TITLE: Uncles and Antlers
AUTHOR: Lisa Wheeler
ILLUSTRATOR: Brian Floca
PUBLICATION INFO: Simon and Schuster’s Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2004
ISBN: 978-0689864698
SOURCE: Library
INTENDED AUDIENCE: ages 3-6
GENRE: picture book (fiction)
OPENING and SYNOPSIS:
“Seven uncles, every year,
seven uncles travel here —
shaggy coats , scarves of red,
two tall antlers on each head.”
Join seven wacky reindeer uncles and their favorite niece in this adorable Christmas counting book. Whatever could those reindeer be up to?
THEMES/TOPICS: counting, Christmas, holidays
WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK: I happened upon this book at our local library while stocking up for our advent book basket. Brian Floca is one of my favorite nonfiction author/illustrators, and Lisa Wheeler is a perennial favorite (DINO HOCKEY, anyone?). This book is a fun way to work a little counting practice into the Christmas season.
RESOURCES/ACTIVITIES:
- Lisa Wheeler offers a link to reindeer crafts on her site.
- Older children might enjoy learning more about reindeer in this reindeer investigation.
- Have you tried making some reindeer food for Christmas Eve?
- How about singing “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer?”
Every Friday bloggers review “Perfect Picture Books.” Find a complete list of book reviews organized by topic, genre and blogger at author Susanna Leonard Hill’s site.
Kirsten W. Larson 