The Adventure of Taking Kids to the Zoo: Class Two at the Zoo by Julia Jarman, Illustrated by Lynne Chapman

This book tells the story of what happens when Class Two visits the zoo. From the illustration, one might say that the anaconda eats a few children. That assumption would be correct.

I enjoyed the writing style of this book, thought it was funny and would recommend it. However, I made the mistake of not reading this book myself before reading it to Ricky. The concept of going to the zoo and having a giant snake eat a few children might be scary to some toddlers. I was unable to stop reading and had to finish the book with him and he seemed fine. He thought it was funny - lucky me. I'm glad that he didn't express fear at visiting the zoo or anything like that.

I think I will be checking this book out of the library again - but maybe later on - when he is 4 or 5. We haven't talked about animals really hurting people (as in the Crocodile Hunter's fate) or death yet and we would like to keep him innocent as long as we possibly can. It is every parent's choice when to introduce such concepts and we have chosen to wait.

Aha - the book states Ages 5-8 for a reason!!! My mistake for not looking and reading to my almost-three-year-old. Oh well.

Published in 2007 by CarolRhoda Books.

Many thanks to the book's illustrator, Lynne Chapman for providing the jacket photo

New Book: Llama, Llama Mad At Mama by Anna Dewdney

I loved Dewdney's Red Pajama book - and so did Ricky - afterall, who are the books for, right? So I grabbed this one and I liked it as well. It's a cute story and the rhyming of words is engaging for Ricky. I find that he pays more attention to the words I read if they rhyme.

Adorable Baby Llama goes to the Shop-O-Rama with his Mama and after a while- wants to go home. He has a tantrum in the shopping cart - which is something many moms can relate to. Mama gets Baby Llama to calm down so they can finish their shopping trip and go home. Now if he gets whiney in the cart and says he wants to go, I say "Come on - you don't want to be like Baby Llama, do you" and he says no and is an angel the rest of the trip. Thanks Anna Dewdney!

Here is a passage: "Cheezee Puffs and Oatie Crunch. What would llama like for lunch? Llama llama doesn't know. Llama Llama wants to GO."

This book was published by Viking in 2007.

Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney

This is a really cute book but it has actually caused some problems for me. This is a book about how Baby Llama calls out for his busy mama from bed repeatedly. He keeps calling and when she doesn't come, he pretends that there is something really wrong - needless to say, she leaps upstairs as fast as she can and gets upset when there is nothing wrong afterall.

Ricky used to go to bed and we wouldn't hear a peep from him until the morning. Now, when he gets tucked in, he calls for me repeatedly - at least 4 times before he goes to bed. He wants water, he wants extra kisses, you name it. I would never blame a book for anything but it is quite the coincidence that he started doing this after we started reading this book. I intend to still read it to him until it's time to return it to the library. A cute read

My Big Boy Bed by Eve Bunting, Illustrated by Maggie Smith

Although we moved Ricky into a big boy bed (took one side off his crib) a year ago, I still find this book helpful to remind him that he does have his own big boy bed. Every so often, he goes a few days where he hates his bed and only wants to sleep in mommy and daddy's bed. I found this book at the library just to remind him of all the perks of having your own bed.

The book also mentions how the boy in the story had to give up his crib to his new sibling - so this book may be useful for parents who are also introducing a new family member to the family - and the changes that take place. Easy to read - perfect for a 1 year old but almost too easy for my almost 3 year old. Still, the discussion of the advantages of having your own big boy bed is a concept that he will not out-grow for a long time!