Supersister

Lately I have trying to buy my daughter some comic books, and show her some old school female superhero movies and tv shows.  Currently Supergirl is our favorite.  This book, staring a ‘super’ sister looked like something we needed to check out.

Author: Beth Cadena
Illustrator: Frank W. Dormer
Publisher: Clarion Books (2009)
Prices: Hardcover - $15.90, Ebook - $9.99
Reading level: 3 to 8 years old
Interest level: Lower Grades
Physical Characteristics: 8 x 10 inches, 32 pages
ISBN: 0547010060
Genres: Children’s Fiction

Subjects:
Siblings
Superheroes
Helpfulness, Fiction

Annotation:
This little girl will do anything to help her mom but why is she a Supersister?

Summary:
A little girl, clad in a superhero mask, bounds out of bed and down the stairs.  She gets her own breakfast, cleans up after herself and gets ready for school all by herself.  As she races off to school she kisses her mom goodbye and ties her mom’s shoes.  At school, she thinks about ways that she can help her mom.  At the end of her day, her dad carries her to bed.  But, before she can sleep she runs downstairs to kiss her mom goodnight and to untie her shoes.  This is when the reader finds out that the mom is pregnant, and supersister is trying to help her any way she can.


Evaluation:
This is a wonderful first book for Ms. Cadena.  The simple story is about a girl who is empowered and trying to help her mom as she gets prepared for a baby is refreshing.  So many books these days have the older sibling whining or freaking out because of the incoming baby, and while that is a totally valid emotion, it is noce to have a book represent another perspective.  The comic book style is fitting with the “super” theme of this book.  This is a great book for any only children who may be expecting a sibling

Similar Titles or Authors:
The New Baby by Mary Packard
The Obstinate Pen by Frank W. Dormer
The New Baby by Fred Rogers

Websites:
http://www.bethcadena.com/

http://www.frankwdormer.com/

Awards & Recognition:
A Junior Library Guild selection

Professional Reviews:
Horn Book

Kirkus


All images (c) Frank Dormer

I Like Myself

I am always looking for empowering books for my daughter.  This book, as the title says, is about liking yourself.  This is a topic that we all should reacquaint ourselves with.

Author: Karen Beaumont 
Illustrator: David Catrow 
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (2004)
Prices: Hardcover - $16.99, Paperback - $5.90, Board Book - $16.99
Reading level: 3 to 7 years old
Interest level: Lower Grades 
Physical Characteristics: 9 x 10 inches, 32 pages 
ISBN: 0152020136
Genres: Children’s Picture Books
Subjects:
Self Esteem
Self Respect
Books in Rhyme

Annotation:
A little girl loves herself, no matter what.

Summary:

A young girl explains to the audience that she likes who she is. She likes how she looks on the outside and how she looks inside.  She loves her body, her hair and her feelings thoughts and emotions.  Not only does she love herself as she is, but tells us that she would love herself if she had a different appearance and stinky breath.  Because, she loves herself no matter what.  She loves her self, because she is an individual!

Evaluation:
This is a wonderful book for kids of any gender and race.  But, it is especially good for little girls and African American children.  There are statistics on the low appearance of African American kids in positive roles in children’s books.  This book is an exception.  The main character loves herself, and her race and gender are not mentioned as something bad or something she needs to overcome.  Instead the message is very simple: Love yourself.  Don’t love yourself in spite of anything, but love yourself because of all you are and all that makes you unique.

Similar Titles or Authors:
What I Like About Me! By Allia Zobel Nolan
I Like Me by Nancy Carlson
I Aint Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont 

Websites:
http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/I-Like-Myself-lap-board-book/9780547401638

http://karenbeaumont.com/

http://www.harpercollins.com/cr-100563/karen-beaumont

Professional Reviews:
ChildhoodEducation

School LibraryJournal

All images (c) David Catrow 

What is that? Said the Cat

I bought this book in a pack of Scholastic Level 1 early readers.  This is by far my favorite  one.

Author: Grace Maccarone
Illustrator: Jeffrey Scherer
Publisher: Cartwheel (1998)
Prices: Library Binding - $7.99, Paperback - $3.99
Reading level: 4 to 8 years old 
Interest level: Lower Grades 
Physical Characteristics: 6.2 x 9.2 inches, 32 pages 
ISBN: 0590259458
Genres: Children’s Fiction

Subjects:
Curiosity
Animals
First Words
Books in Rhyme

Annotation: 
Can a group of animals pay attention to a sign on a giant crate that says, “Do not open”?

Summary: 
A fox finds a large crate with a sign on it that says, “Do not open”.  His friends come to see what it is.  A Bird, a cat, a crow, a pig a bee, a pup, a cow, a horse a rat, a fly and a duck all try to help the fox open the crate, despite the warning.  The fly finally gets the job done by flying in to the lock and jimmying it from the inside.  When the box opens an alligator appears, and one by one all the animals run away as they scream, “See you later, Alligator”

Evaluation: 
This is a wonderful book. It is perfect for the emergent reader.  The sentences are short, the words are repeated making for better retention, and the illustrations add to the story.  Each character is introduced one by one with a rhyme, and then disappears one by one in the reverse order.  It’s a wonderful example of be careful what you wish for.  All the animals were so excited to open that box, that they never even thought about the fact that the box was locked for a reason.

Similar Titles or Authors:
Itchy, Itchy, Chicken Pox by Grace Maccarone
Jenny and Lorenzo by Toni Sneider
Me… Jane by Patrick McDonnell

Websites:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/what-said-cat

http://us.macmillan.com/author/gracemaccarone
 
http://www.jeffreyscherer.com/

All images (c)Jeffrey Scherer 

Harry the Dirty Dog

My mother mailed me a box full of books from my childhood for my daughter and I too read together.  This was always one of my favorites as a child and my daughter has enjoyed it as well.

 

Author: Gene Zion
Illustrator: Margaret Bloy Graham
Publisher: Harper & Brothers (1955)
Prices: Library Binding - $16.10, Paperback - $6.99, eBook - $6.99
Reading level: 4 to 8 years old 
Interest level: Lower and Middle Grades
Physical Characteristics: 7.8 x 11 inches, 32 pages
ISBN: 006443009X 
Genres: Children’s Fiction

Subjects:
Dogs, Fiction
Pets
Bathtime

Annotation:
A little dog who hates baths believes his life would be better if he could stay dirty, but dirty isn’t all that it is cracked up to be.

Summary: 
Harry is a white dog with black spots who lives with a loving family.  One day he hides his bath brush and runs away, to avoid having a bath.  He does not like baths.  Harry plays in construction sites, dirt piles and pools of mud.  He romps through town and suddenly he looks more like a black dog with white spots.  Harry gets bored and returns home, but his family doesn’t recognize him until they give the black dog a bath.  After that day, Harry wouldn’t avoid his baths. 

Evaluation:
For the fifteeth anniversary of this book, they reissued a recolored version.  But, as I have the original that is the edition I am discussing here.  I am glad that is the case, because I much prefer the original.  The illustrations are black and white with sparse use of greens and mustardy yellows.  The pictures are simple, yet completely tell the story.  As for the text, it is a very powerful story tied up in a children’s book package.  As an adult I can see some very deep themes about self and belonging.  As a child it makes my daughter want to take a bath.  Both good messages.

Similar Titles or Authors:
Dog Breath by Dav Pilkey
The Storm Book by Charlotte Zolotow (illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham)
Squeaky Clean by Simon Puttock

Websites:
http://www.harpercollins.com/web-sampler/9780064430098

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/29/books/margaret-bloy-graham-harry-the-dirty-dog-illustrator-dies-at-94.html?_r=0

Awards & Recognition:
School Library Journal, Top 100 Picture Book, #43
 
Professional Reviews:
School Library Journal

New York Herald Tribune

All images (c) Margaret Bloy Graham

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Once, I was babysitting a friend’s 3 year old daughter and she was pretending to read my magazines.  As she was reading the New Yorker upside down I asked her, “Who is your favorite author”?  And she said, “Mo Willems”.  For years I thought she had made the silly name up until I had a kid and discover Mo Willems.  And yes, I agree with the three year old… he is great!

Author / Illustrator: Mo Willems
Publisher: Hyperion Books (2007)
Prices: Hardcover - $12.99
Reading level: 2 to 6 years old 
Interest level: Lower to Middle Grades
Physical Characteristics: 9.2 x 9.2 inches, 40 pages 
ISBN: 078681988X 
Genres: Children’s Picture Books

Subjects:
Bus drivers – fiction
Pigeons
Caldecott Honors
Animals - fiction

Annotation:
A bus driver needs to take a break.  Can the reader prevent a pigeon from driving the bus?

Summary:
A bus driver takes a break from his route and asks the reader to make sure that the pigeon does not drive the bus.  After that, the pigeon appears and whines and pleads and throws a temper tantrum begging to drive the bus.  At the end of the book the bus driver comes back from his break and the pigeon sits down, sad that he did not get to drive the bus.

Evaluation:
I think all of the pigeon books are amazing.  This, the first book in the series, was a breath of fresh air in the children’s book market. The illustrations are so much fun.  Mr. Willems crayon edged pigeon is so endearing.  When he is frustrated, or throwing a tantrum I know that I can relate and I think my daughter can too.  My favorite thing about this book is the way it asks the reader to be involved.  I mean, my daughter will yell and scream and argue and try and get the pigeon to stay away from the stearing wheel.  Such a fun book and a fun series!

Similar Titles or Authors:
The Pigeon Finds a Hotdog by Mo Willems
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

Websites:
http://www.pigeonpresents.com

http://www.mowillems.com/

Awards & Recognition:
An Indie Choice Picture Book Hall of Fame Book
Caldecott Honor Book, 2004
NYT Bestseller
ALA Notable Book

Professional Reviews:
Booklist

Horn Books

All images (c) Mo Willems 

Aliens Love Underpants

My daughter turned six last week, and we have entered potty humor territory.  Anything relating to bodily functions, private parts or undies are hilarious to her.  So, I bought this book for her.

(I have a soft spot for potty humor as well)

Author: Claire Freedman
Illustrator: Ben Court
Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (2008) 
Series:  The Underpants Books
Prices: Hardcover - $11.99, Paperback - $4.16
Reading level: 4 to 7 years old
Interest level: Lower and Middle Grades
Physical Characteristics: 9.7 x 11.2 inches, 32 pages 
ISBN: 9781416917
Genres: Children’s Picture Book

Subjects:

Extraterrestrial beings -- Juvenile fiction.

Underwear -- Fiction.

Stories in rhyme -- Fiction.

Underpants

Annotation: Aliens come to earth… for the underwear.

Summary: 
Aliens come to earth for underpants. They fly down as soon as they see freshly laundered clothes on the line in a backyard.  Once the aliens land on earth they play in underwear of all kinds: big underwear, small underwear, frilly underwear, bright underwear.  But, when mom comes out to get the laundry all the aliens disappear.  The only evidence that they were there are underwear scattered around the yard.


Evaluation:
The book is silly and cute, but I didn’t love it.  The drawings are the best part of the book.  The story seems a bit weak.  I get it, aliens love underwear.  But there doesn’t seem to be much more to this book than that.  It is just totally on the surface without any chance for open ended imagination.

Similar Titles or Authors:
Aliens in Underpants Save the World by Claire Freeman
Silly Sally by Audrey Wood
Bear in Underwear by Todd Doodler

Websites:
http://www.underpantsbooks.com/

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/aliens-love-underpants#cart/cleanup

Professional Reviews:
Nursery World

Bookseller

All images (c) Ben Court 

A Box Can be Many Things

 We bought this at the my daughter’s school’s PTA book fair, and read it at bedtime a few nights ago.  As we just moved, and have tons of cardboard boxes, I thought it was a timely read!

Author: Dana Meachen Rau
Illustrator: Paige Billin-Frye 
Publisher: Children’s Press
Series: Rookie Readers
Prices: Library Binding – 13.95, Paperback - $4.99
Reading level: 5 to 9 years
Interest level: Lower Grades
Physical Characteristics: 6 x 7 inches, 32 pages
ISBN: 0516261533 
Genres: Children’s Fiction

Subjects:

Dress up and Make-believe

Creativity and Imagination

Siblings

Annotation:
Two children rescue a cardboard box from the trash, and adventure begins.

Summary:
A mother throws a very large cardboard box away, saying that it is junk.  Her two children see it as something much more.  First the kids pretend that the box is a cave and they are bears.  Then the box is both a car.  The cut some windows and make the box a house.  Then, they tear more pieces away and make it a cage. After the kids tear away parts and cut out windows the box does look like junk.  But they use their imagination and turn the remaining shreds into jewelry, a crown and a sword.

Evaluation:
As any parent knows, the box is sometimes the best part of any present.  Kids with their unending imaginations do not just see a box.  Instead, they see possibilities for creative play.  This book captures that idea in four little vignettes.  In each they show the kids in reality, making the box into different objects and then they have a dream page, showing what the kids see in their vast imaginations.  As someone who just had to move, it was very comforting to read this book with my daughter.  It made me feel a bit less guilty about uprooting her and inspired her to do her own box play.  A win-win situation.

Similar Titles or Authors:
A Box Story by Kenneth Kit Lamug
Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
Sitting in my Box by Dee Lillegard

Websites:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/box-can-be-many-things

http://www.danameachenrau.com/

http://www.paigebillinfrye.com/

Professional Reviews:
Booklists

All images (c) Paige Billin-Frye

Good Night Gorilla

Another classic book* that HAS to be in any blog written about children’s literature.

Author / Illustrator: Peggy Rathman
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons (1994)
Prices: Hardcover – 16.99, Paperback - 5.99, Board Book - $6.99
Reading level: 0 to 5 years
Interest level: Preschool and Lower Grades
Physical Characteristics: 6 5/8 x 5, 32 pages 
ISBN:0590767151
Genres: Children's Picture Book

Subjects:
Animals
Zoo
Bedtime

Annotation:
A zookeeper locks all the animals up for bedtime, or does he?

Summary:
A zookeeper is making his rounds through the zoo, locking all the cages and wishing all of the animals goodnight. Little does he know that the gorilla has stolen his keys and is following right behind him unlocking the animals’ cages.  As the zookeeper walks home, the animals all follow him and join he and his wife in their bedroom.  The zookeeper’s wife has to take all the animals back to the zoo and put them in bed properly.

 

Evaluation:
I love this sparsely written, but heavily drawn book. The pictures really tell the story here.  They also invite you to explore all the humor that is happening behind the zookeepers back.  It feels much older than it is, having only been written in 1994.  But it has made many best picture book lists, become a best seller and been featured in The Simpsons, s you know it must be good!


Similar Titles or Authors:
10 Minutes Until Bedtime by Peggy Rathman
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Websites:
http://www.peggyrathmann.com/goodnightgorilla.html

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/315598/good-night-gorilla-by-peggy-rathmann-illustrated-by-peggy-rathmann/9780399230035

Awards & Recognition:

ALA Notable Children's Book for 1994

School Library Journal 100 Best Picture Books

Bulletin Blue Ribbon 1994

Horn Book Fanfare 1995 selection

Parenting Magazine "Best Children's Books of 1994"

New York Public Library - 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing

Professional Reviews:
School Library Journal

Publishers Weekly

*calling a book ‘classic’ that was written in 1994, makes me feel super old! 

All images (c) Peggy Rathman