Chester ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell

Chester
By Melanie Watt (and Chester)
(Kids Can Press, 2007)

Chester is a cat.

Not just any cat, but a very talented, imaginative, and creative cat.

Chester loves to be in the limelight. He also has ideas about what type of limelight and focus he wants.

And while Chester is all of the above, he is also - gasp - somewhat NAUGHTY!

Meet Melanie Watt, the author who is trying to tell the story of Chester, a very large calico cat who carries his own red correcting pen. At all times.

Meet Chester, the star of the book, who repeatedly hijacks the story and turns it to his own purposes.

Chester and Chester's Back! are delightful, funny, and imaginative picture books. The voice of Chester interacts seamlessly with the author's voice of Melanie. Kids will love Chester and his antics.

But beware, kids might get some ideas from Chester!

KID KANDY:

Make a Paper Plate Chester

Materials: wax-free paper plates, construction paper, scissors, glue, markers, crayons

1. Draw a cat face on your paper plate. Include eyes, nose, whiskers, and mouth.

2. Color your cat Chester colors (or any color you like - that's what Chester would do).

3. Cut ears, paws, and a tail from construction paper. Glue them in place.

4. Cut a pen from construction paper. Make sure it is red! Glue it to Chester's paw.

Now you have your own Chester. Both of you can make up your own stories!

Meow!

Chester's Back!
(Kids Can Press, 2013)

Don't Eat the Baby! ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

No one is going to eat his baby!

By Angie Quantrell Angie Quantrell

Don't Eat the Baby!
By Amy Young
(Viking, 2013)

Don't Eat the Baby! is a funny story about new babies, big brothers, and misunderstandings.

Tom is not sure he wants a new baby. In fact, he names the baby The Blob. At first he is jealous of all of the attention being placed on baby Blob. But soon, Tom hears people saying they want to eat the baby because it is so adorable.

What? They can't eat his baby. Tom decides he has to save the baby. His baby.

Families with new babies will love reading this as they merge the new family member with older siblings. This book also provides humor as discussions take place about silly things adults say.

KID KANDY:

Baby Doll Play

Materials: baby doll, doll clothes and accessories, doll bed or toys

Do you have a new baby sister or brother? They are noisy, tiny, cute, and here to stay. While mom and dad are busy taking care of the new family member, this is your time to play and take care of your own baby.

Pretend the baby is your baby. Feed, rock, burp, and put the baby doll to bed. You can even give your baby a name. It's fun to pretend, isn't it?

You can also ask mom or dad how you can help with your new sibling. Maybe you can go get a diaper for mom or hand dad the blankie. Snuggle in close while baby is sleeping. You used to be that tiny!

Congratulations on being the big brother (or sister)!

Rude Cakes ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

Funny book about manners

By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell

Rude Cakes
By Rowboat Watkins
(Chronicle Books, 2015)

I cracked up when I read Rude Cakes.

Seriously, talking cakes? Yes. There are even cakes that have good manners and those who need lessons in being polite and friendly.

Youngsters will enjoy the antics of rude cakes as they read Rude Cakes. Readers may even learn about some of the social graces. The important question is: Do rude cakes ever change?

KID KANDY:

Rude Kid Role Play

Wouldn't it be fun to act like a rude cake?

Allow your child to pretend to be the opposite of a well-mannered child by acting rude through role play. Emphasize that it is fun to pretend, but for real situations, it is never kind to be rude.

If you want to keep it contained to the make-believe in Rude Cakes, take turns acting out the different characters as you read the book together. That makes role playing a win-win activity.


Question of the Day: What is the hardest 'good manners rule' for you to remember to do?

Maybe it is remembering to say please and thank you, covering your mouth when you cough, or picking your nose at the table (ewww!).

I'd love to hear about your most difficult rule.

Chicken Cheeks - Wacky Wednesday Picture Book & KID KANDY

Chicken Cheeks
By Michael Ian Black
Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009)

This Wacky Wednesday is really, well, WACKY! I stumbled upon Chicken Cheeks at the public library. After one read-aloud to my grandson, I was hooked and we were both in giggles.

Chicken Cheeks is about bums. Backsides. Buttocks. The "B" word, though I use the word buttsy with my grands.

The entire book is a story of animals, their cheeks (not the ones on their faces), and their attempts to work together to reach a honeybee hive at the top of a very tall tree. The results (and illustrations) are hilarious.

Readers will come away from Chicken Cheeks with a whole new list of words to use for butts. Think vocabulary building while having a good time.

Too much fun and smirking are involved in Chicken Cheeks. So get your buns on out there and find a copy.

KID KANDY:

Word Games: Implement New Words & Build Vocabulary

~ Silly, but yes, children will love to start using their new words in daily life. Maybe you will get tired of the hilarity, but just crack a grin and go with it.

~ Learning never comes to an end . . . try and drum up some new words that were not in Chicken Cheeks. Add those to your conversation (in appropriate circles, of course).

Make sure to read the book jacket and blurb. The play on words is hysterical!

Santa Cows - Christmas Picture Books

Santa Cows
Written by Cooper Edens
Illustrated by Daniel Lane
(Green Tiger Press, 1991)

Santa Cows is one of those picture books that crack me up. I once did a skit at church, complete with the handing out of little cartons of milk and the reading aloud of this book. I believe I wore a Santa hat, possibly horns, and my cow helpers wore the same. It was quite the fun treat.

Set in a similar cadence as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, this rhyming picture book tells the story of cows that visit a family. These red-hat wearing bovines bring not only gifts, but sing Christmas songs and lure family members out into the snow to play a game of baseball.

If you have any sort of quirky sense of humor, this book is a must. The illustrations are wonderful (makes me wish I had a cow) and the story delivers comic relief and a unique experience.

Read this book with milk and cookies. And then dress warmly and head out to play baseball.