Library Note: Like People

This is another of those books we just saw and grabbed at the library recently. And when we got home and read it we were delighted to discover what was inside. Like People is about the animal kingdom and ways that animals are like us: how they take care of each other, the different roles of the mommies and daddies, how they eat, play and learn. It's basic enough for a three year old to understand, but educational enough to answer some of their curiosities about animals. I know Boo has asked many of the questions that are answered in the book. He has wondered where animals live, what they eat and likes to identify the mommies and daddies at the zoo.

Like People encourages children to notice the similarities and differences between how we live and how the animals live. It also elicits further curiosity and questions about animals. We've read the book several times and every time Boo has more questions and we end up having interesting discussions.

Check it out!

Library Note: Leaf Man

A while ago we checked out Leaf Man by Lois Elhert. It's a great imagination book that follows "leaf man" wherever the wind blows him. It is full of illustrations using the beautiful leaves found in nature arranged in such a way that make them look like animals and people.

Today when we were outside enjoying our unseasonable 80 degree weather, we remembered the book and decided to make some leaf men of our own.

And play some tic-tac-toe with leaves, rocks and sticks. {I was inspired by this post by The Prairie Girl, my new friend from the PW book signing.}

Library Note: The Most Perfect Spot

This book is a fitting follow-up to my recent picnic blanket tutorial.


The Most Perfect Spot by Diane Goode. Jack and his mama go looking for the perfect spot to have their picnic. Though they're constantly thwarted, they end up in the perfect spot with a special treat at the end. This is the perfect book to pair with a day outside having a picnic.

And if the weather where you are is looking dreary, why not have a picnic inside instead? We set up a 10-man cabin tent in our living room this weekend when the weather ruined our camping plans. We ate our picnic inside and later roasted s'mores in the fireplace. Your "perfect spot" just may be inside too!

Library Note: My Life As A Chicken

Here's another book we grabbed at the library and were pleasantly surprised to read when we got home. My Life As a Chicken by Ellen Kelley is a new favorite. With melodic, action-packed text, the reader is taken along Pauline's perilous journey from the hen house to a petting zoo. The story is captivating for a young one like Boo and peppered with all sorts of great vocabulary words like "plummeting", "spellbound", "unoccupied", and "aeronaut". The first few times we read it without pausing, caught up in the action of Pauline's adventure. Now, we occasionally pause and I ask Boo questions about the story to see if he's catching on to some of the more advanced words. And with the context, he's already understood the meaning of most of the new, more difficult words in the book. It's so well written and the illustrations are as interesting as the story. Check it out!