Another very busy day here

TODAY'S READING

Do you want to be my friend?

From Publishers Weekly

Mice, a rottweiler, an arachnid and a few other assorted critters make sturdy reappearances in five board book versions of picture books. In Ellen Stoll Walsh's Mouse Paint, "three white mice on a white piece of paper" enjoy a colorful romp, while in Walsh's Mouse Count a similar gaggle narrowly escapes being served for dinner (Harcourt/Red Wagon, $6 each, 28p, ages 1-3 ISBN 0-15-200265-0; -200266-9 Sept.). Yet another mouse searches the animal kingdom for companionship-and finds an unexpected respondent-in Eric Carle's Do You Want to Be My Friend? (HarperFestival, $6.95, 32p, ages 2-6, ISBN 0-694-00709-9 Sept.). The rewards of industriousness are celebrated in a second Carle title, The Very Busy Spider; its embossed web brings a tactile dimension to his familiar collage artwork (Philomel, $9.95, 26p, ages 2-up ISBN 0-399-22919-1 Aug.). Finally, the canine in question is Alexandra Day's beloved Carl, who takes charge of a crew of toddlers in Carl Goes to Day Care (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $5.95, ages 1-3 ISBN 0-374-31145-5 Sept.).Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Board book edition.

Review

Each page of this ingenious, all but wordless picture book affords surprise, suspense, and repeated pleasure for the viewer." -- --ALA Booklist --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description

From horse to crocodile to giraffe, no one wants to be the little mouse's friend, until he meets up with a friendly, familiar face--and not a moment too soon! Full color.

Publisher: Philomel; Min edition (September 2, 1988)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0399215980
ISBN-13: 978-0399215988

Mister Seahorse

Amazon.com Review

Are you ready for a scintillating seahorse fact? The father seahorse is the one who carries the mother's eggs around in his pouch before they hatch. In Mister Seahorse, master collage artist Eric Carle teaches preschoolers this lesson and introduces them to a few other fish who bear the traditionally maternal burden of caring for eggs: the stickleback, tilapia, Kurtus nurseryfish (known here as Mr. Kurtus), pipefish, and bullhead catfish. As ever, it's Carle's art that steals the show. Cut-up tissue paper soaks up the watery paint and makes for a boldly colorful, almost jewel-like undersea journey. The story? Well, repetition is the heart of instruction, after all.
Most of Carle's books employ some sort of gizmo or gadget--and this one is no exception. Here, for a splendid lesson in camouflage, colorful acetate sheets mask marine life that is revealed as the child turns the page. Children may take comfort in the devotion of these undersea fathers...except perhaps at the very end when the father seahorse says to a freshly hatched sea-pony who wants back in the pouch: "I do love you, but now you are ready to be on your own." (Preschool) --Karin Snelson

From Booklist*Starred Review* PreS-Gr. 3.

In this tribute to fathers, fish, and otherwise, Carle adds an element to his signature painted tissue-paper collages that makes his art exceptionally striking. After Mrs. Seahorse deposits her eggs in his pouch, Mr. Seahorse drifts gently through the sea, meeting five other fish fathers who participate in prenatal care: Mr. Stickleback hatches the eggs; Mr. Tilapia holds the eggs in his mouth; Mr. Kurtus, a nurseryfish, sticks the eggs on his head until they hatch; Mr. Pipe, a pipefish, carries the eggs on his narrow belly; and Mr. Bullhead, a catfish, babysits newly hatched fry. With each encounter comes a delightful surprise: an acetate overlay camouflages the sea creatures as Mister Seahorse passes by: a lionfish hides in a coral reef; a stonefish hides behind a rock. The vivid, multicolored fish and translucent scenery perfectly evoke the watery backdrop, and the acetate sea scenes are as innovative as the die-cuts in Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Pair this with Lionni's Swimmy for a delightful glass-bottomed boat tour. Awash with the wonders of undersea life, this is a stunning, ingeniously conceived lesson in nature as well as a celebration of fatherly affection. Julie CumminsCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Publisher: Philomel (April 26, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0399242694
ISBN-13: 978-0399242694

Draw Me a Star

From Publishers Weekly

During his youth, this gifted authorartist explains in his newest book's afterword, his German grandmother would often draw him a star while chanting a nonsense rhyme. Taking that symbol as his foundation, Carle here creates a world pulsating with life and color-a world that bursts forth from a good star sketched by a young artist. This kaleidoseopic pentagram requests a sun from the artist's pen; the sun asks for a tree, and so on until a man and woman are living happily among Carle's characteristic collages-flora and fauna of all shapes, sizes and vivid hues. Meanwhile the artist, now a bearded old man, continues to draw and create. This unusual, practically plotless work seems to embody a personal scenario close to the artist's heart. His unadorned language, pulsing with a hypnotic rhythm, adroitly complements the familiar naive artwork. Though some may be disturbed by similarities between Carle's evolving world and the biblical creation story (the unclothed male and female figures, for example), this tale of imagination and creativity pays homage to the artist within all of us-and may well fire youngsters' imaginations. Ages 4-up. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library JournalKindergarten-Grade 4--

A young boy is told (readers are not sure by whom) to ``Draw me a star.'' The star then requests that the boy draw it a sun; the sun asks for a ``lovely tree,'' and throughout his life the boy/man/artist continues to create images that fill the world with beauty. The moon bids the now-elderly artist to draw another star, and as the story ends, the artist travels ``across the night sky'' hand-in-hand with the star. This book will appeal to readers of all ages; its stunning illustrations, spare text, and simple story line make it a good choice for story hour; but older children will also find it uplifting and meaningful. Especially pleasing is a diagram within the story, accompanied by rhyming instructions on how to draw a star: ``Down/ over/ left/ and right/ draw/ a star/ oh so/ bright.'' An inspired book in every sense of the word.- Eve Larkin, Middleton Public Library , WICopyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description

Draw me a star. And the artist drew a star. It was a good star. Draw me a sun, said the star. And the artist drew a sun. And on the artist draws, bringing the world to life picture by beautiful picture until he is spirited across the night sky by a star that shines on all he has made. In Draw Me a Star, Eric Carle celebrates the imagination in all of us with a beguiling story about a young artist who creates a world of light and possibility. A remarkable, quintessentially simple book encompassing Creation, creativity, and the cycle of life within the eternal. -- Kirkus Reviews, pointer review This book will appeal to readers of all ages. An inspired book in every sense of the word. -- School Library Journal A fable about the passage through life and its fullness of possibilities, children will like the cumulative effects of the tale, the creation of the world through paints, and Carle's collages flaring with rainbow hues. --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (February 2, 1998)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0698116321
ISBN-13: 978-0698116320

The Mixed-Up Chameleon

From Publishers Weekly

Collages in festive hues illustrate this story of a chameleon that learns to change not only his colors but his shape and his dreams as well. Ages 4-8. Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Except for catching flies and changing colors occasionally, this chameleon doesn't find life very exciting. When a surprise visit to the zoo makes this wistful lizard realize it can change its shape and size as easily as its color, it ends up wanting to be like all the animals in the zoo at once--with hilarious results. Full-color illustrations.

Publisher: HarperTrophy (February 9, 1988)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0064431622
ISBN-13: 978-0064431620

ART

MAKING A MONOPRINT - adding to collection of paper for Eric Carle Collage

2. Add one or more tempera paint color and make swirls.

1. Pour a little liquid laundry starch onto cookie sheet.

This is a sheet made fom bleeding art tissue onto white paper.

3. Lay a piece of paper on top. Gently rub, then lift the paper to see your print. Wipe cookie sheet clean and start again.

Here's another sample.

And another.


LANGUAGE ARTS

Some flash cards I made for vowel work.

E worked on the rectangle inset today and created another book.

ZOOLOGY

Working on The Bird 3-part cards.

My elder son's cockatiel. Provide a live reference for The Bird work.

Working on The Bird parts puzzle.

Recreated puzzle without frame.

We started The Bird work by looking at The Life Nature book on birds. Very good reference.
This page are on the variety of bird eggs.

Here's the book I was referring to.

Another page from the book on life cycle of egg to chick.

These were some of the work we did. We also covered math, practical life and sensorial activities. Glad we could keep to the daily schedule which I had finally created so that I can keep to subject areas and make choices available for E according to the subjects we are covering for the day. Busy day for a busy guy!!

A wonderful day to all!