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Posts Tagged ‘children’s picture book’

Not Your Typical Dragon

May 16, 2013

Not Your Typical Dragon by Dan Bar-el and illustrations by Tim Bowers

Crispin is a little dragon who finds he is not your ordinary fire-breathing dragon, much to his father’s disappointment. When his birthday comes around, Crispin feels “a tingling inside his tummy. But when he opened his mouth, fire did not come out.” Readers will be delighted by the unexpected but fitting things that do come out of Crispin’s mouth!

When Crispin meets a knight who is lacking in fierceness, a friendship may be in the making. The illustrations are a delight, depicting the funny and surprise items coming out of Crispin’s mouth…and readers will feel satisfied by the ending, where Crispin’s different talent saves the day!

A great read-aloud, suggested for ages 3-6.

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Tags:children's picture book, dragons, friendship, read-aloud
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The Pet Project: Cute and Cuddly Vicious Verses

May 14, 2013

The Pet Project: Cute and Cuddly Vicious Verses

By Lisa Wheeler

The Pet Project is not your typical poetry book about adorable and cuddly animals…in fact one little girl tells us just how unfit they can really be. As she searches for the perfect pet she tells us in her own poetic way, why she would never pick some of these animals as a pet.

Turtle

The turtle seems a boring pet.

He sits there in his bowl. He doesn’t beg.

He doesn’t run. He doesn’t even roll.

The turtle has a boring shell. No feathers fur or fuzz.

The problem with a turtle is

He doesn’t more than does.

The candid honesty of the poetry, along with the humorous illustrations depicting some of the little girl’s misfortunes, makes you laugh out loud. The Pet Project is a nice change of pace from other typical poetry books for children.

Reviewed by Annette (Davis Library)

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Tags:animals, Children's easy book, children's picture book, humor, poetry
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What to Read Episode 62

May 8, 2013

Eugene and Charlotte share secrets!

Cat Secrets by Jef Czekaj
Olive and the Big Secret by Tor Freeman

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Tags:children's picture book, eugene and charlotte, video book review, what to read
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Degas and the Little Dancer

April 29, 2013

degas-and-the-little-dancer Degas and the Little Dancer: a story about Edgar Degas by Laurence Anholt

Marie was a young girl in France who wanted to be a dancer. In fact she wanted to be “the most famous ballerina in the world”. While she was studying ballet in Paris, she met Edgar Degas who was at the ballet school sketching the dancers.

Degas created a statue of Marie which included actual fabric for her tutu and a peach-colored ribbon in her hair.

Now, more than 100 years later, the young dancer lives on in that statue and its replicas, which are on display in museums around the world.

Recommended for grades K-3.

Donna C (Schimelpfenig Library)

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Tags:art, children's picture book, historical fiction
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Rain!

April 26, 2013

Rain!

By Linda Ashman

In the book Rain! , there are two sides to this story. For one precocious little boy, the rain means getting to put on his favorite frog rain coat and jumping into puddles. For one old man it means having to put on his “blasted overcoat” and his “nasty galoshes”; it does not put him in the best of moods. Coincidentally while in the same Rain or Shine Café the two personalities collide. Can you guess what effect they will have on each other’s day?

I loved the way the author and illustrator depicted this story. They created a complete foil to each person’s day in this story; showing both the positive and the negative effects of a rainy day. I myself know all too well how the rain can relax me or inconvenience me. This is a cute spin on the topic of rain and a clever way to show children how moods can change from day to day.

Reviewed by Annette (Davis Library)

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Tags:Children's easy book, children's picture book, emotions, feelings, moods, opposites, rain
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What to Read Episode 61

April 24, 2013

Eugene and Charlotte talk about how friends help us!

Cheer Up, Mouse by Jed Henry
When No One is Watching by Eileen Spinelli

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Tags:children's picture book, eugene and charlotte, video book review, what to read
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House Help Up By Trees

April 23, 2013

House Held Up By Trees

By: Ted Kooser

When the house was new, not a single tree, shoot, or seedling remained in its perfect lawn. The children who lived there followed the scent of wild trees to neighboring lots, where cottonwoods and elms, buckeyes and milkweed offered secret places to play. When the children grew up and moved away, their father, alone in the house, continued his battle against the blowing seeds, plucking up sprouting trees. Until one day the father, too, moves away, and now as the empty house begins to decline, the seeds, the shoots, and the trees approach even more. (the book jacket)

This book was so beautiful. With Jon Klassen’s illustrations and simplicity of Ted Kooser’s words House Held Up By Trees makes you appreciate the ever changing nature of place.

Check out this great video of Ted Kooser talking about the real house that inspired him to write this sweet story:
House held up by trees

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Tags:Children's easy book, children's picture book, nature
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Pirates at the Plate

April 18, 2013

Pirates at the Plate

Written by Aaron Frisch and Mark Summers, illustrations by Mark Summers.

With pirates, cowboys, and the most literal game of baseball ever played, Pirates at the Plate is an incredibly imaginative book for any baseball fan. It takes some of the standard baseball talk and turns it on its head in fun and detailed illustrations of the opposing teams.

While Long John Silver is at the plate, Blackbeard waits on deck, on the deck of his pirate ship that is! The whimsy continues as the cowboys bring horses on the field and the pirates just can’t help themselves and start stealing bases. Since the cowboys are honorable folk, they don’t take well to that. The whole thing gets called off on the account of spaghetti, until the next wild match-up.

With the action-filled illustrations and the mix of rough, cowboy talk and salty, pirate banter, it is a fun read to share out loud. Ye will have to be practicin’ yer pirate speak, yarr!

Recommended for ages 6 and up.

Nicki P (Schimelpfenig Library)

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Tags:Children's easy book, children's picture book, cowboys, imagination, pirates
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