Welcome to metomi.com, your online source of great reads and activities for smart children! This edition we have some great book suggestions for little kids, your youngest children! As with all our other recommended book lists, we have only included books that we have loved ourselves. Enjoy a wonderful children's book from one of our favourite author/illustrators, Lois Ehlert, as she tells a delicious tale of cherries, pie and some very smart birds. Have a read of a hilarious book about a fish-eat-fish world and another Ehlert winner that teaches shapes in a refreshing fun way. Find a way to get a copy of a captivating children's book by Ken Wilson-Max that teaches children the basics of money, and find a few deja-vu moments with a book that shows children it's ok to have a few "uh-ohs". Many Happy Reads from metomi.com!
Title: Pie in the Sky
Author/Illustrator: Lois Ehlert
We love the wonderful collage illustrations in this children's book, the option of reading a short text for younger children and an optional longer text for older children, and of course, the delicious details of baking a pie. Follow a child's view of the world as it pertains to a cherry tree, from the blossoms in spring to the cherries at harvest, and finally, to the wonderful slice of pie on the plate! We have enjoyed Ehlert's Planting A Rainbow, as well as Color Zoo below. As with all books on our lists, we have read this one many times!
Title: Blue Sea
Author: Robert Kalan
Illustrator: Donald Crews
If you really get into this book, it is absolutely hilarious! There are only a handful of words in this book, but the young child quickly picks up on what is happening in this fish-eat-fish world. The small fish is being chased by the big fish who is being chased by the bigger fish who is being chased by the biggest fish. Fortunately (for the small fish, anyway!) each meal opportunity is thwarted. The more the grown-up exaggerates the short verse, the better - there are several great opportunities to get a little silly with the word "Ouch!" and get your children to laugh!
Title: Color Zoo
Author/Illustrator: Lois Ehlert
Here's another great Ehlert children's book for learning shapes in a fun, hands-on way! Your bright child will find interesting ways to combine shapes into familiar zoo animals, lions, goats, tigers and more. You can use a pencil and carefully trace out some of those shapes so that your child can replicate the cutouts in the book using the same size shapes. There is an opportunity as well to pick up on some familiar and new colour combinations. Very sturdy for the repeat readings and handling!
Title: Max's Money
Author/Illustrator: Ken Wilson-Max
We absolutely love this children's book. The only issue we have with it is that it appears to be out of print, but it would be well worth your while to find a new version - the book has a ton of play value! Children progress through the book by taking a real coin and dropping it into a slot on one page, then picking up that same coin from a pocket on the next page. The slot represents a number of things, including a gumball machine slot and a payphone slot, an interesting way to teach children the basics of money. A coin the size of a quarter or larger works best. We have played with the book at home, during bedtime reading (watch out for falling coins!) and on the road in the car. The book has withstood many reads and at least two pairs of curious hands, although it does eventually wear out. The illustrations are delightful and the short text a perfect complement for children. Enjoy!
Title: Uh-Oh!
Author: Marion Dane Bauer
Illustrator: Valeria Petrone
This book seems to resonate with children and grown-ups alike! In a playful and effective way, this flap book shows children that "uh-ohs" do not cause their parents to love them any less. That distinction is made very clear with a set of examples illustrating some familiar "uh-ohs" where a child's natural curiousity overrides a parents' guidance, leading to a small accident of one form or another e.g. lamp breaking, kite flying off. Children get enjoyment from saying "uh-oh!" ... and perhaps from watching vs. being at the centre of that kind of unwanted attention!
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