Humor

May 2 – Brothers and Sisters Day

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About the Holiday

Ah, brothers and sisters! Those built-in friends (and sometime frenemies) that live in your very own house. Sure, siblings like different things, play different games, and see the world differently, but that just broadens our horizons. And as siblings grow up, it’s nice to know there’s always someone out there who shares your history and has your back. Today, cherish your brothers and sisters. Get in touch or do something together—and tell them how much you love them.

Pigs and a Blanket

By James Burks

 

A cute piglet sister and brother love their blankets sooo much and sooooo much more! Henrietta loves the way her blanket smells. Henry loves the way his blanket feels. Henrietta reads with her blanket, while Henry draws under his.

Henry also creates hills in his blanket to zoom his monster trucks over while his sister uses it as a backdrop for the fierce dino movie she’s filming. The movie-making gives way to dancing because Henrietta loves to pirouette with her blanket. But wait a minute! The trucks have just gone off-blanket!! What’s happening?

And—“Hey!”—mid-twirl, that familiar green cloth suddenly becomes a cape catching the wind behind Henry’s superhero personae. One blanket between two kids? Henrietta tugs on one end: “Stop pulling on my blanket!” Henry yanks on the other end: “Stop pulling on MY blanket!!” The tug-of-war rages until “RRRIIIPPPPP!”

Henry retreats to one corner and half-heartedly pushes around his monster trucks on his part of the blanket while glancing over to the other corner where Henrietta has unenthusiastically resumed her movie making on her half. Maybe drawing and reading will be better. But no, not really. That separated blanket isn’t nearly as cozy.

The siblings move a little closer and shyly smile at each other. Maybe they can make up. “I missed you,” Henrietta confesses. “I missed you more,” Henry answers, placing a red checker on the board she’s brought over. The day is brightening in their playroom scattered with toys and art supplies. And as night falls, the two have cleverly reunited just in time for sleeping.

James Burks’ charming Pigs and a Blanket captures perfectly the vacillating relationship of siblings. Kids will recognize and appreciate the sentiments in this simple, honest story. While this sister and brother have separate interests and quarrel over a shared blanket, the truth is they love being together, and when the blanket no longer binds them, they soon realize life is much less rich.

Burks’ illustrations of the piglet siblings are adorable and expressive, registering the fortunes and misfortunes of an afternoon of play with joy, consternation, regret, sadness, and reconciliation. The book’s design makes excellent use of the two-page spreads. The sister plays with her blanket on the left-hand page, while her brother plays with his on the right. The blanket ingeniously disappears into the center of the pages, creating a smart, Ah-ha moment when Henrietta twirls it away from Henry. Likewise, after the blanket is torn apart, the once full-page illustrations are replaced with mostly white space as the two kids play alone and disconnected. As they move to restore their friendship, the white space lessens until it is again filled with love.

Pigs and a Blanket would be a wonderful addition to any child’s bookshelf to be reread at those times when getting along with siblings—or friends—seems hard.

Ages 2 – 6

Disney-Hyperion, 2016 | ISBN 978-1484725238

Brothers and Sisters Day Activity

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-my-book-heart

Create a Soft Book, Page 2: Peek-a-Boo Blanket

 

A blanket is so much fun! It can be a tent, a reading buddy, a cape, and a perfect hiding place! Add this Peek-a-Boo Blanket with its brother and sister heart to page 2 of your book!

Supplies

  • Printable Peek-a-Boo Blanket Template
  • Adhesive letters or fabric paint
  • Blue, pink, and purple felt – or colors of your choice
  • Fabric glue

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-heart-2

Directions

  1. Cut out one half of the heart from the blue felt
  2. Cut out one half of the heart from the pink felt
  3. Cut out the blanket from the purple felt
  4. Apply the adhesive letters to the top of the page. Make sure the letters are firmly attached if you are using this book with very young children. If needed use fabric glue.
  5. Glue the heart to the page
  6. Glue the top of the blanket to the page so it hides the heart

See you tomorrow! For Page 1 see yesterday’s post!

April 11 – National Pet Day

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About the Holiday

Pets are often our best friends—they love us unconditionally, are always there for us, and make us laugh. Today we celebrate pets—whether they’re as small as a goldfish, as large as a horse, or as unique as…well, you’ll see as you read on. National Pet Day also raises awareness of the number of animals available for adoption and encourages people to donate to animal shelters or consider taking a dog, cat, bird, or other pet into their family. If you already have a pet, observe the day by giving them an extra pat, offering a special treat, or spending more time with them.

My Pet Book

By Bob Staake

 

In a town named Smartytown a little boy has a most unusual pet—a book! Not one for puppies and allergic to kittens, he wants a pet that’s “easy.” His mom and dad suggest a book, and the family heads to the bookstore to adopt one. The shelves are so full of appealing potential pets that it’s hard to choose. But then the little boy spies a small “frisky red hardcover,” and it’s love at first sight.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-my-pet-book-choosing-pet

Copyright Bob Staake, courtesy of Random House Books for Young Readers.

The tiny book turns out to be the perfect pet—it doesn’t need food or water, its cover never sheds or hides fleas, it never needs a bath, and best of all there’s no housebreaking required. The boy takes his pet for walks in the evening, finding it superior to dogs that yap and run away and cats that constantly purr and lick their fur.

With his new pet, the boy’s days are full of adventure, fun, and excitement. He can’t wait to get home from school and spend time with the little book. But one day when he walks into his house, the boy discovers that his best friend is gone. “‘He ran away! He ran away!’ / The boy began to bleat. / ‘How could a pet book run away / Without a pair of feet?’”

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-my-pet-book-book-gone

Copyright Bob Staake, courtesy of Random House Books for Young Readers.

Soon the answer comes: “The maid could hear the crying boy. / (That sound was such a rarity.) / ‘I think I know what happened…’ (gulp) / ‘I gave your book to…charity.’” The boy and the maid race downtown to the thrift store, hoping to find the beloved book. They search through clothes, and furniture, through toys and shelves of books, but the little pet is nowhere to be found. There is only one conclusion—the book has just been sold!

The boy and maid sit down to cry, but then the maid has an idea. Maybe their pet is only hiding, Suddenly the boy remembers something that caught his eye in the dog-and-cat-stuff aisle. They race over to where a lone dog house sits. The boy says, “‘If I were just a scared pet book, / I’d likely sneak in here. / Perhaps the dark would help me hide, / And make me disappear!’”

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-my-pet-book-searching-for-book

Copyright Bob Staake, courtesy of Random House Books for Young Readers.

He reaches in and discovers his pet book just waiting for him. The boy checks his pet over carefully and finds him well from cover to cover. The boy and the maid drive home relieved. Although they are tired, this crazy day has a happy ending, and now the boy and his pet have their own special story to share.

Perhaps Bob Staake is onto something in this humorous page-turner. Don’t we love our favorite books just like pets? And when they’re mysteriously missing, don’t we search and search for them? Through fast-paced and cleverly worded verses, Bob Staake leads his readers on a jaunt of book love that includes love, excitement, companionship, suspense, and a happy ending. What more can you ask for from a book—or a pet?

Staake’s vibrant and whimsical illustrations create a world all its own yet rooted in the here and now. A bit surreal, a bit silly, the action-packed scenes will have kids giggling and searching for every detail.

For book lovers, pet lovers, and those who love a good story, My Pet Book is perfect for snuggling up with.

Ages 3 – 7

Random House Books for Young Readers, 2014 | ISBN 978-0385373128

National Pet Day Activity

CPB - Pet Day Word Search

Adopt a Pet! Word Search

There are so many awesome pets to choose from! Can you find all the animals in this fun printable Adopt a Pet! word search?

Picture Book Review

February 25 – National Chili Day

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Armadilly Chili picture book review

About the Holiday

What could be more satisfying on a mid-winter day than a spicy bowl of chili?  Whether made with meat or veggies, combined with macaroni, or served in potato skins, the simmered flavors make for a scrumptious meal. Although the origins of chili are lost to history, it’s believed that the dish is a southwestern, specifically Texan, concoction. It began to attract attention in the early 1800s, and by the 1880s”Chili Queens” were selling “bowls o’red” at chili stands throughout San Antonio. In 1893 the San Antonio Chili Stand made an appearance at the Chicago World’s Fair. It’s popularity took off across Texas and throughout the west by the 1920s. When the Great Depression hit, chili became one of the only affordable meals for the hungry population.

Armadilly Chili

Written by Helen Ketteman | Illustrated by Will Terry

 

What a hoot! The knee-slappin’, root-a-tootin’ phrasing in Hellen Ketteman’s Armadilly Chili is shor ‘nuf gonna make this a favorite on any child’s bookshelf. While the plot may be familiar, the southwest setting and Miss Billie Armadilly put a fresh, funny twist on it.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-armadilly-chili-gathering-ingredients

Image copyright Will Terry, courtesy of willterry.com

Miss Billie Armadilly is gathering ingredients for her hot armadilly chili as a blue norther blows in. She’s gathering beetles when her friend Tex, a many eyed tarantula tip taps by. When Billie asks him to help her collect beetles, he tells her he can’t because he’s going dancing. Miss Billie harrumphs and does it herself. Next Miss Billie is picking peppers, and when Mackie the bluebird flies in she thinks she has some help. Once again, though, she’s left on her own since Mackie is going to the movies. Her friend Taffy, the horned toad, begs off from chopping prickly pear, saying he’s got plans to go skating.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-armadilly-chili-Mackie-flies

Image copyright Will Terry, text copyright Helen Ketteman, courtesy of willterry.com

At home, Miss Billie stirs her chili to a scrumptious bubble. The aroma entices first Tex, then Mackie, and finally Taffy to come a’knockin’ at her door looking for a bowlful. Billie has something to say about that—specifically, “no workin’ with Billie, no sharin’ the chili!”

Billie’s friends hurry away, and Billie sits down to her feast. But after all that work, the chili tastes as “flat as a Texas prairie.” What’s wrong? She realizes what the missing ingredient is just as the doorbell rings. She opens the door to find her friends standing there with bags in their hands. What’s in those sacks? Apologies! And hot apple cider, jalapeno biscuits, and homemade chocolate fudge. Now that the friends are all together, the chili tastes just right, and they laugh and talk and eat throughout the blustery night.

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-armadilly-chili-tex

Image copyright Will Terry, text copyright Helen Ketteman, courtesy of willterry.com

Helen Ketteman’s fast-paced Armadilly Chili is a welcome take on what it means to be a good friend. Her Western setting, lively language, and fast pacing will keep kids laughing and rooting for Billie and her pals. Will Terry’s bright illustrations washed with a palette of deep reds, oranges, greens, and yellows firmly sets the story in the Southwest. Billie’s facial expressions as each of her friends abandon her to her chores are priceless, and their final camaraderie is highly satisfying.

Ages 4 – 8

Albert Whitman & Company, 2008 | ISBN 978-0807504581

Discover more about Helen Ketteman and her books on her website!

View a gallery of illustration work, drawings, and picture books by Will Terry on his website!

National Chili Day Activity

CPB - Chili Pepper Game

Hot, Hot, Hot! Chili Pepper Chili Game

 

Chili just isn’t chili without a little heat! But can you take 15 chili peppers in your bowl? If you want to win the Hot, Hot, Hot! Chili Pepper Chili Game you’ll have to!

Object of the Game

The object of the game is to collect 15 chili peppers in your bowl before any other player.

Supplies

Rules

  1. Any number of players can play at one time. Print 1 Chili Bowl game board and 1 set of 15 Chili Pepper cards for each player
  2. Give 1 Chili Bowl Game Board to each player
  3. Place the Chili Pepper Cards in a pile or in a bowl
  4. Roll the die to see who goes first. The person with the highest roll goes first
  5. To begin play, the first player must roll a 1, 2, or 3. They should roll until they get one of these numbers.
  6. Players roll the die and collect or lose chili pepper cards by the number of dots on the die. If you roll a:
  • 1 – Pick up 1 chili pepper card and place it on your chili bowl game board
  • 2 – Pick up 2 chili pepper cards and place them on your chili bowl game board
  • 3 – Pick up 3 chili pepper cards and place them on your chili bowl game board
  • 4 – Get a chili pepper card from the player on your left
  • 5 – Give a chili pepper card to the player on your left
  • 6 – Lose a turn

     7. If a player does not have chili pepper cards to give to another player or if the player on           their left has no cards to give, the player rolls again.

    8. Continue play until one player has filled their Chili Bowl with chili peppers!