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TITLE: When Mommy was mad AUTHOR: Lynne Jonell ILLUSTRATOR: Petra Mathers AGE GROUP: 3-5 yrs PUBLISHER: G.P.Putnam's Sons Picture: fantasticfiction.co.uk Don't some of us, sometimes, hang up on an annoying telemarketer and carry over the frown to the innocent one demanding a snack? Or nod in affirmation to an interrogative from the little one while we are pensive or depressed. Or realize we just said yes to using the permanent marker while we were busy playing back in our head an incident from work! For a multitude of reasons, and sometimes not involving kids, we just don't seem to be our usual selves. And to make it worse, we are made to realize this by our own children. Picture books are wonderful when the child can relate to it. This book accomplishes that and more - it actually makes the parent and child exchange perspectives. While it can be difficult to see how parental moods impact children, it can also be important for children to see how it can be a struggle for ...

TITLE: Tacky and the winter games AUTHOR: Helen Lester ILLUSTRATOR: Lynn Munsinger AGE GROUP: 4-8 PUBLISHER: Sandpiper Picture: Amazon.com Penguins in training for the Olympics. Of course it has to be the winter Olympics! Add loads of wit. And we have an entertaining, educational and athletic package! Some of us are probably familiar with Tacky - Tacky the penguin . And this one belongs to the same series of books. It begins with Tacky's friends declaring T he winter games are coming, we must must must be in shape to win win win. And that's when the riot starts! The next few pages show fluffy creatures with sharp beaks jumping ropes in a row, lifting weights, and even doing sit-ups. But not Tacky. He is digging into his junk food and watching too much TV while his counterparts are loading up on 'training meals' and good sleep. Its soon time for the opening ceremony and the athletes walk in with their chests thrust out. The anthem is played (which by the way goes With o...

TITLE: Snowboard Twist AUTHOR: Jean Craigbead Geroge ILLUSTRATOR: Wendell Minor AGE GROUP: 4-8 yrs PUBLISHER: Katherine Tegen Books Picture: Author website. I picked up this book because, considering how books on sports and outdoor activities are relatively rare to find, one that involved snowboarding was hard to pass. The little one is taking lessons in ice skating and we do live just a few hours away from some generously snow covered ski slopes. These should qualify us I thought. I also succumbed to the seasonal temptation of a book sporting icy blues and whites, with evergreens all around. The more important rationale was to expose the little girl to adventure sports - to learn and enjoy the subtler details and experiences of such a sport while we safely resorted to accomplishing this through a picture book. At least for now:) Axel is on his way to Glory bowl in the Teton mountains with his dad Dag and his dog Grit. The place has just received heavy snowfall and it seems perfect to ...