PPBF: Shake the Tree!

Authors/Illustrator: Chiara Vignocchi, Paolo Chiarinotti, and Silvia Borando
Publisher: Candlewick, 2018; Orig. by minibombo, Italy, 2015; Engl. translation, Walker Books 2018
Age: 2-7
Themes: trees, animals, nuts
Opening: Mouse spots a nut. “Mmm,” she says. “I’m going to gobble that up!”

Summary: (from my library’s catalog) After shaking a tree to retrieve a tasty looking nut, mouse is suprised when something else falls out of the tree.

I like this book because: I took a crazy chance and read it to my storytime gang without having read the whole book ahead of time. Why? I don’t know. You’d think I would have learned my lesson from a couple of derailing blunders! But I am so happy I did! There is a special level of excitement and energy to be had when you discover a good book together. The story is as simple as the illustrations, and so easy for each child to grasp: those not yet completing full sentences and those reading the words along with me. I won’t spoil the fun with too many images or any more details. Please find this and share it with a child you love!

Resources/Activities: play Topfschlagen, a game I learned at parties when we lived in Germany, where a blindfolded player must tap with a wooden spoon to find an upside-down pot with a reward (a nut!). The other children can help out by giving hot/cold clues for direction. I only asked the youngest to close their eyes, and of course they did not, but we had such fun anyway!

For more Perfect Picture Book Friday picks with teacher/parent resources, check out the list on Susanna Hill’s blog HERE.