Soapbox: An interesting article about reading to young children...

Came across this nice article by Barbara Rowley about reading to young children (from toddler to kindergarten age), originally from Parenting Magazine:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/08/24/joy.of.reading.par/index.html

One of the items mentioned in the article, regarding books that are tied-in to characters from TV/movies, is something we feel strongly about. The reason we don't carry a whole lot of books based on a TV show is we think it's best for a child to develop their own imagination instead of re-enacting their favorite Dora episode over & over. Yes, there are exceptions, and when a child shows a strong interest (Thomas the Tank Engine for example) it feels good to encourage it. And that isn't to say educational TV doesn't have a place, but so do the classic, timeless characters from a good book that doesn't have a TV spin-off. (We do have the original books that some series are based on, like Thomas, Miss Spider, Little Bear, and so on.)

Of course I am just as guilty, our son loves his Cars and Thomas books, but we try to balance it with Richard Scarry and Lois Ehlert and Dr. Seuss...
Comments?

Review: The Last Battle (Book Seven)

The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis, chapter book, ages 10 & up. Book seven (final) in the Chronicles of Narnia series, originally published 1956.
5 out of 5 stars

Aslan has returned but he is dictating orders of death and destruction, bringing near chaos to Narnia. Is this the real Aslan? Why would Aslan demolish Narnia with these orders? Narnia's enemies have invaded and closing in. It is up to King Tirian to summon a few faithful talking beasts still true to Narnia, to fight their enemies, and to restore peace in the land. But these are indeed dark days for Narnia. Will it be the end?

Reviewed by Teresa Z., 11

Review: Planting A Rainbow

Planting a Rainbow, by Lois Ehlert, 1988. Picture book, ages 2-7.

This book features two themes in one: color-themed pages as well as a
mini science lesson on planting bulbs or seeds and watching them grow
into a bountiful garden. Many of the pages have a single color theme
filled with flowers -- for example, the "blue flowers" page includes
morning glories, delphinium, hyacinth, and cornflowers. Because the
flowers are labelled throughout the pages, I have to admit that I
learned a few new names for flowers while reading this book to my
toddler! :D There are also several "cut away" pages that toddlers
always seem to love, and those pages fit together to make a rainbow of
colors. If you are a gardening enthusiast (or even if, like me, you
just like to stop and smell the flowers), this book would be a great
choice to give to a toddler you love!

Reviewed by Stacey, parent

Review: Feathers For Lunch

Feathers for Lunch, by Lois Ehlert, 1990. Picture book, ages 2-6.

Uh oh... a cat gets out of the house and decides to look for some
"wild" food to spice up his diet... but the bell around his next
always prevents him from catching his prey. Hence, he only gets
"feather for lunch" as the title says. The bold illustrations in
cut-paper style and rhyming text ("But cats can't fly and they can't
soar, and birds know what their wings are for.") keep this book a
favorite for little ones. All the birds depicted in the story are
labelled and life size, and the plants are labelled too! There is also
a 4-page glossary of the 12 birds that got away, telling facts about
each bird's size, diet, and home. This book tells a cute story, but to
me what makes is stand out is it's unique ability help young children
learn to recognize common birds they see.

Reviewed by Stacey, parent

Note: (from Tina, parent/bookseller) Our son adores this book,
and from reading it with him, he could correctly identify the
neighborhood birds at age three. The story could have been done
with "storybook" style non-realistic birds, but because Ehlert chose
to make them realistic (with gorgeous lush colors), it is a great
educational resource for young children. The rhyming story is
enjoyable too. Five stars!

Review: The Silver Chair (Book Six)

The Silver Chair, by C.S Lewis, chapter book, ages 10 & up.
Book six in the Chronicles of Narnia series, originally published 1953.

5 Stars

Picking up a primary character from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, two children escape into Narnia and are sent by Aslan to find the son of Caspian, who has been missing for ten years. With the aid of an all-new set of characters the children must not only find where the prince is, but they must also break the enchantment he is under. The illustrations of Pauline Baynes are most delightful. As always, the text is very engaging, and although many of the characters are brand new to the reader, it doesn't take long to love them and identify with them. Super!


~Reviewed by Belinda Z., 12 yrs.

Review: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Book Five)

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C.S Lewis, chapter book, ages 10 & up.
Book five in the Chronicles of Narnia series, originally published 1952.

Rating: 5 stars

This book is by far one of the most adventurous titles in the Chronicles of Narnia. Edmund and Lucy are hurled back into Narnia and accompany their friend Caspian on his quest to find the seven lords that his father cast out. Only this time a friend from England accompanies the Pevensies. Who is he and why is his attitude so different? You'll have to read the book to find out. It is truly a masterpiece of action. C.S Lewis makes each character as realistic and life-like as possible, especially Reepicheep. I guarantee the reader will be riding the Dawn Treader, having narrow escapes, and seeing fantastic beasts and creatures, right alongside Lucy, Edmund, and Caspian. You'll love it!


~Reviewed by Belinda Z., 12 yrs.

Review: Prince Caspian (Book Four)

Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis, Chapter book, ages 10 & up. Book four in the Chronicles of Narnia series, originally published 1951.
5 out of 5 stars

All is not well in Narnia. An evil King now rules in succession to Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. He has made a law that anyone who talks about the old Kings and Queens of Narnia is under penalty of a severe punishment. But the king's son, Caspian, learns of the the forbidden Kings and Queens. Caspian wants peace in Narnia and is chased away. He forms an army with the Narnian talking animals. Meanwhile, the four children in London are transported from a dreary train station to Narnia, where they must help Caspian defeat his father.

Reviewed by Teresa Z., 11

Review: Original Winnie the Pooh mini board books

Original Winnie the Pooh series board books, ages infant-3
Titles include: Pooh and Some Bees; Pooh Goes Visiting; Tigger Has 
Breakfast
Adapted from Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner by A. A.
Milne, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard

The three titles in this series (each sold separately) are the perfect
size for little hands and the right price for mom and dad at $3.99
each. I appreciate that the original illustrations are used -- Disney
can't beat that! ;)  Each book retells one little scene from Milne's
books. The text is nicely adapted from the original, maintaining a
similar British feel to Milne's classic stories. The only negative
might be that some of the text is just a little too long (particularly
in Tigger Has Breakfast) for the youngest ones who are anxious to turn
the page. We first bought these for our daughter when she was in the
9-12 month range, but they could easily be enjoyed throughout the
toddler and preschool years.

Reviewed by Stacey, parent

Note: Unfortunately, Tigger Has Breakfast is currently out-of-print. The other two titles are still available.

Review: Noah's Ark

Noah's Ark, retold and illustrated by Lucy Cousins, 1993. Board book or paperback, ages 2-5.

Lucy Cousins (author of the Maisy series) has such delightful
illustrations in this toddler's retelling of the Biblical story of
Noah. The text is just the right amount for little ones ("Noah was a
good man, who trusted God"), and the colorful illustrations offer
plenty of opportunity for beginning counting and color identification,
too. If you want to be nit-picky, you might complain that Noah's sons
look like children (rather than older sons with wives), but that
detail won't matter to a toddler who asks for the story, "Again,
again!" My two-year old adores this book... I only wish I had picked
it up sooner!

Reviewed by Stacey, parent

Review: The Horse and His Boy (Book Three)

The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis, chapter book, ages 10 & up. Book three in the Chronicles of Narnia series, originally published 1954.

5 stars out of 5

If all the Chronicles of Narnia were truly arranged chronologically, this book would be literally inserted inside the pages of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The Horse and His Boy takes place mainly in the desolate lands of Calormen, where the people are enemies to Narnia. The time setting occurs during the reign of the Pevensie children, as grown adults. Although the main characters of this novel are initially unfamiliar to the reader, this novel is just as adventurous as the other Chronicles. The storyline follows a young Calormen boy who flees his native land, with his only companion a talking Narnian horse. As the two wander farther and farther, our hero discovers who he really is, where he came from, and how Aslan and the Narnians need him. The Horse and His Boy made me laugh many times and also made me feel for the characters during their trials. An excellent read anytime!

~Reviewed by Belinda Z., 12 yrs.

Review: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Book Two)

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, chapter book, ages 10 & up. Book two in the Chronicles of Narnia series, originally published 1950.
Rating: Five stars

The story opens in World War II London, during the Blitz, and the reader follows four siblings on their way to safety at the professor's house in the English countryside. During a game of hide and seek Lucy, the youngest of the children, discovers the magical land of Narnia. The adventurous story that follows is written in a Biblical-allegorical style. The children are told that they are supposed to defeat the White Witch. But will they?

reviewed by Teresa Z., age 11

Our revamped site is up!

Take a minute to check out our new & improved store website, made possible with the hard work of our pals at 3W Design Group, www.3wdesign.com.

Review: The Magician's Nephew (Book One)

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis,
chapter book, ages 10 & up. Book one in the Chronicles of Narnia series,
originally published 1955.

Rating: 5 stars

The Magician's Nephew serves the Chronicles as a wonderful prelude to
the classic The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Everything of a
curious aspect in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is explained in
the prelude book. For example, the reader will learn about the origins
of the White Witch, and this is only a part of quite a few ideas
explained. For those who look for the Christian allegories in the
Chronicles,  the Magician's Nephew presents an interesting allusion to
the story of Adam and Eve. In fact, in the Narnia movie the pictures
carved on the wardrobe all represent various symbols from the
Magician's Nephew. I give this novel a rating of five stars because
this is a must-read for anyone who reads the Lion, the Witch and the
Wardrobe. Lewis' style for the Chronicles keep the excitement and
wonder pumped up for the reader. Any Narnia movie fan would be
delighted to delve into this book.

Reviewed by Belinda Z., 12 yrs.

Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake, originally published 1964. Chapter book, ages 7 and up.
I loved this book because it is funny and silly and weird. Roald Dahl can really make me laugh. And the lesson it taught me was not to be greedy. So Charlie and the Chocolate Factory would be a good book for you to read!
reviewed (with illustration) by Mara B., age 8

Attention Homeschoolers!

Tweedle Bros. Children's Bookshop now offers a discount for homeschool families, 20% off of books and 10% off of learning toys. (Discount does not apply to select toys & non-educational items such as plush toys, infant toys, wooden railway items, knights, CDs & DVDs, and greeting cards.) We are happy to do special orders at no additional charge. Documentation must be provided to receive discount, discount is not retroactive & does not apply to items already on sale.
We also provide a discount for classroom teachers, stop in or email us for details!

Upcoming Children's Book Exhibit at the Rahr-West!

September 1st-October 15th
This is Our Land: Children’s Book Illustration from the Meridian International Center at the Rahr-West Art Museum, approximately eighty delightful children’s illustrations are included in this geographically and graphically outstanding exhibition. Original illustrations representing each state and several foreign countries offer adults and children a delightfully whimsical geography lesson. Books in which the illustrations appear are also included as part of this very inviting exhibition. Come read and enjoy. A catalogue is available for sale at the museum that accompanies this exhibition. 920-683-4501, http://www.rahrwestartmuseum.org

We are sooo excited about this fantastic show! We carry many of the books & illustrators represented in this wonderful collection, and can special order any available titles that we don't have in stock. Stop in and take a look after visiting the show!
PS. Stay tuned for an announcement regarding a very special booksigning!!!
Update...We are delighted to announce a booksigning on Saturday, Sept. 30th with the great Arthur Geisert, one of our favorite author/illustrators ever! Check out our website for more info!

Kindermusik Storytime This Saturday!

Saturday, August 12th at 11am- Please join us for a very special Kindermusik storytime with instructor Jessica Hanson! This free event is geared towards ages 2-3, but all ages are welcome.
See you there! For more information on Kindermusik, please visit Jessica's website at http://hansonstudio.kindermusik.net/