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2.59k reviews by:
librarybonanza
Age: Kindergarten-3rd grade
Nonfiction: Civil War
Music: Orchestra, performance
After the Civil War ends, bandleader Patrick Gilmore decides to put on a 5 day peace jubilee. Potter certainly can keep the kids' interest with repetition and fun factual tidbits. For example, Patrick Gilmore's Temple of Peace was big, sure, and Potter describes its measurements. But, what child can really comprehend and imagine hundreds of feet--until she states that there were forty-eight toilets inside!
Although a great read-aloud, this book lacked much emphasis on celebrating peace (which the title implies), and more on overcoming nay-sayers as Gilmore created this extravagant festival when many said he could not.
Nonfiction: Civil War
Music: Orchestra, performance
After the Civil War ends, bandleader Patrick Gilmore decides to put on a 5 day peace jubilee. Potter certainly can keep the kids' interest with repetition and fun factual tidbits. For example, Patrick Gilmore's Temple of Peace was big, sure, and Potter describes its measurements. But, what child can really comprehend and imagine hundreds of feet--until she states that there were forty-eight toilets inside!
Although a great read-aloud, this book lacked much emphasis on celebrating peace (which the title implies), and more on overcoming nay-sayers as Gilmore created this extravagant festival when many said he could not.
Age: Preschool-2nd grade
A nice twist on imaginary friend stories, this is told from the perspective of the imaginary friend. The book starts on an island far away where imaginary friends of various shapes and sizes wait to be "claimed" by children (although, this does take the imagination away from children because the imaginary friends are technically already made).
Determined to be imagined, one little marshmallow-like creature with a crown sets off to find a friend.
The story is lovely, gripping, and well developed and the artwork is delightful. The ending is satisfying--not only does the lonely girl find and name her imaginary friend, Beekle, she also finds another boy to play with.
A nice twist on imaginary friend stories, this is told from the perspective of the imaginary friend. The book starts on an island far away where imaginary friends of various shapes and sizes wait to be "claimed" by children (although, this does take the imagination away from children because the imaginary friends are technically already made).
Determined to be imagined, one little marshmallow-like creature with a crown sets off to find a friend.
The story is lovely, gripping, and well developed and the artwork is delightful. The ending is satisfying--not only does the lonely girl find and name her imaginary friend, Beekle, she also finds another boy to play with.
Age: Kindergarten-2nd grade
This book was enjoyable, with a true 5-year-old's voice, up until the very end. Joseph Fipps is in the middle of an argument with his mother when, without thinking, he says he wants a new mother. His mother offers to send him to the north pole to find a walrus mother. As Joseph is sulking, he is transported (or imagines--he thinks it is real) to the north pole and spends the day with a walrus mama. When it gets too cold, Joseph realizes that he doesn't belong here but back home.
It ends with Joseph pulling mom outside to see the walrus family but, instead, brings her out to see the new birds. So...why did he tell her it was the walrus family?
This book was enjoyable, with a true 5-year-old's voice, up until the very end. Joseph Fipps is in the middle of an argument with his mother when, without thinking, he says he wants a new mother. His mother offers to send him to the north pole to find a walrus mother. As Joseph is sulking, he is transported (or imagines--he thinks it is real) to the north pole and spends the day with a walrus mama. When it gets too cold, Joseph realizes that he doesn't belong here but back home.
It ends with Joseph pulling mom outside to see the walrus family but, instead, brings her out to see the new birds. So...why did he tell her it was the walrus family?
Age: Preschool-1st grade
Nadine is all talk about her inability to be scared--until her friends and her go to the unfamiliar forest to prove her worth. Overcoming her initial hesitation, she discovers that she loves the forest and wants to explore everything. When she goes to explore a cave at dusk, her friends leave her, and Nadine must find her way out of the forest alone. The next part of the story progresses oddly and Nadine ends up stumbling into her friends, who have also gotten lost. Her friends believe that Nadine sought them out and declare her a fearless hero. Even though all three cows are lost, they eventually/magically exit the forest (I wish there was a bit more explanation for their escape).
This would make an excellent book for kids looking to get slightly scared, but not frightened.
Nadine is all talk about her inability to be scared--until her friends and her go to the unfamiliar forest to prove her worth. Overcoming her initial hesitation, she discovers that she loves the forest and wants to explore everything. When she goes to explore a cave at dusk, her friends leave her, and Nadine must find her way out of the forest alone. The next part of the story progresses oddly and Nadine ends up stumbling into her friends, who have also gotten lost. Her friends believe that Nadine sought them out and declare her a fearless hero. Even though all three cows are lost, they eventually/magically exit the forest (I wish there was a bit more explanation for their escape).
This would make an excellent book for kids looking to get slightly scared, but not frightened.
Age: Preschool
Insect: Not defined
A unique concept but I was a bit perplexed by the severity of messy sleeping.
Insect: Not defined
A unique concept but I was a bit perplexed by the severity of messy sleeping.
Age: Preschool-Kindergarten
Monster hunters are sure to delight in the detailed--and gross--pictures. There is no real storyline but illustrates that monsters do the same things we do, although in their own way.
Monster hunters are sure to delight in the detailed--and gross--pictures. There is no real storyline but illustrates that monsters do the same things we do, although in their own way.
Age: 3rd-4th grade
Animals: Hamster
A great start to a series about Humphrey, the classroom hamster. I thought it clever that Humphrey was taken home by several students, providing various stories within one, and keeping the reader's interest. This is a good way to introduce readers to longer books without pictures by "restarting" the story several times.
Although there are some annoying features of the book (How exactly did a hamster learn to read and write? Why does he repeat things three times?), kids will love this adorable, caring little guy. A perfect book for girls and guys--a hard thing to achieve for this age group.
Animals: Hamster
A great start to a series about Humphrey, the classroom hamster. I thought it clever that Humphrey was taken home by several students, providing various stories within one, and keeping the reader's interest. This is a good way to introduce readers to longer books without pictures by "restarting" the story several times.
Although there are some annoying features of the book (How exactly did a hamster learn to read and write? Why does he repeat things three times?), kids will love this adorable, caring little guy. A perfect book for girls and guys--a hard thing to achieve for this age group.
Age: Kindergarten-2nd grade
Family: Older sister, toddler brother
Pett brings another wordless delight full of emotion and just dying to be given words by the reader. A girl spots the most beautiful green bicycle (the only thing throughout the book that has color) and is determined to get it. Very self-reliant, she seeks out loose change and works various jobs to save up enough money for the bike. When she finally has enough, she goes to buy the bike but someone has beaten her to it. Although dispirited, she decides to spend her hard-earned money on a tricycle for her brother. But all is not lost for this little girl!
Family: Older sister, toddler brother
Pett brings another wordless delight full of emotion and just dying to be given words by the reader. A girl spots the most beautiful green bicycle (the only thing throughout the book that has color) and is determined to get it. Very self-reliant, she seeks out loose change and works various jobs to save up enough money for the bike. When she finally has enough, she goes to buy the bike but someone has beaten her to it. Although dispirited, she decides to spend her hard-earned money on a tricycle for her brother. But all is not lost for this little girl!
Age: Kindergarten-2nd grade
A fun premise that is full of wordplay similar to Dr. Seuss but the execution is confusing and hard to follow.
A fun premise that is full of wordplay similar to Dr. Seuss but the execution is confusing and hard to follow.
Age: Preschool-Kindergarten
Trite and poorly written, it will, no doubt, appeal to girls for its incessant harping on prettiness. But the reader finds out that prettiness is not based on appearance but based on acts of goodness. Although, it's not really explained why.
Trite and poorly written, it will, no doubt, appeal to girls for its incessant harping on prettiness. But the reader finds out that prettiness is not based on appearance but based on acts of goodness. Although, it's not really explained why.