Just Another Morning
Written by Linda Ashman
Illustrated by Claudio Muñoz
Harper Collins Publishers, 2004
Suitable for: Ages 4 and up
Theme/Topic: Adventure, Family, Rhyming Picture Book
Opening:
The day begins as many do:
I find myself inside a zoo.
I’m cornered by a savage ape —
I growl and make a quick escape.
Brief Synopsis: From the book summary — A little boy imagines that the everyday objects around him are fantastic creatures as he goes about his day.
Link to Resources: Read Write Think offers a Choose Your Own Adventure writing experience. Crayola shows kids how to make a hand-crafted journal for a Passport to Adventure. For discussion, parents could ask their children to talk about items that seem like fantastic creatures in their own home.
Why I chose this book: Linda Ashman sent this book to my son last fall when we won her Twelve Days of Christmas in Colorado book (Thanks again Julie). She wrote to Enzo — “Here’s hoping every day is a new adventure!” As he turns 2 on Saturday, I can say that every day is an adventure. And, I often wonder, if he thinks like the little boy in this book.
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| Enzo using a Crayola stylus to color on the iPad. |
catherinemjohnson.wordpress.com
Awh Happy Birthday to Enzo for tomorrow, how cute!
I love the sound of the book. My kids are always pretending things are other things. Yesterday Hannah was playing with shoe laces and calling them snakes!
Stacy S. Jensen
Catherine, I should have also added that’s a brilliant, “why didn’t I think of that” book. As those are often my favorite to read.
Maeve Frazier
Happy Birthday to Enzo! What a beautiful little boy! Hope he has a great day. Love the review. This looks like a great book for my grandson.
Stacy S. Jensen
Maeve, I think it would be. It appears nw and used copies are available at good prices.
Mike Allegra
Sounds like the perfect read for my imaginative little guy!
I really like your blog, by the way. So glad I found it!
Mike
http://www.mikeallegra.com
Stacy S. Jensen
Mike, I’m sure you little guy would like it. Thanks for stopping by.
Jennifer Lee Young
I love the excerpt Stacy – what fun rhyming! The passport craft is great!! Thanks for sharing with us 🙂
Stacy S. Jensen
Jennifer, If you ever want to study a great rhymer, Linda Ashman is your author!
Beth Stilborn
As I scrolled down and saw the cover, I was hooked. The little guy in his top hat, and the hula hoops, just got me!
I love books about imagination. Catherine’s mention of Hannah’s shoelaces being snakes reminded me of how many times I played “snakes” with two of Mum’s necklaces on the chenille bedspread on my parents’ bed.
Happy birthday to Enzo! It’s such a delight to watch him growing up.
Stacy S. Jensen
Beth, Yes. It’s a fun one. It’s a great reminder of how everyday things can be fun, exciting and different.
Susanna Leonard Hill
Happy Birthday to your little man 🙂 Such a cutie. And thanks for sharing this book – it looks like lots of fun and very creatively inspiring 🙂
Stacy S. Jensen
Susanna, Thanks. It is a fun book for readers and writers.
Julie Hedlund
A Linda Ashman book I don’t own??? The Horror! Must rectify that immediately. 🙂
Stacy S. Jensen
Julie — WHAT! It’s really a perfect one for Enzo’s age.
Cathy Mealey
“FUTURE EVIL GENIUS”
How marvelous! Did you buy him that shirt or was it a gift? ;-D
Stacy S. Jensen
Cathy, Bro-in-law works at MIT and it’s an MIT T-shirt/gift.
Kirsten Larson
Children have such wonderful imaginations. I could just sit and listen to them for hours (when they aren’t fighting).
Stacy S. Jensen
Kirsten, I did that this afternoon with Enzo. He was supposed to be napping. It was fun to watch him play with his books and listen.
clarbojahn
Love pretend games and pretending things are different than they are. Thanks for the photo of Enzo. He couldn’t be sweeter. (well for you, that may be when he’s asleep. lol ) 🙂
Stacy S. Jensen
Clar, Stories about pretending are fun. He’s sweet 99 percent of the time awake too.
Patricia T.
Happy Birthday Enzo. What a lovely book with an important and straight forward message. Love the imagination! Thanks for sharing.
Stacy S. Jensen
Patricia, It’s a good one, especially the rhyme.
Vivian Kirkfield
Thank you for sharing the precious picture of Enzo! This is a wonderful book for encouraging children to think creatively…I absolutely love it. Thank you also for the resources…they look great!
Stacy S. Jensen
Thanks Vivian.
This Kid Reviews Books
Happy Birthday Enzo! 🙂
This book looks pretty interesting! I like the cover art! The story sounds like it has a good idea to it!
Erik
Catherine Noble
Aww! Happy Birthday, Enzo! What a cutie 🙂
Julie Rowan-Zoch
Happy Birthday Enzo (Germahns haf to wait til ze ektual birsssday!) I love Claudio Munoz’s illustrations! Good pick!
Loni Edwards
Happy Birthday Enzo! Love the message of the book! Thanks for the review Stacy. That Crayola Stylus looks cool!
Heather
Happy Birthday to Enzo! Kids have the most amazing imaginations and this book sounds like a wonderful celebration of that talent.
Susanne Drazic
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Enzo! Hope he had a fun day.
kathrynmagendie
Happy Birthday to your little sweetie . . . *smiling*
And I’m always on the look-out for books for my 2 year old granddaughter and for GMR’s 3 year old grandson!
Penny Klostermann
Hope the birthday was especially happy…what a cutie.
Love the book cover and the fact that the book is about imaginings. I absolutely love this type of book, and I didn’t know about this one. Thanks for he review.