It's Monday! What are you reading?

We had our monthly district librarians' meeting last Monday, and I was able to get first dibs at the review books table--picked up two wonderful picture books, nonfiction and fiction!

I reviewed Maxwell Eaton III's  The Truth About Bears last May, and was lucky enough to score The Truth About Elephants.

Eaton has a wonderful way of taking facts about animals and turning them into engaging, funny dialogue.  Within fifteen minutes, I learned about the differences between African and Asian elephants (right down to the number of toenails on each foot), their prehistoric ancestors, and the threats to their existence today.  This series is great for read-alouds when introducing nonfiction/ animal studies in elementary classrooms, and might even be interesting enough for upper grade students who need a break from textbooks.

The next book I grabbed turned out to be a sweet, warm-fuzzy tale called Harold Loves His Woolly Hat, by Vern Kousky.  

Don't skip the illustrated title page, as it tells us just how Harold came by his striped, pom-pom topped chapeau.  Harold feels that it is his hat that makes him special and sets him apart from the other cubs.  When his hat is stolen by a crow, he tries to trade all kinds of treats to get it back, to no avail.  When he decides to climb the tree to retrieve his beloved hat, he discovers that it is being used for something important--and that he is special for what's inside him, not for what he wears on his head.  Harold Loves His Woolly Hat is a quick read that can spark conversations about what makes us special, and the impact our acts of kindness can have on those around us.

It's Monday!  Have you read a good picture book today?