G is for Goat ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

G is for Goat
By Patricia Polacco
(Philomel Books, Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, 2003)

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G is for Goat is a delightful alphabet book that consists of cavorting goats. Now, that doesn't sound too exciting, but it really is cute. If you know anything about goats at all - say, how naughty they can be, how they love to nibble on everything in sight, how they leap and act goofy - you will laugh when you read this picture book.

G is for Goat is wonderfully illustrated. The main character, a young female, certainly has her arms full with wayward charges. The alphabet incorporated into the story is wonderful. As an early childhood educator, I am always looking for clever alphabet books with which to reinforce letters, language, and reading fun, all experienced within the pages of a good book.

Farmers, readers, young children, animal lovers - all will love reading G is for Goat.

KID KANDY:

Make Your Own Alphabet Page

1. What does your name begin with? Find that page and reread it.

2. Make your own alphabet page. It doesn't have to be with goats. Choose something you love that begins with the first letter of your name.

3. For instance, my first name is Angie.

Looking at the Aa page, I see that Patricia Polacco (the author and illustrator of this lovely book) shows apples that begin with Aa.

On my page, I can print the letters - Aa - and choose something that begins with Aa to put on my page. Hmmm, let's think: apple, aardvark, ant, automobile, author, anthill, avocado, ape...

4. Illustrate your alphabet page.

5. Show your alphabet page. Choose another letter and make a second page!

Sing the alphabet song. Don't you love letters and words and reading and singing and drawing?

Me, too.

Daredevil Duck ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

Daredevil Duck
By Charlie Alder
(Running Press Kids, 2015)

Daredevil Duck dreamed of being the bravest duck in the whole wide world. Except he wasn't. He really, really wanted to be brave. But the truth was, there were some things that scared him.

Daredevil Duck tells about the adventures of, well, Daredevil Duck. After facing various trials, Daredevil Duck finally finds that he is indeed very brave! (It helps that he is cheered on by his friends.)

Daredevil Duck has colorful illustrations, different sized pages, and lots of excitement. Young readers will love finding out that Daredevil Duck is afraid of common things and he still finds out how to be courageous.

KID KANDY:

What Are You Afraid Of?

1. Make a list of things that scare you (snakes, mud, dark rooms, airplanes, . . .).

2. Choose one thing and figure out how to face that fear and become brave! Maybe it is spiders or bees or loud cars. How can you get over that fear?

3. How did Daredevil Duck get over his fears? Would that help you get over yours?

You could be the bravest duck in the whole wide world! Oops, I mean the bravest child in the whole wide world!

Mrs. Wishy-washy ~ Picture Book & KID KANDY

Mrs. Wishy-washy
By Joy Cowley
Illustrations by Elizabeth Fuller
(Shortland Publications Limited, 1980)

Mrs. Wishy-washy lives on a farm. One day, the cow, the pig, and the duck found lovely mud and spent their time rolling and splashing about until Mrs. Wishy-washy found the mud splattered animals. Into the tub they went. And then Mrs. Wishy-washy cleaned them up. Wishy-washy, wishy-washy, wishy-washy.

When the animals were spotless, Mrs. Wishy-washy went back to the house. But the animals spied something fantastic. Mud!

This read-together book is catchy and funny. Readers will love to sing-song wishy-washy, wishy-washy, wishy-washy and laugh at the ending.

KID KANDY:

Play in the Mud

1. Get permission to play in the mud.

2. Put on old play clothes.

3. Dig a hole in the dirt.

4. Fill the hole with water.

5. Splash about and mix up the dirt and water. Make some fantastic mud! Paint your legs and hands. Make mud pies. Walk on cement to make mud footprints.

6. Hose off before you go into the house.

7. Take a bath. As you scrub, sing, "wishy-washy, wishy-washy, wishy-washy."

Chicks & Salsa - Wacky Wednesday Picture Book & KID KANDY

Chicks & Salsa
By Aaron Reynolds
Illustrated by Paulette Bogan
(Scholastic Inc., 2005)

LOL. The chickens are tired of chicken food. So Rooster decides he will solve the problem. Unbeknownst to Mrs. Nuthatcher, the farmers' wife, Rooster is also watching the cooking channel when she is glued to the set.

Guess who learns to cook?

The chickens! Homemade salsa is their first dish, which leads to a lovely meal for the chicks - chips and salsa.

What follows in this silly book is a feast for the eyes and the funny bone. All of the animals begin to grumble about their boring food. Each group makes their own Mexican dish. The cooking fun comes to a crashing halt when the farmer and his wife decide to make tamales for the fair.

Out of supplies, there is only one way for the animals to supplement ordinary animal food with exquisitely prepared meals. Rooster learns to read so he can follow cookbook directions.

Wacky to the end, Chicks & Salsa is engaging and entertaining. Readers will certainly want to head to the kitchen to make their own special meal.


KID KANDY:

Make Your Own Salsa

Gather the supplies that the animals used in Chicks & Salsa.

~ tomatoes
~ onions

Chop up the tomatoes and onions. Add other ingredients the family will enjoy.

Optional:
~ a small pepper
~ cilantro
~ lime juice
~ corn kernels
~ oregano

Mix together. Serve with corn chips. Ole!

Old MacDonald Had a Farm - Books You Can Sing

Old MacDonald Had a Farm with Pictures By Holly Berry (Scholastic, 1994).

I may have had this book since it was published in 1994! The edges certainly look well loved.

I love singing books, which leads to children memorizing the words and singing books, which leads to children connecting memorized words to text on pages, which leads to reading and the love of books! What a fun and amazing ride!

Old MacDonald Had a Farm makes its appearance each fall when the FARM theme comes to life. Most students and children are familiar with this song utilizing farm animal sounds. We have a grand time singing, making animal noises, and acting out animal movements.

Berry enlivens this popular children's song by adding the element of animal participation - by allowing them to become band members who play and sing with the Old MacDonald. And a fun time was had by all . . .

You know it. You are humming the song. E-I-E-I-O.