Kids Music Friday: "Colors of the Rainbow" by Dino O'Dell (as performed at SLCL!)

Here's a clip from Dino O'Dell's song "Colors of the Rainbow" as performed at SLCL Headquarters in 2011. Check your SRC program guide for all of Dino's "Dig Deep with Dinosaur O'Dell" performances this summer and join in the fun!

Click on the album below to listen to Dino O'Dell and the Velociraptors in their latest album.

--Andrea W., H.Q.

Dewey Discoveries: "Noah Webster and His Words" by Jeri Chase Ferris

We are now going to talk about the Founding Fathers, so put on your serious face and white wig, please. Are you ready? Good, because today I'm going to tell you about a silly biography of Noah Webster. I know--when you think of Noah Webster, you think of the giant dusty dictionary on your shelf (perhaps with leaves pressed inside), but he actually was a real (and brilliant!) person once upon a time. In "Noah Webster and His Words," author Jeri Chase Ferris walks us through Webster's life with levity and excellent story-telling skills.

"Noah Webster always knew he was right, and he never got tired of saying so (even if, sometimes, he wasn't). He was, he said, "full of CON-FI-DENCE" [noun: belief that one is right] from the very beginning."

With comedic illustrations by Vincent X. Kirsch and word definitions sprinkled humorously throughout the text, students will be so entertained that they will love learning about Noah Webster's life. Webster was a brilliant and busy man, and we have him to thank for not only American English as we know it, but also in part, the formation of America as a united nation. As a fitting tribute to an important and lively man, I recommend this book for kindergarten readers up through third graders.

Dewey Number: JB Webster Noah

--Andrea W., H.Q.

P.S. For another fun founding fathers book, click on the title below.

Staff Review: "The World is Waiting for You" by Barbara Kerley

Children are born to be explorers and scientists. They taste, touch, feel, and explore even as infants; and as they grow older they find more places and things to discover. Barbara Kerley celebrates this desire to understand and explore the world in her book "The World is Waiting for You."

It starts with an invitation: "Right outside your window there's a world to explore. Ready?" The reader leaps into the action--swimming, climbing, exploring, digging, feeling, and even flying. Each spread has no more than two sentences, so explorers as young as two or three can enjoy it. The text perfectly accompanies the gem of this book: the beautiful photographs that we've all come to expect from National Geographic. Photographs of kids exploring, astronauts and scientists doing their thing will light a fire of adventure in anyone's heart. This book is basically the National Geographic version of "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" by Dr. Seuss. Check it out today to kindle some wonder and adventure in the life of your child today. Everyone should read it!

--Andrea W., H.Q.

Alphabet books

"Campbell Kid’s Alphabet Soup: An ABC Book" is an older book but worth a look. Check out other alphabet books here.

The Campbell Kids are back. These rosy cheeked kids, known for advertising Campbell’s Soup in the early 20th century, are helping today’s kids learn the alphabet. Enjoy some nostalgia as you read through this rhyming alphabet book.




Kids can practice their letters with a simple alphabet soup craft. Cut out a large circle of colored paper for the bowl. Glue a slightly smaller circle of white paper to the bowl. Add a paper spoon if you would like. Kids can then stick self adhesive foam letters into their soup. They can spell things out or just place them randomly and practice letter recognition.

--Shelley A., WR

Dewey Discoveries: "Poopendous!" by Artie Bennett

It might drive moms crazy world-wide, but it's a given fact that nothing makes a kid giggle quicker than poop jokes. As much as some folks don't like to talk about it, it's a general truth that "Everyone Poops," and we might as well have fun with it. Thank you, Artie Bennet and Mike Moran, for creating "Poopendous! The Inside Scoop on Every Type and Use of Poop!" With bright and humorous illustrations of animals from around the world, the author brings rhyme to the poop joke and sneaks in some education as well. Readers will learn about the life cycle, biodiversity, and even other cultures without even trying. So click on the link above to reserve a copy for your silly pooper today. This book will be best enjoyed by kindergarteners through third graders.

Dewey Number:  591.5

--Andrea W., H.Q.

Kids Music Friday: "The Hero in You" by Ellis Paul

Sometimes we all feel insignificant and small. Thankfully, we have Ellis Paul to remind us that we always have something to offer in his song "The Hero in You."

To hear more of Ellis Paul's folksy goodness, click on the album below and reserve a copy today!

--Andrea W., H.Q.

Dewey Discoveries: "Zita the Spacegirl" by Ben Hatke

This story is a fast-paced graphic novel.  Zita didn't start out as a space girl; she's an Earthling.  One day, when Zita and her best friend, Joseph, are walking home from school when they stumble upon a meteor.  Once they look a bit closer, they find an unusual looking remote with only one button.  They push it, and they are instantly transported to a far away planet! 
Joseph gets kidnapped by evil robots, leaving Zita all alone.  Fortunately, she is smart and brave.  With the help of a few unlikely friends, she will travel as far as it takes to get Joseph back.  But can she make it before the planet explodes? 

This is the first book in the Zita series.  It would be a great choice for anyone who is looking for an epic adventure and science fiction.  If you enjoyed Adventures in Oz, Bone, Amulet, or Sadine, you'll like this book.  It's best for students in grades 2-5. 

Dewey Number: 741.5973 Hatke Ben

--Angie R., Headquarters

Warning: Excessive Cuteness Alert!

What's more fun than a barrel full of monkeys? Okay, maybe nothing. But what's cuter than a barrel full of monkeys? Why, a bucket full of sloths, of course. If you don't believe me, check out the book trailer below.

Who knew sloths could be so adorable? Lucky Cooke of the slothvillle website did, and thankfully she's sharing the cuteness with the world.  Click on the cover below to learn all about sloths and the stories of the cuties in the Aviariod del Caribe sloth sanctuary in Costa Rica. Great for all ages.

--Andrea W., H.Q.

"Rhyming Dust Bunnies" by Jan Thomas

"Rhyming Dust Bunnies" by Jan Thomas. Ed, Ned, and Ted love to rhyme, but the fourth dust bunny, Bob, isn't so great at it. He is pretty good at noticing danger and trying to warn the others, though. Will Bob be able to warn Ed, Ned, and Ted before it’s too late? How many words can you think of to rhyme along with these silly dust bunnies?




You can make your own rhyming dust bunny. Use googly eyes, sequins, jewels, and anything else you have laying around the house to decorate a large pom pom. Just glue the pieces on to the pom pom to make a cute, puffy creature.

--Shelley A., WR

Tacos and Dragons

What do you get when you combine tacos and dragons? A great story! "Dragons Love Tacos" is that story. Adam Rubin has a conversation with his readers asking important questions like “Why do dragons love tacos?” He provides a short list of possible reasons but I’m sure that a reader with a big imagination could come up with a few more. There are several opportunities for wild ideas when reading this funny and entertaining picture book. If you read this book you’ll be inspired to have a taco party of your own and invite every dragon in town.



More books about dragons:

"Lovabye Dragon" by Barbara Joosse, illustrated by Randy Cecil. When a lonely dragon follows a trail of princess tears, a beautiful friendship is born. They march and sing, roar and whisper, hide and seek, then settle into snug companionship at bedtime

"Waking Dragons" by Jane Yolen, paintings by Derek Anderson. In the morning, dragons wake up, tumble out of bed, and get ready to fly into the sky.

 

More books with tacos:

"Twist It Up: More than 60 Delicious Recipes from an Inspiring Young Chef" by Jack Witherspoon. Features over sixty recipes from eleven-year-old chef, Jack Witherspoon.

 

"Walk-Around Tacos and other Likeable Lunches" by Nick Fauchald, illustrated by Rick Peterson. Easy-to-make lunch recipes, including homemade nutty butter triangles to walk-around tacos.






--Jennifer I., FV

Book Trailer: "Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked" by Jarrett Krosoczka

In the words of the author himself: "If you love Lethal Weapon and Frog and Toad are Friends in equal measure, this is the book that you have been waiting for!" 

Check out "The Playtpus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked" by Jarrett Krosoczka.