Linda Sue Park is one of my favorite authors (see reviews of other books here, here and here), so when I saw she had written a picture book, I snatched it up. I was hoping it was as good as her chapter books, and I was not disappointed! Xander is a panda, and a panda... Continue Reading →
Albert’s Alphabet
Albert the duck is the carpenter at Pleasant Valley School. One day he comes to work and finds a note from the principal, asking him to build an alphabet for the children. Albert has tools and a box of wood, but he soon finds it's not enough to get through the entire alphabet. He comes... Continue Reading →
Mary Engelbreit’s Nutcracker
If you're a fan of Mary Engelbreit's artwork, you'll really enjoy her book Mary Engelbreit's Nutcracker. Engelbreit summarizes the story line of the famous ballet into a book format, lavishly illustrated in Engelbreit's signature style. If you plan to take a child to see The Nutcracker ballet this holiday season, this is a great way... Continue Reading →
Olive the Other Reindeer
Do you remember when Ramona Quimby (from author Beverly Cleary) suggested to her father that he turn on the "dawnzer light"? Her family laughed so hard because she misunderstood the words to the national anthem - "by the dawn's early light." Olive, the dog, has a similar problem. As she walks through town during the... Continue Reading →
Marshmallow
I had never heard of anyone having a rabbit as a house pet until my co-worker Cindy introduced me to her rabbits. They roamed her apartment, hiding under the couch and nibbling on cords she had forgotten to hide away under the area rug. Author & Illustrator Clare Turlay Newberry tells the story of her... Continue Reading →
Eggs 1 2 3
In Eggs 1 2 3, author Janet Halfmann combines a counting book with a nature book. As she takes readers through the number 1 through 10, she also introduces them to different egg-laying animals - from birds to butterflies, and bugs to fish. Betsy Thompson's paper art is a perfect compliment to the counting. Parents... Continue Reading →
Duck at the Door
My 12-year-old daughter went through my pile of picture books to read before I could, so I asked her which book was her favorite. "Duck at the Door, Mom," she told me. "It's so funny! The duck comes back, with his whole flock!" She was right. Duck at the Door by Jackie Urbanovic is funny. ... Continue Reading →
The Granddaughter Necklace
The Granddaughter Necklace by Sharon Dennis Wyeth is loosely based upon a necklace handed down from her grandmother. She imagined it had been handed down from the most distant relation she was able to find - a woman who had immigrated to America from Ireland. Instead of starting with Frances, the most distant relative, Wyeth... Continue Reading →
Crankee Doodle
Most people are familiar with the American folk song, Yankee Doodle: Yankee Doodle went to town, riding on a pony... (Are you singing it now?) Even if you're not familiar with the song, you'll enjoy reading Tom Angleberger's book Crankee Doodle. In this picture book, the soldier of the American Revolution is - you guessed... Continue Reading →
Bully
Some of my kids are afraid to attend the public schools because they've read so much about bullies. It doesn't matter what I say, what their public-schooled siblings say - they have seared into their brains the stories they've read or listened to about bullies at school. Bully by Laura Vaccaro Seeger will be a... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 