I have a totally fun book to share today. It reminds me, just in a vague way, of Frog And Toad by Arnold Lobel which are some of my favorite stories ever.
Written & Illustrated By: Mo Willems
Balzer & Bray, April 2011, Fiction
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: friendship, reading is fun
Opening: "Amanda was at the library getting books for the week.
Her aligator was not.
He was waiting for Amanda to get back.
I do not like it when Amanda is gone, thought Alligator. I am no good at waiting.
He paced around the room.
He fiddled with his tail.
When Amanda comes home we will have fun, thought Alligator.
Maybe she will have a surprise for me!
Alligator smiled."
Brief Synopsis: Amanda and Alligator are best friends. They love to surprise each other. Sometimes the surprises are more surprising than others. One day Amanda brings home a special surprise that may not be too welcome... and the result is another surprise!
Links To Resources: HERE is a great list of fun friendship activities based on the book; this blog has a quick review of the book, but scroll down a bit and there are some wonderful suggestions for activities.
Why I Like This Book: It's subtitled "6 1/2 surprising stories about 2 surprising friends." It stars a stuffed alligator... who sometimes wears his Old Thinking Cap :) It champions the idea that "books beat boredom." It's by Mo Willems! Really - what's not to like? :) Although it is technically a picture book, it is also almost an early reader and thus makes a great transition book - first listen, then read alone. And the stories are charming and sweet and fun. For example, when Alligator feels sad because he was in the sale bucket for 7 cents because no one wanted to buy him, Amanda tells him no one wanted to buy him because they knew he was meant to be her best friend :)
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
Now then. After the haircut debacle, some people asked for photos. I really don't like photos of myself. I try not to get within range of a camera if I can possibly think of a reason to be elsewhere. But I love you. So here you go. Just remember that I'm one of those people who is best photographed from a distance... like the moon... but since I had to take the after photo myself I couldn't get that far away. Shield your eyes :)
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| I borrowed this from Joanna - that's me, Emma and her - I'm the shortest one :) That's the most recent "before" I have |
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| and here's the after - just GAK on so many levels |
Now. Let's put that horror behind us, shall we? I have something fun to tell you!
But I think it will have to wait for Monday. Because I'm in the middle of thinking up a hare-brained scheme to go with it. A kind of a contest maybe, methinks. Or something. I'm still pondering... Feel free to make suggestions of what you feel like doing and what prize you'd like to win in the comments!
So see you Monday!
Have a great weekend everyone!
And PPBF bloggers, please add your post-specific links to the list below! :)
