Kids Music Friday: "Monster Truck" by Sugar Free Allstars

You know them and love them from Summer Reading Club. Now you can enjoy the Sugar Free Allstars any time you want through this catchy and silly music video for their new song, "Monster Truck." Enjoy! Click on the link above to request a copy of one of their albums.

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Construction

There is something fascinating about big construction equipment when you are young. I never really understood why watching a machine work can be so absorbing but I’ve stood enthralled. So if that sounds like someone you know, then "Digger and Tom!" by Sebastien Braun might fit the bill. 

Anthropomorphized construction equipment with thick rounded black lines and bright colors tell the story of Digger and his friends. The story is very short but teaches good ideas about persistence, team work, and everyone can have a special skill. 

If Digger just wets your whistle then you might want to try "Let’s Meet a Construction Worker" by Bridget Heos. The story is about a classroom field trip to the construction site of their new school. The students see a diverse workforce going happily about their job. They learn about the training construction workers need, the importance of safety, and the various jobs construction workers perform. The book ends with direction for making a graham cracker house, a glossary, and resource list of books and websites. 

Check out the other books in this new series: "Let’s Meet a Teacher", "Let’s Meet a Dentist" and "Let’s Meet a Doctor."

--Robbin O., Headquarters

 

 

Staff Review: Noisy Books

I love books which prompt the readers (usually parents, teachers or librarians) to make funny 

noises as they read the books to kids. We adults take ourselves too seriously and that becomes hard when you are going “vroom vroom” or “Jingle-Jangle, clang-bang, Clatter!” So I hope you put aside your inhibitions and enjoy reading "Bang! Boom! Roar! A Busy Crew of Dinosaurs" by Nate Evans and Stephanie Gwyn Brown.  Not only does this title include preschool favorites like dinosaurs and trucks, it is written as an ABC book using alliteration. ‘Jackhammers, rattle, jolt, and shatter. Jingle-jangle, clang-bang. Clatter! Jelly bellies jump and jiggle. Jumbo blubber in a wiggle!’ The illustrations by Christopher Santoro are filled with action and humor. Kids will need time to explore each and every picture. Be sure to look at the list on the back of the book of cool hidden objects to look for in the pictures. 

Another noisy book is "Toot Toot Beep Beep" by Emma Garcia. Large easy to read print which is good for either a group setting or for reading one on one. The art work also done by Garcia makes identifying the individual vehicles easy for even young children. Each vehicle has their own personality ‘Toot Toot goes the big blue van, Toot Toot and off she trundles’.

Robbin O., Headquarters