Penelope Rex and the Problem with Pets
Author: Ryan T. Higgins
Illustrator: Ryan T. Higgins
Summary: Penelope Rex was not ever really sure that she wanted a pet, but then Mittens moved into her home. Having a pet is a lot of work and has challenges, especially when that pet is a 600 pound saber-tooth tiger. Have fun reading the latest Penelope Rex book!
Recommended Ages: 3-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: Choosing a pet that fits the family takes research and is a group effort. Brainstorm the pets that would best fit your family and learn all about the pet you would choose! Take a fun field trip to your local pet store and see what a variety of pets you have to choose from!
Extension Activities: Follow along with our friends at Art for Kids Hub and draw a Pandacorn! How are you going to care for your pandacorn? What will you feed it? Name? Where does it sleep? What would your mom say? Click here!
Puppy!
Author: Keith Graves
Illustrator: Keith Graves
Summary: Trog has all the best things! BEST rock, BEST mud, and the BEST stick. But Trog wants the BEST pet and sets off to find the BEST pet that he can.
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: Enjoy this funny story of pet care gone crazy! With your kids, decide why Trog had so much trouble with his chosen pet and what he could have done differently.
Extension Activities: Be sure to check out more titles by Keith Graves!
How to Hug a Cactus
Author: Emily S. Smith
Illustrator: Aleksandra Szmidt
Summary: Does talking to a plant help it to thrive? Will hugging a cactus help it to grow? Join a little girl who only wants to hug her cactus, but the spikes hurt! How can she solve this prickly problem?
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: There are so many fun, new vocabulary words and rhyming pairs that make this book a great read aloud!
Extension Activities: How fun to create a succulent garden! Watch the video below and learn all about choosing, planting and caring for your new succulent family! For another fun team activity, have groups create a new way to be able to hug a cactus! Click here!
Cactus Queen: Minerva Hoyt Establishes Joshua Tree National Park
Author: Lori Alexander
Illustrator: Jenn Ely
Summary: Minerva Holt loved the beauty of the Mojave Desert near her home in California. She was especially enthralled with the weird Joshua Tree cactus. In the 1920's, thoughtless destruction began to threaten her beloved desert and Minerva worked to protect and turn the Mojave into the Joshua Tree National Park.
Recommended Ages: 7-10 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: This interesting biographical telling of the making of a national park helps to encourage all of us to do whatever we can to protect our environment. Big or small, brainstorm ways that your kids can follow in Minerva's footsteps.
Extension Activities: Learn more about the story of MInerva Hoyt and the Joshua Tree National Park from the National Park Service. Click here!
Porcupine and Cactus
Author: Katie Frawley
Illustrator: Alex Willmore
Summary: Lonely Porcupine lives in the hot desert. One day while walking, he meets a friend! Chatty Porcupine and quiet Cactus seem to have things in common, but what happens when Cactus stays quiet? Can they mend their friendship?
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: This sweet, funny tale of friendship gone awry can help your youngest friends navigate with the problems that any friendship will face.
Extension Activities: Use your digital research databases or visit your library for books on porcupines. Enjoy the linked activity when you create your own porcupine using items you find in nature! Click here!
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