"Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak

In honor of Maurice Sendak, this week Miss Becca will read Where the Wild Things Are in Open Play Story Time!

I have been reading many articles about this great man and heavy influence on my teaching philosophy.  His honest, wild style is, and will be, missed.  Among my reading, I found this great article with quotations from Mr. Sendak.  Here's my favorite:

“Once a little boy sent me a charming card with a little drawing on it. I loved it. I answer all my children’s letters — sometimes very hastily — but this one I lingered over. I sent him a card and I drew a picture of a Wild Thing on it. I wrote, 'Dear Jim: I loved your card.' Then I got a letter back from his mother and she said, 'Jim loved your card so much he ate it.' That to me was one of the highest compliments I’ve ever received. He didn’t care that it was an original Maurice Sendak drawing or anything. He saw it, he loved it, he ate it.”

Read the rest of the article here.

Bring your wild thing to Open Play this Thursday to hear Miss Becca read Where the Wild Things Are at 3:30 PM.  "Let the Wild Rumpus Start!"

"Bark, George" by Jules Feiffer

Here's another classic for our book of the week!  It's one of my favorites, Bark, George by Jules Feiffer. This simply illustrated story follows a frustrated mother dog and her puppy, George.  The problem: George won't bark.  Every time his mother asks him to bark, he makes the sound of another animal.  After having enough of George's moos, quacks, meows, and oinks, George's mother takes him to vet.  You and your little one will get a kick out of seeing just how frazzled George's mom becomes.  As the vet examines George, he discovers that the noises are coming from animals in George's belly.  The simple illustrations are hilarious as the vets pulls out a cow, duck, cat, and pig!  It's a great chance to quiz your little one on animal sounds and a better chance for a few laughs!  Finally, after reaching in and pulling out a cow, George lets out a rewarding "Arf!"  It's a fun read with a surprise ending adults and kids are sure to love.  I won't ruin the end, so you'll have to come out to Open Play this Thursday at 3:30 to see what happens!

See you at Open Play this Thursday at 3:30 at Bubbles Academy for Miss Becca's Story Time!  See you there!!  Arf Arf!

“I’ll Be Your Friend” by Miriam Moss and Lynne Chapman

Everyone loves a new friend-- how about four new friends?! I’ll Be Your Friend by Miriam Moss and Lynne Chapman is a heart-warming story reflecting on the value of friendships and the feelings of living in a new place.

Everyone knows the anxious feeling before having a birthday party and the feeling of being in a place where you’re looking for a friend. In I’ll Be Your Friend, Smudge is counting down the days to his birthday with his friend Stripe. Smudge is new to the area and does not have a big group of friends to invite to his birthday party, which makes him sad. Stripe tries his best to cheer Smudge up by helping him build a fabulous tree house, and this is where the adventure of new friendships begin!  This read takes you and your little one along for a journey in friendship making, life changes, and happy outcomes.

Will Smudge have friends come to his big birthday party? Come along on Smudge’s journey at Open Play this Thursday at 3:30 to hear our special guest reader Miss Megan read I’ll Be Your Friend!

"Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" by Bill Martin Jr and John Archambault

This week's book is a classic!  It's an absolute MUST for your little bookworm's library.  Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault was originally published in 1989 and has been on my reading list ever since!  It follows the lowercase letters of the alphabet as they climb a coconut tree. "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, will there be enough room?"  It turns out there isn't room for the whole alphabet as the tree bends, spilling all the lowercase letters on the ground.  Their uppercase parents come to scoop them up, nursing injuries and wiping tears.  I love this book.  It's fun, rhythmic, and the simple illustrations are great for letter recognition.  On a rainy day, it's also lots of fun to act out with magnetic letters on your fridge!  Enjoy!

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, will there be enough room?  I'll race you to Open Play this Thursday at 3:30 to hear Miss Becca read Chicka Chicka, Boom Boom!

"Duck on a Bike!" by David Shannon

It's finally Spring in Chicago!  I'm looking forward to riding my little yellow bike to Bubbles in the warm weather, which makes me think of one of my favorite go-to story time books: Duck on a Bike by David Shannon.  This book will be an instant favorite with your little ones!  


It all starts when Duck gets the idea that he can ride a bike.  Why not?  The book follows duck on his wobbly ride past all the farm animals.  It's a great opportunity to test your little bookworm's animal sounds.  Duck says hello to each animal and they greet him with their animal sound, but clever author David Shannon adds the animals' secret thoughts.  For example, when Duck passes Cat, she meows, but what she thought was, "I wouldn't waste my time riding a bike."  Shannon's clever text and simple structure moves the story along quickly and is sure to capture attention.  The illustrations, also by Shannon, are bright, cartoonish and extremely expressive.  After a herd of kids rides their bikes onto the farm, there is a great image of all the animals catching Duck's bike-fever!  You can see the mischief and joy in each animal's eyes.  It's a fun read.  Hope to see you biking and reading around Bubbles Academy soon!


Ride your bike to Bubbles for a special treat as Miss Becca reads Duck on a Bike by David Shannon at Open Play this Thursday at 3:30!  See you there!

"What's Going on in There? How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life" by Lise Eliot, Ph.D

Usually I pick a book of the week for the little ones, but this week I've had my head wrapped around our new "sports-themed" Creative Movement curriculum.  I've been spending time with my nose in some of my favorite "teacher resource" books.  So this week, I'm sharing my absolute favorite book that breaks down how our little bookworms grow: What's Going on in There? How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life by Lise Eliot, Ph. D.  This book is a great tool, both for those experienced with early development and those who are new to the subject.  Dr. Lise Eliot could not be more perfect to write this book, since she is a mother of three AND and a neuroscientist.   While the book is detailed and scientific, I find Eliot's detailed explanations easy to follow and extremely helpful.  I highly recommend it for understanding what is happening in your little bookworm's head!  Happy learning!

Miss Becca is taking the week off, but Bubble Bookworm's Open Play Story Time will start again next week on Thursday at 4:00 PM!

Bubbles Staff Picks for Holiday Stories

It's the Holiday Season!  The halls are decked and we're surrounded by sugar plums here at the Academy.  No matter what holiday you celebrate in your house, there are great books out there for your little bookworm, and lots of ways to make reading a tradition in your family.


In the Emmerich household, we all snuggled into bed with our brand new "embarrassing Christmas pajamas" to read The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg every year.  We started that tradition when I was just a wee one like your bookworm, and we still read it to this day.

I asked the rest of the staff at Bubbles about some of their favorite holiday reading recommendations.  Here's what they said:

• Art guru Miss Meghean always associates Puss in Boots and Angelina's Christmas by Katharine Holabird with the holidays.
• Our Office Manager, Miss Kate, recommends Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel.  She couldn't believe she remembered it, but has many fond memories!
• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats is a favorite of our Bees teacher, Miss Victoria, and her siblings.
• "I remember I really liked the pictures in the The Snowman [by Raymond Briggs]," says our Art and Music Teacher, Miss Sam.
• Our Membership Coordinator, Miss Megan, loves The Biggest Christmas Tree Ever by Steve Kroll.
• Bubbles Academy's owner, Gregoire Klees-Johnson, loves the classic tale of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.  There's a great picture book version of the claymation classic!

Feel free to comment and let us know your holiday book favorites. Happy Holidays, and happy reading!

"Tacky the Penguin" by Helen Lester, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

Let's face it: ever since the movie Happy Feet, penguins are "in"!  They are also at the top of the list when I poll my classes for "favorite animal."  Who doesn't love those dapper little tuxedos?  I personally think that toddlers find a kinship with penguins because they share that adorable waddle!  If your little bookworm is penguin-crazy, this week's book is for you.  It's one of my absolute favorites:  Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger.  It's a great book about being yourself!

Bring your little waddler out to Bubbles to hear Miss Becca read Tacky the Penguin at Open Play Storytime on Thursday at 4:00!

"Polar Bear and the Rainbow" by Moira Butterfield, illustrated by Sanja Rescek

I saw snow today!  That means that winter is finally here.  Winter is the perfect time of year to snuggle up with your little Bookworm, a cup of cocoa, and this week's book: Polar Bear and the Rainbow, written by Moira Butterfield and illustrated by Sanja Rescek.

This sparkly book follows Ben the polar bear, who is tired of being the same color as his mom, his sister, and the snowy world around him.  In his quest to be anything but white, he finds himself pink like the sunset, but only until the sun goes down.  He turns blue in the ocean, but is white again when he hops out on shore.  Despite his rainbow dreams, Ben has little hope of being anything but white.  Then the discovery of a happy white snowman, his natural skill at hide-and-seek, and the beauty of snowflakes makes Ben realize he likes himself just the way he is!  

While Moira Butterfield's story is simple and heartwarming, it is Sanja Rescek's illustrations that make this book snuggle-worthy.  The lovely watercolor illustrations are whimsical with a soft cartoon feel, and to top it off, they're embellished with glitter on every page!  I know your little one will enjoy rubbing his or her fingers on each page to see where the bumpy glitter is.  Worry not, this special sealed glitter stays on the page, not on your hands.  My favorite page features the animal friends staring at the beautiful falling snow.  At first glance, the page appears plain, but if you run your finger along the tiny flakes, you'll feel the bumpy glitter.  A simple tilt of the book makes each snowflake shine- a magical book for a magical time of year!

Warm up at Open Play Story Time when Miss Becca reads Polar Bear and the Rainbow this Thursday at 4:00pm!

"Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC" by June Sobel, Illustrated by Henry Cole

I tried to pick a book this week about the upcoming winter season, but I was pulled in another direction. I just couldn't pass over one of my favorite "seek and find" books. On first glance, this doesn't seem like an ideal story time book. However, considering it's not only "seek and find", but also an alphabet book, Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC written by June Sobel and Illustrated by Henry Cole is too charming to pass up!

Unlike the traditional ABC book (which uses the order of the alphabet, not a plot to drive from page to page), this book follows a motley crew of animal pirates searching to expand their vocabulary beyond the letter "R".  Cute concept, right? Their adorable alligator captain tells them, "We need other letters/ to help make us tough/ Let's sail far away to find ABC's/ Bring back D's, E's, F's, and G's."

Sobel's rhyming text leads the pirates to a treasure island where the letters they seek are highlighted in bold red text and found hidden in clever places: the "A" is an anchor, the "K" is on key, and "O" rolls into the ocean as a life-preserver! Henry Cole's charming and cartoon-like illustrations will amuse your little bookworms as they search for a "T" on a Turtle and the "X" that marks the spot. Best of all is the final location of that pesky "Z" as the tuckered out pirates snore in bed, "zillions of Z's" zoom overhead. A great story, and a great introduction the ABC's!

Bring your little pirate to Bubbles Academy this Thursday at 4 p.m. during Open Play Story Time to hear Miss Becca read Shiver Me Letters: A Pirate ABC by June Sobel, Illustrated by Henry Cole!

"Airplanes: Soaring! Diving! Turning!" by Patricia Hubbell, illustrated by Megan Halsey & Sean Addy

If you're traveling with your little one this holiday season, you know you're going to need lots of entertaining reinforcements to keep them happy on the plane, train, or automobile. I have a book that might help you! It's one of my favorite transportation books. Airplanes: Soaring! Diving! Turning! by Patricia Hubbell, illustrated by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy.

Your little bookworm will be captivated by all the different types of flying machines there are in this whimsical book. Ms. Hubbell's simple, but engaging rhyming text makes reading aloud a breeze and the charming illustrations by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy are truly noteworthy. While most of the pages are horizontal, your little one will be delighted by the surprise of several vertical pages. As Hubbell's text leads you through the different varieties of planes, the illustrations transport you to humorus locations with a wide cast of characters: a water buffalo on a cargo plane, a school of fish on a hydroplane, and rabbit piloting a pirate plane! It's a fun read that will keep your bookworm busy on his/her own plane ride. Enjoy!

If you aren't flying with your little one, but traveling in a different way,  check out Ms. Hubbell's other books: Trucks: Whizz! Zoom! Rumble!, Trains: Steaming! Pulling! Huffing!, and Cars: Rushing! Honking! Zooming!

We have no planned Open Play Story Time this week for the Thanksgiving holiday, but we'll be back next week. Happy Thanksgiving!

Book of the Week: "I Ain't Gonna Paint No More" by Karen Beaumont, Illustrated by David Catrow

"Yuck!" That's all I can say about the Chicago weather right now. Rain, rain, rain! If there was ever a week to cuddle up with a good book, it's this week!

Books and art projects are the only good things about cold, rainy days. So this week's book is all about art. It's one of my favorites, I Ain't Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont, illustrated by David Catrow. This book is a perfect storytime book. It starts with a "Mama" catching her little one "paintin' pictures on the floor/and the ceiling/and the walls/and the curtains/and the door" and just about everything else! She dunks the little artist in a bath tub and hides those paints on the top shelf of the closet. Our little hero promises that "I ain't gonna paint no more, no more, I ain't gonna paint no more." But, with a few boxes, a stool, and amusingly, a bowling ball, the paints are rescued from the closet.  

Reunited with his paints, this little guy can't resist taking some red and painting his... head! Each page turn reveals a new part of our artist's body turned a rainbow of colors! Catrow's quirky illustrations really compliment Beaumont's amusing rhythmic text. The story is based on an old folk song, so it flows nicely and is fun to read out loud! It's a great book for body part and color recognition for our littler bookworms, and for our big readers, it's great for talking about right/wrong and cause/effect. Hope this cheerful book brightens up your rainy day!

Get your playtime in despite the rain at Bubbles Academy's Open Play! You can hear Miss Becca read I Ain't Gonna Paint No More at Open Play Story Time this Thursday at 4 p.m. See you there!

Book of the Week: "Once I Ate a Pie" by Patricia MacLachlan & Emily MacLachlan Charest, Illustrated by Katy Schneider

If you've ever been to Bubbles Academy, you've seen "Charlee," our friendly stuffed dog. If you look really carefully, you can also find Charlee painted into all of our classrooms. Bubbles Academy loves dogs! And so do our students... so much that Charlee can often be seen, dragging behind an adoring toddler or two.

So what better book for this week than Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest's adorable book of canine confessions called Once I Ate a Pie. This book, lovingly illustrated by Katy Schneider, is a MUST READ for all dog lovers.

Each page is a new puppy poem, covering the gamut of doggy personalities: the puppy, the cuddler, the herder, the yipper, the destroyer, the inseparable duo, and the loyal companion. Perhaps my favorite, from which the book gets it's title, is the over eater. It's a heart-melting, portly pug named Mr. Beefy. In his poem, he confesses that "I am not thin, but I am beautiful. When no one is looking, I steal tubs of butter off the table..." and finally, "Once I ate a PIE."

With the holidays coming up, I kind of know how Mr. Beefy feels. I love this book! With a new canine character on every page, it is a perfect read-aloud book. With big and little dogs, it is the perfect opportunity to get your little one barking.

As a side note, if Patricia MacLachlan's name rings a bell, it may be because she's the author of Sarah Plain and Tall, a Newbery Award winning book for young readers.

You can hear all about these goofy pups when we read Once I Ate a Pie at Bubbles Academy during Open Play, this Thursday at 4 p.m.

Woof Woof!

Halloween Must-Read Books!

Hooray, it's Halloween! Last week, I shared my favorite seasonal book. This week, I'm sharing a whole list of other GREAT Halloween stories, so that you can find a favorite too! Check out my list below of must-read books for the Halloween season:

• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak: Wolf costumes & wild things, it's a classic!
• There was an Old Witch by Howard W. Reeves &  David Catrow: Based on the well-known story of "There was an Old Lady..." only this time, she catches a bat instead of swallowing that icky fly.
• A Very Brave Witch by Alison McGhee: An adorable young witch's view on Halloween!
• Black Cat Creeping by Teddy Slater: Great for little ones, this follows some kids and a lonely cat to a Halloween party.
• Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper: This beautifully illustrated book stars a cat, duck, and squirrel as they prepare pumpkin soup, yum!

Join Miss Becca on Thursday at 4 p.m. for our Open Play Story Time. She'll be reading these and other howl-iday tales!

Book of the Week: "When a Monster is Born" by Sean Taylor, Illustrated by Nick Sharratt

Bubbles Academy is being transformed... to a spooky, sparkly, magical Halloween fun house! In celebration of the upcoming howl-iday, this week's book is When a Monster is Born, playfully illustrated by Nick Sharratt and wittily penned by Sean Taylor.

If you've read my bio, you've already heard of When a Monster is Born, since it is listed as one of my favorites, but it's worth mentioning again! The story is all about choices, so much in fact that every page is a new choice for the title character. It begins,

"When a Monster is Born, there are two possibilities... either it's a far-away-in-the-forests monster, or it's an under-your-bed monster..."  

We find out with the turn of the page that if it's a forest dwelling monster, then"that's that", but if it's an under-bed dweller, there are two more possibilities. In this case either it "eats you" (accompanied by a truly entertaining and not-at-all scary illustration) or "you make friends and take it to school".

This book is the perfect opportunity to talk with your little reader about how the choices we make shape our lives. It follows the monster choice-by-choice as he falls in love, gets married, and even has a baby of his own. It ends full circle with the newborn's choice of the far-away forest or under the bed.

Throughout the book, Sharratt's illustrations delight and entertain, they are the perfect companion to Mr. Taylor's text. It's the kind of book that makes it easy to read aloud, since the page turns allow for perfect comedic timing. It is on my must-read list for all the little bookworms in my life. Hope it delights your Halloween reader, too!

For some fun help getting into the Halloween spirit, join Miss Becca at Open Play Story Time this Thursday at 4:00 p.m. for the reading of When a Monster is Born! Then, join us as we celebrate Halloween all next week! Be sure to bring your little one out in costume to all of our classes October 24-29th.

Book of the Week: SuperHero ABC by Bob McLeod

Want a book that's going to grow with your little one? Check out SuperHero ABC by Bob McLeod. You guessed it, I LOVE THIS BOOK. It is consistently a favorite among our young Bubblers. It's your standard A-B-C book, but with a classic comic book twist. Mr. McLeod is an experienced comic book writer and illustrator, and it shows in this heroic journey through the alphabet. You meet a new alliterative superhero on each page: starting with Astro-Man who is "Always Alert for an Alien Attack" and ending with The Zinger who "Zanily ZigZags through the Zero Zone!" I know your little hero will enjoy the heroic surprises on each page and will learn her ABCs at the same time!

A-B-C books generally don't make my "worthy of Story Time" list, but McLeod's clever details, and amusing character thought-bubble quotes make this engaging to read aloud. His details are truly worth a forth, fifth, or four-hundreth look at the pages!

Zoom out to meet all the heroes of SuperHero ABC at Open Play Story Time this Thursday at 4 p.m. It's going to be a SUPER time!

Book of the Week: "The Kiss That Missed" by David Melling

I am so excited about this week's book! It's called The Kiss That Missed written and illustrated by David Melling. 

I stumbled upon it before my Bubble Step class (our gentle separation class) one day here at Bubbles Academy. I thought I would only make it about half way through the book, but those Steppers sat through the entire story. The book begins with a king, who is always in a hurry, blowing a goodnight kiss to his son, the prince. However, the kiss misses... and flies right out the window! 

The distraught king then sends his trusty (though clumsy) knight on a quest to find that kiss. The knight and his horse travel across the kingdom, through Melling's active and engaging illustrations, until they reach the deep, dark woods. Inside the woods, they are surrounded by forest creatures, all a little more silly than scary (thank goodness). Just when our good knight is cornered, that pesky kiss whizzes in, kissing all the animals goodnight! He follows that kiss to a dragon who wants to give them a kiss of his own. What a fun and silly fairytale!

All the heroes, including the woodland creatures and the dragon, journey back to the castle where the king vows to stop being always in a hurry. The king and the entire court settle in for a proper goodnight, complete with pillows, blankets, snuggles, a story, and of course... a goodnight kiss. I was really touched by this wacky adventure. What a nice reminder, as school is kicking back into session and days are getting shorter, that we should take time for what's really important.

Journey over to Bubbles Academy this week for your own adventure as we read The Kiss That Missed during Open Play Story Time at 4:00 p.m. this Thursday!

Book of the Week: "Giraffes Can't Dance" by Giles Andreae

It's 80's week here at Bubbles Academy, and let me tell you... it is a par-tay! So this week, I picked a book all about party animals. It's called Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae, illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees. 

What a perfect party story! It's all about Gerald the Giraffe who is very good at reaching high and standing still, but when it comes to running, skipping, and especially dancing, he just doesn't cut it. When all the animals in Africa gather for the annual "Jungle Dance", Andreae's clever rhyming verse and Parker-Rees' simply adorable illustrations dance us through the party. We waltz with warthogs, rock'n'roll with rhinos, tango with lions, and even do a rollicking Scottish reel with eight baboons! But when it comes to be Gerald's turn to cut a rug, all the other creatures laugh him out of the party. That's when cricket (who is watching from almost every page) intervenes. He tells Gerald that "...sometimes when you're different, you just need a different song." With cricket's help, Gerald finds his rhythmn and joins the celebration with the other animals... a happy, storybook ending!

Bring your little party animal out this Thursday at 4 p.m. to hear Giraffes Can't Dance at Open Play Story Time!

Book of the Week: "Who's Making That Smell" by Philip Hawthorn and Jenny Tyler

This week's book is just plain silly. It's a "lift the flap" book called Who's Making That Smell?, written by Philip Hawthorn and Jenny Tyler, illustrated by Stephen Cartwright. 

I love this book! It follows big brother Ben and baby sister Annabel on a scented journey around their house. While it may sound like a "scratch and sniff" book, you'll be so glad it isn't! Ben and Annabel encounter a monkey painting the closet pink, a hippo arranging roses, a mud-covered dog, a panda using furniture polish, and a polar bear baking bread. What a crazy house! The story closes in a way that all big brothers and sisters will appreciate... the familiar smell of Annabel in need of a diaper change.

Hawthorn and Tyler's rhyming riddles pair nicely with Cartwright's illustrations. The characters are absolutely charming with their rosy cheeks and clever speech bubbles. Ben is forever claiming his innocence, while Annabel's are filled with appropriate "goo-goos" and "ga-gas". Little ones get a kick out of opening the doors and lifting the curtains to discover which animal is making the smell on each page. It's definitely a little-fingers-friendly book. Older readers will enjoy searching for the tiny mouse and rubber duck hidden on each page. It's a really fun read!

See if you can figure out Who's Making That Smell? this week at 4 p.m. on Thursday at Miss Becca's Open Play Story Time!

Book of the Week: "Miles to Go" by Jamie Harper

School has started, and we're already into week two of classes here at Bubbles Academy! This fall we've got lots of new friend in our preschool alternative class, Bubble Bees. Those Bees have such an exciting love for learning. They remind me of the main character in this week's book: Miles to Go by Jamie Harper.

Miles is a preschooler and a huge car buff. Readers follow along as Miles journeys to school in his little yellow kiddie car (of course under the watchful eye of Mom). I love this book!

The illustrations are truly enchanting, combining block prints with cut paper and playful sketches (like the neighbor's adorable bulldog). The front endpapers even feature a map of Miles and his Mom's route to school. Miles must navigate past puddles, his neighbor's bulldog, brother's truck and sister's tricycle.

There are also some amazing learning opportunities in this book: map reading, traffic safety, problem solving, friendship! I even use it as a tool in the gentle separation class we offer here at Bubbles Academy. It is helpful because it shows how Miles' mother always returns to get Miles after she leaves him at school for his adventure. It's never to early to learn that school is a fun place to be, and that our grownups always come back for us!

We'd love to see you driving your yellow kiddie cars to Bubbles Academy (or your grownup cars) to hear Miss Becca read Miles to Go by Jamie Harper this Thursday at 4:00 p.m.! Beep Beep!