I Am Invited to a Party!

Young readers familiar with Willems's kids books will recognize his distinctive humor and illustrative style in these funny stories. When Piggie receives her first invitation to a party, she asks Gerald to join her and relies on his advice because he knows parties in order to prepare for the big event. The elephant, however, has a tendency to overanalyze, so he prepares them both for any contingency a fancy/pool/costume party. Piggie's expressive features show her questions about their attire, but the friends set off bedecked in flippers, masks, top hat, pearl earrings, cowboy hat, and evening dress. Imagine her surprise when they find all the other guests as lavishly overdressed as they are. In the second title, Gerald learns that there are worse things than a bird on your head, namely, two love birds, a nest, and three hatchlings. With the help of Piggie, he is finally able to ask them to move, but, as the final page reveals, they have become her problem. Both children's books use speech bubbles gray ones for Gerald, pink for Piggie to tell the entire story. This feature is a nice touch that facilitates paired/choral readings. The conversation between the friends flows smoothly and allows beginning readers to practice expression as they read. These appealing titles will tickle the funny bones of children and are sure to become favorites. 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. Remember to always praise your child.

ChildrensBooks2U

I Am Invited to a Party!

The Night Before Valentine's Day

In a take off based on the famous Christmas poem, this fun variation describes activities on the night before Valentine's Day. Kids have their scissors and glue out, cutting paper hearts and decorating them too. At school, everything is pink and red, from the streamers and hearts to balloons hanging by a thread. Teacher gets a bouquet from her secret admirer and the kids play games, exchange cards, and have a great party. Even the principal joins in the fun by pretending he is Cupid and leaving the kids a soft furry bundle of love. This Valentine's kids book is for children's 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 family and friends. Remember to always praise your child.

ChildrensBooks2U

The Night Before Valentine's Day

Thanksgiving Day

Rebecca Rissman is an award-winning children’s author and editor. Her writing has been praised by School Library Journal, Booklist, Creative Child Magazine, and Learning Magazine. She has written more than 200 books about history, culture, science, and art. She lives in Chicago, Illinois with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys yoga, reading, and cooking. If you are looking to teach your young one the importance of Thanksgiving then this kids book is a great place to start to keep it simple. 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. Remember to always praise your child.

ChildrensBooks2U

Thanksgiving Day

Room on the Broom

The witch loses her hat, leading to a series of misadventures, each of which adds another passenger on her broom. The combined weight finally snaps the broom, leaving the witch at the mercy of a mean, hungry dragon. She is saved by her clever flying companions, and the jolly verses end with them all flying happily together on a larger, "truly magnificent broom." In large, colorful, action-filled scenes and vignettes, Scheffler depicts an appealing pig tailed witch, a benign landscape, and a magical world in a humorous, cartoon-y style. Even the final confrontation between the dragon and the "horrible beast" of her friends is conceived for fun, not fright. This Halloween kids 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 family and friends. Remember to always praise your child.

ChildrensBooks2U

Room on the Broom

Sams First Halloween

Sam is learning about Halloween. She sees the kids come in costumes and when they say trick or treat, they get some candy. Wow, Sam wants some of this action, but her owners Joan and Bob do not seem to have a clue that Sam wants some candy. Sam grabs a towel and pretends to be a ghost when the next group of kids come to the door, Finally, even though candy is not for dogs, Joan and Bob get the message and decide to let Sam have a treat. The final page shows a smiling puppy face with paws on a jack-o-lantern wishing that Halloween could take place everyday. These children's books are perfect for animal-loving children who are just learning to read. 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.

ChildrensBooks2U

Sams First Halloween

Junie B., First Grader: Cheater Pants

Back for the twenty-first round, Junie B., this time explores what cheating is in a tight, well-focused children's story that just suits the developmental understandings of the implied reader. Sure, it is cheating if you copy your friend's paper and submit it as your own, but is it really cheating if you pretend to read it and supply your own words? Is it such a big deal if when you forgot there was going to be a spelling test, you sort of see a spelling word on someone else's paper, and he encourages you to, and it helps you spell "would" correctly? Junie makes the right decisions while the reader thinks through the ethical issues. Parents and teachers react appropriately, but supportively. When Junie and her friend talk it over, they both feel better and tell their teacher. The teacher writes Junie an "awesome" haiku, and we are ready for her next adventure. As in the other kids books, Junie's grammatical understandings reflect her age and she tells it as she sees it. The conversational style and Brunkus's cartoons give new readers courage to tackle more print. Readers slightly older will smile reminiscently and while some adults may wince, most of those readers won't be saying "me and Herb" by next year. 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 kids books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your family and friends. Remember to always praise your child.

ChildrensBooks2U

Junie B., First Grader: Cheater Pants

Mama Panya's Pancakes

Mama Panya and her son, Adika, are all ready for market day where Mama is planning on using her few coins to buy the ingredients to make pancakes for dinner. Adika is so excited that he can't help inviting all of their friends and neighbors. Mama Panya is worried that his generosity may be more than her few coins and their meager supplies can provide. Luckily all of the guests arrive with gifts, and a Kenyan cross between "Stone Soup" and the story of the loaves and the fishes is realized. A recipe, map, details about daily life, and facts about Kiswahili and Kenya are included. With their bold colors, vivid patterns, and lush scenery, the illustrations will transport readers into this country to walk alongside Mama Panya and Adika on their way to market. Details from animals to foliage are depicted clearly and provide more than just a backdrop to the story; they're a great introduction to the landscape and people of East Africa. A strong selection for a read-aloud or as a supplement to units on Africa, community, or generosity. 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. Remember to always praise your child.

ChildrensBooks2U

Mama Panya's Pancakes

Learning To Slow Down & Pay Attention: A Book for Kids About ADHD

Expert clinical psychologists Nadeau and Dixon have created an absolute must have for young kids struggling to get a handle on their own ADHD. Now in its third edition, updated with more notes and resources for parents, Learning To Slow Down And Pay Attention is a straightforward self-help kids book written especially for children with Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity. The friendly, no nonsense text offers practical advice and tips for learning to relax, staying focused, remembering things, getting homework done, making friends and more. All without talking down to its young audience. Whimsical black-and-white cartoons help illustrate and reinforce the offered guidelines. 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. Remember to always praise your child.

ChildrensBooks2U

Learning To Slow Down & Pay Attention

Little Golden Book Collection: Sleepytime Tales

Nine beloved children's classics with original copyrights dating from 1942 to 2004 are united in this volume. Sophisticated TV-watching children today are fortunate to have new access and a modern format bringing old favorites to life again. This collection will appeal to young readers, as well as to adults who read to pre-readers. Attention is paid to details that enhance the children's stories. In "The Whispering Rabbit," for example, the whispers are in very small print and almost demand a change in the reader's voice. Enjoyment, however, is not the only bonus gained in using this book, because it is also a subtle teaching tool. "Baby Dear" centers around introducing a new sibling to a child; "Colorful Kittens" focuses on colors; "The Wonderful House" on different homes for animals, such as a snail, a hippopotamus, and a bee; and "The Poky Little Puppy" assures the reader that being different from others is not always bad. Most of these stories have animal characters, both domestic and wild, which are always friendly, cheerful, and non-threatening. Unfortunately, the illustrations sometimes use stereotypes, which may be offensive. Little Rajani, the Indian boy in "The Boy and the Tigers" wears an exaggerated turban; the Native Americans are often sinister and glowering; the Creator is a bearded man. Nevertheless, visiting these tales, whether for the first time or as old friends, is an enjoyable experience. 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 kids books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends. Remember to always praise your child.

ChildrensBooks2U

Little Golden Book Collection: Sleepytime Tales

The Family Book

As he did in The Mommy Book and The Daddy Book (both Little, Brown, 2002), Parr introduces children to an array of families. Whimsical illustrations featuring neon colors and figures outlined in black show big ones and small ones, and families that look alike and relatives who look just like their pets. The art features both human and animal figures; thus, pigs depict both a family that likes to be clean, and one that likes to be messy. Some families include stepmoms, stepdads, stepsisters, or stepbrothers; some adopt children. Other families have two moms or two dads, while some children have only one parent. Interspersed with the differences among families are the ways they are alike: all like to hug each other, are sad when they lose someone they love, enjoy celebrating special days together, and can help each other to be strong. This kids concept book celebrating the diversity of family groups is distinguished by its sense of fun. 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.

ChildrensBooks2U

The Family Book

The Popcorn Dragon

This newer edition of the much-loved story of Dexter, a young dragon who loses all his friends when he shows off blowing smoke rings, retains its charm despite the pointed moral. McCue's new full-color illustrations capture the whimsical mood of the fable. The animals, although too coy, have appealing human like expressions which convey their envy and contempt. Dexter is a small creature with whom youngsters will readily identify. The resolution, in which he wins back his friends by sharing with them his new found ability to pop corn straight from the husks, will thoroughly delight a new generation of children. 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 children's books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends. Remember to always praise your child.

ChildrensBooks2U

The Popcorn Dragon

Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook

Working from illustrations taken from the original books, these wildly outrageous recipes will entice every adult and kid to try cooking up everything from "Scrambled Eggs Super" and "Blueberry Bumplings" to lunches and snacks of the zaniest kinds. Dinners include "Who-Roast" (but no photo of the chicken with mushrooms stuffed under the skin before baking) and desserts include "Sneetch Treats" and "Who-Pudding." If your school includes edible book reports, or if teachers have discovered www.cookingupreading.com as a classroom resource to join up books and cookery, this book is a must. If your school celebrates Seuss Day in March, this kids book is a must. For home ec classes that have gotten too heavily invested in "Welsh Rarebit" or baking powder biscuits, this is a must. From the "Green Eggs" (real hard boiled eggs with an enhanced yolk of guacamole) to the "Cindy Lou Who" corn flake Christmas wreaths, this will delight cooks and readers of all kinds, all sizes, all ages. 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 kids books you would like to have reviewed. Share this post with your friends. Remember to always praise your child.

ChildrensBooks2U

Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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