Stellaluna by Janell Cannon - 5 Stars

A bat called Stellaluna finds herself in a bird’s nest, with three baby birds in it after her mother is attacked by an owl. The Mama bird raises Stellaluna as one of her own, teaching her to fly, eat bugs, sleep at night and not to hang upside down. One day Stellaluna flies further than her adopted family and suddenly she is all alone. She falls asleep hanging by her thumbs when a group of bats find her, will her real mother be among the group? This is a great story of acceptance and welcoming those into your family even if they don’t look or act like you. A fantastic message for any child at any age.

Published In: 1993
Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
Age Level: 2-8 years
AR Level: 3.5
Pages: 48
Stars: 5
 

Hey, Al by Arthur Yorinks - 5 Stars

 

Sometimes an offer can be too good to be true. Al, a janitor and his dog Eddie find that out the hard way. Al and Eddie are struggling with money and Al with his job, in their one room on the West Side. When a bird appears at the window offering to take them to place with “No worries, no cares”. They accept the offer and are carried off to a wonderful island with waterfalls, rolling hills and all the food they can eat but soon they find out that it comes with a price. The story of Al and Eddie is a great way to teach children to appreciate what they have without being preachy.

Published In: 1986    
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, Giroux
Age Level: 4-8 years
AR Level: 2.1
Pages: 32                                                   
Stars: 5
Awards: 1987 Caldecott Honor

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin - 5 Stars

 

Children’s picture books do not get any better than this story. The cows in the barn have found a way to communicate with Farmer Brown by using an old typewriter. They are cold at night and have asked Farmer Brown for electric blankets. After some negotiations they get the blankets and soon more farm animals are making requests, where will it end? A classic book that will make all preschoolers giggle.

Published In: 2000            
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc,   
Age Level: 2-6 years
AR Level: 2.3
Pages: 40                                                   
Stars: 5
Awards: 2001 Caldecott Honor

Children Make Terrible Pets By Peter Brown - 5 Stars

A very funny book about a bear the adopts a boy as a pet. What could go wrong? All six of my grandchildren have loved reading this story. The book is another Peter Brown book that belongs on all children’s bookshelves.

Published In: 2010            
Publisher: Little, Brown & Co.                                  
Age Level: 3-7 years
AR Level: 1.8
Pages: 40                                                   
Stars: 5

Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

Simon is a seventh grader whose family has moved to Grin and Bear It, Nebraska. They came from Omaha where Simon was the only survivor of a school shooting. His new hometown not only has a quirky name but it’s a “National Quiet Zone”, with not internet or cell phones. As Simon settles into his new life nobody in town knows about his past. He is making friends, has less anxiety and he is back in the classroom. When one of his friends finds out about his past, how will the town and Simon react?

School gun violence is a scary and disturbing topic for today’s school children. The book addresses the subject with seriousness but it’s not heavy handed. The delightful humor in the novel keeps the reader laughing despite Simon’s struggles with PTSD. A great book for any middle schooler.

Relevant Information	Content Review
Published In: 2023	Profanity: No
Publisher: Disney Hyperion	Violence: Yes
Age Level: 10-14 years	Sexual Content: No
AR Level: 5.2	Mature Themes: School Shooting
Pages: 320
Stars: 5 Awards: 2024 Newbery Honor

Big by Vashti Harrison 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

Everyone has feelings and sometimes words can be very hurtful. One girl finds this out when other children start to make fun of her because of her size. When she is criticized by both adults and children her fragile self-esteem is damaged. The book teaches readers to be mindful when talking to others. A child’s self-confidence can be shattered with just a few words. The book has a wonderful message for all children.

Published In: 2023
Publisher: Little, Brown & Co,
Age Level: 4-8 years
AR Level: 1.7
Pages: 60
Stars: 5
Awards: 2024 Caldecott Medal

Red Sings from Treetops by Joyce Sidman 🟊🟊🟊🟊

All the colors take on a different role as the author moves through the seasons. In spring “Yellow shouts with light!”, in summer it “smells like butter”, in fall “it grows wheels”, and in winter it has “gone home”. The poetry is easy to read but my granddaughter’s eyes started to glaze over with all the abstract narrative. The illustrations are what kept her sitting long enough to finish the book.

Published In: 2009
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Age Level: 2-6 years
AR Level: 3.2
Pages: 32
Stars: 4
Awards: 2010 Caldecott Medal