Kid's Book Blog

Big Brothers Don't Take Naps By Louise Borden

2012-01-03T17:59:00.000-06:00

Nicholas looks up to his big brother, James. James does all kinds of things that only older brothers can do—like write his name, read books, cross the street, and ride the school bus. But there’s one thing James doesn’t do: take a nap. Because big brothers don’t take naps. James assures Nicholas that someday he’ll be able to do all the things James does. And when the brothers begin to share a very special secret, it looks like that special day may be approaching very soon….

What is Your Dog Doing? By Marilyn Singer

2012-01-02T15:56:00.000-06:00

This colorful, young read-aloud about all things canine is doggone fun. Woof! Sit. Stay. Roll Over. Sure, those are the classics—but dogs can do so much more! Sledding. Shedding. Inspecting. Protecting. Paddling laps. Dancing? Perhaps! Be it a working dog or a playing dog, man’s best friend can be pretty darn busy. This energetic, rhyming text paired with vibrant, playful illustrations is sure to get dog lovers everywhere eager to teach their old dogs some new tricks.

You: a Story of Love and Friensdhip By Stephen Michael King

2012-01-02T15:50:00.000-06:00

The world is a fun and colourful place, filled with sharing and excitement, ups and downs, and everything in between. But my favourite thing in the world is...you! This comforting tale is the perfect gift to remind every child just how special they are.

Pirate Nap By Danna Smith

2012-01-02T15:45:00.000-06:00

What better place for naptime than a grand pirate ship on the high seas!

Two boys use their imaginations to turn everyday objects, from a white bandanna to yellow coins to a red blanket, into colorful pirate treasure as they prepare for naptime. With a bouncy rhymed text and fun illustrations, this charming book teaches little ones their colors while making a great read-aloud. Even the youngest readers and listeners will want to be a part of the fun as they get ready to sail off to sleep!

Adorable read for the child pirate lover in the family.. also a fun read for naptime or bedtime! Perfect interactive story with all the colors for the kids to find!

Dear Hot Dog By Mordicai Gerstein

2012-01-02T15:38:00.000-06:00

Whether it’s slurping up spaghetti or catching some sun at the beach, the everyday wonders celebrated in this collection of poems will appeal to young readers.
Cleverly crafted by Mordicai Gerstein, Dear Hot Dog follows three friends from the time they wake up and brush their teeth to when they snuggle up for bed with their favorite stuffed animal. In between playing outside, making crafts, eating their favorite treats, and reading, together they delight in the adventure and magic that each day brings. Gerstein’s vibrant illustrations and lighthearted verse make Dear Hot Dog a great introduction to poetry for young readers.

fun poems about some everyday things!

Who Has These Feet? By Laura Hulbert

2012-01-02T15:29:00.000-06:00

In a lively guessing game format, find out why the feet of tree frogs, and those of eight other animals, are perfectly adapted to their habitats. Illustrated with brightly detailed paintings, this simple, informative text will have children looking at feet in a whole new way.

The prefect guessing story about guessing animal feet! a very simple text story for great animal lovers!

Bun Bun Button By Patricia Polacco

2012-01-02T15:21:00.000-06:00

Paige loves cuddling with Gramma and all of Gramma's pets in the Old Blue Chair. And when Gramma makes her Bun Bun Button, an adorable homemade stuffed bunny with a button nose, this special time becomes even more cozy. Then a balloon carries the little bunny away. Bun Bun braves honking geese and a wide night sky, until luck - or love - magically brings her back home to the little girl who loves her.

This heartwarming story celebrates the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren, and is perfect for children who imagine their toys have secret adventures when no one's watching.

Adorable story about a little girl named Paige, Bun Bun Button, her stuffed yellow bunny and her gramma!

A fun read with such a touching ending!

A is for Autumn By Robert Maass

2011-11-10T12:23:00.000-06:00

Beautiful addition to our Alphabet books! Gorgeous photography for each letter of the alphabet! perfect read aloud during the fall or anytime of year!

Partake in the wonders of the fall through rich images of nature, family, and friends. Perfect for preschoolers, this alphabet book features the special and often magical moments of the season—complete with apples, leaves, frost and more.

Froggy Builds A Tree House By Johnathan London

2011-11-10T12:16:00.000-06:00

When Froggy and his pals decide to build a tree house (with lots of help from Dad), their plans don't include inviting Frogilina to hang out there for pizza parties. "Boys only!" says Froggy. But things don't go as planned for lovable but trouble-prone Froggy, and in the end, it's Frogilina who saves the day-and the pizza!

Adorable! another fun addition to the Froggy series!Perfect read aloud for fun with dad!

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site By Sherry Duskey Rinker

2011-10-24T15:37:00.000-05:00

As the sun sets behind the big construction site, all the hardworking trucks get ready to say goodnight. One by one, Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, Dump Truck, Bulldozer, and Excavator finish their work and lie down to rest—so they'll be ready for another day of rough and tough construction play! With irresistible artwork by best-selling illustrator Tom Lichtenheld and sweet, rhyming text, this book will have truck lovers of all ages begging for more.

a cute and vibrantly illustrated story all about construction vehicles getting ready to end their day and sleep!

Trick or Treat, Marley By John Grogan

2011-10-21T14:38:00.000-05:00

adorable illustrations! a fun and silly dog story about Marley one of our favorite four legged friends!

It’s Halloween, the silliest and spookiest night of the year. And when Marley’s around, it’s also the messiest! This year the family is throwing a big Halloween party, and Marley wants to help with the preparations. But in typical Marley fashion, instead of helping he causes havoc. He gets his head stuck in a pumpkin, turns the streamers into confetti, eats all of the Halloween candy, and that’s just the beginning!

Baby Ruby Bawled By Malaika Rose Stanley

2011-10-21T14:19:00.000-05:00

Baby Ruby won't stop crying. Dad gives her a bath, Mom gives her a feed, Nanna takes her for a drive, and Grandad walks her around the garden, but Ruby won't stop crying. At last her brother Theo has a try and sings her a special song he makes up. Theo is so tired out by all of this that he falls asleep, and so does Ruby. A warm family story about a baby that won't stop crying and an older brother who saves the day.

Haunted House, Haunted Mouse By Judy Cox

2011-10-20T10:00:00.000-05:00

Mouse's ravenous appetite has gotten him into trouble again! On a dark and spooky night, he hitches a ride in a trick-or-treat sack, hoping to get some Halloween candy for himself, but where is Mouse being taken? After taking a tumble and getting caught in the rain, Mouse finds shelter but he's alone and in a creaky old house. He hears a rattle. A skeleton? He sees a shape float by. A ghost? But brave Mouse is not afraid. "Boo!" he cries. The house is not so scary after all. Lucky for Mouse, a trail of candy guides him safely home to his hidey-hole.

fun illustrations add depth to this cute little story of a mouse's halloween adventure!

Llama Llama home with Mama By Anna Dewdney

2011-10-19T15:56:00.000-05:00

Llama Llama is feeling crummy, sneezing, achy, head all stuffy. No school today for Llama, he’s sick at home in his red pajamas. As the day wears on and Llama starts feeling better, boredom sets in--along with Mama Llama’s coughs and sneezes. Llama Llama knows just what to do, bringing Mama tissues, a fluffy pillow, and books to read. Anna Dewdney’s latest is a welcome addition to her bestselling Llama Llama picture book repertoire, perfectly capturing the challenges of a little one home sick from school and the big dose of love that makes the best medicine.

Adorable story with perfect illustrations! the perfect sick day read aloud- snuggle up with a blanket and read this fun little story about a LLama and his mama!

The Babies On The Bus By Karen Katz

2011-10-19T15:44:00.000-05:00

The babies on the bus sing
LA-LA-LA!
LA-LA-LA!
LA-LA-LA!

Jump on the bus with Karen Katz’s adorable babies as they take a classic song for an all-new ride!

This irresistible picture book by the popular author of The Colors of Us, Counting Kisses, and Where Is Baby’s Belly Button? will steal your heart!

An adorable and playful book a modified version of the classic song "The Wheels on the Bus" simple words and repeated text will have your little ones singing along as you share the story together!

Perfect Square By Michael Hall

2011-10-19T15:30:00.000-05:00

A perfect square is transformed in this adventure story that will transport you far beyond the four equal sides of this square book.

New Red Bike By James E. Ransome

2011-10-19T12:46:00.000-05:00

This deceptively simple-seeming picture book offers a clever take on sharing.

Up and down! Round and round! Tom is having a blast zooming all over the neighborhood on his new red bike. But when Tom stops by Sam's house to show off his wheels, he's in for an unhappy surprise. The new bike is suddenly . . . gone. Could his best friend Sam be the culprit?"

A simple story about friendship, a new bike and sharing! A perfect preschool read aloud or a special book for the child who loves bikes!

Chocolate Me By Taye Diggs

2011-10-19T12:39:00.000-05:00

"Actor Diggs, making his children's book debut, gives an unvarnished take on the emotional impact of taunting that cuts to the core of one's identity… Evans makes the hero's journey to confidence irresistible, with bighearted, stylized pictures that draw on the emotionally exuberant vocabulary of street art and anime.” --Publishers Weekly

A simple story to explain to kids about ethnic differences and how special each child is in their own special way!

One Foot Two Feet By Peter Maloney

2011-10-19T12:31:00.000-05:00

In this clever counting book, die-cut windows frame a single object and a turn of the page reveals a group. Featuring familiar objects and funny artwork, this inventive concept book is a great introduction to both counting and common irregular plural nouns.

Fun, colorful illustrations and cute set up for this counting book with its die-cut windows! pefect for a simple lesson on counting or an early learner that is practicing counting!

Stella is a Star! By Bernadette Peters

2011-05-04T11:44:00.000-05:00

Kindergarten-Grade 2—Stella is a lonely pit bull who uses a crown and fake tail to masquerade as a pig princess in order to join a dance class and meet friends. Her classmates are skeptical about her porcine roots but are interrupted by elegant Madame Cochon, who drills the youngsters and Stella for an important recital. Stella's initial clumsiness disappears with her faithful practice of pirouettes, pliÃ©s, and jetÃ©s. When the show's star is injured, Madame selects her to perform the famous "32 perfect turns." Despite dreading the necessity of removing the crown she believes hides her identity, Stella is a grand success on stage, and she learns that everyone knew all along she was neither a princess nor a pig. The final page has lyrics for a "follow your dream" song. Peters reads the story and sings the song on the accompanying CD. Murphy's paintings with collage provide all the ideals of ballet, from frothy tutus to embroidered bodices, and her animals' expressions are priceless.

beautiful illustrations and a fun and creative story all about a little dog who is a ballerina!

The Sleep Sheep By Anna Quinn

2011-05-04T11:33:00.000-05:00

PreSchool-Grade 2 Sylvie is the kind of child whose mind never stops. She demands stories, and water, and drives her mother to distraction in order to avoid bedtime. When her mother suggests she count sheep, Sylvia gives it a try, but they won't stay still. They dance, swim, and rollerblade, making it impossible for her to get a tally. It isn't until the herd pretends to sleep that the child can successfully count them and drift off herself. The cartoon pen-and-ink drawings paint vivid scenes of Sylvie's imagination and are flush with fun details. Readers will linger over each page, looking for Sylvie's pink stuffed elephant throughout the story or the sheep in the cowboy hat with bucked teeth. A counting tale sandwiched in the middle of a bedtime story, The Sleep Sheep moves along at a rapid clip and with enough humor to be a successful read-aloud.

an adorable story about a little girl who can't sleep and her mother suggests for her to count sheep! But, the sheep will not exactly cooperate and stay still for her! a fun bedtime read aloud!

Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party By Melanie Watt

2011-03-28T15:39:00.000-05:00

In the fifth book, Scaredy Squirrel plans his own birthday and surprise!... things get very crowded. Scaredy Squirrel is planning his own birthday party for one ? but despite his detailed plans, things get out of control when the party animals arrive. He's back! Scaredy Squirrel, the loveable worrywart, returns for another nutty adventure. Scaredy never plans big birthday parties. He'd rather celebrate alone quietly in the safety of his nut tree and avoid those pesky party animals (ants, clownfish, ponies and Bigfoot). When all his excessive plans are thrown up in the air like confetti, will Scaredy play dead and cancel? Or will he face the music?

adorable illustrations and another fun addition to the scaredy squirrel series!

I Broke My Trunk By Mo Willems

2011-03-28T14:24:00.000-05:00

Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.

Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.

Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.
Gerald and Piggie are best friends.
In I Broke My Trunk! Gerald tells Piggie the long, crazy story about breaking his trunk. Will Piggie end up with a long, crazy story of her own?

another funny addition to the piggie and elephant series from mo willems! cartoon like illustrations with simple text are the perfect combination for an early reader!

Itsy Bitsy Babies By Margaret Wild

2011-03-28T14:18:00.000-05:00

PreS–This sweet book is worthy of its well-loved creators. The rhyming, rhythmic verses are clear and playful, and the familiar goings-on will inspire youngsters to mimic the children they see on the pages. “These itsy-bitsy babies play peek-a-boo./Those itsy-bitsy babies like to shampoo..../These itsy-bitsy babies eat toast and eggs./Those itsy-bitsy babies look through their legs.” Colorful backdrops fade under the text, making the words easy to read. Pastel illustrations show cheerful babies–and a few toddlers–from a variety of backgrounds. This title will work well as a read-aloud one-on-one and in groups

Adorable story of what babies love to do! cute illustrations make this an interactive story for baby to explore the pictures with their moms or dads.

Mac and Cheese By Sarah Weeks

2011-03-28T14:10:00.000-05:00

K-Gr 1–Macaroni and Cheese may be best friends, but the two street cats couldn't be more different in their likes and dislikes. A day in his paw prints reveals that Macaroni will eat anything and simply loves "bouncing, pouncing, flipping." Puzzled, he levels with his friend–"I like to flip and skip and sing, but Cheese, you don't like anything." Quiet and fastidious Cheese truthfully replies, "The only thing I like to do is sit here quietly with you." As an errant gust of wind steals Mac's very blue and very flat hat, Cheese proves he's more than a do-nothing grump in order to get it back. This book is a Level 1 addition to the series. Correspondingly, the simple sentences with ample white space suit the brief snippets of rhyming dialogue between the two characters, and brightly colored watercolor illustrations of the feline alley friends reveal expressions ranging from Mac's sheer glee to Cheese's exasperated disgust. Simplicity of text, action illustrated to lead readers in turning the page, and a satisfying conclusion makes this easy reader a solid selection for all libraries.

Two cats who are friends but like opposite things! Funny story about two feline friends who love lots of things but, one just likes to be quiet and sit next to the other! A cute read for cat lover's with simple words for early readers!

Fancy Nancy Aspiring Artist By Jane O'Connor

2011-03-25T16:54:00.000-05:00

Portraits: Fancy.

Collages: TrÈs fancy.

Splatter paintings: TrÈs, trÈs fancy!
It's spring vacation, and Nancy is feeling glum because her best friend, Bree, is out of town. Luckily, it's Nancy's mom to the rescue! When she brings home a brand-new set of glitter markers, Nancy puts her trademark flair to trÈs creative use and devotes herself to becoming a serious artist (or artiste, as the French say). After all, everything about being an artist is fancy, fancy, fancy—especially when inspiration strikes!

Another funny addition to the Fancy Nancy Series all about being an aspiring artist! Throughtout the book some of the famous artists are mentioned like Henri Matisse, Edgar Degas, and even Claude Monet!
A fun read and a cute vocabulary lesson all at the same time!

Lola at the Library By Anna McQuinn

2011-03-25T16:16:00.000-05:00

Synopsis:
Lola has a big smile on her face. Why? Because it's Tuesday -- and on Tuesdays, Lola and her mommy go to the library. Join Lola in this cozy celebration of books and the people who love them.

Adorable little Lola will just warm your heart! What a fun and simple story all abour Tuesdays and library day with Lola and her mommy!

Story County Here We Come By Derek Anderson

2011-03-25T16:11:00.000-05:00

An adorable and silly new farm series with an utterly lovable cast-from New York Times bestselling illustrator Derek Anderson!

Welcome to Story County!

More than anything, Farmer wants a farm. His friends Dog, Pig, Chicken, and Miss Cow are eager to help. Together they build the barn, spread the fields, plant the crops, and more until voilà!-the farm is complete. Or is it?

Silliness abounds as Derek Anderson takes readers from white page to colorful farm in this charming tale of friendship (and teamwork) as five friends come together to create Story County-a special new home for young readers where anything can happen.

Colorfully illustrated story involving colors, tools, building a fun group of farm animals all working together to build a new farm in Story County.

Hide and Squeak By Heather Vogel Frederick

2011-03-24T14:43:00.000-05:00

It's time for bed, but the little Mouse Baby has no intentions of calling it a night. He hides in the garden, hides in the kitchen, hides his little whiskers anywhere he can. Anything to keep from going to bed. But daddy is right behind him —"Mousebaby mousebaby, where can you be?"— trying to get this little scamp all tucked in and ready to sleep..
Who will win at this adorable game of hide and squeak? Only time will tail...tell.

a fun mouse story all about bedtime! just like the fun game of hide and seek its a mouse game of hide and squeak before bedtime!

Ducks Go Vroom By Jane Kohuth

2011-03-24T14:32:00.000-05:00

Simple, funny action words and onomatopoeia describe three silly ducks' rather impolite visit to their Auntie Goose's house. This rollicking, tongue-twisting, rhyming story of three enthusiastic houseguests, paired with the lively artwork of illustrator Viviana Garofoli, is sure to be a speedy favorite of beginning readers everywhere
Step 1 (Ready to Read) is for children who know the alphabet and are ready to read. Step 1 titles have big type and easy words, rhyme and rhythm, and picture clues.

Adorably illustrated simple story all about rhyming words and fun loving ducks! The perfect early reader for that child that is just starting to read and learn vocabulary words!

Tuck Me In! By Dean Hacohen

2011-03-24T14:26:00.000-05:00

"It's time for bed. Who needs to be tucked in?" Hacohen and Schar-schmidt's first children's book, tailor-made for bedtime, is clever in its simplicity and execution, allowing tuckees to become the tuckers in this beloved nightly ritual. Readers lift blanket-shaped flaps over a baby zebra, moose, hedgehog, and others who are ready to turn in, as each animal is bid good night. In the end, kids can join the animals, as the book concludes, "Does anyone else need to be tucked in? Do you? Good night, you!" Ages 18 mos. 4 yrs. (Sept.)

a fun lift the flap type story where your child gets to tuck all the animals into bed! a perfect read-aloud at bedtime! Fun simple illustrations for little ones!

Pick a Pup By Marsha Wilson Chall

2011-03-24T14:11:00.000-05:00

Today is the day that Sam picks a pup! But how will he ever decide which one? He and his gram take a trip to the city animal shelter, greeting their neighbors' dogs as they go. There are sleepy pups, hyper pups, glamorous pups—and some that are a mix of everything!

This energetic book, with its fun rhyming text and adorable illustrations, is sure to thrill the young dog lover. Anyone who's ever adopted a furry friend will already know the true trick to picking a pup . . . the pup picks YOU!

A fun story for little one's who want a new dog! Also the perfect story if you get your dogs at the Humane Society or some other shelter! Fun illustrations! A perfect read aloud for all little ones and dog lover's a like!

I Can Help! By David Hyde Costello

2011-03-24T12:23:00.000-05:00

PreS—This simple tale of helpfulness is a charmer. A little yellow duck lives side by side with monkeys, giraffes, gorillas, and elephants. He is wandering through some tall grass when he stops and says, "Uh-oh. I'm lost." A monkey in a tree answers, "I can help." On the following spread, the duck says, "Thank you, monkey!" as he is reunited with his mother. That episode is followed by the monkey needing help, with a giraffe coming to his assistance. The story continues this pattern throughout the book. The text is sweetly illustrated with descriptive pictures. After one reading, most children will pick up on the pattern and be able to read the book by themselves.

This is an adorable story to share with young children with bright and colorful illustrations! perfect read-aloud and fun for all those little ones who love animals!

Moon Child By Nadia Krilanovich

2010-12-29T15:51:00.001-06:00

simple text and beautiful illustrations make this a great bedtime read aloud story! three curious animals discover they are children of the moon! perfect addition to your nighttime reading.

PreS-Gr 1–Various animal babies interact with the full moon in this quiet charmer. Otter playfully "catches" it in order to give the orb a big hug, a raccoon plays with the reflection of its light, and an owl smiles at the stars and pretends she can balance the moon on the tip of her nose. There is very little text–only one sentence per spread–but it works well for this subject matter and mood. Sayles has primarily used dark blue and brown pastels with acrylic ink to set the tone for this peaceful night where all is well. Sweet dreams are sure to follow. Perfect for bedtime or evening storytimes

Mad at Mommy By Kamako Sakai

2010-12-29T15:30:00.001-06:00

a softly illustrated book about a little rabbitt and his frustration with his mom! a good read aloud for when your having a bad day with your little one!

PreS-K–Sitting alone at the breakfast table while his mother sleeps in, a young rabbit begins to list his grievances: Mommy always sleeps late, never lets him watch cartoons, yells for no reason, is late picking him up from school, and says that she can't marry him even when he gets bigger. “So I'm really mad at you, Mommy,” the little rabbit announces, “So mad I'm gonna LEAVE. I'm going someplace far, far away. GOOD-BYE.” After two wordless spreads, where the clock indicates that only five minutes have passed, he returns to ask if his mother missed him. She replies with a reassuring “SO much!” With a sparsely worded text, the simple, muted watercolor illustrations, outlined with soft charcoal, communicate most of the emotions and provide the rest of the story. Like Anna Dewdney's Llama, Llama Mad at Mamma (Viking, 2007), this Japanese import, a follow-up to The Snow Day (Scholastic, 2009), conveys the sweet and satisfying message of a mother's unconditional love. Perfect for one-on-one sharing and for generating a discussion about feelings, self-expression, and forgiveness.

Back to Bed Ed! By Sebstien Braun

2010-12-29T15:11:00.000-06:00

When it s bedtime, Ed plays games with Dad, splashes in the bath, and reads stories with Mom. Yes, Ed loves going to bed, but he hates staying in bed! Night after night, he tiptoes down the hall and climbs into his parents bed. Something has to be done, but how to get Ed back to bed and get him to stay there?

Adorable story about a little mouse named Ed that likes the routine of going to bed but, just does not like sleeping alone without mom or dad! A cute bedtime read aloud that is sure to have your little ones wanting all there animal friends in bed with them!

Mr. Underbed By Chris Riddell

2010-12-29T15:06:00.000-06:00

First the monster who lives under the bed wants to get on top with Jim. Then other creatures follow, until the bed gets so crowded that Jim ends up underneath it.

a fun and creative story about going to bed and the monsters under the bed actually ask to sleep with jim (the little boy in the story) a sweet bedtime read or fun for those kids who love monsters!

Fleabag By Helen Stephens

2010-12-29T14:53:00.000-06:00

There once was a dog who had no name, and he had no home.” Thankfully, this down-on-his-luck mutt has cuteness in spades, which comes in handy the day he meets a lonely boy in a city park. Usually he is shooed away and called “fleabag”—the fleas are illustrated as little dots floating above his head—but this particular boy likes him anyway. In fact, as the weeks wear on, the two look forward to each meeting. But then comes terrible news: the boy is moving away. The sadness of the moment is beautifully evoked with a giant green crest of a hill minimizing the city and giving rise to a blue sky empty of all things save a single airplane. Stephens' paint-and-pencil artwork nicely muddles the messy gray areas of a gritty city and alternates multiframe pages with spreads that are surprisingly open. This being a story about loyalty, there is naturally a very happy ending in store.

adorable story of a lonely little homeless dog called Fleabag who finds a new family in a little boy he meets at the park! A perfect read aloud for dog lover's!

The Trucker By Barbara Samuels

2010-12-28T15:51:00.000-06:00

Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 1—Leo's mom knows the extent of her son's fascination with trucks. He's driven them up and down her legs, lost one in her oatmeal, and used another to pour syrup on his pancakes. When they go outside to explore the neighborhood, he ignores everything but the trucks, and when she surprises him with a new cat, he exclaims, "This is not a fire truck!" The plump tabby will not be pushed away, though; she finds ways to interact with Leo and his trucks. With a cat like Lola in his life, the child eventually finds different uses for his toys and more time to spend with a new friend. This book is sure to be a hit at storytime. The colorful art is hilarious and full of the details in a child's everyday life. It's is fun from cover to cover, and the text allows readers to make themselves as loud as the trucks and as animated as Leo.

Leo receives an unexpected gift one day -- a cat rather than a truck but, his cat loves trucks too! A fun story to read to anyone who loves trucks and cats!

Dancing Feet By Lindsey Craig

2010-12-28T15:28:00.000-06:00

PreSchool-K—In this picture book, children are asked to guess who's dancing across a spread by looking at the clues in the artwork and listening to the rhymes. A dancing bear makes a "Thumpity! Thumpity!" noise with its feet, while the steps of ladybugs sound more like, "Tippity! Tippity!" Appearing alongside a row of small footprints is: "Creepity! Creepity!/Lots of purple feet!/Who is dancing/that creepity beat?" A turn of the page reveals an illustration of a smiling caterpillar and the answer: "Caterpillar's dancing/on creepity feet./Creepity! Creepity!/Happy feet!" Brown uses hand-painted paper collage and primary shapes to create all of the happy dancers. A surprise pairing of partners ends this cheerful story and acts as a motivator to get children moving. Pair this title with Karma Wilson's Hilda Must Be Dancing (S & S, 2004) for storytimes full of movement and sounds.

An adorable dancing book for a fun and active read with a young child! would perfect be paired with Wiggle By Doreen Cronin!

The Village Garage By G. Brian Karas

2010-12-08T15:59:00.000-06:00

Each season brings its own challenges to the workers at the Village Garage. In spring, they clean up winter's debris from the roads and wash their trucks. In summer, they patch potholes, deal with damage from a thunderstorm, and host a Fourth of July party. Autumn brings falling leaves, sucked up by the Elephant Truck, and a broken pipe to mend. In winter all is quiet until a big snowstorm comes, and they must clear the roads. Children will enjoy watching this amiable crew balancing work and play as the year cycles through the seasons. Adding bits of fun along the way, the simple text explains their tasks without too much detail. Nicely varied in composition, the appealing pencil, gouache, and acrylic illustrations offer wonderfully childlike depictions of the workers and their machines. Great for kids fascinated by outdoor workers, this picture book offers a welcome change of pace from more basic volumes on trucks.

A perfect read aloud to the boys or girls who love trucks - dump trucks, wood chipers, street sweepers, backhoes etc. It's all about trucks and the things they do during the different seasons of the year.
A cute story!

I want TWO Birthdays! By Tony Ross

2010-12-08T15:49:00.000-06:00

The Little Princess wants to have two birthdays! Very well, says the prime minister. Of course, when the princess sees how much fun two birthdays are, she must have three. Then four. Then more! But the more birthdays she has, the less special they are. Fortunately, the king has a clever solution up his royal sleeve.

Who doesn't love a fun birthday party with cake and presents. An adorable story of a little princess who wishes for more birthdays ! In fact she decides she wants one every day! But then she changes her mind after she gets tired of getting cleaned up for her special days!
A great read aloud or at family sharing time.

A Year Full of Holidays By Susan Middleton Elya

2010-11-15T16:03:00.000-06:00

Nell's birthday is in August, and as soon as it's over, she starts to feel as though her next one is never going to get here. But then her mom reminds her that the year is packed with different reasons to celebrate, as each month in the calendar brings another holiday—from Labor Day to New Year's to the Fourth of July. And when there's always a different special day just around the corner, the time between birthdays really flies!

With a bouncy text and sweet, stylishly retro illustrations, this one-stop holiday book is guaranteed to be enjoyed all year long.
cute story about a little girl counting down to her brithday by remembering the holidays throught out the year!

how about a kiss for me? By Todd Tarpley

2010-11-15T15:40:00.000-06:00

Kissing a bunny might be funny, but kissing a mop has got to stop!
It's giggles galore when one fearless baby goes on a kissing adventure. There are plenty of kissable characters to meet along the way as our mischievous little kissy-face is quick to pucker up. And at the end of the day, when he is all “puckered” out, it's Daddy who gets the last kiss good night. Parents will love reading this winning, silly-sweet story aloud, and preschoolers will go gaga for Liza Woodruff's adorable illustrations.

an adorable rhyming story about a baby and kisses! a fun read aloud or a great book for personal one on one sharing!

My Book Box By Will Hillenbrand

2010-11-09T12:01:00.000-06:00

PreSchool-K–A little elephant wonders what he can do with a plain cardboard box. He comes up with all sorts of ideas, transforming the object into a hat, a container for toys, and a hide-and-seek haven. Finally, he decides to make a book box, and the rest of the story provides insight into the limitless possibilities of such a creation. Single- and double-page paintings show the elephant and his small frog friend enjoying the contents of the book box from breakfast to the bathroom to bedtime.

this book is an adorable story about an elephant and frog on an imaginative adventure with all the ways you can imagine using a box-- a car, table, book box, pasta box, pizza box, bug box, hat box, and atoy box just to name a few! colorful illustrations give this story a wide appealfor younger audiences or even family reading.

Scaredy-Cat, Splat By Rob Scotton

2010-10-12T11:07:00.000-05:00

It's Halloween, and Splat is determined to be the scariest cat in the class. Unfortunately he's just too much of a scaredy-cat. He's afraid of a little spider, and everyone says his costume looks more silly than scary. And when Mrs. Wimpydimple tells a ghost story in the dark, Splat gets so frightened that he tips over his jack-o'-lantern. But when the lights go back on, the entire class is scared silly by a small, black, furry creature with a big pumpkin head. Whooooo can it be?

an adorable addition to the Splat the Cat series by Rob Scotton! This halloween story would make for a great read-aloud at a Costume Party!

Bandit's Surprise By Karen Rostoker-Gruber

2010-10-01T14:42:00.001-05:00

Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 2—The defensive, domesticated tan-and-white cat is back in this sequel to Bandit (2008). He has a new roommate, a little gray kitten, and he is not happy. Mitzy drinks and eats from his bowls, uses his litter box, and, worse of all, plays with Fuzzy Mouse. He swipes at Mitzy's face and is scolded by his owner. In response, Bandit says, "I'm outta here" and leaps through an open window. Later, when he is stuck outside in the rain, Mitzy comes to the rescue and Bandit reluctantly shares some of his precious belongings with her. The story is told through brief narrative and dialogue balloons that are filled with cat witticisms such as calling Mitzy "Tattletail" and "Fish Breath." To children, Mitzy is like a new sibling who steals their toys and attention, and they will identify. The clever pencil and ink illustrations are digitally enhanced and capture Bandit's frustration and annoyance and his misery when he is locked out. Both felines' humanlike expressions give feeling to the text. Bandit's story will console children with an attention-getting younger sibling and entertain them with the laugh-out-loud dialogue and situations.

Fiesta Babies By Carmen Tafolla

2010-10-01T14:37:00.000-05:00

PreS—Short lines of bouncy, rhyming text describe how several adorable, chubby babies and toddlers participate in their local Hispanic celebration. For instance, "Fiesta Babies march on parade/wearing coronas Mamá has made." These lines of text stand alone on a page, embellished with the detail of a gaily decorated lamppost that echoes the street scene opposite. The length and rhythm of the text make this book an excellent choice for toddler and preschool storytimes. Córdova once again demonstrates how her award-winning style brilliantly brings an author's words to life. Her bold acrylic colors and brisk brushstrokes capture the fiesta's energy and good cheer. The images of sombreros, serapes, and papel picado are firmly rooted in Mexican culture, and the artist shows black, brown, and white babies celebrating this fiesta together. A short glossary explains the Spanish words in a child-friendly context.

a simple text book about babies, toddlers and fiestas ! A perfect simple read aloud or for one on one sharing!

The Best School Year Will Be The Best! By Kay Winters

2010-10-01T14:30:00.000-05:00

On the first day of school, the teacher gathers her students into a circle to share their wishes for the coming year. Some are negative (“I won’t be a vegetable in our school play”), some rosy (“I’ll look good in my school picture”), and some perhaps overly optimistic (“We’ll have SKATEBOARD DAY”), but as a group, they reflect a great many facets of the elementary-school experience. The text concludes with the teacher’s wish to “get to know each one of you,” which falls a bit flat. The final, wordless double-page spread, with happy children holding crayon pictures emblematic of their wishes, creates a more satisfying ending for this picture book. And, in the classroom, it could lead straight into the year’s first art project.

An adorable addition to read to any classroom about the start of school! It reminds of the Book May there always be sunshine by Jim Gill as the children in the book's wishes for the school year are illustrated in a fun way in this great simple read aloud!

Bridget's Beret By Tom Lichtenheld

2010-09-29T16:27:00.000-05:00

Kindergarten-Grade 3—Bridget loves to draw, but she needs her black artist's beret as her muse. One day as she is outdoors working, it flies off into the wind, and she believes that her inspiration has flown with it. Other hats don't help and she stops drawing. But when her little sister begs her to make a sign for a lemonade stand, Bridget agrees. Once she starts painting, she finds that the art was inside her all along; in fact, her new paintings are more sophisticated and draw on the works of recognizable artists. Lichtenheld's ink, colored pencil, and watercolor cartoon illustrations, heavy on line and filled with childlike drawings, add humor and character to the story.

A great read aloud story about a little girl and her "art" and her love of drawing! Its a fun read for the family or to you budding little artist!

The Baby Goes Beep By Rebecca O'Connell

2010-09-29T15:04:00.001-05:00

PreSchool-O'Connell uses rhythmic verses and familiar sound effects to portray a busy toddler's full day. The simple, repetitive text ("The baby goes Yum/The baby goes Yum Yum/The baby goes Yum Yum Yum Yum") will appeal to the very youngest listeners. Featuring bright colors and bold, clunky shapes outlined in black, the uncluttered illustrations perfectly complement the text. The joy of this active child's explorations and the comforting presence of his/her loving mother and father will not be lost on the intended audience.

An Adorable and colorfully illustrated story perfect for babies and toddlers! The repetive nature of the story will have your little one repeating and rhyming right along!

One Red Apple By Harriet Ziefert

2010-09-29T14:54:00.000-05:00

Follow the life cycle of an apple: from fruit growing on the tree to market, to picnic, to seed, to sapling and tree, and finally to a new apple. This simple, joyful book with radiant illustrations introduces readers to the amazing and delectable way the earth provides food.

Beautiful illustrations express the life cycle of the apple! The perfect fall book to read before visiting the apple orchard or to get ready for fall!

Let It Fall By Maryann Cocca Leffler

2010-09-29T14:47:00.000-05:00

The leaves turn red, brown, and orange, then drift down from the trees. It is time to go apple picking and on hayrides at the county fair. Fall is finally here! With soft colored art, adorable children, and colorful outdoor scenes, LET IT FALL celebrates all the seasonal awe of autumn.

Soft illustrations and simple text describe what fall is like! A fun read aloud when preparing for fall or getting ready for fall's outdoor activities!

Goldilocks and the Three Bears By Emma Chichester Clark

2010-09-19T15:19:00.000-05:00

Once upon a time, a naughty little girl named Goldilocks stuck her nose where it didn’t belong. She didn’t wonder. She didn’t ask. She walked straight into the Three Bears’ house and made herself at home. "Disgusting and cold!" she proclaimed of a bowl of porridge. "Awful!" she groaned, sinking into a too-soft chair. "Bullseye!" she cried, snuggling up in a bed that was just as right as right could be. And then the bears came back. . . . With humor and warmth, Emma Chichester Clark brings new life to a much-loved fairy tale.

a softly illustrated version of the orginal story of Goldiclocks and the three bears! A fun read aloud using some modern phrasing! and funny ending that you would not expect! a familar but creative family read!

What about Bear? By Suzanne Bloom

2010-09-19T14:23:00.000-05:00

A small red fox joins playmates Goose and Polar Bear, introduced in A Splendid Friend, Indeed (2005)-setting up a "three's a crowd" conflict that even the still-diapered set will quickly recognize. Initial shyness dissipating quickly, Fox repeatedly announces "I want to play a new game." But Fox's hopscotch squares are too small for Bear, checkers is a two-player game and the telescope is a one-at-a-time sort of toy. Off Bear stomps in a huff, leaving Goose to make a choice. As before, Bloom poses shaggy figures against a rich blue color field and artfully uses body language rather than text (which runs to fewer than 100 words) to crank up the emotional intensity. Fox's sharp nose and bushy tail are particularly eloquent at expressing bossiness, lonely remorse after Bear and Goose depart and relief after Fox is invited back into the fold ("Bear is my big, old, sometimes grumpy friend," says Goose. "You can be our new friend") and curls up in Bear's lap to share a book. Another splendid outing, indeed. (Picture book. 3-6)

Adorable new adventure with the big white polar bear from author Suzanne Bloom. A perfect adventure to share as a read aloud with a little one. Bright illustrations will attract many young toddlers and preschoolers to this very simple story of friendship and games.

Your Daddy Was Just Like You By Kelly Bennett

2010-09-16T10:32:00.000-05:00

PreSchool-Grade 2—In this heartwarming picture book, a grandmother shares stories with her grandson about his dad, who listens and watches with a smile. Once she opens the photo album, readers are engaged in a tender trip down memory lane. Grandma points out the similarities in appearance and behavior between father and son. Both are "puny and red-faced" when they are born. They begin school with trepidation, but with practice learning becomes easier. Some days, Dad could be "sweet," "wild," bossy, or raise a "ruckus," just like his son. Walker's use of layers of acrylic paints creates soft, gentle illustrations. Small details, such as black corners on the photos, provide authenticity to the time span. Characters' facial expressions and body language successfully capture emotions, actions, and reactions. Children will laugh at the spreads of Dad as a baby joyously singing in a bubble bath; pretending to be a race car, a gorilla, a cowboy, or a masked bandit; moping through a time-out; and coping with the disappointment of losing a baseball game.

a softly illustrated read aloud that's perfect for little ones or to share with the family! Also would make a special gift or a great story to share with a new father or even a grandparent!

Maggie's Ball By Lindsay Barrett George

2010-09-16T10:22:00.000-05:00

PreS—An eager little dog is looking for someone to play with when her ball bounces down a hill into town. A colorful spread shows the park and four buildings set around it, with many children and adults playing and going about their business. Maggie searches for her ball everywhere, circling the town and looking in all the shop windows. The illustrations are bright and big, as is the minimal text, making the oversize book a winner for preschool storytimes as well as for individual perusings where the ample small details will fascinate children. Eventually, Maggie ends up disconsolately resting near a bench occupied by a girl reading—but wait—is there a yellow ball next to the bench? The little girl asks Maggie to play ball with her, and the pup delightedly complies. The pictures of the dog bursting with joy and happiness when she finds her ball and a friend are priceless.

An adorable companion book for a little one or any dog lover! a fun search and find read aloud story for young children! Check this book and see if you can help Maggie find her little ball!

Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten?

2010-09-01T10:18:00.000-05:00

PreSchool-K
As the title indicates, this is a silly book about the first day of kindergarten with one's own buffalo. The analogy here is that kids react and behave differently, and that there is a place for all of them in school. The story prompts readers to remind the buffalo that finger painting is fun and it's okay to get messy; those hooves could create a masterpiece. Buffaloes (and children) learn how to get along without using their horns. "Cooperating and taking turns are both Very Big Deals in kindergarten." This wacky picture book, with its bold cartoonlike illustrations of a buffalo that snorts, dances, and makes faces, may help apprehensive youngsters to be more at ease about going to school. "Everyone's special in his or her own way. That's the kind of thing you learn in kindergarten." Vernick's amusing tale will prove handy as a first-day-of-school book recommendation for children and teachers alike.

Small Florence: Piggy Pop Star!

2010-09-01T10:07:00.000-05:00

By Claire Alexander
Preschool-Grade 1
Cinderella meets American Idol in this charming little tale. Small Florence is intimidated by her older sisters, never more so than when she tries singing in front of them. She has dreams of being a pop star, but it is her sisters who take singing lessons. When an Idol-style TV show comes to town, her sisters are ready to audition immediately. Florence wants to try out, too, but when the duo commands her to “sing us a song right now!” she can barely emit a squeal. On the day of the tryouts, the big sisters get their chance—but blow it big-time. The judges and the audience render them small and shy. Meanwhile, a voice belts out from the background . . . Alexander, a talented artist, gets this spread exactly right—two black pages and a spray of golden spotlight with a tiny pig singing a swirl of notes. All of the pictures, in fact, are sturdily illustrated and executed with verve and humor, drawing readers right into a story that will feel happily familiar.

Cool Dog, School Dog

2010-09-01T09:58:00.000-05:00

by Deborah Heiligman
PreSchool-Grade 2
Tinka, a golden retriever, is "a joy dog,/a boy's dog,/a chews-a-brand-new-toy dog." She loves her boy and doesn't like being left at home when he boards a bus on a fall morning. When Mom isn't looking, the "spring-and-sprint-and-streak dog" races to school, runs through the halls causing mayhem, and ends up finding her boy in his classroom. Although she makes the teacher unhappy by messing up the room, the students are delighted by Tinka's presence and find that the pup loves a read-aloud. In the end, she's "a please-come-every-day dog."

Bowers's vivid acrylic illustrations are full of expression, from the pup peeking through a screen door while waiting to make her move to the smiling children and teacher waving good-bye at the end of the day. Youngsters will like learning with each turn of the page just what makes this dog so special.

Brontorina

2010-09-01T09:50:00.000-05:00

by James Howe

PreSchool-Grade 2

This is a great story about acceptance and pursuing one's dream. When Brontorina Apatosaurus appears at the door of Madame Lucille's Dance Academy for Boys and Girls, she faces rejection. Young Clara and Jack tug at Madame to accept her, while naysayers jeer at her lack of proper shoes. Finally, Madame admits Brontorina, and humorous scenes show little boys and girls doing arabesques, relevés, and jetés, while enormous Brontorina gracefully crashes into the ceiling.

Madame concludes that the new pupil is just too big. Brontorina turns to leave, a dinosaur-size tear falling from her eye. Then the teacher has a realization: The problem is not that you are too big. The problem is that my studio is too small, and the academy gets relocated and renamed.

A quiet fusion of pathos, comedy, and passion is echoed in the painterly, softly textured, muted oil illustrations. The final picture of the orange dinosaur perched like a bird atop a dancing triceratops, silhouetted against the setting sun, is priceless.

You're Lovable to Me

2010-08-18T11:58:00.000-05:00

by Kat Yeh
Grades Pre-K to 2nd

The little bunnies had been naughty and everyone was tired. Mama Bunny told her little bunnies that none of that mattered because she will love her bunnies no matter what. After the bunnies were put to bed, Mama Bunny sat exhausted on the couch until Grandpa Bunny came over and told Mama that when a papa loves a bunny, he still loves her when she's grown and has bunnies of her own.

The illustrations present a busy family in a cozy atmosphere. The childlike actions and emotions displayed by the bunnies will be familiar to most children as they examine the pictures. The dainty drawings were done in a pastel palette with lots of white background, reflecting the mood and simplicity of the story. From the soft illustrations to the tone of text, there is an overall sense of gentleness. However, while children will understand the message of mother's love, the grandfather's tender feelings for his daughter may be a bit beyond their ken.

The story gives me goosebumps. It is a story of enduring love and unconditional love.

Suddenly

2010-08-18T11:44:00.001-05:00

A Preston the Pig Story
by Colin McNaughton
Ages 4-8

Preston was walking home from school when SUDDENLY...Preston avoids the scary wolf by chance when he forgets to do one thing or another. The wolf, who is lerking around every corner is left without his afternoon snack while Preston safely navigates home to his mother who gives him a big hug.

Young readers will delight in knowing more than the happily oblivious porcine hero. The art is ideal for group sharing. This story will make a good combination with other fairy tales in which all the pigs might not experience such a happy ending, and is a refreshing relief from the classic tale where the only way to save your hide is to be smart, industrious, and build a very strong house. Zany fun that's perfect for young audiences.

It's Your First Day of School Annie Claire

2010-08-18T11:36:00.001-05:00

by Nancy White Carlstrom
Pre-K to Kindergarten

Annie Claire is worried about her first day of school. What if she is too tired, spills her milk, falls asleep, etc. Annie Claire's mother talks her through each situation and then gives her an explaination why that isn't something to worry about.

Soothing watercolors, outlined in pen on cold press paper, create soft illustrations that emphasize the fun, excitement, and positive aspects of this milestone. The animal classmates, teachers, school staff, and Mom and Annie Claire are portrayed with subtle facial expressions and gestures that support the text.

What gives this tender title depth is the relationship between mother and daughter. The mother's comments are messages of love and encouragement. Annie Claire poignantly brings the story to its conclusion with a question about what her mother's day will be like when she is at school. This is a great book for kids heading off to pre-school, kindergarten, or day care.

A Paddling of Ducks

2010-08-18T11:28:00.000-05:00

Animals in Groups from A to Z
by Marjorie Blain Parker and Joseph Kelly
Ages:4-8

This is a great alphabet book that shows animals and relates the name of that animal group. It is interesting to find out all the group names, like a bask of crocodiles and a crash of rhinos.

What really makes this book are the incredible illustrations. Instead of calling the pictures illustrations, I want to say artwork. They are gorgeous and lifelike, except for the humor that the illustrator finds in words. For instance, for a run of salmon the artist puts little jerseys on the fish as if they were in a marathon and for a school of x-ray fish the artist puts mortarboards on the fish. It is funny and cute and wonderful.

Back to Bed, Ed!

2010-08-17T18:58:00.001-05:00

By Sebastien Braun
Grades: PreSchool-Grade 1

Ed, an adorable mouse, loves his bedtime routine. But Ed does not like staying in bed. Night after night he wakes his parents and climbs in with them, ignoring the cries of "Back to bed, Ed!"

His exhausted parents can take no more and one night Ed discovers a "closed" sign on their tightly shut door. Dad emerges and escorts his son back to his own bed. But the unhappy mouse does not stay put. Instead he gathers up all his stuffed friends and brings them to bed too, declaring, "There's no need to be scared…I'm here now." Finally he is able to sleep in his own bed.

Braun's clean illustrations in India ink with markers and colored pencils are bright and bold. Set against plenty of white space, they show all the emotions of the characters and many interesting details. The simple text works in tandem with the illustrations to produce a great story that's fun to read. What's more, the book has an excellent representation of both Mom and Dad parenting.

Dogs

2010-08-17T18:47:00.000-05:00

By Emily Gravett

Ages 3-6

This is a simple book about loving dogs. Expressive pencil drawings, overlaid with soft washes of watercolor on creamy stock, waggishly animate more than a dozen varieties of dogs, including an enormous, protective Great Dane; a soft and squishy bichon frise; and an energetic Dalmatian.The illustrations are cute and show dogs at play.

The simple sentences get the point across: I love dogs! The words are in a large easy to read font and are prominently displayed on the page.

This book is great for any dog loving child.

Fanny

2010-08-17T18:42:00.000-05:00

by Holly Hobbie
Ages 4-8
Fanny, who wears eyeglasses, a headband, a tutu, leggings, and sneakers, is no ordinary girl. More than anything, she wants a high-fashion Connie doll. However, her mother does not like the way the doll looks, so Fanny is unlikely to get one. Fanny attempts to resolve this situation by making her own rag doll, which she loves well enough until her friends make fun of it. Fanny decides she likes her doll and brings it on a playdate.

The soft watercolor illustrations show this protagonist to be an independent thinker as well as a talented seamstress. Sometimes not following the crowd can have unexpectedly wonderful results.

Toot Toot Beep Beep

2010-08-12T15:13:00.000-05:00

By Emma Garcia
Colorful cars beep-beep, toot-toot, vroom-vroom, and whoosh across these collage-like pages, inviting kids along on an entertaining trip. Little ones will love joining in with the sounds, reading them aloud as they watch a little red jeep, big blue van, sleek black sports car, long pink limousine, and big yellow taxi pass by. But what do you get when all these vehicles make their distinctive sounds at the same time? A lot of chugga-chugga, honk-honk noise! But in the end each vehicle finds its parking space and, like all good children, settles down for the night.

Toot Toot Beep Beep follows up on the highly successful Tip Tip Dig Dig. Recommended for any car obsessed child.

Grandpappy Snippy Snappies By Lynn Plourde

2010-07-12T15:50:00.000-05:00

Grandpappy snippy snappies
His suspenders all the day
Snippy-snappy-snoo
What those suspenders can do!
A simple snippy snap of Grandpappy's suspenders always saves the day in a topsy-turvy way!
But what happens when Grandpappy's suspenders lose their snap?
Droopy draggy Grandpappy still has to come to the rescue—and he'd better make it snappy!

Humorous story of grandpappy and his fancy snippy snappy suspenders. A silly story to share with young children who like funny stories read to them.

Miss Brooks Loves Books! And I Don't By Barbara Bottner

2010-07-12T15:32:00.000-05:00

If ever there were a perfect picture book for those so-called "reluctant readers" this is it. Miss Brooks Loves Books (And I Don't) tells the story of Missy, a little girl who rejects just about every story that comes her way. She complains that "They're too kissy. Too pink. And too silly." The tireless librarian Miss Brooks is not about to give up, nor is Missy's mom. When Missy realizes she'd like to read about warts, Mom comes through with an inspired choice that sets this picky reader on the path to book bliss.

An adorable story perfect for that child that says they don't like to read! It is sure to make you laugh out loud and get you talking about some of the librarian's favorite book titles that are listed throughout this story!

My Mother is So Smart! By Tomie DePaola

2010-07-12T15:06:00.000-05:00

PreSchool-K—DePaola offers a portrait of a little boy and his doting mother, who bakes cookies, sews Halloween costumes, and can even stand on her head. Each page offers one of her skills, with soft, acrylic paintings illustrating the full range of her abilities. This story acts as more of a nostalgic picture album of dePaola's childhood than as a fully developed story, but the simple sweetness of the vignettes both in text and illustration present a heartfelt tribute to one fabulous woman. While the story is an endearing celebration of one specific parent, it's unlikely to resonate with many of today's children.

A Book that is a must read for a mother and child together! It is the perfect celebration of everything a mother is good at and just knows! The perfect read alound to young children when talking about mothers or even for the special holiday of Mothers Day! A definite addition to a new mothers library or a perfect gift for mothers day!

Sometimes I'm Scared By Jane Annunziata

2010-07-12T14:56:00.000-05:00

Kids can be afraid of lots of different things - the dark, spiders, dogs, clowns, monsters. This book outlines the steps kids can use to deal with their everyday fears, and get back to the business of being a kid.

This is a good story to share with little ones who have different types of fears. It gives tips on how to make those fears seem less scary and gives information for parents on how to help their children with their fears.
We highly recommend sharing this book with those little ones becuase it is a good explaination of the many fears experienced and some simple tips to follow to help kids cope with their fears.

Fancy Nancy ooh La La! Beauty Day By Jane O'Connor

2010-07-12T12:50:00.000-05:00

What better way to fancy Mom up for her birthday than to treat her to a super-deluxe beauty day created by Fancy Nancy herself? It's a pampering paradise, and right in the backyard! With relaxing music, fragrant lotions, colorful nail polish, and foamy mousse, Nancy gives her mom a total makeover. She even treats her to sumptuous refreshments and special entertainment. But when the pampering suddenly goes too far, has Nancy ruined her mom's big day?
Complete with tips and recipes for creating a super-deluxe beauty day of your own, Fancy Nancy: Ooh La La! It's Beauty Day will inspire budding beauty experts to open up shop and join in the deluxe fanciness!

An adorable story with fun ilustrations and cute beauty tip ideas! Another fun addition to the fancy nancy book series highly recommended for all little girls who love to play dress up and beautify themselves.

LMNO Peas

2010-07-03T15:37:00.000-05:00

By Keith Baker

PreSchool-Grade 1

Humble green peas provide inspiration in this hilarious, occupation-based romp through the alphabet. Four-inch-high letters on each page serve as a platform around, above, and inside of which dozens of "pea-ple" swarm in joyful pursuit of myriad types of work. Bouncy, rhyming text introduces the alphabet peas as "acrobats, artists, and astronauts in space, builders, bathers, and bikers in a race," with unpaid "voters and volunteers" receiving their due, too.

The vibrant illustrations and textured colors boldly leap off the page against a background of ample white space. The sheer fun of the rhythmic text and the large alphabet letters work well for a read-aloud audience, but the busy, engaging details of the peas in their various worker modes are better suited for one-on-one exploration that young children will want to pore over again and again.—

Roly Poly Pangolin By Anna Dewdney

2010-06-27T15:30:00.000-05:00

Roly Poly, very small, doesn't like new things at all.

Meet Roly Poly Pangolin--a little pangolin who'd rather stick close to his mama instead of facing anything unfamiliar. Whether it's a line of ants, a friendly monkey, or a loud noise, Roly Poly runs the other way. Then he hears something that really scares him. So he does what all pangolins do when they're frightened--he rolls up into a tiny ball. But Roly Poly is surprised when he finally peeks out, because another ball is peeking back . . . it's a small pangolin just like him!

Anna Dewdney has created another irresistible character to reassure children about the world around them.

A fun and simple story about a Pangolin (a scaly type of anteater). This a perfect story to share with little ones even though they will not recognize the animal right away. Thought out the story the little Pangolin is nervous and frightened of every day things and sounds. But soon realizes once he meets a friend just like him that things are not so scary when there is a friend to share it with. Adorable book with simple text and great pictures. A perfect addition to share by the same author as the Llama Llama series.

from the web some facts about Pangolin is--The physical appearance of pangolins is marked by large, hardened, plate-like scales. The scales, which are soft on newborn pangolins but harden as the animal matures, are made of keratin, the same material of which human fingernails and tetrapod claws are made. The pangolin is often compared to a walking pine cone or globe artichoke. It can curl up into a ball when threatened, with its overlapping scales acting as armour and its face tucked under its tail. The scales are razor-sharp, providing extra defence. The front claws are so long that they are unsuited for walking, and so the animal walks with its fore paws curled over to protect them. Pangolins can also emit a noxious smelling acid from glands near the anus, similar to the spray of a skunk. Pangolins have short legs, with sharp claws which they use for burrowing into termite and ant mounds, as well as climbing. (wikipedia)

Stars! Stars! Stars! By Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

2010-06-27T14:46:00.000-05:00

Nancy Elizabeth Wallace continues to explore difficult topics while making them more accessible to young readers with her signature cut-paper illustrations and, in this book, photographs from NASA.

Minna is a stargazer. She looks at the nighttime sky and wonders, What are stars? Minna's friends wonder about stars too. How far away are they? Are they really shaped like stars? Is the sun a star? At the Children's Museum, Minna and her friends visit STAR SPACE. The children learn . . . and wonder . . . learn . . . and wonder. Then they go outside and stargaze! Recipes for star-shaped food and an activity page are included.

Adorable book with fun illustrations and great information about the sun and solar system and stars! A perfect gift that a star lover. I learned some new things about the sun and stars I did not even know. I highly recommend This book for sharing!

Red Green Blue

2010-06-23T10:08:00.000-05:00

By Alison Jay

Grades Pre-K to 3rd

This is a colorful book that uses well known nursery rhymes to introduce color. Colors are only part of the story in this lively, handsome picture book that dramatizes 20 nursery rhymes with wild magic realism. Young children will enjoy spotting characters and scenarios from the rhymes that they know, from five pink piggies and Little Bo Peep's white sheep to a little teapot, short and stout.

Not all the featured nursery rhymes are sweet and merry. Miss Muffet is afraid of the big black spider for good reason; even though he only wanted to sit beside her, the picture shows that he is huge and scary. Something not very nice is happening to the three bespectacled blind mice, who leap across the double-page spread, away from a knife-wielding woman. Humpty Dumpty offers a sunnier view: it looks as though the king's horses and men may be able to help.

We often focus more on nursery rhymes rhythm and beat than on the sense in the words, and even older readers will have fun with these wry, literal looks at familiar rhymes and the stories they tell.

Dinosaur Hunt

2010-06-23T09:59:00.000-05:00

by David Catrow
Grades K-3

Max Spaniel is a daffy hound dog who decides to go on a dinosaur dig. He takes his trusty butterfly net and hard hat on the expedition. The silly dog mistakes a football for a dinosaur head, a Lincoln log for a dinosaur rib, a water hose for a dinosaur tail and so on. The dim witted dog puts the junk together and builds a dinosaur!

Kids will be endlessly amused by the silly dog and his adventure. New readers will laugh out loud as they follow the fantastical thoughts of this kooky hound. The ingenious story, by David Catrow, is easy to read with lots of visual humor.

I Spy Fly Guy

2010-06-23T09:43:00.001-05:00

by Tedd Arnold
Grades K-3

Fly Guy and Buzz are back in this outrageously funny adventure told in three simple chapters. Buzz likes to play Hide-and-go-Seek with Fly Guy, his pet fly. Fly Guy usually hides in the trash can but disastor strikes when the trash collecter comes before Buzz can find Fly Guy. Fly Guy is carted off to the dump. When Buzz tries to find him, he is faced with a multitude of flies that look, act, and sound exactly like his pal. And every one of those flies can call his name—Buzz! Fortunately, the one and only Fly Guy thinks they are still playing the game. He has been hanging upside down from the visor of Buzz's cap, as close as any good friend can get.

This is a silly story that boys will like. The squiggly drawn pictures and the bright colors help to tell the story of a boy and his pet fly. The words are large and easy to read. Each pages has a couple of sentences and the great illustrations to hold early reader's attention. There's no mistaking Arnold's hilarious cartoon illustrations, and in this new addition to a popular series, there are plenty of them to enjoy.

Hero Cat

2010-06-16T09:49:00.001-05:00

by Eileen Spinelli
Grades PreS-2

On a "cold and slushy" March day, a calico cat searches for a place to have her young. She finally settles into an abandoned building and gives birth to five kittens (a scene that's not pictured in the handsome illustrations). After nursing and resting, she leaves her brood to search for food; on her return, she finds the building in flames. Mother Cat is barely able to rescue her kittens, but she and her little ones recover, and the firemen celebrate her heroics and bravery.

Spinelli's simple, short sentences amplify the action and danger. The story is very exciting and Spinelli does not shy away from describing the danger. Young listeners will be reassured by the story of a parent's fiercely protective unconditional love, and the full-spread, realistic pastels offer an almost tactile sense of the felines and their tender bond.

On the last page, the reader is informed in a concluding note this story is inspired by a true story. There is a picture of a tired and singed cat resting with her cute, little, safe kittens. The cats were taken to the animal shelter and adopted into loving homes. It's a happy ending great for any cat loving child!

Abracadabra! Magic with Mouse and Mole

2010-06-16T09:33:00.002-05:00

by Wong Herbert Yee
Ages 4-8

Mouse and Mole are very excited. Minkus the Magnificent is in town—ONE SHOW ONLY!—and they can’t wait to sit in the front row and see his tricks. After the abracadabras happen, though, something goes a bit wrong—and Mole is very disappointed to discover that magic is sometimes not exactly what it seems. But Mouse shows Mole that sometimes real magic takes time.

Frequent, small frames resembling comic-book cells are sprinkled among the full-page illustrations, pulling the reader forward. Warm nighttime hues make the magic of Mouse's natural world warm and inviting to new readers.

I liked the onomatopoeias! In the story, "He tossed a stone into the pond: PLOP!" And in the picture mole tosses a stone into the pond. In the illustration you can see the PLOP. The artwork nicely reinforces the story's action, the closeness between friends, and shared wonder in nature's magic. It is very well worked together and it's little details like this that makes the book more fun to read.

Never Ask a Bear

2010-06-09T10:32:00.000-05:00

By Louise Bonnett-Rampersaud
PreSchool-Grade 1

"If you're having a bear over to play,
There are things you should know,
There are things you should say.
I'll tell you the rules--
Numbers one up to ten.
Then have Mom or Dad read them...
Again...and again!"

This cautionary guidebook provides readers with 10 important rules to follow when having a bear over to play. Bears are rambunctious, messy, and wild. The young boy's animal playmate behaves like a 400-pound toddler. This boisterous romp is good for reading aloud but explores no new ground.

The illustrations are full of movement and energy as they spill across the page. The bear's uninhibited strength and great size are conveyed through the illustrations use of perspective. Nearly every scene contains an object in midair and thus a sense of the bear's naivety regarding the rules.

If you like Laura Numeroff's If you give a mouse a cookie...then you will LOVE this one.

Bullies Never Win

2010-06-09T10:24:00.000-05:00

by Margery Cuyler
Ages: 4-8

Jessica is a worrier. She worries about everything for her socks matching to doing well in school. But in Mr. Martin's class she has her biggest worry: Brenda Baily. Brenda is a bully, and she won't leave Jessica alone. Brenda teases Jessica about her homework and her skinny legs. It worries Jessica so much that she can't even sleep. Jessica has to stand up to Brenda but she is so worried!Jessica is too afraid to stand up to Brenda until one day at lunch when another girl, Anita, says that Brenda is such a bully. Jessica gathers her strength, "...put her hands on her hips. In a loud voice she said, 'Toothpicks may be thin, but bullies never win!'" And that was enough to keep Brenda away.

The storyline is realistic and kids will relate to Jessica. The illustrations are fun, cartoon-y caricatures. Kids will see that Brenda is bad news and that Jessica has a meek personality.

This book is great for the kid who worries. There are some things to worry about, but the illustrations make some of the worries seem comical. Hopefully it will help kids realize that they don't have to worry.

My favorite part is when Jessica fell asleep without any worries. :-)

My Heart is Like a Zoo

2010-06-09T10:08:00.001-05:00

by Michael Hall
Any Ages

The bold digital collages of zoo animals in this debut picture book are clear and bright, and the simple rhymes about feelings will have preschoolers savoring the words, joining in, and pointing at every playful zoo scene, each featuring one animal per page. Even toddlers will enjoy talking about the scenarios, especially after they see the final spread with the small “zookeeper” asleep in his bed, his beloved animal toys snuggled around him.

Kids will easily recognize the emotions in the words—“Snappy as a crab, / angry as a bear, / bothered as a bull / with a hornet in its hair”—as well as the more positive feelings—“Brave as a lion, / thoughtful as an owl, / peaceful as a portly walrus / lounging on a towel.”

A final note points out that all the collage pictures are made up of heart-shaped pieces, more than 300 in all, and older kids might want to count them. Preschool.

This book is so darn cute. My favorite page is the Happy Hippos. You'll have to read it to find out just how cute!

Life in a Coral Reef

2010-06-09T09:34:00.001-05:00

by Wendy Pfeffer
Grades 1–3

This picture book describes the daily of activities occurring in a reef presented. Each sentence is packed with information and is perfect for a budding scientist.

Reds, purples, golds, and black and white pop off the page. A lime green moray eel glides across a spread as it stalks fish in the dark by smell. Why does it ignore a sleeping parrot fish?, the narrative asks. Readers see a muted blue fish on the page next to the eel and learn that it oozes out a filmy body covering that disguises its color and masks its odor while it sleeps.

The illustrations are colorful with mixed textures. Life under the sea is fascinating and the illustrations capture the the alien environment that is the coral reef. Some fish live in harmony, eating the dead skin off other fish. But the reef is not a safe place for all fish. Some fish are prey to sharks, barracudas, or eels. It's a strange existence under the sea, and the illustrations (do what they should!) illustrate the life of a fish who lives there.

The book concludes with two pages of facts about coral reefs, a list of famous reefs, and the current and future threats to these endangered habitats. The endpapers silhouetting the reef animals in shades of blue and black are inviting and haunting at the same time.

This is a great book for anyone who is interested in the ocean. Are you going to the beach this summer? Pick up this book and share with the kids what it would be like to be a swimming thing!

Peanut Butter and Jellyfishes: A Very Silly Alphabet Book

2010-05-28T10:58:00.002-05:00

Grades: PreK-2

By Brian P. Cleary

This ambitious book provides colorful collages, hidden letters, word pictures, and alphabet sentences presented in rhyme while avoiding many of the pitfalls of the genre. By melding together nonsensical sentences that are as wacky as the illustrations, Cleary opens up the field to using verbs and adjectives as well as nouns. K starts karate and kangaroos kissing, and kilt-wearing kittens whose kickstands are missing. Both upper- and lowercase are highlighted.

The pre-title page invites readers to play along. Every letter of the alphabet is hidden in the pictures of this book. So are many things that start with each letter. The endpapers list the many objects, including 10 N things, 6 Z things, and 6 things with X in them.

The illistrations are brightly colored and textured, adding visual interest (non-gender specific) to all of the wonderful words. You can spend a long time just looking at the pictures picking out all of the words in on the page.

This is not your mother's alphabet book. This is a new inventive and creative twist on the alphabet book genre. Fun and funny, we love it!

"C is for cat with a calico coat who camps by a castle and cooks by a moat."

The Perfect Gift

2010-05-26T10:24:00.000-05:00

by Mary Newell Depalma
Ages 4-8

Lori, a tiny bird, has found the most beautiful red strawberry to give her grandmother, but PLOP! it falls into the river. Not even the help of all of the bird's friends can get it back before a hungry crocodile snatches it up. The friends put their heads together and come up with the perfect idea of a new gift for Grandma: they'll create a book about their adventure with the strawberry! Grandma loves the story and so will you.

The illustrations show movement making this a great book for kids with persistent wiggly arms and legs.

The placement of the words on the page is perfect and the font is easy to read.

Most of all, the story is has a wonderful message. Friends help Lori and they work together to make a really great gift. Don't sit around and cry. Get creative and solve the problem.

Also another great book for summer reading. Make a Splash!

Papa is a Pirate

2010-05-26T09:40:00.001-05:00

by Katharina Grossmann-Hensel
Grades: Kindergarten-2

Here is another great book to go along with our summer reading program theme: Make a Splash!

A stubbly chinned father claims to spend his days not at the office, but rather taming sea monsters, putting on pirate shows for cruise ships, and talking to his parakeet named Petey (in Petey's little bird heart, Petey is a parrot). This gentle, oversize man tells his skeptical son stories of his life at sea and how he rescued the boy's princess mother.

The illustrations are colorful and detailed. Surprises pop up in the painterly pictures, such as a treasure chest on a sea monster's tail and an electric toothbrush on an island. Children will enjoy examining the artwork to catch the little details.

It's a fun story that is great for Dad to read to the kids!

Princess Hyacinth: The Surprising Tale of a Girl Who Floated

2010-05-26T09:29:00.001-05:00

by Florence Parry Heide
Age 4-8

I was not really expecting this book. I thought that Hyacinth was going to float in water. But she just floats all the time.

Princess Hyacinth has a problem: she floats. And so the king and queen have pebbles sewn into the tops of her socks, and force her to wear a crown encrusted with the heaviest jewels in the kingdom to keep her earthbound. But one day, Hyacinth comes across a balloon man and decides to take off all her princess clothes (except her royal underwear), grab a balloon, and float free. Hooray! Alas, when the balloon man lets go of the string . . . off she goes. Luckily, there is a kite and a boy named Boy to save her.

The illistrations are great.

There are rather alot of words on the page. But it is a very entertaining book.

Sleepy ABC By Margaret Wise Brown

2010-05-21T12:28:00.005-05:00

Ages: 4-8

Here are 26 ways to say goodnight!Fans of Brown and Katz’s A Child’s Good Morning Book may want to close their days with this companion alphabet lullaby: “A is for Aaaah when a small kitten sighs / B is for Baaaaaa when the lambs close their eyes.”

Katz’s interpretation of Brown’s text is joyful and energetic and features her trademark, round-faced, multicultural children, rendered in collage-like art, bouncing around a sunshine-bright room before they finally catch their Zs in a very realistic bedtime pattern. Likely to be just what little not-yet-sleeping beauties will want.

Adorably illustrated alaphabet story all about heading off to bed! A simple read aloud for naptime or evening bedtime! Another wonderful story from beloved author Margaret wise brown and with the added bonus of Karen Katz beautiful illustrations. This book can be shared over and over with all your little ones!

In My New Yellow Shirt By Eileen Spinelli

2010-05-20T12:11:00.003-05:00

PreS-Gr 2

When a boy gets a yellow shirt as a gift, his best friend thinks it's a terrible present, but the birthday boy doesn't agree. When he wears it, he can be a bouncing ball, a stalking lion, a taxi "zooming down the street," a creeping caterpillar-anything he wants to be.

Words and large, acrylic, cartoon illustrations, most of them double-page spreads, pair well to tell this story of a child's lively imagination. Young readers who look closely at the boy's toys will notice that his playthings serve as models for the animals and objects he becomes while wearing his yellow shirt. This story can provide a much-needed stimulus for children to use their own imaginations, and they may enjoy talking about other things one could do with a yellow shirt.

A fun book to read about a child's imagination in exploring the possibilies of the many yellow things he could be in the world: a lion, a taxi, even a waddling yellow duck. Short setences on a page make this a quick and fun read for young children. A perfect read aloud to a group when studying the color yellow or talking about imagination.

So much fun!

Grumpy Bird By Jeremy Tankard

2010-05-20T11:58:00.004-05:00

Grades: Pre-K to 1st

Bird wakes up feeling grumpy. Too grumpy to eat or play -- too grumpy even to fly. "Looks like I'm walking today," says Bird. He walks past Sheep, who offers to keep him company. He walks past Rabbit, who also could use a walk. Raccoon, Beaver, and Fox join in, too.Before he knows it, a little exercise and companionship help Bird shake his bad mood. This winsome, refreshingly original picture book is sure to help kids (and grown-ups) giggle away theirs, too!

This is a funny and adorable story about a very emotional bird who wakes up one morning as grumpy as can be! But soon discovers as he goes for a walk that his animal friends are trying to cheer him up! Perfect book to share with a group or individually on one of your grumpy days! It will make you smile and laugh out loud.

Also checkout his birds newest adventure Boo Hoo Bird also by author Jeremy Tankard.

Boo Hoo Bird By Jeremy Tankard

2010-05-20T11:48:00.002-05:00

Grades: Pre-K-1st

When the avian prima donna introduced in Grumpy Bird gets bonked on the head by a ball and starts to cry, not Raccoon’s kiss, Rabbit’s hug, a cookie from Beaver, or a Band-Aid from Fox can stop the flow of tears. Not only will Bird’s histrionics strike chords of recognition in parents, but the wide-eyed, very simply drawn animals suspended against collages of reworked photos and sketched-in shrubbery will also catch and hold the attention even of very young audiences. Bet high on this becoming another storytime winner, just like its predecessor.

This book is brightly illustrated and will have you laughing just like the previous title Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard. Perfect for little fans of funny books and this title would be a cute companion to Mo Willens Pigeon series. Makes for a cute read aloud to young children!

Clumsy Crab

2010-05-18T15:38:00.002-05:00

By Ruth Galloway

This is a story about one crab's attempts to fit in. Nipper is clumsy and always breaking things. His clumsy claws are always breaking things or getting in the way. He can't play like the other sea creatures. He is sad. But his friends suggest that they play hide and seek--Nipper seeks while they hide. Nipper finds everyone but during the game Octopus gets caught in some seaweed and is panicing. Nipper uses his claws to free Octopus from the tangle of seaweed.

Children often feel like they are different from everyone else. Even though this is nearly a universal feeling, children like to hear stories that indicate that their differences are useful and good. Nipper is the perfect story for this.

The pictures are bright and happy and really great. The detail in the pictures really helps the story and keeps the reader interested. I wanted to see what was going to be on the next page.

This is a super cute story with great illistrations and fits in perfectly with our summer reading program theme, "Make A Splash!" Our summer reading program may not start until June 7th, but you can read this book anytime!

Something to Do by David Lucas

2010-05-18T15:23:00.001-05:00

Grades: PreSchool-Kindergarten

This is a pretty darn cute book. There is a baby bear who is bored. The baby bear wakes up the sleepy bear and they use their imagination to find something to do. They go for a walk and find a stick and start drawing in the dirt. They create (by drawing in the dirt) a ladder to go to the moon and then draw stars until they get tired and hungry and go home.

The drawings are simple and look like they were drawn with a crayon. The colors are simple: gray and black with a splash of color (like the cover). The font of the text is large and easy to read; there is plenty of negative space left on the page.

Drawing things into creation is an interesting thought that I always enjoy when explored thematically in picture books. Writing a story is creation and is done with pen and paper. So why not create a ladder and climb to the moon? I love that this concept is being introduced to young minds.

This is a simple story that brings up lots of topics you can discuss with your child.

The Boy Who Invented TV

2010-04-27T15:42:00.001-05:00

by Kathleen Krull
Grades 2-5

This is the story, as the title indicates, of the boy who invented TV, Philo Farnsworth. As a child, Philo, loved everything mechanical and worked really hard studying science. His heroes were Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison, the inventors of the telephone and phonograph. He struggled with bullies in school for loving to play the violin. He knew he would have to get an education to be able to work on his dream of a television. But he had to quit after only one year of college because his father died. After much talking, 2 buisnessmen put up some money to fund the first working model of the television and gave him a deadline of one year. Philo worked around the clock but after one year, he had to find new investors. Finally, in 1927, he was able to finish the project. The image was no fancy, but he was able to show a dolar sign, and then the motion of cigarette smoke. The following year, the invention of the television was annouced.

This is a very long book. The pages have lots of words on them. This is for an advanced reader or an older child. It could almost be an easy reader or something like that. The pictures are great! But the great thing is the amount of information given. There is an authors note, a list of other books to try, and websites that give more information.

How many hours a week does your child watch TV? Wouldn't be great for them to know how difficult one man had to work to create the TV? Talk to you child about inventions, ask them to imagine what they would want to invent, if they had a chance. Think about how different our lives are with the television.

Humpty Dumpty Climbs Again

2010-04-27T15:17:00.000-05:00

By Dave Horowitz
Grades 1-2
This book takes well known nursery rhymes, mixes them together, and creates a story about conquering your fears. Humpty Dumpty has a fall but recovers after the doctor tends to him. However, he is scared and doesn't see the point of climbing walls or doing anything. He sits at home and watches TV in his underwear. After a spider scares him out of his house, Humpty Dumpty ventures out to the wall again. He finds that the King's horse has gotten stuck and needs help. Humpty Dumpty rises to the occasion and saves the day.

Moral of the story, "...from that day on, Humpty Dumpty never climbed again with out the proper safety equipment. Or pants."

This is a very funny book. The font is large and easy to read. The pictures match the theme and style of the book perfect. There is a good storyline that children will be somewhat familiar with and will get the jokes. The pictures and story aren't too feminine or masculine.

All in all, it is just a great picture book.

What Sisters Do Best & What Brothers Do Best By Laura Numeroff

2010-04-23T16:30:00.002-05:00

This delightful flip book by renowned author-illustrator team Laura Numeroff and Lynn Munsinger, celebrates all the wonderful things brothers and sisters can do together.

After reading what brothers do best, simply flip the book over and enjoy the story again from a sister's perspective! With charming mirrored text and adorable illustrations, this exciting follow-up to the best-selling What Mommies Do Best/What Daddies Do Best and What Grandmas Do Best/What Grandpas Do Best is sure to appeal to any child who has or wishes for a brother or sister to play with.

A perfect story to read aloud or give as a gift to any new little brother or sister! Lynn Munsinger's illustrations for these stories are just fun and so child friendly.

Poppy's Pants By Melissa Conroy

2010-04-23T16:16:00.001-05:00

Penelope's poppy always wears khaki pants. When he finds a hole in one pair, he asks Penelope to patch it up. Penelope likes to sew . . . but this is a big job. Penelope struggles, but with a little help from her mama, she gets the job done.

Cute illustations of the dolls through out the story called wooberry's dolls (Penelope and Poppy). It's a cute story about a little girl and her poppy and how she like to sew and he gives her a pair that has a hole to fix. She discovers that this whole is harder to repair than she thought. The dolls and illustrations are cute but, I was disappointed with the overall story.