Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, by Peter Brown
The dapper Mr. Tiger is over being proper, and wants to have more fun. He decides to go wild (including removing his fancy clothing, walking on all fours, and leaving his uptight friends to run off to the jungle). And while it's fun for awhile, he soon gets lonely. So he heads back home, ready to be a little less wild, and is happily surprised to find that his friends have become a little less proper. It's an original take on being yourself, while compromising and influencing change. We recommend it for every preschooler's bookshelf.
What's making you smile today? Download this free activity sheet from the Wee Workshop and draw something that makes you happy.
Those Darn Squirrels by Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri
The only thing that makes cranky Old Man Fookwire happy is painting pictures of the birds in his backyard. To keep them from migrating south in the winter, he puts up extravagant bird feeders, which pesky squirrels find and ravage. The story takes you through this rising conflict, which ends in a pretty hilarious solution by the clever squirrels. This is one of our 3-year-olds' favorites – they love shaking their fists and saying in an exasperated old-man voice: "Those darn squirrels." Fun!
Here are a few things that we're into this week.
In honor of MLK Day, the Wee You-Things app – designed to encourage kids to appreciate differences – is FREE in the App Store through Jan. 24.
Some of our friends in the Midwest are stuck inside during a snowstorm this weekend. For an easy indoor activity, use shoeboxes to make these little polar bears. (They also make adorable gift wrap.)
Speaking of snowstorms, you know what's awesome?
Check out this cool tunnel in Japan.
Kids home from school on MLK Day? Keep them engaged with this free printable activity sheet from the Wee Workshop, inspired by the holiday. Download now.
In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, we're making the Wee You-Things iOS app (usually $2.99) FREE in the App Store today through Jan. 24. Designed to encourage kids (ages 3 to 7) to appreciate differences, and a USA Today Top Kids App 2013, Wee You-Things "delivers an important message about empathy and accepting others," according to Jinny Gudmundsen from USA Today.
In it, a quirky crew of characters celebrates "you-things" – those little and big things that, together, make you special and like no one else in the world. Ruth has a purple tooth. Little Dot gets scared a lot. Brad has two dads. Ling pretends that she's a king. After meeting 22 new friends, kids are asked, "What's your you-thing?" and get to become part of the story. Download the app.
Crabtree by Jon & Tucker Nichols
Amazing illustrations tell the tale of Alfred Crabtree, who has lost his false teeth. Surrounded by so much stuff – fancy hats, broken things, spicy mustard, an armadillo shell – he needs to get organized to find them! For our preschoolers who are into "sorting," it's a treasure trove of categorization and search and find. A modern take on Richard Scarry, we giggle together – and discover something new – every time we read it. Not surprisingly, it's published by the witty folks at McSweeneys.
A cold-weather activity sheet – decorate your own cozy socks. Download now.
