What NOT to Give Your Mom on Mother's Day by Martha Simpson

A little late for Mother's Day BUT when looking for a book NEXT year for Mother's day, here is a top pick.  A great book of advice for kids (and dad's) about shopping for mom....

"Do NOT give her bucket of big fat worms...unless she is a bird"

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  3 Buckeye leaves

I Spy on the Farm by Edward Gibbs

I spy with my little eye...read the riddle and peek through to find a rooster and a cow and a pig and other farm animals.  A fun introduction to a farm/animal unit which allows for great interaction.

Text:  5 Buckeye Leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

I Scream Ice Cream! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

A book of wordles....a WHAT?  I will openly and public admit, I had no idea what a WORDLES is.  Being a big fan of Amy Krouse Rosenthal I jumped when I saw this book in the new books section however there it took reading the cover aloud before I got it.  "Pants Knees.....Pants.....sneeze"  Huh?  Go ahead....read it aloud.  Now you got it right?  Like I said, it takes reading it aloud.  Kids will love these.  I can see older elementary (4th-5th grade) especially enjoying this.  Great fun!

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

Five Little Monkeys Jump In The Bath by Eileen Christelow

Those silly five little monkeys are back again and this time they are in the bathtub - and with good reason.  Those five monkeys are always getting into some sort of mess and this time is no exception.  First comes the ice cream then the mud then the TUB for the monkeys!  Using great colorful language the monkeys are able to get cleaned up before getting messy yet again.  Cute story that is short enough for even the youngest readers to enjoy.

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves

Goodnight Baseball by Michael Dahl

A little boy spends the afternoon at the ball field watching an exciting baseball game.  When it is time to go home, the boy must bid goodnight to everything he sees at the park that day.  A "grown up kid" Good Night Moon!  Very cute for all the baseball lovers.

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

A Big Guy Took My Ball by Mo Willems

Much anticipated at our house.....Piggie and Elephant are back in a new adventure.  This time Piggie is quite upset when a "big guy" takes the ball he was playing with.  Gerald jumps in to help his friend.  Gerald is not worried, since he is BIG himself. However Gerald has met his match.  The ball "thief" is big, very big.  Piggie and Gerald always bring great laughs and fun.

Not Your Typical Dragon by Dan Bar-el

Crispin Blaze is not your typical dragon.  He knows that when he turns 7 years old he will join his family as a fire breathing dragon.  When the day finally arrives Crispin is excited to finally try out his fire breathing capabilities.  He opens his mouth and out comes....whipped cream!!!  Dad takes him to the doctor.  When Crispin tries to show the doctor, he opens his mouth and out comes...band aids.  What is happening?  The doctor sends Crispin home with medicine but it does not get better.  Afraid that his family will be disappointed, Crispin decides to run away.  Crispin meets up with a knight named Sir George.  Together these two learn important lesson about being yourself and friendship.  Great message that will be enjoyed by many ages.

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Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

That Is Not A Good Idea by Mo Willems

Love Mo Willems!  And as much as I love Pigeon books and Piggie and Elephant is an every.day.post.dinner.reading. at our house (hard to find books that both the 2 year old and 5 year old will listen to together) I always likes when there is a new book from Mr. Willems.  I love the little yellow chicks!  Fox is excited to see a nice, plump goose which means a nice dinner for him.  Or so he thinks!!  The chicks keep trying to send out the warning....but their warning is ignored.  Fox is able to get the goose to his kitchen and looking in the big pot.....

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

The trailer is super cute.  To check it out click HERE!  

Nurse Clementine by Simon James

It is Clementine's birthday and her parents have given her a first aide kit and nurse's outfit.  It does not take long for Clementine to find emergencies to help with.  Clementine is able to nurse Mr. Brown's stubbed toe and Mrs. Brown's headache.  Nurse Clementine tries to help her brother as he continually crash into things but he insists he does not need help.  Will Nurse Clementine ever be able to help him?

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

The Emperor's Cool Clothes by Lee Harper

The emperor's new clothes with a new, cooler twist.  In this book the emperor is out to be cool and stylish.  He once again is tricked by some good-for-nothing-scoundrels.  They succeed in getting money and giving the emperor NOTHING in return.  The wait is on to see which character will speak up and reveal that in fact the emperor is naked.  A fun twist to an old story.  Kids will find this book cool......

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

Heidi Heckelbeck and the Cookie Contest by Wanda Coven

A chapter book??  I know, I know...been a LONG time since I read a chapter book.  This is the sweetest series.  A great book for girls in grades 2-3.  I do not like to pigeon hole a book as a girl or boy book but this one.....What I like about this book the most - it is appropriate for kids in elementary, no questionable material here!

Heidi is preparing cookies for the Brewster Elementary annual cookie contest.  Heidi decides to make the famous Heckelbeck Chocolate Chunk Cookies.  Heidi knows how proud of his recipe her dad is but she is worried it just won't cut it - too boring.  Heidi decides to make some changes to her cookies - which backfires with a smelly result.

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves (Great support to readers just getting into chapter books!!)

Exclamation Mark by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld

Meet !  He has always stood out.  The only time he did not stand out was when he was asleep.  He tried to fit in with the . but it never worked out.  Then one day ! met ? and he soon learned that he had an important job.  In true Rosenthal/Lichteneld fashion, Exclamation Mark is again told with the same wit that readers have come to expect from this team.

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeyes leaves

World Rat Day: J. Patrick Lewis

Looking for that perfect poem to celebrate National Skunk Day?  What about National Sloth Day?  Look no further.  Thanks to current Children's Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis these holidays, and others, will not go uncelbrated any longer.  You can celebrate Bulldogs Are Beautiful Day on April 24th with a lovely poem about the bulldog, "The sumo of canines".  Kids will love these holidays, rarely celebrated, and be inspired to research other holidays and write poems to commerate those holidays as well.

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

I Dare You Not To Yawn by Helene Boudreau

The perfect bedtime story....for both parent and child.  You will be yawning before the end of the first 5 pages.  In this book a boy is trying to fight the urge...YAWN.....the power of....YAWN......the contagious power of the.....YAWN......  By giving sure fire ways to avoid the YAWN.....like avoiding "huggable stuffed animals, soft cozy pajamas, and your favorite blankie" you might actually be able to avoid yawning and the dreaded bedtime.  But you will also want to avoid the "sleepy-time songs about twinkling stars or baaing sheep, especially the counting kind".  A very funny, enjoyable book that adults will be able to relate to as well.  Would be great for dramatic read aloud....if you can stay awake.

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

Perfectly Percy by Paul Schmid

Percy is a balloon loving porcupine.  Being a porcupine that happens to love balloons makes things tough for Percy.  He must seek help.  His sister Pearl does not provide an useful ideas.  His mom is too busy to have ideas for him.  What is a porcupine to do?  Then Percy comes up with an idea - an idea that will make his balloon loving much easier.  Sweet book - love the lovable Percy.

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

The Three Triceratops Tuff by Stephen Shaskan

Clip, clomp.  Clip, clomp.  Clip, clomp.  Three triceratops brothers are headed to the other side of the  valley where lush vegetation grows.  The problem is the tyrannosaurus rex at the bottom of the valley.  The first brother to head to the valley, the youngest, Stanley, is stopped by the tyrannosaurus rex and the threat of being eaten up!  Stanley is able to escape by promising the tyrannosaurus rex his older brother will be coming along soon.  Billy Goats Gruff.....the prehistoric version, will be a fast favorite with the dinosaur loving audience.  

Text:  5 Buckeye leaves

Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves

Mouseterpiece: A Mouse-sized Guide to Modern Art by Jane Breskin Zalben

Janson the mouse lived in the corner of a museum.  Once the lights were off and the people were gone for the day, Janson would move about the museum looking at the various works of art.  Using the great works of art she encounters in the museum by artist such as Picasso, Matisse, and Warhol, Janson begins to create art with dots, squares, circles, triangles, squiggles and wiggles, and stripes.  A great introduction to some of the best known contemporary artist.  Pages at the back of the book provides additional information about the various artwork and artist.

Text:  4 Buckeye leaves
Illustrations:  4 Buckeye leaves

The Birds of Bethlehem by Tomie dePaola

Yes, a little late.....but this one was a big hit, a somewhat surprising hit given that the choice of "literature" by the 4 1/2 year old these days seems to focus on Star Wars.  This is a very inventive look at the nativity story.  A group of birds gather to discuss a recent event in Bethlehem.  Each different color bird seems to have witnessed some different aspect of the same event.  Told without too much text, the reader quickly realizes what all the birds saw was the same event, the birth of Jesus.  This is definitely one of my favorites for the Christmas season that we will be purchasing before next Christmas season to add to our 25 days x 2 kids books of Christmas.

Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves
Text:  5 Buckeye leaves

Superhero School by Thierry Robberecht

Superheros are on the fringe as a favorite at our house....we are currently ruled by Star Wars.  However this may capture the interest of my favorite 4 1/2 year old boy as the characters have special powers, except Henry.  Henry's classmates like him because he is funny, laughs loudly, and loves to pull pranks.  Teachers on the other hand are not impressed.  They do not appreciate his pranks and his low grades place him as the lowest achieving student in the school.  Henry begins to wonder if he really belongs at Superhero School since his only special talent is pulling pranks.  One day a gigantic monster appears outside the school.  All the superheros spring into action using their special talents to fight the monster.  Nothing seems to take down the monster....until HENRY (cue the music) arrives on the scene with his special gift....pranks!  Using a series of pranks Henry saves the day!  Go Henry! GO!

Text:  3 Buckeye leaves (I like the message - each of us are unique with special gifts but wish there was more "meat")
Illustrations:  5 Buckeye leaves (LOVE these....they are so cute!....or maybe superheros are not suppose to be cute?)

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.