A simple repetitive picture on the left page demonstrates a pattern accompanied by 3 or 4 sentences of description on the right page. This occurs 9 times in this 7.25 x 6.25 inch book, just right for small hands. Some of the sets include: toy plastic animals, children clapping and snapping fingers, toy matchbox cars, cookies, and pairs of shoes.
The book is divided into four parts: What Comes Next?, Patterns You Can Hear, Patterns You Can See, and Number Patterns.
Larf
Author: Spires, Ashley, 1978-
Publisher:Kids Can Press,Pub date:2012.
Pages:1v.(unpaged):bcol.ill.;ISBN:9781554537013
Age recommendation: K -3rd grade.
Plot Synopis: Larf is a Sasquatch living alone in the woods. He thinks he is the only one in the world and likes it that way. He happy alone and enjoys gardening, walking his pet bunny and jogging. He has no desire to be discovered or go to a noisy city, until one day he hears a Sasquatch will make an appearance in a nearby city. Larf decides he must meet this other Sasquatch. He puts on a disguise and heads for the city to discover a few surprises.
What I like about it and who would enjoy it: Ashley Spires has a talent for creating quirky characters and fun stories such as Binky the cat. The story of Larf could be enjoyed by any child and has a Northwest connection. I don’t think it is quite as appealing as the “Binky the cat” series.
Title: No room for Dessert
Author: Durand, Hallie.
Publisher:Atheneum Books for Young Readers,
Pub date:c2011.
Pages:177 p. :
ISBN:9781442403604
Age recommendation: grade 2nd and 3rd.
Plot Synopsis: This is the third book about a third grader named Dessert who likes sweet things.
In this story, Dessert is feeling crowded out and ignored by her parents due to the over-whelming demands of her 3 younger siblings, her 4 year old sister who is going through a phase and her wild twin brothers she calls “the beasties.” When she comes home from school she finds her own masterpiece coloring sheets covered up by her siblings’ work on the fridge! Worst of all at dinner time she gets the smallest portions! To gain back her parents affections, Dessert concocts a plan to win them back. She enters an invention contest honoring Thomas Edison at her school. She surely could gain back her parent’s attention with her “smarty” invention ideas!
What I like about it and who would enjoy it: I haven’t read the first two books and cannot speak to their quality, but book 3 in the series is episodic and the writing is clunky. I gave it a 50 page try, but the story never took hold. This may appeal to fans of Ramona, Junie B. and Clementine.
Looking at Lincoln
Kalman, Maira
Nancy Paulsen Books 2012
9780399240393
Ages recommended: Grade 2 -4 “Looking at Lincoln” would appeal to children and adults looking for a more whimsical and light-hearted introduction to our 16th President. It would also be great for a family taking their young children to D. C. for a vacation.
Plot Synopsis: With bright colors and bold, simple artwork, Kalman introduces you to Abe Lincoln, our sixteenth President. Each page spread offers one or two interesting facts that illuminate his life –from his face on the five dollar bill, to his love of Mozart, his writing of the Emancipation proclamation to his death at the hands of an assassin.
What I liked about it and who would enjoy it: This would be a great introduction to our sixteenth president for 2nd or 3rd grade. Students will learn a lot about him in this short biography. The marriage of text & illustrations would make a great read aloud in the classroom. Kalman has done her homework with notes and sources.
Father Abraham: Lincoln and his sons
Harold Holzer
Calkins Creek 2011
9781590783030
Age Recommended for: 5th grade and up. (This is an excellent and readable history for young people.)
Plot Synopsis: Abraham Lincoln became President when our country was divided over the slavery issue. He also lived in a household almost as divided. Abe and Mary Todd Lincoln were parents to four lively and energetic boys. The parenting styles of Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd couldn’t have been more different. He was calm, but also often absent in his children’s lives. Mary Todd Lincoln was hysterical at times, but demonstrative. They both indulged their children way too much to the chagrin of relatives and neighbors! The story follows the Lincolns family history from the birth of their boys to their lives in the White House and afterwards – following four generations of Lincolns. The text includes archival photographs, bibliography, primary source material and index.
What I liked about it and who would enjoy it: Anyone who likes well-written and readable history! What is amazing about reading history is how the problems of previous times are so similar to today. Lincoln was the absentee father and Mary was the neglected wife. There was so much fear and uncertainty that they lived with during their time, as we do today. I learned a lot about what the Lincoln family had to endure during that time, including the fact it was too dangerous for Lincoln and his family to travel together to Washington D. C. for the inauguration! You have to ask yourself why anyone would want to take on the Presidency during that time. Sadly, the Lincoln line died out in the 4th generation. Author Harold Holzer is a leading authority on Lincoln and has written 35 books about him. “Father Abraham: Lincoln and his sons” is a NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children.
The title Cool Campers says exactly what this book is about, school is over for summer and two best friends are going to summer camp together. But before they leave, they hear that they were the only two kids from their class not invited to a pool party. They can’t believe they are so unpopular, and make it their priority to be cool, popular kids while at camp and hope it’ll last til school starts again. Once at camp, they seem to be put in a cabin with all nerds, and even their teen counselor seems a little nerdy. Also, some schoolmates are also at camp and continue their bullying and harassment. They learn some invaluable life lessons from one another and have the best summer of their lives, while learning to like themselves for what they are. I loved this story!
Double Dog Dare is the story of a class of 4th graders, two of whom want the same thing. The Media Club meets before school. They are responsible for broadcasting a school news show seen by all students. Francine wants the job of news anchor, but so does a Kansas, a student who just moved to their school. In order to decide who gets the job, the club decides that whomever completes the most class dares gets it. For two weeks, Francine and Kansas get themselves into crazy situations of having to do weird things. Towards the end of the dare period, the club’s camera accidentally gets broken, so the whole point of it is over. Francine and Kansas, sworn enemies, must now work together to win a contest to earn money to buy a new camera. They find out that they actually have quite a bit in common. The dares are funny but something I’d expected more from sixth graders. This realistic story should be a hit with students, but if it isn’t, it’s because of the book jacket’s cover art is pretty lame and unappealing.
Charming book with dual languages! This would be perfect in a bi-lingual class, or even a class with one bi-lingual student. What is most appreciated about this collection of traditional little monkey stories, is that each line is English and then under nead it , in a different color, is Spanish. It is so easy to compare the two languages and encourage LEARNING and understanding both languages. Darling illustrations team up with the bilingual text to make this a winning book. Unexpected and delightful, in the back of the book is an “about the author” piece, written in both languages, some lessons on drawing monkeys, and the music and words for a sing-a-long. Highly Recommended.
This a great little nonfiction book, which will appeal to younger readers. The visual formatting is appealing, and it has pictures of real police cars, including the engine, the computer system inside, and parts of the car. It also includes some early photographs of some of the first police cars and paddy wagons from early 20th century. In the back is the glossary of vocabulary words and additional resources. Unexpected was the hands-on art project to make your own siren at home using a cup and some wax paper. Nice touch of integrating an art activity with the learning. Recommended,
The formatting of this book is appealing, a good mixture of picture, caption, text, and color. Also, appreciated is the content, it has some “meat” to it. Not just one or two facts per page, but some short paragraphs to read. The younger readers will appreciate the graphic imagery and pick out some reading, and the intermediate students can read the text. It makes this book even more valuable in a K-5 library. The expected glossary, and addition resources are in the back. This is a facthound.com book, as well. Recommended.