Crafts from Modeling Clay

TITLE:  Crafts from Modeling Clay
AUTHOR:  Huguette Kirby
ILLUSTRATOR:
PUBLISHER: Bridgestone Books
COPYRIGHT:  2003

If you have a child interested in learning about making things with clay, this would be a beneficial resource.  It starts with some vocabulary words and pictures of tips for using modeling clay and tools you will need to make the projects in the book.  Then it has directions and photos for several clay projects.  Some of these are a treasure box, caterpillar, beads, and flower frames.
 
I thought this book was great.  The photograph illustrations that went along with the steps for the pieces were easy to understand.  This would be a nice addition to a school library.

You Can Write Cool Poems

TITLE:  You Can Write Cool Poems
AUTHOR:  Jennifer Fandel
ILLUSTRATOR:
PUBLISHER:  Capstone Press
COPYRIGHT:  2012

Do you have students that feel intimidated to write poetry?  This book would be a helpful little tool to use in a unit on poetry.  This book will give students an idea of different types of poems they can write.  One thing I liked was the vocabulary words and definitions provided at the bottom of the pages.  Another thing I really liked was the "exercise" page where students are given something to do to practice.  For example, one of the exercises was to choose a letter (they chose P) and make a list of words with P at the beginning, middle, or end. Then use as many of those P words as possible in a free verse poem.

This would be a great addition to the school or classroom library as I feel it would benefit teachers or students.  The photos are great and the layout is nice.  There is just the right amount of information on each page so it is not cluttered or too busy.  This is a great poetry resource!

Blabber Mouse

TITLE:  Blabber Mouse
AUTHOR:  True Kelley
ILLUSTRATOR:  True Kelly
PUBLISHER:  Dutton Children's Books
COPYRIGHT:  2001

Blabber Mouse likes to talk.  He talks all the time to his friends and about his friends.  He ruins surprises by telling secrets and moving endings.  His friends want to help Blabber stop being such a big mouth.  Will they be able to teach him a lesson?

I enjoyed this book and the cute mouse illustrations.  The message of this book is great for early elementary aged children.  It would be good in a character education class.

The Journey Home from Grandpa's

TITLE:  The Journey Home from Grandpa's
AUTHOR:  Jemima Lumley
ILLUSTRATOR:  Sophie Fatus
PUBLISHER:  Barefoot Books
COPYRIGHT:  2006

A child is on the trip home from Grandpa's.  This book describes the things that the child sees on the trip home from Grandpa's.  It uses repetition and rhyming words.  Each page focuses on a different colored method of transportation, including a white helicopter and orange truck.

I liked the fun, bright illustrations in this book that went along with the rhythmic text.  This book is appropriate for a read aloud in the classroom as well as at home.  I could see it being a favorite of young children because of its repetitive nature.  I would recommend it for kindergarten or younger aged children.

Mrs. Fickle's Pickles

TITLE:  Mrs. Fickle's Pickles
AUTHOR:  Lori Ries
ILLUSTRATOR:  Nancy Cote
PUBLISHER:  Boyds Mills Press
COPYRIGHT:  2006

Mrs. Fickle likes pickles.  She likes to grow them, take them to the fair, and eat them.

This is a rhyming book, and I feel it would be good for preschool or kindergarten age children.  The pages have minimal text and would be a quick read in the classroom.  I found this book at the library, and it caught  my eye because of the title.  

Police Cat

TITLE:  Police Cat
AUTHOR:  Enid Hinkes
ILLUSTRATOR:  Wendy Rasmussen
PUBLISHER:  Albert Whitman & Company
COPYRIGHT:  2005

A cat named Noodles is serious about keeping the city safe and chasing away the rats.  He would love to be a member of the police department, but cats are not allowed.  One day while chasing rats Noodles discovers    a fire caused by the rats chewing wires.  He alerts the family in the house about the danger.  Will Noodles get a place in the department or will he be overlooked again?

This is an enjoyable book.  It can see it being used in a unit on animals, community helpers, or even fire safety.

Farley Follows His Nose

TITLE:  Farley Follows His Nose
AUTHOR:  Lynn Johnston & Beth Cruikshank
ILLUSTRATOR:  Lynn Johnston
PUBLISHER:  The Bowen Press
COPYRIGHT:  2009

Farley the dog sniffs the air after his bath and takes off when he smells his favorite...hot dogs.  He finds the hot dogs and then smells something else he likes.  He follows his nose all day and even is able to help a lost little boy find his way home.  Will Farley be able to find his way home too?

Don't you just love the cover of this book?  I really do!  The illustrations throughout the book are just wonderful in my opinion.  I liked that the pages were big enough for detailed illustrations for this story.

This is a fun book to read with children aged preschool through early elementary.  It is a nice story and will hold their attention.

Construction Zone

TITLE:  Construction Zone
AUTHOR: Cheryl Willis Hudson
PHOTOGRAPHER:  Richard Sobol
PUBLISHER:  Candlewick Press
COPYRIGHT:  2006

Visit a construction site through the pages of this book.  You will see the entire process involved in construction from the drawings done by an architect to the frame going up to the completed building.

The photos in this book are truly amazing.  Another thing I like is the vocabulary words in bold in the text with a definition in smaller print at the bottom of the page.

I recommend this book for elementary aged children.  It would be appropriate to use in a classroom setting during a lesson on community workers or even as an example of a  well-done "how to."