This is a wonderful illustration of how our moods and feelings can rub off on others, and how we can help others by having a positive attitude. It is full of beautiful verbal images. It would be a fun read for a wide age group. I liked the story.
Author Archives: SSBRC Former Member
Little Red Riding Hood
This is the traditional story of little Red Riding Hood who disobeys her mother and talks to strangers in the woods. In the end little red is alive and grandmother is found alive. but the wolf dies of fright.
Gun Safety
This is a great book of gun safety. There is a lot of information on the correct use and handling of guns. I like the golden rules of guns, remember to treat every firearm as if it were loaded. Your gun should only be loaded when you intend to fire it. There are guns around, we have military and hunters so children see guns and should know the safety of guns.
I like the pictures that go with the text, they are bright and easy to look at. The information is good and tells many things that a person should know about a gun. There is a glossary and a web site in the back of the book. There is a table of content in the front of the book.
The King Who Wouldn’t Sleep
This picture book is a fairy tale about a king who wouldn’t sleep because he was worried about finding the perfect prince for his daughter. Many princes came to court the princess and were turned away. Finally, a simple farmer outwitted the king by tricking him into counting sheep. The king fell asleep and the princess married the farmer and lived happily ever after. The story was cute and the illustrations were very entertaining. The illustrator used a cartoon-ish style and the expressions on the characters were humorous. The drawings were detailed and brightly colored. This book will appeal to my many young students who love princess books.
Dear Cinderella
This picture book is a fun twist on the Snow White and Cinderella fairy tales. The classic story lines for both fairy tales are told in letters written between Snow White and Cinderella, who are pen pals. The language and style of the letters make them believable as written between young girls hopeful to be rescued from their wicked step mothers by a handsome prince. The ending is fun, a double wedding for these princesses. The illustrations are colorful, detailed and engaging. This book is a great read-aloud.
The Birthday Cake Mystery
This is a wordless picture book filled with pages of detailed illustrations depicting several mysteries at once. The setting is a park on a sunny day where a kid’s birthday party is in progress. All the characters are animals dressed and behaving like humans. The illustrations comically tell the stories of the progression of the birthday party, a stolen necklace, the baking of the birthday cake and several other sub plots. There is a group of mischievous monkeys, a tantruming party guest, and some very suspicious-looking rats. This book could be enjoyed by a wide range of ages since reading is not required and the clues for the various mysteries range from obvious to subtle. I think it is one that children would pick up again and again to discover some new detail each time.
Hiking
This is a wonderful informative book about the out door sport of hiking. There are wonderful things to see along the way. Through the forest and into the meadow. You don’t have to travel far to find a trailhead. You have to prepare for all possible conditions to be ready for a hike. Water is very important when hiking. When you hike you should leave no trace that you were there.
There is a glossary in the back with a “To Learn Move” page. There is also an index and in the f ront is a table of content.
Just Behave, Pablo Picasso!
Synopsis: At an early age Pablo Picasso was an amazing painter! When he was in art class, students twice his age were amazed how fast he could paint. Pablo completes an oil painting while they are still working on sketches. Just as soon as he masters one style of painting, he moves on and paints something completely different and is soon mastering that style too. People love it and demand more of the same! His success makes him rich! Pablo continues to change his style and his next painting is so different that the public calls it ugly! It doesn’t look like anything they recognize! “Behave Picasso!” they tell him. He refuses to copy himself and declares that, “The chief enemy of creativity is good sense!”
What I liked about it and who would enjoy it: This is a perfect match of story and illustration. I especially loved the recreations of Picasso’s early paintings. The story conveys Picasso’s vibrant creativity and drive. Hand this to young artists for inspiration and art teachers to share with their students.
Tabby McTat: The musical cat
Synopsis: 
Fred the street singer and musician and his cat Tabby McTat are purr-fectly happy singing or “busking” for tips in the town square. One day while the cat is roaming, Fred is robbed of his money and chases the thief, breaks his leg and ends up in the hospital. When Tabby returns Fred is gone. Tabby finally wanders away and finds a new home with a family, but he never forgets Fred.
What I liked about it and who would like it: This a lovely story about a long lasting friendship. Scheffler’s illustrations have great appeal, especially the cat and kitten faces. Also look for interesting detail in drawings and the clever “cat” endpapers that look like they are stamped on the book! On a whole this is a very enjoyable story and cleverly illustrated.
Case of the Deadly Desperados
Synopsis: In 1862, 12 year old P. K. Pinkerton discovers his foster parents murdered in their cabin near Virginia City. He exhibits no grief because of his autism. But he has the sense that his own life is in danger when he discovers that the notorious outlaw Whittlin’ Walt is responsible for the murders. He flees to Virginia City, where he meets a motley crew from the history of the era: Sam Clemens, a soiled dove (prostitute), Chinamen, and a card shark. Constantly on the run, Pinkerton bounces from bar room, to newspaper office, to opium den and down a mine shaft with Whittlin’ Walt closing in.
What I like about it and who would enjoy it: This is the first book in Caroline Lawrence’s new series: Western mysteries. The story moves along well and has qualities of an Indiana Jones story that will keep kids turning the pages. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend this title. The appeal of this book is young; perhaps third or fourth grade, but adult situations in the story make it inappropriate for a younger age. Sixth graders and older will think the title too young. Recommended for large public library collections where Caroline Lawrence has a following.