Archive for the ‘ages 6-10’ Category
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
Here’s a book for the whole family to share this December after the Menorah candles have gone out and all the latkes have been eaten. Called Hanukkah Around The World from Kar-Ben Publishing, this enlightening book, is written by Tami Lehman-Wilzig and illustrated by Vicki Wehrman.
From Istanbul, Turkey to Turin, Italy to Nabeul, Tunisia, readers are introduced to Hanukkah customs, traditions and recipes they’ll want to return to again and again.
I found the facts included both in each country section and in the end Hanukkah Potpourri end pages to be of particular interest. For example I had no idea it’s traditional to sing two songs after lighting the candles, nor did I know that Gerona, Spain has one of Europe’s best preserved medieval ghettos or that the Jewish community in Bukhara, Uzbekistan supposedly goes back 2,000 years.
Between the beautifully drawn maps and other artwork plus the tempting international recipes and the handy glossary, there is much to enjoy and learn about. Whether you already celebrate The Festival of Lights or are just interested in other cultures, Hanukkah Around the World will take you on a fascinating journey.
Tags: Chanukah, Hanukkah, Juvenile Non-Fiction, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Customs & Traditions, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Jewish Holidays, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Religious Holidays - Hanukkah, Juvenile Non-Fictions - International Cultures, Picture Book
Posted in Juvenile Non-Fiction - Religion, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Religious Holidays - Hanukkah, Juvenile Non-Fiction-Family, Juvenile Nonfiction - Faith, Juvenile Nonfiction - Religion, ages 6-10, ages 7-12, ages 8-12 | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
Yesterday, guest reviewer Debbie Glade looked at Charles Darwin and today she is also reviewing Animals Charles Darwin Saw: An Around-the-World Adventure and Animals Marco Polo Saw: An Adventure on the Silk Road, two Chronicle Books by author Sandra Markle.
Animals Charles Darwin Saw (Chronicle, $16.99; ages 7-10) is beautifully illustrated with bright colors by Zina Saunders. The depictions bring the reader closer to the reality of Darwin’s nineteenth century world. Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzinni’s illustrations in Animals Marco Polo Saw (Chronicle, $16.99; ages 7-10) are both vivid and somewhat smoky at the same time, demonstrating her originality. Her use of light and shadows are incredibly impressive, and I really enjoyed studying all the detail.
In the Darwin book, readers learn about the naturalist’s expedition aboard the HMS Beagle. The author does a good job introducing his theory of evolution to young readers, and I like the way she explains what Darwin was trying to accomplish on his voyage. In reality, Darwin’s findings and theories are quite sophisticated, and Sandra Markle simplifies it for children in a way that is understandable yet not at all patronizing. In Marco Polo, readers are taken on a j
ourney from Italy, through the Middle East and to China, along the same path this great explorer took during the 13th century. Young readers learn about Marco Polo’s interest in the people he encountered (Kublai Kahn among them), their cultures and religions, as well as the many unique animals he saw that were unfamiliar to him. Both books highlight specific animals with offset copy, giving the reader a greater depth of information.
Also, each book starts off with a note to parents and teachers and has a Table of Contents. In the back is a Glossary, a “For More Information” page and even a helpful Index.
Animals Charles Darwin Saw: An Around-the-World Adventure and Animals Marco Polo Saw: An Adventure on the Silk Road teach children about two curious men from long ago, with great minds, who journeyed afar in search of answers. They each brought back an abundance of new information to share that would change the way we think and live. There is so much that Charles Darwin and Marco Polo have taught us, and these books are a great way to expose young readers to these great men.
Debbie Glade is the author, illustrator and voice talent of the award-winning children’s picture book The Travel Adventures of Lilly P Badilly: Costa Rica, published by Smart Poodle Publishing. She visits South Florida schools with her reading, writing and geography programs. For years, Debbie was a travel writer for luxury cruise lines. She writes parenting articles for various websites and is the Geography Awareness Editor for WanderingEducators.com. She blogs daily at smartpoodlepublishing.com.
Tags: Animals, Charles Darwin, Exploration, Geography, Geography Education, Juvenile Non-Fiction, Nature
Posted in Animals, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Biography - Charles Darwin, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Exploration, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Geography, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Nature, ages 6-10, guest reviewer | No Comments »
Monday, November 16th, 2009
According to guest reviewer Debbie Glade, Charles Darwin and the Beagle Adventure (Templar Books, an imprint of Candlewick, $19.99; ages 8-12), written by A.J. Wood and Clint Twist, “is the highest quality, most inviting, most creative, most entertaining, most sophisticated and most informative children’s science book I have ever read. There, I said it.”
Debbie Glade is the author, illustrator and voice talent of the award-winning children’s picture book The Travel Adventures of Lilly P Badilly: Costa Rica, published by Smart Poodle Publishing. She visits South Florida schools with her reading, writing and geography programs. For years, Debbie was a travel writer for luxury cruise lines. She writes parenting articles for various websites and is the Geography Awareness Editor for WanderingEducators.com. She blogs daily at smartpoodlepublishing.com.
As soon as I took one look at the unique cover, I knew this was a special book. The pages are accessed by opening the flaps of a sturdy, magnetic cardboard cover. What lies inside is a visual wonderland of flaps to flip and envelopes to open, revealing letters, illustrations, maps, photos and scientific information regarding Darwin’s findings aboard the HMS Beagle. You will actually feel as though you are reading Darwin’s diary from the famed voyage of 1831 to 1836. The pages were even printed to look as though they were hand sewn to the binding! (FYI - This book is one of three historical notebooks from Templar Books, all of which I’d love to read.)
This is not a book for you or your child to rush through; rather you will want to curl up on the couch and take your time reading and discovering. You don’t want to miss a thing. Open the inside cover to pull Darwin’s family tree out of an envelope. Then continue on to read about the experiences that led Darwin to a life of scientific exploration and discovery. View a map of the track the HMS Beagle took, read a letter from Darwin to his father about his decision to take the voyage and then soak in all the flora and fauna as seen by the great naturalist himself. And of course, learn about Darwin’s theory of evolution.
Did you know that the HMS Beagle’s departure was delayed numerous times before setting sail? Or that there were 74 people on board the not-so-large ship? And that Darwin experienced severe seasickness? Or that Darwin was a very religious man? You will learn about these facts as well as details about Darwin’s tracking of plant and animal species and how he collected specimens in South America, around Cape Horn and on his voyage back to England.
Reading Charles Darwin and the Beagle Adventure is as close as you can get to actually being on Darwin’s voyage of 1831-1836. This book is indeed a lifetime keeper.
Tags: Animals, Charles Darwin, Exploration, Geography, Geography Education, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Science, Nature
Posted in Animals, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Animals, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Biography - Charles Darwin, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Geography, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Nature, ages 6-10, guest reviewer | No Comments »
Friday, November 6th, 2009
24 Days Left to Enter
“I Love Costa Rica’s Rain Forest”
Writing and Art Contest for Children
Prizes Donated by Rand McNally’s Online Store
Smart Poodle Publishing announces its final call for entries for the “I Love Costa Rica’s Rain Forest” Writing and Art Contest for Children. The contest is FREE and is designed to teach children about geography and give them an opportunity to practice their writing skills as well as express themselves artistically. The deadline is November 30, 2009. Children in grades 5K through 5th grade are invited to write a story about Costa Rica and submit art work to win fantastic prizes generously donated by Rand McNally’s Online Store. In addition to these valuable prizes, Smart Poodle Publishing will award the First Place winners in each age category $100 as listed below.
Teachers are welcome to submit all their students’ essays and artwork together, using the teacher’s email address as the contact, rather than each parent’s email. Please visit www.smartpoodlepublishing.com for full contest rules and entry form.
First Place Winners in three grade categories (5K-1st grade, 2nd-3rd grade, 4th-5th grade) will each receive these three prizes (Value listed):
Rand McNally Personal Journeys World Pinable Wall Map($84.99)
Rand McNally Hard Bound World Atlas ($24.95)
Kids’ Travel Activity Bundle ($15.80)
A Check for $100
Second Place Winners in three grade categories (5K-1st grade, 2nd-3rd grade, 4th-5th grade) will each receive these two prizes (Value listed):
Rand McNally Traveler Series Kids Illustrated Wall Map ($64.99)
Kids’ Travel Activity Bundle ($15.80)
Third Place Winners in three grade categories (5K-1st grade, 2nd-3rd grade, 4th-5th grade) will each receive this prize (Value listed):
World Knowledge Bundle ($22.90)
Tags: Art Contest, Conservation, Contest, Costa Rica, Geography, Geography Education, Juvenile Fiction, Nature, Rainforest, Rand McNally, World Travel, Writing Contest
Posted in Animals, Juvenile Fiction - Contest, ages 5 - 7, ages 6-10, ages 7-12, ages 8-12, art | No Comments »
Friday, September 18th, 2009
A Friend Like You by Julia Hubery and illustrated by Caroline Pedler from Good Books is reviewed by Andrew. Andrew is a fan of reading and enjoys mysteries and adventure stories. He spends his free time playing sports and building new creations with Legos.
This is a story about Panda and Monkey who set off on an adventure on the first day of spring. They set off to the highest mountain meadows to see its secrets. Panda and Monkey enjoy the company of one another as they discover beautiful creatures in nature on their way to the highest meadow. Although Monkey traveled too quickly for Panda, they both enjoyed the sights along the way. Their friendship blooms along the way as they see the most amazing sight of a thousand butterflies at the top of the highest meadow. The sight was worth the long journey to the top!
I enjoyed reading this story about friendship and adventure. I also liked the soft looking illustrations in the book. They are beautiful! I think any child who likes adventure and friendship will enjoy this book.
Tags: Animals, Juvenile Fiction, Picture Book
Posted in Animals, Juvenile Fiction - Adventure, Juvenile Fiction - Friendship, Juvenile Fiction - Social Situations - Emotions & Feelings, Juvenile Fiction-Animals, ages 4-8, ages 6-10, guest reviewer | No Comments »
Friday, July 17th, 2009
Guest Reviewer Debbie Glade is the author, illustrator and voice talent of the award-winning children’s picture book The Travel Adventures of Lilly P Badilly: Costa Rica, published by Smart Poodle Publishing. She visits South Florida schools with her reading, writing and geography programs. For years, Debbie was a travel writer for luxury cruise lines. She writes parenting articles for various websites and is the Geography Awareness Editor for WanderingEducators.com. She blogs daily at smartpoodlepublishing.com. Today she enlightens us about The Enemy: A Book About Peace by Davide Cali.
If I had met author Davide Cali on a plane flying to Italy (that’s where he lives) and he said to me, “I am writing a children’s picture book about war, enemies and killing,” I would have wished him luck and feigned sleep for the remainder of the trip.
I would have thought, “That’s obviously not a good subject for a children’s picture book, is it? No one would want to read that to their kids!” To say the least, I would have been wrong. Dead wrong. The Enemy: A Book About Peace is so brilliantly done and offers such a powerful message about conflict and misunderstanding, that everyone – young and old - should read it. And yes, the point of this tale is all about peace.
The simple, adorable illustrations by Serge Bloch perfectly complement this sophisticated, yet simple story. The story is told in first person, in a most captivating manner, by one of two enemy soldiers. Each soldier sits in his foxhole waiting for a chance to shoot at the other soldier. The enemies never actually see each other, but know the other is there waiting to kill. They grow lonely, weary and hungry from waiting. The storytelling soldier even wonders if his enemy is looking up at the same stars every night. He wonders if that enemy thinks war is pointless too. And he really hates when it rains and soaks him as he waits for the enemy to attack. He wonders when this war will end. Out of desperation one day, he crawls out of his foxhole covered with leaves to disguise himself. This way, he can go over to the enemy’s hole and surprise him and shoot first.
What that soldier finds in the enemy’s foxhole changes his opinion about everything he had been told about war and the “enemy.” What happens after that, I cannot tell you. You’ll have to read this book yourself to see.
What I can tell you is that the message in this clever book is very poignant. The Enemy: A Book About Peace will really make you think deeply about everything from actual wars between countries, to 
conflicts between family members. In fact, if there is someone in your life you struggle to get along with, this book would be a perfect gift. While recommended for children ages 4 to 8, kids older than 6 will be better able to understand the concept of the story.
Buy it. And read it often. You don’t have to have a child or be a child to benefit from reading this book. It will be a worthwhile use of your time.
Tags: Juvenile Fiction, Juvenile Fiction - Historical- Military & Wars, Juvenile Fiction - Social Situations - Values, Picture Book
Posted in ages 5-10, ages 6-10, guest reviewer | No Comments »
Thursday, July 16th, 2009
Wishworks Inc. by Stephanie Folan, from Arthur A. Levine Books was reviewed by Derek, 8 years old (7 at the time he read it).
I think the story is good because Max thought fast, not hard and strong, so he didn’t always get what he wanted, and it would make a huge disaster. Like when he wished for a real dog he got a real dog, just a crazy one. But when he wished for it to go away, he made his mom and sister so unhappy they wanted to cry. When he wished for a nice real dog, he found his dog again and this time around she wasn’t so crazy (or as ugly as he thought the first time). That made Max happy and his mom and sister were happy, too!
I found the story interesting because of the fun use of the boy’s imagination. Some words were hard and some were easy. There were hundreds of paragraphs. But I liked it a lot.
From a parent’s perspective, the book is good because it is challenging, and it has a good moral: be careful (and specific about) what you wish for! Our son is an advanced reader for his age and he finished the book within about a week.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Life is unsettling for young Max. His parents have divorced, he’s moved to a new part of town and is often bullied at school. As an escape from the chaos he feels at home or simply to leave boredom behind, Max uses his Adventure Time (daydreaming) to have all sorts of exciting escapades with a dog named King. Somehow though, Max does not end up with King, but with a very different dog whose devotion to her adoptive family is eclipsed by their love for her.
Tags: Animals, dogs, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction
Posted in Animals, Juvenile Fiction - Picture Books- Social Situations - Bullying, Juvenile Fiction - boys, Juvenile Fiction-Animals, Juvenile Fiction-Social Situations, Juvenile Fiction-girls, ages 6-10, dogs, guest reviewer | No Comments »
Saturday, June 27th, 2009
Here’s first time guest reviewer Nathan and his mom, JoAnn writing about something they both love, baseball. Nathan and my son have been on the same baseball team for the past three years. When I saw this book, it shouted Nathan’s name.
Wow! What a good read about a young man and his Grandpa. Oliver’s Game by Matt Tavares takes place in Chicago where the Chicago Cubs baseball team plays in season at the famous Wrigley Field. It is also the story about a boy who really likes the game of baseball much like our son Nathan feels about the game.
It was fun to read the book together, seeing Nathan get excited about the book and the story of a young boy liking the same sport he likes. The boy’s Grandpa, in the story, was such a huge baseball fan that he actually got to try out with the Cubs in 1945. However, the war broke out and he went to fight for his country, was wounded and then told he could never play baseball again. So, he went on with his life, had a family and opened this really neat store, “Hall’s Nostalgia” where he collected and kept memorabilia from over the years. His grandson found an old Cubs uniform (the uniform he got to keep from his tryout) that had the Cubs official logo and his Grandpa then told him the story of his big ‘tryout’ with the team just before wore broke out. Grandpa gave the uniform to his grandson because he could see this meant just as much to his grandson as it did to him when he tried out with the team back in 1945, the same year the Cubs made it to The World Series. Grandpa was proud to share and give this precious gift to his grandson. Even though Grandpa did not ever get to play for the Cubs, he knew then “the game of baseball was more than just the players on the field.” Everyone is a part of baseball, from the fans to the guys selling the hot dogs in the stands!
While reading this book with Nathan, I got tears in my eyes knowing some of the facts to be true. You see, my Dad was a massive Cubs fan and also fought in the war from 1942 through 1945 when it ended. I remember the stories my dad told me as a child about how he and his friends used to climb the back wall of Wrigley Field to sneak a peek at the game on the day when the Cubs (cubbies) were in town.
This special book was definitely a most enjoyable read for Nathan and me. The look on Nathan’s face was priceless as he read the book. The excitement created while reading about Oliver and his Grandpa is one not often found in books about baseball. It brought heartwaming smiles to my face as I recalled the stories told to me by my father.
Reading takes one into a whole other world, often emotional and educational and Nathan and I were overjoyed to have been on this journey together. We would certainly read more books by this author Matt Tavares.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Click here to see what the next exciting project Matt Tavares is working on.
Tags: Baseball, Chicago Cubs, Juvenile Fiction, Sports, Wrigley Field
Posted in Juvenile Fiction - Grandparents, Juvenile Fiction - Sports - Baseball, Juvenile Fiction - boys, ages 6-10, guest reviewer | No Comments »
Thursday, May 21st, 2009
PIKAWHO?
My son, Coleman, is obsessed with all things Bakugan and Pokémon and perhaps your son is too. If your home is anything like mine, not a day goes by 
without one or the other being mentioned over dinner or at bedtime and honestly, I cannot follow or keep up with it all. On the other hand, my husband and my dad have had to learn all the different names involved in addition to the characters’ respective powers in order to bond over various DS, Wii and card games along with the television show. It’s at times like these that I am grateful for being the mom because, were you to ask me to name a Pokémon besides Pikachu, I would lose that battle hands down! And speaking of battles, this is what Coleman had to say about Scholastic’s latest release …
The book I just finished is called Pokémon Battle Dimension: Triple Trouble (available from bookstores nationwide) based on the T.V. episode, “The Thief That Keeps on Thieving.” This book was very exciting because it shows how teamwork is better than just a single person fighting evil. The bad guys are Jessie, James and a talking Pokémon, Meowth. The good guys (and girl) are Ash, Dawn, Brock and Tyler. Tyler is trying to catch a Yanma, but team Rocket (a.k.a. the bad guys) catch it. If I say any more I will spoil the story for you. But I can truly tell you it’s a good book if you are a Pokémon fan like me!
NOTE: This a Reader 2 level book.
Tags: Comics, Juvenile Fiction, Pokemon, TV or Movie Tie-In
Posted in Juvenile Fiction - Pokémon, Juvenile Fiction - Science Fiction, Juvenile Fiction - TV Tie-Ins, ages 6-10 | No Comments »
Saturday, April 25th, 2009
Or Does Your Doggie Like To Disco?
Pick up a copy of My Hippo Has The Hiccups from Sourcebooks’ cool kids imprint Jabberwocky to find out. I guarantee you’ll have tons of fun reading aloud with your children and then laughing yourself silly with the fantastic collection of poems from poet and sought-after school performer, Kenn Nesbitt. Then, when you’re done and yearning for more, why not keep the poetry pulse pumping by visiting Kenn’s website, www.poetry4kids.com?
Not since Shel Silverstein and his belly-laugh inducing poetry have I dog-eared so many pages in a children’s poetry book. Wild and wacky, inventive and inspiring, the 109 poems in this book are certain to entertain. And if they don’t get your kids eager to write their own poetry, I don’t know what will! It was utterly impossible to pick a favorite because I adored them all, but let me contradict myself and select the beginning of one here:
I Often Contradict Myself
I often contradict myself.
Oh no, I never do.
I argue with me day and night.
That simply isn’t true.
With titles in Nesbitt’s vast collection ranging from I Cloned Myself on Friday Night to Don’t Ever Bite Your Sister, I thought I’d give you a taste of what’s in store when you bring this book home (and the best part is there’s even an audio CD included for your portable poetry pleasure). Whet your poetry appetite and listen to Kenn Nesbitt read the following poems by clicking on each title below:
Something I Need to Remember
Dexter McDwyer
Don’t Ever Bite Your Sister
Want a chance to see your poem in print? Go right now (contest ends April 30), please don’t delay, tell the world, you’ve got something to say and visit TIME for Kids in conjunction with www.poetry4kids.com and enter their contest. The best funny poem gets published on the TFK website!
Tags: Contest, National Poetry Month
Posted in American Presidents, Events, Juvenile Fiction - Humor, Juvenile Fiction - Poetry, ages 5-10, ages 6-10 | No Comments »
Tuesday, April 21st, 2009
As a parent, I am sure many of us hop into the car on a daily basis in our role of family chauffeur without even thinking what’s fueling our cars. When prices soared, perhaps we thought harder about taking unnecessary trips, but when the cost of a gallon dropped again, we were back in our vehicles filling up as usual. It’s actually music to my ears when my teen says, “Hey Mom, I’m going to walk to Rite-Aid.”
With Earth Day around the corner, I took a look at this terrific educational book and can now recommend it to you. So here I am, along with my kids, learning how our reliance on fossil fuels is contributing to global warming. A Stage 2 reader in the Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out series, What’s So Bad About Gasoline (HarperCollins, 2009, $5.99, ages 5-9) brings important science concepts to K-4 students. It’s packed with information, colorful illustrations (some with speech bubbles offering further explanations) and a whole bunch of interesting gasoline facts. Reading this book with your child is guaranteed to promote positive discussion about alternative energy sources and ways we can reduce our carbon footprint.
Tags: Juvenile Non-Fiction
Posted in Juvenile Non-Fiction - Environmentalists, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Nature, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Science, Juvenile Non-Fiction Fossil Fuels, ages 5-10, ages 6-10, girls | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
Guest Reviewer Derek, from the San Gabriel Valley, is a 6 year-old currently in kindergarten. Like his brother Jared, Derek also started to read early. He likes to draw cartoons, play with Legos, and swim.
Derek has chosen to review The New Kid from the Black Lagoon and The Class from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler.
I like all the stories from Scholastic’s Black Lagoon series. My brother and I have read many Black Lagoon books. They are funny and crazy with creatures that are not real. Some creatures in these books have a pickle nose, some have Velcro skin that sticks to everything, some have laser breath, and some like to eat crayons, chalk, and erasers. The drawings of these wacky creatures are funny looking, too!
I like this part in The New Kid from the Black Lagoon book: “Maybe he’ll be a giant chicken, or a bionic turnip with three arms and four legs. If he is, then I want him on my basketball team.”
And in the The Class from the Black Lagoon book, I liked the part where the students are described like this: “Some grow two noses so they can pick them at the same time.” 
Another good part is: “And they’re always late when they come to school. But they only come when they have highly contagious diseases. When they’re healthy, they stay home.”
Both these stories are mysterious and made me want to find out what will happen next, but I cannot tell you here. You will find out at the end of each story.
NOTE FROM RONNA: While the recommended age is from 9-12, it’s evident that younger children are loving this series!
Tags: humor, Juvenile Fiction, Mystery
Posted in Juvenile Fiction - Humor, Juvenile Fiction - boys, Juvenile Fiction-Mystery, ages 6-10, ages 8-12 | 1 Comment »
Monday, April 13th, 2009
Meet Therese Louk who says, “As a teacher of second graders and a mother of boys, I could not stop laughing when reading the new Horrid Henry book with my son, Robbie.” The author, Francesca Simon, and illustrator, Tony Ross, are well known in Great Britain and their best-selling Horrid Henry series has just been released here.
Happy to Read These Horrid Tales
“I never knew being horrid could be so fun!” says Therese. “Francesca Simon’s series of Horrid Henry books are hilarious and mischievious adventures that are guaranteed to keep children reading. Each book has four fun adventures featuring young Henry and his friends. I recently finished the first book and can’t wait to continue on the series.” Read on to learn more of what today’s guest reviewer has to say.
In this first book, Horrid Henry tries to be like his brother, Perfect Peter. Leave it to Henry to figure out a way to act “horrid.”
The second story has Henry begging to go to Saturday karate classes instead of dance class. Only Henry can find the way to adequately ruin the dance performance and get kicked out.
The third story has Henry playing with his friend Moody Margaret. Henry easily finds a way to get everyone to eat “glop,” everyone that is, except him!
The last story in this first book has Henry and his family out camping. Wilderness camping was not what Henry had expected. No doubt, Henry finds a way out of the situation.
I cannot wait to read all the other titles in the hysterical Horrid Henry series from Jabberwocky. I will have them stocked in my classroom from now on.
NOTE FROM RONNA: Click on this great website from Jabberwocky to find out more about the other terrific titles (Horrid Henry and the Mega-Mean Time Machine, Horrid Henry and the Mummy’s Curse, and Horrid Henry and the Soccer Fiend) in this series as well as other special offers from this innovative publishing company. The recommended age for these books is from 7-10 years-old.
Tags: Best-sellers, humor, Juvenile Fiction
Posted in Juvenile Fiction - Humor, Juvenile Fiction - boys, ages 6-10, guest reviewer | No Comments »
Friday, March 20th, 2009
Charlesbridge out of Watertown, Massachusetts publishes some really awesome books for kids. A particular favorite of mine was their recent title, Bubble Homes and Fish Farts by Fiona Bayrock with full-color illustrations by Carolyn Conahan.
While we all adore squishy, shimmery, floating bubbles, have you ever realized they make excellent homes for Water Spiders, are a fun place to hide for the Juniper Spittlebug (did you even know there was such a thing as a Juniper Spittlebug?) and make playtime fun for Bottlenose Dolphin? I especially enjoyed reading about Snapping Shrimp. Found in coral sneefs, these shrimp make a loud sound to scare animals away, communicate and also catch prey. The bubble they make by snapping their claws moves so quickly and with such great force that it produces a snapping sound as the bubble implodes upon itself. And we all thought we were so cool when we squirted water through our palms at our local swimming pool!
The charming illustrations help show exactly how bubbles work above and below the water when used by animals. Helpful, too, are more facts included on the endpages as well as a glossary and index. Oh, and if you noticed I left out the fart bit, it’s because you’ll just have to get the book to learn what that’s all about!
Tags: Animals, Juvenile Non-Fiction
Posted in Animals, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Animals, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Nature, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Science, Juvenile Non-Fiction - The Ocean, Juvenile Non-Fiction-Humor, ages 6-10, girls | No Comments »
Thursday, March 19th, 2009
The Guest Reviewer today is none other than my soon-to-be 8 year-old son, Coleman. He devoured (and so did I) Robert Crowther’s Pop-Up House of Inventions from Candlewick Press and then wrote a book report about it for his class homework assignment. When I saw 
what he wrote I knew I just had to include it here. Enjoy!
I just read this great pop-up book filled with facts of things around the house. Want to hear some? Then I’ll tell you some. The first brassiere was invented in Greece in 2500 B.C., the first DVD player was bought in 1996. Or maybe this will interest you: the first electric egg beater was sold in 1910. If you like learning wacky facts, I think this book would be right for you.
NOTE FROM RONNA: This book is filled with inventive room by room pop-ups such as clothing hanging in a closet, a sliding shower door, and a revolving train track. The trivia, too, is great fodder for some fun conversations! While recommended for ages 6-9, grades 1-4, consider sharing it with younger and older siblings as well and they will not be disappointed.
Tags: Inventions, Juvenile Non-Fiction, Trivia
Posted in Juvenile Non-Fiction - Historical, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Home, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Inventions, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Trivia, ages 5-10, ages 6-10, girls, guest reviewer | 2 Comments »
Friday, March 6th, 2009
Do you have a child, like mine, who loves to draw, invent wild and wacky characters and create little hand made books? Then I have the ideal book for you. It’s called Comics To Go! by Mike Herrod from Blue Apple Books, a wonderful publishing house with lots of unique books out of Maplewood, New Jersey.
Here’s a sample of what my son Coleman did when he discovered the book last week. This design is the last cell for a comic strip called Rodrigo The Magnificent. The book contains 19 
stories for children (or adults if you are so inclined) to complete and then color in. What is even more exciting is that at their web site more comic panels can be downloaded! Kids will love Super Squirrel, The Dog Walker, Duck Amok and so many others. When all the strips have been completed, kids will find some blank comics at the book’s end so they can flex some more creative muscle. I suggest keeping the book in your car so that when you go out for a meal you have something with which to entertain the kids which in turn will surely entertain you! The clever, colorful book will appeal to many age groups and would make a most welcome gift for any occasion.
Tags: Comics
Posted in Juvenile Non-Fiction - Art & Drawing, Juvenile Non-Fiction - Cartoons, Juvenile Non-Fiction-Humor, ages 5-10, ages 6-10, ages 8-12, art, arts & crafts, girls | 1 Comment »
Thursday, February 19th, 2009
Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m a huge egg fan, see. They can be real smooth at times, make you think they’re one thing, when they’re really another. I like that in an egg. Hard-boiled, sunny-side up, over-easy, scrambled, but my all time favorite is the Humpty-Dumpty kind, especially served up fresh in a Film Noir or Dragnet-style kind-of way.
Take the newly released What Really Happened To Humpty? by Joe Dumpty as told to Jeanie Franz Ransom. The tale, recounted tongue-in-cheek (can you say that for an egg story?) by Humpty’s hard-boiled detective brother Joe, opens like this:
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
Humpty Dumpty was pushed.
Now if that hasn’t got you itchin’ (you’re not allergic to eggs, are you?) to find out more … This clever book simply cracked me up with its puns, plot and pictures. The mystery revolves around poor pushed Humpty, a pair of binoculars and a big wind. Readers’ appetites for a good, hearty romp around Mother Gooseland is whet by some well known personalities from childhood. The cast of possible culprits includes the Muffin Man, Old Mother Hubbard, Little Miss Muffet or Muffy, Spider, Goldie (as in Locks) and Chicken Little.
I really can’t tell much more without giving away all the good gags, but suffice it to say that its ending will leave readers satisfied. Kids will be happy that Humpty survives intact and his brother Joe, now vindicated for having solved the crime, can move on to new, more pressing business like helping Bo Peep find those missing sheep.
Tags: Eggs, Mother Goose, Mystery
Posted in All Ages, Juvenile Fiction - Humor, Juvenile Fiction - Humpty Dumpty, Juvenile Fiction - Mother Goose, Juvenile Fiction - boys, Juvenile Fiction-Animals, Juvenile Fiction-Mystery, Juvenile Fiction-girls, ages 5-10, ages 6-10, girls | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, February 18th, 2009
This Thursday, February 19 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. join the friendly folks at Every Picture Tells a Story to celebrate the genius works of master folk artist Esau Andrade, who has come all the way from Mexico.
Often celebrated amongst the company of famed Latino painters such as Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamay, Andrade’s works are found hanging in respected museums and galleries. Get your own signed copy of his new best selling book, A Perfect Season For Dreaming and enjoy readings and refreshments at:
Every Picture Tells A Story: 1311-C Montana Avenue, Santa Monica CA 90403 (310) 451-2700 www.everypicture.com
Tags: Artist, Esau Andrade
Posted in ages 5-10, ages 6-10, art, girls | No Comments »
Thursday, February 12th, 2009
Today I am celebrating the birthday of our nation’s 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, with a roundup of several noteworthy children’s books. It’s definitely worth noting that February 12th is also the 100th anniversary of the NAACP as well as Charles Darwin’s birthday.
What Lincoln Said, by Sarah Thomson, illustrated by James E. Ransome is recommended for ages 6-9. From earning his first dollars to outlawing slavery, Honest Abe’s life was one of hard work and dedication. Along his journey, Lincoln’s quotes, such as “Leave nothing for tomorrow that can be done today,” and “If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong,” were as well known as the man himself. In this book we learn about Lincoln’s character through his words as well as his deeds.
Lincoln and His Boys, by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by P.J. Lynch, has a suggested age range of 8-12. Told through the eyes of Lincoln’s sons Willie and Tad, this engaging story about Lincoln’s rise in politics is both enlightening and endearing. Willie and Tad were the closest of the Lincoln boys and their experience being “first children” is probably not very different than what Malia and Sasha Obama will encounter in the White House today.
Lincoln and Douglass: An American Friendship by Nikki Giovanni, illustrated by Bryan Collier, for ages 5 and up, is a deftly crafted story bringing together two of history’s greatest statesmen. The book introduces young readers to a most unusual relationship of its time. The year is 1865 and the setting is Lincoln’s Inaugural Ball. From there the book details the path of Douglass, former slave, leader of the abolitionist movement and reformer and how it crossed fortuitously with that of Lincoln, our nation’s 16th president.
Tags: Abraham Lincoln, American Presidents, Charles Darwin, Civil War, Emancipation, Famous African-Americans, Frederick Douglass, NAACP
Posted in Black History Month, President, ages 5-10, ages 6-10, ages 8-12, girls, politics | No Comments »
Monday, January 26th, 2009
Stitchin’ and Pullin’ by Patricia C. McKissack, illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera, came out this past October and is one of those special books that all school libraries should have on hand.
The women of Gee’s Bend, Alabama have kept more than their quilt making tradition alive. They have kept their culture flowing from generation to generation with the stitch of a needle, creating their own unique fabric of life. Through beautiful, touching poetic vignettes, author Patricia C. McKissack has woven together the history of Gee’s Bend now famous community of quilters whose artful works now grace the walls of museums. The vibrant illustrations by Cabrera add another attractive element to the book. Being unfamiliar with the Gee’s Bend quilters, I was grateful for both the introduction and the author’s note at the end offering insight into the story behind the book’s conception. I certainly will be on the lookout for the next time an exhibition comes to town. In celebration of Black History Month, visit our web page to learn about more great reads in our exclusive book roundup.
Tags: Black History Month, Juvenile Fiction
Posted in African-American, Black History Month, ages 6-10, arts & crafts, girls, quilting | 1 Comment »
