C’s Bookshelf: Tuck Me In and Green Eggs & Ham (Contest Opportunity)

We’ve been pretty busy reading over here. I’ve made it through the first nine Sookie Stackhouse books and am eagerly awaiting the final one to be available at the library. I also just read a book by a woman who escaped a polygamist compound which was a shocking counterpoint to all the forced cheerfulness on Sister Wives which is my new tv obsession. Anyone else? Don’t you think at least one of those women seems clinically depressed and in need of Prozac or at least a margarita and some Ben and Jerry’s?

C has been reading up a storm to thanks to some very nice authors and publishers who have generously supplied books for me to read to him. The first new book we’ve gotten is Tuck Me In by Dean Hacohen and Sherry Scharschmidt. This book redefines adorable. It asks “Who wants to be tucked in?” and a bunch of darling baby animals ask for a tuck in. The pages are beautifully illustrated “blankets” that a child can use to tuck in the Baby Pig, Baby Hedgehog and all the other furry and scaly friends. It builds on classic pattern recognition so that kids can get a feel for it and easily become part of the process of reading it. C loves it so much that he wants t tuck his animal buddies in first thing in the morning. It’s a great addition to the bedtime routine, specially since it ends with tucking in the child.

The other book that has recently come across our path is a classic: Green Eggs and Ham. I was excited to add this to the collection because, frankly, I do not like green eggs and ham myself and it’s nice to have that validated by the unnamed protagonist. It is disappointing at the end when he turns traitor and caves to Sam I Am and decides he likes green eggs and ham. Stick to you principals, I say! Avoid green eggs and ham whoever you am…er..are!

Quick story: Last night my 2-year-old nephew was reading Green Eggs and Ham with my sister. He leaned down toward the book and yelled “He doesn’t wanna eat it!”

Green Eggs and Ham is having a special 50th anniversary celebration which came a surprise to me. Since it was a childhood favorite of mine, I assumed it had been written around the time of my birth specifically for me (because it’s all about me)  so I had no idea that kids had been enjoying this book for so long. In celebration of this milestone, Random House is running a contest for kids. Have you kids act out a scene for Green Eggs and Ham and they could win all kinds of amazing stuff including $2,000 cash, a year’s supply of ham, Limited Edition Dr. Seuss art worth over $9,000 in total and much more. (Side note: how much ham is a year’s supply?)

Disclaimer: I received free copies of Tuck me In from Candlewick Press and Green Eggs and Ham from Random House. I received copies for my personal use and additional copies to be given away at my discretion. The publishers are aware that I have elected to donate the additional copies to Dr. Bear’s Closet at Children’s National Medical Center. I think you’ll agree that those kids need a book more than readers of my blog need a giveaway.