Itsy Mitsy Runs Away by Elanna Allen

Itsy Mitsy hates....bedtime! In order to avoid bedtime she decides it is time to run away. As she prepares to run away, her dad decides she is going to need help. As the packing begins, it does not take the reader long to realize this is no ordinary running away trip! In order to survive on her own, especially keep the BEDTIME BEASTIES away, she is going to need alot of items. Kids will love the ridiculousness of all of the stuff, though they might not realize at first.

Text: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves (I especially like the "beasties")
Endpages: 4 Buckeye leaves

Doggy Whys by Lila Prap

I will begin by saying I LOVE cute, little, fluffy, non yapping dogs....from far away. I never had a dog. I don't think I ever will. I can appreciate a cute one but beyond that....But I LOVE this book. The illustrations are adorable - look at that cover! How can you resist picking it up with that face staring at you?? Then of course I check the endpages....slam dunk!!! Even more adorable! LOVE them!! Then to the actual writing...each 2-page spread has a question at the top, such as: Why do dogs do what we tell them? OR Why do some dogs' ears hang down? Somehow some CATS get into the book and "answer" the question from the top...hmmm I don't think those cats are telling the truth but they do tell some that are good for a laugh! Of course the page includes the actual answer as well as a picture of some type of dog with a paragraph about that type of dog. Kids will LOVE this book! Adult dog fanatics will love this book! Even NON-DOG LOVERS will like this book! A great FUN twist on nonfiction! And one I plan to buy for both of my schools!

Text: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves
Endpages: 5+ Buckeye leaves....LOVE LOVE LOVE these!! They are covered with....of course, dogs!! AND with each dog is a label for us "non-dog" people!

Monkey & Elephant's Worst Fight Ever by Michael Townsend

Monkey decides to make special cupcakes for his best friend elephant. But when monkey arrives at his best friend's house, he appears to be having a costume party....without monkey, a chain reaction of pranks aimed at the two former best friends. Soon the other residents of the island become angry and hatch a plan of their own to get the friend back together. A great book to show kids about believing everything you hear as well as friendship.
Text: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves
Endpages: 5 Buckeye leaves

Chamelia by Ethan Long

Most chameleons like to blend in. Chamelia is not like most chameleons. She likes to stand out and be different. But what Chamelia learns is standing out can sometimes make you feel left out. Chamelia learns a valuable lesson, you can be yourself AND fit in. Cute book, easy to understand, that young children will enjoy. Great message!

Text: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Endpages: 5 Buckeye Leaves

Maisy Goes to the City by Lucy Cousins

Maisy and Charley are off to the city to visit their friend Dotty, During their trip they see many new things: crowded sidewalks, lots of shops, giant buildings,, etc. Maisy and her friends visit a huge toy store where Maisy selects a gift for Charley but in the meantime is separated from the othersl Adam is a big fan of the Maisy books so when I saw it at the library, I knew we had to get it. Other Maisy fans will enjoy this Maisy book as well.

Text: 5 Buckeye leaves

Farmyard Beat by Lindsey Craig

From the team that created Dancing Feet in 2010 comes a new and equally fun book Farmyard Beat. I love this book...and so does Adam as after I read it to him I heard him walking around repeating some of the lines, with the beat of course.
"Chicks can't sleep, Chicks can't sleep.
Chicks can't sleep
'cause they got that beat!
Peep! Peep! Peep-peep-peep!
Peep! Peep! Peep-peep-peep!
All that peeping wakes up...."

I bet you can guess which animal wakes up next!! And from there each animal is woken up singing with their voices. So much fun! As for the illustrations, you know they are good when you reach out to touch them. The illustrations look 3-D by using cut paper to create each animal and prop in the book. Love this book!

text: 5 buckeye leaves
illustrations: 5 buckeye leaves
endpages: 5 Buckeye leaves

The Runaway Wok: A Chinese New Year Tale by Ying Chang Compestine

On Chinese New Year's Eve, Ming is sent by his parents to the market to trade the last few eggs for some rice to share with the neighbors. Along the way an old man stops Ming and offers to trade the eggs for a wok. At first Ming declines but when the wok starts singing, he decides to complete the trade. When he arrives home his parents are not pleased but soon the wok starts talking again and giving directions so the family does as they are told. The wok takes off and heads to the Li house, the richest family in Beijing. He continues to return to the Li family, bring back toys, food, decorations, fireworks, etc. The Li family is not happy and wants to destroy the wok. But they have to CATCH it first....I really enjoyed this new Chinese New Year book. I think kids will enjoy the "magic" of the wok. Another book purchase for our home library....good thing we bought a new bookcase!

Text: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves
Endpages: 2 Buckeye Leaves

author website: www.yingc.com

Hogwash! Karma Wilson

Farmer just wants to wash the animals....is that too much to ask? Apparently, YES. He is successful in washing the horses, ducks, cows, goats, cats, and dogs....but those mischievous hogs just won't cooperate.
"The pigs got out their toolbox,
And they boarded up their pen.
No matter WHAT poor Farmer said,
They wouldn't let him in!"

A determined Farmer tries numerous ways to wash the pigs: hose, disguised as a pizza man, even a plane. The pigs will just not budge. Hogwash! is a funny rhyming book from the author of the bear books (Bear Snores On, Bear Snores On, etc) which kids of all ages will enjoy.

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves - funny, rhyming, kids will enjoy
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves
Endpages: 3 Buckeye leaves

Clink "manufactured" by Kelly DiPucchio and Matthew Myers

"Clink was a state-of-the-art robot with the dazzling ability to make toast and play music at the same time..." Everyone would want their own Clink....years ago. Now Clink sits on the shelf of the store. Noone wanted a rusty old robot. They wanted a snazzier, newer robot that could do homework and make chocolate chip cookies or a robot with retractable arms or fancy attachments. Clink watched as one by one, his friends went home. Then one day a young boy came in the store, like he had many times before, but this time he wanted a to buy a robot. He selected Clink, despite the store owner's disapproval, and took him home because according to the boy, Clink was "perfect". A great story for boys who love robots, as mine does. Hidden in the story about Clink, is a great story for all kids about seeing the good in others and giving others a chance.

text: 4 Buckeye leaves
illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves
Endpages: 5 Buckeye leaves

Tweak Tweak by Eve Bunting

Mama and baby elephant are out for a walk. As baby elephant holds on to mama's tail, baby has lots of questions about the other animals around them.

"What is that?"
"That is a frog."
"What is he doing?"
"He's jumping."
"Can I jump?"
"No, because you are a not a frog..."

The walk continues in this manner with baby asking mama questions about the monkey in the acacia tree, the crocodile in the river, butterfly flying high in the sky, and the songbird singing in the fig tree. When it is time to head home, baby elephant is ready to lead the way.

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves - great for preschool
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves
Endpages: 2 Buckeye leaves

Over in the Meadow illustrated by Jill McDonald

This is a new version of the traditional rhyme, Over in the Meadow which includes a CD of the song from Barefoot Books. The adorable illustrations make this new version even more appealing to children. Illustrations are similar to a "patch work quilt". Barefoot Books has a great some other very cute books to check out - our favorite: Driving My Tractor. Check out their website - http://www.barefootbooks.com/ .

Check out the youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6ljGXMMB-g

Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves - love them!!
Endpages: 5 Buckeye leaves - love them as much as the illustrations!

Beautiful Bananas by Elizabeth Laird

One day Beatrice sets off to see her granddad with a present in hand, a bunch of bananas. Along the way she meets a giraffe who flicks his tail and send the bananas flying into a stream. Feeling badly about the lost bananas, giraffe picks some flowers and gives them to Beatrice. Beatrice continues on her way and soon a swarm of bees settles on the flowers. In an effort to get the bees away, Beatrice's flowers are ruined. The bees, feeling badly, wrap up a piece of honeycomb and gives it to Beatirce. The story continues on this way, Beatrice encountering numerous animals along the way, getting replacement gifts for Granddad. I really enjoyed this book, which would make a great sequencing or cause and effect lesson.

text: 4 buckeye Leaves - cute, easy to read
illustrations:5 Buckeye leaves - illustrator Liz Pichon, same as the previous post, I love her artwork!
endpages: 4 Buckeye leaves - bananas, of course!

The Very Ugly Bug by Liz Pichon

Not a new book (2005) but new to me....and I think the illustrations are so cute so here it is....
A very ugly bug does not understand why she is so ugly. This very ugly bug, "...had big googly eyes, a lumpy, wibbly-wobbly head, a horrible hairy back, and spotted purple legs." She did not have teeny tiny eyes, fluttery wings, or a smooth green like her friends. When the very ugly tries to create the look of her friends, she fails miserably and almost becomes a birds snack! THe very ugly bug is able to use HER special gifts to keep herself safe, and learns a valuable lesson in the process.

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves - Very cute!!

IT'S HERE!!! Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems

I truly believe each new Piggie and Elephant gets better and better! Every time a new one comes out....I say, "This is my favorite..." only to have it replaced with the NEXT one! So on to the new one....Gerald has an ice cream cone. He is so excited as he LOVES ice cream. But WAIT. His friend Piggie does TOO! But where is Piggie? He should share his ice cream? Shouldn't he? As in true Mo WIllems fashion, this book will have kids laughing from the cover to the end pages....with our friend the pigeon showing up as always. I was so impressed that Adam grabbed the book from my hand....and opened right to the back endpage to find the pigeon....and BURST OUT LAUGHING!!! Love that my little one loves books...and Mo as much as I do!

Text: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves - love how he can make Gerald and Piggie with facial expressions that tell the story and emotions!
End pages: 5 Buckeye leaves - ice cream...how can you go wrong?!

My other favorites: I Broke My Trunk and We Are In A Book!
Note: The BIG band aid on the knee is from an unfortunate drive way fall......right after the OTHER Knee's boo boo healed!

Spot It Again! by Delphine Chedru

Delphine Chedru's Spot It Again, a follow up to her first book Spot It, can be described as a modern and fashionable Where's Waldo?. Each colorful page is paired with directions to which the "reader" should find in the picture - from a four leaf clover in a page of green petals to a "chilly little spider" among snowflakes. Children, and adults, will find this fun book a nice activity that you can do with a group or alone. Lots of family fun!

Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves
Text: limited
endpages: 2 Buckeye leaves

Chew, Chew, Gulp! by Lauren Thompson

Do you eat your dinner or..."Scoop it. Loop it. Prod it. Pop it."?? In the book Chew, Chew, Gulp, author Lauren Thompson's character does anything BUT eat. Along with a variety of identified foods, Thompson turns the regular, meals and eating into fun events. Students and teachers will enjoy the rhythmic pattern of the language used in the book as well as the fun "synonyms" for EAT!

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves
Endpages:2 Buckeye leaves

Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell

A little girl named Jane carries her stuffed companion, named Jubilee, with her as she discovers the world outside. She wants to learn all she can about the animals and plants all around her. She reads to learn more with a dream of traveling to Africa in her heart. "At night Jane would tuck Jubilee into bed, say her prayers, and fall asleep...to awake one day...to her dream come true." This book contains very simple text about Jane Goodall's childhood adventures with her friend Jubilee. Children will need more information to truly understand Goodall's impact and work, but it is a nice companion book or introduction.

Text: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves - my favorite part is the page with the words, opposite the "main" illustrations that contains a sketch of something from the other side - looks more like a rubber stamp
Endpages: 5 Buckeye Leaves - very appropriate for the topics of the book

Me and My Dragon by David Biedrzycki

The unnamed "ME" wants a pet...a dragon...a FIRE-BREATHING DRAGON to be exact. ME has only the dragons best interest in mind and plans to take him for check ups. ME will give the dragon a name, Sparky, and teach him to fly when he is ready and will be sure to then take him on lots of walks, to obedience school - if needed, to show-and-tell, but never to kite flying. Easy read, funny book that dragon lovers and non dragon lovers will love equally.


Text: 4.5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves
Endpages: 5 Buckeye leaves

Bear in Pink Underwear by Todd H. Doodler

Bear's favorite sport was soccer and he was a proud member of the mighty Red Devils. Whenever Bear play he had to wear his lucky underwear. One game Bear ended up covered in mud after a really hard rainstorm hit at the end of the game, creating quite a mess on the field. Knowing he had to have his muddy clothes cleaned for the game the next day, Bear threw his clothes in to wash....remember Bear is a member of the RED Devils. HIs lucky underwear was no longer WHITE! Knowing he HAD to wear his lucky underwear, Bear showed up in his newly colored underwear. Everyone thought it was so funny and made mean comments to Bear. Bear must ignore the comments and focus on the game...somehow.

Text: 4 Buckeye Leaves - Good Lesson about being different, standing up for yourself, etc
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Endpages: 5 Buckeye leaves

If Rocks Could Sing: A Discovered Alphabet by Leslie McGurk

I have never met the creator of this book....but she must be one of the most patient, persistent people ever. According to the author note at the back of the book, this book took more than 10 years to create. The endpages are covered with rocks in letter shapes from A to Z. "A is for addition. B is for bird. C is for couch potato." Each page is illustrated with a picture using rocks in the shape of the item and the letter from rock. Love this book....on my list of "Need to Purchase" at some point.


Text: 5 Buckeye Leaves - LOVE ABC books....this is excellent!
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves
Endpages: 5 Buckeye leaves

Author/illustrator site has a great video about the book! http://www.lesliemcguirk.com/ifrockscouldsing.html

National Geographic Kids Reader: Dinosaurs

National Geographic Kids is publishing GREAT nonfiction readers at an incredible speed. I have read quite a few, from the different levels, as I have bought a great deal of them for school. These are GREAT nonfiction. Great illustrations and color throughout the books. We read the Dinosaur one this am. It is a level 1 reader. Great introduction to nonfiction as all boys are fascinated by dinosaurs and this book provides a great intro to nonfiction. The information on the page is not overwhelming. In the side bars is some additional information that can be added after reading the book a few times. As the reader I really appreciate that there are pronunciations for the words.

How many times did I say GREAT?? Well, they are GREAT!!! Start reading the nonfiction as soon as possible....nonfiction will be a part of kiddos lives forever!!

Text: 5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: Buckeye leaves

If dinosaurs are not your thing....check out the website for other topics or levels:
http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/category/national-geographic-readers-series

Sesame Street's I Want To Be President by Michaela Muntean

Betty Lou decides after watching a Presidential motorcade that she might want to be president some day. Betty Lou knows the job is very important and involves alot of different things: campaigning, speeches, working with her cabinet on things such as the budget. flying around the country as well as traveling to other countries, talking with media, etc. I found this book at Target a few weeks ago in the dollar bins. I don't usually buy too many of the books from Target dollar bins but this one caught my eye and now wish I had bought more. This is a great introduction to some of the key words in government. It does a great job of holding Adam's attention which is not always easy! Great book for kids toddlers through 2nd grade. After 2nd grade the information would still be great for the kids, but not sure they will read Sesame Streetl

....AND you can't beat the price!!! ONE DOLLAR!!!

Text: 5 Buckeye Leaves - very informative
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves