Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Picture Book Wednesday: Over at the Castle, by Boni Ashburn, illustrated by Kelly Murphy




Cute, cute, cute! We just got this one, and cannot keep it on the shelves. Murphy is one of our new favorite artists, from the dragons we loved in Hush, Little Dragon to the prisoner in the dungeon (but not for long)and his sweet little mice. This rollicking version of "Over in the Meadow" sometimes trips the tongue a bit, but that challenge can be part of the fun of reading it. Some words may be new to children ("sous chefs"), but are quite clear in context. Little ones will delight in guessing what the little dragon is so impatiently waiting for, and we think will be happy with the answer.
 
So many extension possibilities! Check out other versions of "Over in the Meadow" or make up your own ("Over in the ______ house..."). Use this as a springboard for a study of the middle ages. Learn to weave like the seven, or figure out what you can saute (or if you're feeling brave, flambe), like the six. Read other tongue twister books like Piggy in a Puddle, or Bubble Trouble. Or, just read this one over and over and over, while checkingout all the details in the pictures. We give it a
 
5 out of 5.

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