When it comes to reading, I am no stranger. Reading is the love of my life and the 900 books I am currently hoarding on shelves, under beds, in Tupperware containers and the top of my closet goes to show for it. However, when it comes to my kids, sometimes I feel like reading is still a struggle. My daughter, despite reading early, still struggles with the love of reading and my son is still in pre-reading age. As a pair they work perfectly- she can read to him and get practice and he can listen and hopefully pick up more of a spark than she has. This is one of the many reasons is why I am partnering with @disneybooks to share two new children’s books that are exciting, colorful and totally fun! I know that parents are always looking for something great for their kids to read as well as read to them and these books are no exception.
Elephant and Piggie Books
I first introduced you to Elephant and Piggie back during the ThankORama event in May. You can still pick up this Free Thank You Printable, which will help inspire your kids to recognize the world around them if you missed it. Elephant and Piggie are now back to show off their favorite books! As parents, you will be happy that these original stories are created by contemporary children’s book authors and illustrators, while giving your child an interesting and funny book that inspires them to keep picking up a book. After all, Elephant and Piggie like reading!
The first two books in the #EPLR series hit shelves September 20th: We are Growing and Cookie Fiasco.
COOKIE FIASCO
By Caldecott Award winner Dan Santat, In Stores September 20th
Synopsis: Four Friends. Three Cookies. One Problem. Hippo, Croc, and the Squirrels are determined to have equal cookies for all! But how? There are only three cookies . . . And four of them. . . What’s more, they need to act fast before nervous Hippo breaks all the cookies into crumbs!
About the Creator: Dan Santat (www.dantat.com) is the author and illustrator of the recent Caldecott winner, The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, and many other books. For Disney-Hyperion he illustrated Oh, No! and Oh, No! Not Again! by Mac Barnett, Always Lots of Heinies at the Zoo by Ayun Halliday, and Because I’m Your Dad by Ahmet Zappa. He is also the creator of Disney’s animated hit The Replacements. Dan lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
What I loved: Reintroducing characters my kids already recognize and a great build up to this adorable book, Elephant and Piggie appear at the beginning and at the end, almost encouraging the reader. This story is fantastic for a lesson on sharing, but also solving problems, a little bit of math, and of course, friendship. Becuase its dialogue based, it’s a fun book to read as a character and the large letters make it simple for even the newest reader to grasp.
WE ARE GROWING
By award-winning author and illustrator Laurie Keller, In Stores September 20th
Synopsis: Growing up isn’t always the EASIEST! Walt and his friends are growing up fast! Everyone is the something-est. But . . . what about Walt? He is not the tallest, or the curliest, or the silliest. He is not the anything-est! As a BIG surprise inches closer, Walt discovers something special of his own!
About the Creator: Laurie Keller, an award-winning author and illustrator, has created many children’s books including Birdy’s Smile Book, The Scrambled States of America Talent Show, and Do Unto Otters, a Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year. Laurie lives near Lake Michigan. Visit her at www.lauriekeller.com.
What I loved: I really adored this book. We are Growing was an interactive book (again introduced by Elephant and Piggie) that gave both of my kids a giggle. It celebrates our differences and our similarities while helping kids discover what makes them the “something-est.” It was honestly one of my favorite kids books I have read in a while. Full of big pictures and characters and was easy to read without dragging on. (Nothing is worse than a boring book at bed time!)
ABOUT MO WILLEMS
Mo Willems (www.pigeonpresents.com), a number one New York Times best-selling author and illustrator, has been awarded a Caldecott Honor on three occasions, for Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity. The celebrated Elephant & Piggie early-reader series has been awarded the Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal on two occasions (for There Is a Bird on Your Head! and Are You Ready to Play Outside?) as well as garnering five Geisel Honors (for We Are in a Book!, I Broke My Trunk!, Let’s Go for a Drive!, A Big Guy Took My Ball! and Waiting Is Not Easy!).
Find more awesome books:
- Visit PigeonPresents.com
- Follow on Twitter: @DisneyHyperion @The_Pigeon @DSantat @LKellerBooks
- Follow on Instagram: @DisneyBooks