EDIE'S ENSEMBLES by Ashley Spires

Edie becomes consumed by creating attention-grabbing ensembles to the neglect of her friend. I love Ashley Spires' work! The illustrations here are just precious. The main theme of the story is "be yourself." This could be a great read aloud for bedtime or for classroom use.

3 out of 5 stars
No AR reading level at this time

* I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher for free in the hope that I would review it honestly on my blog. Regardless, I only review books I enjoyed. I don’t believe in passing on negative reviews. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

IF: A MIND-BENDING NEW WAY OF LOOKING AT BIG IDEAS AND NUMBERS by David J. Smith

Concepts like the vastness of the universe, broken down into relatable concepts - like all the world's water represented by 100 drinking glasses or the planets represented by balls. This book translates things that are hard to fathom into images we can grasp.

I loved this book!! Colorful, interesting illustrations. Fascinating facts. I would read a hundred books like this - this is such a cool idea! This would be fantastic for science discussions, classroom use, car rides, and curious kids. This makes me want to check out other books by this author, pictured below.

5 out of 5 stars
No AR reading level at this time

      


* I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher for free in the hope that I would review it honestly on my blog. Regardless, I only review books I enjoyed. I don’t believe in passing on negative reviews. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

JUMP! by Julia Dweck

The message of this book is to think outside the box as "Jack" discovers a world of jumping outside of his broken jack-in-the-box box. Bouncing, rhyming text fit the bouncing story. Illustrations are brightly colored and appealing. This would be fun book to read out loud!

3.5 out of 5 stars
No AR reading level at the time of this writing



* I received an electronic copy of this book from the author for free in the hope that I would review it honestly on my blog. Regardless, I only review books I enjoyed. I don’t believe in passing on negative reviews. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

BELCHES, BURPS, AND FARTS, OH MY! by Artie Bennett

A funny book with rhyming text all about burps, belches and farts. Includes facts about why we burp and fart both in the content of the book and also in the end notes. I got a kick out of reading this to my husband; I know students will love this, too. I can't imagine reading it out loud to a class, though, because the cackling might make it hard to do more than a page or two at a time.

4 out of 5 stars
No AR reading level at this time


* I received an electronic copy of this book from the author for free in the hope that I would review it honestly on my blog. Regardless, I only review books I enjoyed. I don’t believe in passing on negative reviews. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

GOODNIGHT FOOTBALL by Michael Dahl

A family enjoys an evening football game.

This was so cute! The text is fairly simple. The illustrations are lovely, with great color. There's no definition of the football terms (sack, third and one, end zone); it is not an informational text (but it could have been with a little tweaking). The goal was obviously to write a goodnight story and an ode to football, family and fun at the game. The family at the center of the story seems to be African-American, and the crowd illustrations show some diversity. Bottom line: This is a cozy lap book, perfect for football season. It would work for fans of high school, college and/or professional football.

4 out of 5 stars
AR Reading level of 1.8

* I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher for free in the hope that I would review it honestly on my blog. Regardless, I only review books I enjoyed. I don’t believe in passing on negative reviews. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

THIS IS A MOOSE by Richard T. Morris

What starts as a simple movie shoot about a moose quickly gets out of hand when none of the animals act like they should.

Fun!! Includes a great glossary of film terms at the end. I especially enjoyed the illustrations. This will be a fun read aloud for home or school.

Four out of five stars
AR reading level of 1.9.

THE GRAND CANYON by Marion Bauer and WHOSE TAIL ON THE TRAIL AT GRAND CANYOn by Midji Stephenson

A simple early reader describing the Grand Canyon and the factors that helped create it. Three out of five stars. AR reading level of 2.4.

A fun rhyming book showcasing the animals found in the Grand Canyon area including snakes, mule deer and porcupines. There are no end notes about the animals so this book is really just an introduction and not anything especially factual about the animals. Four out of five stars.

I picked these up this past summer when we were traveling in Arizona and visited the Grand Canyon. I thought they would be fun additions to our school library. I hope my students enjoy them as much as I did.

NAUGHTY KITTY! by Adam Stower

Lily, the little girl from Silly Doggy, is back. Her quest for a pet is now complete - her mom got her a kitty. For such a small kitten, Kitty sure causes a lot of trouble.

This is a great follow-up to the hilarious Silly Doggy. This time, an escaped tiger causes a lot of trouble, and Kitty always gets the blame. This will make a fun read- aloud and a great addition to any home or school library.

4 out of 5 stars
No AR level at the time of this writing

BEEKLE by Dan Santat and SPARKY! by Jenny Offill

   

These are two fun pictures books I read this summer.

Beekle is an imaginary critter who waits and waits to be claimed by a child, but after waiting for a while, Beekle heads out to find his friend for himself.

When a girl wants a pet, a sloth fits all of Mom's requirements. Sparky is not a stereotypical "great pet," but he is just right all the same.

The illustrations for both of these books are what grabbed my attention. I love Dan Santat's work anyway, and Beekle is just darling. Sparky has been getting a lot of attention in book-related media - and for good reason. He is adorable!! Pick these up for the illustrations, stay for the sweet stories!

4 out of 5 stars for both books
AR reading level for Beekle is 2.3
AR reading level for Sparky is 3.0

I AM ROSA PARKS by Brad Meltzer

This is book three in Brad Meltzer's fabulous Ordinary People Change the World series. I love these biographies because they focus on character qualities rather than just a recitation of life events. In this volume, the famous story of Rosa on the bus is just one example in a series of situations in which she stands up personally and/or publicly for what is right.

I highly recommend this series for school libraries and elementary classrooms. These are short enough to read aloud to a class. Perfect for close reading/active literacy and also for classroom units on kindness and other character qualities.

5 out of 5 stars
No AR level at the time of this writing

Future stories in this series:
     
   Sept 16, 2014             Jan 8, 2015

PARDON ME! by Daniel Miyares

A little bird is annoyed and put out when other animals start encroaching on his perch, but he is in for a surprise!

This reminded me of the brilliant I Want My Hat Back and was one of my favorite picture books from this summer. Very simple, yet very clever story. I might also pair this one with Scowl and talk about character and moods, and how books can help readers think about emotions.

5 out of 5 stars!
No AR rating at this time

KEL GILLIGAN'S DAREDEVIL STUNT SHOW by Michael Buckley

Kel Gilligan has no fear. He'll tackle broccoli, bath time and dressing himself before his biggest daredevil stunt ever - bed time!

Delightfully unexpected! I had seen some buzz about this book on Twitter. I love the author's and illustrator's work already and this collaboration was especially excellent. When my son saw who put this book together, he said, "Two great guys did this one!" This was tremendously funny! The bare-bottom picture alone will garner great laughs!

4 out of 5 stars
AR reading level of 2.0

I AM ABRAHAM LINCOLN/I AM AMELIA EARHART by Brad Meltzer

   

These picture books highlight moments in the early life of our 16th president and Amelia Earhart that pointed to the people they would become. The Lincoln book is a great book about character, bravery and speaking up for those without a voice. The Earhart book emphasizes the people who said she couldn't do something and then watching her do it anyway. Both books have a great message and both are very inspiring.

5 out of 5 stars for both!
AR reading levels: 3.3 for Lincoln and 3.0 for Earhart

The next two books in the series release in June and September respectively
   

THE MOST MAGNIFICENT THING by Ashely Spires

A girl and her dog work and work to create something magnificent but nothing goes right!

This was a treat from start to finish. And the "start" came on the copyright page where the author referenced the difficulties in bringing the book to life. So funny! This is a fantastic story about perseverance! This could be a great read-aloud for students who enjoy art or writing or music - or Lego building or sports or other things that require perseverance - and need a little encouragement.

5 out of 5 stars
AR reading level of 2.9

TIGER TALES WEEK - Picture Books, Day 2

This is the last day for picture books, and the last day of Tiger Tales spring releases. Thanks again to the fantastic publisher, Tiger Tales, for the opportunity to review these excellent books!



Two little mice want to grow a tall sunflower for Mommy. Sweet story, great soft/cuddly illustrations. Nice depiction of the enthusiasm and "right now" attitudes of young children. Lovely. 4 stars



Mole loves to label everything he sees, but one object he labels doesn't behave at all the way Mole expects. Cutest book ever! I loved this one! Such a clever friendship story. Highly recommended! 5 stars



Two friends, Big and Small spend a day together and each ends up needing a little help from his friend. Darling illustrations by Jane Chapman. 4 stars



Scowl is a grump and all the other animals try to get him to just be happy. The artwork is excellent and the cover really captures your attention. In my experience, middle elementary students (3rd/4th grade) really "get" Scowl. I was able to have a great conversation with students about how it feels to be in a grouchy mood and have others try to make you be happy. I highly recommend this one! 5 stars

* I received these books from the publisher for free in the hope that I would review them honestly on my blog. Regardless, I only review books I enjoyed. I don’t believe in passing on negative reviews. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

TIGER TALES WEEK - Picture Books, Day 1

Lots of great picture books coming from Tiger Tales this spring. In fact, there are so many I'm going to review some today and the rest tomorrow.



Jack trades his cow for gold and his gold for jellybeans. The beans grow a beanstalk that leads Jack to a giant. Cute, colorful illustrations. Small twist to familiar story. 3 stars



Sweet story of a toddler reveling in finding things he can do for himself, but he struggles when there are things he still can't do. Textured cover and pages. Same bear and bunny as the padded board book about using the potty. 4 stars



As Douglas helps one of his friends he starts to feel lonely because he doesn't have a best friend. Sweet friendship story from familiar characters. 4 stars



A spectacular dog living with a grumpy family who doesn't appreciate him runs away to become all he can be. Other than running away, the dog shows great initiative and compassion, and his skills lead him to a family who will love him. 3 stars



Sweet book about all the wonderful things moms are. Clever, great illustrations. Set up to be used as a gift book, including a dedication page. 3 stars

* I received these books from the publisher for free in the hope that I would review them honestly on my blog. Regardless, I only review books I enjoyed. I don’t believe in passing on negative reviews. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

PIGEON NEEDS A BATH by Mo Willems

The pigeon is filthy and smelly. The flies have started to gather, and even they think he needs a bath! But he is going to need a good bit of convincing.

Classic Mo Willems and Pigeon fare will entertain fans. There's a page where the pigeon stalls over getting in the tub by changing the water level and temperature several times, so each picture is a small portion of the page. This is difficult to enjoy as a read aloud to a class (I just read each frame to my students, but they couldn't really enjoy the pictures). It would be more fun to read side by side with a child or for the child to read on his/her own.

4 out of 5 stars
AR reading level of 1.3

SURFER CHICK by Kristy Dempsey

A chick longs to surf like her dad, but on her first try, she wipes out. Will she have the courage to try again?

This was one of our book fair picture books. The colors in the illustrations brought thoughts of warm beaches and summer days - just what this winter needed. It is a story of perseverance, which sends a great message to kids.

4 out of 5 stars
AR Reading level of 2.8

TIGER TALES WEEK - picture books, part 2

    

    

Thanks once again to the awesome folks at Tiger Tales Publishers for sharing the fall releases with me. I have been so impressed with this company from the beginning. 

Abigail - Abigail the giraffe loves to count, but Zebra eats the leaves she's counting and Cheetah runs too fast to count his spots. When she finally finds something to count, she discovers her friends are not good counters, so she teaches them how. The illustrations are what make this book shine. The pictures are fantastic! The pacing is nice and slow and the counting piece is not too intense. This is probably my favorite book in the entire fall release catalog from Tiger Tales.

The Coziest Place - A bear family celebrates cozy moments during winter - warm soup, cocoa, warm pjs, stories, snuggling. This was lovely. Perfect reading for a snow day!

I Don't Want to Go to Bed - Little Tiger doesn't want to go to bed and he hassles his momma so much that she finally gives in and tells him he can stay up all night. Little Tiger goes to visit all his friends, and their moms and dads ask why Little Tiger isn't getting ready for bed. Finally when Little Tiger finds himself all alone in the dark jungle, he finds another critter up late at night who leads Little Tiger back to his mother. A very sweet bedtime book. 

No! - Little Otto loves his new word, "No!" But he soon learns that his no means he misses out on a lot of important things when he always says no. This would be a good book for parents who have kids who have discovered the joy of "no."

100 First Animals - Yes, this is a board book, but it is picture book-sized. Each page has 7 flaps. The animal focus with the bright colors and beautiful pictures makes this an awesome book. This would make a great gift book!

TIGER TALES WEEK - Picture Books, part 1

    
    

Thanks once again to the awesome folks at Tiger Tales Publishers for sharing the fall releases with me. I have been so impressed with this company from the beginning. 

5 Minute Farm Tales - Lots of small stories - just the right size for nap time or filler. Different illustration styles with each story. 

Harry and the Monster - a boy plagued by a monster in his dreams tries different things to make the monster less scary. Really cute. One of my favorites in this batch of board books.

Elephantantrum! - Ellie, a demanding little girl, decided she wanted an elephant and she wouldn't take no for an answer. Once she had the elephant, the elephant acted like Ellie and Ellie didn't like it one bit! In time, Ellie learns to get along with her elephant. The ending was a little abrupt in this one, but I did like the premise of a child seeing her behavior when it is directed at her.

Copycat Bear! - Mango the bird is annoyed at Blue the bear who copies her all the time. Eventually they find a way to be friends. This is a sweet story. The illustrations are amazing - just look at that cover!

Pi-Rat! - Pi-Rat and his friends enjoy the freedom of pirate life - until Pi-Rat meets his match. Laughed out loud at the end of this! Another favorite!

One Special Christmas - Santa asks Hedgehog to help deliver presents for Christmas. Each page has a fuzzy red hat that kids will love to touch as they go through the story.