Staff Picks -- Favorite Read-Alouds

Whether it is at home reading to my kids or conducting a library story time, these are some of the books that I love reading out loud. From stubborn pigs to grumpy fish, they are fun for audiences of all ages!

Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Rudd
By Lynn Plourde
Pigs are blocking the road and no one can make them shoo—not brother, sister, father, or mother. Looks like it is up to Grandma to save the day!

Llama, Llama Red Pajama
By Anna Dewdney
Little Llama should be asleep but he wants his mama. Where is she? Parents will especially relate to all the “llama drama” at bedtime!

The Pout-Pout Fish
By Deborah Diesen
Grumpy Mr. Fish spreads his “dreary wearies” all over the ocean. The other fish try to cheer him up, but Mr. Fish is destined to be glum…..or is he?

A Visitor for Bear
By Bonnie Becker
A persistent mouse tries to befriend a cranky old bear. Will he succeed? And will you succeed in reading this book without giving mouse a British accent?

“Stand Back,” Said the Elephant, “I’m Going to Sneeze!”
By Patricia Thomas
Oh no—elephant is going to sneeze! All the animals remember what happened last time elephant sneezed. Now the monkeys and leopards and zebras are scared!

Jump, Frog, Jump!
By Robert Kalan
Will frog get away or will he be caught? This cumulative story will have little ones warning “Jump, frog, jump!” Great for interaction!

Suzanne M., Spring City Public Library

Where the Wild Things Are -- Movie

Maurice Sendak's classic children's story, Where the Wild Things Are, is being made into a movie! The story is about Max, a disobedient little boy sent to bed without his supper, who creates his own world--a forest inhabited by ferocious wild creatures who crown Max as their ruler.

Voices for the characters are provided by Forest Whitaker, James Gandolfini, Catherine O'Hara, Paul Dano and Lauren Ambrose. The scheduled release date is October 16, 2009. Can't wait to see this one!

Lemony Snicket Picture Book

For all of you Lemony Snicket fans.....Daniel Handler (a.k.a. Lemony Snicket) has collaborated with composer Nathaniel Stookey to create a classical music mystery picture book! The Composer Is Dead comes with a CD of the author as narrator and the San Francisco Symphony performing Stookey's music.

Finding a dead composer, a detective questions all the usual suspects--sections of the orchestra, from the violins to percussion. The detective cites many dead composers, such as Bach, Beethoven and Schubert, while trying to solve the mystery. The Composer Is Dead was first performed in San Francisco in 2006, and the collaborators will perform on March 7th at New York's Carnegie Hall.

The book is published by HarperCollins and retails for $17.99. It's worth a look and a listen!