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2.59k reviews by:
librarybonanza
Age: Preschool-2nd grade
Animals: Goats
Culture: Mexican folktale inspired
What a fun blend of English and Spanish that features the feared Chupacabra who eventually comes to save the town from enlarged, magicked goats. The flow of the text and the fusion of English and Spanish in one line, then flipped in the other line, encourages readers to read both sentences--mirroring the brain's ability to translate fast without needing to actually translate every word. A fascinating style of writing paired with humor and an intriguing storyline would make this an excellent read-aloud in class.
Animals: Goats
Culture: Mexican folktale inspired
What a fun blend of English and Spanish that features the feared Chupacabra who eventually comes to save the town from enlarged, magicked goats. The flow of the text and the fusion of English and Spanish in one line, then flipped in the other line, encourages readers to read both sentences--mirroring the brain's ability to translate fast without needing to actually translate every word. A fascinating style of writing paired with humor and an intriguing storyline would make this an excellent read-aloud in class.
Age: Toddler-Kindergarten
Familiar Experience: Sharing
Emotion: Desire
Straightforward dialogue is shared between an owl holding a balloon and a monkey:
The reader soon finds out that Monkey wants that balloon but nothing he does can convince Owl to give it up. That is until Monkey offers a holey, starred sock that finally convinces Owl to trade. But now that Monkey's sock holds value, he's not likely to give it up.
Not exactly the best book to show children how to share, it is a relatable--and humorous--story, nonetheless.
Familiar Experience: Sharing
Emotion: Desire
Straightforward dialogue is shared between an owl holding a balloon and a monkey:
"I have a balloon."
"You have a balloon."
"I have a balloon."
"That is a big balloon."
The reader soon finds out that Monkey wants that balloon but nothing he does can convince Owl to give it up. That is until Monkey offers a holey, starred sock that finally convinces Owl to trade. But now that Monkey's sock holds value, he's not likely to give it up.
Not exactly the best book to show children how to share, it is a relatable--and humorous--story, nonetheless.
Age: Middle School
Family: Twin sister and brother
History: Partition of India
Location: Pakistan/India
Religion: Hinduism & Islam
Trigger Warning:
First line: "Dear mama, I know you know what happened today at 6:00 a.m., 12 years ago. How could you not? It was the day we came and you left, but I don't want to be sad today. I want to be happy and tell you everything."
Told through diary entries to her deceased mother, Nisha has social anxiety at school and leans on her brother to speak for her. As the threat of violence against Hindus looms over the newly created state of Pakistan, Nisha and her family must flee south to the new India experiencing extreme hardship along the way.
Family: Twin sister and brother
History: Partition of India
Location: Pakistan/India
Religion: Hinduism & Islam
Trigger Warning:
Spoiler
seeing murderFirst line: "Dear mama, I know you know what happened today at 6:00 a.m., 12 years ago. How could you not? It was the day we came and you left, but I don't want to be sad today. I want to be happy and tell you everything."
Told through diary entries to her deceased mother, Nisha has social anxiety at school and leans on her brother to speak for her. As the threat of violence against Hindus looms over the newly created state of Pakistan, Nisha and her family must flee south to the new India experiencing extreme hardship along the way.
Spoiler
Towards the end of the book, Nisha experiences the trauma of violence up close as she sees Hindus and Muslims fighting each other to the death. Although safe in a new home across the Pakistan border, Nisha regresses further into her proclivity to be silent after this horrific experience. Much to her surprise, her Muslim childhood cook, mentor, and caretaker arrives at their new home after taking the long and dangerous journey to be with them. After such tragic events unfold to Nisha, the ending is such a breathe of relief.
Age: Toddler-Preschool
Body: Bare feet
Large illustrations paired with rhyming, onomatopoetic text make this an excellent classroom read-aloud in celebration of outdoor play, feeling nature beneath your feet, and exploring the open, free world outside your house.
Body: Bare feet
Large illustrations paired with rhyming, onomatopoetic text make this an excellent classroom read-aloud in celebration of outdoor play, feeling nature beneath your feet, and exploring the open, free world outside your house.
Age: Infant-Toddler
There are 500,034 dinosaur picture books out there yet this is still a delight. Watercolor illustrations give a gentle allure for younger kiddos who may find other dinosaur books too scary or too long. Concept-rich text and some unique vocabulary knock this read-aloud out of the park. A new storytime favorite for the littles.
There are 500,034 dinosaur picture books out there yet this is still a delight. Watercolor illustrations give a gentle allure for younger kiddos who may find other dinosaur books too scary or too long. Concept-rich text and some unique vocabulary knock this read-aloud out of the park. A new storytime favorite for the littles.
Age: Toddler-Preschool
An oblivious girl blames the cat for eating her pet parakeet who is sitting on her head the whole time. Pre-K kids will love the contrary humor and will like trying to point out the obvious answer to the girl. Not completely a stand out, though, since it dragged out the one gag a bit too long.
An oblivious girl blames the cat for eating her pet parakeet who is sitting on her head the whole time. Pre-K kids will love the contrary humor and will like trying to point out the obvious answer to the girl. Not completely a stand out, though, since it dragged out the one gag a bit too long.
Age: Toddler-Preschool
Concept: Days of the week, colors
Emotion: Greed
Goat feels the comeuppance of his gluttony when he gets a terrible tummy ache for the rest of the week. Although Goat doesn't make amends for his greed (because, well, he's a goat), the rest of the characters aren't irreparably damaged by Goat's actions and get replacements for everything that was taken from them. The audience for this book is probably not for the greedy (and learning how to be a better person) but for those learning how to cope with someone else's greediness or inherent selfishness (like a younger sibling).
Concept: Days of the week, colors
Emotion: Greed
Goat feels the comeuppance of his gluttony when he gets a terrible tummy ache for the rest of the week. Although Goat doesn't make amends for his greed (because, well, he's a goat), the rest of the characters aren't irreparably damaged by Goat's actions and get replacements for everything that was taken from them. The audience for this book is probably not for the greedy (and learning how to be a better person) but for those learning how to cope with someone else's greediness or inherent selfishness (like a younger sibling).
Age: Preschool-Kindergarten
A book sure to ease the anxiety of starting school--especially for the first time. Burris focuses on one classroom's schedule for the day. The activities are generic enough that most all Pre-K and Kindergarten classes should incorporate them: putting your stuff away in cubbies, art, recess, quiet time (some kids are napping), counting, and literacy. The mood of the book is completely positive with a brief nod to shy kids but all the kids are model students and everyone gets along.
Overall, this is great for painting a bright picture of school and for giving children an expectation for the activity-focused schedule of the day. Look elsewhere for books that acknowledge and address more complex issues like nervousness and being unable to make friends.
A book sure to ease the anxiety of starting school--especially for the first time. Burris focuses on one classroom's schedule for the day. The activities are generic enough that most all Pre-K and Kindergarten classes should incorporate them: putting your stuff away in cubbies, art, recess, quiet time (some kids are napping), counting, and literacy. The mood of the book is completely positive with a brief nod to shy kids but all the kids are model students and everyone gets along.
Overall, this is great for painting a bright picture of school and for giving children an expectation for the activity-focused schedule of the day. Look elsewhere for books that acknowledge and address more complex issues like nervousness and being unable to make friends.
Age: Toddler
Nature: Outdoor Play
Crayon-like illustrations of monsters pepper the park with their excitement, bravery, and sometimes with their owie tears. Bach depicts the many activities a park has to offer and how hard it is to leave--but with the promise of return.
Nature: Outdoor Play
Crayon-like illustrations of monsters pepper the park with their excitement, bravery, and sometimes with their owie tears. Bach depicts the many activities a park has to offer and how hard it is to leave--but with the promise of return.
Age: Preschool
Animals: Australian--kangaroo, koala
Toy: Bubbles
Friendly Kangaroo finds another animal to play with but shy Koala quietly ignores the boisterous, kind-hearted advances of Kangaroo. Through the act of quietly blowing bubbles together, Koala warms up to this new friend. A gentle tale of patience and the natural development of friendship through a common interest. Great for the social butterflies and the quiet observers.
Animals: Australian--kangaroo, koala
Toy: Bubbles
Friendly Kangaroo finds another animal to play with but shy Koala quietly ignores the boisterous, kind-hearted advances of Kangaroo. Through the act of quietly blowing bubbles together, Koala warms up to this new friend. A gentle tale of patience and the natural development of friendship through a common interest. Great for the social butterflies and the quiet observers.