Heart-y Reading: Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine by Herman Parish

Amelia Bedelia's mom played cards with friends.

"WOW!" Look at all of the HEARTS!" said Amelia Bedelia, looking at her mother's hand.

"Amelia Bedelia! Don't tell them what I'm holding!" her mom cried.

Amelia's mom gives her a brand-new pack of cards and send her off to the kitchen, but little Amelia Bedelia still can't help seeing hearts everywhere--in the shapes of trees in the park and the blob of catsup on her French fries. It's almost Valentine's Day, and she can't wait to exchange cards with her friends. Still, she's a bit confused when her dad tries to explain Cupid's job in the art of love. "Don't tease me, Daddy! Babies don't have wings," she protests.

Finally the big day comes. Amelia Bedelia arrives at school to find a pink Valentine cake and a fancy bowl of some delicious pink-colored drink for the students.

"Can I have a little punch, please?" asked Clay.

Amelia Bedelia gave him a little punch on his arm.

Then it's time to exchange their Valentines, and to her dismay Amelia Bedelia discovers that she's left her carefully addressed cards on the school bus. But resourceful as always, Amelia rummages in her book bag and finds the deck of cards her mom gave her! HEARTS? She's got some, and snatching up a marker, she soon transforms the whole suit of hearts into handmade Valentines for her classmates.

"It's okay," announces Amelia Bedelia. "I've got CARDS for everyone!"

Herman Parish, nephew of the lamentably late Peggy Parish, continues the first-grade adventures of little Amelia Bedelia in his latest, Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine. (Greenwillow, 2009), ably assisted by the light-hearted illustrations of Lynne Avril. For more Valentine's Day stories, pair this one with Fancy Nancy: Heart to Heart
or Diane deGroat's Gilbert and Friends story, Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink.

Print-a-Phobia: I Don't Like to Read! by Nancy Carlson

Henry was now in first grade.

And he was learning lots of new things.

But there was one thing Henry did not like about first grade.

READING!

"Reading is boring!!" he said. "It's dumb!"

Henry has always enjoyed listening to stories at home and at school. But now it seems that everyone else in his class is reading for themselves. His best friend Tony even brags that he can read anything upside down! But to Henry even right side up the letters and words seem just a jumble.

"All the words and letters just don't make sense!" Henry cried.

"That's okay, Henry." said his teacher, Mr. McCarthy. "Everyone learns to read in their own way."

And with extra help at home and from Mr. McCarthy the letters begin to come together for Henry. "STOP," "PIZZA," and even the title of Carlson's own book I LIKE ME! begin to pop out at him. But it is not until Henry's babysitter stops in the middle of an exciting story to yak on the phone for what seems like forever that Henry picks up the book and discovers that he can actually finish the story for himself and his little brother Pete.

Recently reissued in a new paperback edition, notable author Nancy Carlson's I Don't Like to Read! (Puffin, 2009) takes her character through one of the educational bumps in the road which a substantial number of kids hit when they begin learning to read. Carlson's book reassures the frustrated emergent reader, lowers the pressure to read right away gently, and while not glossing over the extra work required, shows that anyone can become a reader.

Earlier Henry books in the series are Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come (Picture Puffins), Henry's 100 Days of Kindergarten, and First Grade, Here I Come!

Back to School: I'm Your Bus by Marilyn Singer

Howdy! You can count on us.
Morning, evening, I'm your bus!

The genre of "first day of school" books deals with all those nagging fears that schoolkids have--mean teachers, class bullies, no friends at lunch and recess, hard tests, and, yes, even those iconic yellow school buses that growl and groan through the dawn's early light with hissing doors and an intimidating mob of noisy kids inside. As charming as those bright yellow buses look to grown-ups (who don't have to ride them anymore and are glad of it, thank you!), for some kids they can be the most fearful thing about starting to school. (See Barbara Park's classic Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus (Junie B. Jones, No. 1).)

Marilyn Singer's brand-new I'm Your Bus (Scholastic, 2009) does a great job of making those big behemoths seem friendly and even inviting.

Hurry, hurry! Now it's eight.
Busy buses, can't be late!
Get on, Jamie, Carlos, Gus.
Casey, Lacey, I'm your bus.

Past the waving traffic cops.
Past the friendly tire shop.
There's the school zone.
Buses, stop!

Watch those backpacks! Coming through!
Have fun today. Learn something new!

Anthropomorphic buses, with kindly windshield wiper eyes and big smiles, wake up early to ferry the children through cheery morning streets, cheered on by their fellow taxis and trucks. They even watch over those items kids always manage to leave behind.

On the seats we buses find
Lots of school books, every kind--
Pencils, glasses left behind.
Bats and caps--how fabulous!
I'll keep 'em safe
"Cause I'm your bus.

The bus also reminds the kids that he's the one who'll drive them to special fun events--field trips to the zoo, the airport, the farm. And when the day is done, all gassed up and spiffily washed, the buses will roll up again to take the tired but happy kids home.

The buses line up in a row.
Lisa, Devin, Chloe, Moe,
Find your seats and off you'll go.

How'd you grade ME? Wow! A+!
I'm so proud to be your bus!

Cheery and rhythmic text and jolly illustrations by Evan Polenghi make I'm Your Bus a must-read for those first days of school.