Word of the Week/The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis

It's time for our Word of the Week feature here at LitLad. Here's how it works: Every Sunday the boys and I read a book from which they pick their favorite-sounding unfamiliar word. They each write the word that night and we try to use it in conversation as much as we can throughout the week. According to The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease, "the only words children learn having heard them only once are the words you wish you had never said in front of them."

This week's word is taciturn, an adjective that is defined in our book as "reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying little."

And we're reading The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis, in which Popeye describes his new friend Elvis as taciturn: "But Elvis just kept on walking in that way of his – head down, fists jammed in his pockets. Taciturn."

The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis
Author/illustrator: Barbara O'Connor
Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux (September 2009)
Source: Public library/Scholastic book fair (donation to 2nd grade classroom)

Popeye is a bored and lonely boy who lives in Fayette, South Carolina, with his grandmother, Velma, and his uncle, Dooley, whose bad aim with a BB gun gave Popeye his nickname. Things start to change when Elvis comes to town and the two go off looking for a small adventure. When they finally find one, the boys need to figure out how to get to the bottom of the Yoo-hoo boat mystery without incurring the overprotective Velma's wrath and before the motor home in which Elvis and his family live finally escapes from the mud near Popeye's house.

Usually for our Word of the Week we pick a book that I read to both boys, but since Velma teaches Popeye a new vocabulary word each week ("taciturn" is one of them), I couldn't resist using this one. I chose this book from a book fair wish list for Tintin's classroom and had it inscribed with Tintin's name. Of course, he was so proud that he donated a book to his classroom that he immediately chose it for his DEAR (drop everything and read) time. Well, I wanted to read it, too, so I got it out of the library and decided to have a little contest with him to see who finished first. I've never read a Barbara O'Connor book before this one, but we've both decided that we want more.

March 1 update: Tintin told me tonight that he finished the book yesterday and then started it over again during his DEAR time. He read up to chapter 10 today.

I didn't want to leave Johnny Boo out, so we explained a little bit about the book to him and then we all went looking for a small adventure of our own while pretending to be the characters from the book (Tintin was Elvis, Johnny Boo was Popeye, I was Elvis's sister, Prissy, and LitDad was Elvis's brother Calvin). Here are Elvis and Popeye near a slightly more suburban creek than the one in the book:

We didn't find any Yoo-hoo boats with secret messages floating around, so we made our own (we're still calling them Yoo-hoo boats, even though they're made from Horizon Organic chocolate milk boxes):

And here's our beef broth boat carrier:

















Barbara O'Connor has a great video on her blog with instructions on how to make your own Yoo-hoo boat. Be sure to check out the rest of her blog, too, while you're there.

Find The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis: Amazon, IndieBound

5-Year-Old Boy Books of the Week: Chalk, Gabby & Gator, Mostly Monsterly

Here are Johnny Boo's favorites from the past week:

Chalk
Author/illustrator: Bill Thomson
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Children's Books (March 2010)
Source: Public library

Chalk is a wordless picture book about three children (Johnny Boo named them Annie, Jamie and Ben) who on a rainy day find a bag of seemingly harmless chalk at the playground. The children watch as their drawings magically come to life, but when the boy decides to draw a dinosaur, the children try to figure out how to escape. The illustrations in Chalk so vividly tell the children's story without the need for words and allow the reader to use his imagination (see Johnny Boo's child-naming above). Johnny Boo loves this book and has had me read it to him over and over again.

Johnny Boo's note: I like when the dinosaur came out of the ground and his foot was stuck.

Find it: Amazon, IndieBound

Gabby & Gator
Author/illustrator: James Burks
Publisher: Yen Press (September 2010)
Source: Public library

Gator gets flushed down the toilet by his first owner and ends up in a sewer. As he grows he begins terrorizing and eating any pet who crosses his path and everyone in town, except for a little girl named Gabby, is afraid of him. And so they become friends. Gator helps Gabby, who just wants to find someone who will accept her for who she is, with her bully troubles. Gabby helps Gator when he's captured by animal control and tries to teach him that it's not okay to eat animals or humans. A graphic novel with some funny parts throughout, especially at the end, Johnny Boo and I read this twice, and Tintin enjoyed it as well.

Johnny Boo's note: I loved when that boy flushed Gator down the toilet.

Find it: Amazon, IndieBound

Mostly Monsterly
Author/illustrator: Tammi Sauer/Scott Magoon
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books (August 2010)
Source: Public library

Bernadette is a monster. Unlike the other monsters in her class, however, Bernadette is not 100 percent monsterly. She likes flowers and group hugs, and she likes baking unmonsterly cupcakes for her friends. She has trouble relating to the other monsters and they to her until she discovers how to be monsterly and sweet at the same time. She finally learns how to be accepted but also remain true to herself.

Johnny Boo's note: I like when the mayhem comes.

Find it: Amazon, IndieBound

8-Year-Old Boy Books of the Week: Alvin Ho, Kit Feeny, My Mom the Pirate

Here are Tintin's favorites from the past week:

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things
Author/illustrator: Lenore Look/LeUyen Pham
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade (July 2008)
Source: Public library

Alvin Ho is a second grader who's so allergic to school that he can't talk when he's there. He's fine when he's around school kids before and after school and he can't stop talking when he's with his family, but when there's a teacher or other unfamiliar adult around, the words don't come out. Alvin has a lot to worry about: finding friends, being seen with a girl even though she has a cool eye patch and a peg leg, getting chicken pox so he can stay home from school, and having the best show-and-tell but not being able to tell.

Not only is the book funny, it's also educational. There's a glossary filled with information on baseball, literature, art, music and history. Alvin's family is Chinese-American, and so we learn  the words Alvin uses for his grandparents and that he likes dragon's beard candy but not kimchi or wasabi (just like Tintin). Alvin lives in Concord, Massachusetts, and so we learn about the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the American Revolutionary War. We're exposed to Shakespeare when Alvin's dad gets mad, because he lashes out with Shakespearean curses ("Sorrow on thee, thou spongy onion-eyed hugger-mugger!"); Alvin's brother is determined to learn everything, so he studies the encyclopedia online and we learn various facts (e.g., deer sleep only five minutes a day). And I'm not sure Tintin paid attention to this part, but Alvin focuses a lot on learning how to be a gentleman.

Tintin liked this book so much that he got the second book, Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters, from his school library the day after he finished this one.

Tintin's note: I liked when Alvin was at the piano house and the piano teacher had three fingers and she was 300 years old.

Find it: Amazon, IndieBound

Kit Feeny: On the Move & Kit Feeny: The Ugly Necklace
Author/illustrator: Michael Townsend
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (October 2009)
Source: Public library

In On the Move, Kit Feeny leaves his best friend, Arnold, to move to the city and has trouble coping without him. He tries to find a replacement Arnold but has strict requirements: The new Arnold must like graphic novels and spend hours dreaming he's a monkey. When he doesn't find someone exactly like Arnold and encounters a bully comedian, Kit decides to become a lonesome hobo. In The Ugly Necklace, Kit needs to find the perfect birthday gift for his mom and competes with his twin sisters to see whose present Mom likes better. Kit and his friend come up with what they think is an ingenious plan to buy a diamond necklace, but things go wrong. At the end of each book, Kit learns valuable lessons about friend-making and gift-giving. Tintin recognized the drawing style of Michael Townsend (Amazing Greek Myths of Wonder and Blunders) and so was immediately drawn to the Kit Feeny books.

Tintin's note: I like at the end [of On the Move] when there were bouncy balls and they hit the boys' heads.

Find them: Amazon (On the Move), Amazon (The Ugly Necklace), IndieBound (On the Move), IndieBound (The Ugly Necklace)

My Mom the Pirate
Author/illustrator: Jackie French/Stephen M. King
Publisher: Stone Arch Books (January 2007)
Source: Public library

Cecil's mom is a real-life pirate and the captain of a ship. But Cecil likes books so much that he wants to go to school instead of becoming a pirate like his mom. His mom loves Cecil so much that she captures a wizard to show them how to fulfill Cecil's dream. After learning about a time warp, Cecil starts school in the future but is too embarrassed to reveal his background. Unfortunately for Cecil, open house is coming up and his mom and shipmates find out about it. Although Cecil's mom ends up threatening his teacher with her sword, Cecil tells everyone she has a costume party afterwards, but his principal becomes concerned. All works out in the end, however, when the pirates are the only ones who can help Cecil and his friends escape danger. This book is actually part of the Funny Families series, and Tintin has been wanting to read it ever since he finished My Dad the Dragon.

Tintin's note: I like it because they're all pirates and they don't go to school. I like the wizard.

Find it: Amazon, IndieBound

iPad App Review: How Rocket Learned to Read

 Review by Johnny Boo, age 5

How Rocket Learned to Read
App developer: Random House Digital, Inc.
Price (as of 2/23/11): $3.99 (limited-time price)
Requirements: Compatible with iPad



There's a little bird that startled Rocket and said, "There's no napping in class." Rocket listened to the bird read. Rocket learned to spell letters in the snow. I like to make Rocket move in the snow. The mud I like because I like to put mud on Rocket. I like to shake the mud off. Alphabet Drop is about you get to catch letters and then they go on Rocket's head. Bird's Words is wonderful and you get to pick words the lady says. I like this app because it's fateful and it's wondrous. I would recommend this app to kids who like dogs and words.

LitLass's note: Johnny Boo has had the book version of How Rocket Learned to Read since shortly after it came out; in fact, it was one of our first Books of the Week. We've had a renewed interest in the book now that we have the app (Johnny Boo demanded that I read it to him at bedtime the first night we had the app).

With text and illustrations by Tad Hills, the app not only tells Rocket's story (you can have the narrator read it to you or read it all by yourself), it also has two games–Bird's Words and Alphabet Drop. In Bird's Words you're given four sight words at a time, and you need to tap on the one voiced by the narrator. In Alphabet Drop you need to catch letters in alphabetical order, which might be a little difficult for preschoolers, but Johnny Boo is learning to think and tilt the iPad more quickly now that he's had some practice.

And, of course, since this is an app, there are plenty of opportunities for interactivity. Here are just some of them: There's a word of the day (today's is crab), which if tapped can be spoken by the narrator; there's a banner with the letters of the alphabet, which you can tap and then hear each letter sound and see and hear a word that starts with each letter; there's a snow scene in which you can use your finger to move Rocket to form letters (or use your imagination to make him go on adventures and tell your own Rocket stories, as Johnny Boo sometimes does); and there's a scene in which you can paint Rocket with mud and then shake the iPad to remove the mud and start all over again.

We've got a lot of book apps on our iPad, and I think if Johnny Boo were awake right now for me to ask him, he'd agree with me that this one is one of the best ones we've seen.

Disclosure: We won a promo code for this app on Twitter from Random House Books.

Marco and the Silver Moon Crystal

A story by Tintin, age 8

Chapter 1: At the House

Once upon a time there was a 10-year-old boy with his 13-year-old brother. Their names were Marco and John. They were ready for another adventure. Then they took the airplane to Russia. It was a long ride and it made Marco feel bored. Then they were there. He was happy because he got to go on a spaceship.

Chapter 2: The Spaceship

Marco and John finally got to the spaceship. It was heavy and loud. Then they got on their space equipment so they could breathe. After that they got on the moon and it was cool. Marco was excited to be on the moon. Sergeant Bob, the captain of the spaceship, said to watch out for the underground city of moon people.

Chapter 3: The Underground City

Marco and John were walking around when they plummeted down a hole to the underground city. The boys felt scared, and then they hit their heads. When they woke up they were in an ancient tomb. There was a huge treasure room. Then something happened.

Chapter 4: The Three Basilisks

There was a ssssssssss noise. There were three basilisks. Marco was frightened because the basilisks were fighting him. Then Marco remembered his sword. He killed all the basilisks. Marco was feeling brave.

Chapter 5: The Silver Moon Crystal

Marco tried to open the treasure, but it was locked. Then Marco saw a golden key lying on the floor. He unlocked the box and saw the silver moon crystal. The crystal was enormous and shiny. Marco took the crystal out, and he was overjoyed.

Chapter 6: Going Home

They went home and rested. They were happy they had a crystal.

The End

Up next:

4* Marco and the Underground Demons
5* Marco and the Vampire Dogs

Word of the Week/Two of Everything

It's time for our Word of the Week feature here at LitLad. Here's how it works: The boys and I choose a different book once a week and they pick a word from it for which they don't know the meaning. They each write the word on Sunday night and we try to use it in conversation as much as we can throughout the week.

This week's word is humble, an adjective that in this book means "simple; not fancy."

And we're reading Two of Everything, in which an old and very poor couple lives in a humble hut.

Two of Everything
Author/illustrator: Lily Toy Hong
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (January 1993)
Source: Elementary school library

Based on a Chinese folktale, this is a story about Mr. and Mrs. Haktak, a farmer and his wife who eat from their garden and trade their vegetables for the things they need. One day Mr. Haktak finds a pot and the two Haktaks discover that when something goes in the pot, twice as much comes out. After figuring this out they decide to double their money so they can buy anything they want, but when Mr. Haktak returns from a shopping trip to the village, he startles his wife so much that she falls into the pot. What happens afterward made Johnny Boo want to read this book a second time.

A book to go along with Two of Everything: How the Ox Star Fell From Heaven, also by Lily Toy Hong.

An activity to go along with this book: Magic Pot Game.

Disclosure: We are an IndieBound affiliate, which means that if you click on the Two of Everything link in this post and purchase anything, we will earn a small commission through our relationship with IndieBound.

Word of the Week/Imogene's Last Stand

It's time for our Word of the Week (formerly Word of the Day) feature here at LitLad. Here's how it works: The boys and I choose a different book once a week and they pick a word from it for which they don't know the meaning. They each write the word on Sunday night and we try to use it in conversation as much as we can throughout the week.

This week's word is immortal, an adjective meaning "living forever" or "famous and likely to be remembered for a long time."

And we're reading Imogene's Last Stand, in which Imogene says, "...in the immortal words of Martin Luther King, Jr., 'We are made by history,'" and then goes on to quote several more immortal words throughout the book.

Imogene's Last Stand
Author/illustrator: Candace Fleming/Nancy Carpenter
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade (October 2009)
Source: Public library

Imogene is a girl obsessed with history. When she finds what she thinks should be a national landmark in her own hometown, she tries to convince the mayor and the rest of the townspeople that it's too important to tear down. Peppered with famous quotes throughout, the book also includes on the endpapers the stories behind the quotes.

Find it: Amazon, IndieBound

Disclosure: We are an Amazon and IndieBound affiliate, which means that if you click on any links to Amazon or IndieBound in this post and purchase anything, we will earn a small commission through our relationship with Amazon or IndieBound.

Books of the Week – February 12, 2011

Here are our favorites from the past week:

Tintin, age 8

The Chocolate Touch
Author/illustrator: Patrick Skene Catling
Publisher: Yearling (June 1998)
Source: Half Price Books/home library

John Midas is a picky eater, but he really likes chocolate. After a visit to a strange candy store, everything he puts in his mouth turns to chocolate and suddenly he's not a picky eater anymore. However, it doesn't take John long before he realizes that not everything his mouth touches should turn to chocolate. I'm not sure if Tintin came to that conclusion (see his note below), but he loved this book, especially once John got the chocolate touch. Of course, Tintin loves any book about chocolate, as I think most children his age would.

Tintin's note: I like it because he kisses his mother and she turns to chocolate. And because when he dunks for apples the water turns to chocolate syrup.

Find it: Amazon, Half Price Books, IndieBound
 

Garfield: Survival of the Fattest
Author/illustrator: Jim Davis
Publisher: Ballantine Books (February 2004)
Source: Half Price Books/home library

Garfield is a cat. One who likes to eat. A lot. And he's funny. I'm not really sure what else there is to say about Garfield. Except that Tintin really likes him.

Tintin's note: I like Garfield because he acts silly and funny.

Find it: Amazon, Half Price Books, IndieBound


Johnny Boo, age 5

Punk Farm
Author/illustrator: Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf (April 2005)
Source: Public library

Once Farmer Joe is in bed and safely out of sight, five farm animals put on a concert for the other animals. Punk Farm's rendition of Old MacDonald is a hit with the crowd and with Johnny Boo (especially when LitDad acts it out). This is the perfect book for a kid (mine) who wants to be a rock star when he grows up, although I'm pretty sure most kids will love it as well. The sequel, Punk Farm on Tour, is equally as good.

Johnny Boo's note: It's rockin'. It's kind of like my favorite book, and it's awfully useful.

Find it: Amazon, Half Price Books, IndieBound 

Flight Explorer, Volume One
Editor: Kazu Kibuishi
Publisher: Villard (March 2008)
Source: Public library

Flight Explorer is a comic anthology put together by the creator of Copper, one of Tintin and Johnny Boo's favorite graphic novels, and includes short works targeted to children. Johnny Boo's favorite story from Copper, in which Copper and his dog hop atop a cluster of irritated mushrooms to get across a ravine, is here, as are a couple of stories with already familiar characters (Jellaby and Missile Mouse). There are a lot more for us to check out that I know both boys will love (especially Zita the Space Girl).

Johnny Boo's note: It's funny and preposterous. I like it because it's lovable. I like Copper, Fish 'n' Chips, Big Mouth, Missile Mouse, and the one where the guy gets his eyeballs off [Zita the Space Girl].

Find it: Amazon, Half Price Books, IndieBound

We're linking this post up with Kid Konnection and What My Child Is Reading.

Disclosure: We are an Amazon and IndieBound affiliate, which means that if you click on any links to Amazon.com or IndieBound in this post and purchase anything, we will earn a small commission through our relationship with Amazon or IndieBound, at no additional cost to you.

Midway Monkey Madness

Review by Johnny Boo, age 5

Midway Monkey Madness (DC Super-Pets)
Author/illustrator: Sarah Stephens/Art Baltazar
Publisher: Picture Window Books (January 2011)
Source: e-galley from NetGalley

Midway Monkey Madness is about Gleek and Beppo and Grodd. Gleek and Beppo are super-pets. Grodd is mean to them. Beppo hears crying and Grodd lets the carnival animals get out of their cages. I like this book because it's my favorite book and it's ridiculous, preposterous and lovable. My favorite part is when Grodd locks Beppo and Gleek in the cage. And I also like when Beppo and Gleek throw the cherry on top of Grodd. I would recommend this book to kids who are lovable and like books about animals.

LitLass's note: Written by the author of Bean's Games, the first board book we bought before Tintin's birth, and illustrated by the author/illustrator of the Tiny Titans graphic novels, Midway Monkey Madness is one of six new books about the DC super-pets. With colorful pictures and short chapters, it's just right for reluctant readers. Beppo is Superman's pet and shares his powers, and Gleek belongs to the Wonder Twins, who make an appearance in the book and help the monkeys save carnival-goers from the evil Gorilla Grodd. Johnny Boo really wants the rest of the DC Super-Pets books now, and his 8-year-old brother does as well.

Capstone Kids, which along with Picture Window Books is operated by Capstone Publishers, is having a DC Super-Pets writing contest for 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders. The contest runs until February 28, so I guess have your kid enter if you think he can beat mine.

Oh, and because Beppo, a monkey, loves chocolate-covered bananas, we made our own frozen chocolate-covered bananas:

Word of the Day/The Big Book of Magical Mix-Ups

It's day 5 of our Word of the Day feature here at LitLad. Here's how it works: The boys and I choose a different book every day and they pick a word from it for which they don't know the meaning. They each write the word at night and the next day we try to use it in conversation as much as we can.

Today's word is stubborn, an adjective meaning "refusing to change one's ideas or listen to others' ideas," as in "Johnny Boo was too stubborn to let Tintin choose the word of the day."

And we're reading The Big Book of Magical Mix-Ups, in which one of the many possible combinations of spells is "Squeeze the blood out of a stone, hide the remote control, make a unicorn sneeze and pat a bald man on the head. This will turn a stubborn babysitter into an exploding doughnut."

The Big Book of Magical Mix-Ups
Author/illustrator: Hilary Robinson/Nick Sharratt
Publisher: Scholastic (March 2010)
Source: Half Price Books/home library

This colorful spell book with split pages lets children turn mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, grandparents, babysitters, teachers and friends into food, animals, articles of clothing and more. There are lots of hilarious (and preposterous) combinations for kids to enjoy.

Some books to go along with The Big Book of Magical Mix-Ups, most of which link to Amazon UK (you can also find them through the link to Half Price Books above): The Big Book of Crazy Mix-Ups, Ketchup on Your Cornflakes?, Mixed Up Fairy Tales, A Cheese and Tomato Spider.

An activity to go along with this book: Make your own mix-up book (something we'll try later today if the boys aren't being stubborn about it).

Disclosure: We are an Amazon affiliate, which means that if you click on any links to Amazon.com in this post and purchase anything, we will earn a small commission through our relationship with Amazon.

Book Loving Boys’ 2011 The Flat Stanley Adventure Exchange!

Book Loving Boys is having a Flat Stanley read-along and exchange, and we're participating. Sign-up ends February 20 and exchange partners will be assigned February 23. You don't need to have a blog to participate. Just go to Book Loving Boys for more details and to sign up.

Word of the Day/The Shrinking of Treehorn

It's day 4 of our Word of the Day feature here at LitLad. Here's how it works: The boys and I choose a different book every day and they pick a word from it for which they don't know the meaning. They each write the word at night and the next day we try to use it in conversation as much as we can.

Today's word is shirk, a verb meaning "to avoid doing something that should be done." I'm sure we'll have lots of opportunities to use this word.

And we're reading The Shrinking of Treehorn, in which Treehorn's principal thinks Treehorn is shirking instead of shrinking.

The Shrinking of Treehorn
Author/illustrator: Florence Parry Heide/Edward Gorey
Publisher: Holiday House (1971)
Source: Public library

Treehorn is shrinking, but no one seems to care very much. His mother, father and teacher, when they're not wrapped up in their own problems, think he's either behaving badly or just trying to be different. This book, along with Treehorn's Treasure and Treehorn's Wish, is part of a trilogy.

A couple of books to go along with The Shrinking of Treehorn:

An activity to go along with the book: Make your own slow cooker Shrinky Dinks.

Disclosure: We are an Amazon affiliate, which means that if you click on any links to Amazon  in this post and purchase anything, we will earn a small commission through our relationship with Amazon.

Books of the Week – February 5, 2011

Here are our favorites from the past week (not counting Harry Potter and Ivy + Bean):

Tintin, age 8

Spider-Man: Everything You Read
Author/illustrator: Todd Dezago/Sanford Greene
Publisher: Spotlight (September 2010)
Source: ALA Midwinter/home library

In this graphic novel Spider-Man is reminded that he shouldn't believe everything he reads in the newspaper, especially since he himself hasn't always been portrayed correctly. He sets off to find a thief but is in for a surprise when he meets Dragon-Man. Tintin has always been pretty much indifferent to Spider-Man, but he likes this book. He read it twice, and he said he'll probably read it again.

Tintin's note: I like when there's a remote control and they press buttons to make the big purple robot act nice.

The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups
Author/illustrator: David Wisniewski
Publisher: HarperCollins (1998)
Source: Public library

The Secret Knowledge of Grown-Ups reveals to kids the real reasons behind those stupid adult rules, like "Eat your vegetables!" and "Don't blow bubbles in your milk!" They have nothing to do with health and cleanliness but instead come from secret never-before-shown-to-children files. Tintin thought it was funny, but unfortunately he still doesn't follow six of the eight rules.

Tintin's note: I liked when those people were in your heads and they're standing on your skulls and they have gum stuck to them to pull up the hairs so you go bald. So that's why you shouldn't eat gum.

Johnny Boo, age 5

Art & Max
Author/illustrator: David Wiesner
Publisher: Clarion Books (October 2010)
Source: Public library

Art & Max is about two artistic lizards, one serious and refined and one who is quite the opposite. When Art suggests that Max paint him, Max takes him literally and chaos ensues. We see Art, or Arthur as he prefers to be called, break out of his acrylic exterior in anger, turn to muted pastels, and then finally to a line drawing that unravels and must be put back together again. Max tries (hilariously) to fix Art and the book ends with a nod to pointillism and the paint-splashing of Jackson Pollock. This is now one of Johnny Boo's favorites. He loves everything about it – the story, the humor, the colors – and asked me to read it to him several times a day this past week.

Johnny Boo's note: I like Art & Max because it's good and ridiculous and preposterous. The funniest part is when Arthur paints the cactus plant.

Stoo Hample's Book of Bad Manners
Author/illustrator: Stoo Hample
Publisher: Candlewick Press (August 2006)
Source: Half Price Books/home library

Johnny Boo of course can't relate to this book, or at least that's what he told me, but he found it extremely funny anyway. It's full of ill-mannered kids and rhyming descriptions of their weaknesses, with funny illustrations to match. Johnny Boo especially likes reading the ongoing commentary of the illustrated Stoo Hample while I read the rest to him. And he really likes the end of the book, where there's a picture of a little boy mooning the reader.

Johnny Boo's note: It's so funny and it's preposterous and the bad manners are bad.

We're linking this post up with Feed Me Books Friday, Kid Konnection, and What My Child Is Reading.

Disclosure: We are an Amazon affiliate, which means that if you click on any links to Amazon in this post and purchase anything, we will earn a small commission through our relationship with Amazon.

Word of the Day: February 5 (The Odious Ogre)

It's day 3 of our Word of the Day feature here at LitLad. Here's how it works: The boys and I choose a different book every day and they pick a word from it for which they don't know the meaning. They each write the word at night and the next day we try to use it in conversation as much as we can.

Today's word is indefatigable, an adjective meaning "able to continue for a very long time without becoming tired" and which I suspect will be used right before the boys' next bedtime.

And we're reading The Odious Ogre, in which Ogre explains that one of the reasons he's got such a fearful reputation is that he's indefatigable.

The Odious Ogre
Author/illustrator: Norton Juster/Jules Feiffer
Publisher: Michael di Capua Books (September 2010)
Source: Public library


Almost everyone is afraid of Ogre. Besides being indefatigable, he's invulnerable, impregnable, insuperable and insurmountable, all words he learned from the dictionary he swallowed while consuming a librarian. While out for a walk, however, Ogre comes across a girl whose kindness confuses him so much that he doesn't quite know how to react.

A couple of books to go along with The Odious Ogre:

A couple of activities to go along with the book: an ogre dot-to-dot and how to draw an ogre.

Disclosure: We are an Amazon affiliate, which means that if you click on any links to Amazon  in this post and purchase anything, we will earn a small commission through our relationship with Amazon.

Word of the Day: February 4 (Happy Birthday, Bad Kitty)

It's day 2 of our Word of the Day feature here at LitLad. Here's how it works: The boys and I choose a different book every day and they pick a word from it for which they don't know the meaning. They each write the word at night and the next day we act like Pee-wee Herman every time someone says the word (until one of us gets annoyed and we just say the word and shout out the definition).

Today's word is masticate, a verb meaning "to chew."

And we're reading Happy Birthday, Bad Kitty, in which Bad Kitty masticates (and gobbles and munches) all of his favorite foods (from an aardvark bagel to a yak zabaglione) for a special birthday breakfast.






















Happy Birthday, Bad Kitty
Author/illustrator: Nick Bruel
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (September 2009)
Source: Scholastic book fair/home library

It's Bad Kitty's birthday and she really wants a cat scratcher. What will happen if she doesn't get what she wants? The guest list at her party is full of interesting cats from the neighborhood, plus Poor Puppy, and Uncle Murray makes appearances throughout with his "fun facts" about cats.

More Bad Kitty books (both picture and chapter): Bad Kitty, Poor Puppy, Bad Kitty Gets a Bath, Bad Kitty vs Uncle Murray (which we might get at this year's book fair if the ice here in Dallas ever melts) and, coming in June 2011, Bad Kitty Meets the Baby.

Activities to go with the book: Check out the Bad Kitty website for games, a trailer, a drawing activity, a word search, "Bad Kitty Bad Libs," and a word scrambler.

Disclosure: We are an Amazon affiliate, which means that if you click on any links to Amazon  in this post and purchase anything, we will earn a small commission through our relationship with Amazon.

Word of the Day: February 3 (Art & Max)

Today we start our new Word of the Day feature here at LitLad. Here's how it works: The boys and I choose a different book every day and they pick a word from it for which they don't know the meaning. They each write the word at night and the next day we act like Pee-wee Herman every time someone says the word (until one of us gets annoyed and we just say the word and shout out the definition).

So today's word is preposterous, an adjective meaning "ridiculous, absurd, foolish."

And we're reading Art & Max, in which Art says, "This is preposterous!" after Max splatters paint all over him.

 















 

Art & Max
Author/illustrator: David Wiesner
Publisher: Clarion Books (October 2010)
Source: Public library

From the publisher: Arthur knows how to paint. He's ready to share his wisdom with Max, who has a lot to learn but can't wait to dive right in.

A couple of books to go along with Art & Max:

A couple of activities to go along with Art & Max (and not quite as messy as Max's style): marble painting and a Jackson Pollock site.

Disclosure: We are an Amazon affiliate, which means that if you click on any links to Amazon  in this post and purchase anything, we will earn a small commission through our relationship with Amazon.

The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True (The Knights' Tales Series)

 Review by Tintin, age 8

The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True (The Knights' Tales Series)
Author/illustrator: Gerald Morris/Aaron Renier
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (April 18, 2011)
Source: NetGalley

Sir Gawain the True is about a knight who goes on a quest to the Green Chapel. He cuts off the green knight's head. He meets Sir Gologras and Spinagras. Spinagras is a dwarf. Sir Gawain saves people from recreant knights. I like this book because there's fighting in it and there are good people in it. My favorite part is when Sir Gawain cut off the Green Knight's head and then the head talked. I would recommend this book to people who like knight stories and King Arthur stories.

LitLass's note: The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True is the third book in the Knights' Tales Series and the second that Tintin has read. After reading the first (The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great) and now this one, Tintin definitely wants to read the second book, The Adventures of Sir Givret the Short. In the latest book, Morris tells the story of the celebrated Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. As with the previous books in the series, both the text and the illustrations are humorous, even to adults (especially if they're Monty Python and the Holy Grail fans), so this would make for a great read-aloud. Plus, there's a nice little message about loyalty and friendship. And I agree with Tintin, fans of other King Arthur stories would love this book, and the other two in the series.

I asked Tintin to draw a dragon to go along with his review, and this is what he came up with (a dragon with a lion's head and chicken legs):