Duncan the Story Dragon by Amanda Driscoll

Duncan loves books.  Unfortunately Duncan gets so excited about his books that his fire breathing took over and he has never finished a book.  Duncan decides he needs a friend but a fire breathing dragon finding a friend is not an easy task.  Duncan searches and searches to find that special friend to help him finally enjoy an entire book.Will he find that special friend so he can finally read those words, "THE END."

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrator:  4 Buckeye leaves

I Hate Picture Books by Timothy Young

In our house the word HATE, DUMB and STUPID are BAD words...so much so that a certain 6 1/2 year old came crying into the room one night because he accidentally read the word "stupid" while reading to dad ...he was apparently afraid we would kick him out of the house.  We did not.  We did have a rather lengthy discussion about why we do not use those words but why authors sometimes have to use them.  He bought it - for now.   That being said....I loved this book!   Max, the main character, hates picture books.  Yes, I had a hard time even checking this out of the library.  He points out just how ridiculous some of these picture books are.  He quickly realizes though it is not that he HATES them (thank goodness) but rather loves them.

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves  (Awesome endpages!)

Yoko Learns to Read by Rosemary Wells

Yoko is working hard to learn how to read but she only has three books at home and they are in Japanese.    Other students in Yoko's class is getting to add leaves to the book tree but not Yoko.  When Yoko's mama goes to talk to Mrs. Jenkins, Yoko's teacher, she encourages Yoko's mama to read with her at home.  Yoko's mama must admit that she does not know how to read.  Together Yoko and Yoko's mama work hard so that both of them can become readers.

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

Five Little Monkeys Reading In Bed by Eileen Christelow

Those ornery 5 little monkeys are back....and I love this one!! As you can probably guess, the 5 little monkeys do NOT want to go to bed but would prefer to read books! Sad books, happy books, scary books, they do not care as they try to read books despite Mama's pleading. Each time Mama leaves, the little monkeys sneak a book that they just have to read. Soon the giggling, sobs, wailing, etc wakes Mama and she is in their room.

"What's all this racket? This chaos? This din?"

Mama is not happy.

"I've had it! That's it! DId you hear what I said?.....Lights out! Sweet dreams! No more reading in bed!"

As always, the kids will love the silliness of the monkeys!

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves (Love the expressions on the monkey's faces!)
Endpages: 5 Buckeye leaves

I Will Not Read This Book by Cece Meng

"I have to sip water."
"...and wash behind my ears."
"...and clean under my bed"

Ever hear these before? The boy in the book I Will Not Read This Book uses every excuse not to read the book. Soon his excuses grow bigger and longer until he discovers a better option to his resistance.


Text: 4 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations: 5 Buckeye leaves

How Do You Read to a Rabbit?

Have you ever tried to read to a hippo? A snake? An alligator? It is not easy!! (Though truth be told I have not tried!)
"If you read a bedtime story to a hippopotamus, he might want to sit on your lap. If you read a boa, she may want to hug you goodnight."
An alligator? You can guess what happens then!! A great book to promote reading as well as provide a good chuckle. Using the book to guess what each animal MIGHT do if you tried to read to them would be a great inferring/higher level thinking activity for older kids. Kid would also enjoy coming up with their own "if you read to X animal.....this will happen."

Text: 4 Buckeye leaves (easy to understand tex, funny)
Illustrations: 4 Buckeye leaves