Have you read with your child today?

Trumpets

2010-10-04T17:36:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Trumpets
AUTHOR: Cynthia Amoroso and Robert B. Noyed
ILLUSTRATOR: various photographers
PUBLISHER: The Child's World
COPYRIGHT: 2010

We have read several books from this "Music Makers" series. Each one tells about one instrument. It has facts about the instrument, how it's played, and a brief history of the instrument. I like that the reading level is appropriate for beginning readers. Another thing I like about this series is the photographs that fill every other page.

My son and I have enjoyed reading the various books in this series.

That's Where God Is

2010-09-20T17:32:00.000-07:00

TITLE: That's Where God Is
AUTHOR: Dan and Ali Morrow
ILLUSTRATOR: Cory Godbey
PUBLISHER: David C Cook
COPYRIGHT: 2010

I received this book a while back and have not shared it with you. It is a children's book called That's Where God Is by Dan & Ail Morrow with illustrations by Cory Godbey.

A young boy asks Grandpa a question that many of us may have wondered ourselves: "Where is God?" Grandpa encourages the boy to look for God in the coming week. As the boy goes about his daily life he finds God every day...with the animals He created, when we share, and when we forgive. At the end of the week the boy shares with Grandpa where he has found God.

This book is appropriate for preschool through early elementary aged children. Besides the spiritual message, this book also incorporates the days of the week. Also, each day has a different verse related to the place that the boy found God that day. The illustrations were not my favorite for a children's book. The layout and font were easy to read. Overall I enjoyed this book.
Thank you to David C Cook book review program for providing me a review copy of this book.

Lyle Walks the Dogs

2010-09-16T13:55:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Lyle Walks the Dogs
AUTHOR: Bernard Waber
ILLUSTRATOR: Paulis Waber
PUBLISHER: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
COPYRIGHT: 2010

Lyle the crocodile has a dog walking job. He starts with one dog and each day adds one more dog that he is walking. This is a great book for young children as they are learning to count. Besides the dogs there was some other things to count and look for on each page.

One Hand, Two Hands

2010-09-10T08:40:00.000-07:00

One hand, two hands,
Five fingers, ten.
God, thanks, for my hands.
Please, use them again.

TITLE: One Hand, Two Hands
AUTHOR: Max Lucado
ILLUSTRATOR: Gaby Hansen
PUBLISHER: Tommy Nelson
COPYRIGHT: 2010

I am happy to share with you a new children's book by Max Lucado called One Hand, Two Hands. It is written with rhyming text and shows children a variety of ways that we use our hands every day all day long. The illustrations by Gaby Hansen are really fun and add to the enjoyment of this book in my opinion.

If you have a special little one in your life, I recommend this book for them. You will enjoy it together. My son and I did.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

The Can Man

2010-08-29T14:46:00.001-07:00

TITLE: The Can Man

AUTHOR: Laura E. Williams

ILLUSTRATOR: Craig Orback

PUBLISHER: Lee & Low Books Inc.

Tim starts saving his money so he can buy himself a skateboard. He collects cans around town as he has seen done by a man everyone calls the Can Man. He feels bad when he hears that the Can Man is saving his money for a new coat. In the end Tim gives his money to the Can Man. The Can Man has a special birthday surprise for Tim as well. This is a wonderful story to share with your class or child. It will cause children to think about others and not just themselves. My son and I enjoyed this book.

Brontorina

2010-08-09T08:05:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Brontorina
AUTHOR: James Howe
ILLUSTRATOR: Randy Cecil
PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press
COPYRIGHT: 2010

This is a cute book about a dinosaur who wants to be a ballerina. He has some trouble at his dance classes. Is he just too big to be a ballerina?

My son and I enjoyed this book and it made us both laugh!

Country Road ABC

2010-08-03T07:59:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Country Road ABC
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Arthur Geisert
PUBLISHER: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
COPYRIGHT: 2010

This beautifully illustrated ABC books shows readers life in the country on a farm. This book is very well done and would make a nice addition to a classroom discussion on farms.

My son and I enjoyed the book.

An ABC of What Art Can Be

2010-07-26T13:51:00.000-07:00

TITLE: An A B C of What Art Can Be
AUTHOR: Meher McArthur
ILLUSTRATOR: Esther Pearl Watson
PUBLISHER: J. Paul Getty Museum
COPYRIGHT: 2010

This ABC book is unique in its design as it is shorter in height than most books, which is one of the things that caught my attention. It goes through the alphabet naming a different art related word for each letter. Some of these include frame, landscape, prints, and vanishing point. The illustrations are great because they illustrate the concept of the words being described.

My son and I enjoyed reading this book and learning some new words together.

That Cat Can't Stay

2010-07-19T13:57:00.000-07:00

TITLE: That Cat Can't Stay
AUTHOR: Thad Krasnesky
ILLUSTRATOR: David Parkins
PUBLISHER: Flashlight Press
COPYRIGHT: 2010

Mom keeps finding cats and bringing them home. Dad has his list of reasons why "That cat can't stay" but ends up giving in when Mom gives a reason why they should help the cat out. How many cats will come to live with the family? The cartoon illustrations in this book fit well with the silliness of this book. It makes a fun read aloud.

My son and I thought this was a good book.

Fire Drill

2010-07-16T14:32:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Fire Drill
AUTHOR: Paul DuBois Jacobs and Jennifer Swender
ILLUSTRATOR: Huy Voun Lee
PUBLISHER: Henry Holt and Company
COPYRIGHT: 2010

The children in a kindergarten class do a fire drill and learn how to act during a fire drill. Young children will enjoy this book with its easy to follow text and cute illustrations of children in a classroom. It would be appropriate for a school classroom or library.

My son and I thought this was a fun book to read.

The Jesus Storybook Bible

2010-07-14T14:45:00.000-07:00

TITLE: The Jesus Storybook Bible
AUTHOR: Sally Lloyd-Jones
ILLUSTRATOR: Jago
PUBLISHER: Zonderkidz
COPYRIGHT:2007

I am reading The Jesus Storybook Bible with my son. We have read many different children's Bibles. This one is different from all of them. First, the illustrations are not the typical children's book cartoon illustrations. Second, these are not just shortened versions of stories from the Bible on a child's level. These are well-thought out stories that I have found to be biblically accurate. But they also show how that event or story points to Jesus. The subtitle of the book is "Every story whispers his name." I love and appreciate this. This is a wonderful book that both children and adults will enjoy. As an adult it is nice to be reminded of God's faithfulness as we read with our children. It is appropriate for school-aged children. This book would be perfect for a bedtime reading book.

Thank you to Zondervan for providing a review copy of this storybook Bible.

A Book About Color

2010-07-12T13:38:00.000-07:00

TITLE: A Book About Color
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Mark Gonyea
PUBLISHER: Henry Holt and Company
COPYRIGHT: 2010

This is a nice book with brightly colored illustrations to introduce a young child to color. Things discussed are primary and secondary colors as well as complementary colors.

This would be a good book for a school or classroom library.

Vacation Bible Snooze

2010-07-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Vacation Bible Snooze
AUTHOR: Mike Thaler

ILLUSTRATOR: Jared Lee

PUBLISHER: Zonderkidz
COPYRIGHT: 2010

This is another book from the Tales from the Back Pew series. Mom asks her son if he wants to go to Vacation Bible School. He doesn't think anyone would want to go to school during vacation to study the Bible. His Mom tells him about VBS and why he should go....to learn more about his Best Friend.

Personally, I did not like the cartoon illustration of God at the end of the book and didn't feel like the Mom gave very good description of VBS or reasons as to why the boy should go.

As I mentioned in my review for the other book I feel if you like the Black Lagoon Series you will like these books because they are so similar.

Thank you to Pam at Zondervan for sending me a review copy of this book.

In The Big Inning

2010-07-08T13:33:00.000-07:00

TITLE: In the Big Inning Bible Riddles from the Back Pew
AUTHOR: Mike Thaler
ILLUSTRATOR: Jared Lee
PUBLISHER: Zonderkidz
COPYRIGHT: 2010

Are you familiar with the "Black Lagoon" series? This book is in a series called Tales from the Back Pew by the same author.

One of the riddles:
How do you know God is a baseball fan? Because he starts
off the Bible “In the Big Inning …”

There are several riddles on each page along with silly cartoon illustrations. The jokes cover things from both the Old and New Testaments.

I think this would be a book enjoyed by elementary aged boys. The jokes will be funny for those who have some Bible background. Otherwise they probably won't make sense. Several of them did make me laugh though. If you are a fan of the Black Lagoon series I would recommend that you check out this series also.

Thank you to Zondervan for sending me a review copy of this book.

If I Could

2010-07-07T13:40:00.000-07:00

TITLE: If I Could
AUTHOR: Susan Milord
ILLUSTRATOR: Christopher Denise
PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press
COPYRIGHT: 2008

A mother raccoon and her little raccoon walk along the beach and the mother expresses her love to her little one to show him what a treasure he is. The illustrations are adorable in this book, and it is appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers.

My son and I found this book to be enjoyable to read.

Taking Care of Mama

2010-07-06T13:33:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Taking Care of Mama
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Mitra Modarressi
PUBLISHER: G.P. Putnam's Sons
COPYRIGHT: 2010

Mama is sick in bed so the kids and Papa take care of her and the house. They end up making quite a mess and are all tired by the end of the day. This is a fun book with rhyming text that makes it a great read aloud. The illustrations of this little raccoon family are just so cute!

My son and I enjoyed this book and recommend it to you.

The Fathers are coming home

2010-07-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

TITLE: The Fathers are coming home
AUTHOR: Margaret Wise Brown
ILLUSTRATOR: Stephen Savage
PUBLISHER: Margaret K McElderry Books
COPYRIGHT: 2010

At night time the fathers begin to head home. Animal fathers and a sailor father return home to their families. The text is minimal and the illustrations are simply done without a lot of detail yet they are well done.

My son and I enjoyed this book.

Let's Have a Daddy Day

2010-06-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Let's Have a Daddy Day
AUTHOR: Karen Kingsbury
ILLUSTRATOR: Dan Andreasen
PUBLISHER: Zonderkidz
COPYRIGHT: 2010

Let's go on a Daddy Day, a time for me and you.
Today while you're still little, there're so many things to do!

I'd like to share a book with you I have recently read. This children's book, Let's Have a Daddy Day, by Karen Kingsbury would make a great gift for Father's Day.

In this book the children get to have a special day with their Daddy doing all sorts of fun things together. The message of this book shows the value of quality time spent between a dad and his children. The illustrations add to the enjoyment of this book as well with the realistic expressions on the faces of the children.

My son and I enjoyed this book together.

Thank you to Pam Mettler at Zondervan for sending me a review copy of this book.

Ready, Steady, Grow!

2010-06-26T15:05:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Ready, Steady, Grow!
AUTHOR: Sophie Piper
ILLUSTRATOR: Georgie Birkett
PUBLISHER: Lion Children's
COPYRIGHT: 2009

What does a child need to do to grow? This book gives the answer to that question and includes topics like healthy food choices, keeping active, safety, and hygiene. This book with it's fun cartoon-style illustrations is appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers.

My son and I enjoyed this book together.

Ultimate Sports

2010-06-25T14:54:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Ultimate Sports
AUTHOR: Teresa Domnauer
ILLUSTRATOR:
PUBLISHER: School Specialty Publishing
COPYRIGHT: 2007

This book has a variety of extreme sports including luge, snowboarding, surfing, whitewater kayaking, and rock climbing. A description of one page length is given for each sport as well as "weird facts" and a photograph. This book is in the "Extreme Readers" series and would be good for a "confident reader."

My son enjoyed the photos and information presented in this book.

What Brothers Do Best/What Sisters Do Best

2010-06-24T14:38:00.000-07:00

TITLE: What Brothers Do Best/What Sisters Do Best
AUTHOR: Laura Numeroff
ILLUSTRATOR: Lynn Munsinger
PUBLISHER: Chronicle Books
COPYRIGHT: 2009

This is two books in one! You can read one version to find out what sisters can do and then flip it over and read the same things that brothers can do. The illustrations of animal siblings doing things together are really cute.

My son and I thought this was a great book.

It's a Baby Skunk!

2010-06-22T05:54:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Skunk!
AUTHOR: Kelly Doudna
ILLUSTRATOR: (various photographers)
PUBLISHER: ABDO Publishing Company
COPYRIGHT: 2008

We found this great little series of books at our local library. This one is called It's a Baby Skunk! Other books are about prairie dogs, hippopotamuses, and flying foxes to name a few. It provides great photographs of skunks and interesting facts.

We checked out several from this series, and I have found all of them to be enjoyable and educational. These would make a nice addition to a classroom library or school library.

Pip Squeak

2010-06-21T05:57:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Pip Squeak
AUTHOR: Sarah Weeks
ILLUSTRATOR: Jane Manning
PUBLISHER: Laura Gerimger Books
COPYRIGHT: 2007

Pip Squeak the mouse works very hard to clean up his house only to have his friend Max come and make a mess of everything. This book is a beginning reader and a sequel to another cute book called Drip, Drop.

My son and I enjoyed this book and reading it together.

The Perfect Gift

2010-06-17T06:12:00.000-07:00

TITLE: The Perfect Gift
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Mary Newell Depalma
PUBLISHER: Arthur A. Levine Books
COPYRIGHT: 2010

Little Lori is proud to have found a big red strawberry that she can take to her grandmother. It is not an easy task though and she loses her special gift. She has some friends though that try to help her get it back but they do end up in some danger. I enjoyed the bright illustrations in this book. It would be appropriate for the primary aged library.

My son and I thought this was a cute story.

Super Duck

2010-06-15T02:59:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Super Duck
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Jez Alborough
PUBLISHER: Kane/Miller Book Publishers
COPYRIGHT: 2008

As Goat tries to go fly a kite with friends Sheep and Frog, Duck comes and tries to help out as "Super Duck." This silly rhyming book will bring laughter to you and your child as you read it aloud together. We have enjoyed other books by this author about Duck and this is another fun one.

My son and I enjoyed this book.

Baseball From A To Z

2010-06-14T05:59:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Baseball From A To Z
AUTHOR: Michael P. Spradlin
ILLUSTRATOR: Macky Pamintuan
PUBLISHER: Harper
COPYRIGHT: 2010

Go through the alphabet with something baseball related for each letter. I thought the author did a good job of giving a word for each letter as well as a little information describing how the word relates to baseball. The illustrations really add to the interest and appeal of this book, which my husband noticed too when he read the book with our son.

My son and I thought this was a great book. It would be a nice book for any baseball lover!

Compost Stew

2010-06-11T05:35:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Compost Stew An A-Z Recipe for the Earth
AUTHOR: Mary McKenna Siddals
ILLUSTRATOR: Ashley Wolff
PUBLISHER: Tricycle Press
COPYRIGHT: 2010

This book offers an A-Z list of items to use in your compost. It's poetic verse makes it fun to read aloud. The illustrations are amazing to me, and I appreciate the detail and colors on each page. This would be a wonderful addition to a classroom or school library as well as a unit on the environment.

My son and I found this to be a wonderful book to enjoy together.

1 2 3 I Can Build!

2010-06-10T05:33:00.000-07:00

TITLE: 1 2 3 I Can Build!
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Irene Luxbacher
PUBLISHER: Kids Can Press Ltd.
COPYRIGHT: 2009

I was intrigued by the cover of this book and was not disappointed when I read it with my son. This book shows the features needed to create a building. Various building words are defined (foundation, interior, exterior, structure, function, tower, etc.) and then demonstrated using a craft your child can make. At the end all the techniques are used to create one large palace. I loved the photos and also that the materials used in the crafts were common household items.

My son and I enjoyed this book and found some fun ideas to try ourselves.

This Little Prayer of Mine

2010-06-08T18:24:00.000-07:00

TITLE: This Little Prayer of Mine
AUTHOR: Anthony DeStefano
ILLUSTRATOR: Mark Elliott
PUBLISHER: WaterBrook Press
COPYRIGHT: 2010

I was happy to be able to review This Little Prayer of Mine by Anthony DeStefano and illustrated by Mark Elliott. This rhyming book is a wonderful reminder for children as well as their adults that God answers the prayers we pray. What I liked about this book was the various reasons it gave for us to pray and the feelings young children face..fear, sadness, loneliness, thankfulness, and more. My son and I really liked the illustrations of the children in various settings as well. This book would be great for your child's personal library or would make a nice gift for a little child in your life. We enjoyed this book and recommend it for you.

You can purchase this book here.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

The Flowering Cross

2010-06-08T17:07:00.001-07:00

TITLE: The Flowering Cross
AUTHOR: Beth Ryan
ILLUSTRATOR: Renee Graef
PUBLISHER: Tommy Nelson
COPYRIGHT: 2009

I received The Flowering Cross by Beth Ryan from Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze reviewers program.

In this nicely illustrated children's book, young Katie is a friend to her elderly neighbor, Papa Jack, someone everyone else sees just as a mean man. When she goes to pick some of his flowers for the "flowering Cross," she invites him to Easter church service and he says yes.

This book shows how showing Christ's love can make a difference in the hearts of people today and the role children can play in showing His love.

One thing I liked was that at the bottom of many of the pages was "Faith Imprints." This gives parents a faith lesson in one or two sentences along with a Bible verse to share with the child as you read the book. It also has directions at the back to make your own flowering Cross. This book is for young children in the message it presents. This would make a nice gift for a little one's Easter basket.

My son and I enjoyed this book together.

New reviews coming!

2010-06-08T17:03:00.001-07:00

It has been many months since I've posted a review of a children's book here on this site. I was thinking recently as I was reading with my son that I have several I'd like to share. I am going to be posting some reviews that I've shared previously on my personal blog as well as some reviews from books that we've borrowed from the library.

Thank you for stopping by.

The Snaggle Grollop

2009-10-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

TITLE: The Snaggle Grollop
AUTHOR: Daniel Postgate
ILLUSTRATOR: Nick Price
PUBLISHER: Chicken House
COPYRIGHT: 2009

The Snaggle Grollop is a fun story about a little boy named Sam who wants a pet. His parents laughingly agree he can have a “snagglegrollop,” and then are very surprised when one is at their house! Sam and his family have fun adventures with their new pet. The cartoon style illustrations and creative font style go well with this story. I recommend this book for the primary school library.

My son and I thought this was a funny story!

Mine, All Mine!

2009-10-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Mine, All Mine!
AUTHOR: Claire Hawcock

ILLUSTRATOR: Chiara Pasqualotto

PUBLISHER: Boxer Books
COPYRIGHT: 2009

Little Squirrel finds a beautiful snowflake. He decides he doesn’t want to share his snowflake with anyone. He learns a lesson about sharing in this wonderful story. The illustrations are beautiful. Children will want to touch the sparkly, painted snowflake. I recommend this book for the primary school classroom library as well as your home library.

My son and I enjoyed this book together.

What is the Story of our Flag?

2009-10-14T10:06:00.000-07:00

TITLE: What Is the Story of Our Flag?

AUTHOR: Janice Behrens
ILLUSTRATOR: various photographers

PUBLISHER: Children's Press
COPYRIGHT: 2009

What Is the Story of Our Flag? is a new nonfiction reader. This book talks about the history of the flag of the USA in language that young children can understand. Some of the topics include Betsy Ross, the meaning of the stars and stripes, and Flag Day. It includes a contents page, word hunt, and index. One thing that makes this book appealing is the brightly colored photographs. I would recommend this book for a classroom library for a unit on the flag as well as the elementary school library.

My son and I enjoyed this book.

What is Mount Rushmore?

2009-10-13T10:23:00.000-07:00

TITLE: What is Mount Rushmore?
AUTHOR: Laine Falk
ILLUSTRATOR: various photographers
PUBLISHER: Children's Press
COPYRIGHT: 2009

What is Mount Rushmore? is a new nonfiction reader. This book tells facts about Mount Rushmore, including information about the sculptor and visiting the site. It includes a contents page, word hunt, and index. The photographs in this book are enjoyable and give the reader a chance to see this landmark up close. This book would make a nice addition to the classroom or elementary school library.

My son wants to go see Mount Rushmore so he enjoyed this book.

Curious George Plants a Tree

2009-10-10T12:24:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Curious George Plants a Tree
AUTHOR: Monica Perez
ILLUSTRATOR: in the style of H. A. Reyes by Anna Grossnickle Hines
PUBLISHER: Houghton Mifflin
COPYRIGHT: 2009

This is a new book featuring the well-loved Curious George. George learns a lesson about helping the environment and gets his neighborhood involved as well. The back of the book includes tips on conserving resources.

My son and I enjoyed this book of one of our favorite characters.

Corey Combine and the Great Big Mess

2009-09-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Corey Combine and the Great Big Mess
AUTHOR: Elana Roth
ILLUSTRATOR: Ron Berg
PUBLISHER: Running Press Kids
COPYRIGHT: 2009

Corey and the other machines are trying to prepare Merriweather Farm for a visit from Callie Gator. They have a problem because someone keeps making a mess. Who is making the mess on the farm?

My son and I enjoyed reading this book multiple times together. I love the illustrations of the fun John Deere equipment.

Sort It Out!

2009-09-21T00:31:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Sort It Out!
AUTHOR: Barbara Mariconda
ILLUSTRATOR: Sherry Rogers
PUBLISHER: Sylvan Dell
COPYRIGHT: 2008

Pack the Packrat sorts his collection of things. He finds various ways to sort the items, such as things that are green, things with a shell, and things you use when you sew. The illustrations for this book are adorable and add to the appeal of this book. Primary through elementary aged children will enjoy this book.

My son and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a great educational book that would be good for the elementary classroom as well as the library.

Ocean's Child

2009-09-17T13:34:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Ocean's Child
AUTHOR: Christine Ford and Trish Holland
ILLUSTRATOR: David Diaz
PUBLISHER: Golden Book
COPYRIGHT: 2009

Ocean’s Child is written as a poem. It is about an Eskimo mother in a canoe with her child as they tell the animals of the ocean good night. Preschool through primary aged children will enjoy this book. The illustrations in this book were appealing to me because of the colors used and how well they went with the flow of the poem.

I found this to be a nice book to read. It would be a nice addition fir a classroom library to read in a unit on Alaska. It also makes a sweet bedtime story.

Tough Chicks

2009-09-15T12:52:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Tough Chicks
AUTHOR: Cece Meng
ILLUSTRATOR: Melissa Suber
PUBLISHER: Clarion Books
COPYRIGHT: 2009

The three chicks Penny, Polly, and Molly are busy, touch little chicks. Some of the other animals on the farm think they are too loud and cause too much trouble. When a storm comes to the farm, will the chicks be able to show how useful they really are? The illustrations were exaggerated cartoon animals (for example, big round cows and sheep) which went along well with this story although I didn’t care much for the illustrations. Preschool through early elementary aged children will enjoy this book.

I recommend this book for an elementary school library.

Finding Susie

2009-09-14T12:44:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Finding Susie
AUTHOR: Sandra Day O'Connor
ILLUSTRATOR: Tom Pohrt
PUBLISHER: Alfred A. Knopf

Finding Susie is an enjoyable book about former Supreme Court justice Sandra’s days growing up on a desert cattle ranch. She's asked for a pet for a long time. Living out in the ranch she's tried to keep various animals, like a turtle, rabbit, coyote, and bobcat, or nurse injured ones back to health. The animals are always glad to return to their homes though and don't ever seem to really like Sandra that much. Will she ever have a pet of her own? Children in elementary grades will enjoy this book.

I enjoyed reading this story and recommend it for the elementary school library. The illustrations are nice as well as the inside cover that has copies of photographs of Sandra’s life.

Two at the Zoo A Counting Book

2009-09-11T13:09:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Two at the Zoo A Counting Book
AUTHOR: Danna Smith
ILLUSTRATOR: Valeria Petrone
PUBLISHER: Clarion Books
COPYRIGHT: 2009

A boy and his grandpa visit the zoo together in this fun rhyming book. They count the animals as they go including a black bear, parrots, penguins, and lions. Preschool through early elementary aged children will enjoy this counting book. The illustrations were fun and will be enjoyable for young children.

I recommend this book for the elementary classroom library.

Birds

2009-09-09T09:46:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Birds
AUTHOR: Kevin Henkes
ILLUSTRATOR: Laura Dronzek
PUBLISHER: Greenwillow Books
COPYRIGHT: 2009

Birds is a beautiful book written in easy to understand language. It begins with a bird singing at the window in the morning and continues with comparisons about all the different types of birds using their colors and sizes. Questions about birds are brought up, like where do birds go during a rain storm when “they can’t get home to their nests.” The illustrations were very appealing in this book. Children preschool through primary aged will enjoy this.

I recommend this book for the elementary school library as well as the classroom library.

Johnny Tractor Saves the Parade

2009-08-28T10:42:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Johnny Tractor Saves the Parade
AUTHOR: Dena Neusner
ILLUSTRATOR: Dave Hill
PUBLISHER: Running Press Kids
COPYRIGHT: 2009

This book features John Deere characters Johnny Tractor, Allie Gator, and Corey Combine. They make plans to have a special Merriweather Farm parade and hang posters so people will come. After a rain storm messes up their posters, no one shows up at the parade. What can the farm equipment do now? Should the parade be cancelled? Johnny Tractor has an idea. Preschool and primary aged children will enjoy this story.

My son and I liked this book. He is a lover of John Deere tractors so this is one he wants to read over and over!

A Visitor for Bear

2009-08-20T10:34:00.000-07:00

TITLE: A Visitor for Bear

AUTHOR: Bonny Becker
ILLUSTRATOR: Kady MacDonald Denton
PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press
COPYRIGHT: 2008

Bear has a sign posted on his door that says "No Visitors Allowed." His feelings about visitors are challenged when a little mouse..."small and gray and bright-eyed..."comes to his door and then keeps showing up in his house. This is a cute story of friendship that will make the reader laugh as the mouse keeps appearing in Bear's house. It will be enjoyed by preschool through primary aged children.

My son and I enjoyed reading this book several times and laughing together at the silly mouse.

The Read and Share Toddler Bible

2009-08-18T10:24:00.000-07:00

TITLE: The Read and Share Toddler Bible
AUTHOR: Gwen Ellis
ILLUSTRATOR: Steve Smallman
PUBLISHER: Thomas Nelson
COPYRIGHT: 2009

I'd like to recommend The Read and Share Toddler Bible by Gwen Ellis and illustrated by Steve Smallman. With 40 Bible stories from both the Old and New Testament and a bonus 60 minute DVD as well, this is a nice Bible for youngsters ages 4 and under. This full color Bible is a nice size for little ones to hold and carry around.

I enjoyed reading this book and watching the DVD with my son. One thing I particularly liked was a note to parents at the end of each story that gave an idea of something to do with your toddler related to the story. This would be nice for family reading time and would also make a nice gift for a child.

Biscut Visits the Doctor

2009-08-06T13:48:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Biscuit Visits the Doctor
AUTHOR: Alyssa Satin Capucilli
ILLUSTRATOR: Pat Schories
PUBLISHER: Harper Festival
COPYRIGHT: 2008

It is time for the cute dog Biscuit to go to the vet for a check up. He is a good dog and gets a treat at the end. Preschool through primary aged children will enjoy this book.

My son and I love stories about Biscuit. Add this to a list of enjoyable Biscuit books!

Stuff! Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

2009-08-01T13:55:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Stuff! Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
AUTHOR: Steven Kroll
ILLUSTRATOR: Steve Cox
PUBLISHER: Marshall Cavendish Children
COPYRIGHT: 2009

This is a story about a pack rat named Pinch. He is hesitant to join his friends in a tag sale because he doesn't want to lose his stuff. He changes his mind though when he sees how much others enjoy things that he didn't even really value. Primary and elementary aged children will enjoy this book. The bright, fun illustrations are very appealing and add to the story.

My son and I totally enjoyed this book and read it several times together. I highly recommend this book for the elementary classroom and school library. It will be enjoyed over and over.

Baseball Hour

2009-07-31T13:59:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Baseball Hour
AUTHOR: Carol Nevius
ILLUSTRATOR: Bill Thomson
PUBLISHER: Marshall Cavendish Children
COPYRIGHT: 2008

This book is about children practicing baseball. It shows all that would go on in a baseball practice from the warm-up to the closing team chant. It's written with only a couple lines per page and the text rhymes. Primary and elementary aged children will enjoy this book.

When I saw this book on the shelf at the library, I was in awe of the beautiful illustrations. My son and I read this multiple times. Besides being a great read, I appreciate the fact that the illustrations show both girls and boys playing baseball.

The I Believe Bunny

2009-07-07T17:14:00.000-07:00

TITLE: The I Believe Bunny

AUTHOR: Tish Rabe

ILLUSTRATOR: Frank Endersby

PUBLISHER: Thomas Nelson

Thomas Nelson has a new children’s book called The I Believe Bunny by Tish Rabe and illustrated by Frank Endersby. This is actually part of the “I Believe Bunny” series. This book is the tale of a bunny who does all he can to help a mouse in trouble. Bunny finds out that prayer does work! The book is appropriate for preschoolers through primary aged children.

I enjoyed reading this book to my son. He also enjoyed the pictures and the story. The cute illustrations add to the enjoyment of this book. I appreciate finding a book I can share with my child that teaches a strong biblical truth in a story with text understandable for young children. I look forward to other books in this series.

100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs

2009-06-20T15:42:00.000-07:00

TITLE: 100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs
AUTHOR: Stephen Elkins
ILLUSTRATOR: Tim O'Connor
PUBLISHER: Thomas Nelson
COPYRIGHT: 2004

If you have young children (toddlers through primary aged), I would like to recommend a wonderful Bible story book for you. It is called 100 Bible Stories 100 Songs created by Stephen Elkins with illustrations by Tim O'Connor. This illustrated storybook is perfect for Bible story time before bed or for the early readers to read themselves.

The book has 100 Bible stories told in a concise, easy-to-read format. The story is on one page along with the title of the song, and on the facing page is a picture with three application sentences related to the story. The illustrations are colorful and appealing. The two CD’s have 100 songs that correlate with the 100 Bible stories. You’ll hear many old favorites like “Be Careful Little Eyes” and “The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock” as well as hymns like “Amazing Grace” and many other songs I’d not previously heard.

I was excited to receive this before we left on our recent trip. It was perfect to take along in the car. I’d read a few stories to my son and then he’d listen to the CD. My son totally loved both the stories and the songs. This is a wonderful resource to help children hide God’s Word in their hearts.

Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms

2009-06-03T16:17:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms
AUTHOR: Julia Rawlinson
ILLUSTRATOR: Tiphanie Beeke
PUBLISHER: Greenwillow Books
COPYRIGHT: 2009

Fletcher the fox is so excited to find what he thinks to be white snow flakes falling to the ground. He hurries to tell his friends to come play with him in the snow. When he gets back to the spot, he realizes it really wasn't snow after all. The animals all enjoy the blossoms though. The illustrations in this book are amazing and very enjoyable. Preschool through primary aged children will enjoy this story.

My son and I enjoyed this story and the illustrations. It was our second book to read about Fletcher.

Budgie & Boo

2009-06-01T13:29:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Budgie & Boo
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: David McPhail
PUBLISHER: Abrams Books for Young Readers
COPYRIGHT: 2009

This new book from David McPhail is about Budgie the bear and Boo the bunny. Even though they have their differences, they are best friends. The two have adventures and help each other solve problems throughout the day. Preschool through primary aged children will enjoy this story of friendship.

My son and I enjoyed this sweet story of friendship.

Sally Goes to the Farm

2009-05-31T13:25:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Sally Goes to the Farm
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Stephen Huneck
PUBLISHER: Abrams Books for Young Readers
COPYRIGHT: 2002

This book is another tale about Sally the Labrador. She is going to visit the farm. She meets all the animals and has fun in the fields. Preschool through primary aged children will enjoy this book. The illustrations are once again well done by this author/illustrator.

My son and I enjoy reading about Sally's adventures.

Just Like a Baby

2009-05-28T13:22:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Just Like a Baby
AUTHOR: Juanita Havill
ILLUSTRATOR: Christine Davenier
PUBLISHER: Chronicle Books
COPYRIGHT: 2009

Family members come to welcome new baby Ellen. Each one has their own idea of what she could be following in their footsteps. Ellen has her own ideas though. Preschool through primary aged children will enjoy this book.

My son and I enjoyed reading this book.

The Berenstain Bears Say Their Prayers

2009-05-08T12:44:00.000-07:00

TITLE: The Berenstain Bears Say Their Prayers
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Stan and Jan Berenstain with Mike Berenstain
PUBLISHER: Zonderkids
COPYRIGHT: 2008

The story of this book is centered around Brother Bear's baseball game. He sees his cousin Fred praying in the game and Brother decides to try praying too. He learns a lesson though from Fred about answered prayers. This book is appropriate for primary and elementary aged children.

My son and I enjoyed this book. He particularly enjoyed the baseball game in the story.

Sally's Snow Adventure

2009-05-08T07:47:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Sally's Snow Adventure
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Stephen Huneck
PUBLISHER: Abrams Books
COPYRIGHT: 2006

Sally the dog is ready for another adventure. This time she is visiting a lodge in the mountains. She makes many new dog friends. One day while out exploring she realizes she is lost. Who will rescue Sally? Preschool and primary aged children will enjoy this book.

My son and I enjoyed reading this book. He wanted to read it again and again.

The Berenstain Bears Go to Sunday School

2009-05-07T18:43:00.000-07:00

TITLE: The Berenstain Bears Go to Sunday School
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Stan & Jan Berenstain with Mike Berenstain
PUBLISHER: Zonderkidz
COPYRIGHT: 2008

In this Berenstain Bear book, the Bear family participates in many activities on Sunday but do not attend church. Mama thinks they should all go to Sunday School as a family. Everyone is glad they went together because of what they learned and the fun time they had. This book is appropriate for primary and elementary aged children.

My son and I read this book together and enjoyed it.

Freddie's Fast-Cash Getaway

2009-05-06T06:56:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Freddie's Fast-Cash Getaway The Parable of the Prodigal Son
AUTHOR: Bill Myers
ILLUSTRATOR: Andy J. Smith
PUBLISHER: Zonderkidz
COPYRIGHT: 2009

Freddie is an ant who heads to the city with money from his Dad. He realizes the city-life isn't all he'd hoped because once the money is gone he has no "friends." He learns his lesson and returns to his family. Primary through elementary aged children will enjoy this book and the funny cartoon-style illustrations.

I enjoyed this retelling of the parable of the prodigal son. I noticed many modern-day shops in the story on the illustrations of the city, like "Bugs & Noble."

The Berenstain Bears Love Their Neighbors

2009-05-04T18:45:00.000-07:00

TITLE: The Berenstain Bears Love Their Neighbors
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Jan & Mike Berenstain
PUBLISHER: Zonderkidz
COPYRIGHT: 2009

As the Bear family is on the way to a festival, they have car trouble. The family learns a valuable lesson about being a good neighbor when they are helped in their time of need. Primary and elementary aged children will enjoy this story similar to the Good Samaritan story of the Bible.

My son and I have enjoyed reading this book.

Natalie School's First Day of Me

2009-05-04T18:12:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Natalie School's First Day of Me
AUTHOR: Dandi Daley Mackall
ILLUSTRATOR: Lys Blakeslee
PUBLISHER: Zonderkidz
COPYRIGHT: 2009

This is the newest book in the "That's Nat!" series by Dandi Daley Mackall. Natalie is getting ready for kindergarten and her mind is filled with "what ifs" about the first day. This book is appropriate for early readers and young primary aged children will enjoy this story.

I found this book very appropriate for myself to read also as the mother of a boy who is heading to kindergarten. It made me see things through his eyes and the "what ifs" he may have about the first day. I would recommend this book for parents to read with their children who are going to kindergarten.

The Berenstain Bears and the Golden Rule

2009-05-04T17:51:00.000-07:00

TITLE: The Berenstain Bears and the Golden Rule
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Stan & Jan Berenstain with Mike Berenstain
PUBLISHER: Zonderkidz
COPYRIGHT: 2008

Sister Bear receives a new locket that has the Golden Rule engraved inside. Sister begins to understand the true meaning of the Golden Rule when a new bear arrives at school and is left out at recess and on the bus ride home. Primary and elementary aged children will enjoy this story and will be able to relate the story to make application in their own lives.

My son and I enjoyed the lesson taught in this book.

God Is with Me through the Night

2009-05-04T04:25:00.000-07:00

TITLE: God Is with Me through the Night
AUTHOR: Julie Cantrell
PUBLISHER: Zonderkidz
COPYRIGHT: 2009

This book is a wonderful reminder to a young child that God is with you even in the darkness. The photos are beautiful in this book. It would make a nice companion to God is with me through the Day.

My son and I enjoyed the book and the photographs.

Bee & Me

2009-05-01T07:09:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Bee & Me
AUTHOR: Elle J. McGuinness
ILLUSTRATOR: Heather Brown
PUBLISHER: Accord Publishing
COPYRIGHT: 2008

Bee is sad everyone is afraid of her and explains to the boy all the benefits of bees. The reader will enjoy turning the pages to watch Bee fly through this book with its special visual effects. The illustrations are bright and beautiful. Preschool through primary aged children will enjoy this book. It would make a fun addition to a classroom or home library and would be great to read during a lesson on insects or spring flower gardens.

My son and I enjoyed this book together.

Natalie Really Very Much Wants to Be a Star

2009-05-01T06:23:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Natalie Really Very Much Wants to Be a Star
AUTHOR: Dandi Daley Mackall
ILLUSTRATOR: Lys Blakeslee
PUBLISHER: Zonderkidz
COPYRIGHT: 2009

In this second book about Natlie, she finds out her Sunday School class will be performing a Christmas play. She desperately wants the part of Mary. What will Natalie's attitude be when she doesn't receive the part?

I enjoyed this book. One part I did have a problem with though, which was Natalie's use of the word "stupidhead." I can see the author is trying to make her a realistic little girl who has a bad attitude about things sometimes. What I didn't like though was that the "stupidhead" was something she mumbled under her breath and she knows no one else hears her when she says it...like she knows she isn't supposed to say it but says it anyway. I just didn't like that attitude of Natalie. This is a cute story about Christmas and the true meaning of the holiday. Young girls who are early readers will enjoy this book.

How Groundhog's Garden Grew

2009-04-30T04:15:00.000-07:00

TITLE: How Groundhog's Garden Grew
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Lynne Cherry
PUBLISHER: Blue Sky Press
COPYRIGHT: 2003

Little Groundhog eats from a neighbor's garden when he is hungry. Squirrel teaches Little Groundhog how to grow his own garden. The detailed illustrations in this book are lovely and very enjoyable to view. Preschool through elementary aged children will enjoy looking at this book and hearing this story. It would be a wonderful addition to a classroom library.

My son and I enjoyed this book.

Stink Bug Saves the Day!

2009-04-29T16:32:00.001-07:00

TITLE: Stink Bug Saves the Day! The Parable of the Good Samaritan
AUTHOR: Bill Myers
ILLUSTRATOR: Andy J. Smith
PUBLISHER: Zonderkidz
COPYRIGHT: 2008

Pop Roly-Poly is on his way to vacation with his family when he is attacked by a gang of flies in the book that is a retelling of the parable of the Good Samaritan. He is helped by a stink bug. This book teaches a wonderful lesson. Young children will enjoy this book and the cartoon illustrations.

My son and I enjoyed this book and the lesson it taught.

How to Make a Cherry Pie and see the USA

2009-04-29T14:55:00.000-07:00

TITLE: How to Make a Cherry Pie and see the U. S. A.
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Marjorie Priceman
PUBLISHER: Alfred A. Knopf
COPYRIGHT: 2008

The reader gets to take an adventure across the U. S. A. in this book to gather the materials to make the utensils (pie pan, pot holders, rolling pin, measuring cup, plastic, and others)needed for making cherry pie since the cook shop is closed. A cherry pie recipe is also included in the book. This is by the author of the popular book How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World. Primary and elementary aged children will enjoy this book. It would be excellent for the classroom library.

My son and I enjoyed this book.

The Berenstain Bears God Loves You!

2009-04-29T08:06:00.000-07:00

TITLE: The Berenstain Bears God Loves You!
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Stan and Jan Berenstain with Mike Berenstain
PUBLISHER: Zonderkidz
COPYRIGHT: 2008

Both Brother Bear and Sister Bear receive surprising news when they try out for the basketball team and a play at school. They learn a lesson about God's love through this experience of not being chosen. Primary and elementary aged children will enjoy this story and the lesson it teaches about God's love for each of us.

My son and I enjoyed reading this book.

God Is with Me through the Day

2009-04-28T02:29:00.000-07:00

TITLE: God Is with Me through the Day

AUTHOR: Julie Cantrell

PUBLISHER: ZonderKidz

This book is a reminder that God is with us where ever we go and He will never leave us alone. Through simple wording and minimal text per page along with stunning animal photographs, the author reminds the reader God is there all day. This book would be excellent for any home library with young children. The children will enjoy the photographs as they listen to a Bible truth.

My son and I loved this book, and the beautiful photographs made us smile as we looked at each one.

Natalie and the One-of-a--Kind Wonderful Day!

2009-04-27T09:22:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Natalie and the One-of-a-Kind Wonderful Day!
AUTHOR: Dandi Daley Mackall
ILLUSTRATOR: Lys Blakeslee
PUBLISHER: Zonderkids
COPYRIGHT: 2009

Natalie is a five year old girl who wants to have a one-of-a-kind wonderful day. She tries first thing in the morning by making "omel-nats." That turns out to be not such a wonderful idea. This sweet, determined little girl continues to try new wonderful things all day long that just lead to disasters. She doesn't feel very happy by bedtime until a talk with her parents shows her God made her special and wonderful. Primary aged girls will enjoy this story and the character of Natalie.

I enjoyed getting to know Natalie in this book and recommend this for your daughter or church library.

The House That Went Ker-Splat!

2009-04-27T01:52:00.000-07:00

TITLE: The House That Went Ker--Splat! The parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders
AUTHOR: Bill Myers
ILLUSTRATOR: Andy J. Smith
PUBLISHER: Zonderkids
COPYRIGHT: 2008

Two wasps build houses using very different methods and attitudes which leads to very different results. This is an excellent story about the parable of the wise and foolish builders. Children as well as adults should be able to appreciate the applicaption for living in today's world. The illustrator did a good job too contrasting the two characters with light and dark colors. Children of any age will enjoy this book.

My son and I enjoyed reading this book.

Sally Goes to the Mountains

2009-04-25T13:37:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Sally Goes to the Mountains
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Stephen Huneck
PUBLISHER: harry n. abrams, inc.
COPYRIGHT: 2001

Sally is going on camping trip to the mountains. This is the story of things she will see and do in the mountains. Preschool through primary aged children will enjoy this book told from the perspective of the dog. The artwork in this book is also worth noting. The illustrator used woodblock prints for the illustrations.

My son and I enjoyed laughing together as we read this book multiple times.

The Berenstain Bears Play a Good Game

2009-04-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

TITLE: The Berenstain Bears Play a Good Game
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Jan and Mike Berenstain
PUBLISHER: Zonderkidz
COPYRIGHT: 2009

Brother and Sister Bear are having fun playing soccer with Papa Bear as their coach until things on the field get a little ugly as they face a team of bullies. The team and the coaches learn some valuable lessons about playing fair and having good sportsmanship from their game. Primary aged children will enjoy this story and the familiar Berenstain Bear family.

My son and I enjoyed reading this book and appreciate the lessons it taught.

Pal the Pony

2009-04-23T10:09:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Pal the Pony
AUTHOR: R.A. Herman

ILLUSTRATOR: Betina Ogden

A little pony at Star Ranch tries to do everything the big horses do. He feels he is too little for the rodeo until a little girl notices him. Preachool aged children will enjoy this book. It is appropriate for beginning readers to read on their own as well.

My son and I liked this story.

Daddies

2009-04-22T09:58:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Daddies
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Lila Prap
PUBLISHER: North-South Books
COPYRIGHT: 2007

A daddy and his little boy pretend they are animals--giraffes, hippos, kangaroos, monkeys, snails, and others--before the little boy goes to bed. Preschool through primary aged children will enjoy this book of pretend as well as the colorful, large illustrations.

My son and I both enjoyed this book.

Monkey and Me

2009-04-20T12:27:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Monkey and Me
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Emily Gravett
PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
COPYRIGHT: 2007

A little girl takes along her stuffed monkey on a trip to the zoo. Together they see many animals and try to act out how the animals act. Preschool aged children will enjoy the animal illustrations and trying to guess which animal the girl and monkey are pretending to be.

My son and I had fun reading this book.

Kitchen Dance

2009-04-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Kitchen Dance
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Maurie J. Manning
PUBLISHER: Clarion Books
COPYRIGHT: 2008

In this book two children awake in the night to kitchen sounds. They tiptoe downstairs and peek through the door to see their parents doing a kitchen dance as they clean up the kitchen. Mama spies her little children and brings the children in to do the kitchen dance with them. Preschool through primary aged children will enjoy this fun book, bright illustrations, and easy to read text.

My son and I enjoyed reading this book multiple times.

A Day with Nellie

2009-04-14T12:19:00.000-07:00

TITLE: A Day with Nellie
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Marthe Jocelyn
PUBLISHER: Tundra Books
COPYRIGHT: 2002

Readers get to go through a day with Nellie from the time she wakes up, chooses her outfit, eats breakfast, plays, naps, has a picnic lunch, gets muddy, takes a bath and prepares for bed. Preschool children will enjoy this book for the daily routine it describes with which they would be familiar from their own day.

My son and I enjoyed this book.

Wild Boars Cook

2009-03-23T10:42:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Wild Boars Cook
AUTHOR: Meg Rosoff
ILLUSTRATOR: Sophie Blackall
PUBLISHER: Henry Holt and Company
COPYRIGHT: 2008

These four stinky boars, Boris, Morris, Horace, and Doris, are hungry. Doris finds a recipe for the four of them to fix. This silly book is appropriate for primary aged children. I also believe it could be used in the classroom for a lesson on action verbs because many vivid verbs are used throughout the story.

My son and I enjoyed this book. It was appealing to me because the animal characters were unusual compared to your normal children's picture book characters.

Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are you Waking Up?

2009-03-20T10:14:00.001-07:00

TITLE: Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Waking Up?
AUTHOR: Bill Martin Jr and Michael Sampson
ILLUSTRATOR: Laura J. Bryant
PUBLISHER: Marshall Cavendish
COPYRIGHT: 2008

A little kitty cat is very distracted one morning doing all sorts of things except the one thing her mother wants her to do... get ready for school. This rhyming conversation between the kitty cat and its mother are delightful. As you can see from the front cover picture above, the illustrations are very enjoyable and really add to the appeal of this book. It is appropriate for preschool through primary aged children.

My son and I loved this book and read it many times together.

Dogs on the Bed

2009-03-18T13:01:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Dogs on the Bed
AUTHOR: Elizabeth Bluemle
ILLUSTRATOR: Anne Wilsdorf
PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press
COPYRIGHT: 2008

A family has dogs taking over their bed in this funny book. The family tries different ways to get back their bed but the dogs are persistent. Young children will enjoy this silly story.

My son and I enjoyed this book. It wouldn't be one I'd buy for my own library but it was fun to read.

Hurty Feelings

2009-03-09T12:56:00.000-07:00

TITLE: Hurty Feelings
AUTHOR: Helen Lester
ILLUSTRATOR: Lynn Munsinger
PUBLISHER: Houghton Mifflin Company
COPYRIGHT: 2004

Fragility is the main character. She gets her feelings hurt easily. What lesson can she learn from the rude elephant named Rudy? The illustrations are delightful with the various expressions shown on the faces of the characters. Primary aged children will enjoy this book as well as some preschoolers. It is a book that teaches a lesson about feelings and emotions.

My son and I both enjoyed this book.

Dinosaur Dinosaur

2009-03-07T12:16:00.000-08:00

TITLE: Dinosaur Dinosaur
AUTHOR: Kevin Lewis
ILLUSTRATOR: Daniel Kirk
PUBLISHER: Orchard Books
COPYRIGHT: 2006

A busy little dinosaur has a fun day from sun up till bedtime in this fun book. The brightly colored illustrations and lively rhyming text will appeal to young children. This book is appropriate for preschool through primary aged children.

My son and I enjoyed this book.

What Pet to Get?

2009-02-26T09:32:00.000-08:00

TITLE: What Pet to Get?
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: EMMA DODD
PUBLISHER: Arthur A. Levine (Scholastic)
COPYRIGHT: 2006

Jack discusses getting a pet with his Mom. She agrees he can have a pet but his choices are somewhat exotic. Together they figure out the best pet for Jack to get. The illustrations are cartoon style. This book would be enjoyed by children aged preschool through primary grades.

My son and I laughed at this book!

Little Brown Bear Won't Go to School!

2009-02-24T13:03:00.000-08:00

TITLE: Little Brown Bear Won't Go to School!
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Jane Dyer
PUBLISHER: Little, Brown and Company
COPYRIGHT: 2002

Little Brown Bear doesn't want to go to school. One day he goes out to look for a job. After trying out several jobs that he cannot do very well, he goes back to the class and decides to join the others in the fun they are having in school. The illustrations are fun and bright. This book would be enjoyable to children ages preschool through primary grades.

My son and I loved this cute story and will be looking for more books by this author.

Without You

2009-02-23T13:55:00.000-08:00

TITLE: Without You

AUTHOR: Sarah Weeks

ILLUSTRATOR: Suzanne Duranceau

PUBLISHER: HarperCollins Children's Books

Without You is the story of a baby penguin who is comforted by his father while his mother is away getting food. The illustrations use cool colors to depict the polar climate. Children ages preschool through 2nd grade will enjoy this book.

My son and I both enjoyed this sweet story.

Building with Dad

2009-02-21T17:21:00.000-08:00

TITLE: Building With Dad
AUTHOR: Carol Nevius
ILLUSTRATOR: Bill Thomson
PUBLISHER: Marshall Cavendish
COPYRIGHT: 2006

Building With Dad is a rhyming book about a Dad who takes his son along with him as he constructs a new school. The illustrations jump off the page and make the reader feel like he is present at the construction site. Children ages preschool through second grade will enjoy this book.

My son and I both loved this book. I totally loved the illustrations.

Welcome!

2009-02-19T16:56:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my new blog "Have you read with your child today?" I am glad to have you here.

My name is Bethany, and I am currently a stay-at-home Mom. I am certified to teach in the state of Texas and taught elementary school for three years before our son was born. I've always loved children and books. My son and I make weekly trips to our local library where we enjoy listening to stories during story time as well as choosing new books to borrow. We also enjoy buying new books for our own library.

Research shows the value of reading with children. It is my hope through this blog to encourage parents and other adults to read with a child on a regular basis.

Please check back frequently for new book recommendations. It is my goal at this point to review books by a variety of authors as well as a variety of topics.