Ellen Javernick
Illustrated by Colleen M. Madden
Why can’t I feed a bear popcorn at the zoo? Why can’t I race the grocery cart in the store? Why can’t I throw a soda can out of a car window? Those are just some of the things a child is challenged with in this book, What If Everybody Did That? Talking in the library … not hanging up his coat on the hook … to even throwing snowballs … these things could become problems if everyone did what this child did. Children need to learn the consequences of their actions while they are still young. Examples of many behaviors children might find silly are found in this book, with adult responses.
The illustrations are endearing to the text and children should find the story fun. It is a book that children will want to pick up and read just to look at the illustrations and then relate with the text. As a trained Reading Specialist, I would recommend this book for every library, home, public and school.
BIBLIO: 2010, Marshall Cavendish Children’s Books, Ages 3 – 7, $12.99.
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book
ISBN: 978-0-7614-5686-5
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 3/31/10
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
My World Series – What Are My Jobs?
Bobbie Kalman
Words to know starts this book of ‘What Are My Jobs?’ Children help parents by helping around the house with a variety of chores. Different families have pets that either need to be brushed, feed, trained, or walked. These are chores that children can easily accomplish. Other chores children can do to help out around the house are cleaning their room, picking up their toys and books. Some children are able to help out with keeping up with their clothes by washing their clothes. Also, children are encouraged to help out with taking dinner … washing vegetables for the salad and pizza. Children are encouraged to Help outside in the fall by raking leaves and shoveling snow during the winter. There are other chores children are encouraged to help out with to help out with around the house that are age appropriate. The photographs included in the book are of several children so readers should feel as if they are a part of the story. The last page of the book includes notes for adults, including teachers, to use as suggestions for job suggestions for children.
The back of this book suggests a Level B reading guide is available, yet, after going to the web site, I could not find anything above Level H. Also, the reading level suggestion is 4-7. As a trained Reading Specialist, I would think the reading level should be more effective for PreK to Kindergarten.
BIBLIO: 2010, Crabtree Publishing, Ages 4 – 7, $5.95.
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book
ISBN: 978-0-7787-9478-3
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 3/31/10
Words to know starts this book of ‘What Are My Jobs?’ Children help parents by helping around the house with a variety of chores. Different families have pets that either need to be brushed, feed, trained, or walked. These are chores that children can easily accomplish. Other chores children can do to help out around the house are cleaning their room, picking up their toys and books. Some children are able to help out with keeping up with their clothes by washing their clothes. Also, children are encouraged to help out with taking dinner … washing vegetables for the salad and pizza. Children are encouraged to Help outside in the fall by raking leaves and shoveling snow during the winter. There are other chores children are encouraged to help out with to help out with around the house that are age appropriate. The photographs included in the book are of several children so readers should feel as if they are a part of the story. The last page of the book includes notes for adults, including teachers, to use as suggestions for job suggestions for children.
The back of this book suggests a Level B reading guide is available, yet, after going to the web site, I could not find anything above Level H. Also, the reading level suggestion is 4-7. As a trained Reading Specialist, I would think the reading level should be more effective for PreK to Kindergarten.
BIBLIO: 2010, Crabtree Publishing, Ages 4 – 7, $5.95.
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book
ISBN: 978-0-7787-9478-3
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 3/31/10
My World Series – It’s My Birthday
Bobbie Kalman
It’s My Birthday begins with words children should know as the book is read to them. As a child is celebrating their birthday with a party, a cake follows with candles to blow out. There are presents to open, and a funny clown appears. The clown makes balloon animals for the children at the party. The book goes on to pull children into the story by asking when their birthdays are and how old they are. An activity is included encouraging a group of children to use their bodies to make letters relevant to the subject of the book. The photographs included in the book are several children so readers should feel as if they are a part of the story. The last page of the book include notes for adults to use as suggestions birthday suggestions, encouraging children to mark their birthdays on a calendar, and possibly dancing a ‘gratitude dance’ for all they have been given.
The back of this book suggests a Level B reading guide is available, yet, after going to the web site, I could not find anything above Level H. Also, the reading level suggestion is 4-7. As a trained Reading Specialist, I would think the reading level should be more effective for PreK to Kindergarten.
BIBLIO: 2010, Crabtree Publishing, Ages 4 – 7, $5.95.
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book
ISBN: 978-0-7787-9462-2
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 3/31/10
It’s My Birthday begins with words children should know as the book is read to them. As a child is celebrating their birthday with a party, a cake follows with candles to blow out. There are presents to open, and a funny clown appears. The clown makes balloon animals for the children at the party. The book goes on to pull children into the story by asking when their birthdays are and how old they are. An activity is included encouraging a group of children to use their bodies to make letters relevant to the subject of the book. The photographs included in the book are several children so readers should feel as if they are a part of the story. The last page of the book include notes for adults to use as suggestions birthday suggestions, encouraging children to mark their birthdays on a calendar, and possibly dancing a ‘gratitude dance’ for all they have been given.
The back of this book suggests a Level B reading guide is available, yet, after going to the web site, I could not find anything above Level H. Also, the reading level suggestion is 4-7. As a trained Reading Specialist, I would think the reading level should be more effective for PreK to Kindergarten.
BIBLIO: 2010, Crabtree Publishing, Ages 4 – 7, $5.95.
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book
ISBN: 978-0-7787-9462-2
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 3/31/10
Where Do Polar Bears Live?
Sarah L. Thomson
Illustrated by Jason Chin
Four months ago a polar cub was born in this Arctic den, and he depended only on his mother for his milk and heat. Finally, in the spring, they leave the den to play and explore. The Arctic is cold … even with the sun, if could be fifty degrees below zero, but with their thick fur and layer of fat under the skin, being outside is an opportunity to soak up the sun. The mother wants to eat, so she hunts, looking for prey that will fill their stomachs. On the Arctic Island where the mother and cub live, there is land, rocks, and tundra. She is not the only one looking for food. An Arctic fox competes for the meat she has caught. The cub will stay with his mother for two years before he strikes out on his own. When he is full-grown, he will become the biggest hunter on land … yet, the polar bears will become thinner without ice to live on and prey to hunt.
This book was very informative on an educational level. I’m not sure the reading level is appropriate for the information presented, although children do need to be made aware of the ecological changes. The Illustrations are warm and colorful and add to the scientific information presented.
BIBLIO: 2010, Harper Collins Children’s Books, Ages 5 – 9, $16.99.
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book / Easy to Read Science
ISBN: 976-0-06-157518-1
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 3/31/10
Illustrated by Jason Chin
Four months ago a polar cub was born in this Arctic den, and he depended only on his mother for his milk and heat. Finally, in the spring, they leave the den to play and explore. The Arctic is cold … even with the sun, if could be fifty degrees below zero, but with their thick fur and layer of fat under the skin, being outside is an opportunity to soak up the sun. The mother wants to eat, so she hunts, looking for prey that will fill their stomachs. On the Arctic Island where the mother and cub live, there is land, rocks, and tundra. She is not the only one looking for food. An Arctic fox competes for the meat she has caught. The cub will stay with his mother for two years before he strikes out on his own. When he is full-grown, he will become the biggest hunter on land … yet, the polar bears will become thinner without ice to live on and prey to hunt.
This book was very informative on an educational level. I’m not sure the reading level is appropriate for the information presented, although children do need to be made aware of the ecological changes. The Illustrations are warm and colorful and add to the scientific information presented.
BIBLIO: 2010, Harper Collins Children’s Books, Ages 5 – 9, $16.99.
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book / Easy to Read Science
ISBN: 976-0-06-157518-1
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 3/31/10
Bella, The Birthday Party
Mandy Stanley
Bella is a rabbit who has lived with her family on a hill until one day she saw a little girl wearing wings and chasing a balloon. What Bella did not know was the little girl was having her birthday. Bella decided to follow the little girl to find out what was going on. Soon, Bella discovered the little girl was having a birthday party and Bella was invited to the party. The little girl, Jasmine, her mommy, and other children were having a picnic. Bella, Jasmine, and the children enjoyed playing the usual birthday games … and then Jasmine opened her presents. Bella was sad she didn’t have anything to give Jasmine for her birthday. But Jasmine wanted to share one of her presents with Bella! The day turned out to be a wonderful time not just for Jasmine for her birthday, but for Bella who had never had a day like that before.
Bella, The Birthday Party is a sweet book for preschoolers. The illustrations are colorful and engaging for the text. This is a wonderful book to introduce preschoolers to reading, though I would not recommend it to older children.
BIBLIO: 2010, Tiger Tales’, Ages 2 – 5, $9.95.
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book
ISBN: 978-1-58925-850-1
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 3/31/10
Bella is a rabbit who has lived with her family on a hill until one day she saw a little girl wearing wings and chasing a balloon. What Bella did not know was the little girl was having her birthday. Bella decided to follow the little girl to find out what was going on. Soon, Bella discovered the little girl was having a birthday party and Bella was invited to the party. The little girl, Jasmine, her mommy, and other children were having a picnic. Bella, Jasmine, and the children enjoyed playing the usual birthday games … and then Jasmine opened her presents. Bella was sad she didn’t have anything to give Jasmine for her birthday. But Jasmine wanted to share one of her presents with Bella! The day turned out to be a wonderful time not just for Jasmine for her birthday, but for Bella who had never had a day like that before.
Bella, The Birthday Party is a sweet book for preschoolers. The illustrations are colorful and engaging for the text. This is a wonderful book to introduce preschoolers to reading, though I would not recommend it to older children.
BIBLIO: 2010, Tiger Tales’, Ages 2 – 5, $9.95.
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book
ISBN: 978-1-58925-850-1
REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 3/31/10
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