IF THE BOOK FITS...READ IT

Maybe a Bear Ate It

AUTHOR: Robie Harris

ILLUSTRATOR: Michael Emberley

ISBN#: 978-0439929615

PUBLISHER/YEAR: Orchard Books (January 1, 2008)

SUBJECTS: Bears, Books, Bedtime

READER LEVEL: PICTURE BOOK 

RATING: ****

Review Highlights:

Laugh Meter	not a comedy	giggles	laugh out loud	can’t stop laughing
Fear Factor	no fear	needs explanation	cover the eyes	bad dreams
Subject Matter	light : “G”	mild concerns	caution ahead	needs supervision

Reading nicely in bed, among his stuffed animal friends, the books slips away as the little cat starts to fall asleep.  He realizes his book is missing and imagines the most far-fetched explanations for where it could be.  Maybe a bear ate it...or a rhino ran away with it.  But this book is NEEDED!  He searches everywhere and finally finds it, saying "I love my book" as he climbs back into bed where the reader imagines that the whole process starts again. Read, sleep, book falls, panic, search, etc.

Any child who has let something beloved slip out of their hands as they drift off to sleep, will feel this little guy's pain.  And they will laugh as his imagination runs wild and he searches for his special something.  Finally they will feel satisfied as the book is discovered and all is well.  This story is definitely one most children will relate to.

The illustrations are essential in creating a connection with the story which is told as much through the pictures as the words.  The bear is larger than life and the face the little cat makes when he thinks a bear has eaten his book is a page stopper.  You will feel confused with him as he realizes his book is missing and he nervously bites his blanket.  Each page perfectly highlights a little piece of this story and allows the reader to feel as though he is moving along with the cat as he goes through this experience.

IF YOU LIKED THIS, TRY:

A Visitor for Bear, Bonnie Becker

Knuffle Bunny, Mo Willems

Ella Sarah Gets Dressed, Margaret Chodos-Irvine

Little Quack, Lauren Thompson

Little Hoot

AUTHOR: Amy Krouse Rosenthal 

ILLUSTRATOR: Jen Corace 

ISBN#: 978-0-8118-6023-9 

PUBLISHER/YEAR: Chronicle Books (December 20, 2007) 

SUBJECTS: Animals: Owl, Bedtime 

READER LEVEL: PICTURE BOOK 

RATING: **** 

Review Highlights:

Laugh Meter	not a comedy	giggles	laugh out loud	can’t stop laughing
Fear Factor	no fear	needs explanation	cover the eyes	bad dreams
Subject Matter	light : “G”	mild concerns	caution ahead	needs supervision

This is a book, like all of Amy Krouse Rosenthal's children's books, that can be enjoyed by both child and adult. This is a story about a happy little owl whose only complaint is he just wants his parents to let him go to bed earlier. Being the studious owl Little Hoot is, he doesn't mind practicing his pondering, he doesn't mind practicing his staring, but he does mind bedtime. Little Hoot just wishes he could go to bed early, like all his other friends. 

The comedy for the child (and the adult!) reader will be in the role reversal. When Little Hoot tries to go to bed early, and complains to his parents that all his other friends get to go to bed earlier, Papa Owl says, "...I don't give a hoot what time your friends go to bed. In this family, we go to bed late. Rules of the roost." 

This is funny stuff. Combine the witty struggle with Jen Corace's adorable illustrations, and you just want to eat this cute owl right up. Little Hoot, and his backwards struggle with his parents, will have your children giggling all the way through. It would also make a perfect read-aloud for a young classroom. If you appreciate Rosenthal's dry and witty humor, you won't be disappointed by any of her books; including her delightful and quirky (adult) memoir, Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life. 

IF YOU LIKED THIS, TRY: 

LITTLE PEA, Amy Krouse Rosenthal 

COOKIES, BITE SIZE LIFE LESSONS, Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Jane Dyer