception when I went to the sale, though. I was a little disappointed in the selection. The books they had were good books, don't get me wrong, but they weren't what Isaac would want. There were lots of warm, fuzzy animal books and cozy, lap-reading books. But I didn't see many scaly, slimy, gross-me-out books or fast paced, action books. There was lots of fiction, but not much non-fiction. Basically, lots of books that would appeal to young girls, but not to young boys.
I did not leave empty handed, however. I did manage to find some of Mo Willems' books that we did not yet own, and I bought the latest paperback copies of the Bear series by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman. But, the books I think Isaac will be most excited about getting are the Fly Guy books by Tedd Arnold.
We own one Fly Guy book and I brought another home from my library to read to Isaac a few weeks ago. They are a huge hit in our house. They are silly, simple books about a boy, Buzz, and his pet fly, Fly Guy. In each book of the series, Buzz and Fly Guy have a new adventure. The books are written in Early Chapter Book format, so young readers feel like "big" kids when they read them. But big kids like them, too, because they are funny. There is not much text and it is really Arnold's illustrations that make the books so entertaining. Arnold is an author/illustrator who has the knack of knowing how to connect with kids using humorous language and exaggerated pictures. His Parts series is popular in my library, but I think Fly Guy is his most widely appealing character.
I have put all of these new books away until Christmas, when they will magically appear with the other gifts from Santa, including some more Hot Wheels which we will squeeze into the basket with the hundreds of other cars that Isaac owns. I am sure seeing the Fly Guy books will bring a smile to his face, and I think that they will be read more than once soon after.
This year was an exception when I went to the sale, though. I was a little disappointed in the selection. The books they had were good books, don't get me wrong, but they weren't what Isaac would want. There were lots of warm, fuzzy animal books and cozy, lap-reading books. But I didn't see many scaly, slimy, gross-me-out books or fast paced, action books. There was lots of fiction, but not much non-fiction. Basically, lots of books that would appeal to young girls, but not to young boys.
I did not leave empty handed, however. I did manage to find some of Mo Willems' books that we did not yet own, and I bought the latest paperback copies of the Bear series by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman. But, the books I think Isaac will be most excited about getting are the Fly Guy books by Tedd Arnold.
We own one Fly Guy book and I brought another home from my library to read to Isaac a few weeks ago. They are a huge hit in our house. They are silly, simple books about a boy, Buzz, and his pet fly, Fly Guy. In each book of the series, Buzz and Fly Guy have a new adventure. The books are written in Early Chapter Book format, so young readers feel like "big" kids when they read them. But big kids like them, too, because they are funny. There is not much text and it is really Arnold's illustrations that make the books so entertaining. Arnold is an author/illustrator who has the knack of knowing how to connect with kids using humorous language and exaggerated pictures. His Parts series is popular in my library, but I think Fly Guy is his most widely appealing character.
I have put all of these new books away until Christmas, when they will magically appear with the other gifts from Santa, including some more Hot Wheels which we will squeeze into the basket with the hundreds of other cars that Isaac owns. I am sure seeing the Fly Guy books will bring a smile to his face, and I think that they will be read more than once soon after.
31 October 2009
Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet, Give Me Something Good to Eat
Five Little Pumpkins (pictures by Dan Yaccarino)
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
The first one says, "Oh my, it's getting late."
The second one says, "There are witches in the air."
The third one says, "But we don't care!"
The fourth one says, "Let's run and run and run!"
The fifth one says, "I'm ready for some fun."
Oooooooooo went the wind and out went the light.
And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.
Five Ugly Monsters (by Tedd Arnold)
Five ugly monsters jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped its head.
Called for the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monsters jumping on the bed!"
Four ugly monsters jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped its head.
Called for the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monsters jumping on the bed!"
Three ugly monsters jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped its head.
Called for the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monsters jumping on the bed!"
Two ugly monsters jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped its head.
Called for the doctor and the doctor said,
"NO MORE MONSTERS JUMPING ON THE BED!"
One ugly monster jumping on the bed.
He fell off and bumped his head.
Called for the doctor . . . and then I said . . .
"NO MORE MONSTERS JUMPING ON THE BED!!!"
The End
Isaac loves these Halloween rhymes. Hope you did too.
Happy Halloween.
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
The first one says, "Oh my, it's getting late."
The second one says, "There are witches in the air."
The third one says, "But we don't care!"
The fourth one says, "Let's run and run and run!"
The fifth one says, "I'm ready for some fun."
Oooooooooo went the wind and out went the light.
And five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.
Five Ugly Monsters (by Tedd Arnold)
Five ugly monsters jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped its head.
Called for the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monsters jumping on the bed!"
Four ugly monsters jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped its head.
Called for the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monsters jumping on the bed!"
Three ugly monsters jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped its head.
Called for the doctor and the doctor said,
"No more monsters jumping on the bed!"
Two ugly monsters jumping on the bed.
One fell off and bumped its head.
Called for the doctor and the doctor said,
"NO MORE MONSTERS JUMPING ON THE BED!"
One ugly monster jumping on the bed.
He fell off and bumped his head.
Called for the doctor . . . and then I said . . .
"NO MORE MONSTERS JUMPING ON THE BED!!!"
The End
Isaac loves these Halloween rhymes. Hope you did too.
Happy Halloween.
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