Written by Doreen Cronin
Illustrated by Betsy Lewin
This is a hilarious book that will put you in the MOOOD to read it again and again. Farmer Brown is a little annoyed when the cows find an old typewriter in the barn and begin making demands for electric blankets.Then the hens get into the action and finally duck as well. Will Farmer Brown ever have a normal farm again? Kids will love this book and it is a great tool to encourage letter writing in the classroom. It's also great fun to bring in an old typewriter and let kids peck away and make new words and letters just like the farm animals. A definite farmyard favorite. Reviewed by Melanie Jones
Written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Mo Willems has done it again with this slice of life picture book that paints a very real picture of what life is like when you live with a toddler. When Trixie goes on an errand with her Daddy to the laudromat, all is well, until....Trixie realizes something. Moms, Dads and even little ankelbiters will be able to relate to the loss of a prized possession like Knuffle Bunny. My personal favorite in the book is when Trixie goes "boneless" while trying to communicate to her father that something is terribly wrong. Trixie's expressions speak volumns and the black and white photographs are the perfect backdrop for the simple cartoon characters. This is a must have for anyone who is living with a toddler and it is destined to become a family favorite, just like Knuffle Bunny. Reviewed by Melanie Jones
Retold by Philemon Sturges
Illustrated by Amy Walrod
When the Little Red Hen had eaten her last slice of bread, she scratched through her cupboard and spied a can of tomato sauce. And so goes the story of the Little Red Hen with a new and interesting twist. The Little Red Hen has decided to make a pizza but of course no one will help her. Children will still find the unwilling characters of Duck, Dog and Cat which are brought to life by Amy Walrod's vibrant paper collage illustrations. The Little Red Hen is quite sassy in her high heeled pumps as she sets about gathering the ingredients for her pizza. The familiar cadence of "Not I" is heard from all of the characters as none of them will help the Little Red Hen make the pizza. Even though no one jumps in to make the pizza, they are all more than willing to join in and share the pizza. The theme of sharing is present till the end when The Little Red Hen sits at the table reading of dream vacations and her guests gladly do the dishes.
by Jeanett Winters
Alia Muhammad Baker is the librarian of the town of Basra. She hears rumors of the impending war and fears that her precious library will be lost in the turmoil of war. She pleads to her government for their help so that the books can be moved to a safe location, but the government refuses to help her. Alia becomes desperate and decides to take matters into her own hands. She takes action by loading books in her car, little by little, and taking them to her house. She employs friends and neighbors to house the books in thier homes and restaurants for safe keeping. Soon, Alia's home is brimming with books in every room.She knows that this precious treasure of her country must be saved. The war grows closer to becoming a reality and soon the planes with bombs appear. After only nine days of war, the library is burned, but the books are safe thanks to the Librarian of Basra. The illustrations paint a warm and colorful picture showing the country of Iraq and it's people in traditional garments. Winter's does a wonderful job of showing the war in a way that is real but not so scary for children. This is an inspiring story that needs to be shared.
by Alexis O'Neill Illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith
Mean Jean is the portrait of a playground bully in this bouncy, zippety book that is bound to be a classroom favorite. "Nobody swung until Mean Jean swung. Nobody kicked until Mean Jean kicked. Nobody bounced until Mean Jean bounced." And so goes the rules of the recess Queen and her kindgom until a spunky girl named Katie Sue comes to town and boy does she shake up the playground and rattles Mean Jean to boot. This is the perfect book to open up playground discussion and bullying. Kids will love the lively language and the pictures are so animated with the text skipping all over the page. The Recess Queen rules!
Written and Illustrated by Brian Lies
"Quick, call out! Tell all you can reach: the night is perfect for bats at the beach!" Bats head out for a night on the beach with kite flying and wing boat races, and don't forget the moon-tan lotion. With dark and shadowy pictures of bats young and old, Brian Lies captures the perfect moonlit night. Creativity abounds in the firelight picture of a bug-mallow roast which consists of a marshmellow sprouting insect legs and wings. While eating salted skeeters or sitting on a leathery lap around the campfire, the illustrations for Bats at the Beach are a real treat.