Susan LendrothCritiques

A take on beating to the tune of your own drum.....literally!! It's also a fun look into a different culture honoring its heritage

I would recommend this book for students who are in the middle of elementary school. This book tells the story of a Japanese girl who is trying to find a hobby with the help of her grandfather to be able to perform in her towns festival. This would be good in a classroom because it shows different cultures and shows students that it is ok to not fully know what their hobbies or interests are yet because they have time to find these. It also shows the importance of family and tradition by having her perform in the festival and having her grandfather support her in this.

Synergy: Science Songs

SCIENCE SONGS are tunes with lyrics that feature science-related facts and stories.

Read the recently published nonfiction picture books for children, then learn more at the websites:

Author Susan Lendroth and illustrator Bob Kolar have teamed for a series of sing-a-long science picture books for young readers. Now available in board book format, HERE WE GO DIGGING FOR DINOSAUR BONES and HEY-HO, TO MARS WE’LL GO are the latest installments that began with OLD MANHATTAN HAS SOME FARMS. These books are a fun way to introduce science occupations to young children using motivating and familiar tunes.

STORY TIME FROM SPACE is a YouTube channel that reads (and sings) picture books from the International Space Station. Listen to astronaut Christina Koch read Hey-Ho from space! To watch the video, go to https://youtu.be/7dtzMJipiuA.

SCRATCH GARDEN is a YouTube channel that specializes in fun and educational videos for children including STEM songs. To visit the channel, go to https://www.youtube.com/@ScratchGarden.

ARC courtesy of Charlesbridge, and imprint of Penguin Random House.½

Synergy: Science Songs

SCIENCE SONGS are tunes with lyrics that feature science-related facts and stories.

Read the recently published nonfiction picture books for children, then learn more at the websites:

Author Susan Lendroth and illustrator Bob Kolar have teamed for a series of sing-a-long science picture books for young readers. Now available in board book format, HERE WE GO DIGGING FOR DINOSAUR BONES and HEY-HO, TO MARS WE’LL GO are the latest installments that began with OLD MANHATTAN HAS SOME FARMS. These books are a fun way to introduce science occupations to young children using motivating and familiar tunes.

STORY TIME FROM SPACE is a YouTube channel that reads (and sings) picture books from the International Space Station. Listen to astronaut Christina Koch read Hey-Ho from space! To watch the video, go to https://youtu.be/7dtzMJipiuA.

SCRATCH GARDEN is a YouTube channel that specializes in fun and educational videos for children including STEM songs. To visit the channel, go to https://www.youtube.com/@ScratchGarden.

ARC courtesy of Charlesbridge, and imprint of Penguin Random House.½

This book which is meant to be sang to the tune of “Here we go ‘round the mulberry bush” informs children about dinosaurs. From the bone discovery to the building, young aspiring paleontologists can learn more about their future careers.

This book is good for a primary age group. It explores various aspects of Japanese culture through the lens of an exuberant young girl. I would have this in my classroom both to interest kids in the culture, and to encourage loud, enthusiastic kids that they'll find their place.

This is spectacular -- well laid out for storytime or reading or singing along for younger kids. Great facts for older kids, and a nice overview of what a long space journey would look like right now. Excellent humor, and a diverse crew rounds the book out nicely.

A super sweet girl and a very familiar problem give away to a touching solution in the cutest way.

Piper loves her purple sweater. She wears it everywhere and as much as she can. While it starts on the big side, hanging down to her knees, the years and her growth have it fitting more and more snug. But at one point, it's too snug. Piper refuses to admit it, though, and is determined to wear the sweater forever...if that's possible.

Piper is a bubbling joy. Her enthusiastic attitude, determination, and rosy cheeks make it hard not to smile the second she hits the page. Her love for a sweater is a familiar situation that many listeners will understand and recognize (be it a favorite stuffed animal, blanket, socks, or whatever), and her refusal to give it up is also nothing foreign. She's definitely a character to connect with and her situation is something universally understood.

While Piper's family tries to coax her out of the sweater, they do this with gentleness and understanding...for the most part. This care and concern gives the sense of understanding and love, which keeps the book warm despite the growing problem. Even when Piper becomes frustrated the book maintains a positive and light atmosphere, much of which is due to the colorful and cheerful illustration style.

The ending holds a little bit of a surprise and offers a great idea to listeners, who might have the same issue as Piper. In any case, it's a super cute book and one readers will identify with and leave with a smile. I received an ARC and found this tale so adorable!

I originally selected this book for an upcoming, diversity-themed storytime. However, as I picked it up to read, I realized the author was white. There's nothing wrong with this, but I feel like it waters down the diversity aspect.

It's a good read and children will enjoy it.

This adaptation of the classic song celebrates urban farming—from rooftop and community gardens in New York and Chicago, to hydroponics in Seattle, beekeeping in Atlanta, and composting at the White House. Green Matters, Resources, Sheet Music, Link to Free Song Download.

In this fun story about digging for dinosaur bones, the reader follows along and can sing Here We Go Digging for Dinosaur Bones to the tune of Here We Go Around the Mulberry Bush. It is a fun story about children searching for dinosaur bones and there are also fun facts in a bubble on each page. This would be a great read aloud for young readers as well as one on one. I would recommend this for any collection. The illustrations are colorful and will hold even a young child's attention.

sing the story; learn lots; go back through and find the animals; sing the song and learn the motions that could go with it

This book is a sing-along book in the tune of "Farmer in the Dell." The book mixes the song with facts about launching a rocket, the supplies you will need, what the rocket looks like, and various facts about space. Something I learned was that it's easier to launch a spaceship from orbit than earth. The book also explains the concept of gravity and other components of space.

Overall, I think this book is engaging for younger students and gives them an introduction to being an astronaut. Because of the sing-along feature, students could learn the song as a way to become more informed about the process of traveling through space.

Decent children’s book about dinosaurs and fossils.

I feel bad because I received this book earlier, in February, and had hoped to have a review up in time for its release on March 3rd. However, life intervened. Anyways, I present it now and strongly encourage you to get it!

I'm not doing any major weeding or collection development in my picture books right now, but I have noted that I need more dinosaur books and, as always, more storytime books, preferably interactive ones. How often do you find all those things at once?

Cute cartoon pictures show a nicely diverse group of kids setting out on a dinosaur dig. To the tune of "Here we go round the Mulberry bush" readers and listeners can sing along as they go through all the actions of digging for fossils. They hike the trail, scan the ground, excavate, sift the dirt, package their finds, and take them back to the museum. Once there, they carefully clean the bones, study them, and put them together into an awesomely fierce T. Rex. The story ends with a picture imagining T. Rex in the forest, and a new group of scientists, two kids, setting out to dig for dinosaur bones. Helpful back matter gives examples of how to perform the actions in the book as you sing the song.

A second layer of story is included as well. Each page, in addition to the simple lyrics, includes a paragraph explaining what the paleontologists are doing in the pictures as they find, excavate, and study the fossils. Back matter for older readers and listeners gives more facts about dinosaurs and their modern descendants, the birds, and also identifies native animals shown in the dig site, which is based off of a real place in Montana.

Verdict: The only drawback to this book is that you'll be listening to renditions of "Here we go digging for dinosaur bones" over and over again, not to mention supervising many fossil digs in your backyard or park. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781623541040; Published March 2020 by Charlesbridge; Review copy provided by the publisher; Purchased for the library

Natsumi, a young Japanese girl, is a very active child who is always being told she is doing too much, too hard and too loud. As she and her family are preparing for the Japanese Art Festival Natsumi tried everything that her family was practicing for the festival but she did it too fast, too hard, and too loud. Natsumi was beginning to feel disappointed in herself as she felt like she couldn't do anything right. Her grandpa tells her she just has to find the right thing. Her grandpa brings her home late from school for the next few weeks and her parents begin to question what is going on but Natsumi and her grandpa won't ruin the surprise. As her family gleefully performs in the art festival, Natusumi and her grandpa are no where to be found when suddenly the mayor says there is one more surprise to end the festival. He opens the curtain and reveals the taiko drummers with Natsumi being the smallest of them all! With her taiko drumming Natsumi can pound hard, be fast and loud. She has finally found what she is great at and enjoys!!! This is a great book for children to realize that regardless of being told they are doing too much there is always something they are perfect at! They just have to persevere and try new things. This is also a great introduction into Japanese culture and the Japanese art festival.

Natsumi may be small in stature, but she is BIG in spirit. Everything she does, she puts her whole self into...sometimes quite literally. Tea mixing time? Gentle swirls become a raging cyclone. Fan dance practice? Graceful fan flicks become swishes and clicks echoing off the walls. Rain storm outside? No simple umbrella or galoshes for this girl; she'll take them all and then some with a puddle splash for good measure! Yes, Natsumi is one of a kind, but as her outbursts aren't always appreciated, she feels less than wonderful...until one day Grandfather lets Natsumi in on a BIG secret, and she is finally able to dance to the beat of her of her drum (pun totally intended! Read it, you'll see...) proving that there is indeed a place for everyone to truly shine! With wonderfully emotive illustrations to guide you on your way, this is one story that will have a BIG impact.


**copy received for review

“For a small girl, Natsumi did everything in a big way.” This is the story of a little girl - with a BIG personality! She’s always being told to be quiet, to be calm, to be slower, gentler, to be different. As her town gets ready for a festival of traditional Japanese arts, Natsumi tries to join in, but she’s too rough for flower-arranging, too wild for the tea ceremony, too loud for traditional dancing. Only Grandfather sees how hard Natsumi tries and finds the perfect thing to fit Natsumi’s talents.

At the festival, each one of the family shines in their own way from the tea ceremony to dancing; and with grandfather’s help Natsumi shines as a taiko drummer, her exuberance and energy the perfect fit for a new town tradition.

I loved this story’s blend of traditional and new; instead of changing the dancing or flower-arranging to fit Natsumi, or forcing Natsumi to change to fit them, her grandfather found a way for her to participate and still be herself. Readers who are just a little too exuberant for the average classroom, or who struggle to fit into a family or culture’s mold of expectations will find hope in this book that they can create their own traditions.

The bright, colorful pictures show a family that honors the traditional ways while embracing a contemporary lifestyle. Natsumi shines in the line of children with her big, Godzilla-shaped umbrella. She bounces out of the picture, flails her arms, and joins in everything with all her energy.

Verdict: I would have liked a little more background on the taiko drumming; The only explanation of it is given in the author and illustrator bios on the back cover flap, neither of whom have any Japanese heritage. Both are experienced creators though, and I assume they researched their subject thoroughly. This would make a fun storytime read or discussion-starter with kids who have trouble fitting in and the bright colors and expressive faces of the characters are truly charming.

ISBN: 9780399170904; Published 2018 by G. P. Putnam/Penguin; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library

Hey-Ho, To Mars We'll Go! is one of an increasing number of nonfiction books with several different uses or target audiences. The book's primary, large font text, is written for singing to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell." The singing factor, combined with large, computer-created, colorful cartoon art, makes this a perfect choice for storytime crowds. Older folks (teachers, caregivers, elder siblings, and the like) will appreciate the smaller text insets that elaborate on the verse,

"Can you catch my sock?
Can you catch my sock?
Hey-ho, to Mars we'll go—
Can you catch my sock?"

"Imagine what a mess you could make without gravity. At home, if you leave your toys on the floor, they stay where you've dropped them. But in space, anything you don't put in a cupboard or fasten in place will drift like dandelion fluff, bouncing off walls and your crewmates."

The book begins with the launch, follows the crew during the journey, and ends with exploration of Mars. To give a sense of the journey outside the Earth's gravitational pull, the text and the pages have varying orientations—several pages are designed to be read upside-down.

Anything that introduces and interest in science and space exploration is a welcome addition to any library collection.

http://shelf-employed.blogspot.com

(My copy of Hey-Ho, To Mars We'll Go! was provided by the publisher.)½

Natsumi is high-spirited and a bit too loud, hard and fast. She's not quite refined enough for flower arranging, making tea or dancing but Grandfather knows just the activity to accommodate Natsumi's energy. A warm story about finding one's true place. After sharing, follow up with a video of taiko drummers.

I really liked this book because I collect beckoning cats and it was really interesting to learn about how the beckoning cat came about in Japan. The plot in this story was very engaging because in the beginning it showed a poor monk bringing a stray cat into his home and I was wondering how that would introduce the idea of a beckoning cat. It became more suspenseful when a samurai was lost in a bad storm until he saw a shadow of a beckoning cat which led him to shelter. The samurai then shared riches with the monk and the cat lived a happy life. The beckoning cat is now known as a symbol of good fortune in Japan. I believe this story promotes the big idea of bringing good fortune to the people around you, even if you do not have much to give. This is shown when the monk takes the stray cat in even though he is poor and eats leftover food scraps himself. This then leads to good fortune for the monk because the beckoning cat leads the wealthy samurai to the monk’s monastery.

A boisterous, high-spirited young girl with energy to spare, Natsumi was always being told to slow down, be quiet, and behave more gently to her brother. When her village put on their traditional Japanese arts festival, at first she had difficulty finding the right way to participate. Her grandmother's flower gathering, her father's tea ceremony, her mother's fan dancing - nothing suited her personality. Then grandfather brought her to the village hall, and she discovered an activity - taiko drumming - that was just right!

An engaging look at a girl who just doesn't fit the traditional model of the quiet, gentle child, Natsumi! reminded me a bit of such titles as Loud Emily, by Alexis O'Neill and Nancy Carpenter, which also features a young girl who creates a bit of a disturbance wherever she goes. Susan Lendroth's story here is engaging, and ultimately heartwarming. I liked the solution she found to her young heroine's dilemma, as it allowed Natsumi to retain her essential character, while also participating in a traditional activity. The artwork by illustrator Priscilla Burris is colorful and cute, ably capturing Natsumi's boisterous sense of fun. Recommended to anyone looking for stories about feisty young girls in general, or picture-books about Asian girls in particular.

"Old Manhattan Has Some Farms" by Susan Lendroth is a sweet lyrical book that talks about how children in the United States help the earth by growing their own fruits and vegetables and by doing other green things. The books adorable song and use of rhythm make the book fun and easy to read. I enjoyed the positive message about ways on how food can be produced, and eco friendly ways to keep the earth healthy. I think the book would be a great starter for a lesson about the environment.