Big Books, Little Ears

Reading chapter books to toddlers, preschoolers, and beyond

Children's Books

The Chicken Squad

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“Welcome to the yard!”
– opening line of The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure

Do you ever hear a name and say, “They sound familiar…now where do I know them?”

I rarely do this in real life, because I am notoriously bad at remembering people’s names. I’m working on it, I really am!

I did have that moment at the library a few months ago, however, when I saw the book series, The Chicken Squad.

“Doreen Cronin,” I thought. “I know that name…where have I heard that before?” [Read more…] about The Chicken Squad

The Adventures of Pug

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“It was an ordinary morning at No. 10, The Crescent, and everyone was busy except Pug and his freckled companion, Lady Miranda, who were both still in bed, snoring.”
– opening line of Captain Pug  by Laura James

I shrieked when I first started reading Captain Pug because Lady Miranda and Pug lived in The Crescent. Let me tell you why that is significant. My husband has family in Great Britain. While we were there visiting last year I fell in love with the town of Bath. [Read more…] about The Adventures of Pug

Calvin and Hobbes, My Husband, and Me

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Today is the day I normally share a video review of a book or series. I was planning on reviewing the comic series, Calvin and Hobbes. However, since it has no real summery…or special considerations…or chapters…I ended up shifting gears a little bit.

I do want to talk about Calvin and Hobbes, though.

My husband loved reading the Calvin and Hobbes books when he was growing up. In fact, he still loves reading them now!

When our oldest son started listening to longer books, my husband always chose one of his several Calvin and Hobbes books when I asked him to do our read aloud time for the day. [Read more…] about Calvin and Hobbes, My Husband, and Me

Ninja Meerkats – A Punny Read Aloud Series

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“From the outside, the Clan of the Scorpion’s secret base looked like one of a number of meerkat burrows in the Red Desert. But while some of the neighboring meerkats had welcomed wildlife documentary makers into their homes, the Clan had to be more careful about who they let in.”
– opening lines of Ninja Meerkats: The Clan of the Scorpion by Gareth P. Jones

My son LOVES American Ninja Warrior, the TV show with obstacle courses. (That is probably the most low key way to describe the show, because those athletes are amazing, but you know what I’m talking about.) My husband even built him a few obstacles in our back yard.

So, at the library, Ninja Meerkats, a series with the word ninja in the title, definitely caught my eye. I’m so glad it did! [Read more…] about Ninja Meerkats – A Punny Read Aloud Series

What Do People Do All Day?

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This is Busytown. My, what a nice town!
– opening line of Richard Scarry’s What Do People Do All Day? by Richard Scarry

Has this ever happened to you? You’re sitting in the car and you think to yourself, “You know what would be cool? If there was something that didn’t have a screen that would keep my kids’ busy for the whole trip to Grandma’s house.”

Or, maybe you’ve wondered, “What is it like to shower without someone shoving their little fingers under the door and calling, ‘MAMA!!! Mama, I see you!’ even before I’ve gotten my hair wet?”

Maybe you have caught yourself daydreaming about being free to eat a mug full of peanut butter M&Ms before the kids fall asleep.

If you have ever thought these things, you are not alone. I think things like this all of the time.

If you are looking for a good, screen free quiet activity that will keep your kids attention, have I got a book for you! In our home we love the book, Richard Scarry’s What Do People Do All Day? [Read more…] about What Do People Do All Day?