2012 2x2 Nominees

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If you aren't familiar, the 2x2 list is compiled to provide young readers (ages 2 - grade 2) great books to read!  This year, I have a particularly vested interest in the list.  :)  So, to keep myself informed and to keep myself from forgetting, I thought I would share the list with you along with my thoughts about the books!

Rrralph by Lois Ehlert

Super fun book not only because of the story, but the visuals!  Each picture is made up of what appears to be recycled materials including zippers, pop tabs and buttons.  Very fun!  I could see this being used along with a fun art project for kids.

In this cute story, a little boy truly listens to his dog and hears him talking back.  Lots of fun dog sounds for kids to imitate too.  

Mine! by Shutta Crum

What young reader couldn't use a lesson about sharing?  Probably all of them!  A young toddler thinks all the toys are his NOT his little brother's.  Until, their dog gets a hold of one of the toys and forces them all to share.  Very few words with great illustrations could allow students to make up the story.  And probably most adults would do well to relearn this lesson too.  

No Dogs Allowed by Linda Ashman

What kind of a restaurant won't allow dogs?  How about birds?  Elephants??  This book would be great to practice predicting skills with young readers.  A restaurant owner turns away a little boy and his dog from eating at the restaurant.  Pretty soon, he has turned away all of his customers who have all gathered together to enjoy a lovely day.  He is forced to learn how to be accepting and compromising if he wants to have any business.

Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell

Caldecott Honor book 2012

REALLY LOVE THIS ONE!  Notice the beautiful silver sticker?  This book is also a Caldecott Honor book.  This is the story of a young Jane Goodall and her stuffed chimpanzee Jubilee.  Jane marvels at the world around her, especially the animals and makes a promise to herself that she will help animals when she grows older.  To Patrick McDonnell's credit, he uses story bits from Dr. Goodall's autobiography to keep this story true to her life.  A fantastic way to introduce Dr. Goodall and her work to young readers.  I can see myself reading this one to a class...but not without my own stuffed chimp.  :)

Same, Same but Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw

Heartwarming and sweet.  Two boys, one living in America and one living in India, become pen pals and learn about each other's very same but very different lives through their letters and their artwork.  Lovely work that would pair so nicely with a pen pal activity for young readers.  

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

2012 Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor Book

A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of 2011

Poor Mr. Bear loses his hat!  He goes through the woods looking for it, politely asking all the animals he sees.  Oops!  He overlooks it!  But goes back to find it thanks to a friend who makes him stop and think.  Gorgeous pictures and a good way to practice predicting and also a good way to talk with kids about lying.

Red Sled by Lita Judge

Love the pictures in this book too!  A little boy leaves his sled outside and a bear borrows it!  The bear and his friends have quite an adventure.  This book is full of great sound words too.  Very fun for kids to hear and see the value of onomatopoeia.  

The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred by Samantha R. Vamos

2012 Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor Book

A young girl is cooking rice pudding (cazuela) and all the animals on the farm have a job to do to help her.  Great introduction to Spanish words as well as practice with sequence.  Beautiful, colorful pictures!  And at the end is a recipe for arroz con leche.  Yummy!

Edwin Speaks Up by April Stevens

I LOVE EDWIN!  This little guy will capture your heart!  Edwin's ferret family is preparing for his first birthday and needs to buy some ingredients to make his cake.  Unfortunately for Edwin, his family is quite large and his mom is quite forgetful...even forgetting poor Edwin!  But Edwin isn't!  He tries to help and babbles to his family, but they don't realize what he's saying is true.  This will be a FUN read aloud book.  And yes, you'll have to say the word poop more than once :)

Stars by Mary Lyn Ray

A book about the wonder and power of stars and where you can find one.  Would be fun to brainstorm with kids all the places they see stars before reading.  

Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker

In this story, all of the construction site trucks have finished their busy days and will be resting for the night.  Kids can learn the names of the different trucks and what they do.  Rhymed lines make this a fun read aloud for sure.  It would be fun to talk with kids about their nighttime rituals before bed too.

Blackout by John Rocco

2012 Caldecott Honor Book

I think this one may be my most favorite on the list so far.  The power goes out in the city and everyone is stuck.  What to do without video games or lights or power to cook dinner?  The families travel to the top of their apartment roof and find the light!  They can see the stars!  The whole neighborhood comes outside to enjoy the stars and each other's company while they wait for the power to come back on.  They realize they can have lots of fun without electricity; they can just enjoy being together.  I thought this one would be fun to read with kids while holding flashlights in the dark.  A great message in this book.

No Sleep for the Sheep by Karen Beaumont

Poor Sheep can't sleep!  He wants to go to bed for the night in his comfy barn, but his farm animal friends keep showing up making loud noises.  Very fun look at farm animals and the sounds they make.  Great rhyming and repetition for young readers.  This will be a fun read aloud for sure.

The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man by Michael Chabon

Superhero Awesome Man has some awesome powers to defeat any bad guy that gets in his way.  With the help of Moskowitz the Awesome Dog, and maybe a little help from his mom, Awesome Man saves the day.  This would be a fun book to use with children and have them guess his secret.  AWESOME!

Wiener Wolf by Jeff Crosby

Sweet Wiener Dog!  He's bored at home living in his cushy home with Granny.  He longs for adventure and the outdoors, so he hitches a ride to the forest and discovers his inner Wiener Wolf!  It doesn't take long for him to realize what he's missing back at home with Granny, but he craves the pack life too.  Super cute especially for a serious dog lover like me.  

Cat Secrets by Jef Czekaj

Very interactive, this would be a great read aloud for young kiddos.  The cats can't reveal their secrets unless the reader proves he or she is really a cat with meows, purrs, stretching, and even napping!  (I admit...I had to try it even though I read it by myself.  I'm sure my dogs think I'm nuts).  :)  Can't wait to share this one!

The Woods by Paul Hoppe

Awww...a boy with an imagination reminiscent of Where the Wild Things Are.  You just can't go to bed without your bunny, but what happens if you lose your bunny??  Oh no!  You have to venture into the woods, even if you run into bears and dragons and monsters!  How can you ever make it back safely?

Perfect Square by Michael Hall

A perfect companion to an art lesson, this book takes a perfect square paper and transforms it into all kinds of creative, beautiful things.  Personally, I wanted to get some square paper and use my imagination! What a fun activity for kids.  Love it!

Dog in Boots by Greg Gormley

Dog is inspired by all the fairy tales he reads including Puss in Boots.  So, he has to find a pair of boots as lovely as the ones in his book.  Unfortunately, he can't do all the things he wants to with his new boots, so he has to learn to be happy with what he has had all along.