App Review: Dino Train Jurassic Jr.

App Name: Dino Train Jurassic Jr.
Developer: PBS Kids
Cost: $1.99
Available on iOS, Amazon, Windows, Google Play
Recommended for Kindergarten - Grade 2

This app features three mathmatic games based on the PBS show Dinosaur Train. In one game kids will balance food items on a scale, learning about weight and measurment. In another, they build a bridge using logs while praciticing measurement and counting skills. In the third game, dinosaurs are sorted by sizes. The app is easy to use and fans of the show will enjoy playing with their favorite characters. Kids will gain practice with mathematical thinking, addition, measurement, sequences, and problem solving through game play.

Get Your Grill On!

Memorial Day is upon us and for many that means it's time to fire up the grill for the first time this year. May is actually National Barbecue Month since that's when it generally starts warming up outside, signaling the beginning of the grilling season. 

So, feast your eyes upon these literary prime cuts, get your grill all fired up and dig in!

The Grilling Book:
The Definitive Guide From Bon Appetit

Any Night Grilling:
60 Ways to Fire Up Dinner
(& More) Any Day of the Week

The Big-Flavor Grill: No-Marinade, No-Hassle 
Recipes for Delicious Steaks, Chicken, Ribs, 
Chops, Vegetables, Shrimp, and Fish

America's Most Wanted Recipes at the Grill: 
Recreate Your Favorite Restaurant Meals 
in Your Own Backyard

Grilled Pizza The Right Way: The Best Technique 
for Cooking Incredible Tasting Pizza & Flatbread 
on Your Barbecue - Perfectly Chewy & Crispy Crust 
Every Time

App Review: Axel Scheffler’s Flip Flap Collection

App Name: Axel Scheffler’s Flip Flap Collection
Developer: Nosy Crow
Cost: $0.99 per app
Available on iOS
Recommended for Preschool and Up

The app is based on the flip flap series of board books by Alex Scheffler. This interactive way of engaging with the books encourages multiple readings. Each combination of animal tops and bottoms comes with a silly name and a poem about the animal, perfect for caregivers or beginner readers to read aloud.There are six versions of this app, each featuring a different animal category: Dinosaurs, Ocean, Pets, Jungle, Safari, and Farm allowing for nearly endless animal combinations. The playful nature extends the ideas originally presented in print.

A Camping We Will Go...

Warmer weather is finally upon us! So, it's time to get your family in gear to take advantage of the sunny days by venturing outside. Plant that idea in their noggins by checking out some of these books about hiking, fishing, camping, etc! We even have some super fun nature science kits that you can take home to give a whirl.

Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping
By Melanie Watt

Mr. Pants: Camping Catastrophe
By: Scott McCormick

Kids Gone Campin':
The Young Camper's Guide to
 Having More Fun Outdoors
By: Cheri Winner

Hook, Line & Seeker:
A Beginner's Guide to Fishing,
Boating and Watching Water Wildlife
By: Jim Arnosky

Get Your Kids Hiking:
How to Start Them Young and
Keep it Fun
By: Jeff Alt

Roger is Going Fishing
By: Koen Van Biesen

                                                                                  

The Leave-No-Crumbs Camping Cookbook
By: Rick Greenspan

150 Best Recipes for Cooking in Foil:
Ovens, BBQ, Camping
By: Marilyn Haugen

                       

Moose Math Review

App Name: Moose Math
Developer: Duck Duck Moose
Cost: Free
Available on iOS, Android, Kindle
Recommended for Preschool - Grade 1

Children learn through play, so we like that this app introduces math concepts in fun, interactive ways. The app setting is a city and activities take place in places like a juice and smoothie shop and a pet store. Kids will enjoy the playful interface while practicing math and science concepts like counting, addition, subtraction, sorting, and geometry.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

We've all heard and probably even used this saying, right? Did you know that it originates all the way back to a poem in 1610 stating Sweet April showers/Do spring May flowers? Then a similar phrase was mentioned in an 1886 proverb: March Winds and April showers bring forth May flowers. It's kind of neat that such a well known phrase has so much history!






Even if you're not a flower grower yourself, the gorgeous pictures in these books are sure to get rid of those gloomy vibes and put you into Spring-y mood!

Handpicked : Simple, Sustainable, and Seasonal 
Flower Arrangements
By: Ingrid Carozzi

The Flower Recipe Book
By: Althea Harampolis

The Flower-Powered Garden : Supercharge Your 
Borders and Containers with Bold, Colourful 
Plant Combinations
By: Andy Vernon

The Plant Lover's Guide to Dahlias
By: Andy Vernon

App Review: The Monster at the End of This Book

App Name: The Monster at the End of This Book
Developer: Sesame Street
Cost: $4.99
Available on iOS, Android, Kindle
Recommended for Preschool - Grade 2

A kid favorite, The Monster at the End of this Book, comes to life with many interactive elements. Grover reads the story out loud with added humor and users are encouraged to move the story along towards the monster at the end of the book by untying knots, knocking down brick walls, and more!

It's Raining Cats and Dogs!

National Pet Week is May 5th - 11th, so we are featuring Tales About Tails as one of our displays. According to their website, "National Pet Week is sponsored by the Auxiliary to the American Veterinary Medical Association to foster responsible pet ownership, recognize the human-animal bond, and increase public awareness of veterinary medicine."

As part of the week long celebration, poster designing and creative writing contests were held. How fun and creative are these?!

More than a Pet

More than a Friend…

Family

You’re always waiting at the front door

To cheer me up from a long day of chores

I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have there more

More than a Pet

You seem to always know how to make me smile

Even when I haven’t been paying attention to you for a while

Always going the extra mile

More than a Friend

You’re always there when I get depressed, lonely or scared

You’ve always shown me you ultimately cared

To anyone you could never be compared

Family

 – Brenda Irvin of Baton Rouge, Louisiana

If you have a child in Kindergarten - 12th Grade, they can enter next year's contests by visiting https://www.avmaaux.org/national-pet-week/contests/.

In the meantime, grab a book, movie or audio book to get your warm and fuzzy fix!
Here are some purrrrfect suggestions:

Dewey : The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World  
By Vicki Myron

Marley & Me : Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog By John Grogan

The World According to Bob : The Further Adventures of One Man and His Streetwise Cat By James Bowen

A Dog's Way Home By W. Bruce Cameron

The Secret Life of Pets

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

My Dog Skip

Must Love Dogs

The Aristocats

App Review: Breathe, Think Do

App Name: Breathe, Think, Do
Developer: Sesame Street
Cost: Free
Available on iOS and Android
Recommended for Kindergarten - Grade 2

In Breathe, Think, Do kids encounter every day frustrations, like tying shoes, taking turns, or more.  Mando, the Sesame Street character, teaches strategies to cope with challenges and help kids to breathe and calm down. It's a simple app, with only 5 scenarios, but it's a good one to return to time and again.

App Review: Toca Tailor Fairy Tales

App Name: Toca Tailor Fairy Tales
Developer: Toca Boca
Cost: Free
Available on iOS
Recommended for Preschool and up

Children will design outfits for a variety of fairy tale characters. Traditional fairy tale characters and images are included, which will build children's familiarity with these common story elements. The focus of the app is on creative and imaginative play.

This app is very easy to navigate, making it fun for young children. There are no scores or competition, so the open ended play allows for children to explore at their own pace and developmental level. It also provides opportunities for social play between children or child and caregiver.