Bernard Wiseman knows children. He must, because he chose a moose named Morris to be his star in Morris Goes to School. Moose are funny animals, and Morris is no different. He is somewhat silly, and doesn't understand a lot, so he follows a man's advice: Go to school. Once at school, Morris learns a bit of the three "R's," makes some friends, and in the end, achieves what he set out to do. He gets to buy gumdrops for himself.

Why we like this book: Like I said, moose are funny animals, and Morris is a funny moose. The line drawings are reminiscent of Syd Hoff's drawings (Sammy the Seal, among others). Kids can't help but laugh and say "No, Morris! It's like this..." and want to help Morris learn. Morris also helps a child understand what might happen in a typical school day (even if the day is a bit different from how a child spends his or her day today). When you read the part of Morris speaking, I dare you also not to change your voice to a goofy moose's voice. Or at least your best impression of a moose.

Two-Post Thursday!

I was really torn about the choice of book today, so I chose two books. One fiction, and one nonfiction, because there hasn't yet been a nonfiction post.

The nonfiction choice is called, What's in the Meadow? by Anne Hunter. There are actually 4 books in this series, and we do have 3 here at our house, but 2 of them have been hijacked for the picture. What's in the Meadow? offers simple descriptions of creatures found in meadow habitats, and likewise for the others, What's in the Pond?, What's Under the Log?, and What's in the Tidepool?. Anne Hunter's own illustrations are realistic, which helps one become familiar with the creature. As stated before, the descriptions are simple, but informative, and even an adult can learn something while reading with his or her child.

Why we like this book (and the others): Reading nonfiction books with your child is just as important as reading a fictional story. Nonfiction reading is also a way to increase a child's interest in reading. The topics are limitless; space, cooking, famous Americans, cars, insects--literally too many to mention. By showing a child a book on a topic of interest, the child is more likely to want to read and learn about it, or at least have you read it to them. And, if nature is something that interests him, What's in the Meadow? (as well as the others in the series), is a good choice for him.

Putting a spin on a classic

Dateline: Fairytale Land. One "Big Bad Wolf" has been taken into custody on felony pig-eating charges. Wolf claims innocence, citing the whole story is one big misunderstanding, and will make his statement in the form of The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by A. Wolf. Jon Scieszka's clever interpretation of the story puts a spin on the classic fairytale, giving us readers the possible "other side of the story." The wolf wants our sympathy and tells the tale of his day in pursuit of a simple cup of sugar. Lane Smith's artwork helps us paint a fuzzy picture of what happened that day, as if the memories are clouded by the wolf's judgment.

Why we like this book: The simple idea of perspective: do you know what was on the mind of the wolf that day? Mr. Scieszka has one, and it's funny. Taking a well known story and turning the idea around is a good way to take a new look at things. Try reading the traditional story, then reading this one. You actually may have a little bit of sympathy for an otherwise Big Bad Wolf.