Simpson's Sheep Just Want to Sleep!

TITLE: Simpson's Sheep Just Want to Sleep!
AUTHOR: Bruce Arant
ILLUSTRATOR: Bruce Arant
PUBLISHER: Peter Pauper Press, Inc.
COPYRIGHT: 2017

''These stubborn sheep,'' the farmer sighs,
''won't open up their sleepy eyes.
But I know how to wake this crowd.
I'll make some noise and make it loud.''

This is a very cute book.  I love books with rhyming text.  This one has cute illustrations as well and I just love the way the book ends.  (I won't tell you what that is.)  The farmer tries many different noisy methods to wake his sleepy sheep.

I found this book at the library, and my little guy and I enjoyed reading it.  We read it several times.  This is appropriate for 1st/2nd graders.  

Maverick and Me

TITLE: Maverick and Me
AUTHOR: Katherine Schwarzenegger
ILLUSTRATOR: Phyllis Harris
PUBLISHER: Worthy Kids
COPYRIGHT: 2017

If you have animal lovers in your life, you should check out this newly released book called Maverick and Me by Katherine Schwarzenegger and illustrated by Phyllis Harris.  Let me share a little bit about it with you today.

About the book:
Dog lover and animal advocate Katherine Schwarzenegger draws from her own experience with fostering and adopting dogs to create a picture book that introduces children to the concept of adopt, don't shop.

In the heartwarming story of Maverick and Me, Maverick is rescued by a kind-hearted stranger after being dumped on the side of the road. The little puppy's luck takes a turn for the better when young Scarlett meets him at an adoption event. Scarlett is so moved by Maverick's story that she and her mother decide to give him the forever home he is looking for.

Each year, millions of dogs find themselves in shelters and with animal rescues through no fault of their own. Maverick will help teach children about these dogs and empower even young readers to advocate for shelter pups.

My thoughts:
I found this to be a sweet story about a girl named Scarlett and how she decides to adopt a little puppy. I like how she then goes on to share with her friends about rescuing animals as well.  The illustrations are perfect for the story I thought.

This book is a good story and a clear message for young children on the value of pet adoption.  

I have a two year old, and he picked this book to read off the shelf several times.  Some of the text on the page I shortened on some readings but it held his interest and he liked it.  I recommend this book to you for your home, school, or classroom library for young ones in PreK--early elementary.  

  

This is the website for this book.  Be sure to visit it also.  This book released this week and you can buy it now!

A copy of this book was provided to me from the publisher as I was chosen to be part of the launch team.  Opinions expressed are mind. Thank you.


#MaverickandMe

The Best Part of Daddy's Day

TITLE: The Best Part of Daddy's Day
AUTHOR: Claire Alexander
ILLUSTRATOR:
PUBLISHER: Little Bee Books
COPYRIGHT: 2016


I want to tell you about a children's book called The Best Part of Daddy's Day by Claire Alexander today.

Little Bertie wishes he could go to work with his Daddy, but he has to go to school instead.  Bertie wants to be just like his Dad, and when he is on the playground, he thinks he sees his Dad up in the crane.  After school Bertie shares about his day.  Not all of it was good.  Daddy tells him about his day, including the things that went wrong for him.  They both agree their favorite part of the day is when they are together.

This would be a sweet book for your child to read with his/her Daddy and would be good for Father's Day.  I know youngsters will enjoy these pictures of the dogs and machinery at Daddy's workplace in this sweet book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Little Bee Books, in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

Have a day of blessings!
 

Messy Molly

TITLE: Messy Molly
AUTHOR:  Jo Williamson
ILLUSTRATOR: Jo Williamson
PUBLISHER: Little Bee Books
COPYRIGHT: 2016

Poor Molly!  She is always getting into a mess. Whether it is rain puddles, ice cream cones, or spaghetti, Molly cannot seem to stay clean.  One week she decides to try her hardest not to get dirty because she has a special school program on Saturday.  Will she make it to the program and still be clean?

This is a cute picture book by Jo Williamson. As a teacher I could see it being used in an early elementary classroom to reinforce a lesson on the days of the week. The illustrations throughout the book use only the colors seen on the cover.  This book would be enjoyed by children aged 4-6.

This book was sent to me by the publisher for my honest review.  Thank you.

Have a day of blessings!
 

Biscuit Plays Ball

TITLE: Biscuit Plays Ball
AUTHOR:  Alyssa Satin Capucilli
ILLUSTRATOR: Pat Schories
PUBLISHER: Harper
COPYRIGHT: 2012

Biscuit wants to play ball but he is told this ball game is not for him.  He does eventually get to play when his friend Puddles comes.

This book is appropriate for those learning to read and would be enjoyed by preschool aged children.  Little ones enjoy the Biscuit character as they are beginning to read on their own.

Ready or Not, Here Comes Scout!

TITLE:  Ready or Not, Here Comes Scout!
AUTHOR:  Jill Abramson & Jane O'Connor
ILLUSTRATOR:  Deborah Melmon
PUBLISHER:  Viking
COPYRIGHT: 2012

Scout (a dog) is excited to go to the dog park with his human for the first time.  She tries so hard to make friends but the other dogs do not want to have anything to do with her.  The next day she observes the other dogs first and then she tries again to make some friends.  She comes across one dog named Taco who is mean and that causes her to stay away from the dog park for a while.  When she goes back, she loses her stuffed dog Baby.  Will she be able to find Baby before it's time to go home?

This is a cute dog story.  I thought the illustrations are wonderfully done as well.   The lessons learned can be applied to friendships.  The book will be enjoyed by preschoolers through early primary aged children. 

Puppies

TITLE: Puppies  Cute and Cuddly:  Baby Animals
AUTHOR:  Grace Elora
ILLUSTRATOR:
PUBLISHER: Gareth Stevens
COPYRIGHT: 2011

The reader will learn a few facts and see very nice photos of cute puppies. 

This is a leveled reader with minimal text and is appropriate for beginning readers.  Toddlers who like puppies would enjoy this book as well.

This book is level 0.9 in Accelerated Reader.

Homer

TITLE: Homer
AUTHOR:  Elisha Cooper
ILLUSTRATOR: Elisha Cooper
PUBLISHER: Greenwillow Books
COPYRIGHT: 2012

Family members ask Homer to do things with them, but he doesn't want to do any of it. He prefers sitting on the porch.  He doesn't need a thing, he has all he needs. 

This is a nice book for dog lovers. I was initially drawn to the book because of the cover.  The watercolor illustrations are simply beautiful.  There is minimal text per page and would be good for an early reader beginning to read aloud on his own.

Because of the small amount of text and nice dog pictures, this book would be enjoyed in my opinion by young children in preschool through early elementary.

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.

Lyle Walks the Dogs

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.

Finding Susie

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

COPYRIGHT: 2009

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.

Biscut Visits the Doctor

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!

Sally Goes to the Farm

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.

Sally's Snow Adventure

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.

Sally Goes to the Mountains

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.

Dogs on the Bed

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.