Butterflies are Pretty Gross!
Author: Rosemary Mosco
Illustrator: Jacob Souva
Summary: This awesome non fiction book about butterflies is told by a butterfly! Everyone loves butterflies! They are so beautiful and graceful...but are they really? Be prepared to be grossed out and learn some great new butterfly facts!
Recommended Ages: 3-7 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: This book takes the reader through all the good, bad, and gross about butterflies. Told through fun illustrations and a variety of text features, the kids will never look at a beautiful butterfly in the same way!
Extension Activities: Learn to draw a butterfly with our friends from Art Hub for Kids. Have kids color and write some of the gross facts about butterflies they learned from the book! Click here!
Dazzlin' Dolly: The Songwriting, Hit-Singing, Guitar-Picking Dolly Parton
Author: Suzanne Slade
Illustrator: Edwin Fotheringham
Summary: Dolly is a little girl with a big voice and big ambitions. When she finally has the opportunity to perform, will nerves take over as she goes on stage?
Recommended Ages: 7-10 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: A funny, touching retelling of Dolly Parton's very humble beginnings and her sheer will and determination to realize her dreams. This book can help children understand that hard work sometimes has to go hand in hand with making dreams come true!
Extension Activities: Be sure to find and listen to Dolly Parton's music. And take a look at her Imagination Library foundation, which provides books to children. There is more information in the biography and timeline at the end of the book.
Lovebird Lou
Author: Tammi Sauer
Illustrator: Stephanie Laberis
Summary: Lovebird Lou is a beautiful lovebird who lives with his lovebird family on their side of a little island. One day, Lou decides to explore his island home and discovers so many different types of fantastic birds. Lou loves the brilliant birds he sees and wants to try to be a flamingo, a pelican or any of the other birds. What will Lou discover about himself?
Recommended Ages: 3-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: Lovebird Lou feels very ordinary and tries to become something that he is not. This sweet book can help with starting a conversation about how unique and special each of us are.
Extension Activities: Learn more about the beautiful lovebirds! The link below will take you to a fun, fact filled website! Click here!
The Pirates are Coming!
Author: John Condon
Illustrator: Matt Hunt
Summary: The Pirates are Coming! is a funny take on The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf, but with pirates, a little boy named Tom, and a surprise ending!
Recommended Ages: 3-7 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: The theme of this story is to remember to be careful with the information you share, making sure that it is accurate and truthful. You might try a comparison of The Pirates are Coming and The Boy who Cried Wolf to see what are similarities and differences in the stories.
Extension Activities: Check out the fun, hands on activities to enrich and extend the book! Have lots of pirate fun! Click here!
Real to Me
Author: Minh Le
Illustrator: Raissa Figueroa
Summary: What happens when your imaginary friend goes away? This beautiful book takes a little friend through the journey of loosing her friend, but learning there are more friends to be made.
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: Friendships can be so hard. This book leads the reader through a beautiful process of having a friend, loosing that friendship and discovering that there are more friends to meet.
Extension Activities: The link takes you to a quick book review by Colby Sharp, giving you, the adult, a path through this book. How fun would it be to have kids draw their imaginary friend and write about their adventures, or why that friend is important to them. Click here!
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