Bedtime Stories

Another church night, another "Mommy gets to read bed time stories for the kids." And another HUGE HIT in the picture book department.

This time it's -- How to Train with a T-Rex and Win Eight Gold Medals by Michael Phelps and Alan Abrahamson.

From School Library Journal: Grade 1–4—A champion at the 2008 Beijing Olympics explains the training schedule that allowed him to accomplish the first-of-its-kind feat of winning eight Olympic gold medals. Comparisons are made that put miles swum, naps taken, calories eaten, weights lifted, etc., into a context that youngsters might more easily understand. For example, his six years of training (from 1998 to 2003) are described as "a kindergartner's whole life!" or "the same as 42 dog years!" Digitally rendered artwork humorously depicts the action, making the book visually appealing. Providing an overview of an Olympian's rigorous preparations, this picture book may be useful for parents or coaches attempting to inspire children.—Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI

I picked this up primarily because my 4 year old is OBSESSED with dinosaurs. We have dinosaur everything in our house at the moment. He even compares his bodily functions to dinosaurs, "Mom, I think I have a dinosaur poop!" OK, too much information, but you get the point.

Needless to say, Michael Phelp's book is less about dinosaurs and more about the hours, months and years he put into training for the 2008 Olympics. It's really a mathematical book too -- likening how many miles he swam to how many trips it would take to go back and forth from his home town to the North Pole. He does work dinosaurs into it though -- that over his training he basically leg pressed the equivalent of 1 T-Rex and 10 Velociraptors. That's amazing stuff!!

This is a highly creative and clever book.