Okay, so you don’t need me to tell you these books are recommended for school libraries.  Their legendary popularity speaks for itself.  However, let it be known that my recommendation has more to do with how popular I know them to be with kids than with my own opinion of the writing.  When it comes down to it, it’s the kids’ opinions that matter.  It took SSBRC to get me to finally read a complete one of these books, with the impetus that it would be good for me to educate myself as to what it is the kids are reading.  The character, and the situations he faces, are relateable, but the writing babbles on like a rambling string-of-consciousness.  Even reading silently, I felt out of breath, as if I’d spent two hours listening to a motor-mouth who doesn’t stop for breath, or require any response, but just shares non-stop every thought in his/her head, no matter what tangents they go down.

Eloise finds living in The Plaza hotel has its perks as she watches the Grand Ballroom being prepared for a wedding. When Eloise announces she is going to the wedding, Nanny says, ”  ‘No one asked you to go.’  ”

After Eloise’s bath, “Nanny says, ‘If you are very good you may see the bride.’  ”   Now, (illustrator- Katherine Mitter has) Eloise off and running in her pink bathrobe down to the Grand Ballroom to see the bride. Eloise discovers the bride is crying because her flower girl is sick. Eloise to the rescue, pink bathrobe and all.

Take three friends, a cute boy, a slightly goofy stepsister and a hypnotist and they all add up to a breathless, crazy sleepover. Will Meghan, Paige, Anna Marie and Veronica be able to fix everything – even Meghan’s missing left eyebrow? What about the mascot from the rival school and the chicks in the bathtub? Things can’t be any more exciting than this…or can they?
This is a fun, fairly benign tween story about a sleepover that goes wonky with a tiny bit of romance to spice it up. The characters are believable and their antics would make any parent giggle and shudder at the same time. A fast read – recommended.

Looking for a rollicking account of the old Red Riding Hood story? Look no farther than Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion by Alex T. Smith!
Little Red is on a mission to Auntie Rosie’s house to bring her some medicine for her outbreak of spots. Along the way, she encounters playful African animals of every sort. The bad guy, a lion in this case, sees Little Red and hatches a very naughty plan in which he will end up eating Little Red AND Auntie Rosie (for dessert).
Well, Little Red can spot this rather poor actor from a mile away and decides to teach that naughty lion a lesson! In the end, he promises to never ever eat another auntie or any children…but, what about daddy?
Bold colors and cartoon-like art are full of energy. Kids will laugh out loud at Little Red’s ability to thwart that naughty lion at every turn with wit and humor. She’s one tough Little Red! Add this one to your collection!

Sherlock Holmes never looses its appeal and this version of him is still going strong in this republished story.

Basil and Doctor Dawson learn how to be great detectives through observing the great Sherlock Holmes, himself. The reader discovers that Basil and Dr. Dawson are mice that live in Sherlock Holmes’ building. Basil and Dawson often sit quietly in the corner of Sherlock’s apartment as they discuss their cases. Now, Basil and Dawson are called in to find twin mice who did not return home after school. Basil chides Dr. Dawson, ” ‘You are not making full use of your deductive powers.’ ” (24) after the ransom note is delivered for the twins release. Using a magnifying glass on the dirt left behind from the messenger’s boots, Basil is on the trail to find the missing children. Basil and Dawson disguised as seamen gain more information by casually talking with the innkeeper in a seaport town. Later, they set a trap for the kidnappers by talking just loud enough so they will definitely be heard while eating dinner at the cafe. What the kidnappers do not know is that Basil has gotten the local constable involved in the plan. Basil and Dr. Dawson rescue the twins, but not without a scratch or two to themselves.

The reader will enjoy the text along with the pencil sketches, in every chapter, giving the reader a look at fashion and decor from the late 1800s.

Introduction to the next book- Basil and the Cave of Cats.

Spring has sprung and Nanny informs Eloise she needs a new hat. Eloise tries on all the different hats worn by the employees of The Plaza hotel where she lives on the “tippy-top floor”. Each time Nanny comes up with a reason why the hat is not suitable: too tall (chef’s), no brim ( room service’s), and not colorful enough (bell captain’s). Finally, Nanny brings out a hat box just for Eloise with a hat that meets all of the requirements. Precocious as ever Eloise, ” ‘ Oh, I love, love, love hats!’ “

Chloe Zoe, the little elephant, remembers  making special cupcakes, a heart wand, and fancy paper flowers last year for Valentine’s Day. This year, Chloe Zoe’s class made shoe box mailboxes. Chloe Zoe has a valentine for all her classmates. She is making three extra special ones for her two best friends and teacher. When it is Chloe Zoe’s turn to hand out her valentines, George’s is missing. Tears form in her eyes. The entire class helps her look for it. George tells Chloe Zoe, ” ‘ You and Mary Margaret are my best friends. I know that even without a special valentine.’ ” Just then, Mary Margaret finds George’s special valentine stuck to the bottom of Chloe Zoe’s backpack from all of the glue she’d used. Everyone cheers.

Jane Smith’s artwork is simple yet strikingly intricate, too.  The brightly colored solid blanket on the bed has stripes where it is turned down by the pillows. Half of the valentines are solid color with black outline, while the other half each have a unique design. Chloe Zoe’s ears are patterned with diamond stars and white polka dots, while the rest of her body is a solid yellow. Each elephant has a different pattern on their ears. The balance between solids and patterns is very pleasing to the eye!

Chloe Zoe, the elephant, is celebrating all the secular customs of Easter. Chloe Zoe is sure she will find the special golden egg this year at the park’s Easter egg hunt. Her friends each have a particular item they want to find at the egg hunt.  Mary Margaret, the crocodile, wants only  pink eggs, her favorite color. Later, when Mary Margaret’s basket is still empty Chloe Zoe gives her pink egg to Mary Margaret. “After all, I think, there’s still plenty of time to find the golden egg.” George, the giraffe, and Chloe Zoe help Mary Margaret find pink eggs. Then, Mary Margaret finds the gold egg and Chloe Zoe’s “cheeks get hot”. Chloe Zoe’s mother comforts her with, ” ‘look at all the goodies you did find– eggs, toys, and candy!’ ” Chloe Zoe realizes, ” ‘ I am having a lot of fun, especially finding pink eggs for Mary Margaret…’ “.    When Mary Margaret opens the golden egg there are three sparkling gold coins, ” Three coins for three best friends.”

Looking forward to reading It’s Valentine’s Day, Chloe Zoe! to see if it has as wonderful a message about friendship as this book’s.

Jane Smith’s artwork is simple yet strikingly intricate, too.  The brightly colored solid pink blanket on the bed has pink stripes where it is turned down by the pillows. Half of the colored Easter eggs are solid colors with black outline, while the other half each have a unique design. Chloe Zoe’s ears are patterned with diamond stars and white polka dots, while the rest of her body is a solid yellow. Each elephant has a different pattern on their ears and each giraffe has a different pattern for their spots. The balance between solids and patterns is very pleasing to the eye!

It’s a book about digging your way out of a bad mood.  Child-like art accompanies the tale of a girl’s giant bear helping her accomplish her to-do list, which includes such things as driving to the moon, polishing stars, and finding a baby unicorn.  If you do decide to purchase a copy for your library, I would recommend either finding a library-bound copy or settling for a paperback, since the publisher’s hardcover is sewn so loosely it’s going to fall apart quickly.

It definitely has the cuteness factor going for it:  full of fluffy baby animals with over-sized heads and big eyes.  It’s not really a book to be read to self — it’s really intended as a book for a parent to read to a small child:  it’s a litany of, “Next to you, the softest puppy in the world is only kind of cute,” and more of that ilk.  It would get a certain amount of traffic in a school library just because of the cuteness factor, but it seems more like a book you give as a gift at a baby shower.