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2.59k reviews by:
librarybonanza
Age: Preschool
Season: Summer, Fall
Carrying a rhythm all its own, two children catch an unexpected surprise while out fishing. Scenic watercolor and crayon artwork.
Season: Summer, Fall
Carrying a rhythm all its own, two children catch an unexpected surprise while out fishing. Scenic watercolor and crayon artwork.
The illustrations were very rich and memorable but the pacing of the story was a little odd, and even included a typo.
This was just weird. Told not to ask how they got there, dinosaurs suddenly appear on the streets of the narrator's hometown. The book continues in a nonfiction way, describing characteristics of the dinosaurs with a computer generated picture of the dinosaur hanging out with humans (but none of the humans seem to notice). Some memorable moments include:
The book also provides a size comparison of the dinosaurs vs. a human child, oftentimes showing the dinosaur much smaller than it is described.
I really regret buying this book for the library.
"Some dinosaurs, like Omeisaurus, have exceptionally long necks. This means they can reach food that other dinosaurs can't, and so get first choice of a basket of fruit, five stories high." What is that basket of fruit doing there? Nobody knows.
"In the early evening you might even catch a rare glimpse of this famous dinosaur [ Tyrannosaurus]. At a street crossing in town a mother keeps a close eye of her youngsters." Quite a let down for this famous beast.
The book also provides a size comparison of the dinosaurs vs. a human child, oftentimes showing the dinosaur much smaller than it is described.
I really regret buying this book for the library.
Age: Toddler-Kindergarten
Concept Skill: ABCs
Things that go: Trucks
Every great author has his bad apple. The artwork is fun but the rhythm of the text is chaotic and hard to read, and the emphasis on the letters lacks and feels secondary to MAKING A LOT OF NOISE AND ACTION VROOOOOOOM! The only word for K is the truck's name (Kat) and Scieszka uses "wrecker" to describe the R truck which can cause confusion. And, adding more confusion, scary Big Rig is supposedly playing a xylophone, because we all know this is the ONLY way to include X in an alphabet book.
All in all a jumbled mess of a book.
Concept Skill: ABCs
Things that go: Trucks
Every great author has his bad apple. The artwork is fun but the rhythm of the text is chaotic and hard to read, and the emphasis on the letters lacks and feels secondary to MAKING A LOT OF NOISE AND ACTION VROOOOOOOM! The only word for K is the truck's name (Kat) and Scieszka uses "wrecker" to describe the R truck which can cause confusion. And, adding more confusion, scary Big Rig is supposedly playing a xylophone, because we all know this is the ONLY way to include X in an alphabet book.
All in all a jumbled mess of a book.
Age: Kindergarten+
Ollie's cuddly buddy Stubbs imagines the worst babysitter taking care of them. Turns out the babysitter is imaginative, caring, and happily memorable. I would not recommend this for kids that are having separation anxiety because the "bad" babysitters take up most of the book, reinforcing fears.
Unfortunately, it feels like the editor took out a paragraph of text at the end, making the concluding sentence extremely confusing.
Ollie's cuddly buddy Stubbs imagines the worst babysitter taking care of them. Turns out the babysitter is imaginative, caring, and happily memorable. I would not recommend this for kids that are having separation anxiety because the "bad" babysitters take up most of the book, reinforcing fears.
Unfortunately, it feels like the editor took out a paragraph of text at the end, making the concluding sentence extremely confusing.
Age: Kindergarten-3rd grade
Tough Issue: depression
It is reassuring to know that picture books about tough issues can be done and done well. The Princess (never named, a subtle writing technique to be inclusive) had everything a little girl could want until the fog came. Nobody noticed the fog until the Princess was completely surrounded by it. Her parents tried to make her feel better but they didn't know how, trying over and over again to make her happy--until a friend asked the Princess if she wanted to talk. At first reluctant, the Princess eventually opened up and realized that the more she talked about the fog, the better she felt. Some friends and adults just listened, but some had similar things to say and some even offered advice.
Wonderful illustrations accompany this empowering--but not belittling--book that may help children open up about their own depression or understand a family member experiencing depression.
Tough Issue: depression
It is reassuring to know that picture books about tough issues can be done and done well. The Princess (never named, a subtle writing technique to be inclusive) had everything a little girl could want until the fog came. Nobody noticed the fog until the Princess was completely surrounded by it. Her parents tried to make her feel better but they didn't know how, trying over and over again to make her happy--until a friend asked the Princess if she wanted to talk. At first reluctant, the Princess eventually opened up and realized that the more she talked about the fog, the better she felt. Some friends and adults just listened, but some had similar things to say and some even offered advice.
Wonderful illustrations accompany this empowering--but not belittling--book that may help children open up about their own depression or understand a family member experiencing depression.
Age Kindergarten+
Sports: Gymnastics
An impressive young teenager, Nadia Comaneci's physical talent is briefly highlighted in this picture book. Perfect for all the young tumblers out there!
Sports: Gymnastics
An impressive young teenager, Nadia Comaneci's physical talent is briefly highlighted in this picture book. Perfect for all the young tumblers out there!
Age: Preschool-Kindergarten
Emotions: Being brave
Clearly suitable for moms and dads wanting to spread the Buffy love to their kids but also for the uninitiated. Told by her school librarian (who apparently worked at her elementary school, too), Buffy is informed to just "be brave." Although in disbelief, this is just what she does, in true Buffy fashion (as unbelievable of a storyline as it is).
Emotions: Being brave
Clearly suitable for moms and dads wanting to spread the Buffy love to their kids but also for the uninitiated. Told by her school librarian (who apparently worked at her elementary school, too), Buffy is informed to just "be brave." Although in disbelief, this is just what she does, in true Buffy fashion (as unbelievable of a storyline as it is).
Age: Toddler-Preschool
Science: Astronomy
Things that go: Rocket
One 4-line stanza pairs with a nonfiction statement about space travel as we follow four astronauts of varying skin colors as they travel to Mars. Kids will delight as the reader rotates the book throughout the story in order to read the rotating words and pictures, imitating the weightless floating of space; although, the reader should first practice turning the pages from left to right. Readers will also want to practice singing the Farmer in the Dell with these new words because there may be some awkward phrasing to work around.
Science: Astronomy
Things that go: Rocket
One 4-line stanza pairs with a nonfiction statement about space travel as we follow four astronauts of varying skin colors as they travel to Mars. Kids will delight as the reader rotates the book throughout the story in order to read the rotating words and pictures, imitating the weightless floating of space; although, the reader should first practice turning the pages from left to right. Readers will also want to practice singing the Farmer in the Dell with these new words because there may be some awkward phrasing to work around.
Age: Infant-Toddlers
Emotions: Sad, worried, mad, jealous, possessive, hurt
Series: Bye-Bye!, All Mine!, Boo-Boo!
A matter-of-fact series that uses common situations to address several frustrations and anxieties that toddlers may have and shows several ways that adults can step in and help ease these problematic moments. This series includes saying goodbye to mom and dad, sharing, and getting hurt. All books in the series encourage communication from the adult and, through this modeling process, the child will learn to communicate themselves. A note to parents and caregivers gives wise tips for responding to these situations, encouraging recognition, being calm, and communicating a solution.
Not exactly stories that will stir the imagination but their purpose is to provide a straight-forward response that will leave children and adults feeling more confident the next time a similar situation occurs.
Emotions: Sad, worried, mad, jealous, possessive, hurt
Series: Bye-Bye!, All Mine!, Boo-Boo!
A matter-of-fact series that uses common situations to address several frustrations and anxieties that toddlers may have and shows several ways that adults can step in and help ease these problematic moments. This series includes saying goodbye to mom and dad, sharing, and getting hurt. All books in the series encourage communication from the adult and, through this modeling process, the child will learn to communicate themselves. A note to parents and caregivers gives wise tips for responding to these situations, encouraging recognition, being calm, and communicating a solution.
Not exactly stories that will stir the imagination but their purpose is to provide a straight-forward response that will leave children and adults feeling more confident the next time a similar situation occurs.