Knights of the Kitchen Table The Time Warp Trio by Jon Scieszka - 5 Stars

This series of books featuring the Time Warp Trio is about three Elementary School boys who time travel around the globe. It all starts when Joe, one of the Time Warp Trio gets a magical book for his birthday from his favorite uncle. The three friends soon find out that all they have to do is wish they could see a certain place and the green mist from the book transports them to that location and time period. The boys then must find the same book to get back home.  Along the way they encounter dangerous characters and have harrowing experiences. All my boys and grandkids loved these books. They are great for the beginner reader, they are funny, engaging and educational. 

Published In: 1987
Publisher: Viking Penguin
Age Level: 7-11 years                                        
AR Level: 3.8
Pages: 55
Series: 16 Books                                        
Stars: 5

Runaway Tomato by Kim Cooley Reeder 🟊🟊🟊🟊

A giant tomato is growing in a boy’s yard by his front door, and he can’t get out of his house. The whole town comes to his aid, they push and shove to loosen the tomato. After it is free the gigantic tomato wreaks havoc on the town until it’s carted away by helicopter, but it has one more surprise for the townspeople.

 “Runaway Tomato” is written in rhyme and it’s fun to read out loud. The illustrations are bold and the pages with roads remind me of boardgames. Overall a good story that all toddlers will enjoy.

 

Published In: 2014
Publisher: Dial Books
Age Level:  3-5 years
AR Level: N/A
Pages: 32
Stars: 4

George and Lenny Are Always Together by Jon Agee - 4 Stars

 

George and Lenny are friends, and they spend all their time together. They are never alone, until one day Lenny wants to know what it would be like to be by himself. George does not think this sounds like fun at all. Lenny is persistent and off he goes to be alone will he find it as much fun as being together. I read this book with my five-year-old granddaughter and both of us were a bit underwhelmed with the story. I enjoy so many of Jon Agee’s books, but I would get this one from the library. 

Published In: 2025
Publisher: Rocky Pond Books
Age Level: 4-8 years                       
AR Level: 1.3
Pages: 40                                                   
Stars: 4

 

The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown - 5 Stars

 “The Runaway Bunny” is a classic children’s picture book. It was first published in 1942 and has been popular with children for over 85 years. Little Bunny tells his mother he is going to run away from home, and she says she will run after him. Bunny tells her if you run after me, I will turn into a fish, and his mother tells him I will become a fisherman and catch you. Bunny then tells her I will become a rock on a mountain, and she tells him I will become a rock climber and climb to where you are. Bunny has several other plans on how he can successfully runway, but his mother always has a way to catch up to him. In the end he decides it’s just easier to stay home with his mother and eat carrots. A beautiful book highlighting a mother’s love. 

Published In: 1942
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers Inc.
Age Level: 1-6 years                                                             
AR Level: 2.7
Pages: 48                                                   
Stars: 5

Marvin Redpost: Super Fast, Out of Control! by Louis Sachar - 5 Stars

Marvin has a new bike, and it scares him. It is bigger than his old bike, it has hand brakes and he has to shift gears. To make matters worse he has accepted a dare from his friends to ride his new bike down Suicide Hill. Suicide Hill has lots of curves, it is the scariest, and steepest hill in his neighborhood. Will Marvin be able to overcome his fear and make the ride down the hill? All Elementary School boys will enjoy Marvin Redpost books, and the updated illustrations have made them even more entertaining. 

Published In: 2000
Publisher: Random House
Age Level: 6-9 years                       
AR Level: 3.6
Pages: 79
Series: 8 Books                                          
Stars: 5

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats - 4 Stars

 “The Snowy Day” is a very simple story about a boy, Peter who ventures outside after a night of snow fall. He makes tracks in the snow, he builds a snowman, he slides down a snowy mountain, and he has many other adventures in the newly fallen snow. I can understand why toddlers love the simplicity of the story, but older children will find it dull and tedious. I would like to give this classic children's picture book a 5-star rating but honestly it is a 4-star story. 

Published In: 1962
Publisher: Puffin
Age Level: 1-5 years                                                             
AR Level: 2.5
Pages: 28
Awards: 1963 Caldecott Medal                   
Stars: 4

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback - 5 Stars

 Joseph’s overcoat is “old and worn”, so he makes a jacket out of it, then a vest and on and on it goes. By the end of the book, all he has left of his overcoat is a button, but he loses it and he has nothing. So, Joseph makes a book about the overcoat and the different forms it takes over the years. The moral of the story “you can always make something out of nothing”. My granddaughter laughed throughout the book, and she loved the bold and bright illustrations. 

Published In: 1999
Publisher: Viking
Age Level: 3-6 years                                                             
AR Level: 1.7
Pages: 33
Awards: 2000 Caldecott Medal                   
Stars: 5