July – BUGS!

July 3-4: NO CLASS

July 10-11: "Bug on the Rug" by Sophia Gholz

Pug is snug on his rug. But what happens when along comes BUG?! With a claim to the rug?! The two engage in a hysterical, rhyming battle of wits and strength until Slug asks the necessary questions and helps them find common ground. Rhyming is an important developmental reading skill. It teaches phonics (decodable text) and helps young readers infer content. This is a fun story to build those skills--and is an epic read aloud!

July 17-18: NO CLASS

July 24-25: "Hank’s Big Day: The Story of a Bug" by Evan Kuhlman

Perfect for reading aloud, this spare, charming picture book about a day in the life of a pill bug in suburbia is also about an unusual friendship.

Hank is a pill bug with a busy life—for a pill bug, that is. His daily routine involves nibbling a dead leaf, climbing up a long stick, avoiding a skateboarder, and playing pretend with his best friend, a human girl named Amelia, in her backyard. And when day is done, Hank likes nothing better than returning home to his cozy rock.

July 31-August 1: I’m Trying to Love Spiders by Bethany Barton

What do you do when you see a spider?

a. Lay on a BIG spidey smoocheroo.

b. Smile, but back away slowly.

c. Grab the closest object, wind up, and let it fly.

d. Run away screaming.
If you chose b, c, or d, then this book is for you! (If you chose a, you might be crazy.)

August – In the Woods

August 7-8: "Acorn Was a Little Wild" by Jen Arena

Jory John’s Bad Seed series meets After the Fall by Dan Santat in this charming picture book about a young acorn’s grand adventure and the incredible transformation that follows.

Acorn is a little wild, and from his oak tree perch, he longs for adventure. When he’s the first of his friends to jump off the oak tree, he’s on his way into the wide world, full of new experiences that fill his little heart with excitement!

But when a squirrel buries Acorn deep underground, the thrill-seeking Acorn finds himself forced to stay still, in the darkness, for a long time. To turn this biggest setback into a wild adventure, Acorn may have to change from the inside out.

August 14-15: "The Busy Tree" by Jennifer Ward

Spectacular illustrations rendered in oil paint, and a rhyming text that describes a tree’s activities from its roots to its branches, introduce young readers to the amazing activities that go on in a tree. Acorns nibbled by chipmunks, ants scurrying across a trunk, a spider spinning a web, leaves “breathing out air for all to breathe in”—everything adds up to a “busy tree” for all to “come and see.”

August 21-22: "Night Animals" by Gianna Marino

Something’s out there in the dark!

First Possum hears it. Then Skunk. Then Wolf comes running.

“What could it possibly be?” asks Bat.

“Night Animals!” the animals declare.

“But you are night animals,” Bat informs this not-so-smart crew.

Children will love the oh-so-funny animals in this twist on a cozy bedtime book.

August 28-29: "Bear Came Along" by Richard T. Morris

A cheerful and action-packed adventure about the importance of friendship and community from a successful author and illustrator duo!

Once there was a river flowing through a forest. The river didn't know it was capable of adventures until a big bear came along. But adventures aren't any fun by yourself, and so enters Froggy, Turtles, Beaver, Racoons, and Duck.

These very different animals take off downstream, but they didn't know they needed one another until thankfully, the river came along.

This hilarious picture book and heartfelt message celebrates the joy and fun that's in store when you embark together on a ride of a lifetime.

A Caldecott Honor Book!

September - Mythical Creatures

September 4-5: NO CLASS

September 11-12: "Not Your Typical Dragon" by Dan Bar-el

Everybody knows your typical dragon breathes fire. But when Crispin tries to breathe fire on his seventh birthday, fire doesn't come out—only whipped cream! Each time Crispin tries to breathe fire, he ends up with:

Band-Aids; marshmallows; teddy bears?

Crispin wonders if he’ll ever find his inner fire. But when a family emergency breaks out, it takes a little dragon with not-so-typical abilities to save the day.

With wry humor and whimsical illustrations, Not Your Typical Dragon is the perfect story for any child who can't help feeling a little bit different.

September 18-19: "Goodnight Unicorn: A Magical Parody" by Karla Oceanak

A magical unicorn book for anyone head-over-hooves for unicorns, unicorn horses, or little ponies!

As night falls in the enchanted forest, the unicorns and their friends gather to get ready for bed. Say goodnight to all the types of unicorns the pearly-whites, the foals, the oldens, the fluffies, the jet-blacks, the cuties, and even a unicorn baby as well as the wonderful beings who attend them, from rainbows and fairies to baby dragons and, of course, the full moon.

Readers who've always wondered about unicorn habits, unicorn food, what a group of unicorns is called, and other unicorn facts will also be captivated by the fun unicorn facts that follow the story.

It's a magical, fantasy bedtime story for unicorn lovers young and young-at-heart! Grown-up fans of My Little Pony, The Last Unicorn, and Lisa Frank will treasure this book just as much as the new generation of unicornophiles!

September 25-26: "Dear Yeti" by James Kwan

A sweet and whimsical story of a perfect kid-sized winter adventure, Dear Yeti is the debut picture book of an author/illustrator to watch.

Two young hikers set out to look for Yeti one day, and with the help of a bird friend, they trek further and further into the woods, sending letters to coax the shy creature out of hiding. But as their trip goes on, the hikers find that they have not prepared very well, and though their morale is high, food supplies are low, the forest is getting darker, and a snowstorm looms. Luckily Yeti is a friend they can rely on, and though he's not ready to come out of hiding, he sneakily finds a way to get the hikers exactly what they need when they need it.

A new theme is presented each month, and each class is built around a children’s book. Mini Masters is an engaging program for young learners (ages 2 to 7) offered every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. and every Thursday at 3:30 p.m., year round, unless otherwise noted.

For more information on Mini Masters, click here.