Have You Ever Seen an Octopus with a Broom

Written by Etta Kaner
Illustrated by David Anderson

Have You Ever Seen an Octopus with a Broom? compares human and animal tools and reveals surprising facts about how animals clean house, fish for food and even play percussion. Maybe you’ve never seen an octopus with a broom – but these animals use jets of water like a broom to sweep out leftovers after a meal, and also sweep sand and small stones out of their den to make it bigger. The Spin It! activity at the end of the book will provide hours of educational enjoyment.

 

Have You Ever Seen an Octopus with a Broom Coloring and Activity Sheets:

 

And the Winner Is …

Written by Etta Kaner
Illustrated by David Anderson

As this informational picture book by award-winning author Etta Kaner begins, sportscasters Walrus and Cockatoo are setting the stage: “Welcome to the World Animal Games — that’s WAG for short. Top athletes from habitats around the world will be competing for the gold! Exciting, isn’t it, Cockatoo?” Along with some comic relief, the pair then provide the play-by-play for the seven sporting events covered in the book. With a total of twenty-eight animals competing, each event, from high jump to weight lifting and swimming, pits a different group of four against one another. Readers are given “stats” for each competitor and are invited to guess who will win. Then they turn the page and find out who won and, importantly, why. They also learn how the winner compares, proportionally, to the best human achievement in that skill. Besides the funny, wisecracking banter between Walrus and Cockatoo, further entertainment is provided in the lively illustrations by David Anderson, as well as in the silly puns. For example, a chicken calls out, “Foul play!” while a goat exclaims, “You’ve got to be kidding!” This book will be hugely appealing to those children who love to learn facts about the strongest, highest and fastest. In the classroom, it’s a perfect introduction to science lessons on living things and their characteristics, with the interactive guessing element a great way to keep children engaged. It also works as a read-aloud during major sporting events such as the Olympics.

 

Loula and Mister the Monster

Written by: Anne Villeneuve
Illustrated by: Anne Villeneuve
Series: Loula

 

 

Series » Loula

Loula and the Sister Recipe

Written by: Anne Villeneuve
Illustrated by: Anne Villeneuve
Series: Loula

 

 

Series » Loula

Loula Is Leaving for Africa

Written by: Anne Villeneuve
Illustrated by: Anne Villeneuve
Series: Loula

Loula has had ENOUGH of her TERRIBLE triplet brothers. She’s leaving home and going to Africa! Though her quirky parents are too distracted to pay much attention to her plans, Loula has a good friend in the family chauffeur, Gilbert, who gently inquires, “Mademoiselle, may I ask, why Africa?” “Because!” Loula explains. “Africa is far away, very far away, the farthest away I can get from my MEAN, HORRIBLE, STINKY brothers. Plus they are scared of snakes. And if they come, piranhas will eat them.” “Well then,” says Gilbert, “I think Africa is the best destination.” So together, with the help of their imaginations, Loula and Gilbert travel over the sand, through the air and across the water to reach their own special island of Africa. Which, Loula happily discovers at the end of the day, is “not so far away” from home.

Award-winning Anne Villeneuve has created a lovable and memorable character in the irrepressible Loula, who enchants and inspires with her spunk and the unique way she approaches the challenges in her life. Villeneuve’s artwork, loosely drawn and painted warmly with watercolors, is both witty and charming, just like her character. This is a wonderful story about independence and adventure that also offers a heartwarming example of the important role a caring adult can play in a child’s life. It provides a terrific opportunity to discuss dealing with feelings and how to be resourceful when faced with things that are out of your control.

 

Series » Loula