Soft, colorful oil pastels welcome the reader to a sweet story about a wolf named Jack who lives alone, filling up his time with making jam and knitting warm scarves. Jack meets Walter, a mouse. (They both resemble cuddly plush toys.) They become friends while spending time together…sharing the jam on toast, and playing in the snow. The longer Walter stays, the more Jack discovers things about Walter that are annoying…like his loud snoring and the messes that he makes. Does his need for a friend outweigh the downside of Walter’s personality? Readers can identify with this dilemma, in finding and keeping their own friends. Here is an unassuming book with gorgeous illustrations and concise text…that deals with a universal theme that all of us have dealt with at some time or another. Yes, everyone needs a friend, and guaranteed, they will come perfectly flawed.
Category Archives: Reviewer’s Library Type
Santino Marella
A non-fiction, Hi/Lo book about World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) champion, Santino Marella. This short biography of Marella features full color photographs, statistics, signature moves and career history. A table of contents, index, glossary and “to learn more” page round out the book.
The publisher states that this book is intended for grades 3rd – 7th, but advanced 2nd grade readers interested in this subject would enjoy the book as well.
Seriously, Snow White was So Forgetful! : The story of Snow White as told by the Seven Dwarfs
A fractured fairy tale that shows us Snow White as a very chatty, forgetful sort. Staying mainly on course for the plot line, Loewen gives us a different look at Snow and Prince Charming too. The story is told by Seven (Snow can’t remember the dwarfs names but can remember their designated number). He tells a tale of how Snow came to live with the seven dwarfs and how it takes the Queen three attempts to finally curse Snow (with the spell she casts in the traditionally version of the story). But no yucky kissing to break the spell, no sir. The spell is broken by an unfortunate slip and the possibility of some lunch.
Nicely illustrated by Gerald Guerlais. Children will enjoy concentrating on the pictures during a read aloud. Independent readers may linger a bit longer on each page just to absorb the content of the drawings.
Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping
Scaredy Squirrel is afraid of the big outdoors. Well, actually, he’s scared of more than that, a lot more, but he knows how to deal with his fears – by making lists and planning to overcome any trouble he encounters. Camping outdoors seems like way too much trouble, so he decides he would rather watch it on TV instead. In order to enjoy the outdoors on his TV he will first need to plug in his extension cord at a local campground. After making his list of fears and creating solutions to deal with them, he dons his protective gear and bravely heads out into “the wild”. Of course, something happens to derail his plans (oh no! Penguins! His worst fear!). Curiosity overrides fear as he learns a valuable lesson.
Another cute, funny and entertaining book in this series. Large colorful pictures and simple descriptive text are used to create a story that both children and adults will enjoy.
Titanic
Titanic has intermittent pages set up that asks the reader questions about the event. This book is informative from the creation of the Titanic and its physical description to its sinking, including locations of the ice field and the other ships in the area at the time. Large color photographs of the Titanic and recreations of the event, diagrams, time lines and graphs are found all throughout the book. Details allow the reader to understand the pieces of that evening and the order of their occurrence allowing the reader to make judgments of how the evening developed. Eyewitness accounts from survivors well as photos of those who did not survive can be found throughout the book. Primary sources are a strength as well as the ability to download a digital book: True Survivors’ Stories.
Toucans
This book is a basic account of Toucan facts. It includes information on the Toucans’ physical appearance, classification, habitat, and food sources. It includes a table of contents, glossary, index and learn more pages. Colorful photographs accompany each page spread.
This book is a basic account of eagle facts. It includes information on the eagles’ physical appearance, classification, habitat, food sources and development of their young . It includes a table of contents, glossary, index and learn more pages. Colorful photographs accompany each page spread.
Alligators
This book is a basic account alligator facts. It includes information on the alligators’ physical appearance, classification, habitat, and food sources. It includes a table of contents, glossary, index and learn more pages. Colorful photographs accompany each page spread.
The Strangers
When 12 year old Olive Dunwoody goes trick-or-treating, Strangers come to see Olive, and they are very interested in her house with the portals to Elsewhere. Suddenly her parents go missing. Olive vows to get them back, but does not know who to trust. Her mission gets more dangerous as she encounters dark magic with the three talking cats. Olive courageously brings her parents back while learning even more about the stone house she loves on Linden Street.
Thirteen-year-old Mina Masako Tagawa is a Japanese-American girl who lived in Seattle with her family until the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Simply because Mina’s father is of Japanese descend, he is imprisoned. Mina is confused to see that Japanese Americans have become the enemy and are spat upon as well as viciously called “Jap.” Each family member reacts differently to their new life. Her brother’s frustration and anger are the reasons he disappears for days somewhere in the confines of the camp. Eventually Mina’s father is released from prison and is sent to rejoin his family in Idaho. However, her family is further troubled when her brother decides to prove his patriotism by enlisting in the military. For three years the family is torn apart while kept captive in Idaho. This fictional account of an effect of WWII is written in verse and is a quick read.