"A Good, Good Pig Story"

Mansfield, Howard (2008). Hogwood Steps Out.(PreS-Gr. 2)

Christopher Hogwood is a pig who knows what he likes.  He likes nibbling in the neighbor's garden, digging up the lawn with his snout, running away from the policeman, and admiring the fine work of a backhoe.  He likes mud and apples and the fresh smells of spring on the breeze.  He also likes reminding people that he weighs 600 pounds and could run them over if he wanted to.  (Fortunately for everyone, he doesn't want to.)  If only everyone could enjoy the small pleasures of life as much as he does!  The gardener, the lawn's owner, and the policeman are less pleased with the way Hogwood tears up the ground and scares everyone away, but Hogwood doesn't mind: he has them all very well trained.

This is a laugh-out-loud story about a very smart pig and the very patient people he encounters.  There's a surprising amount of piggy information in this book, but you'll be laughing while you learn.  Share it with someone you love!

Straight from the horse's mouth

You never know when you'll find a good recommendation at the library.  Today, for instance, the following note was left on a shelf:

The reader has a good point.  Hank the Cowdog is one of the funniest characters out there.

Erickson, John (1983). Hank the Cowdog. (series) (Grades 4-6)

Hank is a cowdog.  More importantly, Hank is the Head of Ranch Security--at least, he's the Head of Ranch Security if you ask him.  If you ask anyone else on the ranch, you'll get a very different answer.  Hank is always getting into trouble with the ranchers and the other animals, despite his best intentions.  He's not as smart or as good-looking as he thinks he is, but he makes up for it in determination.  When a mysterious adventure arises, he's the first to run into it.  For instance, he stands his ground in the face of a plane (a "silver monster bird" trying to steal a steer, according to Hank) and almost manages to catch it before it veers away.

Hank's gruff way of talking and hilarious misunderstandings make these books fun to read aloud or alone, and the series is extensive enough that you'll always have your pick of books.  Although the first book is a good place to start, there's no need to read the series in order.  Each book stands well on its own and doesn't need anything more than Hank's own introduction: "It's me again, Hank the Cowdog."

Picture Books on Themes of Nature

Casanova, Mary. One Dog Canoe.

A girl and her dog set out in a canoe and are joined by various animals until there is no more room.

Hines, Anna Grossnickle. What Joe Saw.
Joe is always the last student to line up or stay with the group, but this allows him to see more things around him.

Paulsen, Gary. Canoe Days.

A man takes a canoe ride on a quiet summer day and points out the different animals that live around the lake.

Curl up with your little one and read a book about dads!

Dorros, Arthur. Papa and Me.
A boy spends the day with his father, who only speaks Spanish.

Holmberg, Bo R. A Day with Dad.
Tim's father lives in a different town. When he takes the train to visit Tim, they spend the entire day together, doing all of their favorite things












Warnes, Tim. Daddy Hug.
Animal dads and their little ones share lots of love and hugs.



Yaccarino, Dan. Every Friday.
Every Friday, a father and his child share a special tradition.

More books about dads:

• Bradman, Tony. Daddy's Lullaby.
• Katz, Karen. Daddy Hugs.
• Mallat, Kathy. Papa Pride.
• Taylor, Ann. Baby Dance.
• Ziefert, Harriet. 33 Uses for a Dad.

Great books for young mystery lovers.

Stevenson, James. The Mud Flat Mystery. 56 pages. (PreS - Grade 2)
In 12 short chapters the animals of Mud Flat attempt to figure out what is inside a box that has been left on the front porch of Duncan's home. You'll laugh at all the funny things the animals do while guessing what's inside the box.

Yolen, Jane. The Mary Celeste: An Unsolved Mystery from History. 1 v. (Grades 3-5)

A young girl tries to put together clues left by her detective father about the mysterious history of a ship called the Mary Celeste. In 1872 the ship was found with no passengers on board. A great book to read aloud and discuss the different theories of what may have happened. The main text is presented in a large box, while smaller boxes provide definitions for unknown terms.

Transportation Picture Books

Bee, William (2007). And the Train Goes...
This is a great read-aloud book filled with rhythmic text, such as "clickerty click, clickerty clack" and colorful pictures with lots of details. Each page shows different passengers boarding while the station parrot listens to the variety of sounds.

Hubbell, Patricia (2006). Cars: Rushing! Honking! Zooming!
Another book filled with many sounds and rhymes about vehicles. Vivid pictures and illustrations accompany the text.

Mitton, Tony (1997). Dazzling Diggers.
Animals on digging machines move, scoop, lift, and build.

Stoeke, Janet Morgan (2002). Minerva Louise and the Red Truck.
Join silly Minerva Louise on an adventure outside the farm where she sees people doing different things, including using different vehicles.

Books from Baby Book Time

Fleming, Denise. Lunch. Join the mouse on his colorful eating adventure. Kids will enjoy the vivid pictures and story about a very hungry mouse.

Hubbell, Patricia. Pots and Pans. Baby explores the kitchen cupboards, pulling out pots and pans and other noisy things.

Offen, Hilda. As Quiet as a Mouse. Rhyming text describes animals making different noises, such as clapping, laughing, and snoring.

Tafuri, Nancy. Have You Seen My Duckling? A mother duck and her seven ducklings swim around the pond looking for the eighth duckling. Can you find the little duckling on each page?

Picture Books to Read Together

In Carol Hunt Senderak’s Mommy in My Pocket a young bunny would like to take her mommy along with her to school. On each page, the bunny imagines how she could spend the day with her mommy if she was small enough to sit in her pocket. In the end, the bunny realizes that although her mommy can't go to school with her, her mommy's love is enough to get her through the day. A reassuring book for young children who are anxious about going to school alone.

More books that deal with children who are anxious to go to school include, Audrey Penn’s The Kissing Hand, in which a raccoon mother teaches her young one a special way to carry her love with him all day long; Nancy Kaufmann’s Bye, Bye! is about a young pig who has trouble leaving his father to go to school; and in Sarah Weeks’ “My Somebody Special” a puppy becomes anxious as he is the last to be picked up from school, but is reassured when his “somebody special” arrives.

Did your child enjoy Eric Carle’s Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me or Frank Asch’s MoonGame? Then try Oliver Jeffers’ How to Catch a Star where a young boy attempts to catch a star. He comes up with several ways to catch a star including jumping up to grab it, climbing a tall tree, and even asking a seagull to fly up and get it for him. He finally gets his wish when he spots a (sea) star on the beach. Jeffers’ uses simple pale watercolor illustrations that portray the boy’s every attempt to reach a star.