5) Press Here

Children love hearing the same book over and over and overandoverandoverandover makeitstopandover again. One of the big challenges of Storytime is to find books to share with families that will not inspire parents (who are of my people (those who can use the potty on their own) - adults) to tear out their hair (gnash their teeth, claw their own hands, facepalm so hard it leaves marks, etc.). It was a joy to share this book with our crowd. It is surprising in its approach to how readers interact with the pages, and the end of book calls for clapping - lots of it!

Children have these incredible responses every time you turn the page to see what the tapping, tipping, shaking, blowing and clapping have wrought. They are utterly engaged - even the uber cynical 5 year olds are wide-eyed and standing by the end. It is a book that requires understanding of simple colors, numbers, sides and actions to enjoy thoroughly, but does so in a way that isn't overtly educational (Mercer Meyer & Lucy Cousins, I'm looking at you). 

This is one that I read every chance I get. Again. Again. Again! AGAIN!

The Original, The One That Still Gets Me

When this book found its way into my hands, I was a giddy, squealing very old child for several minutes. And then I put the book in the hands of an equally delight-able co-worker who was also instantly engaged, and so on, and so on, and so on.

Storytime was a mystery to me for the first few months I did it. It wasn't until about Easter of 2012 that I finally felt a kind of rhythm in it: in the routine of choosing books, setting up the chairs, getting activities ready, my co-worker who became my co-heart every Saturday morning and I going through the steps of the morning together - all of that took time to get right and this book really helped it along. Because it is so surprising, and at the same time its genius is readily identifiable. 

This is a book for people who want books to do things that they can see as well as feel. Thinking and talking through what worked about Press Here gave me a way to think and talk about what worked in Storytime and with those questions and answers, I was much better able to build something in that very special place that for a time was extraordinary.

Thanks, Herve.