Randy Kazandy Where are your Glasses?

Randy needed glasses to see better, but he does not want to wear them.  He finds ways to lose the or get them broken, but each time his mother has another pair for him to put on.  She bought four extra pairs!  When he thought he has done away with all four of them his . . . → Read More: Randy Kazandy Where are your Glasses?

Boy with Pink Hair, The

This is a super story.  It shows the positive side of being different, and that our uniqueness can be a good thing to share with others.  It is positive and full of love and acceptance, and shows how those qualities can also have a positive effect on others.

It is a great lesson for kids.  . . . → Read More: Boy with Pink Hair, The

Box, The

This is a cute story about using your imagination.  Many children use boxes to play with and make many this from a box.  In this story a boy named Kenny has a box that becomes many different things.  Even better than a new bike.

A great story about using your imagination.

Tricky Tarantulas

Divided into 2 sections, this book on unusual pets begins with basic facts.  Because there are often laws about owning unusual pets, the reader is advised to check state laws.  Facts include details about preferred environments, food, and care.  The second section is atypical of most animal fact books.  This section is a rhyming short . . . → Read More: Tricky Tarantulas

Tales for Very Picky Eaters

What a fun book!  James is a very picky eater – most families have one.  Dad needs to get inventive to entice his son to try meals.  Divided into 5 chapters, in the first, James is encouraged to eat broccoli or choose between the finest dirt, walked on by only the best chefs wearing deluxe . . . → Read More: Tales for Very Picky Eaters

Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns about Courage

This fun story is a great way to help children to learn how to overcome their fears.  The lessons at the back to help adults help the child work through their fears is very informative and helpful.

The pictures were fun, the story easy for a child to identify with, and very positive, even when . . . → Read More: Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns about Courage

Night Stalkers

Night Stalkers is an interesting and informative book about a special group of army soldiers.  The pictures are simple for young readers to understand.  This book is full of exciting and informative facts.  This is a book that boys or children with family in the military would especially enjoy.

Sophie’s Fish

This is a fun story with interesting pictures.  I like how it expresses many of the anxieties children and adults often feel when confronted with something new.  It is fun to see the creative solutions illustrated in the pictures.  This would be a fun book to share with children, or for them to read on . . . → Read More: Sophie’s Fish

Space Vehicles

This book has nice big pictures and print.  It is a simple explanation of space crafts, their functions, and destinations.  I liked the glossary at the end of the book.  It defined many of the words younger children may be unfamiliar with.

It would be a nice read for a science class, or for a . . . → Read More: Space Vehicles

B-2 Stealth Bombers

This is a simple clear book about an amazing plane.  Great for young readers.  The pictures are interesting and clear. The facts are easy to understand and supported with a glossary at the back.   It also has a table on contents and index, with a page of “To Learn More.”

Great read for young boys.

Just Grace and the Flower Girl Power

In this 8th book of the Just Grace adventures, Grace’s favorite neighbor is getting married and Grace is not chosen to be flower girl!  At first, Grace is crushed.  Then her indomitable personality takes over.  She gathers her friends and plans an unusual surprise for the wedding day.  Many large headings and fun cartoons are . . . → Read More: Just Grace and the Flower Girl Power

Just Grace and the Double Surprise

Energetic 8 year old Grace has humorous and insightful observations about life at home, in the neighborhood, and at school.  Next door, best friend Mimi’s family is in the process of adopting a younger sibling.  At the same time, Grace’s parents have finally agreed to get a dog for a pet.  For readers venturing into . . . → Read More: Just Grace and the Double Surprise

Brothers at bat: the true story of an amazing all-brother baseball team

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Summary:  Here’s a story that seems almost impossible to believe, but yet it is a true story about an American family.  The Acerra family had 16 children.  Twelve were boys, just enough to field a baseball team!  This was the 1930s, and times were tough, but they stuck together as a family.   They had . . . → Read More: Brothers at bat: the true story of an amazing all-brother baseball team

Heroes of the surf: A rescue story based on true events

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Summary:   Two boys playing “pirate” on a steamship off the coast of New Jersey in 1882 find themselves in real danger when their ship runs aground.   Hope is almost lost when waves are too high to lower the life boats.  Someone spots something on the horizon.  Is it pirates?   No, there are rescuers in . . . → Read More: Heroes of the surf: A rescue story based on true events

Claude Debussy: (First discovery – music)

Summary:  In an attractive “picture book” format, author Pierre Babin tells the story of musician Claude Debussy.  Claude was born in 1862 near Paris.  His early life wasn’t easy.  His parents owned a shop, but were not very good at business and they moved a lot.  Then Claude’s father is sent to prison for . . . → Read More: Claude Debussy: (First discovery – music)

Poem Runs: Baseball Poems and Paintings

The opening poem on the inside front flap – Let’s Play Ball! begins the inspired collection of poems all about baseball.  Florian takes the reader from opening season warm ups to end of season reminiscing. There is a poem for every player position – pitcher, catcher, first, second and third baseman, short stop, right . . . → Read More: Poem Runs: Baseball Poems and Paintings

Memorial Day

Primary, nonfiction book which explains the importance of Memorial Day, as celebrated by the people of the United States, to honor the people who served in the armed forces.  Honored are the ones who gave their lives, and also those who currently serve.  There is a suggestion to write a thank you note to people . . . → Read More: Memorial Day

Time to Recycle

The eight topics in the table of contents: Recycling, Collection, Glass, Metal, Plastic, Paper, At the Store, and Make Paper are accompanied by a well photographed landfill, garbage truck, recycle bins, recycling center with stacks of crushed cubes of squashed cans, a store shelf full of food products packaged in containers made from recycled paper, . . . → Read More: Time to Recycle

Recycling is Fun

Eight little couplets for young learners to recite and enjoy about dividing used packaging for curbside pickup, donating goods to second hand stores, and using old odds and ends to make toys and crafts.

Cheery vibrantly colorful pictures of young children placing plastic bottles, cans, and paper into recycling containers create the idea that children . . . → Read More: Recycling is Fun

Bless This Mouse

This is a novel set in Saint Bartholemew’s Catholic church.  The main characters are mice who scurry around foraging for food and trying to avoid detection by Father Murphy and his congregation in fear of “The Great X” (exterminator).  A few careless mice draw attention to their presence and the exterminator is scheduled.  Hildegarde, the . . . → Read More: Bless This Mouse

The Eagles are Back

This majestic picture book tells the story of the American Bald Eagle as it faced extinction and was brought back to stronger numbers by the care of wildlife experts and concerned citizens.  This book focuses on one concerned boy, who helped a ranger to pair up an eagle egg with a pair of bald eagles . . . → Read More: The Eagles are Back

Puppies and Kittens

This sturdy non-fiction picture book is a wonderful introduction to puppies and kittens.  The pages are thick to hold up well to the many little hands that will surely be turning them for years to come.  A good introduction to these common pets, topics include early development, care, training, safety, and playing.  The text is . . . → Read More: Puppies and Kittens

It’s a Pain to be a Princess!

I LOVED this fairytale about a princess who did not want to be a princess.  She threw down her crown and ventured out to the world to be a pirate, a knight and a minstrel.  This strong female character followed her dreams and succeeded in all she pursued.  She thought for herself and acted with . . . → Read More: It’s a Pain to be a Princess!

A Halloween Cookbook

This Halloween-themed cookbook is for especially young chefs.  Featuring seven recipes, a young hostess or host could prepare a fun and delicious 5 course Halloween meal plus a spooky drink.  The recipes are clearly presented with simple step-by-step instructions and photographs demonstrating each step.  The recipes have few ingredients but look very tasty.  Some basic . . . → Read More: A Halloween Cookbook

How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas

Manners are so important and this series does a nice job of presenting polite manners in contrast with bad ones, in various settings.  This book is set at Christmastime and features common Christmas activities.  The text is rhyming and comical and the illustrations are brilliantly colored and expressive.  Each dinosaur is subtly label in the . . . → Read More: How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas