Watersong

A lone fox stands at the edge of a marsh full of wetland animals as raindrops begin to fall. The sky darkens, the rain falls harder, and the wind begins to blow as a storm approaches. As the storm increases in intensity, the fox seeks shelter and finds it in a fallen hollow log. The storm ends, and the fox emerges from his shelter to see blue skies, blooming flowers, and budding trees. A rainbow appears as he is reunited with his family.

This simple story of a rainstorm and its aftermath is told through onomatopoeic rhyming text in a rhythm that is perfect for reading aloud. The raindrops “drip, drop, plip, plop, pitter, patter, pat” and the ducks “splish, splosh, swish, slosh” in the marsh. The watercolor illustrations perfectly depict the marsh and its inhabitants, the energy of the storm, and the peaceful aftermath. There is an afterword with simple explanations of an ecosystem, watershed, and the water cycle. Watersong, by Tim McCanna, is an engaging look at nature that is a feast for the eye and ear and sure to be a favorite of kids and their grownups alike!

Guest post by Allison C. 

Everybunny Dance!

Everybody loves bunnies, especially as the weather starts to look and feel like spring. Ellie Sandall’s Everybunny Dance! has the power to delight readers of all ages with its festive mood and fun, rhythmic text. Children will want to dance along with the colorful herd of bunnies, especially one in a tutu and another in a bow tie, to the tune of "clap your paws, and twist and twirl, and shake your tail, and wiggle and whirl." Next the bunnies play instruments along to the beat, sing together, and then run when they notice a fox, seemingly on the prowl. They hide, watch, and wait nervously, but are pleasantly surprised when the fox joins in the fun, even playing a clarinet! Realizing that fox is just looking for some friendship and an audience, the bunnies celebrate his performance.

The simplicity of the rhymes and the bright illustrations make this a wonderful choice for toddlers and preschoolers. There’s plenty of physical activity to involve them in, which can be helpful at this time of year, when cabin fever has started to set in. Your children may choose to form a parade or a dance line at home or school, and want to "run and jump and dance and play, all together, every day." As an added bonus, it could also be used as a math exercise, as there are multiple spotted bunnies on each page, just waiting to be counted. Everybunny Dance! is cute and fun, and has a heartwarming outcome ~ everything you could want in a children’s book!

Guest post by Bridget W.