Hop! Hop!

Leslie Patricelli was a favorite of Ivy's. Atticus seems to enjoy her as well, although not quite as much! In this adorable Easter tale, a little boy prepares for Easter, waits for the bunny, and then hunts for eggs and jelly beans. We reread it again today; it was the perfect recap for Atticus, helping him to talk about the excitement of Sunday. A new toddler Easter classic!

Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too?

Although a bit simplistic for my tastes, the repetitive nature of this story is just what a toddler loves. Each page has a beautiful water color of an animal with the question, "Does ....have a mother too?" The following page has a lovely painting of the animal with a yes. Atticus does not seem to tire of this story. A sure hit with any young toddler!

Be Still

"Be Still!" is one of Atticus's new favorite sayings. Ivy was never really interested in Where the Wild Things Are. In fact, the wild things still scare her a little. Atticus, however, can't get enough of Max's antics. He sees Max chasing the dog with a fork, and excitedly yells, "Trouble!" Somehow this timeless classic speaks to his life - trying to have fun, being put in his crib in a time out, dreaming his way out of the punishment, and maybe even controlling Ivy with, "Be Still!" Maurice Sendak does not disappoint; Atticus is a fan!

How Do Dinosaurs Stay Safe?

I don't think there is a bigger fan of Jane Yolen and Mark Teague's How Do Dinosaurs than Atticus. However, as a parent my latest favorite is How Do Dinosaurs Play Safe? In its usual funny way it covers things that could go wrong if a young dinosaur is not safe - falling off a bike without a helmet, etc. However, Teague and Yolen somehow tackle REAL issues in a fun and light-hearted way as well. Atticus learned about not going with strangers, calling 9-1-1 and staying where he can be seen when playing.

Star Wars Colors

Atticus's Aunt Jessica purchased a Star Wars board book trilogy for him over a year ago. He has shown little to no interest in these books until about two weeks ago. He is now obsessed. He had Star Wars Valentines (Yoda Best Valentine), reads his board books 2-3 times a day, and has requested Darth Vader sneakers. Even Ivy has gotten into the spirit and has added Jedi, Death Star, and Obi-Wan Kenobi to her reading vocabulary. A must have collection for any Star Wars fan.

Supertruck

Supertruck by Stephen Savage is a simple book about something that all of Massachusetts is dealing with right now: what to do with all of the excess snow! We are introduced to all the heroic trucks - the firetruck, the tow truck, etc. The book glosses over the slightly nerdy garbage truck with glasses until one night when a huge storm hits the city. All the vehicles are left wondering who the superhero truck was who plowed out the city. It couldn't possible be the nerdy garbage truck who disappears into a garage in the middle of the storm, now could it? Ivy and Atticus both adore this simple book. 

Little Elliot, Big City

Atticus really enjoyed meeting little Elliot, the spotted and tiny elephant. Elliot has trouble navigating what is clearly NYC due to his unusual size, yet he manages to make do. He can't get the ice cream from the fridge without a broom, and his breakfast can't be eaten without sitting on a stack of books. Dejected because he was not seen requesting a cupcake, the little elephant heads home. On the way he meets a mouse, in even more dire straits. The mouse teaches him some valuable lessons; you are always big to someone else, and friendship makes life lovely.