Snip, Snip...Snow! Ages 4-8

Sophie has to make due with paper snowflakes until she notices something out the window that promises winter fun.
Snip, Snip ... Snow!

By Nancy Poydar

Illustrated by Nancy Poydar

Edition: illustrated

Published by Holiday House, 1997

ISBN 0823413284, 9780823413287

32 pages

Those who have waited impatiently for ...... the arrival of the first snow will be in perfect sympathy with Sophie. Winter has arrived--the trees are bare, the ground is hard, and she has to wear her heavy jacket. So where is the snow ... more »? Sophie can't wait for sledding, snowballs, and snowmen. Then the weather forecast comes--snow is on the way. Sophie prepares her sled and snowboots and everything she needs for a snowman. She can hardly sleep, but in the morning there's still no snow. In desperation Sophie asks her teacher if they can make snowflakes, and the class creates an indoor paper snowstorm. As Sophie tapes a paper snowman up in the window she sees that tiny flakes are falling and by the next morning, there's plenty of snow to play in. Children will appreciate the predictability, and Poydar uses fluid illustrations to capture all of Sophie's impatience and her unbridled enthusiasm when the snow finally arrives.

Kirkus Reviews Copyright (c) VNU Business Media, Inc.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2. Ages 4-8 Sophie is disappointed that although the weather is frosty cold, no snow has fallen. Finally, a winter storm is forecast, but it does not materialize on schedule. In school, she and her classmates decide to make their own paper snowflakes; when Sophie tapes her paper creation to the window, she sees real flakes drifting down at last. The children enjoy the beauty of the quiet snowfall as they walk home, and participate in all their favorite winter activities the next morning. The vigorous text and bright illustrations not only capture the youngsters' unconditional love of snow, but also, amusingly, the adults' disenchantment with it. Sweeping, double-page spreads show expressive, lively cartoon figures against more realistic backgrounds of home, school, and the outdoors. Instructions for making paper snowflakes are included. A seasonal treat for all of those impatient children who anticipate the arrival of wintry weather. Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The History of Counting Ages 9-12

The History of Counting

By Denise Schmandt-Besserat, Schmandt-Besserat, Michael Hays, Hays

Published by Hi Marketing, 2000

ISBN 0688141188, 9780688141189

48 pages

Gr 3-5, Ages 9, 10, 11,12-One strength of this title is the ...... cultural context into which the information has been placed so that children will understand not only how numbering and counting have evolved over time but also why. Some of the phrasing and ... more » several of the cultural examples are sophisticated but for the most part the information has been well adapted to a young audience. The book begins with a brief introduction that defines counting and numbers and then moves on to a historical overview. Hays' attractive paintings, done in acrylic on linen, successfully interpret the concepts explained in the text. It would be a shame if older children dismissed this book because of its picture-book format, since they are unlikely to encounter a better explanation of the subject. There are some fine older, out-of-print books that convey much of the same information, but nothing in recent memory explains the topic quite so well.-Linda Greengrass, Bank Street College Library, New York City

Cahners Business Information (c) 1999
From Scientific American
When we count, we say "one, two, three ... " but it is possible to count without using numbers at all. Perhaps instead we could just point to different parts of our body to represent varying amounts. Pointing to our left shoulder would mean nine, while pointing to our right eye would mean 15. This type of body counting is how the Paiela, the people of the highlands of Papua New Guinea, count. They have no special words for numbers. Another people, the Veddas of Sri Lanka, also count without numbers. They pile up pebbles to represent the objects: one pebble for each object. They have a few special counting words meaning things such as "a single," "a couple," "another one" and "many." In this book, author Schmandt-Besserat draws from her background as an archaeologist and takes us through the early counting techniques of the ancient Middle East to witness the evolution of our modern-day method. Try your hand at counting the way the ancient Sumerians did and experience a world without zero. Try to count like the ancient Greeks and learn the 27 letters of their alphabet that they used as numerals. After short experiments with these techniques, the advantages of the modern system become clear. You'll never look at numbers in quite the same way again.
REVIEW THE NEW YORK TIMES

THEATER/PERFORMANCE Unit

These are available from Wake County Public Library (unless otherwise noted):

12 Fabulously Funny Fairy Tale Plays by Justin McCory Martin Not in WCPL
25 Just-Right Plays For Emergent Readers (Grades K-1) Not in WCPL
*A Play's the Thing by Aliki Amazon Preview Ages 6-9
Acting Out: Six One-act Plays! Six Newbery Stars! Ages 9-14
Around the World in 21 Plays Theatre for Young Audiences, Grades 7-10, Ages 13-16 Amazon Table of Contents
The Big Book of Folktale Plays: One-act adaptations of folktales from around the world, for stage and puppet performance. Ed by SE Kamerman Amazon Table of Contents
Cinderella Outgrows the Glass Slipper and Other Zany Fractured Fairy Tale Plays Not in WCPL
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village book and 2 CDs, Grades 4-8, Ages 10-14 Google Books Amazon Table of Contents
The JUMBO BOOK OF DRAMA by Deborah Dunleavy Ages 6-9 Google Review
Kids Take the Stage: Helping Young People Discover the Creative Outlet of Theater Not in WCPL
On Stage! How to Put on a Play P. Sternberg
On Stage Short Plays for Acting Students R Mauro
*On Stage! Theater Games and Activities for Kids by Lisa Bany-Winters Ages 6-12 Google Books
Plays of America from American Folklore for Children Grades K-6, by LE McCullough Ages 5-12
*Presenting Reader's Theater Plays and Poems to Read Aloud by Caroline Feller Bauer Ages Preschool Plus
*Readers Theatre Anthology 28 all-occasion readings for storytellers Google Books Amazon Table of Contents Preview
(Partial Contents:
Comedy: The Tooth Fairy Who Didn't Have Any Teeth
Mystery/Suspense: Sire de Maletroit's Door, The Tell-Tale Heart
Christmas Specials: A Christmas Carol, The Gift of the Magi, the Eyes of El Cristo
Folklore: One Eye, Two Eyes, and Three Eyes; Urashima Taro; the Glass in the Field
Children's Classics: The Wind in the Willows, Aesop's Fables, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, I Can
The Human Spirit: The Song Caruso Sang, Sparring With the Champ, Where Have All the Flowers Gone?, and A Year-End Dialogue With Outer Space)
*Show Time! Music, Dance, and Drama Activities for Kids Ages 9-12 Google Books
Show Time at the Polk Street School
*Stories On Stage: (22) Reader's Theater Scripts (Adapted from Children's Literature for Elementary and Junior High School Students) (First Edition, Hardcover). A Shepard Online: http://www.aaronshep.com/rt/RTE.html
Theatre for Young Audiences 20 Great Plays for Children, Includes Charlotte's Web and The Secret Garden Table of Contents & Extensive Preview
Theatre Games for Young Performers Improvisations & Exercises for Developing Acting Skills Google
Ages 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

Noel The First Ages 3-7

Noel is delighted when Madam asks her to stand first at the barre, until Anne Marie and Regina Louisa Belinda join the class and Noel the First ends up Noel the Third, and Noel does her best to outtwirl, outjump, and outdance the two other ballerinas.
Noel the First

By Kate McMullan, Jim McMullan

Illustrated by Jim McMullan

Edition: illustrated

Published by HarperCollins Canada, Limited, 1996

ISBN 0062051431, 9780062051431 32 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Ballerina Noel (introduced in Nutcracker Noel) enjoys the most privileged place at the barre in her class. Along with first place comes pressure, however, and Noel loses her coveted spot to a new dancer, Anne Marie. Anne Marie in turn faces a challenge from a third girl, Regina Louisa Belinda. As Noel watches her foes spinning and leaping, she realizes they look "like a pair of killer whales going after the same sardine." Competition has brought out their worst; seeing this, Noel recovers her own artistic balance and dances "with all her heart, the way she used to do," thus regaining her teacher's favor. Kate McMullan accentuates Noel's initial vanity ("Noel the First... that's me!"), then comically ups the ante by giving Noel's competitors haughty demeanors. Jim McMullan, too, compares the lanky girls to society ladies, endowing them with ski-slope noses, sugary smiles and mannered postures (Regina even wears a tiara). The more prideful the girls' behavior, the harder and less graceful the images become; as Noel transcends the competition, blurry and delicate watercolor touches soften her features and make her look lighter than air. For all the exaggeration, there is plenty of truth to this tale?not just for prima ballerinas, but for anyone striving for a personal best. Ages 3, 4 -up.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2 Ages 5, 6, 7 -Noel loves to dance. When her teacher places her at the front of the line at the barre, she is very proud to lead the exercises. But when Anne Marie arrives and later on Regina Louisa Belinda, Noel "the first" becomes Noel "the second" and even Noel "the third." As she watches the other two girls trying to outdo one another, she sees how silly they look. When her turn comes, she forgets about them and only listens to the music as she dances from the heart; her teacher is delighted to have finally found a "real dancer." In this simple, lightly humorous text, young readers will identify with Noel and the dilemma of wanting to be first. The soft-hued illustrations effectively capture the ballet-studio environment with its leaping and twirling young dancers. Occasionally the alignment of the dancers borders on contortionistic rather than balletic, but overall the dynamic drawings are appealing and convey the moods and momentum of the story.
Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Three Stories You Can Read to Your Dog Ages 5-10

PREVIEW

Three hilarious stories in easy-reader format about things dogs understand best -- burglars, bones, and running free -- with lively pictures of dogs doing exciting things. "Humans will find these selections entertaining even without a hound present -- but it's always nice to share." -- Publishers Weekly

Three Stories You Can Read to Your Dog

By Sara Swan Miller

Illustrated by True Kelley

Edition: illustrated

Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1997

ISBN 0395861357, 9780395861356

48 pages

From Publishers Weekly
"When you feel bored, you read a book. But dogs can't read," Miller points out. Lest people have all the fun, she's designed this chapter book with canine sensibilities in mind. Each tale is addressed to "you good dog," enabling readers to speak directly to a pet. "The Burglar" testifies to the fierceness and bravery "you" exhibit after hearing a knock on the door; "The Bone" chronicles the history of a gift from "your friend," including a dream sequence about a splendid "bone tree"); and "The Wild Dog" is an adventure in which "you" frighten a car, chase a squirrel and triumphantly return home for a can of food and a nap. Kelley (I Really Want a Dog) sketches a floppy brown Everydog who wags attentively at the narrator's voice, then enacts each role of eating, sleeping and protecting the house; the illustrator's familiarity with doggy expressions and gestures serves Miller's volume well. Humans will find these selections entertaining even without a hound present-but it's always nice to share. Ages 7, 8, 9, 10.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3 Ages: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Readers can share these short, easy-to-read stories with their dogs in one, two, or three sessions, depending on the animal's attention span. They are about the things canines understand best - barking at a "burglar" on the other side of the door, eating and burying bones, and pretending to be a "wild dog." Canine lovers can't help but laugh out loud at these stories, made even funnier by the watercolor-and-ink cartoon illustrations. Fans of Cynthia Rylant's "Henry and Mudge" series (Bradbury) will love this book, so order a couple of copies. Gale W. Sherman, Pocatello Public Library, ID
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Ocean Wildlife Up Close Ages 9-12

"A Joshua Morris book."

Ocean Wildlife

By Jinny Johnson

Edition: illustrated

Published by Readers Digest Association, 1993

ISBN 0895775352, 9780895775351

24 pages Ages 9, 10, 11, 12

ERIC CARLE BOOK LIST - SLD

The Art of Eric Carle
Dragons Dragons
A House for Hermit Crab, 1 paperback, 1 hardback
The Mixed-Up Chameleon - Board
My Apron
Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?
The Secret Birthday Message
The Very Busy Spider - Board
The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Board, 2 copies
The Very Lonely Firefly
Walter the Baker