tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54478311268659551322024-02-20T13:31:51.497-05:00The Broken Spine - An Ode to Well-Loved Kid LitWhile I mostly studied the works of Steinbeck, Austen, Shakespeare and other great writers in college... these days as a mother of 2 I read much more kid lit. And you know what? It's just as amazing & fantastic. Special folks write for kids. They get kids, they love kids and they are inspiring the next generation of readers and writers. This little blog is a place for me to share some of the things my kids (& I) are reading...Martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15575725451545818904noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447831126865955132.post-64538045949444656102013-09-13T14:09:00.002-04:002013-09-13T14:09:22.189-04:00Fall FrenzyWe are in the midst of a full-on Fall Frenzy here at my house. Now that the first few weeks of school, the first round of back-to-school illnesses and the first rush of soccer practices and games have come and gone I find that I have a little time to squeeze in an entry about books celebrating my most favorite time of year. I love the fall. I love the changing leaves, I love the pumpkins, I love the crisp, chilly air, I love the football and I especially love autumnal children's books. <br />
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This year there is wonderful new crop of fall themed books for you and your kiddos to enjoy. One of my newest favorites is <em>Sophie's Squash</em>. It is written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf. In this book the title character Sophie visits the farmer's market with her parents where they pick up a squash for dinner. However, Sophie quickly claims the gourd for herself and names her Bernice. Bernice fits just right into Sophie's arms, looks fantastic swaddled in a blanket and is the perfect companion for rolling down hills. Bernice, it turns out, is the perfect companion for everything and the two are inseparable. That is until the unthinkable begins to happen. The illustrations are cute and playful. This a sweet and clever story about loving something (or someone unconditionally) and learning how to let go. It is a very gentle and thoughtful way to introduce loss and I heartily recommend checking it out at your local bookshop or library.<br />
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Another fantastic new fall book is<em> Pick a Circle, Gather Squares: A Fall Harvest of Shapes</em> written by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky and illustrated by Susan Swan. This is a great book that not only celebrates the season but explores shapes. It's a fun way to introduce this important first concept. The rhyming text is a delight to read and the illustrations truly capture the bright, colorful days of fall. I see lots of books about shapes but <em>Pick a Circle, Gather Squares</em> is a unique and timely picture book that stands alone. It's already a favorite of mine to recommend to parents and preschool teachers looking for books about the fall as well as shapes. It definitely deserves a spot on your book shelf.<br />
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Caldecott Honor Award winning author and illustrator Peter McCarty's newest book<em> Fall Ball</em> is a must have for football obsessed families (like mine). McCarty's pen and watercolor illustrations tell the story of children freshly released from the confines of school and their attempt at a game of pick-up football. Things don't go quite as expected as the kids are surprised by Mother Nature in a variety of ways. It's a fun, fast paced read that celebrates not only football but the changing seasons as well. It's a perfect bedtime book for all your football fans.<br />
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Finally, I simply cannot wrap up a review of fall favorites without mentioning Lois Ehlert's<em> Leaf Man.</em> It's not a new book but it is my most favorite fall book. It is beautiful, whimsical, delightful, educational and utterly unique.<em> Leaf Man</em> (like so many of Ehlert's books) is a true celebration of nature. It reads like a love letter to fall. The illustrations will take your breath away. So pick up a copy, snuggle up with your kiddos and prepare to be swept away. <br />
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Fall is the perfect time to settle in with a great stack of books. Find a cozy spot and share one of these or one of the many, many other wonderful fall books out there. These a just a few of my favorites but I am always on the look out for more! So sound off below with your suggestions! <br />
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<br />Martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15575725451545818904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447831126865955132.post-80518976661783327042013-08-15T12:16:00.000-04:002013-08-15T12:18:30.986-04:00Because (As My Good Friend Pete Would Say) It's All Good<div contenteditable="true" id="content" spellcheck="false">
<span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="IN" sentence="If you do not know who Pete the Cat is, please stop reading this blog right now, I'm serious stop reading." token_no="0">If</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="If you do not know who Pete the Cat is, please stop reading this blog right now, I'm serious stop reading." token_no="1">you</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="If you do not know who Pete the Cat is, please stop reading this blog right now, I'm serious stop reading." token_no="2">do</span> not <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="If you do not know who Pete the Cat is, please stop reading this blog right now, I'm serious stop reading." token_no="4">know</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="WP" sentence="If you do not know who Pete the Cat is, please stop reading this blog right now, I'm serious stop reading." token_no="5">who</span> Pete <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="If you do not know who Pete the Cat is, please stop reading this blog right now, I'm serious stop reading." token_no="7">the</span> Cat is, <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="If you do not know who Pete the Cat is, please stop reading this blog right now, I'm serious stop reading." token_no="11">please</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="If you do not know who Pete the Cat is, please stop reading this blog right now, I'm serious stop reading." token_no="12">stop</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBG" sentence="If you do not know who Pete the Cat is, please stop reading this blog right now, I'm serious stop reading." token_no="13">reading</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="If you do not know who Pete the Cat is, please stop reading this blog right now, I'm serious stop reading." token_no="14">this</span> blog <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="If you do not know who Pete the Cat is, please stop reading this blog right now, I'm serious stop reading." token_no="16">right</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="If you do not know who Pete the Cat is, please stop reading this blog right now, I'm serious stop reading." token_no="17">now</span>, I<span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="If you do not know who Pete the Cat is, please stop reading this blog right now, I'm serious stop reading." token_no="20">'m</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="If you do not know who Pete the Cat is, please stop reading this blog right now, I'm serious stop reading." token_no="21">serious</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="If you do not know who Pete the Cat is, please stop reading this blog right now, I'm serious stop reading." token_no="22">stop</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="If you do not know who Pete the Cat is, please stop reading this blog right now, I'm serious stop reading." token_no="23">reading</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="Put on your shoes, turn off you lights, pick up your keys and proceed immediately to the nearest book store or library." token_no="0">Put</span> on your <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="Put on your shoes, turn off you lights, pick up your keys and proceed immediately to the nearest book store or library." token_no="3">shoes</span>, <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="Put on your shoes, turn off you lights, pick up your keys and proceed immediately to the nearest book store or library." token_no="5">turn</span> off the <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="Put on your shoes, turn off you lights, pick up your keys and proceed immediately to the nearest book store or library." token_no="8">lights</span>, <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="Put on your shoes, turn off you lights, pick up your keys and proceed immediately to the nearest book store or library." token_no="10">pick</span> up your <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="Put on your shoes, turn off you lights, pick up your keys and proceed immediately to the nearest book store or library." token_no="13">keys</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="Put on your shoes, turn off you lights, pick up your keys and proceed immediately to the nearest book store or library." token_no="14">and</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="Put on your shoes, turn off you lights, pick up your keys and proceed immediately to the nearest book store or library." token_no="15">proceed</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="Put on your shoes, turn off you lights, pick up your keys and proceed immediately to the nearest book store or library." token_no="16">immediately</span> to <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Put on your shoes, turn off you lights, pick up your keys and proceed immediately to the nearest book store or library." token_no="18">the</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJS" sentence="Put on your shoes, turn off you lights, pick up your keys and proceed immediately to the nearest book store or library." token_no="19">nearest</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Put on your shoes, turn off you lights, pick up your keys and proceed immediately to the nearest book store or library." token_no="20">book</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Put on your shoes, turn off you lights, pick up your keys and proceed immediately to the nearest book store or library." token_no="21">store</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="Put on your shoes, turn off you lights, pick up your keys and proceed immediately to the nearest book store or library." token_no="22">or</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Put on your shoes, turn off you lights, pick up your keys and proceed immediately to the nearest book store or library." token_no="23">library</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="Walk in and go straight to the customer service desk and tell them you need Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean." token_no="0">Walk</span> in <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="Walk in and go straight to the customer service desk and tell them you need Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean." token_no="2">and</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="Walk in and go straight to the customer service desk and tell them you need Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean." token_no="3">go</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="Walk in and go straight to the customer service desk and tell them you need Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean." token_no="4">straight</span> to <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Walk in and go straight to the customer service desk and tell them you need Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean." token_no="6">the</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Walk in and go straight to the customer service desk and tell them you need Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean." token_no="7">customer</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Walk in and go straight to the customer service desk and tell them you need Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean." token_no="8">service</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Walk in and go straight to the customer service desk and tell them you need Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean." token_no="9">desk</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="Walk in and go straight to the customer service desk and tell them you need Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean." token_no="10">and</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="Walk in and go straight to the customer service desk and tell them you need Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean." token_no="11">tell</span> them <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="Walk in and go straight to the customer service desk and tell them you need Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean." token_no="13">you</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="Walk in and go straight to the customer service desk and tell them you need Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean." token_no="14">need</span> <em>Pete <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Walk in and go straight to the customer service desk and tell them you need Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean." token_no="16">the</span> Cat: I Love My White Shoes</em> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBN" sentence="Walk in and go straight to the customer service desk and tell them you need Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean." token_no="24">written</span> by Eric Litwin <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="Walk in and go straight to the customer service desk and tell them you need Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean." token_no="28">and</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBN" sentence="Walk in and go straight to the customer service desk and tell them you need Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean." token_no="29">illustrated</span> by James Dean. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Any Pete book will do after that but start with I Love My White Shoes." token_no="0">Any</span> Pete <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Any Pete book will do after that but start with I Love My White Shoes." token_no="2">book</span> will <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="Any Pete book will do after that but start with I Love My White Shoes." token_no="4">do</span> after <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Any Pete book will do after that but start with I Love My White Shoes." token_no="6">that</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="Any Pete book will do after that but start with I Love My White Shoes." token_no="7">but</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="Any Pete book will do after that but start with I Love My White Shoes." token_no="8">start</span> with <em>I Love My White Shoes</em>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="Go find a quiet spot and prepare to giggle, to be charmed and even to rock out a little with this deceptively simple picture book." token_no="0">Go</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="Go find a quiet spot and prepare to giggle, to be charmed and even to rock out a little with this deceptively simple picture book." token_no="1">find</span> a <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Go find a quiet spot and prepare to giggle, to be charmed and even to rock out a little with this deceptively simple picture book." token_no="3">quiet</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Go find a quiet spot and prepare to giggle, to be charmed and even to rock out a little with this deceptively simple picture book." token_no="4">spot</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="Go find a quiet spot and prepare to giggle, to be charmed and even to rock out a little with this deceptively simple picture book." token_no="5">and</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="Go find a quiet spot and prepare to giggle, to be charmed and even to rock out a little with this deceptively simple picture book." token_no="6">prepare</span> to <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="Go find a quiet spot and prepare to giggle, to be charmed and even to rock out a little with this deceptively simple picture book." token_no="8">giggle</span>, to be <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBN" sentence="Go find a quiet spot and prepare to giggle, to be charmed and even to rock out a little with this deceptively simple picture book." token_no="12">charmed</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="Go find a quiet spot and prepare to giggle, to be charmed and even to rock out a little with this deceptively simple picture book." token_no="13">and</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="Go find a quiet spot and prepare to giggle, to be charmed and even to rock out a little with this deceptively simple picture book." token_no="14">even</span> to <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="Go find a quiet spot and prepare to giggle, to be charmed and even to rock out a little with this deceptively simple picture book." token_no="16">rock</span> out a <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Go find a quiet spot and prepare to giggle, to be charmed and even to rock out a little with this deceptively simple picture book." token_no="19">little</span> with <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Go find a quiet spot and prepare to giggle, to be charmed and even to rock out a little with this deceptively simple picture book." token_no="21">this</span> deceptively <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Go find a quiet spot and prepare to giggle, to be charmed and even to rock out a little with this deceptively simple picture book." token_no="23">simple</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Go find a quiet spot and prepare to giggle, to be charmed and even to rock out a little with this deceptively simple picture book." token_no="24">picture</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Go find a quiet spot and prepare to giggle, to be charmed and even to rock out a little with this deceptively simple picture book." token_no="25">book</span>. <br />
<br />
<span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="IN" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="0">If</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="1">you</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="2">have</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBN" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="3">ignored</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="4">the</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="5">sage</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="6">advice</span> above <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="8">and</span> are <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="10">still</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBG" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="11">reading</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="12">this</span>, <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="14">then</span> in <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="16">the</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="17">interest</span> of <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBG" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="19">advocating</span> children's <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="22">literacy</span> (<span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="24">and</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="25">all</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="26">things</span> groovy) I shall <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="If you have ignored the sage advice above and are still reading this, then in the interest of advocating children's literacy (and all things groovy) I shall continue." token_no="31">continue</span>. Pete The Cat is a <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Pete The Cat is a cat." token_no="5">cat</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="He's a blue cat." token_no="0">He</span><span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="He's a blue cat." token_no="1">'s</span> a <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="He's a blue cat." token_no="3">blue</span>
<span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="He's a blue cat." token_no="4">cat</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="He's a groovy blue cat." token_no="0">He</span><span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="He's a groovy blue cat." token_no="1">'s</span> a groovy
<span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="He's a groovy blue cat." token_no="4">blue</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="He's a groovy blue cat." token_no="5">cat</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="He's a groovy blue cat who loves his white shoes." token_no="0">He</span><span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="He's a groovy blue cat who loves his white shoes." token_no="1">'s</span> a groovy <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="He's a groovy blue cat who loves his white shoes." token_no="4">blue</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="He's a groovy blue cat who loves his white shoes." token_no="5">cat</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="WP" sentence="He's a groovy blue cat who loves his white shoes." token_no="6">who</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="He's a groovy blue cat who loves his white shoes." token_no="7">loves</span> his white <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="He's a groovy blue cat who loves his white shoes." token_no="10">shoes</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="Are you with me so far?" token_no="0">Are</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="Are you with me so far?" token_no="1">you</span> with me <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="Are you with me so far?" token_no="4">so</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="Are you with me so far?" token_no="5">far</span>? One <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="One day he's out for a stroll." token_no="1">day</span>
<span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="One day he's out for a stroll." token_no="2">he</span><span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="One day he's out for a stroll." token_no="3">'s</span>
out <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="IN" sentence="One day he's out for a stroll." token_no="5">for</span> a stroll. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="He's just walking around (with a guitar of course) singing a little ditty about his white shoes and how much he loves them." token_no="0">He</span><span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="He's just walking around (with a guitar of course) singing a little ditty about his white shoes and how much he loves them." token_no="1">'s</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="He's just walking around (with a guitar of course) singing a little ditty about his white shoes and how much he loves them." token_no="2">just</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBG" sentence="He's just walking around (with a guitar of course) singing a little ditty about his white shoes and how much he loves them." token_no="3">walking</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="He's just walking around (with a guitar of course) singing a little ditty about his white shoes and how much he loves them." token_no="4">around</span> (with a guitar of <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="He's just walking around (with a guitar of course) singing a little ditty about his white shoes and how much he loves them." token_no="10">course</span>) <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBG" sentence="He's just walking around (with a guitar of course) singing a little ditty about his white shoes and how much he loves them." token_no="12">singing</span> a <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="He's just walking around (with a guitar of course) singing a little ditty about his white shoes and how much he loves them." token_no="14">little</span> ditty about his white <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="He's just walking around (with a guitar of course) singing a little ditty about his white shoes and how much he loves them." token_no="19">shoes</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="He's just walking around (with a guitar of course) singing a little ditty about his white shoes and how much he loves them." token_no="20">and</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="WRB" sentence="He's just walking around (with a guitar of course) singing a little ditty about his white shoes and how much he loves them." token_no="21">how</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="He's just walking around (with a guitar of course) singing a little ditty about his white shoes and how much he loves them." token_no="22">much</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="He's just walking around (with a guitar of course) singing a little ditty about his white shoes and how much he loves them." token_no="23">he</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="He's just walking around (with a guitar of course) singing a little ditty about his white shoes and how much he loves them." token_no="24">loves</span> them. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="WRB" sentence="When the unthinkable happens - he steps in the largest pile of strawberries you've ever seen." token_no="0">When</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="When the unthinkable happens - he steps in the largest pile of strawberries you've ever seen." token_no="1">the</span> unthinkable <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="When the unthinkable happens - he steps in the largest pile of strawberries you've ever seen." token_no="3">happens</span> - <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="When the unthinkable happens - he steps in the largest pile of strawberries you've ever seen." token_no="5">he</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="When the unthinkable happens - he steps in the largest pile of strawberries you've ever seen." token_no="6">steps</span> in <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="When the unthinkable happens - he steps in the largest pile of strawberries you've ever seen." token_no="8">the</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJS" sentence="When the unthinkable happens - he steps in the largest pile of strawberries you've ever seen." token_no="9">largest</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="When the unthinkable happens - he steps in the largest pile of strawberries you've ever seen." token_no="10">pile</span> of <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="When the unthinkable happens - he steps in the largest pile of strawberries you've ever seen." token_no="12">strawberries</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="When the unthinkable happens - he steps in the largest pile of strawberries you've ever seen." token_no="13">you</span>'ve <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="When the unthinkable happens - he steps in the largest pile of strawberries you've ever seen." token_no="15">ever</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBN" sentence="When the unthinkable happens - he steps in the largest pile of strawberries you've ever seen." token_no="16">seen</span>. His white <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="His white shoes?" token_no="2">shoes</span>?
<span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="Well they aren't white any more." token_no="0">Well</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="Well they aren't white any more." token_no="1">they</span> aren't white <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Well they aren't white any more." token_no="5">any</span>
<span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJR" sentence="Well they aren't white any more." token_no="6">more</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="They are of course red." token_no="0">They</span> are of
<span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="They are of course red." token_no="3">course</span> <span caption="Commonly confused words" class="IgnoredWords alert" critical="true" description="Errors involving confusing similar words with different meaning" pid="220578" replacements="read" sentence="They are of course red.">red</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="It is how Pete reacts to this unexpected transition is what makes Pete so darn awesome." token_no="0">It</span> is <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="WRB" sentence="It is how Pete reacts to this unexpected transition is what makes Pete so darn awesome." token_no="2">how</span> Pete reacts to <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="It is how Pete reacts to this unexpected transition is what makes Pete so darn awesome." token_no="6">this</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="It is how Pete reacts to this unexpected transition is what makes Pete so darn awesome." token_no="7">unexpected</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="It is how Pete reacts to this unexpected transition is what makes Pete so darn awesome." token_no="8">transition</span> is <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="WP" sentence="It is how Pete reacts to this unexpected transition is what makes Pete so darn awesome." token_no="10">what</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="It is how Pete reacts to this unexpected transition is what makes Pete so darn awesome." token_no="11">makes</span> Pete <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="IN" sentence="It is how Pete reacts to this unexpected transition is what makes Pete so darn awesome." token_no="13">so</span> darn <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="It is how Pete reacts to this unexpected transition is what makes Pete so darn awesome." token_no="15">awesome</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="He doesn't freak out." token_no="0">He</span>
<span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="He doesn't freak out." token_no="1">does</span>n't freak out. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="He doesn't throw a tantrum." token_no="0">He</span>
<span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="He doesn't throw a tantrum." token_no="1">does</span>n't <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="He doesn't throw a tantrum." token_no="3">throw</span> a
<span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="He doesn't throw a tantrum." token_no="5">tantrum</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="He doesn't demand a brand new pair of white shoes." token_no="0">He</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="He doesn't demand a brand new pair of white shoes." token_no="1">does</span>n't <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="He doesn't demand a brand new pair of white shoes." token_no="3">demand</span> a <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="He doesn't demand a brand new pair of white shoes." token_no="5">brand</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="He doesn't demand a brand new pair of white shoes." token_no="6">new</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="He doesn't demand a brand new pair of white shoes." token_no="7">pair</span> of white <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="He doesn't demand a brand new pair of white shoes." token_no="10">shoes</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="He just changes his tune up a bit." token_no="0">He</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="He just changes his tune up a bit." token_no="1">just</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="He just changes his tune up a bit." token_no="2">changes</span> his <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="He just changes his tune up a bit." token_no="4">tune</span> up a <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="He just changes his tune up a bit." token_no="7">bit</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="Now he's walking along singing about loving his red shoes until once again the unthinkable happens." token_no="0">Now</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="Now he's walking along singing about loving his red shoes until once again the unthinkable happens." token_no="1">he</span><span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="Now he's walking along singing about loving his red shoes until once again the unthinkable happens." token_no="2">'s</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBG" sentence="Now he's walking along singing about loving his red shoes until once again the unthinkable happens." token_no="3">walking</span> along <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBG" sentence="Now he's walking along singing about loving his red shoes until once again the unthinkable happens." token_no="5">singing</span> about <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBG" sentence="Now he's walking along singing about loving his red shoes until once again the unthinkable happens." token_no="7">loving</span> his red <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="Now he's walking along singing about loving his red shoes until once again the unthinkable happens." token_no="10">shoes</span> until <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="Now he's walking along singing about loving his red shoes until once again the unthinkable happens." token_no="12">once</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="Now he's walking along singing about loving his red shoes until once again the unthinkable happens." token_no="13">again</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Now he's walking along singing about loving his red shoes until once again the unthinkable happens." token_no="14">the</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Now he's walking along singing about loving his red shoes until once again the unthinkable happens." token_no="15">unthinkable</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="Now he's walking along singing about loving his red shoes until once again the unthinkable happens." token_no="16">happens</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="He steps in a gigantic mound of blueberries." token_no="0">He</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="He steps in a gigantic mound of blueberries." token_no="1">steps</span> in a <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="He steps in a gigantic mound of blueberries." token_no="4">gigantic</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="He steps in a gigantic mound of blueberries." token_no="5">mound</span> of blueberries. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="Once again he keeps walking along - singing about, you guessed it - how much he loves his blue shoes." token_no="0">Once</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="Once again he keeps walking along - singing about, you guessed it - how much he loves his blue shoes." token_no="1">again</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="Once again he keeps walking along - singing about, you guessed it - how much he loves his blue shoes." token_no="2">he</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="Once again he keeps walking along - singing about, you guessed it - how much he loves his blue shoes." token_no="3">keeps</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBG" sentence="Once again he keeps walking along - singing about, you guessed it - how much he loves his blue shoes." token_no="4">walking</span> along - <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBG" sentence="Once again he keeps walking along - singing about, you guessed it - how much he loves his blue shoes." token_no="7">singing</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="Once again he keeps walking along - singing about, you guessed it - how much he loves his blue shoes." token_no="8">about</span>, <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="Once again he keeps walking along - singing about, you guessed it - how much he loves his blue shoes." token_no="10">you</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBD" sentence="Once again he keeps walking along - singing about, you guessed it - how much he loves his blue shoes." token_no="11">guessed</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="Once again he keeps walking along - singing about, you guessed it - how much he loves his blue shoes." token_no="12">it</span> - <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="WRB" sentence="Once again he keeps walking along - singing about, you guessed it - how much he loves his blue shoes." token_no="14">how</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Once again he keeps walking along - singing about, you guessed it - how much he loves his blue shoes." token_no="15">much</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="Once again he keeps walking along - singing about, you guessed it - how much he loves his blue shoes." token_no="16">he</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="Once again he keeps walking along - singing about, you guessed it - how much he loves his blue shoes." token_no="17">loves</span> his <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Once again he keeps walking along - singing about, you guessed it - how much he loves his blue shoes." token_no="19">blue</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="Once again he keeps walking along - singing about, you guessed it - how much he loves his blue shoes." token_no="20">shoes</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Other mishaps occur and the shoes continue to change throughout the story." token_no="0">Other</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="Other mishaps occur and the shoes continue to change throughout the story." token_no="1">mishaps</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="Other mishaps occur and the shoes continue to change throughout the story." token_no="2">occur</span> <span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="IgnoredPatterns alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the coordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a coordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction, or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." patterndate="1376482399000" pid="1754155" replacements="\, and" sentence="Other mishaps occur and the shoes continue to change throughout the story." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the coordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="Other mishaps occur and the shoes continue to change throughout the story." token_no="3">and</span></span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Other mishaps occur and the shoes continue to change throughout the story." token_no="4">the</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="Other mishaps occur and the shoes continue to change throughout the story." token_no="5">shoes</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="Other mishaps occur and the shoes continue to change throughout the story." token_no="6">continue</span> to <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="Other mishaps occur and the shoes continue to change throughout the story." token_no="8">change</span> throughout <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Other mishaps occur and the shoes continue to change throughout the story." token_no="10">the</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Other mishaps occur and the shoes continue to change throughout the story." token_no="11">story</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="You get the idea." token_no="0">You</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="You get the idea." token_no="1">get</span>
<span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="You get the idea." token_no="2">the</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="You get the idea." token_no="3">idea</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="0">The</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="1">moral</span> of <em>Pete <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="4">the</span> Cat</em>, as Litwin <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="9">and</span> Dean <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="11">tell</span> us, is <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="IN" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="15">that</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="16">no</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="17">matter</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="WP" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="18">what</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="19">you</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="20">step</span> in <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="22">you</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="23">just</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="24">keep</span> on <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBG" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="26">walking</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="27">along</span>, <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBG" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="29">singing</span> your <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="31">song</span>, <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="IN" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="33">because</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="34">it</span><span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="35">'s</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="36">all</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="The moral of Pete the Cat, as Litwin and Dean tell us, is that no matter what you step in you just keep on walking along, singing your song, because it's all good." token_no="37">good</span>. <br />
<br />
I <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="I think this is a wonderful life lesson." token_no="1">think</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="I think this is a wonderful life lesson." token_no="2">this</span> is a <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="I think this is a wonderful life lesson." token_no="5">wonderful</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="I think this is a wonderful life lesson." token_no="6">life</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="I think this is a wonderful life lesson." token_no="7">lesson</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="It comes packaged in an adorable cat, silly shoes and sing-song text, but it is still a life lesson." token_no="0">It</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="It comes packaged in an adorable cat, silly shoes and sing-song text, but it is still a life lesson." token_no="1">comes</span> packaged in an <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="It comes packaged in an adorable cat, silly shoes and sing-song text, but it is still a life lesson." token_no="5">adorable</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="It comes packaged in an adorable cat, silly shoes and sing-song text, but it is still a life lesson." token_no="6">cat</span>, <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="It comes packaged in an adorable cat, silly shoes and sing-song text, but it is still a life lesson." token_no="8">silly</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="It comes packaged in an adorable cat, silly shoes and sing-song text, but it is still a life lesson." token_no="9">shoes</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="It comes packaged in an adorable cat, silly shoes and sing-song text, but it is still a life lesson." token_no="10">and</span> sing-song <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="It comes packaged in an adorable cat, silly shoes and sing-song text, but it is still a life lesson." token_no="12">text</span>, <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="It comes packaged in an adorable cat, silly shoes and sing-song text, but it is still a life lesson." token_no="14">but</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="It comes packaged in an adorable cat, silly shoes and sing-song text, but it is still a life lesson." token_no="15">it</span> is <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="It comes packaged in an adorable cat, silly shoes and sing-song text, but it is still a life lesson." token_no="17">still</span> a <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="It comes packaged in an adorable cat, silly shoes and sing-song text, but it is still a life lesson." token_no="19">life</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="It comes packaged in an adorable cat, silly shoes and sing-song text, but it is still a life lesson." token_no="20">lesson</span>. One <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="IN" sentence="One that while aimed at the preschool set is one that all children and all adults struggle to understand." token_no="1">that</span> while <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBD" sentence="One that while aimed at the preschool set is one that all children and all adults struggle to understand." token_no="3">aimed</span> at <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="One that while aimed at the preschool set is one that all children and all adults struggle to understand." token_no="5">the</span> preschool <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="One that while aimed at the preschool set is one that all children and all adults struggle to understand." token_no="7">set</span> is one <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="IN" sentence="One that while aimed at the preschool set is one that all children and all adults struggle to understand." token_no="10">that</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="One that while aimed at the preschool set is one that all children and all adults struggle to understand." token_no="11">all</span> children <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="One that while aimed at the preschool set is one that all children and all adults struggle to understand." token_no="13">and</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="One that while aimed at the preschool set is one that all children and all adults struggle to understand." token_no="15">adults</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="One that while aimed at the preschool set is one that all children and all adults struggle to understand." token_no="16">struggle</span> to <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="One that while aimed at the preschool set is one that all children and all adults struggle to understand." token_no="18">understand</span>. Pete's groovy <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Pete's groovy attitude towards the unexpected twists and turns he encounters is a model that we can all strive to follow." token_no="3">attitude</span> towards <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Pete's groovy attitude towards the unexpected twists and turns he encounters is a model that we can all strive to follow." token_no="5">the</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Pete's groovy attitude towards the unexpected twists and turns he encounters is a model that we can all strive to follow." token_no="6">unexpected</span> twists <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="Pete's groovy attitude towards the unexpected twists and turns he encounters is a model that we can all strive to follow." token_no="8">and</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="Pete's groovy attitude towards the unexpected twists and turns he encounters is a model that we can all strive to follow." token_no="9">turns</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="Pete's groovy attitude towards the unexpected twists and turns he encounters is a model that we can all strive to follow." token_no="10">he</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="Pete's groovy attitude towards the unexpected twists and turns he encounters is a model that we can all strive to follow." token_no="11">encounters</span> is a <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Pete's groovy attitude towards the unexpected twists and turns he encounters is a model that we can all strive to follow." token_no="14">model</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="IN" sentence="Pete's groovy attitude towards the unexpected twists and turns he encounters is a model that we can all strive to follow." token_no="15">that</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="Pete's groovy attitude towards the unexpected twists and turns he encounters is a model that we can all strive to follow." token_no="16">we</span> can <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Pete's groovy attitude towards the unexpected twists and turns he encounters is a model that we can all strive to follow." token_no="18">all</span> strive to <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="Pete's groovy attitude towards the unexpected twists and turns he encounters is a model that we can all strive to follow." token_no="21">follow</span>. His <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="His personal philosophy isn't the only reason to love Pete, however." token_no="1">personal</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="His personal philosophy isn't the only reason to love Pete, however." token_no="2">philosophy</span> isn't <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="His personal philosophy isn't the only reason to love Pete, however." token_no="5">the</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="His personal philosophy isn't the only reason to love Pete, however." token_no="6">only</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="His personal philosophy isn't the only reason to love Pete, however." token_no="7">reason</span> to <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="His personal philosophy isn't the only reason to love Pete, however." token_no="9">love</span> Pete, <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="His personal philosophy isn't the only reason to love Pete, however." token_no="12">however</span>. Underneath <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Underneath that Rolling-with-Punches lesson are some important educational elements." token_no="1">that</span> Rolling-with-Punches <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Underneath that Rolling-with-Punches lesson are some important educational elements." token_no="3">lesson</span> are <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Underneath that Rolling-with-Punches lesson are some important educational elements." token_no="5">some</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Underneath that Rolling-with-Punches lesson are some important educational elements." token_no="6">important</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Underneath that Rolling-with-Punches lesson are some important educational elements." token_no="7">educational</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="Underneath that Rolling-with-Punches lesson are some important educational elements." token_no="8">elements</span>. <br />
<br />
Litwin's <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Litwin's story moves quickly using repetition, song, and simple cause and effect prediction making this an extremely interactive book." token_no="2">story</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="Litwin's story moves quickly using repetition, song, and simple cause and effect prediction making this an extremely interactive book." token_no="3">moves</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="Litwin's story moves quickly using repetition, song, and simple cause and effect prediction making this an extremely interactive book." token_no="4">quickly</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBG" sentence="Litwin's story moves quickly using repetition, song, and simple cause and effect prediction making this an extremely interactive book." token_no="5">using</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Litwin's story moves quickly using repetition, song, and simple cause and effect prediction making this an extremely interactive book." token_no="6">repetition</span>, <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Litwin's story moves quickly using repetition, song, and simple cause and effect prediction making this an extremely interactive book." token_no="8">song</span>, <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="Litwin's story moves quickly using repetition, song, and simple cause and effect prediction making this an extremely interactive book." token_no="10">and</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Litwin's story moves quickly using repetition, song, and simple cause and effect prediction making this an extremely interactive book." token_no="11">simple</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Litwin's story moves quickly using repetition, song, and simple cause and effect prediction making this an extremely interactive book." token_no="12">cause</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="Litwin's story moves quickly using repetition, song, and simple cause and effect prediction making this an extremely interactive book." token_no="13">and</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Litwin's story moves quickly using repetition, song, and simple cause and effect prediction making this an extremely interactive book." token_no="14">effect</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Litwin's story moves quickly using repetition, song, and simple cause and effect prediction making this an extremely interactive book." token_no="15">prediction</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBG" sentence="Litwin's story moves quickly using repetition, song, and simple cause and effect prediction making this an extremely interactive book." token_no="16">making</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Litwin's story moves quickly using repetition, song, and simple cause and effect prediction making this an extremely interactive book." token_no="17">this</span> an <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="Litwin's story moves quickly using repetition, song, and simple cause and effect prediction making this an extremely interactive book." token_no="19">extremely</span> interactive <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Litwin's story moves quickly using repetition, song, and simple cause and effect prediction making this an extremely interactive book." token_no="21">book</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJS" sentence="Most kiddos just love, love, love to be a part of the story." token_no="0">Most</span> kiddos <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="Most kiddos just love, love, love to be a part of the story." token_no="2">just</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="Most kiddos just love, love, love to be a part of the story." token_no="3">love</span>, <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Most kiddos just love, love, love to be a part of the story." token_no="5">love</span>, <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="Most kiddos just love, love, love to be a part of the story." token_no="7">love</span> to be a <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Most kiddos just love, love, love to be a part of the story." token_no="11">part</span> of <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Most kiddos just love, love, love to be a part of the story." token_no="13">the</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Most kiddos just love, love, love to be a part of the story." token_no="14">story</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="Meanwhile, Dean's illustrations make Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes a fantastic first primer for learning colors." token_no="0">Meanwhile</span>, <span caption="Spelling" class="IgnoredWords alert" critical="true" description="Misspelled words and typos" pid="226238" replacements="An,En,San,De an" sentence="Meanwhile, Dean's illustrations make Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes a fantastic first primer for learning colors.">Dean</span>'s <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="Meanwhile, Dean's illustrations make Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes a fantastic first primer for learning colors." token_no="4">illustrations</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="Meanwhile, Dean's illustrations make Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes a fantastic first primer for learning colors." token_no="5">make</span> <em>Pete <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Meanwhile, Dean's illustrations make Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes a fantastic first primer for learning colors." token_no="7">the</span> Cat: I Love My White Shoes</em> a <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Meanwhile, Dean's illustrations make Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes a fantastic first primer for learning colors." token_no="16">fantastic</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Meanwhile, Dean's illustrations make Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes a fantastic first primer for learning colors." token_no="17">first</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Meanwhile, Dean's illustrations make Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes a fantastic first primer for learning colors." token_no="18">primer</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="IN" sentence="Meanwhile, Dean's illustrations make Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes a fantastic first primer for learning colors." token_no="19">for</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBG" sentence="Meanwhile, Dean's illustrations make Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes a fantastic first primer for learning colors." token_no="20">learning</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="Meanwhile, Dean's illustrations make Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes a fantastic first primer for learning colors." token_no="21">colors</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJS" sentence="Most of the illustrations stick to the primary colors with shades of brown, green and of course white, thrown in for good measure." token_no="0">Most</span> of <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Most of the illustrations stick to the primary colors with shades of brown, green and of course white, thrown in for good measure." token_no="2">the</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="Most of the illustrations stick to the primary colors with shades of brown, green and of course white, thrown in for good measure." token_no="3">illustrations</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="Most of the illustrations stick to the primary colors with shades of brown, green and of course white, thrown in for good measure." token_no="4">stick</span> to <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Most of the illustrations stick to the primary colors with shades of brown, green and of course white, thrown in for good measure." token_no="6">the</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Most of the illustrations stick to the primary colors with shades of brown, green and of course white, thrown in for good measure." token_no="7">primary</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="Most of the illustrations stick to the primary colors with shades of brown, green and of course white, thrown in for good measure." token_no="8">colors</span> with <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="Most of the illustrations stick to the primary colors with shades of brown, green and of course white, thrown in for good measure." token_no="10">shades</span> of <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Most of the illustrations stick to the primary colors with shades of brown, green and of course white, thrown in for good measure." token_no="12">brown</span>, <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Most of the illustrations stick to the primary colors with shades of brown, green and of course white, thrown in for good measure." token_no="14">green</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="Most of the illustrations stick to the primary colors with shades of brown, green and of course white, thrown in for good measure." token_no="15">and</span> of <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Most of the illustrations stick to the primary colors with shades of brown, green and of course white, thrown in for good measure." token_no="17">course</span> white, <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBN" sentence="Most of the illustrations stick to the primary colors with shades of brown, green and of course white, thrown in for good measure." token_no="20">thrown</span> in <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="IN" sentence="Most of the illustrations stick to the primary colors with shades of brown, green and of course white, thrown in for good measure." token_no="22">for</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Most of the illustrations stick to the primary colors with shades of brown, green and of course white, thrown in for good measure." token_no="23">good</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Most of the illustrations stick to the primary colors with shades of brown, green and of course white, thrown in for good measure." token_no="24">measure</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="The bright, cheerful colors grab kids attention and really hold them to the page." token_no="0">The</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="The bright, cheerful colors grab kids attention and really hold them to the page." token_no="1">bright</span>, <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="The bright, cheerful colors grab kids attention and really hold them to the page." token_no="3">cheerful</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="The bright, cheerful colors grab kids attention and really hold them to the page." token_no="4">colors</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="The bright, cheerful colors grab kids attention and really hold them to the page." token_no="5">grab</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="The bright, cheerful colors grab kids attention and really hold them to the page." token_no="6">kids</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="The bright, cheerful colors grab kids attention and really hold them to the page." token_no="7">attention</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="The bright, cheerful colors grab kids attention and really hold them to the page." token_no="8">and</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="The bright, cheerful colors grab kids attention and really hold them to the page." token_no="9">really</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="The bright, cheerful colors grab kids attention and really hold them to the page." token_no="10">hold</span> them to <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="The bright, cheerful colors grab kids attention and really hold them to the page." token_no="13">the</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="The bright, cheerful colors grab kids attention and really hold them to the page." token_no="14">page</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="The illustrations themselves are playful and fun." token_no="0">The</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="The illustrations themselves are playful and fun." token_no="1">illustrations</span> themselves are playful <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="The illustrations themselves are playful and fun." token_no="5">and</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="The illustrations themselves are playful and fun." token_no="6">fun</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="They depict one aspect of the story at a time." token_no="0">They</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="They depict one aspect of the story at a time." token_no="1">depict</span> one <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="They depict one aspect of the story at a time." token_no="3">aspect</span> of <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="They depict one aspect of the story at a time." token_no="5">the</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="They depict one aspect of the story at a time." token_no="6">story</span> at a <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="They depict one aspect of the story at a time." token_no="9">time</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="0">As</span> <span caption="Review this sentence for generic words" class="IgnoredPatterns alert" critical="true" description="This word may be vague and subject to overuse. To improve the quality and variety of your writing, consider using one of the following replacements. Carefully review the definitions of the suggested words to ensure they appropriately fit the context." pid="133980" replacements="many" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories."><span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="1">much</span></span> as I <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="4">love</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="5">intricate</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="6">illustrations</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="IN" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="7">for</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJR" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="8">older</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="9">kids</span> I <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="11">find</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="12">that</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJR" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="13">simpler</span> is <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="15">really</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RBR" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="16">better</span> with <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="18">those</span> kiddos <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="WP" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="20">who</span> are <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="22">first</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBG" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="23">learning</span> to <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="25">sit</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="IN" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="26">for</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="As much as I love intricate illustrations for older kids I find that simpler is really better with those kiddos who are first learning to sit for stories." token_no="27">stories</span>. <br />
<br />
<em>Pete
<span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes is not the only Pete the Cat book." token_no="1">the</span> Cat: I Love My White Shoes</em> is not <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes is not the only Pete the Cat book." token_no="11">the</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes is not the only Pete the Cat book." token_no="12">only</span> Pete <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes is not the only Pete the Cat book." token_no="14">the</span> Cat <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes is not the only Pete the Cat book." token_no="16">book</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="Happily there are three other full length picture books currently available." token_no="0">Happily</span> there are three <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Happily there are three other full length picture books currently available." token_no="4">other</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Happily there are three other full length picture books currently available." token_no="5">full</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Happily there are three other full length picture books currently available." token_no="6">length</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Happily there are three other full length picture books currently available." token_no="7">picture</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="Happily there are three other full length picture books currently available." token_no="8">books</span> currently <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Happily there are three other full length picture books currently available." token_no="10">available</span>. <span caption="Review your work for omitted words." class="IgnoredPatterns alert" critical="true" description="<p>Ensure your subject has a verb modifying it.</p> <p>The subject of your sentence (“<b>Pete</b>”) may not be properly modified by a verb. Consider adding a form of “to be”, or perhaps a modal verb.</p> <p>Each noun should have a verb describing what that subject is doing. Little words like “is” are often left out as typographical errors. Clearly identify the subject of your sentence, and make sure there is a verb modifying it.</p> Examples: <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The cafeteria not really a good place to eat.</span><br/> <span class="grey">This sentence does not have a verb to modify the subject, “the cafeteria”. “Is” should be inserted between “cafeteria” and “not”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: What you want to eat?</span><br /> <span class="grey">This sentence is commonly heard in every day speech; to be grammatically correct, it requires another verb. The sentence should be written as <span class="green">“What do you want to eat?”</span> It could also be written as <span class="green">“What would you like to eat?”</span></span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: They going to the movies with you?</span><br/> <span class="grey">This sentence requires a form of the verb “to be”. It could be written as, <span class="green">“Are they going to the movies with you?”</span> or <span class="green">“They are going to the movies with you?”</span> The verb tense could also be changed to past or future: <span class="green">“Were they going to the movies with you?”</span> or <span class="green">“Will they be going to the movies with you?”</span></span></p> " grammarpoint="The subject in your sentence may be omitted." patterndate="1376482399000" pid="1319188" sentence="Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes is about going to school for the first time."><em>Pete
<span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes is about going to school for the first time." token_no="1">the</span> Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes</em> is about
<span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBG" sentence="Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes is about going to school for the first time." token_no="11">going</span> to <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes is about going to school for the first time." token_no="13">school</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="IN" sentence="Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes is about going to school for the first time." token_no="14">for</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes is about going to school for the first time." token_no="15">the</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes is about going to school for the first time." token_no="16">first</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes is about going to school for the first time." token_no="17">time</span>.</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="It is a perfect book to read as kiddos head back to the classroom this fall." token_no="0">It</span> is a <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="It is a perfect book to read as kiddos head back to the classroom this fall." token_no="3">perfect</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="It is a perfect book to read as kiddos head back to the classroom this fall." token_no="4">book</span> to <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="It is a perfect book to read as kiddos head back to the classroom this fall." token_no="6">read</span> as kiddos <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="It is a perfect book to read as kiddos head back to the classroom this fall." token_no="9">head</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="It is a perfect book to read as kiddos head back to the classroom this fall." token_no="10">back</span> to <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="It is a perfect book to read as kiddos head back to the classroom this fall." token_no="12">the</span> classroom <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="It is a perfect book to read as kiddos head back to the classroom this fall." token_no="14">this</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="It is a perfect book to read as kiddos head back to the classroom this fall." token_no="15">fall</span>. <em>Pete <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons offers a great first introduction to counting and simple math." token_no="1">the</span> Cat <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons offers a great first introduction to counting and simple math." token_no="3">and</span> His Four Groovy Buttons</em> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons offers a great first introduction to counting and simple math." token_no="8">offers</span> a <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons offers a great first introduction to counting and simple math." token_no="10">great</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons offers a great first introduction to counting and simple math." token_no="11">first</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons offers a great first introduction to counting and simple math." token_no="12">introduction</span> to counting <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons offers a great first introduction to counting and simple math." token_no="15">and</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons offers a great first introduction to counting and simple math." token_no="16">simple</span> math. There is <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="There is also a cute Christmas book called Pete the Cat Saves Christmas." token_no="2">also</span> a <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="There is also a cute Christmas book called Pete the Cat Saves Christmas." token_no="4">cute</span> Christmas <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="There is also a cute Christmas book called Pete the Cat Saves Christmas." token_no="6">book</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBD" sentence="There is also a cute Christmas book called Pete the Cat Saves Christmas." token_no="7">called</span><em> Pete <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="There is also a cute Christmas book called Pete the Cat Saves Christmas." token_no="9">the</span> Cat Saves Christmas</em>. Currently, <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Currently, all of these books (in extremely loved and tattered states) live on our bookshelf along with an assortment of beginning readers that came out this spring and summer." token_no="2">all</span> of <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Currently, all of these books (in extremely loved and tattered states) live on our bookshelf along with an assortment of beginning readers that came out this spring and summer." token_no="4">these</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="Currently, all of these books (in extremely loved and tattered states) live on our bookshelf along with an assortment of beginning readers that came out this spring and summer." token_no="5">books</span> (in <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="Currently, all of these books (in extremely loved and tattered states) live on our bookshelf along with an assortment of beginning readers that came out this spring and summer." token_no="8">extremely</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBN" sentence="Currently, all of these books (in extremely loved and tattered states) live on our bookshelf along with an assortment of beginning readers that came out this spring and summer." token_no="9">loved</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="Currently, all of these books (in extremely loved and tattered states) live on our bookshelf along with an assortment of beginning readers that came out this spring and summer." token_no="10">and</span> tattered <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="Currently, all of these books (in extremely loved and tattered states) live on our bookshelf along with an assortment of beginning readers that came out this spring and summer." token_no="12">states</span>) <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="Currently, all of these books (in extremely loved and tattered states) live on our bookshelf along with an assortment of beginning readers that came out this spring and summer." token_no="14">live</span> on our bookshelf along with an <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Currently, all of these books (in extremely loved and tattered states) live on our bookshelf along with an assortment of beginning readers that came out this spring and summer." token_no="21">assortment</span> of Pete the Cat <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Currently, all of these books (in extremely loved and tattered states) live on our bookshelf along with an assortment of beginning readers that came out this spring and summer." token_no="23">beginning</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NNS" sentence="Currently, all of these books (in extremely loved and tattered states) live on our bookshelf along with an assortment of beginning readers that came out this spring and summer." token_no="24">readers</span> and a Pete the Cat version of the <em>Wheels on the Bus</em> that <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBD" sentence="Currently, all of these books (in extremely loved and tattered states) live on our bookshelf along with an assortment of beginning readers that came out this spring and summer." token_no="26">came</span> out <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="Currently, all of these books (in extremely loved and tattered states) live on our bookshelf along with an assortment of beginning readers that came out this spring and summer." token_no="28">this</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Currently, all of these books (in extremely loved and tattered states) live on our bookshelf along with an assortment of beginning readers that came out this spring and summer." token_no="29">spring</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="Currently, all of these books (in extremely loved and tattered states) live on our bookshelf along with an assortment of beginning readers that came out this spring and summer." token_no="30">and</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="Currently, all of these books (in extremely loved and tattered states) live on our bookshelf along with an assortment of beginning readers that came out this spring and summer." token_no="31">summer</span>. <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="We are excitedly waiting the arrival of a new full length picture book called Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses which is due out in October (yay!)." token_no="0">We</span> are <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="We are excitedly waiting the arrival of a new full length picture book called Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses which is due out in October (yay!)." token_no="2">excitedly</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBG" sentence="We are excitedly waiting the arrival of a new full length picture book called Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses which is due out in October (yay!)." token_no="3">waiting</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="We are excitedly waiting the arrival of a new full length picture book called Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses which is due out in October (yay!)." token_no="4">the</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="We are excitedly waiting the arrival of a new full length picture book called Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses which is due out in October (yay!)." token_no="5">arrival</span> of a <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="We are excitedly waiting the arrival of a new full length picture book called Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses which is due out in October (yay!)." token_no="8">new</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="We are excitedly waiting the arrival of a new full length picture book called Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses which is due out in October (yay!)." token_no="9">full</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="We are excitedly waiting the arrival of a new full length picture book called Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses which is due out in October (yay!)." token_no="10">length</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="We are excitedly waiting the arrival of a new full length picture book called Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses which is due out in October (yay!)." token_no="11">picture</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="We are excitedly waiting the arrival of a new full length picture book called Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses which is due out in October (yay!)." token_no="12">book</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBD" sentence="We are excitedly waiting the arrival of a new full length picture book called Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses which is due out in October (yay!)." token_no="13">called</span> <em>Pete <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="We are excitedly waiting the arrival of a new full length picture book called Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses which is due out in October (yay!)." token_no="15">the</span> Cat <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="We are excitedly waiting the arrival of a new full length picture book called Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses which is due out in October (yay!)." token_no="17">and</span> His Magic Sunglasses</em> which is <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="We are excitedly waiting the arrival of a new full length picture book called Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses which is due out in October (yay!)." token_no="23">due</span> out in October (Yay!). <br />
<br />
<span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="So if you don't have a Pete book it is seriously time to stop reading and get yourself to a bookstore." token_no="0">So</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="IN" sentence="So if you don't have a Pete book it is seriously time to stop reading and get yourself to a bookstore." token_no="1">if</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="So if you don't have a Pete book it is seriously time to stop reading and get yourself to a bookstore." token_no="2">you</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="So if you don't have a Pete book it is seriously time to stop reading and get yourself to a bookstore." token_no="3">do</span>n't already <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="So if you don't have a Pete book it is seriously time to stop reading and get yourself to a bookstore." token_no="5">have</span> a Pete <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="So if you don't have a Pete book it is seriously time to stop reading and get yourself to a bookstore." token_no="8">book</span> then <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="So if you don't have a Pete book it is seriously time to stop reading and get yourself to a bookstore." token_no="9">it</span> is <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="So if you don't have a Pete book it is seriously time to stop reading and get yourself to a bookstore." token_no="11">seriously</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="So if you don't have a Pete book it is seriously time to stop reading and get yourself to a bookstore." token_no="12">time</span> to <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="So if you don't have a Pete book it is seriously time to stop reading and get yourself to a bookstore." token_no="14">stop</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBG" sentence="So if you don't have a Pete book it is seriously time to stop reading and get yourself to a bookstore." token_no="15">reading</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="So if you don't have a Pete book it is seriously time to stop reading and get yourself to a bookstore." token_no="16">and</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="So if you don't have a Pete book it is seriously time to stop reading and get yourself to a bookstore." token_no="17">get</span> yourself to a bookstore. I <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="I promise that your toddlers and preschoolers will be captivated by Pete and so will you because to know Pete the Cat is to love Pete the Cat." token_no="1">promise</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="I promise that your toddlers and preschoolers will be captivated by Pete and so will you because to know Pete the Cat is to love Pete the Cat." token_no="2">that</span> your toddlers <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="I promise that your toddlers and preschoolers will be captivated by Pete and so will you because to know Pete the Cat is to love Pete the Cat." token_no="5">and</span> preschoolers will be <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBN" sentence="I promise that your toddlers and preschoolers will be captivated by Pete and so will you because to know Pete the Cat is to love Pete the Cat." token_no="9">captivated</span> by Pete <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="CC" sentence="I promise that your toddlers and preschoolers will be captivated by Pete and so will you because to know Pete the Cat is to love Pete the Cat." token_no="12">and</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="RB" sentence="I promise that your toddlers and preschoolers will be captivated by Pete and so will you because to know Pete the Cat is to love Pete the Cat." token_no="13">so</span> will <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="PRP" sentence="I promise that your toddlers and preschoolers will be captivated by Pete and so will you because to know Pete the Cat is to love Pete the Cat." token_no="15">you</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="IN" sentence="I promise that your toddlers and preschoolers will be captivated by Pete and so will you because to know Pete the Cat is to love Pete the Cat." token_no="16">because</span> to <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="I promise that your toddlers and preschoolers will be captivated by Pete and so will you because to know Pete the Cat is to love Pete the Cat." token_no="18">know</span> Pete <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="I promise that your toddlers and preschoolers will be captivated by Pete and so will you because to know Pete the Cat is to love Pete the Cat." token_no="20">the</span> Cat is to <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="I promise that your toddlers and preschoolers will be captivated by Pete and so will you because to know Pete the Cat is to love Pete the Cat." token_no="24">love</span> Pete <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="DT" sentence="I promise that your toddlers and preschoolers will be captivated by Pete and so will you because to know Pete the Cat is to love Pete the Cat." token_no="26">the</span> Cat. I <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBP" sentence="I mean, c'mon what's not to love about an Uber groovy, guitar playing, surfing blue cat?" token_no="1">mean</span>, c'<span caption="Spelling" class="IgnoredWords alert" critical="true" description="Misspelled words and typos" pid="226238" replacements="on,men,mom,moon,min" sentence="I mean, c'mon what's not to love about an Uber groovy, guitar playing, surfing blue cat?">mon</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="WP" sentence="I mean, c'mon what's not to love about an Uber groovy, guitar playing, surfing blue cat?" token_no="5">what</span><span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VBZ" sentence="I mean, c'mon what's not to love about an Uber groovy, guitar playing, surfing blue cat?" token_no="6">'s</span> not to <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="VB" sentence="I mean, c'mon what's not to love about an Uber groovy, guitar playing, surfing blue cat?" token_no="9">love</span> about an Uber groovy, guitar playing,
surfing <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="JJ" sentence="I mean, c'mon what's not to love about an Uber groovy, guitar playing, surfing blue cat?" token_no="19">blue</span> <span caption="" class="Words alert words-active" critical="true" description="" pid="134228" pos_tag="NN" sentence="I mean, c'mon what's not to love about an Uber groovy, guitar playing, surfing blue cat?" token_no="20">cat</span>?</div>
Martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15575725451545818904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447831126865955132.post-40949785509914217102013-08-14T12:44:00.000-04:002013-08-14T15:51:48.638-04:00Again! Again! Again!Every parent has at least one picture book that they can close their eyes and read word-for-word without looking at the page. It's a book that you've read again and again and again. You've read it every day and every night for 6 months and your kiddo still demands more. To me, the true sign of an excellent picture book is that while you may openly plead for a new bedtime story you are secretly thrilled to get another chance to read it. <br />
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We've had a few of those in our house over the years. <em> I'm Dirty</em> written by Kate McMullan and illustrated Jim McMullan was a favorite of my son. He was at the height of his truck phase when we discovered this tale about a day in the life of a backhoe loader. This funny picture book has it all - a sassy and witty narrator, some counting, fantastic onomatopoeia and a really dirty truck. The illustrations are engaging and clever. Jim McMullan manages to make the backhoe loader both tough and adorable at the same time. It's easy to pick this book up again and again. You won't be bogged down in tricky text that makes your tongue twist itself inside and out. It's a fun, quick read that you'll be happy to open back up and start again at the beginning. The good news is that this husband and wife team have similar books about a tug boat (<em>I'm Mighty</em>) and a garbage truck (<em>I Stink</em>) and a race between a train and a race car (<em>I'm Fast</em>) so if your little munchkin loves this collaboration as much as mine did you've got a few new titles to add to your nightly repertoire. <br />
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My son has graduated to chapter books but fortunately for me my daughter is still firmly ensconced in the world of picture books. She isn't as picky or demanding with her picture book choices. Generally she's happy to hear anything we want to read but when she does latch onto a book it is with gusto. The first book she fell in love with was also written by a husband and wife team. It was <em>The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear</em> written by Don and Audrey Wood and illustrated by Don Wood. This sweet book is delightfully illustrated. You can not help but fall in love with this little mouse who is desperate to keep it's lovely strawberry from falling into the paws of a big hungry bear. The text and the illustrations are made for each other. The Woods have created many enduring childhood classics such as <em>The Napping House</em>,<em> King Bidgood's in the Bathtub</em> and <em>It's Duffy Time!</em> but <em>The Little Mouse</em> is by far the most cherished and favorite one in our house.<br />
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Every day I have folks ask me for books that were their kids favorites. It's always fun to hear what a kid will claim as their own. Picture book writers and illustrators have a true knack for tapping into what kids love and crave. They pull them in with their clever words and illustrations. They bring everyday objects to life and turn animals into unforgettable characters. They craft the very first books your children will fall in love with. Reading and rereading and rereading these stories is an important part instilling a lifelong love of books. Plus it's a surefire way to get a little snuggle time in. Enjoy the time when your kids still fit into your lap and turn those pages together, count together, laugh together, read together. Just try to steer them to books that you love as much as them. Because while you can read a book with your eyes closed you might miss out on the best parts. Martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15575725451545818904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447831126865955132.post-42368374889785981472013-08-12T16:16:00.001-04:002013-08-12T16:16:06.591-04:00Shhhhhh, Go Away Mommy's Reading NowI get some of my very best book recommendations from teachers. This should come as no surprise. Most of us normal humans could not handle a class full of 28 rowdy children for an hour let alone an entire school day for an entire school year. Special people with special super powers and an innate ability to understand children are teachers. They get kids, they love kids and they know what they like. <br />
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Recently, a third grade teacher and I were swapping our favorites for young readers. I told her about Kate Messner's <em>Capture The Flag</em> an exciting adventure story about the theft of The Star-Spangled Banner from the National History Museum and the three kids who manage to find it again. It's an exciting mystery with a little history thrown in for good measure. I also told her about <em>The Secret Zoo </em>by Bryan Chick. This is another adventure but has some fantastical elements as well. A brother is on a mission to find his missing sister. A zoo, with a magical twist and some pretty amazing animals, is the backdrop of this book. Both are fun, exciting and well written. <br />
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In return she told me about <em>The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester</em> by Barbara O'Connor. Boy-oh-boy am I glad she did! This amazing book knocked my socks off. I picked it up one afternoon when I had an half hour or so to kill. Almost two hours later I was still reading. My poor kids were starving. They were begging me for dinner and I couldn't stop reading. I sent them away with a cheese stick and some fruit. Dinner would have to wait until I'd read every last page. Luckily for them I'm a pretty fast reader and the book isn't very long. Eventually they were fed a reasonably well balanced meal and sent off to bed but I was still thinking about Owen and his fantastic secret. <br />
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Owen is a boy whose world has gone a bit sideways. His grandfather is ill. His father has lost his job. He's had to move out of his house and into his grandfather's house. Fortunately, the house is close to his old one so he still has his two best friends, Travis and Stumpy, to keep him company. The house also comes with a nice big pond out back. A pond where Owen manages to catch the "biggest, greenest, slimiest, most beautiful bullfrog." Unfortunately, the house also comes with a housekeeper who doesn't particularly like children and a know-it-all girl named Viola for a next door neighbor. <br />
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<em>The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester</em> is about all of these characters and one truly fantastic secret. I can't tell you what the secret is - you'll just have to read it yourself. But I can tell you that it falls off a train in the middle of the night. Owen is the only one to hear it fall. It's a story about adventure. It's a story that uses creative problem solving and great teamwork. It's a book about kids being kids making mistakes and learning from them. It's about responsibility, ingenuity and understanding. What falls off the train isn't just Owen's secret. Owen needs the help of all of his friends, even terrible Viola, to keep this secret and to pull off a truly fantastic adventure. I cannot be clearer than this: Read this book. Maybe just make sure you feed the kids first.<br />
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Martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15575725451545818904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447831126865955132.post-13156910622802587252013-08-09T16:24:00.000-04:002013-08-09T16:24:40.690-04:00Happy National Book Lovers Day! Today National Book Lovers Day. To celebrate I'm going to go curl up with my newest read <em>Secrets and Shadows</em> (#2 in the Secret Zoo Series) by Bryan Chick. But before I do I thought I'd leave you with a few of my favorite picture books about books. Sound off below in the comment section if I missed one of your favorites!<br />
<ul>
<li><em>Wild About Books</em> written by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Marc Brown. A librarian accidently drives her bookmobile into a zoo. She decides to stay and teach all the resident animals about the joy of reading. It was written as an homage to Dr. Seuss and dedicated to him. It is a delightful book filled with bright, clever illustrations and fun to read rhyming text. </li>
<li><em>We Are in a Book</em> written and illustrated by Mo Willems. This Elephant and Piggie book is a Theodore Geisel Honor Book. When Gerald and Piggie suddenly realize that they are actually in a book they find hilarious ways to interact with their "Reader." It is a thoroughly silly book with illustrations that are guaranteed to put you in a fit of giggles. It is enormously fun to read aloud - the bigger the audience the better. </li>
<li><em>The Incredible Book Eating Boy</em> written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. I just love, love, love quirky Oliver Jeffers. In <em>The Incredible Book Eating Boy</em> he offers us a new twist on what it means to be a booklover. Instead of reading his books Henry eats them instead. He isn't picky about the subject matter but red books tend to be his favorite. There is an unusual side effect to eating books. The more Henry eats the smarter he gets - until things go terribly wrong for poor Henry. </li>
<li><em>Otto the Book Bear</em> written and illustrated by Katie Cleminson. Otto is a bear. He is also a character in a book. He loves it when he his story is being read. But when no one is reading his book he comes to life and sets off exploring. When he unexpectedly becomes separated from his book he sets out to find a new place to call home. Sweet and beautifully illustrated this one absolutely deserves a place on your bookshelf. </li>
<li><em>Calvin Can't Fly</em> written by Jennifer Berne and illustrated by Keith Bendis. I've blogged about this book before. Which probably says a lot about <em>Calvin</em> since this blog is only a week old! But I just love this funny book. Calvin is a starling, a real bookworm birdie. He is so busy learning to read and discovering the world through his books that he never learns to fly. He's in real hot water when the fall rolls around and it's time to migrate. Fortunately his family comes to his rescue. But Calvin's knowledge doesn't go to waste. Eventually his bookworminess saves the day for his entire family. </li>
</ul>
I hope that you enjoy these books and will share your own favorites. I am always on the look out for great kids books. Happy Book Lovers Day! I hope that you and your family find some time to hunker down with a great book today! Martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15575725451545818904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447831126865955132.post-33147283993064597402013-08-09T00:10:00.000-04:002013-08-15T10:03:27.966-04:00Reluctant Reader RescueI am always, always looking for my next book fix. This is why there are stacks and stacks of books stashed all over my house just waiting for me to get to them. I love buying new books. I love the way they feel. They way the smell. I sleep better in a room filled with books. I admit it, I am an addict. A book addict. I cannot function without my books. I simply need to find myself immersed in the life of a new character, a new world, a new story. <br />
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Sadly, this just isn't the case for many struggling readers. I am sure that we all have at least one reluctant reader in our life. It may be our son or daughter. Perhaps it's a grandchild, niece, nephew or a student. It may even be an adult. Someone we know is struggling to read or to find things that they want to read. Nearly every day I am presented with a reluctant reader. The parents are usually supportive but lost and unsure of how to help them. The kids themselves are often embarrassed and frustrated. Many are ready to give up on finding anything that they can or are willing to read. It is really and truly heartbreaking. While I myself never struggled to master my reading skills - I did (& some would say, still do) struggle with math. It was terrible, just terrible to sit in a classroom stare at a chalk board and have absolutely no idea what my teacher was talking about. I was especially confused, scratch that, betrayed when all of the sudden letters, my wonderful friends the letters started turning up in math problems.<br />
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I take helping these kiddos very personally. I love to find books for reluctant readers. Finding that perfect story, that perfect book is pretty powerful. In fact, sometimes it kind of feels like a super power. Or the closest thing I have to one anyway. So today I thought touch on a few of my favorite Rules for Reluctant Reader Rescues. Maybe one or two will work for your own reluctant reader.<br />
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<ul>
<li><strong>Your Favorites Are Not Necessarily Their Favorites.</strong> While the most natural place to start with recommendations is with what you know it is also likely to be the most firmly resisted. I believe that books have a way of finding you when you are ready for them or you need them. Present your favorites but don't insist upon them. Give kids the room to say no. Truly, if a child is not interested in a book when you walk out of the shop then what are the chances they'll crack it open at home on their own. Give them the time and the space they need to make a selection. There will be plenty of time to reintroduce that title once they are a little more comfortable or their skills are a bit stronger. </li>
<li><strong>Look Beyond The Usual Suspects.</strong> Award winning titles win awards for a reason. Super smart bookworms have selected them for these honors because they stand alone in their genre. That is important, however it can be really intimidating. Especially for a kiddo who is really struggling. These kids don't need to be reading weighty tomes. They just need to be reading. If they are drawn to items that aren't exactly what you want for then them pay attention and see how you can translate that into something else. A boy who spends hours playing with baseball cards might really love a trivia book like <em>Sports Illustrated Kids Full Count: Top 10 Lists of Everything Baseball.</em> Then they might be drawn to read a sports biography like <em>Legends in Sports: Babe Ruth</em> by Matt Christopher. Before you know it they'll be asking for <em>All Stars: Wild Pitch</em> by Cal Ripkin. Sports is only one example. If your kiddo is into science and nature there are great beginning science books to get them started. Don't turn your nose up at trivia books, joke books or even magazines. There are many ways to be well read. Your kids will find their own way if you keep an open mind and let them lead the way.</li>
<li><strong>Books are Books, Right?</strong> So many new, young readers are overwhelmed by the books we offer them. Their peers are carrying around <em>Harry Potter</em> (not to knock <em>Harry Potter</em> - I love, love, love<em> Harry Potter</em>!) while they are still plowing though beginning readers or early chapter books. Imagine pulling the latest <em>Magic Tree House</em> book (again, not to knock <em>Magic Tree</em> <em>House</em>, it is a positively superb early chapter series) out of your back pack and looking over at the next desk to see your classmate is reading an 800 page book. You'd probably put your book right back and not take it out again. Digital readers like the nook (my personal preference) or the kindle or an ipad offer kids enormous anonymity. No one needs to know what they are reading. They just pop it out, turn it on and read away. Now I love an honest to goodness book as much as anyone. Nothing, I mean nothing, beats a real book. But for a reluctant reader privacy is priceless. As an added bonus many of these digital readers have dictionary features. This is fantastic feature for anyone and everyone trying to build up their vocabulary.</li>
<li><strong>Get Serious About A Series</strong>. I think the absolute best way to motivate a reluctant reader is to get them hooked on a series. There is a series for almost anything you can imagine: Baseball, fairies, teeny tiny people living in walls, or even flat kids. There are mysteries, magical adventures, historical fiction or horror. Find yourself an awesome librarian or kids specialist in a book store and let them help you. Find the right series of 4, 10 or even 50 titles and that will lead to another series and another series and even another series. The best things about most of these series from <em>The Magic Tree House</em> to<em> Harry Potter</em> is that they get harder. They will start at an easier level and get gradually more difficult. Lulled by familiar characters and storylines your kids won't even know that they are reading harder material. </li>
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I am by absolutely no means an expert in education. Far wiser and more educated folks than me may surely disagree with my opinions and suggestions. I am simply a mom with a passion for kids lit, a lifelong bookworm, a professional book pusher and a would-be writer. I love kids and I love kids books. I love to help kids find their gateway book. Just don't give up. It only takes one, the right one to hook a kid.Martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15575725451545818904noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447831126865955132.post-37327027510281549142013-08-07T11:49:00.001-04:002013-08-07T11:49:02.528-04:00Beware the Vampire BunnyIf I got my love of reading from my father than I most certainly got my love of children's books from my mother. As a grade school teacher (and for a time librarian) she always knew the best books to read. From picture books by Bill Peet to chapter books like <em>Superfudge</em> she always knew funniest books to read. There wasn't always a lot of money or toys or TV at our house but there were always books. Lots and lots of books. <br />
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One of the most beloved books in our house growing up was <em>Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery</em> by Deborah and James Howe. It is a hilarious tale about what happens to a normal, everyday family when they rescue a young bunny. Discovered on a seat in a movie theater during a screening of <em>Dracula</em>, the young bunny may or may not be a vampire. The Monroe Family seems oblivious to this possibility. Fortunately for them their cat Chester is on the case. Clever, well-read Chester will stop at nothing to protect his family from the dangers of one tiny bunny. Told from the delightful point-of-view of Harold, the family dog (whom some may call a mongrel despite some pretty fancy bloodlines) and Chester's companion, this book will make you laugh out loud again and again. <br />
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Recently I recommended this to a little girl who told me that it was too scary. I was a little surprised but then realized I hadn't read it since I was a kid myself. So I came home and dug up my old copy. I reread <em>Bunnicula</em> curled up in one corner of the couch. My seven-year-old son was curled into the opposite corner reading <em>The Fenway Foul-Up</em> (Ballpark Mysteries #1). As much as he was enjoying his book he was very distracted. Every few minutes I'd laugh or giggle and he'd look up and demand to know what was so funny. I didn't tell him because five pages in I knew it is going to the top his stack of books to read. As I remembered, <em>Bunnicula</em> isn't scary. It is playful and witty. It's a fantastic book to share with kids who love mysteries or animals. It's perfect for both boys and girls. It is also offers a great lesson in point-of view. The suggested age is 8 to 12 years of age but younger readers with strong skills should do fine. I'm pretty sure I'm proof that older readers (and rereaders) will enjoy it as well.<br />
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James Howe wrote <em>Bunnicula</em> with his wife, Deborah. It was originally published in 1979. She passed away shortly after it's publication. James Howe went on to write six other <em>Bunnicula</em> books as well as many other award winning books for children. So if you love Bunnicula (and Harold and Chester and The Monroes) as much as I think you will be sure to check out his other titles. <br />
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Just as a side note I am compelled to tell you that my two brothers and I loved this book so much that my parents bought us a bunny. We of course named him Bunnicula. Martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15575725451545818904noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447831126865955132.post-38310411541857040002013-08-06T16:35:00.000-04:002013-08-06T16:35:11.431-04:00Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover... We all know the saying, "Don't judge a book by it's cover." We've all heard and we've all said it. One would hope that we all follow it but that bit is a bit trickier. Some of the very best books I've ever read (and reread) were plain, hardbound books that my father passed down to me from his childhood. They were fantastic mysteries about The Bobsey Twins and The Happy Hollisters. The spines were hopelessly cracked and broken. Pages would frequently come loose and have to be carefully tucked back into place. They smelled a bit musty but in a way that wasn't unpleasant. The paper was stiff and thick and so very different from the thin cheap pages of my own books. I loved those old books and read them again and again. Not just for the adventure and mystery I found in them. I loved them because they were this very real, very tangible connection to my dad and his history. If I'd have turned my nose up at those old faded covers I would have missed out on a lot more than a few mysteries.<br />
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However, I'd be fibbing if I didn't admit that I often choose books based solely on the cover. Or even worse, sometimes I pick them based on the title alone. The thing is that great cover art and clever, thoughtful titles are your first introduction to a book. It is a chance for it to stand out from every other book on the shelf and say, "Hey, pick me! I'm your guy." The title, the font, the images are all designed to evoke the feeling or sentiment of a book. I like that. It makes me fell like we are already old friends. A while back I noticed a book called <em>The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy</em> by Jeanne Birdsall. Now a title like that would be difficult enough to walk away from. I mean, aren't you just dying to find out about those girls? Or the rabbits? What about that Very Interesting Boy? And what kind of name is Penderwick anyway? Truly, I was probably already hooked by the title alone but it was the cover that really sold me. It was this beautiful pale yellow and blue cover with only the silhouettes of four girls in varying sizes, two rabbits and a great beast of a dog dashing through the grass. The fact that they are bound for great adventure was without question. I picked up that book and didn't put it down. There was no chance it wasn't coming home with me. <br />
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When I sat down to read <em>The Penderwicks</em> I was delighted to discover that the cover had not deceived me. What could have been a sad tale of a widower struggling to raise four unruly girls was instead a joyful and often hilarious tale of family. Each of the four Penderwick girls are fantastic characters. Sometimes they struggle with life, each other or occasionally with The Very Interesting Boy but the struggles are real and genuine. Their attempts at resolution are honest. Mr. Penderwick is an equally flawed individual but loving and wise in his own way. It's a lovely, timeless portrait of family. It feels like it could have been published in 1955 rather than 2005. Which is perhaps why it decided to pop up in the same blog as those Bobsey Twins or The Happy Hollisters. <br />
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I guess the truth of the matter is you really can't judge a book by it's cover. The most fantastic, amazing tales might be hidden inside a scarred, plain brown book. But if a book makes you take a second or third look at it listen your instincts. If something about that book, that cover or that title is screaming at you to pick it up and crack it open - DO. Because sometimes the most fantastic, amazing tales can be hidden inside a beautiful book too. Martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15575725451545818904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447831126865955132.post-63202145044481993922013-08-05T22:52:00.000-04:002013-08-05T23:03:37.458-04:00Read Your BroccoliOne of the concerns I hear most from parents is about the quality of the material their kids are reading. Just like in the adult section there are a lot of children's books that are more silly than serious, more ridiculous than realistic and more entertaining than educational. Many of the most popular titles are fun and frivolous but their content is a source of contention. In order to put these books into perspective I like to compare them to food. For example, you've got your meat and potatoes books like <em>Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing</em> by Judy Blume that are filling staples. Funny, smart and well written it has been a favorite with kids, parents and teachers since it's publication in 1972. The books in question (insert any of the diary genre books here) are more along the lines of a cupcake. Obviously it's not terribly good for them and it won't fill them up but it sure tastes good. And lets face it, everyone loves a cupcake every now and then. <br />
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Now you don't want them to eat only cupcakes. You want them to eat their grilled salmon or leafy green veggies. I get that, I do. As much as I personally love cupcakes I wouldn't let my kids have one for dinner (ok, maybe for breakfast but then only on their birthdays). So you say, sure you can have a cupcake - after you eat your salmon. Your salmon is full of protein and all those good omega-3 fatty acids. It has great nutritional building blocks that will help your kids grow up healthy and strong. As a concerned parent you are looking for something that is educationally equivalent for your kids to read. You want them to read thoughtful, well written books like <em>The Mysterious Benedict Society</em> by Trenton Lee Stewart. <br />
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<em>The Mysterious Benedict Society</em> is an incredible series about ludicrous smart kids who can solve puzzles that would stump even the smartest adult. It consists of three fantastic novels, a prequel and a companion book of puzzles. They are heavy books and I don't mean just in size. The writing is densely descriptive and it will take your kiddos a little time to make their way through it. They probably won't devour it like a cupcake (most kiddos whip through those diary or manga books in no time). They'll have to chew on it and think it over and maybe even go back and reread a part here in there. <br />
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You'll also want your kids to eat their broccoli too. Newbery Award Winners make great broccoli. Just wander through the Newbery shelves in your local book shop and you'll see what I mean. They can choose between <em>Island of the Blue Dolphins</em> by Scott O'Dell which won it's gold medal in 1961 or<em> Dear Mr. Henshaw</em> by Beverly Cleary which won it's gold medal in 1984 or the most recent winner for 2013 <em>My One and Only Ivan</em> by Katherine Applegate. Since 1922 the Newbery Award has been given to one book - and one book only - for excellence in children's literature. It was the first award in the world to ever single out children's books. Now, how do you like them veggies? <br />
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The important thing to remember is that kids need to read. No matter what they are reading they are still developing important skills in proficiency, accuracy and comprehension all the while building their vocabulary. Anytime they spend reading is helping them acquire the important skills they need for their academic future. Lastly, I'll say if the only thing your child will read is the equivalent of a cupcake then give them the cupcake. If they get nothing but pleasure from reading these books you've won a major battle. Someday, somewhere that joy they got from that silly book just may translate into a real life long love of reading. Just don't give up and keep offering that salmon and those fresh veggies. Martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15575725451545818904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447831126865955132.post-88328322159884318422013-08-04T22:52:00.001-04:002013-08-06T15:15:48.390-04:0010 Picture Books That Should Be On Your Shelf And Probably Aren't...When folks are looking for kids books I like to point them towards titles that aren't necessarily bestsellers but in my opinion should be. Here is a list of some of my favorite picture books (in absolutely no particular order) to recommend. Some of them may well be completely unfamiliar to you. If they are I hope you'll pop into your local book shop or library to take a look. Others may be written or illustrated by someone you already know and love. I really, really love to share some of those lesser known titles. So take a look and let me know what you think in the comments section below.<br />
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<li><em>One Cool Friend</em> (2012) written by Toni Buzzeo and illustrated by David Small: This book was nominated for the Caldecott in 2013 but lost out to Jon Klassen's <em>This Is Not My Hat.</em> <em>One Cool Friend</em> is the story of an unusually polite and proper little boy and his father who is well, just plain unusual. You'll love these illustrations - especially Small's use of color. The text is clever and I think you're kiddos will really love the surprise at the end! </li>
<li><em>Black Dog</em> (2012) written and illustrated by Levi Pinfold: This book is quite simply a masterpiece. The illustrations are breathtaking. I've read the book at least two dozen times and each time I discover something new in the illustrations. The story itself is a thoughtful yet playful lesson in what happens when we let our imagination run away from us. You will absolutely love Small Hope (called so because she is the youngest member of the Hope Family) and her courageous spirit. </li>
<li><em>Press Here</em> (2011) written and illustrated by Herve Tullet: This deceptively simple book is a delight to all who stumble across it. On each page the reader is asked to complete various tasks such as pressing on the dots or shaking the book. The results of those actions are shown on the illustrations in following pages. I guarantee it will make you and your kiddos laugh out loud. </li>
<li><em>Stuck</em> (2011) written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers: I'll be brutally honest - I could have put ANY Oliver Jeffers book on this list. He is one of my absolute favorites in the world of children's literature. He is irreverent and playful in a way that is a wee bit reminiscent of Mo Willems (you can check out my previous blog about Mo to see what I think about him). His many books are delightfully illustrated and quite often fantastically absurd. <em>Stuck</em> is the story of Floyd. All Floyd wants to do is fly his kite. Unfortunately, it has become tangled in the limbs of a tree. The intractably determined Floyd will stop at nothing to free his kite - with hilarious results!</li>
<li><em>Where Do Balloons Go: An Uplifting Mystery</em> (2000) written by Jamie Lee Curtis (yes <em>that </em>Jamie Lee Curtis) and illustrated by Laura Cornell: Apparently if you are in anyway shape or form famous you are required to write a children's book. Most of the time my reaction to these books are very lukewarm. Jamie Lee Curtis is the exception. Her books are insightful, funny and very charmingly illustrated by Laura Cornell. <em>Where Do Balloons Go </em>is a fabulous story that explores the great mystery of what happens when a balloon is lost and drifts away. I first read it more than a dozen years ago (pre-kiddos) and was taken by it's tone and premise. All of the books by this author and illustrator (please, please also check out <em>Today I feel Silly</em>) are fantastic but<em> Where Do Balloons Go</em> is by far and away my favorite.</li>
<li><em>Mister Seahorse</em> (2004) written and illustrated by Eric Carle: Every child owns at least one book by the incomparable Eric Carle. Most likely they own several. <em>The Very Hungry Caterpillar</em> and <em>The Grouchy Ladybug</em> are staples in most homes (including mine) - and rightfully so. But <em>Mister Seahorse</em> is an often overlooked picture book that explores the role of fatherhood in various sea creatures. It also offers a fantastic introduction to camouflage using phenomenal illustrations and acetate overlays. It is a beautiful, bright first lesson in marine biology and a touching father-child tale all in one. A book that Eric Carle and Eric Carle alone could have delivered. </li>
<li><em>The Dark</em> (2013) is an insanely brilliant collaboration from two of the greatest the imaginations in children's literature - Lemony Snicket and Jon Klassen: <em>The Dark</em> is the story of Lazlo a young boy who is afraid of the dark. In this book darkness is more than an absence of light. The Dark is an actual character just like Lazlo. They share the same home. The Dark understands Lazlo's fears and finds a way to help him overcome them so that they can live together. This exceptional new book is ideal for any kiddo struggling with their own fear of the dark. Plus, did I mention it's by Lemony Snicket and Jon Klassen?</li>
<li><em>Mossy</em> (2012) written and illustrated by Jan Brett: No serious list of great kids books can be complete without at least one of Jan Brett's amazing books. I am sure you already know and love <em>The Mitten</em> or <em>The Hat</em> or <em>The Umbrella</em> (and if you don't then get thee to a bookstore!). The story of Mossy, an ordinary box turtle growing an extraordinary garden on her shell, and Scoot the turtle who loves her. It is told through amazingly detailed pictures which are framed by even more detailed illustrations. Jan Brett is arguably one of the greatest illustrators of her generation. Her books are a study in nature as well as humanity.<em> Mossy</em> is simply the latest in a long line of astoundingly beautiful children's books. </li>
<li><em>How to Babysit A Grandpa</em> (2012) written by Jean Reagan and illustrated by Lee Wildish: Grandpas are pretty special people. Clearly Jean Reagan and Lee Wildish get that. This charming little tale is told from the point of view of a grandchild offering insightful advice on how to best meet a grandfather's needs. It comes complete with snack recommendations and activities to entertain a grandpa. It is a sweet, funny, lovely book for any kiddo who loves their grandpa (& grandpa who loves their kiddo). My only complaint is that Reagan and Wildish have yet to publish a companion piece for Grandmas. </li>
<li><em>Open Very Carefully: A Book With Bite</em> written by Nick Bromley and illustrated by Nicola O'Byrne (2013): What happens when you set out to retell the tale of <em>The Ugly Duckling</em> by Hans Christian Anderson only to discover that a hungry crocodile has stumbled into the story? Well you and your kiddos will just have to read this hilarious book for yourself to find out! </li>
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I had to whittle this list down from 25. So many amazing books to love and share! But I'll save those for other entries. Go read and snuggle your kiddos! <br />
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Martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15575725451545818904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447831126865955132.post-68783329804083951492013-08-03T20:38:00.000-04:002013-08-03T20:38:50.884-04:00So I'm Going to a Babyshower...I need a book for a baby shower. What do you recommend?<br />
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Now this is question I love, love, love! Books for new babies is just such a wonderful trend in baby gifting. It is personal, it is thoughtful and let's face it, you'll use the books way longer than you will a cute little onesie or hooded bath towel. <br />
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When recommending baby shower books I usually start with the obvious, most popular titles and secretly hope that you'll want something more original. Sure, there are some wonderful and truly classic titles that every child should own but it's so much more fun to turn folks onto books they don't already know. So after you've politely declined <em>Love You Forever</em> (You don't want to make the nice hormonal mommy-to-be cry) and <em>Good Night Moon</em> (I mean EVERYONE already owns it, right?) we'll move onto some less obvious titles. We'll try to find a book that is personal rather than classical in nature. Just as an example let's say the new mama and papa are booklovers so I recommend my current favorite picture book, <em>Calvin Can't Fly</em> written by Jennifer Berne and illustrated by Keith Bendis. Calvin is a young starling, a real bookworm birdie, who is too busy learning how to read to learn how to fly. This gets him into some trouble when it's time to migrate. Eventually his family finds a way to help him take to the skies. Calvin later returns the favor when they fly into an oncoming hurricane. Thanks to Calvin's extensive reading he knows how to escape eminent danger. It's a wonderful book about books, teamwork, family and always being yourself. A sweet gift for any growing family. Books are a fantastic gift because they have the truly rare ability to be as funny, personal and quirky as you want them to be. You just don't really get that from teething rings or swaddling blankets.<br />
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As much as I love Calvin, and firmly believe he should have a place on every bookshelf, here is my favorite suggestion for baby showers. Commemorate the year of the child's birth and get them the Caldecott Award Winner for the year they'll be born. In 2013 that's Jon Klassen's <em>This Is Not My Hat.</em> A wonderfully funny and beautifully illustrated book about a fish who steals a hat from a bigger fish (It's wry and clever, I promise). Look, they only award one Caldecott a year for a reason. It's the best of the best. And the book is about as special and unique as you can get. New moms love this kind of thing. I personally kept the Washington Post from the day both my kiddos were born. The kiddos will love it too. It's a tangible piece of their own history. It is something that captures what the world was like the year they were born. And as a bonus you can add to the new baby's library by getting them the Caldecott winner each year on their birthday, or for Christmas or for Hanukah or whatever event you choose. You'll never wonder what to get your niece, nephew or godchild, neighbor, grandchild again. Just like the Newberry the Caldecotts are the gold standard in kidlet lit. You really can't go wrong.Martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15575725451545818904noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447831126865955132.post-22279841487378441632013-08-02T16:05:00.000-04:002013-08-03T07:58:04.034-04:00You Are Never Too Young (Or Too Old) For Mo WillemsIn the world of kidlet lit there are those who write, there are those who illustrate, there are those who both write and illustrate and then there is Mo Willems. I've sometimes heard his style of writing and illustrating called simplistic. Perhaps it is, but it is also perfect for very young kids who have trouble sitting through longer stories. It is perfect for those who get lost in overly colorful or busy pages. This simplicity also makes them fantastic first books for those kiddos just starting down the path to independent reading. With honesty and humor Mo Willems calls upon a unique cast of characters to tells tales of frustration, cooperation, fear, friendship, family, love and compassion. <u> </u><br />
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<em>Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus</em> is a seriously silly book about a pigeon who is desperate to drive a bus. It was the first book that Max ever "read" by himself. By read I of course mean memorized. After lights out I'd hear him in his room turning the pages, reciting the words & laughing out loud. Like any good Bookworm Mama I never really had the heart to tell him to stop. Pigeon is front and center in 7 different hilarious books. However, as much as I love Pigeon (& his sometimes pal Duckling) it is <em>Knuffle Bunny</em> that truly won my heart.<br />
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<em>Knuffle Bunny</em> is the story of a little girl named Trixie who loses her favorite lovey - a green bunny - and simply doesn't have the words to tell her daddy. As the mother of a child with language delays it has always resonated with me. Throughout the story Trixie struggles and struggles and struggles to explain to her daddy that Knuffle Bunny is gone. She tries again and again to convey her frustration and loss but her words only come out as gibberish. When we were reading I would point to Trixie's face and ask my daughter, "do you ever feel like Trixie?" She would nod or smile or, depending on the day, she'd cover her face and cry. In the end, Knuffle Bunny is found, the day is saved and first words are uttered. This is a wonderful book that does more than tell a story. It offers hope and understanding to anyone struggling to be understood or to understand someone they love. It is also the triumphant tale of a father who will stop at nothing to help his daughter. <br />
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And then there is Elephant and Piggie. This series combines the humor you see in the Pigeon books with the heartfelt sincerity of <em>Knuffle Bunny</em>. Elephant and Piggie are the very best of friends. Their friendship is the centerpiece to this 20 book series (a new one is due out in October! Yay!) Mo Willems gently (and hysterically) teaches lessons of understanding, sharing and acceptance. It is the perfect series for your preschoolers and there is one for nearly any occasion.<br />
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The text of these books are quite simple and often repetitive. However, this is not a bad thing in THe Land of Kids Books. This makes them ideal for beginning readers as well what I like to call beginning sitters. Don't be so quick to assume your kids are outgrowing their picture books... sometimes they are really growing into them. If they are anything like mine they will rediscover old favorites once they begin to read on their own. You'll hear them late at night when they are supposed to be sleeping reading to themselves with flashlights or they may sneak into their younger siblings rooms to read to them when you aren't looking. My personal opinion is that you are never to young (or too old) for picture books... especially ones that are written by Mo Willems! Martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15575725451545818904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5447831126865955132.post-50572357236491517972013-08-02T12:43:00.002-04:002013-08-05T23:05:42.628-04:00From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler: The Favorite Book You Forgot<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The conversation usually begins like this: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"Excuse me, Miss. I'm looking for a book I read as a kid. I really loved it but I can't remember the author or the title. I just remember that it's about two kids who run away to live in a museum."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The book in question is of course, <em>From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler</em> written by the incomparable E.L. Konigsburg. In 1968 this slender volume won the coveted Newbery Award. It was equal parts childish rebellion, adventure and art history. The fact that readers cannot remember the title or the author some 20, 30 or even 40 years after reading it is inconsequential. The title (while ridiculously fun to say) is undeniably long and just shy of cumbersome. The author's name is perhaps equally difficult to remember if you aren't immersed in the world of kids lit. But none of that matters. It's the story that matters. It's the story that leaves an indelible mark on the hearts and imaginations of young readers. And <em>From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler</em> does just that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It is the tone of this novel that immediately sets it apart from every other kids book you have ever or will ever read. With unexpected acerbic wit and wry commentary Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler relates the story of the Kincaid children to her attorney whom we know only as Saxonberg. She begins with Claudia, the eldest Kincaid child and only daughter, who after much planning and forethought decides to run away from home. Claudia is attempting to escape the supreme injustices of her family position (i.e. doing the dishes and watching her youngest brother) and the boredom of living in a suburb of New York City. She carefully chooses her destination - The Metropolitan Museum of Art (it is large, comfortable and beautiful) and her travelling companion - her second youngest brother Jamie (he is the richest of her brothers and owns a transistor radio) and sets out for the adventure of a lifetime.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What follows is a clever and funny portrait of a sister and brother surviving quite spectacularly on their own. They travel, manage their funds and even do their own laundry on the streets of NYC. They find food and shelter at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They also discover a fantastic mystery involving the museum's newest acquisition, a sculpture of an angel that may or may not have been sculpted by Michelangelo. You cannot help but fall in love with Claudia, Jamie and indeed Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. It is a novel of family, of art, of history and of truly tremendous secrets. There is little wonder that 40+ years after it's publication it remains one of the most beloved books you've ever forgotten. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As a side note, E.L. Konigsburg won The Newbery twice. She was only one of five authors to do so. My personal connection to her goes beyond my childhood love affair with her books. When she passed away this April it was at the same hospital where my kiddos were born. So she has recently been on my mind and inspired me to re-read this classic. I hope it will do the same for you and your children. </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></strong><br />Martahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15575725451545818904noreply@blogger.com0