M (Part 1): Too Many to Choose From

We're doing M in two parts, so last week we read Mc and Mac authors, and we through in Mercer Mayer and James Marshall because we just couldn't contain our excitement. Here are our reviews of the following authors

Alice McLerran

Angela McAllister

Colin McNaughton

Mercer Mayer

Amy MacDonald

David McKee

Robert McCloskey

Patricia McKissack

Emily McCully

David McPhail

Read Alice McLerran's book Roxaboxen (based on her mother's childhood imaginary town on a hill in Yuma, AZ) to remind your kids how to play without any toys at all. The illustrator, Barabara Cooney, is one of my favorites! (We read her books back when we did C books in October.)

We only read a book each for Angela McAllister (about a little boy who braves the monsters on a walk) and Colin McNaughton (about children acting out in a pagaent what they want to be when they are older.) They were both OK.

Read James Marshall's George and Martha books alongside with new readers--hippos are so lovable to just about anyone. They remind me of the humor of Frog and Toad books with text that's just a tad bit more advanced, though the story length is shorter. (James Marshall also illustrated the Miss Nelson books, if you know those).

Mercer Mayer's Little Critter books have always been welcome in our story time routine (and let's face it, not all books are welcome), and so we picked up Just Go To Bed, but this time we also read There's Something in My Attic (similar to his Nightmare book) and the Pied Piper of Hamlin. I don't know why the story of the latter always saddens me (though it is a clever retelling and his illustrations are phenomenal), and I, of course, loved his Attic tale of a girl attempting to deal with the thing keeping her awake!

Read Amy MacDonald's books about an annoying blister and a MIA tooth for some classic high drama family stories centering on the tiny problem of a child. (Anyone who's a member of a big family will think these are especially funny if you've ever had everyone fussing over you at once.)

Read David McKee's Elmer books for visually-interesting, simple stories, that I think would appeal to all ages. And the preschool teacher in me could thing of one hundred crafts to do that go along with the Elmer books because of Elmer's checked colorful pattern.

Read Robert McCloskey's books about children in Maine and a fisherman, too. (Blueberries for Sal should be in everyone's home library!) One Morning in Maine is a simple story of a girl running errands with her father who tells everyone she meets about her wiggly tooth. And Time of Wonder which won the Newberry is about children exploring their natural world on their summer vacation in Maine and is more appropriate for an older child--it would be perfect for teaching nature writing.

Read Patricia McKissick's stories about clever, brave girls and their imaginary friends. The three I read had different illustrators, and they were all good. My Amelia asked me to read Precious and Boo Hag about ten times even though I think it was a little scary for her!

Read Emily Arnold McCully's books about ordinary children in history who have met historically famous people. Mirette on the High Wire rightfully won the Newberry for its interesting illustrations and story of courage and skill. My favorite was Outlaw Thanksgiving because of all that it taught about the history of westward expansion in the United States: train travel, outlaws, separated families looking forward to reunions, and railroad "bosses".

Finally, read David McPhail because he is funny. He has a lot of pig books and I barely sampled those. But pick up Those Can-do Pigs and Pigs Ahoy because they are simply silly. Mole Music is our favorite--I think I'm going to have to purchase it because even Dan liked it's tale of a Mole who learns to play the violin and changes the world.