Kat Kong by Dav Pilkey 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

Turn humans into mice and a cat into King Kong and the book is called Kat Kong. The cat puns are great in this story. My eight-year-old grandson totally got them, but they went over the head of the 4-year-old. The puns are so bad they are funny. At first, I had trouble with the illustrations. They can be a bit jarring, but the story does settle into them. Apparently, the author used his own pet in the illustrations.

The story is a rip-off of the King Kong movie/book and is familiar to all adults. Any Nana will be able to predict the ending. Yes, the cat dies by falling from a tall building. The critics of the book all complain about the violent ending, but the book does hold true to the original storyline. Dav Pilkey is a great children’s author, and this book is another homerun. The grandkids and I give it 5 stars.

Published In: 1993
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Age Level: 2-7 years old
AR Level 4.1
Pages: 29
Stars: 5

Ginger Pye By Eleanor Estes 🟌🟌

Jerry Pye wants a dog more than anything but the dog he wants cost $1.00. Jerry and his sister spend the day figuring out how to make enough money to purchase the dog. They eventually find a job dusting the pews at their church which gives them just the right amount of money to buy Ginger. Ginger is cute, smart, and fits into the Pye family perfectly. Then the unthinkable happens on Thanksgiving Day somebody steals Ginger. The rest of the book is devoted to Jerry and his sister looking for Ginger. The siblings are convinced that Ginger has been taken by an “Unsavory Character” with a yellow hat.

“Ginger Pye” is charming and cute but not relevant for today’s young reader. The pace of the book is slow, and the plot is drawn out. My grandchildren would be bored with the story after the first chapter. There is a lack of excitement and adventure in the story line and its way to wordy. Even though it was awarded the Newbery Medal, this book needs to stay on the self.

Published In: 1951               

 Publisher: Harcourt Inc.
Age Level: 6-9 years
AR Level: 6.0
Pages: 306
Stars: 2
Awards: Newbery Medal Winner

River by Elisha Cooper 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

“River” documents the adventures of a woman’s sole trip down the Hudson River by canoe. The author details in words and pictures who and what she saw along the way. She has to conqueror rapids, survive bad weather and maneuver among the bigger boats on the river. “River” is an inspiring book about accomplishment and finishing what your start. The geographical accuracy of the canoe trip is educational and fascinating. The watercolor illustrations put the reader alongside the woman on her journey down the Hudson River.

Canoeing/Kayaking is how our family spends the summer. We paddle all summer long on much smaller rivers than the Hudson, but our grandchildren have an appreciation for fast moving water. Two of my grandsons have had kayaks since they were 6 years old and are very capable paddlers. This book was a big hit with the grandkids. “River” is more than just a story about paddling, all readers will enjoy the women’s expedition on the Hudson River. It’s about setting goal and the determination to get them done. I recommend it for all home libraries.

Fun Activity: Get a map of your hometown then identify a stream/creek and find out what river it is a tributary for, next see what ocean it ends up in.

Published In: Orchard Books
Publisher: 2019
Age Level: 4-8 years
AR Level: 4.2
Pages: 44
Stars: 5

How To Catch A Clover Thief By Elise Parsley 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

Roy, a wild boar is waiting for his clover patch to bloom. Once it does, he can have a snack of sweet blooms. But before this can happen, his neighbor, Jarvis the gopher distracts Roy will all kinds of interesting books. While Roy is busy reading his books, Jarvis sneaks into the patch and steals all of Roy’s clover. Roy has an idea to get even by getting his own book “How to Catch a Clover Thief”. This book lays out a very elaborate contraption that will catch the clover thief and send him off into space on a rocket. The contraption reminds me of a “Rube Goldberg Machine”, and it is fun to go through all the steps with your child.

The book displays great illustrations along with engaging word presentation.  My grandchildren like all the Wup’s , Clonk’s, and more. It also shows young children that books can provide you with a wealth of knowledge. This book is a homerun and can be read again and again. It would be a great addition to any home library.

Fun Activities: Find out what a "Rube Goldberg Machine" is and build one. Look for a patch of clover in your neighborhood or local park. 

Published In: 2021
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Age Level: 4-8 years old
AR Level: 2.5
Pages: 40
Stars: 5

Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Solider by Jeff Gottesfeld

I have never been to the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, but this book made me want to hop in the car and visit Arlington Cemetery to pay my respects to the Unknown Soldier. The monument is dedicated to the dead US service members whose remains have never been identified. Families who have lost their son, daughter, or brother have a place to mourn. Twenty-One Steps tells how the Tomb came about, who it represents and the story of the sentinels that guard the monument. The book highlights dedication and service.

Twenty-One Steps is a great lesson in American history and the wars she fought. In addition, the book is awe-inspiring, moving and beautiful. It was very hard for me to read the book to my grandchildren without getting very emotional. In fact, the nine year old had to finish it for me because I could feel the tears starting to form. Twenty-one Steps is a picture book with great illustrations. It is a book that should be read to the elementary school crowd. My preschooler was having a hard time following the book. This is a great addition to any home library, and I give it 5 stars.

Fun Activities: Find out if there is a National Cemetery in your hometown, if so go visit it. On the internet look up Arlington Nation Cemetery: https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Tomb-of-the-Unknown-Soldier

Published In: 2021 

Publisher: Candlewick
Age Level: 7-10 years old
AR Level: 3.8
Pages: 32
Stars: 5

Dog In Charge by K.L. Going 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

My granddaughter and I really enjoyed reading this book. Both the illustrations and story were upbeat and energetic. The faces that Dog made were hilarious. We played a game of looking at the Dog pictures in the front of the book and trying to match it with his emotion.

When the Dog’s family goes to the store, Dog is left in charge of the house and its 5 cats. The cats get into all kinds of mischief and Dog tries to get them to stop by thinking he should offer them cat treats. But before he can give them the treats, he eats them all. Which makes him sleepy, and he takes a nap. While the dog is sleeping the cats clean up the mess they made. Not knowing this the Dog is worried that the family will be upset with him for the shambles the cats made but since the cats cleaning up everything for him all is well. My granddaughter thought this was a very funny book and asked for me to read it to her again. Which is always a good review.

Fun Activity: With your child make faces and have them guess what emotion you are trying to show.

Published In: 2012
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Reading Level: 2-5 years old
Pages: 40
Stars: 5

Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer

The illustrations in this book are amazing and the observations about nature are unique and thought provoking. As two siblings set out on a wonder walk, they ask the reader all kinds of questions about the outdoor world. The text is simple and straight forward but the answers to the questions are anything but that. The pictures in the book are created by the author using “oil and collage on paper she creates with homemade stamp and layered tissue paper”.

“Wonder Walker” is one of those books that adults might like more than children. I love the way the author takes simple natural wonders and turns them into practical things the world needs. My granddaughter listened to the book but once we finished it she was ready to move on. In my mind this is a book that needs to be taken on a hike and read when you are outdoors. “Wonder Walker” is a great addition to my home library. It is a 2022 Caldecott Honor Book.

Fun Activity: Take a hike at a state or city park and try to find some of the wonders mentioned in the book.

Published In: 2021
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Age Level: 3-7 years
AR Level: N/A
Pages: 32
Stars: 5
Award: 2022 Caldecott Honor Book