The Can Man

TITLE: The Can Man

AUTHOR: Laura E. Williams

ILLUSTRATOR: Craig Orback

PUBLISHER: Lee & Low Books Inc.

COPYRIGHT: 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.