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Book Bits
Book Reviews from GeoParent
by Michelle Pearson
GeoParent is always on the lookout for a good read! Whether you're looking for the perfect picture book for your toddler, a good parenting resource or fun ways to incorporate books and reading into your daily activities, check in with us each month for the latest.
Recent releases
The Three Little Dinosaurs
Written and Illustrated by Jim Harris
Pelican Publishing
ISBN 1-56554-371-8
List Price: $14.95
Using the ageless tale of "The Three Little Pigs" as his starting point, Jim Harris has created a wonderfully modern, charming, and hysterical new story that all children (especially little boys) will love.
Three little dinosaurs have been sent out by their mother to make it on their own. But she warns them to be careful of the big bad T-Rex. Armed with their television sets, their video games, and their junk food, the little dinos don't seem too worried about Mr. Rex, and each one strikes out on their own to build a home.
The first little dinosaur, not being into manual labor, builds his house out of dried grass and settles down for the evening. When Tyrannosaurus Rex makes his appearance, the little dinosaur thinks that perhaps it's the pizza deliveryman.
"Little pig, little pig, let me come in!" growls Mr. Rex (yes, he really does think the little dinosaurs are pigs).
"No way, Jose!" shouts the thoroughly modern little dinosaur.
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The story continues from there, following the same plot as "The Three Little Pigs" but with a few surprising twists along the way. Harris' illustrations are truly funny and will make your children laugh before you (or they) even read the text.
And, unlike the story upon which it is based, Harris takes his plot one step further. What happens when the three "little" dinosaurs grow up?
This is a book your children will love to add to their collection and hear over and over.
Favorite Scary Stories of American Children
By Richard and Judy Dockrey Young
August House Publishers
ISBN 0-87483-563-1
List Price $4.95
The authors, long-time storytellers and collectors of oral narrative, have put together a collection of favorite stories for children, all with roots in American tradition from Native American stories to tales brought to this country by Vietnamese immigrant children in the 1970s.
Each story is coded with a symbol to indicate the age group that it is appropriate for. From the read-aloud tale of how the young Indian boy Skunnee Wundee won a stone-skipping contest against a giant to the more suitable for older children story of "Blood Red Cedar", about an evil stepmother who murders her stepson, the collection includes 23 stories for reading out loud or alone.
The authors have included an afterword to help guide adults in choosing appropriate stories for various age groups of children, a pronunciation guide, and notes about each story and its origins.
For storytelling around the campfire, for scary reading at Halloween, or just to introduce children to classic regional folktales, this is a comprehensive collection for home bookshelves and libraries alike.
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About the author: Michelle Pearson ia a freelance writer whose articles have appeared in numerous local newspapers, Chicago Parent and Country Back Roads as well as various online publications. She often writes articles on family and parenting issues with a special interest in work-at-home moms and issues that affect women in both their work and personal lives. You can email Michelle at stoneyknoll@lrnet1.com.
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