It's Spring!

In honor of the first day of spring, I made it a point to read It's Spring to Butterfly and Ladybug. It's written by Samantha Berger and illustrated by Melissa Sweet.

Although the first line is "In April, the robin began to sing.." I found it fitting for the vernal equinox and the beautiful weather we've been having. Several woodland and farm friends spread the word that spring is here - the leaves and flowers are back, the snow is gone and the sun and rains are here!

The illustrations are large and simple enough without omitting too much detail to engage the littlest of readers, and the rhythm and rhyme will make it a continual favorite for the older readers as well. There is plenty of opportunity to make animal sounds, which makes a good book so much better in this house. There are quacking ducks, singing birds, and crowing roosters. You can talk about animal motions - swimming ducks, trotting horses, running deer. It's also an opportunity to introduce the concept of hiberation as the story concludes with waking bears. Or you can just enjoy the rhythm of the sweet little poem.

Just look at that bunny. How can you not be happy it's spring?

Pink Butterfly's new identity

Purple Butterfly chose her own identity. She likes to pretend to be a purple butterfly and to flap her wings. She likes to pretend that we're a family of butterflies, so it followed that if I would refer to everyone as butterflies. But as Pink Butterfly gets older, she is becoming more and more her own person with her own very unique personality. She's still partial to pink, even more partial to hot pink, but she's also showing a penchant for ladybugs. So, for clarity and honesty and individualism, I will now call Pink Butterfly Pink Ladybug, possibly Ladybug, L, or PL for short. Yet I will stick with an insect theme. Apparently my children are more bookworms in the manner of being book larvae. I don't think that's a term that will catch on.

Owen

Our most recent trip to the library had us bringing Owen by Kevin Henkes home with us. Owen is a mouse who has a lovey, Fuzzy, a worn yellow blanket. Fuzzy does everything and goes everywhere with Owen and is not so fuzzy anymore. But Owen will be starting school soon, and won't be able to take Fuzzy with him. His parents, armed with some encouragement and advice born from a rather nosey next-door neighbor's disapproval, try to break Owen of his Fuzzy habit, but to no avail. Finally, Owen's mother devises a solution that works for everyone.

My own kids are a bit too young to have to worry about having the conversation of where the lovey can and cannot go, but this book made me think about it. And when that time comes, we will borrow this book from the library again. Henkes does great job of writing in a way that speaks to both the kids and their parents. The words are reassuring, the illustrations fun and engaging. His world of mice tackle a lot of the "issues" little kids have to deal with.

This book has inspired me to look at the relationships my own children have with their lovies. Of course, that will be an upcoming post or two.