Introducing Hattie the magician and her magic hat! Hattie is no ordinary rabbit, and her hat is no ordinary hat. When Hattie shouts “Abracadabra, katakurico!” out pops a cat from Hattie’s magic hat. Abracadabra, katakurico… Out pops a squirrel! Can you guess what creature Hattie will pull from her magic hat next?

From renowned author and illustrator Satoshi Kitamura comes a highly interactive picture book that’s great for summer storytimes with even the youngest readers. Featuring simple, repetitive language, engaging opportunities for prediction, and fun magic words, Hat Tricks is a great pairing for magic-themed activities and animal units. Perfect for magicians and bookworms alike, dive in to this delightful book pick, and follow along as Hattie conjures up animal after animal from her magic hat.

Recreate some of Hattie’s magic at home with this downloadable activity sheet, and get to know author-illustrator Satoshi Kitamura in this Q&A.

“Dynamic, fun-filled, imaginative, and ideal for participatory reading aloud.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“Wonderful pacing and exceptional charm….comedy gold.” —The Wall Street Journal

“Positively bursting with storytime potential… Young audiences will loudly echo the closing plaudits: ‘Brava, Hattie! Bravo, hat!’” —Booklist

“Pure silliness that’s bound to be requested by listeners again and again.”—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Bold and lively pictures… [Kitamura’s] use of color is especially striking… Magician Hattie takes a well-deserved bow at the end, but preschoolers are going to want to start the story all over again, chanting, “Abracadabra, katakurico.’” —The Horn Book Magazine

Stanley’s Opposites
by William Bee

In this board book addition to the popular Stanley series, Stanley and Little Woo (an adorable little shrew) travel through their day learning about all sorts of opposites. Focused on early childhood learning, this concept book is perfect for very young readers. Check out the Stanley activity sheets to continue the fun!

Kalinka and Grakkle
by Julie Paschkis

Kalinka’s a showy little bird with an eye for neatness, but her grumpy neighbor Grakkle doesn’t care one bit about cleaning.  He just wants to relax in his favorite chair and soak his feet in a cool bucket of pickle juice.  “Grakk!” he complains as Kalinka “tidies up” his messes.  “You’re welcome,” she responds. They simply aren’t on the same wavelength.  Can an unfortunate accident plus a little humor and empathy help an odd couple like this see eye to eye? Read an excerpt here.

Pig and Small
by Alex Latimer

Pig and Bug just want to be friends. But their size difference is proving to be a BIG problem. Pig wants to play games―but Bug is too small. Bug wants to make things for his friend―but Pig is too big! Just as they’ve given up all hope for their friendship, Pig has an idea… But will it work? This hilariously quirky tale from Alex Latimer is filled with visual puns and wordplay, and offers a unique message to teach readers about making friends and finding common ground.

The Opposite
by Tom Macrae
illustrated by Elena Odriozola

When Nate poured milk on his cereal―something he is usually good at―The Opposite happened. Milk splashed everywhere and made a big mess. When he started to draw a very good picture of an elephant at school, The Opposite happened. Paint went everywhere, except on his paper. But when Nate comes up with a brilliant plan to beat The Opposite at its own game, things start looking up again. Featuring the joys of paradox and inversion, this story about how a resourceful young protagonist cleverly triumphs over a nefarious nemesis will appeal to young readers.

Ebenezer Has a Word for Everything
by Chelsea H. Rowe
illustrated by Frank Dormer

No one seems to understand Ebenezer’s word collections, but his efforts are finally appreciated when he meets Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald doesn’t have a word collection―but he does have lots of ideas. Together, they can make stories. This offbeat tale about a friendship based on different but complementary passions, collaboration, and a love for both language and stories is also perfect for vocabulary building, with a list of words and definitions in the back. Read an excerpt here and check out the activity sheets!

Immi’s Gift
By Karin Littlewood

Two children in opposite parts of the world are connected in an an unexpected way  in this timeless, fanciful story. Way, way up north in a snow-covered world, a young girl is surprised when she keeps finding colorful surprises on the end of her fishing line. When visiting the fishing hole for the last time, she drops a little wooden bear into the water. Far away, on a beach in the hot, hot sun, a young boy throws a colorful object into the water but then finds a small wooden bear washed up on the beach. This simple, affecting story of how individuals around the world connect and enrich each other’s lives―from the frozen Arctic to the tropical shoreline. Read an excerpt here.

Look for these titles at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble. How do you teach children about opposites? Let us know in the comments!

Dreamy illustrations, delicate colors, and gentle rhymes make this board book ideal for a cuddly bed time with a little reader. Author-illustrator John Butler will delight the very young with this interactive look at different animals and the way the move.

The Snow Lion

After moving to a new home, Caro wishes she had a friend, but she’s too shy to meet the neighborhood kids. With a little imagination, however, Caro finds the Snow Lion. This powerful but gentle story about making new friends is gorgeously illustrated to celebrate the magic and imagination that fills every page and will appeal to any shy or lonely young reader.

Join Little One and Big Bear as they discover the world together, through every season. With gentle text and gorgeous illustrations that highlight the wonder of nature, the story ends with the start of winter, as mother and cub get ready to hibernate in their cozy den. This quietly stunning book will make little readers want to cuddle up with the big ones in their lives, and vice versa.

Voyage through the warm, southern seas with a new whale calf and its mother. Together, Little Whale and Gray Whale swim under midnight skies and through coral reefs teeming with life as they migrate to the cool, rich waters of the north to feed. With gentle text and stunning monochromatic illustrations, Jo Weaver reveals the wonder of nature, the excitement of discovery, and the strength of parental love.

The young boy in this picture book finds whimsical inspiration in the blizzard around him as a strong wind suddenly lifts him into the air as he soars over familiar sites. This fantastical (while also historical) trip through a snow-covered wonderland will help readers gain a new perspective of their own wintery surroundings.

Get lost in this exhilarating and imaginative escapade as Lily escapes from captivity and sets off on a journey to find her home, Lilliput. Inspired by Gulliver’s Travels, this chapter book transports readers to eighteenth-century London and traveling over rooftops, down chimneys, and into chocolate shops.

Read an excerpt.

In the playful homage to Charles Dickens, unlikely allies learn the lessons of a great friendship. The tongue-in-cheek romp through Victorian England will make readers forget all about the chilling weather outside. Add in the fast-moving plot, enjoyable characters, and emotive illustrations, and The Cheshire Cheese Cat will be sure to warm up any reader seeking some adventure.

Read an excerpt.

Looking for a complete change of scenery? How about the tropical island of Hawaii! Paul Silva lives in a paradise where he can see the ocean from his front porch. His father makes a living by raising and caring for roosters on their little farm, but soon Paul finds that the family business is tied to the underworld of cockfighting. As he struggles to understand his family’s livelihood, he learns that being a man has nothing to do with the wielding the power to hurt people and animals. The distinctive setting, unique topic, engaging story, and complex family relationships will capture any reader’s attention.

Read an excerpt.

There’s nothing like digging into a good mystery during dreary weather. In this suspenseful chapter book, thirteen-year-old Samantha has too many unanswered questions about her past, like her father has never tried to contact her all these years and how he could have allowed her twin sister to drown in Clearwater Quarry when they were only toddlers. As she sets out to find her father and discover what really happened the day her sister was presumed drowned, she uncovers painful secrets that threaten to destroy her family all over again. Do You Know the Monkey Man? will draw readers into one family’s crisis unwittingly brought on by an adolescent girl’s search for the truth. Don’t forget about the equally thought-provoking companion to the book, Yes, I Know the Monkey Man.

Read an excerpt.

A sharp, hilarious, and perfectly observed story of high school geeks falling in true love will definitely help cure the winter blues. Sam Kinnison is a geek, and he’s totally fine with that, and until Princess Leia turns up in his bedroom, worry about girls he won’t. Then Camilla Carter arrives on the scene. Sam is determined to ignore her, except that Camilla has a plan of her own—and he seems to be a part of it! Sam believes that everything he needs to know he can learn from the movies. But perhaps he’s been watching the wrong ones. Read this charming modern YA story to get ready for Melissa Keil’s follow-up, The Secret Science of Magic.

Moving is hard, especially when you’re quiet like Caro. She wishes for a friend, but is too shy to go out and meet the neighborhood kids. That is, until she meets the Snow Lion. The Snow Lion perfectly blends into the strange white walls of Caro’s new house and leaps into her life when she needs him the most. Together, they have all kinds of fun racing, climbing, and playing hide-and-seek. But when the boy next door asks Caro to come play, Caro isn’t so sure. Then, the Snow Lion has an idea! Making new friends isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it in the end.

This powerful but gentle story about making new friends is gorgeously illustrated to celebrate the magic and imagination that fills every page and will appeal to any shy or lonely young reader. The uplifting illustrations celebrate the magic of confidence and companionship, and encourage imagination each step of the way.

“A well-crafted tale about healthy adaptation to new environs merges with superb artwork.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

“Beautifully designed and executed, this book provides a gentle exploration of a challenging situation many children face.” —Booklist

“Unfussy prose by Helmore (Letterbox Lil) makes for lovely, measured storytelling, and it’s a fine match for Jones’s generously scaled art… Visually and emotionally, there’s expansiveness, poignancy, and hope in these pages, the Snow Lion’s benevolent presence presiding over it all.”
—Publishers Weekly

Check out some of illustrator Richard Jones’s sketches and see Caro and The Snow Lion come to life on his website!

Find The Snow Lion on Amazon or at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble!

Madeline Finn does NOT like to read. But she DOES want a gold star from her teacher. But, stars are for good readers, for understanding words, and for saying them out loud. Fortunately, Madeline Finn meets Bonnie, a library dog. Reading out loud to Bonnie isn’t so bad; when Madeline Finn gets stuck, Bonnie doesn’t mind. As it turns out, it’s fun to read when you’re not afraid of making mistakes. Bonnie teaches Madeline Finn that it’s okay to go slow. And to keep trying. Check out the Activity Kit for fun games and a dog treat recipe! And don’t forget to download your own Madeline Finn poster! Can’t get enough of Madeline Finn? Read more about the upcoming sequel: Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog.

The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians

by Carla Morris

illustrated by Brad Sneed

Every day after school Melvin goes to the library. His favorite people—Marge, Betty, and Leola—are always there behind the reference desk. When something interests Melvin, his librarian friends help him find lots and lots of books on the subject. As the years pass, Melvin can always find the answers to his questions—and a lot of fun—in the library. Then one day he goes off to college to learn new things and read new books. Will he leave the library and his friends behind forever?

The Sound of All Things

by Myron Uhlberg

illustrated by Ted Papoulas

A hearing boy and his deaf parents take an outing to Coney Island, where they enjoy the rides, the food, and the sights. The father longs to know how everything sounds. Though his son does his best to interpret their noisy surroundings through sign language, he struggles to convey the subtle differences between the “loud” of the ocean and the “loud” of a roller coaster. When the family drops in at the library after dinner, the boy makes a discovery with the help of a thoughtful librarian who introduces him to poetry. Perhaps the words he needs are within reach, after all. In the author’s note, Myron Uhlberg explains the significance of his discovery of the library and how that influenced his own love of words.

The Library Dragon

by Carmen Agra Deedy

illustrated by Michael P. White

When Sunrise Elementary School advertised for a thick-skinned librarian with a burning love of books, Miss Lotta Scales knew she was perfect for the job. Who could guard books better than a REAL dragon? But when she won’t let any of the children take a book from the shelves, the teachers form a delegation. Not even sweet Miss Lemon can convince Miss Lotta Scales that “the library belongs to the children.” Can an open book temper the flames of the school’s hotheaded librarian? Check out the Teacher’s Guide for fun classroom activity ideas!

The Return of the Library Dragon

by Carmen Agra Deedy

illustrated by Michael P. White

After 557 years of faithful service, Miss Lotty is retiring from guarding books. But before she can check out of Sunrise Elementary for good, disaster strikes. Someone has ordered to have all the books removed from the library and replaced with machines! It’s enough to make Lotty feel a little…dragon-like. When she bursts into a fiery rage, only one thing can make her shed her scales: assurance that someone will fight to keep her precious books in the hands of Sunrise’s children.

Ebenezer Has a Word for Everything
by Chelsea H. Rowe
illustrated by Frank Dormer

Ebenezer collects words. But it’s hard to find someone who shares his passion, especially when no one seems to understand his word collections. But one day when Ebenezer is at his favorite place—the library—he finds his efforts finally appreciated when he meets Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald doesn’t have a word collection―but he does have lots of ideas. Together, they can make stories. Use these fun activity sheets to practice your word-smithing and storytelling skills!

The Amazing Mr. Franklin:
 or The Boy Who Read Everything
by Ruth Ashby

Everyone knows Benjamin Franklin was an important statesman, inventor, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. But did you know he started the first public library in America? Franklin was always a “bookish” boy. Ben wanted to read, but books were expensive. He wanted to go to school and learn, but his family needed him to work. Despite this, Ben Franklin had lots of ideas about how to turn his love of reading and learning into something more. First he worked as a printer’s apprentice, then he set up his own printing business. Later, he became the first bookseller in Philadelphia, started a newspaper, published Poor Richard’s Almanac, and in 1731, with the help of his friends, organized the first subscription lending library, the Library Company.

Find some recommendations on great read alouds, for every age and occasion!

“The book is destined to be a high- volume read-aloud, and much fun can  be had trying to guess what the girl  will choose” ―Kirkus Reviews

Fun Storytime Read Alouds

Ages 2–6
Bark Park
What’s the Time, Grandma Wolf?
No Bows! 
Flying!
One Fox
Hat Tricks

Ages 3–7
Prince Ribbit
Mrs. McBee Leaves Room 3
Stanley Series
If You See a Kitten

“Perfect for reading aloud, it will  have even the most die-hard Yankee  speaking with a Texas drawl.”  ―School Library Journal

Ages 4–8
I’ve Got an Elephant
Boy Who Cried Ninja
Rodeo Red
Three Hens and a Peacock
Martina the Beautiful Cockroach

Ages 6–10
Ol’ Bloo’s Boogie-Woogie Band and Blues Ensemble
The Library Dragon
You’ve Got Dragons
13 Monsters Who Should Be Avoided

“The repeated phrases will be sure to  have sleepy children chiming in and  Argent’s strong, rich watercolors offer  beguiling parents and offspring.”  ―Kirkus Reviews

“Stockdale’s rhyming couplets are  perfectly crafted. They’re as delightful  to read aloud as her clean, bright  acrylic paintings are to look at.”  —School Library Journal

Nonfiction Read Alouds

Fantastic Flowers

About Habitats series

Abraham Lincoln’s Dueling Words 

Dangerous Jane 

Leaf Litter Critters

 

The Cheshire Cheese Cat

Find these books and more at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble!
What’s your favorite read aloud? Comment below!

At Little Shop of Stories, we like to say that children’s books will save the world. Not only do we see ourselves in the books we read but we are also able to see beyond our own experiences and to understand what it is like for someone else. Books are great and vitally important conversation starters about different lives, different problems, and different solutions.

Using these ideas, we have created new programming in 2017 to engage our community in conversations through children’s literature.

The Kindness Project came out of discussions we had here at the shop during and after the November election season. There was so much negativity, intolerance, and divisiveness during that time that we really were concerned about the impact of it all on the children we serve. We decided we wanted to encourage a discussion on kindness, compassion, and empathy within our community of readers as a way to help families consider ways to think and act differently despite this negativity. Each month we focus on a different topic and provide book lists, workshops, and other activities that will help parents and teachers navigate conversations around these topics with children and teens.

Some examples of Kindness Project activities have included:

• Our January story time about the Refugee Experience brought over 40 families to the shop. We worked with publishers to deliver hundreds of books to our very active refugee community.
• We conduct regular, robust story times highlighting picture books filled with diverse peoples and cultures.
• Our Gender Fluidity Workshop helped to create new support systems for parents and their children and teens.
• We held an April Poetry Workshop for kids to understand themselves and others through poetry.
• We’ve raised $130 in donations for shipping books to military families all over the US. That’s like 16 or 17 boxes of books!

This summer’s Camp Be The Change endeavored to take the Kindness Project one step further—to encourage children to move from idea to action and to celebrate the amazing ways that they too can make a difference in the world around them. Campers learned about influential figures in history who have fought to make the world a better place, from Susan B. Anthony to Representative John Lewis. They also learned about kids like them who have chosen to take a stand to change their communities. Topics ranged from random acts of kindness to civil liberties, and campers explored ways to improve and support their own communities.

We’re a bookstore, and we believe in the power of stories, and sharing those stories. We’re not looking to do what non-profits do, or what other, better equipped or already established forms of outreach are doing. Instead, we are looking to initiate thoughtful action in ourselves and others through sharing one another’s stories.

To learn more about Little Shop of Stories and their 2017 programming, visit their website.
Have a great example of how you make a difference in your community? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter to enter our #BeDangerous sweepstakes!

Put them both to use by making cardboard cars to take into Stanley’s Garage!

via laughpaintcreate.blogspot.com

Supplies:

–   1 large box
–   Colored duct tape and/or hot glue
–   Construction paper and/or paint
–   4 Paper plates
–   2 Solo cups
–   Wide colored ribbon

via mumsgrapevine.com.au

1. First, cut off the bottom and top flaps of the box so that it fits over your child’s head.
2. Glue or tape two paper plates on either side of the box to make wheels.
3. Glue or tape your two Solo cups on the front of your box to make headlights.
4. Finally, cut two strips of ribbon and attach them to the front and back of the box to make straps. Measure them so that the box hangs from your child’s shoulders.
5. Give that car a custom paint job! You can finger-paint it, glue on construction paper patterns, or even make designs from your colored tape. Be creative!

Beep! Beep! You’re ready for the open road!

Do you ever wonder if Claude gets jealous of Sir Bobblysock?  

Think about it: Sir Bobblysock is both a sock and quite bobbly. I mean, talk about a double threat.

What if we leveled the playing field a bit? What if we made Claude into a sock?

There’s a whole world of puppetry arts that we could explore… Claude could have his own adventure vlog… 

That’s it. This is happening. Go grab your supplies and meet me back here in five.

Supplies:

1. Warm up your hot glue gun.
2. Stick your hand inside the sock. Create the indent where Claude’s mouth will be in the space between your forefinger and thumb.

            3. Cut out Claude’s ears and beret using shapes like this: 

 

We’d love to see your Claude or Sir. B sock puppets! Post your sock puppet theater videos on social and tag us, or send them to publicity [at] peachtree [dash] online [dot] com!