Superman Phonics Fun

Well...Atticus is officially a Star Wars, Superman, Spiderman, and Batman lover. He loves to hear the the theme music of all of these hit movies while pretending to be the characters. It all stared when I purchased Superman: Phonics Fun at one of our favorite bookstores - Park Street Books. The stories, with only a few words a page, tell of some bad guy or other being conquered by Superman. Now, while I say "some bad guy", Atticus could tell you every detail. I thought the books might be too scary, but Atticus just adores them. I often have to tell bedtime stories about a creature named Parasite.

I have often heard that if you want to raise a reader, let him/her read what they love. I am begrudgingly doing that? Here's to a lifetime of reading, Atticus!

I'm Not Santa!

Jonathan Allen was a big favorite with Ivy as well. Baby Owl has had many adventures, but this holiday adventure is really fun. Baby owl, donning his santa hat, heads home from sledding on Christmas Eve.




Baby hare runs into him and insists he is Santa due to his chubby owl tummy, "sleigh", and hat. When tears erupt Baby Owl feels he is forced to lie and say he is Santa. What happens next is a series of misunderstandings, tears and finally a visit from the big man himself. A lovely new holiday classic.

Dinosaur Christmas by Jerry Pallota

I miss terribly writing my blogs, but it turns out working full time with the young children and keeping it up is not as easy as I thought. I will try to sporadically return so that you, little Atticus, can look back and see the joy reading has brought to your life.

While visiting Grandpa and Grannie Frannie in New Hampshire, we stopped by our favorite bookstore there - Morgan Hill Books. A clerk there recommended Dinosaur Christmas. You loved it so much you wanted it read three times. Santa remembers the good old days when dinosaurs pulled his sleigh. Each two page spread discusses the issues with each dino - the Giganotosaurus was too big, the Raptors were too fast, etc. Although Santa is grateful for his reindeer, you loved reading about each dinosaur.

Have a Dinosaur Christmas!

Curious George

I think Atticus is just like Curious George.

Loving, devoted to the man in the yellow hat (well...mommy), curiously intelligent, possessing a penchant for trouble - a lovable puppy dog. I think Atticus sees a kindred spirit in that wild little monkey. He particularly enjoys the original picture book, which possesses firemen, balloons, policemen, a jungle, and a zoo. What two year old boy would not be enraptured by this book? A classic, but necessary rite of passage for every young child.

Clifford: The Firehouse Dog

Atticus adores Clifford. In fact, one of his first t.v. shows was Clifford the Big Red Dog. In this book Clifford and Emily Elizabeth visit Clifford's firehouse dog brother. Clifford attempts to teach the children about fire safety like his brother, but he is just too big. However, when the fire alarm blares Clifford is able to use his size to help put out the fire and rescue everyone. Another adorable Clifford tale...

Charley's First Night

Helen Oxenbury and Amy Hest team up in Atticus's new library favorite - Charley's First Night. Henry Korn brings home his new dog, Charley, one snowy night. Henry is excited to show Charley his home and to begin his care-taking duties. His parents' one rule was - No dogs sleeping in his bed. When Charley wakes up in the night, will Henry be able to follow his parents' rule? Not only are the pictures in this book adorable, but the language is a bit stream of consciousness, just like a toddler. Even Ivy likes this one.

Underwear

Potty training is no easy feat, and I am trying to inundate Atticus with books to help him along. I have found a few goodies over the past few days: Tupera Tupera's Polar Bear's Underwear

and Jared Chapman's Vegetable in Underwear.

Both books have relatively few words, but have hilarious pictures of animals and vegetables (respectively) in underwear. Polar Bear has lost his underwear. His good friend, mouse, finds various undergarments, but none of them seem to be quite right as other animals are wearing them! The vegetable book is quite silly, but what can one expect? What could be cuter than an envious diaper-wearing carrot looking at an underwear-wearing piece of broccoli? Both of these books are great for potty training kids!