Tuesday, August 18, 2015

I'm a Little Teapot

In this expanded version of the traditional song, the little teapot shares his dreams with two children as he waits on the stove for someone to make tea. His imaginary escapades include a boat ride in China, a bullfight in Mexico, a space outing, a trip to the opera, a pirate ship ride, a foxhunt and a jungle hide and seek game. The cute teapot is very versatile in all these exploits. For example, his spout becomes a fishing rod on the Chinese boat, an orchestral horn at the opera and a trumpet on the foxhunt. The children's story ends with a tea party for all of the children's family and friends (including some they met on their trips, the fox and an alien). The illustrations are cheerful. Even the back to back two-page spreads in the jungle show smiling snakes and lizards. The watercolors use the entire palette from a particularly attractive pink, yellow and green kite to a brown bull frolicking into a red cape in a red-rimmed arena. The musical score and adapted lyrics are included in the back of this kids book. This would be quite enjoyable as a parent and child sing-a-long. This children's reading book is for kids reading level ages 4-8. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends. Remember to always praise your child.
I'm a Little Teapot

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Manners at School

I recently bought this for my twin sons, who are just new to kindergarten last year. They did not go to preschool, so most of the rules of school were unfamiliar to them. It is a cute little book for introducing kids to good manners in school and I am pleased with the purchase. The children's book covers one idea for each 2-page spread: raising your hand, sharing, paying attention when the teacher is talking and so on. The interior illustrations are very much in line with the cover art. I will definitely buy the other kids books in the line. This children's book is for kids reading levels ages 4-8. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends. Remember to always praise your child.
Manners at School

Friday, August 7, 2015

The Kids' Karate Workbook: A Take-Home Training Guide for Young Martial Artists

Excellent, hands on manual for instructors to offer their karate students. It is nearly impossible to write a technical manual that is general enough to span across many styles and specific enough to be useful. Didi Goodman really did nailed it with this children's reading book. The illustrations are a terrific tool, especially the little quizzes the kids can take. Loved it. This reading book for kids is for children's reading levels ages 9-12. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends. Remember to always praise your child. Keep reading.
The Kids' Karate Workbook

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

The Princess Test

Lorelei does not seem to fit in very well with her own family, but she does seem to have all the attributes of a real princess. So when a bride search begins for Prince Nicholas, Lorelei is very lucky indeed to find herself at the castle gates. Prince Nicholas is immediately taken by Lorelei and would like to see here become his wife. The royal parents have quite an array of tests that she must pass before they are satisfied she is the right woman for their son. This fractured fairy tale is a fun read and gives the reader another version of Han Christian Anderson's, Princess and the Pea story. This children's reading book is for kids reading levels ages 4-8. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other topics you would like to have discussed. Share this post with your friends. Remember to always praise your child.
The Princess Test

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Play Baseball Like a Pro: Key Skills and Tips

This kids book was very useful for my 2 sons. They are 12 and 9 and love to play baseball. They picked up some great and useful tips in this children's reading book. This chapter book is broken down perfectly so that your child can retain all of the information. With tips from real MLB players, how can you go wrong. There are tips for every fielding position including pitching and catching. Many tips for batters whether you are right handed or left handed. This quality children's book is sure to help your child improve their game. This children's book is for kids reading levels ages 9-12. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other kids books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends. Remember to keep praising your child.
Play Baseball Like a Pro: Key Skills and Tips

The Little Engine That Could Easy-to-Read

I loved this children's story as a child and I especially loved the illustrations. My favorite was the pictures of the oranges, apples, milk and lollipops. I remember staring at those pictures for a long time in amazement (again, that was when I was a little kid). Anyway, I remember loving it so much that I decided to get it for my daughter and she loves it to. After reading it I sometimes show her the little movie clip from Dumbo where Casey Junior is climbing the hill and saying "I think I can, I think I can" and she really enjoys that too. I highly recommend this quality children's book! This children's reading book is for kids reading levels ages 4-8. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other kids books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends. Remember to always praise your child.
The Little Engine That Could Easy-to-Read

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Flower Girl

Being the flower girl in your big sister's wedding is an important and sometimes scary job. The flower girl gets to wear a pretty dress, carry a basket of flowers and walk down the aisle before the bride. Knowing all of this, the little girl still has one problem. She is anxious and nervous about "messing up" her part of the wedding. Follow the big event from the engagement to the wedding ceremony. The vocabulary is controlled, the sentences are simple and the text is broken up into short lines to make reading easier. This children's story stays fairly strong and the illustrations provide clues if a child can not figure out a word. This children's book is for kids reading levels ages 4-8. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends. Remember to always praise your child.
Flower Girl

Friday, June 5, 2015

Geronimo: Four Mice Deep in the Jungle

How do you feel about your success around the world? Are you excited to meet American children?
GS: Holey cheese! I'm always pinching my tail because I can't believe all the success I've had. I'm just so amazed that children want to read about ME -- I'm just a mild-mannered editor after all. I just happen to always get my nose into the most unusual predicaments. And America! I've always read many wonderful stories that take place in America and I just couldn't wait to get here. I've had the most fabumouse time meeting all the children.
Why do you think kids love your stories?
GS: My stories are full of adventure and excitement, but they also are entertaining and make children laugh. I'm always getting into trouble and for some reason my readers seem to find that amusing. And my stories are about things that children deal with on a daily basis, such as friendship, sincerity, respect, love, and peace. My books give each young reader a message of hope that will help them grow.
What do you want to convey to your readers?
GS: A love of reading. I love writing my stories and nothing delights me more than if a child enjoys reading them!
Do you prefer being the editor-in-chief of your newspaper, The Rodent's Gazette, or writing your adventures?
GS: I love running the newspaper -- that is my job, after all. But writing stories is my passion and I hope to be sharing my adventures with children for many more years.
How do you spend your time when you are not busy writing or editing?
GS: Holey cheese! I'm just your average mouse...although I am afraid of a few things and I don't like to travel because I get carsick, seasick, and just plain dizzy most of the time. I prefer to stay at home in my nice, cozy mouse hole. I'm a very traditional mouse, I like classical music, good books and old-fashioned cooking -- no meal is complete without a nice chunk of cheese! But what I love to do most is write, so I always make sure there is plenty of time for that. And of course, no day is complete unless I get to read a story to my favorite nephew, Benjamin.
This children's book is for kids reading levels ages 4-8.  Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends. Remember to always praise your child.
Geronimo: Four Mice Deep in the Jungle

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

The Boxcar Children Books Mysteries 1-4

Since its original publication of The Boxcar Children in 1942, Gertrude Warner's Boxcar Children books have enchanted children across the country. Now the first four in this popular series are together in one box! Join Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden (the Boxcar Children) as they join forces to uncover lots of suspenseful and puzzling mysteries. After the orphans find their new home and a new grandfather in the beloved classic The Boxcar Children, Surprise Island finds them spending the summer on Grandpa Alden's nearly deserted island and dealing with its many obstacles. The adventures continue in the third book, The Yellow House Mystery, in which the Aldens backpack their way to Maine in hopes of discovering an empty house's secret, and Mystery Ranch has the children trekking out west, where Grandpa Alden's sister Jane is living alone on her ranch. This children's book is for kids reading levels ages 7-12. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends. Remember to always praise your child.
The Boxcar Children Books Mysteries

Friday, May 22, 2015

Sunflower House

Rich watercolor and colored pencil illustrations display the sun-drenched setting of the beautiful outdoors as a young boy creates a summer playhouse made from sunflowers that he planted. The children's story is told in rhyming verse, and it follows the boy and his friends through a whole summer of fun and make-believe in their sunflower house. In the fall, when the sunflowers begin to fade, the children decide to save some of the seeds to plant the following year. Sharp-eyed readers may notice the wide scattering of seeds that occurs in the last scene and deduce that the following summer will yield an even larger bunch of flowers where the children play. This children's book is for kids reading levels ages 4-8. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends. Keep on praising your child.
Sunflower House

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

My Weird School Daze #5: Officer Spence Makes No Sense!

A.J. is a student at Ella Mentry School, where school is anything but boring. A missing peanut butter sandwich at lunchtime in the vomitorium brings about another day of weirdness, where Officer Spence accuses one and all of stealing A.J.'s sandwich, starting with the teachers and eventually arresting the entire school. Told from A.J.'s view, complete with commentary on adults and the English language, the child reading this next volume in the "My Weird School Daze" series will enjoy the story while the adult will appreciate the puns. Whether considering that WOW is MOM upside down, or listening to Officer Spence listing all the synonyms for jail, the reader will be in hysterics, wondering at the lunacy of the police in this school's community where a crossing guard is arrested for jaywalking and a bus driver for drinking coffee while driving. This children's reading book is for kids reading levels ages 8-12. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other kids books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends. Remember to always praise your child.
My Weird School Daze

Friday, May 15, 2015

Karate Kick

Cole is an 11 year old karate student getting ready to test for his green belt. In Karate Kick, he is confronted by a bully, helps someone come back to karate, steals something and has to make up for it, and discovers that jealousy is useless. The tone is sometimes preachy. The kids story book seems to assume the reader has martial arts experience or knowledge, but unlike other sports, martial arts vary by discipline and even by dojo. Belt colors do not always go in the same order and kata and block, kick, punch, and stance names are not always the same. Because if this, it was often confusing for my children who have been taking martial arts for almost a year and a half. Overall, an okay kids book with a nice, feel good ending. This children's reading book is for kids reading levels ages 9-12. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other kids books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends. Keep on praising your children daily.
Karate Kick

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Rapunzel

The cover of this children's book is so beautiful that you can almost feel the texture of Rapunzel's golden tresses as she gazes into the distance from her isolated tower. This variant on the kids story is immensely satisfying, and the lengthy author's note provides a provenance and rationale for Zelinsky's retelling. The magnificent oils transport readers to the Italian countryside. The fabrics, skin textures, hair, and the detailed interiors are exquisitely rendered. Zelinsky will certainly have his wish to inspire readers to seek out more Renaissance art fulfilled. Readers can not help but want to see more art like that which he has created. This children's book is for kids reading levels ages 4-8. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends. Remember to always praise your child.
Rapunzel

Friday, May 8, 2015

Fraction Fun

For many young students, the mere mention of fractions brings on headache, tummyache, and confusion. But no longer! This simple, hands-on concept book is clear and concise. The simple definition of a fraction, that it is a part of something, introduces a pizza pie that is divided, studied, compared, and, of course, eaten. Weighing coins determines how many make one ounce, and what the fractional value of each coin is. The cartoon like illustrations are colorful, whimsical, and humorous; they also make the concepts clear. Without a fraction of a doubt, parents and teachers will find limitless possibilities in this book. This children's book is for kids reading levels ages 9-12. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other kids books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends. Keep your child reading.
Fraction Fun

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

The Joker

Building on Heath Ledger's performance in The Dark Knight(although long before the movie's debut), Azzarello creates a memorably cringe-worthy story. Rather than a natty Clown Prince of Crime, this Joker looks like a glam rocker gone to toxic seed. Newly released from Arkham Asylum, he begins disorganizing the criminal establishment of Gotham City. Although he claims to want power and money when he confronts Two Face and his peers, he really seems just to enjoy playing with people-shooting them, setting them on fire or skinning them alive. Accompanying him is Jonny Frost, a young thug who takes a long time to recognize the drawbacks of seeing a vicious sociopath as a role model. Like Jonny, however, readers may find that, horrifying as the Joker is, they can't take their eyes off him. Even Batman, when he inevitably enters the action, functions largely as the Joker's partner in a dance of death. Azzarello has learned how to create a menacing, morally ambivalent atmosphere in his years of scripting 100 Bullets, and Bermejo's jagged, shadow-saturated art sustains the mood. The result is fascinating, but extremely dark. This kids graphic novel is for kids reading levels ages 9-12 and also for young adult readers. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other kids books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends. Remember to keep on reading with your children.
The Joker

Friday, May 1, 2015

Pretty Little Liars #6: Killer

I love the Pretty Little Liars book...they're amazing!!! I have never read a teen book that made me so NERVOUS and ANXIOUS to find out who A is and Ali's murder!! I think I know who A is as well... My friend and I (well mostly her) came up with what I think is an award-winning theory!! Well first of all I believe that there are three A's, well 2 now since Mona is dead, and I think they were all working together. The second A I think is...Jenna. Why? Because if you remember in Flawless, Toby wrote a letter to Emily and Jenna gave it to Emily. When Jenna handed Emily the letter she said "your part is somewhere in the middle.."....ummm how did Jenna know that??? She can't read...she's blind!!! Yeah I doubt that she is... but she's probably out to get them b/c they were mean to her in middle school.
Okay, this is going to sound so crazy but our 3rd A suspect is.....Alison!!!I know crazy, right? She's dead. Yeah, well I don't believe that!! Why? Remember in , I forgot other Perfect of Unbelievable, Emily was in the yearbook room and she was looking at the page dedicated to Ali and she saw the pic that Mona had in her purse of Ali and then Mya came in and asked who was that and Emily said "Alison" and then Mya said "that doesn't look like Ali"...what Mya said was very IMPORTANT!! Who out of Aria, Spencer, Hannah, and Emily saw Ali's body in the ground of her backyard??? None. However, Mya did. so what mya was saying was that the "Alison" in the pic doesn't look like the "Alison" who was in the ground dead!!!! So the "Alison" who is dead isn't the real Alison..It's someone else!! And if you read Wicked,Ian proved this theory. He said "there were two blondes in the woods that night". and if ali's alive,she killed Ian.And i think Jason knows that's why he said he doesn't communicate with his family because "they're too messed up"... I mean how AMAZING would that be to end the series with the final A being reveled as Alison!!!?? This teen book is for teens reading levels ages 12-18. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other teen books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends.
Pretty Little Liars #6: Killer

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

The Big Green Book of Beginner Books

This great combination of six of Dr. Seuss' favorites are marketed as the "Beginner Books" series, a new approach to reading in 1957—the time of the publication of his first book "The Cat in the Hat." Minimal text, repetition of words, alliteration, and illustrations that lend clues to the words are strategies routinely used by publishers of beginning readers today. The six stories: "Great Day for Up" (1974), "Would You Rather Be a Bullfrog?" (1975), "I Wish That I Had Duck Feet" (1965), "Wacky Wednesday" (1974), "Maybe You Should Fly a Jet," "Maybe You Should Be a Vet" (1980) and "I Am NOT Going to Get Up Today" (1987) all have the nonsense appeal of Dr. Seuss and similar, recognizable illustrations even though done by various illustrators over the years. They beg to be read out loud leading to the young child being able to easily mimic the words when attempting to read on their own. Packaged as an "I Can Read It All By Myself" children's book, it is a necessary addition to every beginning reader's library and now nicely combined as the perfect gift. Parents brought up on some of the older stories will enjoy passing their enjoyment on. This children's book is for kids reading levels ages 4-8. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends. Remember to always praise your child.
The Big Green Book of Beginner Books

Friday, April 24, 2015

Fly With Poetry: An ABC of Poetry

Gr 3-5-Twenty-seven original short poems, generally one for each letter of the alphabet. Each selection illustrates a particular form or term, such as acrostics (two types), blank verse, cinquain, haiku, limerick, metaphor, onomatopoeia, and sonnet. The deceptively simple poetry conveys a wide variety of moods and images. The example of free verse in "Tree Dancers" is particularly effective: "Winds/sweeping over pines/shape limbs into/rigid images:/tree dancers/ locked/in frozen rhythm-/silent tango partners." A clear definition of the poetic device exemplified appears at the bottom of the page on which it appears. Brightly colored drawings, ranging from realistic to cartoon, accompany each poem. Unfortunately, a blank page designated for the letter "Y" ("Your Poem") asks readers to "write your poem in here." Still, this brief guide will make a good companion volume to more detailed introductions to creative writing, such as Myra Livingston's lucid Poem-Making (HarperCollins, 1991).-Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public Library Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information. This children's book is for kids reading levels ages 9-12. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends. Keep on praising your child. Keep them reading daily.
Fly With Poetry: An ABC of Poetry

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Second Grade Rules, Amber Brown

"A Is for Amber" designates the series which takes place when the famous Amber Brown was younger and her parents were still together. In this adventure (perhaps her last; Ms. Danziger died in 2004), the seven-year-old Amber loves second grade and her unconventional teacher, Mrs. Light. She even likes the class rules till a new one pops up—all desks must be kept clean. Poor Amber, neatness is not her thing, until Mrs. Light tells the class about Deskarina, the Desk Fairy, who leaves treats for a neatly organized space. The lively story, Ambers' second-grade friends (including Justin, who now tells chicken jokes), and her amusing but realistically difficult struggle for neatness will undoubtedly resonate with beginning readers. What fun to see Amber, wearing at last her hard-earned blue ribbon from Deskarina! Tony Ross's wonderfully immediate ink and watercolor illustrations continue to capture the essence of Amber in all her untidy charm. Some of the best depict Amber's visualizations of the Desk Fairy and her Deskmobile, topped by the little girl's glowing pride when she wins the ribbon and then her rueful look as she sees her cluttered bulletin board at home. This latest, perfectly-pitched tale will appeal to beginning readers whether Amber is an old friend or this is a first encounter with the author's endearing creation. Paula Danziger will be missed. The title has been reissued a part of the "Penguin Young Readers" series and is designated a Level 3 and Guided Reading Level "K." The opening page contains a note to parents and educators about the series and tips for making best use of this quality children's book. This children's book is for kids reading levels ages 4-8. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends. Remember to always praise your child. Keep on reading.
Second Grade Rules, Amber Brown

Friday, April 17, 2015

Sight Word Readers: Learning the First 50 Sight Words is a Snap!

I am homeschooling my son for Kindergarten this year and so far, none of the RAN boards,"Read in 100 lessons" books, Sight Word Flashcards, or even a Sight Word tablet app (that got great reviews from others) worked. My son would get bored after a couple of tries and not even an hour later would forget the words we went through.
Out of desperation and frustration, I went through Amazon trying to find a system that would actually work for him. Somehow I stumbled upon this product and started reading the reviews and descriptions of this system. The price looked reasonable (if it doesn't work then at least I didn't lose too much money) and the system itself seemed to make sense (story with sight words repeated throughout and a short quiz at the end).
2 days after ordering we got it in the mail and I immediately dove into it. Having read the parents workbook, I called my son over to see what the first two sight words (they, go) would do for him. We sat down like we do for our daily reading time and I first read the book out loud while pointing to the words. The book was entertaining enough for him to enjoy the illustrations and short enough that it didn't make him lose focus. After the first time he wanted me to read again so I did. The third time in a row, I asked him to try to read along with me. The fourth time, he was able remember the sight words on each page and even passed the "quiz" on the inside back cover. He was so proud of himself he wanted to do it again, including the quiz. Just to ensure he wasn't just memorizing a pattern, I would point to the words in different order when doing the quiz.
By this time he was so happy he wanted to "read to grandma" so we called my mom and as I pointed to the sight words on each page, he would read them. This children's book is for kids reading levels ages 4-8. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends.
Sight Word Readers

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Cursive Writing Practice Pages With a Twist!

I combined this cursive book with Cursive Writing Made Fun & Easy by Kama Einhorn for my 7 year old son. He does really well. We do 2 pages from the the other book and then one page of review from this kids book and so on. This children's book can stand alone for anyone who needs more practice. I would not recommend it for teaching unless it is in addition to her other book, but it is a great review and drill practice. Pages are in black and white for reproduction, but are creative enough to not bore the student. It even has teaching ideas to help you! This cursive book is for kids reading levels ages 9-12. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other kids books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends.
Cursive Writing Practice Pages With a Twist!

Friday, April 10, 2015

Children's World Atlas

While information is presented in a visually striking way, this children's atlas has some shortfalls in the text. The children's reading book is arranged by continent, with spreads focusing on specific areas such as "Western Canada and Alaska," and "The Caribbean." Some individual countries are also highlighted, but none for Africa. The plentiful maps form the centerpiece of the spreads. They show some topography while emphasizing man-made elements with limited coverage of physical features. They are surrounded by visual vignettes with clear, but mostly small photos and brief descriptions of a city, crop, product, holiday, sport, animal, natural resource, or a cultural attribute. While these chunks of facts may appeal to some young readers, others may find them distracting. Inaccuracies are evident in a few places. Students will want to use a complementary source such as Lands and Peoples (Grolier, 2003) with this atlas. This children's book is for kids reading levels ages 9-12. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends.
Children's World Atlas

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You: Very Short Stories to Read Together

This quality children's book contains many different short little stories that two people can read together. All containing positive lessons, each story has at least two characters that face a problem or experience an adventure. For example, in "The Dime," the pig finds a dime, but his friend the cat feels that the money belongs to him. Instead of the characters keeping the money and destroying their friendship, they decide to buy a kids book and take turns reading the story book to one another. Another great story that has a positive lesson is "I Hate My Hat." The characters in the story are raccoons, and one raccoon continually says, "I hate my hat." The other raccoon says that "hate" is not a nice word to say and compliments his friend for wearing the hat, so that no one needs to speak the word "hate" at all. This kids book also possesses characteristics of a play because the text offers a dual speaking part. One reader reads the purple colored sentences, the other reads the pink colored sentences and both readers read the blue sentences together. The color-coding also teaches the concept of following directions. Children of all ages need to know how to follow directions because they will encounter many areas in their lives that will require them to follow directions, both at school and at home. This children's book is for kids reading level ages 4-8. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends.
You Read to Me, I'll Read to You

Friday, March 27, 2015

Happy Easter, Curious George

George and the man with the yellow hat drive to the park. It is Easter and children are flying kites, decorating eggs, and rolling eggs in races. George feeds a white bunny a carrot. When George goes to dye eggs, the bunny runs away. George mixes colors to make new ones and even juggles the dyed eggs. When he sees a man hiding eggs, George thinks the man is losing them and collects all the eggs. When he sees a white egg, it turns out to be the bunny's tail. The man in the yellow hat has George rehide the eggs so the children can find them. "It was the best egg hunt ever!" The pictures show George hiding eggs in a bird nest, in a boy's pocket, and a squirrel hole. At the back are sparkly egg-decorating stickers. The pictures are in the style of H.A. Rey, the original creator of Curious George. This Easter children's book is for kids reading levels ages 4-8. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends.
Happy Easter, Curious George

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Dumb Bunnies' Easter

It is December 24th and the Dumb Bunnies are preparing to celebrate a non traditional Easter. Beginning with a shamrock adorned sign that declares "Merry Halloween" the Bunnies carry on with their festivities by nailing valentines to the walls and windows, selecting their Easter tree, hanging decorations on themselves, and spray-painting fried eggs. They spend the night awaiting the arrival of the Easter Bunny, who appears in a red minivan pulled by flying pilgrims to drop raw eggs down the chimney. Anyone already familiar with the Dumb Bunnies will get exactly what they expect from this newest title. Preschoolers and kindergarteners will roll with the oh so obvious humor. "I am good at picking things," says Baby Bunny, knuckle deep into his nostril. The illustrations are done with "watercolors, India ink, acrylics, and Hamburger Helper" provide the perfect bucktoothed bunnies for the simple illustrations that pair beautifully with the simple story. Anyone who enjoys a little silly humor now and then is sure to appreciate sharing the holiday with these Bunnies. This Easter kids book is for children reading levels ages 4-8. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends.
Dumb Bunnies' Easter

Friday, March 20, 2015

Fancy Nancy's Elegant Easter

We do not do a lot of sweets in our house so kids books like these are perfect for holidays that have candy as the primary focus. These Easter books are written well enough, but there is something more special about the hardback ones these ones seem to be written by ghostwriter not Jane O'Connor. This won't stop me from buying them on holiday's. They are nice for Easter and other holidays, but they are not loved as much as the rest of the series. This Easter kids book did include pop up features, which my four year old loved so much and anything Fancy Nancy is a winner in our house I just missed the quality of the hardcover books. This children's book is for kids reading levels ages 4-8. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends. Keep on praising your children.
Fancy Nancy's Elegant Easter

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

The Easter Egg

It is springtime. Hoppi, a young bunny, would like to win the right to help the Easter Rabbit hide the eggs by decorating the winning egg. He needs an "amazing idea" for his first egg ever. Searching, he passes other bunnies at work, making eggs with flowers, from carved wood, chocolate, and Granny Ireney makes "fabulous story eggs." Overwhelmed by the possibilities, Hoppi decides to, "just make an egg I am proud of." Just then, an egg tumbles from Mother Robin's nest. It must be kept warm until it hatches. Through days and nights, Hoppi never leaves it. For this good deed, the Easter Rabbit chooses him for a place of honor on Easter. The front jacket/cover portrait of our nattily jacketed hero surrounded by a frame of decorated eggs, plus the five bunnies at work on the eggs in a similar frame on the back introduce the double pages of the highly detailed, naturalistic scenes. Additional vignettes along with frames bursting with plants, flowers, and other busy bunnies attend the drama of the egg. Watercolors and gouache with added airbrush background produce these delightfully attractive characters and settings. A foldout is needed to display the Easter Bunny's wagon pulled by golden chickens. And the moral should be clear to young readers. This children's book is for kids reading levels ages 4-8. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends. Remember to always praise and encourage your child.
The Easter Egg

Friday, March 13, 2015

Ultimate Sticker Collection: LEGO Minifigure

The single most amazing thing about this kids book is the price. Especially compared to the cost of ANY Lego kit. For about 1/2 of the cost of a small Lego kit, you can give your child hours and hours of pleasure playing with what they love...Legos. The stickers being reusable have a hidden bonus...they won't stick to your walls, fishtank, windows, etc without being easily removed. Let them get crazy with the stickers, they peel right off of the walls.
 EXTRA BONUS - When you are staggering through your kid's room in the middle of the night, or in the dark of the morning...you will not destroy the bottom of your feet when you step on the stickers :)
 Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other kids books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends. This kids book is for children ages 4-8 and 9-12.
LEGO Minifigure

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Safe at Home

Nick Crandell loves to play baseball. He is the catcher for the junior varsity team and is looking forward to playing on the summer baseball team. One day, he notices the varsity coach watching him practice and though he thinks little about it, he is amazed when the coach comes up to him and offers him the catcher's position on the varsity team, a position now not next year. The varsity catcher has broken a wrist and the team needs Nick. However, the uncertainty of being able to play with the older boys seeks to destroy the remarkable chance that Nick has been given. The older boys are not happy to have the JV player on their team and the pressure of their displeasure affects Nick's confidence and play. It is not long before the lack of confidence infiltrates all of Nick's life; his relationships with friends, with family, with school all suffer as he struggles to prove his ability to play varsity. One big blow out with his best friend, Gracie, and Nick knows that he must rethink his complaints against those who really do care about him. This is a sweet kids story of young teen identity and how sports can both help and hurt that process. Lupica's fans will enjoy this addition to his "Comeback Kids" series for young readers. This kids book is for kids reading level ages 9-12.
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Safe at Home

Friday, March 6, 2015

Where's Waldo Now?

If you have not met Waldo before, he is a funny-looking cartoon fellow who appears amid busy scenes filled with other characters and objects. Although he is always out in the open and quite distinctive, finding him takes some careful looking.
The new edition of Where's Waldo Now? has a great feature. Waldo has been moved in each illustration from the first edition of this book! So if you loved these illustrations before, here is your chance to enjoy them all over again.
The scenes start with cave man days, and move on to ancient Egypt, ancient Rome, Viking voyages, the Crusades, the Middle Ages in Europe, Aztecs, 1600 in Japan, 1750 as a pirate, 1900 at a Paris ball, the Gold Rush, and also a future look at a space colony.
Although finding Waldo is challenging enough, this fascinating volume is filled with dozens of other people and objects to seek. There are 25 Waldo watchers, each one of whom is unique to an illustration. You also get Wenda, the Wizard Whitebeard, and Odlaw in each illustration. In addition, there's a mystery character in each illustration whom you need to find on your own. (There's a clue at the end of the kids book if you can not figure it out.) Woof the dog appears just as a tail in each illustration. You also have Woof's bone, Wenda's camera, Wizard Whitebeard's scroll, and Odlaw's binoculars in each illustration. At the end of the children's book are lists of a dozen or so characters and objects to find in each specific illustration.
If you have not seen this kids book before, the illustrations are done across a two-page spread filled from the edges of both pages in both directions. The characters and objects are very small. You can profitably use a magnifying glass if you have trouble seeing small things. Bright light is a must! Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other kids books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends.

Where's Waldo Now?

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Where's Waldo? The Fantastic Journey

Handford takes the concept of hidden pictures one notch higher with the chaotic, character-filled drawings that populate his highly-popular series. In this installment, young readers join Waldo on his journey to find 12 scrolls that will reveal a truth about him. In each scene, young readers must search not only for Waldo, but also for Wenda, Wizard Whitebeard, Odlaw, Woof the dog (or, rather, his tail), and a scroll. Next, they need to find Waldo’s key, Woof’s bone, Wenda’s camera, and Odlaw’s binoculars. If that is not enough searching, there are 25 Waldo-Watchers to be found, each of whom appears only once in this kids book. And there is another character, too, who is not shown in the introduction, but who appears once in every picture except the last. Finally, checklists at the end of this children's book ask readers to go back and find hundreds of additional objects. Everything young readers must search for is hidden in plain sight, but with every inch of each two-page spread covered with tiny drawings, they can be extremely hard to find. A great kids book for honing observation skills, it provides hours of fun for readers of all ages. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends.
Where's Waldo? The Fantastic Journey

Friday, February 27, 2015

How to Talk to Girls

How do you talk to a girl? There are grown men who still do not know the answer to this question, but the nine-year-old author of this kids book is ready to tell you. Some of his advice is right on, such as "To get a girl to like you, talk to her and get to know her." Some advice should be true, but often is not, such as "Girls always like smart boys." Some advice is just plain cute, such as "Your mom likes you to be clean and she is a girl." If you are an elementary school boy, this kids books advice might help you catch a girl, but the author cautions readers to aim only for getting her to like you. Love, he says, should come later…like in middle school. For other readers, this kids reading book is just plain cute. The author knows more than his years would lead you to suspect. As an advice book for older kids, it probably will not work, but for younger kids (or older ones who want a smile) it is a sweet gift. One piece of advice that would work for all ages? "Whatever happens, don't let it make you crazy." This kids book is for kids reading levels ages 9-12. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other kids books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends. Keep your kids reading and praise them daily.
How to Talk to Girls

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

St. Patrick's Day

The otherwise unnamed narrator of this children's book, identified as Evan from the lunchbox he carries and the shamrocks decorating the flyleaf, wears green to school on St. Patrick's Day. His friend Pablo wears green sneakers. Teams of other children also wear green while they share what they have learned about Ireland for a class program about the holiday. Evan and his teammates draw pictures and write about St. Patrick, who taught people to be kind to each other. Their classmates, including Michiko and Eveline, explain the saint's role in ridding Ireland of snakes, dance a jig and distribute shamrocks. All Irish, Evan relates his family's history. After school, he and his mother share her homemade soda bread with Pablo and his mother. Through the diverse members of the class and through their participation in celebrating the holiday, the message of the kids book is clearly conveyed: "So many Irish people came across the sea to America that we celebrate St. Patrick's Day whether we're Irish or not." One in a series of books that focuses on Mrs. Madoff's classroom, this title conveys basic information about St. Patrick's Day in a straightforward, matter-of-fact way. There is no story, conflict, adventure, suspense, or subtlety. There is nothing for young readers to investigate or with which to engage. The illustrations—pastels with a predominance of green, including Evan's eyes, which are the same color as his shirt—are similarly lifeless. If no other books on St. Patrick's Day are available, school children could give a report on the report that Evan and his classmates give. This children's book is for kids reading levels ages 4-8. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other quality children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends. Encourage your children to keep on reading.
St. Patrick's Day

Friday, February 20, 2015

Smash That Trash!

This hands-on, interactive, ten-page baby board book will be an instant hit with young readers who like trucks and transportation. Cleverly designed and created with colorful illustrations of each different type of truck, the trucks come to life and engage the reader immediately. The whimsical illustrations convey each truck's special and unique personality, helping children to understand the job of each truck. Gabriella the Dump Truck has work to do and as she makes her way around town, young readers experience many different aspects of a variety of work sites. For example, when Gabriella, the bright pink truck with a yellow bow on the top of her cab, drives onto the construction work area, young readers can turn the cleverly designed wheel on that page to reveal all the things that Gabriella finds at the construction site. Then when Gabriella vrooms up to the fire station, readers once again can turn the wheel to identify equipment that is found at a firehouse. Three award winning artists—David Shannon, Loren Long, and David Gordon—collaborated to create the wonderful illustrations and interesting moving parts on each page of this book. Not only will young readers enjoy manipulating the cleverly designed wheels, but they will also learn additional information while reading this delightful book and enjoying the manipulative features which cement their understanding of the text. Trucktown comes to life because of the distinct visual style of this appealing hands-on book. Young readers will want to read it again and again. Children who enjoy this board book will also enjoy the other in the "truck-town" series and they will enjoy going to the website which is noted on the back cover to find more fun and games about these wonderfully distinct trucks and their unique jobs. This children's book will be an absolute favorite with young truck lovers! Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends.
Smash That Trash!

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Hooray for St. Patrick's Day!

A group of children prepare for and celebrate, St. Patrick's Day. They perform a play, make crafts, dance and have a picnic, among other things. Lift-able flaps hide surprises for young readers. There is a leprechaun hidden on every page, which makes for a simple, easy game to play while you read. The pages are thin cardboard, so they are slightly sturdier than paper; the flaps are glued-on pieces, which stand up to some handling, but will tear with some minor effort. For homeschooling parents, those who just like to teach their kids new things, or those who'd like to introduce some Irish facts with the St. Patrick's Day fun, there's a small (5 word) glossary inside the back cover. This children's book is marked for ages 2 to 6; that age group is fairly accurate. I would think the pre-reading set will enjoy this kids book more than older children. Author Joan Holub's rhyming text would be better if it was consistent throughout. Most pages have two lines of rhyming text and a totally unrelated, non-rhyming line under the flap. This throws off any sense of rhythm the book might have and then, just to further confuse matters, there is one page where the rhyming line IS the line under the flap. Paul Meisel's illustrations are fun, colorful and cute and it is great that the children are of various ethnic backgrounds. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends.
Hooray For St. Patrick's Day

Friday, February 13, 2015

Melvin's Valentine

Have you ever received a valentine from an anonymous sender? Melvin did and he is scared because he really wants to know who the mysterious sender is. As he travels around, he asks various buddies; Kat, Jack, Pete, Lucy and Pat if they sent the card. Each denies that he or she was the mysterious sender. In the background of several pictures, little Rita keeps going "beep, beep." But Melvin seems clueless. Finally, she catches up with him and thanks him for showing everyone her valentine. Now Melvin is happy, the sender is no longer a mystery. However, what is not really clear is whether this was a valentine from Rita to Melvin or a valentine that Rita had received and shared with him. The kids who enjoy this holiday as well as the "Truck town" series may find this tale amusing. A Level 1 book in the "Ready-To-Roll" series, this title features a simple story, and reasonably long sentences.
This Valentines kids book is for children reading levels ages 4-8.
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Melvin's Valentine

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Love, Ruby Valentine

Ruby Valentine lives in Heartland with her bird, Lovebird. Naturally, her favorite day is Valentine's Day and she spends the whole year preparing for it. In a flurry of activity, she bakes heart-shaped cookies, makes glittery cards, and fills up goody bags. She and Lovebird work morning, noon, and night right up until the day before Valentine's Day, when they load up her wagon with mounds of gifts. But they are so tired that once they fall asleep they cannot wake up the next morning. In fact, morning, afternoon and evening go by without Ruby Valentine. What will happen when she attempts to deliver her valentine greetings a day behind? What will Ruby and her friends learn about the right day to say "I love you"? Colorful illustrations of Ruby, Lovebird, and the town will delight readers.
This Valentines kids book is for children reading levels ages 4-8.
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Love, Ruby Valentine

Friday, January 30, 2015

Dragon Slippers

Creel is a poor, orphaned, farm girl with a talent for embroidery. When her aunt decides to sacrifice her to a dragon in order to lure a knight or prince who might marry her, Creel sees it as a way to escape her boring life. She does not expect to meet a real dragon in the caves above her village, so she is even more surprised when the real dragon does not want to eat her. Creel makes a deal to keep the approaching mob away from the dragon's lair if he gives her a pair of fabulous shoes from his hoard. The shoes Creel picks turn out to be the most valuable treasure in all of her kingdom, and they enable her to communicate with the dragons. As she sets off on her way to pursue her dream of working in a dress shop in the king's city, Creel is rescued from bandits by another friendly dragon. Creel and the dragon Shardas strike up a special friendship that becomes the centerpiece of the kids novel. Creel continues on to the king's city, where she finds work, friends, and adventure. As the story continues, Creel discovers that her special shoes have the power to save or destroy the kingdom, and she must face the future with bravery. The kids novel's female characters are spunky, the dragon lore is well-crafted, and the story is a balance of comic and tragic elements. This is a fun first novel from George that would delight fantasy fans of Shannon Hale or Gail Carson Levine. This children's reading book is for kids reading levels ages 9-12. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends.
Dragon Slippers

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentine

The people who are criticizing Junie B. books for using improper grammar need to relax! Yes, Junie B. is rude. I agree, she uses improper grammar. Yes, she is a hand full at school! I think it is important to remember what these kids books really do, encourage children to read! I would prefer my kids read Junie B. than watch any TV, even PBS kid shows. Reading is the Most Important skill that our children can learn. Give your kids some credit, they know what is real and what is entertainment. Kids used to read comic books. Oh my! And Dennis the Menace! These children's books are hilarious for adults and it makes me want to read to my kids all the time. I feel sorry for people who think Junie B. books are the biggest threat to their child. This children's reading book is for kids reading levels ages 4-8. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other quality children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends.
Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentine

Friday, January 23, 2015

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You: Very Short Stories to Read Together

This kids book contains many different short stories that two people can read together. All containing positive lessons, each story has at least two characters that face a problem or experience an adventure. For example, in "The Dime," the pig finds a dime, but his friend the cat feels that the money belongs to him. Instead of the characters keeping the money and destroying their friendship, they decide to purchase a book and take turns reading the book to one another. Another story that has a positive lesson is "I Hate My Hat." The characters in the story are raccoons, and one raccoon continually says, "I hate my hat." The other raccoon says that "hate" is not a nice word to say and compliments his friend for wearing the hat, so that no one needs to speak the word "hate" at all. This book also possesses characteristics of a play because the text offers a dual speaking part. One reader reads the purple colored sentences, the other reads the pink colored sentences and both readers read the blue sentences together. The color-coding also teaches the concept of following directions. Children of all ages need to know how to follow directions because they will encounter many areas in their lives that will require them to follow directions, both at school and at home. This quality children's book is for kids reading levels ages 4-8. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have discussed. Share this post with your family and friends.
You Read to Me, I'll Read to You

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Biscuit's Valentine's Day

Biscuit and his little mistress are a cute team. In this childrens valentines book with big flaps, they are busy making valentines for friends and family. Biscuit has a spool of ribbon in his mouth and a valentine stuck to his paw, but he trots off to give a greeting to kitty, neighbor Puddles and the little girls grandparents. Best of all, when they get home, there are valentines in the mailbox and an especially big valentine for little Biscuit. This beautiful Valentine's Day children's book is for kids reading levels ages 0-4. Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have discussed. Share this post with your friends.
Biscuit's Valentine's Day

Friday, January 9, 2015

Bright Baby Touch and Feel Hugs and Kisses

Roger Priddy had left school at 16 with just one qualification in art. He went to Berkshire College of Art and Design and trained as an illustrator.  His first job in children’s books was working with the publisher Peter Usborne, at Usborne Publishing, and then he worked with Peter Kindersley at Dorling Kindersley, where he spent 16 years. Priddy became Creative Director of DK’s Children’s Division and was Managing Director of the children’s mass market publisher Funfax when it was acquired by DK. In 2000, he created Priddy Books with John Sargent at St Martin’s Press to create innovative and imaginative titles for children, from first books for babies through early reference titles for older children. Since then, over 30 million copies of Roger's 200 plus books have sold worldwide, with five of his books—My Big Animal, My Big Truck, Happy Baby Words, Happy Baby Colors and Puppy and Friends—each selling over one million copies. He is also the author of Big Board First 100 Words; Big Board Books Colors, ABC, Numbers; and Bright Baby Noisy Monsters. His creativity has been recognized with numerous industry awards. Priddy lives in London with his wife Zena and their four children. This children's board book is for kids reading levels ages 2-6. A great first board book that offers a sturdy cover and colorful illustrations.
Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends. Praising your child is key to their reading success.
Bright Baby Touch and Feel Hugs and Kisses

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

The Valentine Star

This Valentine story is about a girl named Emily and her teacher Mrs.Rooney. Her class is playing in the snow. There are two characters named Emily and Sherri that don't like each other. The day Mrs.Rooney wasn't there is because she took a couple days off. Then Mrs.Rooney found a substitute, her name was Mrs.Vincent ,and Emily really wants to meet her, and she wants to dress nice for that day so that she will like her and Sherri copied Emily with the idea she had. Then Emily got mad, then Emily was in charge because Mrs.Vincent put her in charge while shes going to get something. So Emily caught Sherri playing around with Richard and Emily put Sherrie's name on the board and Sherri just ignored and didn't listen and just kept talking then when Mrs.Vincent returned and she looked at whose name was on the board. Mrs.Vincent said ''Thank you Emily for keeping an eye on the class''. The next day after school Emily, Sherri and Mrs.Vincent were making a card for Mrs.Rooney, but they ran out of paper so Mrs.Vincent went to get some more paper, as she left Emily and Sherri. Then they started to talk to each other and they decided to be friends again. When Mrs.Vincent came back with paper she was happy Emily and Sherri became friends again. The next day Mrs.Rooney returned and she got Emily's valentine card and she was pleased to get a card from Emily. When it was Valentines day it was time to get all the cards, and pass them out to everyone and Emily made a card a special card for Sherri Dent. I enjoyed reading this Valentine's book because it talks about Valentines Day. This Valentine's kid book is for children reading levels ages 9-12. It is a great story and offers a change of pace reading for your little angel.
Leave us your comments. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Let us know what other children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends. Remember to always praise your child and have them read daily.
The Valentine Star