Posts Tagged harper collins

Goldilocks, dinosaurs, chocolate, and Mo Willems–hilarity ensues

September 14, 2012 at 7:44 am · Filed under Ages 3 - 6, Ages 6 - 8, Booksellers Diary ·Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Just in from Mo Willems is Goldilocks and The Three Bears…I mean, Dinosaurs. What?? Yes. DINOSAURS.  Chocolate loving dinosaurs, to be exact. (If you’ve seen me at the store I’m usually wearing my blue dinosaur shirt and munching on chocolate, so this book couldn’t be more fitting for me.) Anyway, the story starts in the typical fashion of introducing the characters, but instead of a Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear it is Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur, and “some other dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway.” That is just the first of many story line replacements that will yield a chuckle. There is chocolate pudding instead of porridge, and a trio of dinosaurs intentionally trying to wrangle a succulent and delicious-chocolate-filled-little-girl for dinner rather than meeting Goldilocks by happenstance. Willems delivers a story that will have children giggling and will surprise parents with the new spin on this classic tale.

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs, by Mo Willems, Balzer & Bray, $17.99

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Hooray for Summer Reading

June 25, 2012 at 7:56 am · Filed under Ages 10 - 12, Ages 12 - 14, Ages 14 and Up, Ages 3 - 6, Ages 6 - 8, Ages 8 - 10, Booksellers Diary ·Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Hooray for Books will host a summer reading program again this year! Between June 21st and September 3rd, come in and buy books. Let us know that you are purchasing the books for the Summer Reading Program, and you will receive a voucher. Complete 10 reading vouchers and you win a prize! All grade levels are welcome, from preschool to high school. Not sure what to read? Ask one of our staff or pick up our Hooray for Summer Reading flyer.

Here are some examples of what we are suggesting:

Entering Preschool:  I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry

This Giant Squid believes that he is the biggest thing in the ocean. In fact, he’s bigger than the shrimp, and the clams, and the turtles. But, there is one thing in the ocean that is bigger than the giant squid. This book is available in both board book and picture book, so it is great for beginning preschoolers who are ready to love their books to the end, or those who are very gentle with the books they own.

Entering 2nd Grade: Trouble with Chickens by Doreen Cronin

We have raved about this book before. It is a funny book that will capture any chapter-book reader’s attention. It has dogs, it has chickens, it has an evil next-door-neighbor dog, what more does it need? If you’ve already read and loved this book, there’s a sequel that has come out: The Legend of Diamond Lil . 

 

 

Entering 5th Grade: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott

We told you a few weeks ago about the charming Michael Scott stopping by the bookstore to sign books, and in the past few weeks, we have not been able to keep the series on the shelves! This 6-book series is great for summer reading, when you have time to sit down and read a lengthy series. The book is great for those who like Harry Potter because of its fantasy and adventure feel, and just like Harry Potter, you will not being able to put the book down. The other great thing is that while we suggest the series for kids entering 5th grade, it is a good read aloud for the younger set, and a good read for teens and adults!

 

Middle School: The Absolute Value of Mike by Kathryn Erskine

This book has just come out in paperback, so it makes a nice light travel book. Poor Mike has an “engineering genius” for a father, yet math just does not click for him. When his father has to go off to teach in Romania for the summer, Mike goes to stay with his distant relatives. While with them, he finds that he has a lot more value than he originally thought. If you like this book, we would also suggest Mockingbird by the same author.

 

High School: The Chaos Walking Series by Patrick Ness

Are you loving this sudden burst of dystopian and sci-fi novels for teens as much as we are? This is another one that would fit in this category. Todd is a boy who has grown-up his whole life in New World (think of Earth 2.0). To the settlers’ surprise, when they landed on New World, they could suddenly hear everyone’s thoughts, nothing is secret. When Todd is told that he needs to leave his town before his next birthday, trouble arises; after all, how can you keep thoughts secret when everyone can hear them?  For more details about this book, check out this glowing review from Megan.

Happy Reading and HOORAY FOR SUMMER!

Maryam

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Hooray For Thanksgiving Books!

November 11, 2011 at 5:04 am · Filed under Ages 3 - 6, Ages 6 - 8, Holiday books ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

With Turkey day just around the corner, it’s time to pick up some fabulous Thanksgiving stories at Hooray For Books!

I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie. By Alison Jackson; Puffin Books, Ages 3-6.   

Alison Jackson’s silly story I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie is the perfect book to read or sing aloud on Thanksgiving day! Her lyrical, rhythmic verse can be sung to the tune of “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.” In Jackson’s rendition, one very hungry old lady eats every Thanksgiving staple you can think of, and then some! After inhaling pie, cider, squash, salad, turkey and more, will this old lady ever be full? Find out in this delightful, hilarious story!

The Turkey Ball by David Steinberg. Price Stern Sloan Publishing. Ages 2-6.

“Gobble-gobble.” Learn how to speak turkey in Steinberg’s funny story about a group of turkeys off to dance the night away at the Turkey Ball! Follow these party animals as they travel in the turkey bus, strut down the cranberry red carpet, and dance “till their feathers meet the morning light!” Steinberg’s goofy text accompanied by Liz Conrad’s bold, fun illustrations will have you enjoying this book all Thanksgiving night long!

This Is The Feast by Diane Z. Shore. Harper Collins. Ages 4-8.

For those of you looking for a Thanksgiving book rich in history, we highly recommend This Is The Feast. The rhyming prose, sometimes solemn and sometimes rollicking, carries the reader through the Pilgrims’ journey, from the struggle of a barren winter to the joyful relief of the harvest. The illustrations are as colorful and vivid as the prose: “These are the maples, in forests ablaze, where wild turkeys run and golden deer graze.” This book is also packed with historical details, gracefully woven into the writing: did you know that the pilgrims ate lobster at Thanksgiving? Great for a classroom read, or for any child curious about the origins of Thanksgiving.

Turkey Riddles by Katy Hall. Puffin Books. Ages 5-8.

Does your early reader have a fowl sense of humor? Then they’re sure to gobble up Turkey Riddles! Packed with groan-worthy puns, your beginning reader will love reading these goofy jokes to you. Why did the turkey stuffing go on strike? Because it wanted a higher celery, of course! Why did Tom Turkey climb into the vegetable bowl? Well, you’re just going to have to come in and find out!

Toulouse on the Loose by Kimberly Thompson. Little Pigeon Books.

Check out Hooray For Books’  previous blog about Toulouse  here.  A word of caution however, this loveable turkey may make you think twice about eating a certain type of bird this holiday season.

These are just a few of our favorites, but be sure to swing by the store to explore our full collection!

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Maryam’s Pick of the Day

July 12, 2009 at 8:19 am · Filed under Ages 3 - 6 ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New Additions to our Favorite Series

Goldilicious, Amelia Bedelia’s First Day of School, and Fancy Nancy Tea Parties

goldiliciousFirst there was Pinkalicious, then there was Purplicious, and now Goldilicious. In this book, Pinkalicious has a new friend and it’s her pet unicorn! Goldilicious prances around the house all day, does a pinkerrific pirouette, and loves to play hide-and-go-seek. Most of all, Goldilicious is always there for Pinkalicious when she needs her friend.

Goldilicious by Victoria Kann; $17.99; HarperCollins

Amelia BedeliaAmelia Bedelia’s First Day of School is not about Amelia Bedelia going to school with her friends, but it’s about Amelia Bedelia’s first day of kindergarten. Even at five years old, Amelia Bedelia was getting into trouble, taking everything literally, and making everyone laugh. Amelia Bedelia hops off the bus, thinks her teacher wants to play tag, learns to run like a cheetah, and glues herself to her chair; and all on the first day of school. By the end of the day, Amelia Bedelia can’t wait for the next day of school.

Amelia Bedelia’s First Day of School, by Herman Parish; $16.99; HarperCollins

Fancy-nancy-tea-partiesOur favorite fancy friend, Nancy Clancy (or Fancy Nancy, as we know her) is back again to teach us how to host fancy tea parties.  This book has wonderful tips for what to wear, how to decorate your table to look extra-fancy, some French words to use in order to sound fancy, and easy-to-make and kid friendly recipes like delectable fruit kebabs and ladybug cookies.  There are even some fancy games for tea parties in this book.  At the end of the book, there are notecards on which to place your favorite  fancy recipes.

Fancy Nancy Tea Parties, by Jane O’Connor; $12.99; HarperCollins

There are also two new Fancy Nancy Beginner Readers: Fancy Nancy The Show Must Go On and Fancy Nancy Pajama Day. (Both are $3.99 paperbacks and are published by HarperCollins)

Happy Reading and Best Wishes

-Maryam

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Maryam’s Book of the Day — Amelia Bedelia, Bookworm

May 3, 2009 at 10:01 am · Filed under Ages 6 - 8 ·Tagged , , , , , ,

9780060518929Amelia Bedelia, Bookworm, by Herman Parish

Amelia Bedelia takes everything literally. When the librarian says that the books need jackets, Amelia Bedelia knits the books jackets. When she tells a boy, Mark, “Here is your book, Mark.”, Amelia thinks that everyone gets free bookmarks. So, what happens when the librarian says, “Take the book mobile…” and then gets interrupted.

This book is a level two reader which can be read with assistance. The story has longer sentences, a more engaging story, and laughs all around. Amelia Bedelia books are flying off the shelves, but don’t worry, you won’t be needing a butterfly net to catch them.

Best Wishes and Happy Reading! -Maryam

Amelia Bedelia, Bookworm, by Herman Parish; Harper Collins; $3.99

 

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