The RAHK Report for 3/31/18

We spent a few days in New York with my mom last week, so the girls had lots of opportunities to listen to books in the car, at Grandma's house, and when we got home again. This week's Read-at-Home Kids Report is a round-up of what they've enjoyed.

Audiobooks 

• Homer Price by Robert McCloskey, read by John McDonough
  This was an enjoyable audiobook for my husband and me as well as for the kids. The best part is that the narrator sings when the text calls for it. We've all been singing the little tune he used ever since we finished the book.
• Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary, read by Stockard Channing
  Four-year-old Little Miss Muffet has much in common with Ramona, and we all enjoyed this funny tale of Ramona's experiences beginning kindergarten. Stockard Channing does some accents that don't suit the Pacific Northwest setting, but she is an engaging reader. 
• Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater, read by Nick Sullivan
  I didn't listen to this book all that carefully, but the narrator was lively, and the kids did seem to enjoy the story until they drifted off to sleep. I'll have to read it again, though, before I can say I've actually read the story.

Grandma's Books

• Click Clack Surprise by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Betsy Lewin
  My mom had read this book to the girls on Skype, but this was their first time seeing it in person. Bo Peep (2.5 years), especially, took a very strong liking to it, and requested multiple re-readings. This is the book Cronin and Lewin read when I saw them at the National Book Festival, and I think, after the first one, it's the best book of this series. 
• I Can Do It Myself by Stephen Krensky
  Bo Peep read this one with Grandma, but she didn't like it nearly as much as Click Clack Surprise.
• Ten Little Rabbits by Brimax
  This is a basic counting book. The text is okay, but the vintage illustrations are the real appeal.
• The Easter Egg by Jan Brett
  This was a bedtime read-aloud with Grandma. I missed most of it, but the artwork is nice.
• My First Book of Animals by Alain Gree
  My mom has 9 of these board books, and I read all of them, some with Jumping Joan, and then when she lost interest, the rest by myself. 

Gifts from Grandma

• Mischievous Meg by Astrid Lindgren, illustrated by Janina Domanska
  Miss Muffet shares a nickname with the protagonist of this book, so it was a natural choice for her. The plan is for her to read this independently. 
• All That Sunlight by Charlotte Zolotow
  Miss Muffet often memorizes and recites poetry, so my mom picked out this book for her. I haven't looked at it carefully yet, but the poems seem a bit longer than the ones in Everything Glistens and Everything Sings, which we bought previously.
• Mrs. Peanuckle's Fruit Alphabet
  This colorful board book was a gift for Jumping Joan (5 mos.), but I can tell that all three kids will enjoy learning the names of the different fruits.
• The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes by DuBose Heyward,  illustrated by Marjorie Flack
  We have a copy of this book already, but Bo Peep was given a small gift edition that comes with a necklace. Since she tends to be rough on books, I'm happy for her to have her own copy to handle! 

Read-Alouds at Home 

• More Milly-Molly-Mandy by Joyce Lankester Brisley
  We're still reading this at lunchtime. The most recent chapter involved a bubble bath, which both big girls thought was the greatest thing they'd ever heard.
• The Fuzzy Little Duckling by Jane Werner Watson
  This is a Golden book I dug out of our box of Spring books. The story is pretty generic, but the artwork is very sweet. It was a good Spring story to read before Easter. 
• P. Zonka Lays an Egg by Julie Paschkis
  This is a perennial favorite, also pulled from the Spring book stash. Miss Muffet immediately took it to read on her own after I read it aloud. 
• Tale of Tails by Elizabeth H. MacPherson, illustrated by Garth Williams
  The rhythm of the text of this Golden book always feels off to me, but I like the old-fashioned illustrations. 
• Little Chick by Lauren Thompson, illustrated by John Butler
  This book was Miss Muffet's prize back when we still did library summer reading programs. The illustrator has been a favorite of Bo Peep's, but she wasn't that into this book. 
• The Bear Who Saw the Spring by Karla Kuskin
  This is my all-time favorite picture book about seasons. The text is so simple, but so poignant.