Bad Apple: A Tale of Friendship by Edward Hemingway

Mac was an apple that enjoyed all the simple joys of apple life.  One day he meets Will, a worm.  Will and Mac quickly become friends.  The other apples are not so nice about the new friendship.  They call Mac names and will not talk to him. WIll decides it is for the best if he disappears from Mac's life.  Mac though is very sad.  He misses his friend.  Mac decides to set off in search of his friend despite what other apples may say.  Good starting point for discussion about friendship, bullying, and standing up for what you believe. 

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  3 Buckeye leaves

Up Above and Down Below by Paloma Valdivia

The ones above think the people down below are different.  The people below think that people on top are different.  But are they really?  Do the ones on top live like the ones down below?  Do the ones below live like the ones on top?  A great book to start the discussion about similarities and differences among all of us.

Text:  3 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

I'm Bored by Michael Ian Black

First of all, BORED is outlawed in our house....well, it is for the CHILDREN (adults can say it but never pertains so.......)  The little girl in the book, as you probably can guess, is BORED.  But not a little bored....SOOOOOO BORED.  She comes across a potato and is quite confused as what she could possibly do with a potato.  Then the potato announces that it is BORED.  Well, the girl is quite confused how a potato could be bored with HER!  The potato would rather be in the company of a flamingo.  The girl begins to list all the many, many things that she, as a human, can do.  Potato is not impressed.....and finally gets its wish when a flamingo arrives on the scene....but..............

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves - I was amused but will be interesting to see reaction of kids.
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

Paul Bunyah and Babe the Blue Ox: The Great Pancake Adventure by Luckhurst

Pancakes - Paul and Babe love pancakes.  Paul's mom warns them against eating only pancakes but they refuse to eat anything else.  The two friends get a job working for a logger that pays them with pancakes.  Soon Babe starts to feel sick from eating too many pancakes.  Where can they find a variety of good foods to eat?  Fun version of Paul Bunyan story that includes interesting and fun books kids will be interested in.

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

The Christmas Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood

Companion to The Quiet Book and The Loud Book, Underwood's newest book The Christmas Quiet Book focuses on those quiet moments of the holiday season.

"Snow angel quiet.  Knocking with mittens quiet"

I love the choices she author has made and the illustrations always blows me a way!  Challenge students to create their own pages for The Quiet Book!

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

The Thankful Book by Todd Parr

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Todd Parr's new book, The Thankful Book celebrates all those things we forget to be thankful for.  A great book for any age and a great starting point for classroom discussion and/or projects related to thankfulness.

If I Built a House by Chris Van Dusen

As soon as I saw this online I KNEW it would be a big hit at our house.  Adam is a huge fan of If I Built A Car by Van Dusen so the minute I pulled it out of the library pick up bag his face lit up!  (side note:  yes, I love that my son...and now daughter....get as excited about new books as I do!)  Told in the same style Jack, seemingly a little older, is designing a house.  This house is no ordinary house.  This house will include all-in-one Kitchen-o-Mat (we could use that here), giant ball pit, and a Scrub-a-Dub-Dub in place of a bath or shower.  Kids will love this book....and most likely go on to design their own "prefect" house!  Mine, would not include a 200 feet high glass bedroom....but rather an "Alice"...yes as in the Brady Bunch!

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

Good News Bad News by Jeff Mack

I love this seemingly simple book because it opens up the possibility for class interaction.  Rabbit and Mouse are two friends are headed out to enjoy a picnic when the rain starts.  Rabbit is determined to find the "silver lining" and rat is determined to, well NOT!  Back and forth, the text is the same words over and over.  This book provides a great springboard for discussion about illustrations and allow students to tell the story beyond the text provided.


To check out the book trailer click HERE!

Overall:  5 Buckeye leaves

Pete the Cat Saves Christmas by Eric Litwin and James Dean

Pete the Cat is back and ready to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas.  I will admit I was a little skeptical about another Pete the Cat book.  And I will also admit that it is probably my most FAVORITE Pete the Cat book!  I love it!  I can't wait to see my kids bopping and grooving to this one!  How does Pete end up standing in for Santa?  Santa is sick and  calls upon Pete to take over for him.  Using the reindeer to help pull his mini bus, Pete takes off on this very important adventure to make sure all the kiddos will be surprised with gifts Christmas morning.  A great fun book for all ages.  This one will be a new holiday favorite for many families!

To see the book trailer (and groove with Pete) click HERE!

Text:  5 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

The Princess and the Packet of Frozen of Peas by Tony Wilson

Prince Henrick desperately needs to find his princess to marry.  Henrick has certain criteria for his princess:  outdoorsy type that likes hockey and camping.  His brother Hans gives him some advice in finding a true princess.  According to Hans, a real princess is "very beautiful and very sensitive" just like his wife Eva.  Henrick decides that he does not want to marry a princess like Eva but rather the complete opposite.  Henrick finds one thin camping mattress, one old sleeping bag, and a whole packet of frozen peas.  Henrick's friend Pippa came over one day, and together they enjoyed riding horses, playing hockey, and spying on Princess Eva as she complained.  That night Henrick tried out his frozen peas.  The next morning Pippa woke up, well rested, having used the frozen peas to ice her sore shin.  Another great twist on a common story that kids can look for differences and similarities with the common story.

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

There Was an Old Pirate Who Swallowed A Fish by Jennifer Ward

I have mentioned before that I am a big fan of the books like this that take a common story and alter the words with a new topic/subject.  I realize I may be alone in this thought but kids love these books!  It is familiar to them and they can look for the changes.  We HAD to have this book because of the topics - Pirates!  As you may have guessed from the title that this pirate did indeed swallow a fish....and a bird....and a map.....and a chest.....etc.   Sure to be a winner with the kids - especially those reluctant boy readers!

Check out the link for the video here!

Let's Sign A Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas

Another favorite at our house, Jan Thomas, is back and funny as ever. Cowboy is trying to sing the cows a lullaby.  Yet every time he tries to sing the lullaby he thinks he sees something.  The cows are able to convince him that what he thinks he sees is not the what it really is.  This plan works until he thinks he sees something, convinces himself it is not that but this time it really is a WOLF!  EEEEEEKKK!!!  Funny book which will keep your audience laughing and joying the time aa

To see the book trailer click HERE!

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

Let's Go For A Drive! by Mo Willems

Elepant and Piggie are back!  Piggie and Elephant decide they want to go for a drive.  What do they need?  Map.  Sunglasses.  Umbrellas.  But wait.  What else do they need?  A car!!  Silly as always....sure to be a hit, like always!  The illustrations are a little more detailed than a lot of the Piggie and Elephant books.  Great fun!

How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

Never too early to start thinking about the most wonderful time of the year....

The team of Jane Yolen and Mark Teague have been working again with the dinosaurs!  This time the dinosaurs are learning how to "act" at Christmas!  As with the other books, the dinosaurs are seen doing all the things they should NOT do....and then correct their behavior!

"Does he pick out the best gifts so he will have more?

No...a dinosaur doesn't.  He carols with care."

Kids will love the newest dinosaur book(s) and is a great springboard for discussing appropriate behavior with kids!

Also look for the other new book from this team (our library did not have it in):  How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah?

Dear Cinderella by Marian Moore & Mary Jane Kensington

Love. This. Book!  Cinderella and Snow White have decided to become pen pals.  Through a series of letters back and forth, the two stories of Snow White and Cinderella are told in a new way.  Kids will love picking out some of the details of the two stories as they are woven together.  Awesome!

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson

Bear is back with all his forest friends.  As Bear's friends arrive with delicious food to share he suddenly realizes he has nothing to share.  Bear is quite upset but his friends assure him that it is ok because he does have something to share - his stories.

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves (Always love Wilson's endpages!!)

Monster Mash illustrated by David Catrow

"He did the mash.  He did the monster mash!  The monster mash.  It was a graveyard smash."

Davide Catrow's funny and somewhat creepy illustrations bring the lyrics/song by Bobby Pickett and Leonard Capizzi to life.  Perfect for the upcoming Halloween season, kids will enjoy Catrow's take on the popular song.

Illustrations:  4 Buckeye Leaves

The Monster's Monster by Patrick McDonnell

There once was three monsters that thought they were each the meanest, strongest, babbest monsters.  They decided to create a new monster.  This monster will be biggest, baddest monster.  But the three are shocked when the monster finally speaks, ""Dank you!"  The three monsters leave adults (and their care givers.)  The three monsters learn an important lesson and decide maybe being biggest and meanest monster is not..

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

ABC Zooborns! Andrew Bleiman

Join adorable baby zoo animals and venture through the alphabet.  Beginning with anteater, each page features a photograph of a zoo baby and a short rhyme describe the animal.

"D is for dhole.  Don't you wish your peepers were as dreamy as mine?"

Text:  5 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

Do Cows Meow? by Salina Yoon

A totally adorable lift-the-flap book about animals and the sounds they produce!
"Do horses paint?  Do horses play? All I know is horses go...Neigh!"
Young children will love lifting the flap to peek inside the animal's mouth and "read" the sound the animal makes.  Bright colors and adorable pictures make this animal sound noise a big hit at our house.

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

Hush, Little Monster by Denis Markell

"Hush Little Monster, don't you howl.  Daddy's gonna give you a ...screeching owl."

And so begins this monster version of Hush Little Baby complete with a ghost, a vampire, and wolfman.  Adorable pictures will allow even the youngest readers to enjoy.
 

Olive and the Big Secret by Tor Freeman

Olive has a BIG secret.  Her big secret is not HER secret though.  Her secret is Molly's secret.  Olive must not tell anyone Molly's secret.  And Olive does try to keep the secret - she really does but it is hard....After keeping quiet about the secret Olive finally cracks and tells her friend Joe.  Olive tells Joe not to tell anyone but Joe does tell Matt.  And of course as we have all experienced before, the chain of "secret keeping" goes from there.  A great book for teaching kids about being a good friend, a good "secret keeper" as well as the need sometimes to NOT keep a secret.  (And I love the illustration about of Olive telling Joe NOT tell the secret!)

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

Bully by Patricia Polacco

Lyla is very nervous and a little homesick when she starts the first day at her new school.  However she quickly meets another new student, a boy named Jamie and they become fast friends.  Together they navigate the first few weeks of school.  Layla decides to try out for cheerleading and is very excited to make the squad.  Her brother and her work together to convince their parents to get them cell phones and a laptop to "stay connect" and fit in.  Soon Layla is hanging out with the "cool girls" and being invited to get togethers after school.  However Layla is not crazy about how her new friends treat some of the others, especially on Facebook and decides to distance herself from them.  Then their is a big test scandal that results in the Layla being accused of stealing a test and cheating.  Layla knows she did not cheat and she knows somehow Gage, one of the "cool kids" is behind the scandal but how can she prove it?  What Layla does not know is that there is one person that SAW the test being stolen...
A great book for middle school and high school students that opens itself to discussion about cheating in the new digital age.

There's A Fly Guy In My Soup by Tedd Arnold

It has been greatly anticipated at our house....FLY GUY IS BACK!  Adam is a huge fan...I think we have all of them.  This time Fly Guy and the family are on the move.  They are staying at a hotel which unfortunately Fly Guy can not eat at.  Fly Guy goes searching for food but does not find anything to his liking and instead ends up in a "bath".  The "bath" is not a bath....but rather soup.....and from there things spin out of control.  Another Fly Guy adventure which will have fans excited.

Llama Llama Time To Share by Anna Dewdney

Llama Llama is back and this time he is learning a hard lesson about sharing.  Llama Llama has a new neighbor and Nelly Gnu has come over to play.  But things go bad, very bad, when Nelly Gnu takes Fuzzy Llama.  Llama Llama does NOT like to share!  Fuzzy Llama is suddenly the object of a tug-of-war and soon is missing an arm.  Oh no!  What can be done to make this right?  Kids will love the new llama book, as with the others, and learn through Llama Llama's experiences.

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

OH NO, Little Dragon! by Jim Averbeck

"Little Dragon has a spark in his heart, so he could huff and puff and....PHOOSH."

Mama loves Little Dragon's spark but when his flame goes out in the water, he is worried.  Will Mama still love him?  Little Dragon tries to bring back his spark but nothing works.  Little Dragon learns a big lesson and he feels warm inside again.  Cute and simple book to reassure children about the love their parent feels for them.  Cute illustrations with likable characters!

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

It's A Little Book by Lane Smith

I laughed had to laugh when I saw this book at the library last week.  Knowing the OTHER version of this book, which I love though would never read it at school or to my own kids, yet, I was anxious to see this.  It was pleased to find that this book was rated G.

"Is it for wearing?"
"No."
"Is it for e-mailing?"
"No."

So funny....and maybe a little funnier as when you get to the end, you can't help but wonder....how will it end?


View book trailer HERE!

Olivia and the Fairy Princess by Ian Falconer

The 4 year old BOY here....will listen to ANY books....at least once.  He just loves books (still working on his sister but she is coming around thanks to some serious Sandra Boynton brainwashing...)  He really likes Olivia.  He thinks she is hilarious.  Olivia and the Fairy Princess is the newest Olivia book and we both enjoyed it....with ONE exception (I will get to that).  Olivia is having an "identity crisis" because all the girls want to be princesses.  Olivia does not understand WHY all the princesses have to be wearing PINK!  What about princesses from other parts of the world that do NOT wear pink?  (I love Olivia's reasoning!!)  Olivia just does not understand why everyone wants to be a princess.  Olivia thinks of all the things she could be instead of a princess:  a nurse, a reporter, etc.  But in true Olivia style she decides she could be....A QUEEN!  LOVE it!  Perfect ending!  I laughed out loud when I read that!  So......You wondering the part I was not crazy about?  One page...one sentence....and I read it and cringed as I read it to my boy, born in Kazakshtan.....as Olivia is thinking of all the things she could do....."Or maybe adopt orphans from all over the world."  Yes, I know....this hits close to home at our house.  I waited to see if there was any reaction - and my 4 year old did not.  But other kids, older kids, just might respond to that line.  Just make sure, as always, you know your audience....We do use the word "adopted" in our house - kind of hard NOT to!  We talk A LOT about Adam's (and now EmmeClaire's adoption).  I do not use the word "orphan" as it has always struck me as harsh and neither of my kids are "orphans".  Just be aware....and now, I am off my soap box...for now!

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves - LOVE the ending!
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

But will I read it again to either of my kids.....just not sure,........

Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills

Rocket has mastered the reading (How Rocket Learned to Read) and is now moving on to writing his own story under the direction of his "teacher," little yellow bird.  Rocket begins by collecting words.  Once he has collected words he wants to write a story.  But Rocket does not know what to write about.  Soon Owl meets a new friend, Owl, and together the two new friends write Rocket's story.  A great story to share with student's of all ages as they learn about the writing process.  A definite purchase for any school library!

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

The Baby That Roared by Simon Puttock

I enjoyed this book about the "baby" that arrived on the doorstep of Mr. and Mrs. Deer.  Mr. and Mrs. Deer very much wanted a baby of their own so when one suddenly appeared.  However right from the start something was not quite right with this baby.  First the baby would not eat.  Then the baby smelled bad.  More and more problems kept coming up with this baby but every individual that came to help, seemed to disappear.  Finally Granny Bear was able to get to the bottom of the mystery....and by bottom I mean, bottom of the "baby's" stomach.  The "baby" was not really a baby!  Instead the baby was a MONSTER!!!  Upon being discovered the monster took off and was never seen again....or was he?  Very cute that young students will enjoy.

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

Back....

After a month "off".....I am hoping to get back to reading and blogging...picked up some new ones today at the library with my NEWEST reading buddy.  I make no guarantees....things have changed a little in the last month....Still working through some of the kinks from a threesome to a foursome.....hopeful that sleep will return soon...We are working on it :) BUT.....

Over the last month we saw this....

And some of this....

 This....

 And this little thing....

And finally after a very, VERY long wait.....(over 5 years and 10 months to be exact)

But the best sight of all was this....(Minus the littlest one's tears....she was a little tired - over 26 hours of travel and about 4 hours of sleep - TOTAL - will do that to a little one....and two not so little ones!)

Will be making some return to the land of board books......but my older reading buddy still likes his books...the interesting challenge has been trying to divide two book times (one with the kid that would stay up reading books all night and the other that until only a few weeks ago had never seen a book and still throws them....)

Time Out For Monsters! byJean Reidy

A young boy is sitting on a stool....in the corner....in a very plain corner.  This corner is not new to him and after spending so much time here he has decided it needs a little color.  He needs a window in this corner....and from there the corner comes alive.  Neubecker's illustrations of vibrant, bright colors brings the corner to life.  Maybe a little TOO alive as far as mom is concerned.  After a few dinosaurs, flowers, a monster, etc. the boy has to return the corner to the plain corner.  Cute, short book which will have some kids gasping, in sheer horror that a child would do such a things, and other children nodding their heads, maybe possibly because they HAVE done such a thing.

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

Guess What? by Guido Van Genechten

This is an adorable book, great for making predictions.  Each left page contains a question and on the right is the picture mentioned in the clue on the left.

"Guess what looks like a paintbrush?"

And the picture on the right is a paint can and paint brush but there is a flap that when lifted reveals "the beard of a goat."

Great fun for youngsters of varying ages.

Overall:  4 Buckeye leaves

Pluto Visits Earth! by Steve Metzger

Hilarious!  I love this take on poor Pluto getting the boot to dwarf planet.  Pluto is shocked when a space rock tells him he has lost his title as "planet".  Pluto plans to fight.  He takes off for Earth to discuss the situation.  Along the way he "orbits" into other planets, etc. along the way.  He asks Neptune first. Neptune though has 13 moons to keep track of and can't help Pluto.  He continues his journey towards Earth, ready for a fight.  Once there he surprises the astronomers and tries to explain his dislike for being changed to a dwarf planet.  A young boy arrives and explains to Pluto that no matter what his title is, he is still his favorite.  This made Pluto feel much better and change his mind about being made a "dwarf plane."  Great fun book packed with factual info about the planets!

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

One Special Day by Lola M. Schaefer

Spenser is a happy, active little boy.  He was "as strong as a...." (see picture above).  He was "funny as a....(monkey)."  He was many things and more.  Then one day he became something more.  Spenser became a big brother.  This book is a new way of looking at becoming a big brother (or sister).  It offers up all the things that the child already is....and that he/she is more now.  Very cute book for that new "big" budding sibling.

We have been reading LOTS of books with this theme since May.  And in a few short weeks our best boy will become a BIG BROTHER when his sister FINALLY comes home from China.  Many changes ahead for this little one (as well as the little one on the other side of the world waiting for us) but I hope that some of the books we have read as well as the discussions we have had as a result of our reading, will help ease him into being a BIG BROTHER.  So posting may be slim over the next few days as we make final preparations for  our trip as well as prepare him to go to his "camp" with his aunt and uncle while we are gone.  Still have a few books to post before we leave but time....and packing will dictate that!