ARCHIVED BOOKS OF THE WEEK
Books of the Week...
11/25/08 - 12/2/08
HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
11/18/08 - 11/25/08
PICTURE BOOKS MAKE GREAT GIFTS, CONT'D!
Discover and enjoy Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell's newest book...
And while you are at it, take a look at their earlier collaborations, all would make terrific gifts for young children and for families with young children...
11/11/08 - 11/18/08
PICTURE BOOKS MAKE GREAT GIFTS!
GREAT BOOK-CLUB BOOK FOR INDEPENDENT, JR, READERS:
11/4/08 - 11/11/08
LAST BIT OF ELECTION/PRESIDENCY BOOKS
A couple more titles to round out our election coverage!
10/28/08-11/4/08
MORE ELECTION SEASON!
More great titles to get help your young reader understand the very exciting election season and the Office of the Presidency...
10/21/08-10/28/08
ELECTION SEASON!
Check out these informative, non-fiction books in time for Election Day.
10/14/08 - 10/21/08
If your young reader loves Frog and Toad, George and Martha, and Henry and Mudge, here are some wonderful - not so famous - buddy books they are sure to also enjoy...
9/21/08 - 9/28/08
9/14/08 - 9/21/08
*****This week started a change in format from Book of the Day to Books of the Week*****
BOOK OF THE DAY
9/14/08
Who hasn't had a bad day at school or a bossy kid in their class? Everyone can relate to Andy Shane and the way he feels. His solution is to skip school but his grandmother helps him find another way around his problems.
AUTHOR: Laurie Friedman
ILLUSTRATOR: Ofra Amit
READER LEVEL: PICTURE BOOK
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 |
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
9/13/08
Every adult needs to read this book...and then they can decide when your young reader is ready for this this beautiful story of love and loss and ultimate redemption during and post WWII Nazi Germany. YOU. MUST. BUY. THIS. BOOK. NOW.
AUTHOR: Laurie Friedman
ILLUSTRATOR: Ofra Amit
READER LEVEL: PICTURE BOOK
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 |
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
9/12/08
Old Bear is a beautiful new picture book for the very young from Kevin Henkes. But all ages can enjoy the story of Old Bear and his dreams of his youth. Every illustrations is a work of art!
AUTHOR: Kevin Henkes
ILLUSTRATOR: Kevin Henkes
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
|
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
9/11/08
A laugh out loud story that turns the traditional fairy tale on it's head! Read this version of Rapunzel for a good dose of girl power, and be entertained...
AUTHOR: Leah Wilcox
ILLUSTRATOR: Lydia Monks
READER LEVEL: PICTURE BOOK
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
|
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
9/10/08
Meet Mr. and Mrs. Green, two fun-loving alligators. This is the first in a series of Learn to Read, Sr., books about the adventures of two fun-loving alligators chock full of math, art history, and life lessons. Each book in the series (four in all) is broken down into three or four short stories that are interconnected, but each story can stand alone. Perfect for not overwhelming the fledgling reader.
AUTHOR and ILLUSTRATOR: Keith Baker
READING LEVEL: LEARN TO READ, SR
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
|
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
9/9/08
Let's not forget about the classics! A sweet, well-written tale of friendship and loyalty, Amos and Boris is terrific and should continue to be shared with many generations to come.
AUTHOR and ILLUSTRATOR: William Stieg
READER LEVEL: PICTURE BOOK
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
|
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
9/8/08
If you don't know about the Pigeon books by Mo Willems, you need to find out right now! This series of picture books is about a hysterically funny pigeon who breaks down the fourth wall, and speaks directly to the reader. In this installment, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, the bus driver takes a break and puts the reader in charge of the bus; and whatever you do...don't let that pigeon anywhere near it!
AUTHOR and ILLUSTRATOR: Mo Willems
READING LEVEL: PICTURE BOOK
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
|
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
9/7/06
Another entertaining book from Amy Krouse Rosenthal. This time Little Hoot just. wants. to. go. to. bed! But his owl parents need him to be like all the other owls and learn to stay up late.
AUTHOR: Amy Krouse Rosenthal
ILLUSTRATOR: Jen Corace
READER LEVEL: PICTURE BOOK
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
|
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
9/6/08
Entertaining, enjoyable, especially fun...Lucy Rose is all of these things and more. Children ready for a more advanced Reader Sr. book will love this one.
AUTHOR: Katy Kelly
ILLUSTRATOR: Adam Rex
READER LEVEL: Reader SR.
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 |
9/5/08
Little Pea is a truly amusing book from Amy Krouse Rosenthal about a little pea who doesn't want to eat his candy...he really can't wait to get to his dessert: vegetables! This book is so funny, turning a common parental complaint (picky eating) on its head, while giving the child listener a good view of how ridiculous their stubborn behavior can be in an abstract, humorous way. Perfect for the picky eater in your life!
AUTHOR: Amy Krouse Rosenthal
ILLUSTRATOR: Jen Corace
READER LEVEL: PICTURE BOOK
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
|
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
9/04/08
An exciting adventure that will keep you at the edge of your seat, My Father's Dragon is a unique and entertaining story. A great read-aloud and appealing to both boys and girls, it is often used in the elementary school classroom.
AUTHOR: Ruth Stiles Gannett
ILLUSTRATOR: Ruth Chrisman Gannett
READER LEVEL: Reader SR.
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
|
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
9/3/08
Another great Reader, Jr. selection is Daisy Dawson Is on Her Way. Daisy is a spunky, kind and independent heroine who little girls will love and want to emulate; Daisy can talk to animals and hear them talk back! Delightful illustrations and wonderful language round out this lovely first chapter book.
AUTHOR: Steve Voake
ILLUSTRATOR: Jessica Meserve
READER LEVEL: Reader, JR
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 |
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
9/2/08
If your reader isn't quite ready for The Magic Half, another great selection by Annie Barrows is the Ivy + Bean series. In the third book in the series, second graders Ivy and Bean are on a mission and they're not stopping until they break some records.
AUTHOR: Annie Barrows
ILLUSTRATOR: Sophie Blackall
READER LEVEL: Reader, Sr
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
9/1/08
I loved, loved, loved this book!! The Magic Half is an engaging, well-written story about two little girls who lived 75 years apart, that meet up by way of time travel. I enjoyed this book as much as I would any book written for adults.
AUTHOR: Annie Barrows
READER LEVEL: Independent, Sr
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 |
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
8/31/08
An incredible story, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane will leave you with something to think about and much to discuss.
AUTHOR: Kate Dicamillo
ILLUSTRATOR: Bagram Ibatoulline
READER LEVEL: READER, SR.
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 |
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
8/30/08
Meet Zack. He loves all things supernatural, including UFOs, haunted houses and storms where it rains frogs, and he just brought his great-grandpa Julius home in the form of an old tomcat who talks, or so he thinks! Large series, 29 books in all.
AUTHOR: Dan Greenburg
ILLUSTRATOR: Jack E. Davis
READER LEVEL: READER, JR.
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 |
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
8/29/08
These dogs are funny! Learn and laugh with this classic book, perfect for the beginning reader. It is a great read-aloud that children will enjoy hearing again and again.
AUTHOR: P.D. Eastman
READER LEVEL: LEARN TO READ, JR.
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
|
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
8/28/08
Ever wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Read this delightful story to see what happens when a little bird wakes up on the wrong side of the nest. A terrific read aloud! It will definitely coax reader, young and old, right out of a bad mood.
AUTHOR: Jeremy Tankard
READER LEVEL: PICTURE BOOK
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
|
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
8/27/08
A delightful beginner chapter book, Tales of Oliver Pig maintains its old world charm while continuing to be relevant to today's new readers. The soothing stories and illustrations make it is a great choice to read aloud, especially before bed.
AUTHOR: Jean Van Leeuwen
READER LEVEL: Learn to Read, Sr.
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 |
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
8/26/08
Ever dreaded moving to a new house and new school?? Wait until you see what Allie does about it in Allie Finkle's Rules For Girls: Moving Day. This is the first book in a new series from the prolific Meg Cabot, author of the popular Princess Diaries, among many, many others, including books for adults. Allie Finkle is Cabot's first effort for such a young audience (Reader, Sr.).
AUTHOR: Meg Cabot
READER LEVEL: Reader, Sr.
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 |
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
8/25/08
Meet Poppleton, a charming pig who will make you giggle as he goes about his daily activities, in Poppleton, the first book in a series about this engaging character.
AUTHOR: Cynthia Rylant
ILLUSTRATOR: Mark Teague
READER LEVEL: Learn to Read, Sr.
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
|
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
8/24/08
If your reader is not ready for Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, or any of the other Judy Blume books you remember from your childhood, try this new series by Blume. Written for a younger reader, but with all the author's signature tradermarks including, above all else, honesty and humor. This is the first in the series of books about the Pain and the Great One, that has just expanded this month to three books in all.
AUTHOR: Judy Blume
ILLUSTRATOR: James Stevenson
READER LEVEL: Reader, Sr.
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 |
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
8/23/08
How does a third grader feel when their best friend has to move far away? How do they deal with such an unfortunate situation? Do they talk about it or ignore it? The reader finds out how Amber Brown and her best friend Justin Daniels handle it in Paula Danziger's, Amber Brown is not a Crayon.
AUTHOR: Paula Danziger
ILLUSTRATOR: Tony Ross
READER LEVEL: READER, SR.
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 |
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
8/22/08
And you thought errand day was bad! Wait until you see what this mom goes through on an outing to run errands with her son. A comically told story that all ages will enjoy.
AUTHOR: Elise Broach
ILLUSTRATOR: David Small
READER LEVEL: PICTURE BOOK
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
|
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
8/21/08
Get ready for Back to School by getting back to a classic with Judy Blume's, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, the first in a series of five books about Peter, Fudge and Sheila.
AUTHOR: Judy Blume
ILLUSTRATOR:
READER LEVEL: Independent, Jr.
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 |
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
8/20/08
Take a mini-vacation and read A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever. A hilarious, true story of the author's son and his best friend who spend a week at Nature Camp playing video games, eating banana waffles and generally have a rollicking good time with Bill and Pam (the grandparents). Not to be missed!
AUTHOR: Marla Frazee
ILLUSTRATOR: Marla Frazee
READER LEVEL: Picture Books
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
|
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
8/19/08
The first in the well known series about entertaining and imaginative character, Judy Moody. Enjoy third grade with Judy Moody as her and her friends contemplate their favorite things for their "me collage" assignment.
AUTHOR: Megan McDonald
ILLUSTRATOR: Peter H. Reynolds
READER LEVEL: REARDER, SR.
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 |
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
8/18/08
Meet Woolbur, a free-spirited little sheep who doesn't want to follow the flock. Your young reader will delight in Woolbur's individuality and spunk! Perfect for the child (and adult) who has ever felt different.
AUTHOR: Leslie Helakoski
ILLUSTRATOR: Lee Harper
READER LEVEL: PICTURE BOOK
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 |
Click here to read our complete review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
8/17/08
Just Grace is the first in this series that follows the adventures of thoughtful third grader, Grace Stewart, who has a "teeny tiny superpower" that sometimes gets her into trouble.
AUTHOR: Charise Mericle Harper
ILLUSTRATOR: Charise Mericle Harper
READER LEVEL: READER, SR.
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 |
Click here to read our complete Just Grace review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book. Take a look at Charise Harper's website (a very cute and kid-friendly site).
8/16/08
Today's book of the day is the fifth installment in a delightful, bestselling series, Mercy Watson, by another award-winning author, Kate DiCamillo. Mercy is a delightful pig (a porcine wonder!) who lives with the Watsons (a human family). Mercy gets herself into all sorts of delightful trouble.
DiCamillo has won awards for her fiction for middle grade readers, including Tale of Despereux and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Candlewick (her publisher) just announced a new book for middle grade readers to be released in the fall of 2009 (click here for more info about that book).
AUTHOR: Kate DiCamillo
ILLUSTRATOR: Chris Van Dusen
READER LEVEL: Learn to Read, SR
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
|
Click here to read our complete Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
8/15/08
Today's book of the day is by the prolific author, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, creator of the Newberry Award-winning Shiloh trilogy. Roxie and the Hooligans is a story of a plucky, nine-year old heroine, Roxie, who needs to figure her way out of many a harrowing situations. Good thing Uncle Dangerfoot had her memorize his book, Lord Thistlebottom's Book of Pitfalls and How to Survive Them...
TITLE: Roxie and the Hooligans
AUTHOR: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
READER LEVEL: Reader, Sr.
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
|
Click here to read our complete Roxie and the Hooligans review. Don't forget to click on the Comment button at the end of the review and tell us what you think about the book.
