You can pick it/You can kick it/You can throw away the core/You can toss it/You can sauce it/You can roll it on the floor. A fun, rhyming text describing the many things you can do with an apple. The pictures with simple cartoonish characters demonstrate the essence of the text. Repetitive sentence structure and rhythm with clear illustrations make this a good title for emerging readers.
Also available in the is series, What’s a Banana?
Yellow isn’t just a color, it is a time of year. Never mentioning to a specific season, this is a lovely celebration of autumn. All the senses are called into play with the crows announcing its coming, the scent of air, “like mud and dry grass with a sprinkle of sugar,” and the wind that blows the yellow sideways. The charming illustrations reinforce the joy and motion of the season and paired with rich descriptive language makes this a great read aloud.
I Dissent is a stellar biography of a highly accomplished woman as well as a concise introductory explanation of the role of the supreme court.
Ruth Bader was born in an era when a woman’s role revolved around the home and women were discouraged from pursuing careers. Through her actions she showed her disagreement and dissent to the limitation put on people because of their gender, religion, or race. Yet even when she strongly disagreed with others, for example fellow Supreme Court Judge Antonin Scalia, she showed that it need not stand in the way of friendship and respect.
The theme of dissent is a constant thread in the book. Throughout the book, complicated concepts are explained in clear but simplistic text bringing the intricacies of our complex judicial system to level for early elementary students. Illustrations are lively and colorful and Ruth’s expressions reinforce her opinions and strength of her character.
Back matter includes photographs, a more thorough biography, notes on court cases referenced in the book, extensive bibliography and quotation sources.
Ben wants nothing more than to have a beard. All of the coolest, “boss” people he knows have beards, including his dad. After creative experimentation with different ways to have something like a beard, including an incident with the permanent marker, Ben’s dad throws Ben for a loop when he cuts off his beard. This is not what Ben wants. A quick trip to the costume store helps solve the problem for both son and dad. The alliteration of “B”s throughout the text keep the story bouncing along. Another “boss” attribute is the line “Both of Bobby’s dads rocked boisterous beards.” It’s so refreshing to have this as seamless as any other line in a children’s picture book today. For this and many other reasons, Beard Boy is recommended for all libraries.
What happens when 10 different pigs bring their favorite foods to add to a sandwich? Using slant rhyme, Derek Anderson builds suspense as each pig throws in their item to become a towering meal. When the 11th pigs shows up, every pig is stopped in its tracks as there should only be 10 pigs total. What’s a wolf doing there? A silly ending is only the downfall of this super cute read, well maybe that and the choppy cadence. Still, the illustrations are amazing and will carry the story in young kids’ minds. Illustrator Derek Anderson, of Hot Rod Hamster fame, has produced his second “pig” book incorporating his own writing with his fabulous illustrations. Most kids will enjoy Ten Hungry Pigs.
The title and cover of Manners Are Not For Monkeys will draw young readers into this book instantly. I mean, who doesn’t like to see monkeys behaving badly? But the problem is that after a move to a cage near the children’s playground, the monkeys do the exact opposite. They start mimicking the children and use their manners. Their mother can’t stand this and orders then to chew with open mouths, screech loudly, drop food on the ground and swing around crazily. The little twist at the end of the story is a perfect finish for this fun review of good manners. Full-color illustration throughout, though this reader thinks they could be “cuter” — maybe cuter wouldn’t match the message. Regardless, it will be entertaining and is a worthy purchase if you have additional funds.
Well woven biographical sketches and social history lessons will open many eyes of students who pick up LGBTQ+ Athletes Claim the Field. Author Kirstin Cronn-Mills was able to capture both the agony and pride these athletes have felt in such a variety of sports. The unfortunate reality is that their athleticism is shadowed by their sexual orientation, whether they come out while still participating or in retirement, is surprisingly sad. Cronns-Mills portrays each athlete as the human being they are, with the same rights as the next person, yet those rights have to be fought for in court and in the court of people’s hearts. Gatekeepers are being challenged and toppled, from Major League teams to K-12 education policies. LGBTQ+ Athletes Claim the Field should make lists of recommended books for libraries for its well-rounded, primary source filled coverage of the issue.
Josh Baster states he’s the new kid in the “new town, new house, new school. And no player’s guide to give me the tips and tricks I need to make it through the year. This is one game I have to figure out how to beat on my own.” (1)
Josh eats, sleeps, and lives video games. It is not the best way to influence people. On the first day, Josh has a run-in with the top football player Schmittendorf, Josh’s new bully, whom the entire school is counting on to win the big football rivalry game for them. Bad grades at mid-term Josh’s mother takes away all of his video games and computer until the end of the quarter. “In every adventure game the character starts out at the bottom. A level-one scrub. No skills, powers, or magic items. And if I want to reach the top, to become the hero who could get the grades, beat the bullies, and maybe even impress the princess, there’s only one way. I have to grind my way through the levels. I need to learn the rulebook, earn the experience points, max out my stats, and level up.
I’ve been playing not to lose. It’s time to play to win.” (35)
This is how Josh acts and reacts to all of his real life situations, by comparing them to how videos games work. What would various video game characters do in this or that situation? The reference to evolving his math skills to Pokemon, made me chuckle. When Josh takes the advice of one character to stand up to bullies, Josh gets into it verbally with ‘Mittens’, who hits Josh in the head before teachers arrive on the scene. Both Josh and Mittens get detention. This means Mittens won’t being playing in the big football game. When the school looses the football game, the entire school seems to turn against Josh.
On the up side, this middle school holds a Video Game Decathlon as a fund raiser for the class trip each spring. Josh’s new student English tutor and her friends (the geeks of this story) want to win this year! Mittens and his video gaming group are able to turn the Video Game Decathlon theme into video sports games, which of course Josh’s new friends know basically nothing about. Josh convinces his new friends, one at a time, to enter the Video Game Decathlon because of his knowledge of sports gaming. When they win the Video Game Decathlon, Mittens is a gracious loser, a true sport.
The video gaming terms and themes give this book a fresh approach to school life and bullying!
Morgan is a rule breaker. And a liar. And a thief. And her parents have had enough. When the opportunity comes for them to send her to a “reform” school of sorts, she can’t believe her dad locked the door of the car after she gets out to walk into the airport. But Morgan is also super smart. And a quick thinker. And can make it on her own. Even if it means “borrowing” someone’s identity to fly across the country and become a girl named Janelle for the fall. In this new identity, Morgan will continue to lie, manipulate and theve herself into the people’s good graces, but how long can Morgan keep up the act without being caught? Don’t You Trust Me is a fast-paced, though slightly far-fetched quick read for girls. G-rated, this could easily stretch down to middle school as an additional purchase.
This is the first book in the BOB AND TWEET series. The mob of Bobs are slobs, but one Bob (#7- Dean) is not a slob.The Bobs have been requested to move to a new neighborhood. They do not mind. The fleet of Tweets are very neat, all but one Tweet (#7- Lou). The Tweets move, too. They move right next to the Bobs. After the Tweets clean, exercise, and do yoga, they decide to bicycle down to the swimming pool to swim 100 laps. After the Bobs finally wake up at noon, they decide to go to the swimming pool with their gear meant for the beach- jet ski and BBQ. The Bobs swamp the Tweets who are swimming laps. An argument arises. During the parents’ argument Lou Tweet meets Dean Bob. They discover they have been deceived by the same realtor as to where to move. Then, life guard Mark combs his hair, puts down his cell phone, divides the pool into two sections, and stops the families’ fighting with the Tweets on the right and the Bobs on the left.
” ‘Phew,’ says Dean Bob. ‘I am glad Mark helped out.
I get really stressed when my Bobs start to shout.’
‘I agree,’ says Lou Tweet. ‘I am glad Mark came through.
Most of all I am happy I got to meet you. ” (67)
Both families leave he pool to continue their opposing life styles, but Dean and Lou promise to see each other again tomorrow.
This story has nine short chapters, told in rhyme. The rhyme and zany illustrations are very reminiscent of Dr. Seuss’ style.
The chapter titles definitely state the main idea for each chapter.