WEBVTT 00:00:20.209 --> 00:00:24.469 Hello, I'm Patrick Adams. And I'm Caroline Legere. 00:00:24.829 --> 00:00:28.190 And this is Librarians of Littles, a podcast 00:00:28.190 --> 00:00:31.129 where we discuss books, makerspace activities, 00:00:31.489 --> 00:00:34.490 and give tips and tricks for working with our 00:00:34.490 --> 00:00:38.270 youngest readers in the library setting. Today 00:00:38.270 --> 00:00:41.789 we have some more of our favorite books to share. 00:00:42.369 --> 00:00:47.250 The first one being Llama Destroys the World. 00:00:47.590 --> 00:00:54.030 This was published in 2019. And it was published 00:00:54.030 --> 00:01:01.670 by Henry Holton Company. And it is written by 00:01:01.670 --> 00:01:05.810 Jonathan Stutzman and illustrated by Heather 00:01:05.810 --> 00:01:11.250 Fox. It has been on a couple state lists, including 00:01:11.250 --> 00:01:16.189 Colorado's Children's Book Award for 2021, Indiana's 00:01:16.189 --> 00:01:21.000 Young Hoosier Book Award for 2021 -2022, Nevada 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:25.439 Young Readers Award for 2022, Washington's Children's 00:01:25.439 --> 00:01:28.700 Choice Picture Book for 2021, and then two from 00:01:28.700 --> 00:01:31.459 Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Battle of the Books 00:01:31.459 --> 00:01:34.780 2022 Elementary Division grades four through 00:01:34.780 --> 00:01:38.719 six, and the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award for 00:01:38.719 --> 00:01:44.079 2022. And so the author, Jonathan Stussman, is 00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:46.519 a New York Times best -selling award -winning 00:01:46.519 --> 00:01:49.750 author of books for kids. His books have been 00:01:49.750 --> 00:01:54.129 translated in more than a dozen languages all 00:01:54.129 --> 00:01:57.049 over the world, and he lives in a small town 00:01:57.049 --> 00:02:00.209 in Pennsylvania with his wife and their French 00:02:00.209 --> 00:02:04.989 bulldog Hugo. Some of his other books include 00:02:04.989 --> 00:02:09.210 Bear is Bear, illustrated by Dan Santat, the 00:02:09.210 --> 00:02:12.569 Tiny T -Rex series, which are illustrated by 00:02:12.569 --> 00:02:16.030 Jay Fleck, The Mouse Who Carried a House on His 00:02:16.030 --> 00:02:21.530 Back, Illustrated by Isabel Arsenault. Soon Your 00:02:21.530 --> 00:02:25.729 Hands. Illustrated by Elizabeth Lilly. Santa 00:02:25.729 --> 00:02:29.030 Baby. Illustrated by Heather Fox. Don't Feed 00:02:29.030 --> 00:02:33.129 the Coos. Illustrated by Heather Fox. The Night 00:02:33.129 --> 00:02:37.509 is for Darkness. Illustrated by Joseph Colfer. 00:02:38.550 --> 00:02:41.449 Butts Are Everywhere. Illustrated by Heather 00:02:41.449 --> 00:02:45.430 Fox. The Fitz and Cleo Series. Illustrated by 00:02:45.430 --> 00:02:48.180 Heather Fox. And then the other two books in 00:02:48.180 --> 00:02:51.900 this series, Llama unleashes the Alpacalypse 00:02:51.900 --> 00:02:56.520 and Llama rocks the cradle of chaos, both illustrated 00:02:56.520 --> 00:03:01.340 by Heather Fox. And the illustrator of this book 00:03:01.340 --> 00:03:04.099 is Heather Fox, and she is an illustrator of 00:03:04.099 --> 00:03:06.479 stories for children. She likes to explore the 00:03:06.479 --> 00:03:09.580 use of color and shapes to create bright and 00:03:09.580 --> 00:03:12.180 whimsical doodles. When she isn't creating, you 00:03:12.180 --> 00:03:14.740 can probably find her enjoying a cup of coffee, 00:03:14.819 --> 00:03:17.919 walking around town, or chasing down her dog, 00:03:18.199 --> 00:03:21.460 Sir Hugo, who has stolen one of her socks. She 00:03:21.460 --> 00:03:27.090 lives in Lititz. I think, Pennsylvania with her 00:03:27.090 --> 00:03:31.810 husband and author, Jonathan Stutzman. Some of 00:03:31.810 --> 00:03:36.509 her other books include DJ Funkyfoot, Butler 00:03:36.509 --> 00:03:40.669 for Hire written by Tom Engelberger, Even Better 00:03:40.669 --> 00:03:43.469 Than Sparkles, a story about best friends by 00:03:43.469 --> 00:03:48.330 Linda Skier, Santa Baby written by Jonathan Stutzman, 00:03:48.830 --> 00:03:51.349 Butts Are Everywhere written by Jonathan Stutzman, 00:03:51.650 --> 00:03:54.740 Don't Feed the Coos, by Jonathan Stutzman and 00:03:54.740 --> 00:03:56.620 all the other amazing books that we already listed 00:03:56.620 --> 00:04:00.699 by Jonathan Stutzman. Yes. And I think it's kind 00:04:00.699 --> 00:04:03.620 of cool that they're able to work together as 00:04:03.620 --> 00:04:05.900 husband and wife like that and make books. That's 00:04:05.900 --> 00:04:09.719 really cool. That is really cool. I love it. 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:13.840 Although like I fear like, I don't know that 00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:15.960 they I'm sure they have a healthy relationship 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:18.160 and they're able to do that. But like I could 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:22.160 totally envision like so many issues coming up 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:25.660 with working on a book together with your spouse 00:04:25.660 --> 00:04:30.680 like uh -huh I don't know I just hey apparently 00:04:30.680 --> 00:04:32.360 they're good at it there they've made plenty 00:04:32.360 --> 00:04:35.240 of them together so that's yeah cool but I and 00:04:35.240 --> 00:04:40.879 they're great books too they are yeah yeah they 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:44.439 must be a good creative team yeah yeah it's it's 00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:46.339 pretty cool that they're able to do that for 00:04:46.339 --> 00:04:51.759 sure I don't think I would be that daring I don't 00:04:51.759 --> 00:04:56.540 know. It's a lot of togetherness. Yeah. My wife 00:04:56.540 --> 00:04:59.279 is actually, she's asked me before, she's like, 00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:01.920 should I try and get a job at your school? And 00:05:01.920 --> 00:05:07.420 I'm like, I don't. She's like, what do you mean? 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:11.000 I was like, that's a lot of togetherness. Like 00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:14.839 we'd be at work together and at home together. 00:05:14.899 --> 00:05:21.160 That's a lot of togetherness. So, I don't know. 00:05:21.439 --> 00:05:25.660 It's not for everyone and that's okay. It's clearly 00:05:25.660 --> 00:05:28.500 for them. So go team. Yes. They've been very 00:05:28.500 --> 00:05:30.759 successful with it and I'm glad for them. So. 00:05:32.259 --> 00:05:35.699 All right. So the summary for this book, when 00:05:35.699 --> 00:05:40.439 Lama finds a pile of cakes and eats it all, he 00:05:40.439 --> 00:05:43.879 starts a chain of events that lead to the destruction 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:48.240 of the world. He, it goes through, basically 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:52.259 the story goes through week and it starts by 00:05:52.259 --> 00:05:55.220 explaining that on Friday the world will be destroyed 00:05:55.220 --> 00:05:59.800 and then it starts with Monday when Lama finds 00:05:59.800 --> 00:06:02.620 the cakes and eats them all on Tuesday it's time 00:06:02.620 --> 00:06:07.139 for dancing and so because Lama will only dance 00:06:07.139 --> 00:06:11.139 wearing his dancing pants he has to squeeze himself 00:06:11.139 --> 00:06:13.420 into them because he's still full from the cakes 00:06:13.420 --> 00:06:17.970 and when inevitably those pants rip It creates 00:06:17.970 --> 00:06:23.089 a vibration into the universe, forming a black 00:06:23.089 --> 00:06:27.870 hole that slowly, over the weeks, sucks up everything, 00:06:28.509 --> 00:06:32.589 including llama. In the end, the entire universe 00:06:32.589 --> 00:06:34.910 is just spilled back out on the other side of 00:06:34.910 --> 00:06:38.050 the black hole, completely fine and exactly the 00:06:38.050 --> 00:06:42.910 same as it was before. And the story ends with 00:06:42.910 --> 00:06:48.959 llama finding a pile of pie. and looking longingly 00:06:48.959 --> 00:06:53.480 at that. So it's a fun story. I really enjoy 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:55.980 it. I think that the illustrations are amazing. 00:06:56.160 --> 00:07:03.920 I love the way Llama is depicted and the colors 00:07:03.920 --> 00:07:07.740 that are included, the subtle jokes that are 00:07:07.740 --> 00:07:10.660 happening throughout the illustrations with the 00:07:10.660 --> 00:07:14.560 Llama trying to dance and like when they're researching 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:18.870 the the black hole and his friend the pig has 00:07:18.870 --> 00:07:21.629 that sign that's for science and little things 00:07:21.629 --> 00:07:26.250 like that make me smile. The kids love it because 00:07:26.250 --> 00:07:29.329 we get to talk about the fact that the dancing 00:07:29.329 --> 00:07:32.689 pants make his butt look groovy and so that's 00:07:32.689 --> 00:07:37.589 always laugh inducing. It's just a really fun 00:07:37.589 --> 00:07:41.470 story that it's just goofy and silly but it keeps 00:07:41.470 --> 00:07:45.290 the kids' attention. It allows for them to Just 00:07:45.290 --> 00:07:48.829 enjoy being silly. And in the end, there's no 00:07:48.829 --> 00:07:51.709 negative repercussions. Like it all just, everything 00:07:51.709 --> 00:07:55.670 just falls back into place like normal. And so 00:07:55.670 --> 00:07:57.730 it's just a fun story that I think a lot of the 00:07:57.730 --> 00:08:00.709 kids will enjoy. And the entire series is really 00:08:00.709 --> 00:08:05.629 great. I think that I generally read this one 00:08:05.629 --> 00:08:08.050 and then I let the other kids decide if they 00:08:08.050 --> 00:08:09.970 want to check out the other books. But there, 00:08:10.769 --> 00:08:14.009 after I read this book with my students, for 00:08:14.009 --> 00:08:15.529 the rest of the year kids are asking where the 00:08:15.529 --> 00:08:17.269 llama books are on the shelf so they can read 00:08:17.269 --> 00:08:19.769 the rest of those stories. It's a lot of fun 00:08:19.769 --> 00:08:23.790 and I really enjoy it. Yeah this one was really 00:08:23.790 --> 00:08:27.610 good. I had it in my old library and all the 00:08:27.610 --> 00:08:29.209 things you said like the kids really loved it. 00:08:29.209 --> 00:08:31.769 I love all the bright colors in there. It's very 00:08:31.769 --> 00:08:34.830 attention -grabbing. It's bright but it's not 00:08:34.830 --> 00:08:37.549 the illustrations aren't too busy so it's not 00:08:37.549 --> 00:08:40.399 too overwhelming. So if that's great too, so 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:42.899 even if a kid has limited language, they're still 00:08:42.899 --> 00:08:45.460 really engaged with it. Even if they don't really 00:08:45.460 --> 00:08:48.500 understand, you know, that a giant black hole 00:08:48.500 --> 00:08:51.120 is sucking everything up into it and, you know, 00:08:51.299 --> 00:08:53.840 destroying the universe, like they still get 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:56.539 into it because of those fabulous illustrations. 00:08:56.700 --> 00:08:59.820 It's just, it's great. And the kids who do understand 00:08:59.820 --> 00:09:03.000 it think it's hilarious. So it's, it's a wonderful 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:06.440 book. I didn't realize I don't have it in my 00:09:06.440 --> 00:09:09.519 current library. So I Went and hurried up and 00:09:09.519 --> 00:09:12.620 I put it on a list so I can get it as soon as 00:09:12.620 --> 00:09:15.879 I can But it's it's a wonderful book. It really 00:09:15.879 --> 00:09:19.179 is. It's so funny. It's entertaining for everybody. 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:22.659 It's just great Because there is some of like 00:09:22.659 --> 00:09:25.960 that that adult humor like when the llama is 00:09:25.960 --> 00:09:28.940 dancing he starts like with a jig and then a 00:09:28.940 --> 00:09:32.500 tango and then he's like cha -cha is real smooth 00:09:32.500 --> 00:09:37.539 and like Those little bits of humor that the 00:09:37.539 --> 00:09:38.899 kids are going to be like, yeah, that makes sense. 00:09:39.059 --> 00:09:41.379 But the adults are like, ah, I see what you did 00:09:41.379 --> 00:09:47.940 there. And so it is. It's a lot of fun. And so 00:09:47.940 --> 00:09:50.080 I would definitely give it a five out of five. 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:53.820 Absolutely get it. If you don't have it in your 00:09:53.820 --> 00:09:57.720 library, get it for the library, for sure. Yeah. 00:09:58.619 --> 00:10:01.259 And so for Makerspace activities, I was struggling 00:10:01.259 --> 00:10:02.879 because I couldn't narrow it down to just one. 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:05.559 I thought of two things that I would do. I would 00:10:05.559 --> 00:10:09.059 give the kids probably the choice. I love using 00:10:09.059 --> 00:10:11.620 magnet tiles for a lot of things. And so I would 00:10:11.620 --> 00:10:15.039 allow the kids to make cakes out of magnet tiles 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:18.559 because the story starts with Lama eating all 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:22.500 of the cakes. And even in those pictures, the 00:10:22.500 --> 00:10:24.580 cakes are different shapes and sizes. There's 00:10:24.580 --> 00:10:26.440 slices of cakes, there's full cakes, there's 00:10:26.440 --> 00:10:29.159 cupcakes. And so allowing the kids to use the 00:10:29.159 --> 00:10:31.580 magnet tiles to build the cakes that a llama 00:10:31.580 --> 00:10:33.879 would eat would be kind of fun to see what they 00:10:33.879 --> 00:10:39.500 came up with. And so giving them that free reign 00:10:39.500 --> 00:10:42.080 to kind of take that and interpret it how they 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:44.759 choose so that they could come up with some cakes 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:47.360 would be fun. I also think that having the kids 00:10:47.799 --> 00:10:52.559 use the Legos to make a llama and they can have 00:10:52.559 --> 00:10:55.360 them make the llama from their favorite part 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:58.620 of the story. So they could be making the llama 00:10:58.620 --> 00:11:00.820 when he's doing the science experiments or they 00:11:00.820 --> 00:11:03.159 could make a llama that's wearing the dancing 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:06.100 pants or they could make the llama when he's 00:11:06.100 --> 00:11:10.159 floating in the blackness of space or whatever. 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:13.000 Plenty of different options that go along with 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:15.720 that as well, but giving them some of that choice 00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:20.429 to create and use different materials for different 00:11:20.429 --> 00:11:23.590 things. So that would be what I would do. Let's 00:11:23.590 --> 00:11:25.129 give them a couple different choices and let 00:11:25.129 --> 00:11:27.809 them do that. Yeah, those are great activities. 00:11:28.409 --> 00:11:31.149 Lots of creativity there. Love it. Yeah, sounds 00:11:31.149 --> 00:11:37.250 good. For our library of littles management tip 00:11:37.250 --> 00:11:39.730 today, we're going to be talking about parent 00:11:39.730 --> 00:11:44.299 outreach. In my last library i was fortunate 00:11:44.299 --> 00:11:48.940 enough to have one day i was mostly in the specials 00:11:48.940 --> 00:11:52.639 rotation. But i did have one day a week that 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:55.639 i was able to use for like in any way i need 00:11:55.639 --> 00:11:57.980 to for any kind of library programming and one 00:11:57.980 --> 00:12:01.460 of the things i did was a partner with the parent 00:12:01.460 --> 00:12:05.350 liaison at our campus. Again, I know not every 00:12:05.350 --> 00:12:07.909 campus has one, but I was fortunate enough to 00:12:07.909 --> 00:12:11.950 have one. And she and I worked together to invite 00:12:11.950 --> 00:12:15.529 all of the parents of our future students into 00:12:15.529 --> 00:12:21.269 the library. And I did a short little 30 minute 00:12:21.269 --> 00:12:24.250 or so lesson. And what I did with that was I 00:12:24.250 --> 00:12:27.409 just recycled whatever I was doing in my class 00:12:27.409 --> 00:12:30.090 that week. So it wasn't really any extra work 00:12:30.090 --> 00:12:32.659 for me. because my campus had all three, four 00:12:32.659 --> 00:12:37.000 and five year olds. So really, if it was appropriate 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:39.580 for them, it was probably appropriate for somebody 00:12:39.580 --> 00:12:41.500 who was about to begin school there because they 00:12:41.500 --> 00:12:45.059 were all so close in age. But the we invited 00:12:45.059 --> 00:12:47.539 the parents to come in with the children who 00:12:47.539 --> 00:12:51.620 would be attending school there soon. And I absolutely 00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:55.659 loved doing it because we were able to kind of 00:12:55.659 --> 00:12:59.639 we did a short little mini lesson. It got the 00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:04.100 kids kind of comfortable with school and made 00:13:04.100 --> 00:13:07.519 it so that when they did start school, the following 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:09.340 year, they were already more comfortable with 00:13:09.340 --> 00:13:11.620 it because they'd already been in the school. 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:14.500 They'd walked the halls, they'd seen the library 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:17.960 and they'd gotten to experience sitting for a 00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:20.779 lesson with their parents in a comfortable setting 00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:24.299 like that. So they were already like those kids 00:13:24.299 --> 00:13:27.080 who did attend that they were way more comfortable 00:13:27.080 --> 00:13:30.679 with school I don't recall any of them like having 00:13:30.679 --> 00:13:34.340 a hard time Or having as hard a time as the other 00:13:34.340 --> 00:13:37.620 kids like separating because they'd already Been 00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:40.200 there before they knew they were in a safe place 00:13:40.200 --> 00:13:42.759 and they were already at least somewhat comfortable 00:13:42.759 --> 00:13:45.080 It wasn't completely brand new like it was for 00:13:45.080 --> 00:13:49.600 everybody else and we also while the kids were 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:52.340 working on their kind of independent work part, 00:13:53.480 --> 00:13:57.379 their makerspace activity. We would give the 00:13:57.379 --> 00:14:00.799 parents tips on how to work with kids at home. 00:14:00.820 --> 00:14:03.740 So we would, you know, let them know the benefits 00:14:03.740 --> 00:14:06.860 of reading aloud to children and, you know, let 00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:09.360 them know things that we as librarians already 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:12.179 know, you know, that the importance of reading, 00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:14.980 reading consistently, it's okay to read the same 00:14:14.980 --> 00:14:17.000 books over and over, even though it might drive 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:20.399 you crazy, the kids are still getting The same 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:23.960 wonderful benefits from it. That repeated story 00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:26.299 tellings are actually you know a lot of time 00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:29.179 more beneficial and it doesn't matter what you 00:14:29.179 --> 00:14:31.539 read all that kind of great stuff like we were 00:14:31.539 --> 00:14:34.799 able to let our parents know that so that they 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:37.000 could start working with their kids at home. 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:40.480 Kind of set them up for success a little early 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:43.639 on and it was it was absolutely fabulous right. 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:47.519 Right now I don't have time in my schedule because 00:14:47.519 --> 00:14:52.460 I am in full specials rotation. I think I do 00:14:52.460 --> 00:14:54.460 have a parent liaison on my campus, although 00:14:54.460 --> 00:14:56.860 I have yet to meet her, so I need to seek her 00:14:56.860 --> 00:15:00.100 out. But that is definitely something that I 00:15:00.100 --> 00:15:03.379 would like to try implementing again soon. I 00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:08.460 think even if I can get just like one, you know, 00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:11.279 time a month, really. That's it doesn't take 00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:13.419 a whole lot. I don't think to like start building 00:15:13.419 --> 00:15:15.759 those connections and like educating the parents. 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:19.039 Like really, I think once a month is adequate. 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:21.460 Like even if I have to do it like after school 00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:23.039 out, that's probably I don't think I'm going 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:24.480 to do it this year because this year I'm at a 00:15:24.480 --> 00:15:26.059 brand new campus to me and I'm still learning 00:15:26.059 --> 00:15:29.279 like all the things. But hopefully next year 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:32.279 or in the coming years, I'll be able to start 00:15:32.279 --> 00:15:34.879 implementing something similar to that. I don't 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:36.820 know, because I loved it a lot. And I think the 00:15:36.820 --> 00:15:39.620 parents and the kids did too. It was good for 00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:42.700 everybody. Yeah, I can definitely see how that 00:15:42.700 --> 00:15:45.480 would be super beneficial for other students 00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:48.179 and the families for sure. It's just it comes 00:15:48.179 --> 00:15:52.039 down to time for a lot of us. I know it is. I 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:53.980 think because I think you're right. I think that 00:15:53.980 --> 00:15:58.080 that definitely helps. Some of those kids that 00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:00.480 are coming in because then they've had some experience 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:02.299 coming into the library and sitting and listening 00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:04.799 for a story and absolutely and then. Being able 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:06.879 to help with the education of the parents, to 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:09.460 help them to know it's okay to read, absolutely 00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:12.299 wonderful. It just comes down to finding the 00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:14.379 time. I would love to do it and I think you're 00:16:14.379 --> 00:16:17.440 right. I think for my campus, since I'm still 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:20.779 in the rotation and I'm seeing kids all day long, 00:16:20.820 --> 00:16:23.259 I think it would have to be an after school event. 00:16:24.100 --> 00:16:26.899 But that might be worth doing like once a month 00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:30.059 to have that, to be able to have some of those 00:16:30.059 --> 00:16:32.929 conversations with those families and introduce 00:16:32.929 --> 00:16:35.169 some of those concepts and to read with the kids 00:16:35.169 --> 00:16:37.629 and start making those connections early can 00:16:37.629 --> 00:16:40.350 be really beneficial for everybody involved. 00:16:41.190 --> 00:16:44.090 That's part of why I, cause like I currently 00:16:44.090 --> 00:16:46.350 give up two days a week. I give up my planning 00:16:46.350 --> 00:16:48.529 period to see the pre -K kids. And it's for the 00:16:48.529 --> 00:16:50.629 same reason, cause I want to start building those 00:16:50.629 --> 00:16:52.269 connections and start building those routines 00:16:52.269 --> 00:16:55.370 with those kids. So like if I can do that with 00:16:55.370 --> 00:16:59.230 kids that are coming into pre -K even before 00:16:59.230 --> 00:17:02.970 that, that can only Help, right? So I think you're 00:17:02.970 --> 00:17:04.609 right. I think I need to work on that I think 00:17:04.609 --> 00:17:06.410 that might be one of my goals for next year as 00:17:06.410 --> 00:17:09.250 well to try and figure out a way to do that because 00:17:09.250 --> 00:17:13.609 the benefits are so so massive and Definitely 00:17:13.609 --> 00:17:17.890 worth it Yeah, it is you're right it is hard 00:17:17.890 --> 00:17:19.750 to find time for all the things that we want 00:17:19.750 --> 00:17:23.029 to do but Yeah, I think no more that I think 00:17:23.029 --> 00:17:25.210 once a month I think is hopefully I'll be able 00:17:25.210 --> 00:17:27.990 to find time to do it once a month. I don't know. 00:17:28.009 --> 00:17:32.720 I do like this reasonable. Yeah doable. Yeah, 00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:37.359 hopefully so. Well, the other book that we're 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:41.119 going to talk about today is the book that almost 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:45.319 rhymed. Not quite, but it almost did. It's published 00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:49.579 by Dial Books for Young Readers in 2024, and 00:17:49.579 --> 00:17:53.059 the author is Omar Abed and the illustrator is 00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:56.019 Hatem Ali. And I very much hope I'm saying those 00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:59.849 names correctly. This book is was Publish pretty 00:17:59.849 --> 00:18:01.950 recently only last year and it's already won 00:18:01.950 --> 00:18:05.390 several awards it is an ALSC notable children's 00:18:05.390 --> 00:18:08.250 book it got the children's literature assembly 00:18:08.250 --> 00:18:11.869 notable children's book in language arts award. 00:18:12.670 --> 00:18:16.170 How was the big sentence there big award school 00:18:16.170 --> 00:18:18.730 library journal best books of the year junior 00:18:18.730 --> 00:18:21.690 library guild selection colorado children's book 00:18:21.690 --> 00:18:24.630 award twenty twenty six district of columbia 00:18:24.630 --> 00:18:27.640 three stars book award twenty twenty five. Iowa 00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:30.980 Bridge to Reading Picture Book 2025 Kentucky 00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:35.440 Blue Grass Award 2025 Maryland Black Eyed Susan 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:41.460 Book Award 2025 Michigan Myself in Books 2024 00:18:41.460 --> 00:18:44.200 Minnesota Star of the North Picture Book Award 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:49.400 for 2026 Nebraska Golden Sour Award Oklahoma 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:54.859 Red Bud Read Aloud 2025 and Oregon Patricia Gallagher 00:18:54.859 --> 00:19:00.859 Picture Book Award for 2025. And the author Omar 00:19:00.859 --> 00:19:05.779 Abed, during his time studying computer engineering 00:19:05.779 --> 00:19:08.240 in college, he discovered he had a passion for 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:11.740 spoken word poetry as a creative outlet, which 00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:14.039 ultimately led him to writing picture books. 00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:17.279 He initially self published so he could learn 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:20.599 more about the publishing process and the industry 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:25.269 in general. His next book is this one. The book 00:19:25.269 --> 00:19:27.490 that almost rhymed and he was able to get it 00:19:27.490 --> 00:19:30.710 traditionally published the following year he 00:19:30.710 --> 00:19:34.970 and his sons and wife live in northern virginia. 00:19:35.170 --> 00:19:38.509 The name of his self published book is you me 00:19:38.509 --> 00:19:42.369 and a tree and he does have another book written 00:19:42.369 --> 00:19:46.170 it's called debug this book and it does not have 00:19:46.170 --> 00:19:49.470 a release date yet nor does it have like cover 00:19:49.470 --> 00:19:53.500 art online or anything so i think it's. No, it's 00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:56.099 gonna come out eventually. I have no idea when 00:19:56.099 --> 00:19:59.700 but I Don't know if it's anything like this one. 00:19:59.700 --> 00:20:02.019 It sounds like it'll be fun. Yeah, and since 00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:06.119 he's a computer engineer like But it has a lot 00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:09.079 to do with coding. It'll be looking forward to 00:20:09.079 --> 00:20:11.319 it I'm gonna have to like remember that in a 00:20:11.319 --> 00:20:15.700 year or two for now That sounds pretty cool for 00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:21.259 sure. Yeah All right, and then the author we're 00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:25.670 gonna go with Hatem Ali is an Egyptian -born 00:20:25.670 --> 00:20:28.809 illustrator who has created many books for young 00:20:28.809 --> 00:20:32.390 people that earned multiple starred reviews and 00:20:32.390 --> 00:20:35.849 positions on the New York Times bestseller list. 00:20:36.430 --> 00:20:40.170 He currently lives in New Brunswick, Canada with 00:20:40.170 --> 00:20:44.130 his wife and son. Some of the other books that 00:20:44.130 --> 00:20:48.069 he has illustrated include the Meet Yasmeen series 00:20:48.069 --> 00:20:53.980 by Saadiya Farooqi. The Unicorn Rescue Society 00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:58.380 series by Gidwitz with other contributing authors, 00:20:58.779 --> 00:21:03.420 The Proudest Blue, The Kindest Red, and The Boldest 00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:12.619 White by Etihaj Muhammad and S .K. Ali. Not So 00:21:12.619 --> 00:21:16.259 Normal Norbert by James Patterson and Joey Green. 00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:22.809 Egyptian Lullaby by Zeena Tliska. You Are a Star, 00:21:23.230 --> 00:21:28.670 Jane Goodall by Dean Robbins and more. Yeah, 00:21:28.710 --> 00:21:33.569 and he is Egyptian. So I'm fairly certain that 00:21:33.569 --> 00:21:36.869 like a lot of his books are, he collaborates 00:21:36.869 --> 00:21:40.509 with other writers, are they're diverse writers. 00:21:40.650 --> 00:21:43.049 So I think that's, yeah, that's very cool. I 00:21:43.049 --> 00:21:46.779 think both of them are actually, I think. I knew 00:21:46.779 --> 00:21:50.400 I'd seen the name before and when I saw that 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:53.240 it was the Meet Yasmin series, I have so many 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:55.579 of those books in the library. I was like, that's 00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:58.559 where I've seen the name before, for sure. Yeah. 00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:03.039 Yeah, I know. He's done a lot. I just hadn't... 00:22:03.039 --> 00:22:05.759 I still didn't recognize the name immediately 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:07.900 when I saw it, but then I started reading through 00:22:07.900 --> 00:22:11.759 all the things. I was like, I got you. Got it 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:15.529 now. So yeah, he's done a lot of really great 00:22:15.529 --> 00:22:20.069 work. So in this book, the book that almost rhymed, 00:22:20.710 --> 00:22:24.329 a young boy attempts to write a rhyming story 00:22:24.329 --> 00:22:27.829 when his little sister comes in to attempt to 00:22:27.829 --> 00:22:31.210 help. His tale begins with a knight going on 00:22:31.210 --> 00:22:36.930 a noble quest until his sister repeatedly interrupts 00:22:36.930 --> 00:22:39.670 last minute and it takes the story in a completely 00:22:39.670 --> 00:22:43.069 different direction. they begin going on their 00:22:43.069 --> 00:22:45.009 noble quest and then eventually end up going 00:22:45.009 --> 00:22:47.609 on their story takes them in all kinds of different 00:22:47.609 --> 00:22:49.710 directions like an outer space they end up on 00:22:49.710 --> 00:22:51.849 a pirate ship they're in the desert they end 00:22:51.849 --> 00:22:56.170 up battling a fire breathing armadillo of course 00:22:56.170 --> 00:22:58.390 the boy gets frustrated with all the constant 00:22:58.390 --> 00:23:02.829 interruptions and he lists out all the interruptions 00:23:02.829 --> 00:23:07.380 his sisters made And when he lists them all together, 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:09.839 he discovers, you know what, she actually is 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:12.240 rhyming. She's just not rhyming with my rhymes. 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:15.900 She's making her own rhymes. So once they figure 00:23:15.900 --> 00:23:18.779 out that they are, in fact, both rhyming in their 00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:22.859 own way, they're able to finish or rather begin 00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:27.440 their story together. I really liked this one 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:31.079 a whole lot. It is a little frustrating. I think 00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:34.140 the boy's frustration comes through a whole lot. 00:23:34.430 --> 00:23:37.690 in the beginning when he's trying to create his 00:23:37.690 --> 00:23:41.410 rhymes and you know he's like gonna go right 00:23:41.410 --> 00:23:44.450 on it like you can tell like he's gonna go he's 00:23:44.450 --> 00:23:46.710 on his quest and they're gonna go right on his 00:23:46.710 --> 00:23:49.349 robles nobles you can tell it's supposed to be 00:23:49.349 --> 00:23:53.009 steed and nope it's gonna be a rocket we're riding 00:23:53.009 --> 00:23:55.869 on a rocket instead and he's like okay fine we'll 00:23:55.869 --> 00:23:59.349 go on a rocket whatever and like he's trying 00:23:59.349 --> 00:24:01.930 to be patient with her and actually he makes 00:24:01.930 --> 00:24:05.640 it kind of a long way In the story before he 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:09.619 gets too frustrated and you know lists all the 00:24:09.619 --> 00:24:14.259 things that are going wrong and. I just absolutely 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:17.700 love that you can like because you can kind of 00:24:17.700 --> 00:24:20.980 tell where which words are supposed to rhyme 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:22.859 like when you're reading it with kids you can 00:24:22.859 --> 00:24:26.079 definitely have the kids fill in. What word they 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:27.859 think is supposed to be there you could even 00:24:27.859 --> 00:24:31.240 have them fill in you know what's. they think 00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:33.240 should be in their other words that rhyme with 00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:36.539 that as well. I love the creativity of it with 00:24:36.539 --> 00:24:39.119 them going in all the different directions and 00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:43.359 then when they do finally end up rhyming together 00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:47.160 like that's so great too like it's just it's 00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:50.119 it's a wonderful book. I loved it so much I think 00:24:50.119 --> 00:24:52.740 this one's a five out of five for me it was really 00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:56.039 cute very unique. Yeah I can't think of another 00:24:56.039 --> 00:25:00.299 of another story quite like this one. Enjoyed 00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:03.960 it a lot and I think with our youngest readers 00:25:03.960 --> 00:25:08.940 they may not I think it would work with the Most 00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:11.059 pre -k classes, especially toward the end of 00:25:11.059 --> 00:25:14.420 the year. You would have to have some good Foundational 00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:17.779 understanding of rhyming to like really get it 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:21.619 and that can be kind of a hard concept For some 00:25:21.619 --> 00:25:24.059 of our younger kids. So that's gonna have to 00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:25.539 be something that you would have to introduce 00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:28.569 first I would not read this toward the beginning 00:25:28.569 --> 00:25:30.809 of the year, definitely toward the end after 00:25:30.809 --> 00:25:33.269 we have a good foundational understanding of 00:25:33.269 --> 00:25:36.130 some of those phonological awareness skills. 00:25:37.309 --> 00:25:42.250 But even if the kids don't really understand 00:25:42.250 --> 00:25:46.029 rhyming just yet, I think there's so many twists 00:25:46.029 --> 00:25:51.009 and turns with the boy's little sister telling 00:25:51.009 --> 00:25:54.049 the story with her brother. I think they would 00:25:54.049 --> 00:25:57.369 still really enjoy it and I loved that with the 00:25:57.369 --> 00:26:01.549 illustrations it was still. There was still a 00:26:01.549 --> 00:26:04.630 lot of detail on the page but it wasn't too overwhelming 00:26:04.630 --> 00:26:09.910 but the illustrator. To kind of capitalize on 00:26:09.910 --> 00:26:13.230 the fact that they're the kids are making up 00:26:13.230 --> 00:26:16.150 the story as they go like it kind of has some 00:26:16.150 --> 00:26:18.230 illustrations in the style of like Harold and 00:26:18.230 --> 00:26:23.380 the purple crayon with. Like child -drawn illustrations 00:26:23.380 --> 00:26:26.480 on top of the pictures if that makes sense So 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:28.680 you can tell that the kids are making up the 00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:31.339 story because of the way that is that just kind 00:26:31.339 --> 00:26:34.420 of kind of helps solidify that for the reader 00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:38.000 So I think that also helps kind of grab their 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:41.299 attention and keep the kids focused It was just 00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:44.339 a great book. I liked it a lot and I think it's 00:26:44.339 --> 00:26:46.559 even better the second time you read it when 00:26:46.559 --> 00:26:49.460 you're like As an adult, especially, I don't 00:26:49.460 --> 00:26:51.619 know how much the kids, I think the kids would 00:26:51.619 --> 00:26:54.619 still enjoy a second reading. But for me as an 00:26:54.619 --> 00:26:57.240 adult, like going back through and knowing that 00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:59.980 the little girl is in fact rhyming, like I was 00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:02.259 like putting together the rhymes in my head for 00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:05.000 like both him and her simultaneously. And that 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:07.579 was fun for me. As an adult, I think that would 00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:11.359 be a fun one to retell because kids do benefit 00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:14.359 a lot from, you know, telling. reading books 00:27:14.359 --> 00:27:16.799 together more than once. So for me as an adult, 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:19.920 this one was a fun one to read through twice 00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:22.000 and to kind of get those little details that 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:24.599 I missed the first time. It was just a fun book. 00:27:24.920 --> 00:27:28.640 I enjoyed it a lot. Totally agree. I love this 00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:30.319 book. I'm looking forward to sharing it with 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:32.279 my students. And like I was telling you, I think 00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:35.380 even my older students will really enjoy it because 00:27:35.380 --> 00:27:38.900 it's just a fun story. I was getting frustrated 00:27:38.900 --> 00:27:41.160 with the boy at the beginning of the story, too, 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:44.059 with the rhymes not being completed. But it is 00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:47.240 a sweet story. It's really great. I love that 00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:51.180 everything for the boy story is in one color 00:27:51.180 --> 00:27:55.480 of text on the page. And when his sister jumps 00:27:55.480 --> 00:27:58.500 in, the text color changes so that you can see 00:27:58.500 --> 00:28:01.079 the difference between theirs. And yeah, I love 00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:05.200 that it's like the crayon markings over themselves 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:08.599 and over the pictures to make the story fit for 00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:11.980 what is happening. And it's just a really cool 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:14.680 illustration style paired with a really great 00:28:14.680 --> 00:28:17.440 story. So absolutely agree with you, five out 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:20.460 of five. I can't wait to read this with my students 00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:26.880 and see their reactions too. I think for an activity 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:32.180 with this if I was in the classroom as a teacher 00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:36.500 and I had more time I would probably read this 00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:40.839 book like two days in a row and then the second 00:28:40.839 --> 00:28:44.900 day I would do like a whole group activity where 00:28:44.900 --> 00:28:48.079 I had kind of like the boy had in the story where 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:52.039 I would have like my four lines of text but then 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:56.950 have a blank space at the very end for a rhyming 00:28:56.950 --> 00:29:01.109 word that the kids get to come up with and I 00:29:01.109 --> 00:29:04.230 would like have you know at least five or six 00:29:04.230 --> 00:29:08.250 of those lines like written out and I would do 00:29:08.250 --> 00:29:11.430 like a whole group of shared writing I feel like 00:29:11.430 --> 00:29:13.910 this book is too good of an opportunity for that 00:29:13.910 --> 00:29:16.730 to not take advantage of some kind of a shared 00:29:16.730 --> 00:29:19.609 writing situation with pre -k I think they would 00:29:19.609 --> 00:29:21.849 really enjoy it they would you know they would 00:29:21.849 --> 00:29:23.640 like to have their I think they would love to 00:29:23.640 --> 00:29:26.640 have their work, you know, shown like that at 00:29:26.640 --> 00:29:29.319 the front of the class. And then the kids can, 00:29:29.579 --> 00:29:32.500 you know, independently if they choose to, they 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:35.460 could draw a little bit on there and kind of 00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:38.200 do their own illustrations with it if they wanted 00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:41.599 to. But I know most of us don't have time for 00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:44.680 that in the library. I do think that would take 00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:48.289 a couple of readings. before doing that just 00:29:48.289 --> 00:29:50.869 to make sure that the kids like really understand 00:29:50.869 --> 00:29:53.670 we're filling in these blanks like we saw in 00:29:53.670 --> 00:29:55.990 this book and like to make those connections. 00:29:55.990 --> 00:29:58.450 I think with pre -k especially that would take 00:29:58.450 --> 00:30:00.690 a couple of days so I'm not sure I would do that 00:30:00.690 --> 00:30:02.869 in the library but in the classroom I think that 00:30:02.869 --> 00:30:05.450 would be a whole lot of fun. I mean I would just 00:30:05.450 --> 00:30:08.049 love to take advantage of that. In the library 00:30:08.049 --> 00:30:12.049 I think I would have the kids, I think I'm going 00:30:12.049 --> 00:30:15.150 to actually probably in like February I'll read 00:30:15.150 --> 00:30:19.200 this book. when they have worked on rhyming a 00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:23.500 little bit more. But then I'll have them just 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:26.579 get a blank sheet of paper and make their own 00:30:26.579 --> 00:30:29.559 story more or less and they can draw their own 00:30:29.559 --> 00:30:32.720 picture and kind of come up with their own story 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:35.619 of any kind and then dictate it to me and then 00:30:35.619 --> 00:30:39.000 I'll write out whatever it is that their story 00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:41.839 is and we can kind of work on that together. 00:30:42.779 --> 00:30:45.000 The kids that I've had in the past usually really 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:48.210 enjoy. um being creative like that and writing 00:30:48.210 --> 00:30:52.470 their own stories even though they can't quite 00:30:52.470 --> 00:30:56.750 write their right words and sentences independently 00:30:56.750 --> 00:31:00.829 yet they can you know come up with their own 00:31:00.829 --> 00:31:03.390 story and tell their own story it's just just 00:31:03.390 --> 00:31:06.990 a matter of writing it down with them so yeah 00:31:06.990 --> 00:31:09.869 i'm looking forward to doing that yeah it'll 00:31:09.869 --> 00:31:14.150 be a lot of fun absolutely that does sound like 00:31:14.150 --> 00:31:17.160 a lot of fun and I know that would allow a lot 00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:19.279 of those kids to show their creativity, which 00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:23.279 would be really interesting to see. Mm hmm. Yeah, 00:31:23.420 --> 00:31:25.859 this is just such a good book for being creative 00:31:25.859 --> 00:31:28.059 in general. I'm looking forward to the next book 00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:30.940 that this guy comes out with. Yeah, that that 00:31:30.940 --> 00:31:35.240 one sounds fun too. So yeah, we'll have to keep 00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:39.160 our eyes out for that. We sure will. Well, thank 00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:42.059 you all for joining us on this episode of Librarians 00:31:42.059 --> 00:31:44.460 of Littles, and we hope you found some fresh 00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:47.240 ideas for inspiring our youngest readers. Happy 00:31:47.240 --> 00:31:49.779 reading! Thank you for listening to this episode 00:31:49.779 --> 00:31:52.640 of Librarians of Littles. We hope that you've 00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:55.759 enjoyed it. Check back each Wednesday for a new 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:59.910 episode. Librarians of Littles is a podcast produced 00:31:59.910 --> 00:32:03.250 and hosted by Patrick Adams and Caroline Legier. 00:32:03.529 --> 00:32:06.869 Editor, Patrick Adams. Our theme song is performed 00:32:06.869 --> 00:32:10.490 by JD Adams. You can follow us on Instagram at 00:32:10.490 --> 00:32:14.089 Librarians of Littles. You can follow us on BlueSky 00:32:14.089 --> 00:32:20.109 at littleslibrarian .bsky .social. And you can 00:32:20.109 --> 00:32:24.789 send us your emails at librarianoflittlespodatgmail 00:32:24.789 --> 00:32:25.490 .com.