Thursday Thirteen (13)

Disney has announced that they are done making princess movies. They have decided that the musical, fairy tale has run its course, and they say "They may come back later because someone has a fresh take on it … but we don't have any other musicals or fairy tales lined up."  Boo!  My daughters have loved the princess movies and own every possible princess item that money can buy- books, movies, clothes, coloring books, blankets...  So today, I give you the 13 princess books that were turned into movies by Disney.  If you are a fan of these movies, be sure to read the books! 

Snow White, Nancy Ekholm Burkert, 1987.  

398.2GRI

"Mirror, mirror on the wall, Who is the fairest of us all?" repeatedly asks the Queen, Snow White's stepmother. She always gets the answer she wants, until Snow White turns seven, and the mirror must truthfully answer, "Snow White." At the news, the Queen turns yellow and green with envy and commands the huntsman to kill Snow White and bring her "lung and liver as a token." Thus begins another enchanting fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm! -Amazon

Cinderella illustrated by Barbara McClintock, 2005.  

398.2 MCC

Here's a gentle version of Perrault's classic tale: no stepsister cuts off her toes to fit a shoe and everyone is forgiven at the end. McClintock places her sweet Cinderella in the Paris of Louis XIV, with period fashion and interior and architectural detail from Versailles and the Paris Opera. Pen, india ink, and watercolor make for delightful dancing lines and exquisite color: Cinderella's first ball gown is a profusion of roses under a plum overskirt, and her hair is decorated with a huge rose trellis. The stepsisters, one fat and one thin (both mean), and the prince, a graceful boy in a powdered wig, make a pleasing supporting cast. Cinderella's little gray cat appears on almost every page. -Booklist 

Beauty and the Beast illustrated by Mercer Mayer, 1978.  

398.2 MAY.

Generations of children have been fascinated by the story of the girl named Beauty, who grows to love a fearsome beast by learning to see and cherish his kindness, generosity, and intelligence. In this acclaimed, best-selling version of the classic tale, first published in 1978, Marianna Mayer's evocative imagery and Mercer Mayer's exquisite paintings transport readers into a world of pure magic and mystery. -Amazon

Rapunzel by illustrated by Paul Zelinsky, 1997.  

E ZEL

In older versions of the classic tale Rapunzel, it always seemed improbable that a grown man could scale a tower using only his beloved's hair. Not so in Paul O. Zelinsky's Caldecott Medal-winning version of Rapunzel. Here, Rapunzel's reddish-blonde mane is thick with waves and braids, and cascades like a waterfall down the walls of her isolation tower. In Zelinsky's able hands it's easy to believe that a prince would harbor no hesitations about scrambling up our fair heroine's hair. -Amazon

Falling for Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox, 2003.  
E WIL
This book cracks my stuff up!  SOOO funny!  Rapunzel is up in her tower with her maid- and she is having a very bad hair day... so bad, that she is crying and sighing.  The prince rides by and assumes that Rapunzel needs to be rescued.  He calls up to her, but she can't hear him.  Every time he asks her to throw down her hair, she throws down the wrong thing- like underwear, socks, pancake batter and a sow!  She eventually gets it right, though!  This is a great read aloud and will bring the house down!

Sleeping Beauty illustrated by Kinuko Y Craft, 2002. 

398.2 CRA

Sleeping Beauty's enchanted slumber has captivated readers' hearts for centuries. Now brought luminously to life by K. Y. Craft's lavish paintings, this new edition of a timeless favorite is sure to enchant readers both young and old. Fairy tale lovers have been eagerly awaiting Craft's next magical romance since the release of her Cinderella. With illustrations inspired by the magnificent style of Baroque painters, the sumptuous color and exquisite detail of this breathtaking interpretation make it a dream come true. -Amazon

Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp illustrated by Errol Le Cain, 1981.  

398.2 LAN
We are very lucky to have this book in our library since it is out of print!
In this version of this old folk tale from the 1001 Nights, the story remains as usual, no surprises there, but the illustrations are beautiful and romantic.  

Fa Mulan: The Story of a Woman Warrior by Robert San Souci, 1998.

398.2 SAN

I know that Mulan is not a princess, but Disney keeps throwing her in with the princesses!  She is a girl from a working class family who doesn't even marry a prince... and she is the only Disney "princess" that shouts out GIRL POWER!  This retelling of the well-known Chinese legend is an inspiring tale about a hero who is courageous, selfless, and, above all, extremely wise.

The Frog Prince, Retold by Kathy-Jo Wargin, 2007.
398.2 WAR

"Princess, dear princess please open the door, for you made a promise you must not ignore!" After retrieving a ball from a well for the princess, the frog calls out to her, for she has ignored the promise she made to him. He persistently, much to the distain of the princess, persuades her to allow him to eat from her plate, enter her room and sleep in her bed. At each poetic request from the frog, the princess becomes increasingly uncomfortable, but her father, the king, admonishes her and orders her to keep her promise to the frog that befriended her. Finally, in desperation, the princess flings the old water-splasher angrily against the wall. In true keeping with fairytales, the spell cast upon him by a wicked witch is broken, and the frog is transformed into a handsome prince. -Foreward Magazine

The Frog Prince Continues by Jon Scieszka, 1991.
E SCI
So you think that the Princess kisses the frog and they both liver happily ever after?  They are not happy.  In fact, they're downright miserable. He misses the pond; she's tired of him sticking out his tongue and hopping on the furniture. In desperation, the bug-eyed hero decides to find a witch who can turn him back into the happy frog he once was. Successfully surviving encounters with several sinister but dimwitted witches from other tales, he finally meets Cinderella's Fairy Godmother who tries to help, but the transformation is definitely NOT what he had in mind. As the clock strikes midnight, he returns to human form and hurries home to his beloved Princess where the tale ends unexpectedly, but indeed happily.
-School Library Journal

The Frog Princess by E.D Baker, 2002.
F BAK
After reluctantly kissing a frog, an awkward, fourteen-year-old princess suddenly finds herself a frog, too, and sets off with the prince to seek the means--and the self-confidence--to become human again.

The Little Mermaid retold by Debra Hautzig, 1991
E HAU
Andersen's sweet, sad story is beautifully retold for young readers. When the little mermaid gives up her voice in exchange for legs and a chance to meet her beloved human prince, she earns a real human soul.

Princess Fairy Tales retold by Margaret Clark.

398.22 CLA

Few little girls can resist a princess. The renowned illustrator Peter Malone has created an extraordinary, richly detailed treasury with eight of the most beloved heroines in classic fairy tales. And what heroines they are! Spirited and strong-willed, they hold great appeal for the contemporary audience. -Good Reads

Note: Pocahontas was left off of this list because I am not thrilled with the few biographies we have about her... time to shop! 

Belle is my favorite because she loves books!

My Most Visited Links

I just realized that Forefox lets you sort your bookmarks by the number of times you have visited them.  I am ashamed to say that my most visited site isn't NPR or the Iowa City Public Library, but... Facebook with 856 visits(I am attributing this high number to the fact that I run the Lemme Facebook page.).  Gulp.  Here are the runner-ups, I hope you will find something that you like in this list!  Leave a comment and tell me what your most visited website is... besides this blog, of course!

The Crafty Crow is a children's craft collective created by teacher, girl scout leader and home school mom, Casi.  She scours the web for amazing crafts to do with children.  I have used this site to find crafts to use with my own children, with my Daisy Scouts and during library lessons.  I love this site and visit it several times a week!

The Picky Palate is a website that combines 3 of my favorite things: family, photography and food.  Jenny is a stay at home mom who appears to be a fabulous cook and photographer!  Her recipes are amazing and she cooks with her kids in mind, so the recipes are family friendly.  What I love most about this site is that she photographs each stage of the recipe, so you know what everything "should" look like!  The photographs are amazing- not just taken in a dirty kitchen, but staged beautifully.  Check it out, and let me know if you try a recipe!

Kind Over Matter is a blog I visit when I need a little pick me up.  The blog is written by Amanda, with the hopes that visitors will spread a little kindness and make the world a better place.  You can find inspirational videos, photos and quotes.  Now and then, you will get some great printables that you can use to spread cheer to friends and coworkers.  

Compfight.com is a site that I use to look for pictures that have Creative Commons rights on Flickr.  That means that the photographer is allowing me to use the picture for educational and nonprofit use, as long as I give credit.  When you use this site, it is important to know how to activate the Creative Commons option so you really are using the right photos.  Also know that these photos are not censored in any way, so there needs to be parental involvement while looking for pictures.  Parents should activate the safe search option.

Wow!  Don't go to this site on an empty stomach.  Bakerella.com is an AMAZING site for the baker in all of us.  Bakerella started when the blogger took a beginner's cake decorating class and got the baking bug.  She used the blog to keep track of her baking projects.  Not only are the recipes great, but the photography is amazing... amazing!  I have made the red velvet cake balls- very easy and very delicious! 

I discovered Goodreads.com when I wanted a quick and easy way to keep track of the books I want to read and the books I have read.  When you create an account, you can start a virtual bookshelf.  You can rate your books on a 5 star scale and write your own reviews.  You can add friends and see what they are reading, you can search for books by category and take fun quizes.  I like comparing my booklists to the booklists my friends keep to see how much we have in common.  If you have a Goodreads account, add me as a friend!  I'd love to see what you are reading.  New this year is the book challenge- you can enter how many books you want to read this year, and Goodreads will keep track for you!

Top Ten for Tuesday, January 11: For the Dogs

My new display is "It's Raining Cat & Dog Books"... this display is sure to cause a debate. Either you are a cat person, or a dog person. I had dogs growing up, I am VERY allergic to cats, but I am not a dog person. I am more of a bearded dragon person. Here are ten great dog books that you can check out and read to your dog! Woof, woof, bark!

Stanley's Party by Linda Bailey. E BAI

This book is seriously funny. Stanley, the dog, decides to hop on the couch one night while his people are out. He feels so clever that he decides to eat from the fridge, and listen to music, and invite all of his dog pals over for a huge party. Does it end well? Your dog knows- ask him, and then read the book yourself!

Akiak: Tale from the Iditarod by Robert J Blake. E BLA

I love to read this book when we study the Arctic in kindergarten. Akiak is the lead dog for the race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska (over 1500 miles!) On day 4 of the race, she gets injured when ice packs into her paw. She has to be taken out of the race and flown home- but she escapes before the plane takes off and finishes the race on her own. This book is full of adventure and suspense- just the right amount for little kids (and librarians!)

Wet Dog! by Elise Broach. E BRO

This book must be read aloud, and it must be read with a southern twang. It is a hot, hot day in the south, and a poor dog is looking for a place to cool off. Each time he tries to take a dip, he makes people angry- the florist, the baker, the band, until he meets a too hot baby dressed in too hot wedding clothes. Both of them find a way to cool off together!

Daisy 1, 2, 3 by Peter Catalanato. E CAT

Mrs. Tuttle teaches obedience school to 20 Dalmatians, all names Daisy. Her assistant, Doris, wonders how she can tell them all apart. Mrs. Tuttle tells her that each Daisy has something unique about her and proceeds to tell her about them. This is a fun counting book for kids of all ages. The humor is as simple or complex as the person reading it wants to make it. Little kids will get the most out of this book if you read it aloud to them.

The Toughest Cowboy in the West, or, How the West Was Tamed by John Frank.  E FRA 
Tall tales this enjoyable are hard to find. Grizz Brickbottom, toughest cowboy in the West, yearns for a companion and convinces his cattle-rustling cohorts that they need a dog to help with the work. When the local saloon goes out of business, the proprietor puts up a sign offering a free dog to a good home. Unexpectedly, it's a miniature poodle named Foofy. Although the pup is afraid of cows and won't chase away mountain lions, she provides complete amusement for the cowpokes because she catches flying tin dinner plates in her mouth,

Lost by Paul Brett Johnson. E JOH

A young boy has pet beagle who gets lost in the desert. The little boy never gives up hope that his dog will be found. Each night when he goes to bed, he talks with his father about his fears. The boy puts up posters and searches for his dog. In alternating pages, you see the dangers the lost dog faces- from heat exhaustion to rattle snakes, this little dog never gives up trying to get home. I have never read a book that brings a crowd of young listeners to their knees like this book does. Every class I have ever read this book to is convinced that the do will die at the end of the book. I ask them if I would read them a book without a happy ending... would I?

White Star: Dog on the Titanic by Marty Crisp. F CRI

Sam is a passenger on the Titanic's maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. While on board, he volunteers to work in the ship's kennel, looking after the dogs. While working in the kennel, he becomes very fond of a beautiful Irish Setter named Star. It turns out that Star belongs to the owner of the Titanic, J Bruce Ismay. When the ship starts to sink and people start to evacuate, Sam is told that dogs aren't allowed on the life rafts... so Sam refuses to leave the boat. This is a great book to get kids interested in historical fiction. There are great references and facts in the back of the book and all fans of The Titanic will love this book.

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. F DIC

India Opal moves to a new town after her mother leaves her and her father. She takes in a stray dog, and this happy-go-lucky pooch helps India make friends and break down barriers. Having Winn Dixie helps her open up to her father, and she is able to learn things about her mother. This is one of my all time favorite books, and I cry every time I read it. This book is beautifully written (I have never seen the movie).

A Dog for Life by L.S Matthew. F MAT

After John's older brother is diagnosed with cancer, his mother tells him that their beloved do, Mouse, must be taken to the pound. John and Mouse run away to the English countryside in hopes of making it to his Uncles house and saving his dog. Along the way he meets a crazy array of people who welcome him and Mouse and show them kindness. This book has a twist that I just can't explain...

Shiloh by Phylis Reynolds Naylor. F NAY

When 11-year-old Marty Preston chances upon a mistreated beagle pup in his hometown of Friendly, West Virginia, he is not prepared for the ethical questions he has to face. Should he return the dog to its owner, only to have the animal abused again? Should he tell his parents? Should he steal food to help the poor creature? This book is heart breaking and heart warming... pick up some tissues when you pick up this book.

Snow Much to Read...

If I was a librarian in Florida,  I wouldn't have the opportunity to write this blog!  Here are some of my favorite snow books... check out at the Lemme Library! (Oh... but I would love to have a display of beach books out in December! 

May be I could move to Florida... hmmm)

Snowflake Bentley by Jaqueline Briggs Martin (B BEN)

A biography of a self-taught scientist who photographed thousands of individual snowflakes in order to study their unique formations. 

The Snowman by Raymond Briggs (E BRI)

A wordless book using over one hundred seventy-five picture frames to relate the story of the adventure shared by a little boy and the snowman he built in the yard. 

Martin MacGregor's Snowman by Lisa Broadie Cook (E COO)

While anxiously awaiting the arrival of snow, Martin MacGregor, who built the biggest snowman in the neighborhood last year, tries to build one with substitute materials.

The Biggest, Best Snowman by Margery Cuyler (E CUY)

Nell is told by her BIG sisters and her mother that she is too small to help out, but everyone, including Nell, feels differently after her forest friends give her the confidence to build a large snowman.

Snowballs by Lois Ehlert (E EHL)

Some children create a family out of snow. Includes labeled pictures of all the items they use, as well as information about how snow is formed. 

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats (E KEA)

The adventures of a little boy, Peter in the city on a very snowy day. 

Under my Hood I Have a hat by Karla Kuskin (E KUS)

A young child bundles herself up warmly to go out in the winter snow. 

Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathon London (E LON)

Rambunctious Froggy hops out into the snow for a winter frolic but is called back by his mother to put on some necessary articles of clothing.

The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel (E NEI)

A young girl names all the clothes that she must wear to play in the snow. 

All You Need for a Snowman by Alice Schertle (E SCH)

Lists everything that one needs to build the perfect snowman, from the very first snowflake that falls.

Snow by Uri Shulevitz (E SHU)

As snowflakes slowly come down, one by one, people in the city ignore them, and only a boy and his dog think that the snowfall will amount to anything. 

Peter from "The Snowy Day" looks over the snow book display!

Thursday Thirteen (13)

I love being silly.  My children and husband are mortified by my ability to be crazy and silly... like the time I yelled "I farted" out the window while leaving the mall.  Kiley wasn't happy- and thought that my silliness would land her on the Internet! Life is too short to be stuffy and serious all the time... even most of the time.  I prefer to laugh and make others laugh, so here are my 13 favorite "get silly" books.  These will be a hit for any read aloud and for any age- you have my money back guarantee!

(Be warned- most of these books deal with booties, and I don't mean the pirate treasure kind).

1.  Chicken Cheeks: The Beginning of the End by Michael Ian Black E BLA

Ok, to get me... to really know what makes me tick, watch the book trailer for this book, Chicken Cheeks.  I know I am 37 years old, "butt"  this book cracks my stuff up!  Anytime you can search for "buttocks fiction" in the library catalog, you know it's going to be a good book!

2.  How Do You Wokka Wokka by Elizabeth Bluemle E BLU
This is such a fun book!  The book asks "How do you wokka wokka?" and each character in the book tells you!  It's a great movement book with great rhythm. "I wokka-wokk a like flamingos in a flocka—croakie-yocka leggy-longy pinky-hoppa-hoppa!"  When I read this to a class, they can barely sit still.  And they don't even know about the original wocka-wocka:

3.  I Ain't Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont E BEA
I absolutely love any book illustrated by David Catrow.  May be if he would have illustrated my chemistry text book, I would have gotten a better grade in high school!  This book must be sung to the tune "It Ain't Gonna Rain No More".... and is a huge hit with Kindergarten classes!  A little boy has painted the entire house, so his mom takes his paints away and hides them in the closet.  The little boy finds the paint, and commences in painting his entire (and I mean his entire) body.  He's such a nut, gonna paint his... and his mom stops him and throws him in the bathtub.  I love this book!

4.  King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Don & Audrey Wood E WOO
The King is in the bubble bath, and refuses to get out.  The Court does everything they can to get him out of the tub- they invite him to eat, to dance, even to join a battle.  All the while, a little servant boy watches... and he knows how to get him out of the tub!  He pulls the plug!
This is a great rhyming book that kids will want to hear again and again!

5.  Wolves by Emily Gravett E GRA
The little Rabbit in this book borrows a book about wolves from her local "burrowing" library.  On her way home, she begins reading, and becomes so engrossed in the book, that she doesn't realize that she is now in the book and the wolf is after her.  What do wolves eat?  Rabbits of course... is this a happily ever after book?  I ain't tellin'! 

6.  Flim Flam Fairies by Alan Katz E KAT
When I tell a group of kids that I am going to read a book about fairies- I am greeted with shrieks of pleasure from the little girls and groans of disgust from the boys... fairies are dainty, pretty, all glitter and light.  Not the Flim Flam Fairies!  When you read this book, be prepared for the fart fairy, the clipped toenail fairy, the snot fairy and the dirty underwear fairy!  These lesser-known fairies are tired of the tooth fairy getting all the glory- and they are here to convince you to leave something new under your pillow tonight.  Ew! I love it!

7.  Backbeard and the Birthday Suit: The Hairiest Pirate Who Ever Lived by Matthew McElligott E MCE
Backbeard is a pirate who lives a rough life at sea with his crew.  (He has never been able to keep a parrot) After a surprise birthday party, he starts to think that he needs to give up the pirate life and heads ashore.  His first stop is at a tailor to get a new outfit.  The tailor dresses Backbeard in the most ridiculous outfit a pirate could ever wear.  When he decides to head back to his ship, his crew doesn't recognize him, which leads to an interesting welcome!  I love reading this book because I get to talk like a pirate!

8.  Moo Who? by Margie Palatini E PAL
Hilda Mae Heffer is in the pasture singing (not very well, mind you!) when she is hit in the head by a flying cow patty!  When she comes to, she has lost her memory and lost her moo.  She walks through the barnyard looking for an animal that is like her.  She does her best imitations of each animal that she meets, but nothing feels right.  In the end, she finds her moo and discovers that it's ok to just be you... and she learns to sing like nobody is listening!  Beware that when I read this book, all doors in the library will close!

9.  Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal E ROS
This book can cause massive controversy in your home.  Is it a duck?  Is it a rabbit?  Watch this trailer to get a sneak peek and see what you think!

10.  Yes Please! No Thank You! by Valerie Wheeler E WHE
Kids these days... sheesh!  They really need to work on their manners!  This book will help.  Each page asks the audience a question- they can either answer "yes, please" or "no thank you".  You try: "Would you like to go to the fair and go on all the rides?" (yes please!) "Would you like to throw up on the lady next to you?" (no thank you!) In all the years that I have read this book, it never fails that the little boys ALWAYS reverse their answers!

11.  Always Lots of Heinies at the Zoo by Ayun Halliday E HAL

Um...  I will just let the video speak for itself. 

12. Duck for President by Doreen Cronin E CRO
With all the drama in politics these days, you should consider voting for Duck.  Watch his campaign video and see what I'm talking about.  Remember when Bill Clinton played the saxophone on the Arsenio Hall Show?  That is totally where Duck got the idea! 

13. Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French E FRE
What do wombats do all day?  This books chronicles the day of a wombat: 8 o'clock slept, 11 o'clock slept, 12 o'clock ate, 1 o'clock scratched... The wombat also spends his time digging in a garden, burrowing under a house and eating flowers from a garden.  I didn't know I loved wombats until I read this book!