MotherReader

You can still win twenty-five picture books for yourself or your school. Learn more about the ABC Giveaway.

(I apologize. I thought this was scheduled to post yesterday, and forgot to check. My bad.)

All the Seasons of the Year
by Deborah Lee Rose, illustrated by Kay Chorao

A mother’s love follows her son through the seasons, all beautifully described and illustrated. “I love you when winter blows/when wind chills our faces, fingers, toes/when snowflakes glitter the quiet night/and morning greets us all in white...” The two are together sharing activities — raking, sledding, gardening, swimming — and enjoying the season joys. While this is a Mommy Love book, it’s not cloying, as most of the text focuses on the special and uniques aspects of each season. The artwork is delicate, detailed, and just so pretty. The title would work well for a preschool storytime on the seasons, but it is meant to be shared with the special child in your life. Please do so.

Give this book with a handmade coupon book for various seasonal activities — sled ride and cocoa date, for example — or look for more Ways to Give a Picture Book or over a hundred other Ways to Give a Book this holiday season.

Book: Some Smug Slug, by Pamela Duncan Edwards

Rhyme: “Squirrels”

Wisky, frisky, hippity, hop
Up he climbs to the tree top.
Whirly, twirly, round and round
Down he scampers to the ground.
Where’s his supper? In a shell
Snappy, cracky, out it fell.

Book: Scaredy Squirrel or Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend, by Melanie Watt

Book: Silly Tilly, by Eileen Spinelli, or Silly Sally, by Audrey Wood

Song: “Shake My Sillies Out”

I’m going to shake, shake, shake my sillies out.
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out.
Shake, shake, shake my sillies out.
And wiggle my waggles away.

I’m going to clap, clap, clap my crazies out.
Clap, clap, clap my crazies out.
Clap, clap, clap my crazies out.
And wiggle my waggles away.

Book: Russell the Sheep, by Rob Scotton

Song: “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep”

Book: Sourpuss and Sweetie Pie, by Norton Juster