Title: Little Bitty Friends
Author: Elizabeth McPike
Illustrator: Patrice Barton
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for YOung Readers, February, 2016
Themes: spring, small animals, rhyme
Ages: 0-2
Genre: concept picture book
Opening: (first two spreads)
Little bitty steps
marching one, two, three,
Little furry caterpillar,
tickle, tickle, knee.
Synopsis:
Sharing strawberries with a wee mouse, stretching up skyward with the buttercups, chatting with chipmunks, this simple rhyming story invites children to join in the charms of spring life amongst the plants and critters around us.
Why I like this book:
This is a gentle rhyming picture book for the very young is a perfect spring pick at home or school or for a library story time. A wonderfully racially diverse group of young children discover the life that is teeming just outside their doors. Furry caterpillars and an army of marching ants are accessible even for the most urban kids at a park. The children’s enthusiasm is contagious and the “Little bitty” repetition, rhyme and simple rhythm of these couplets will make an engaging repeated read aloud to even to very young. I am glad he included some plants and not just animals.
If you have a baby shower coming up, look no further!
Activities/resources:
Newborns can be introduced to the wonderful outdoors on a rug on the grass in the sun before the summer sun becomes too intense! I had Gerald Durrell fascination for bugs and critters from a very young age and toddlers can explore at leisure with an adult’s oversight, earth, grass, under stones etc
How about making a bird’s nest from recycled materials, as recommended by Motherntaured.com
The Imagination Tree has complied 60 Nature Play Ideas for Kids.
Each week a group of bloggers reviews picture books we feel would make great educational reads. To help teachers, caregivers and parents, we have included resources and/or activities with each of our reviews. A complete list of the thousands of books we have reviewed can be found sorted alphabetically and by topics, here on Susanna Leonard Hill’s website.
In my 20's, with only my guitar and a rucksack, I wandered the continents, immersing myself in the lives of some wonderful people, projects and stories, which changed the way I view my responsibility to others and this earth. Right now I'm a European transplant in the US who writes books for children and young adults. Stories can help us not only navigate our world but can connect us to others, and allow us to inspire and help each other. I believe that equity and empathy should be at the core of our all actions, words, and stories.
I am also a school librarian and I get a kick out of book-matchmaking! And I use the pronouns she/her.
This one sounds so sweet! A nice way to teach about appreciating nature.
Love that bird nest idea! And for the record, I share my strawberries with squirrels, albeit without permission. Okay, that’s not sharing, per se, but heck, they rake in plenty and leave the caps for me in jest! I need to read this book, huh?
Looks adorable! I love rhyming books for babies and toddlers, especially ones that have a musical flow. Thanks for sharing this one.
This looks sweet and I love the idea for the bird’s nest made from recycled materials!
Looks adorable! I’m always looking for new books appropriate for our almost 2-year-old grandson. Right now he loves animal books. Great idea to introduce bugs and birds.
Awwww, I wish my son was this young again. I’ll have to give this one to a new nephew.
Those illos. are absolutely adorable. I’m trying to think if I have a 0-2-year-old in my life who might need this.
Oh – what a wonderful idea, to make a nest out of recycled materials. And what a sweet book.
Awww. Look at the kids in that nest! As for the book, I love Patrice’s work. Thanks for sharing it here.
My mom bought me Gerald Durrell books when I was far too young to appreciate them. This book makes me want to go lay in the grass– if it wasn’t raining, and 40 degrees.
Love the sound of this one! And my library has it 😀 Thanks for introducing me to it!