Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems - 5 Stars

Wilbur is different than all the other mole rats, he does not go about his day naked like his friends. He likes to wear clothes. All kinds of clothes fancy, funny and cool. The other mole rats do not understand his love of clothes. When the Grand-pah of the mole rats makes a proclamation will it be for or against clothes?

“Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed” is a classic children’s book. It is one of those books that needs to be in every child’s home library. There will be lots of giggles when read and the book has an important message, it’s ok to be different. A favorite of the grandkids.

Published In: 2009
Publisher: Hyperion Books
Age Level: 2-9 years
AR Level: 2.8
Pages: 536
Stars: 5

Green Wilma by Tedd Arnold -4 Stars

 

When Wilma wakes up, she has turned green and wants to eat flies. She has turned into frog. Her parents don’t know what to do and before they can figure something out, she has taken off for school. At school she engages in very funny antics which all preschoolers will enjoy. When she starts munching on flies the principle chases her out the doors. Wilma ends up in a pond asleep on a log. When she woke up, she had been dreaming about being chased by a fish. Was Wilma a little girl dreaming about being a frog or a frog dreaming about being a little girl? I got mixed reviews from my grandchildren on this picture book the 7-year-old was not impressed and did not like the ending. The 4-year-old giggled throughout the story. So, in the end it gets a 4-star review.

Published In: 1993
Publisher: Dial/Delacorte
Age Level: 2-7 years
AR Level: 2.8
Pages: 28
Stars: 4

The Hallo-Weiner by Dav Pilkey - 4 Stars

Oscar is a dachshund and as you can expect all the other dogs call him “Wiener Dog”. This upsets him but not today because it’s Halloween and he is excited about the scary costume he is going to make when he gets home. When he arrives home his mother has a surprise costume already for him, a giant hot dog bun. Oh no! He can’t hurt his mother’s feelings, so he wears the costume and when he goes out to trick or treat all the other dogs laugh at him. When the dogs are returning home a “ghastly monster” comes out of the graveyard scaring all the dogs, will Oscar be able to save them? The moral of the story heroes come in all shapes and sizes. A favorite book to read to my grandchildren in October.

Published In: 1995
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Age Level: 3-67 years
AR Level: 3.2
Pages: 30
Stars: 4

Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang - 5 Stars

How can Jim the chimpanzee be in such a grumpy mood on such a beautiful day? He has a frown, he does not want to sing or swing, and he doesn’t want to laugh. All Jim’s friends are worried about him, but all kids know some days are just not that happy. With all Jim’s friends trying to cheer him up will it work? This classic picture book is a great way to get kids to open up about feeling sad. You do not have to feel happy all the time. This is one of my grumpy granddaughters favorite books.

Published In: 2018
Publisher: Random House
Age Level: 3-6 years
AR Level: 2.2
Pages: 32                                                   
Stars: 5

Little Dog Lost: The True Story of a Brave Dog Named Baltic by Monica Carnesi - 5 Stars

 

“Little Lost Dog” is a heartwarming story that all children will fall in love with. The book starts out with children playing in the snow by the Vistula River, when they spot something in the water. It is a dog adrift on the ice. With the help of firefighters, they try to rescue the dog, but the river is too fast. The dog continues its journey down the river and out to the Baltic Sea. The dog spotted by a ship, will the sailors be able to save him? This is a true story that will become a favorite book with your preschooler.

Published In: 2012    
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen
Age Level: 3-7 years
AR Level: 1.5
Pages: 32                                                   
Stars: 5

 

The Popcorn Book by Tomie dePaola - 4 Stars

 Many kids enjoy eating popcorn as a treat but leaning the history of popcorn is not as enjoyable. Tomie de Paola is a fantastic children’s author, but this book is not one of my favorites. Tiny and Tony, twins decide to make some popcorn, one takes on the task of making the treat. The other does some research on the history of popcorn. Tiny then presents a long list of popcorn facts. The facts might be interesting when the book is initially read but it will not be asked for again. Get this one from the library.

Published In: 1978
Publisher: Holiday House
Age Level: 4-8 years
AR Level: 4.3
Pages: 28                                                   
Stars: 4

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson - 5 Stars

 

Harold and his purple crayon leave his bedroom to go for a walk in the moonlight. Using his crayon and his imagination he visits a forest, he is frightened by a dragon, goes swimming in the ocean and has many other adventures. A great book to talk to your children about using their imagination. The book is over seventy years old, and it has aged well along with remaining relevant. A classic that belongs in every household.

Published In: 1955    
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers, Inc.
Age Level: 2-6 years
AR Level: 3.0
Pages: 60                                                   
Stars: 5

Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin - 5 Stars

“Diary of a Worm” is a picture book full of giggles. It’s a favorite of all six of my grandkids. I can read it over and over and it will make me laugh every time. A school age worm writes in his diary and tells the reader about his everyday life, school, friends and home. Who knew that a worm’s life could be so funny. Get this book for your child’s home library.

Published In: 2003
Publisher: Joanna Cotler Books
Age Level: 3-7 years
AR Level: 2.8
Pages: 40
Stars: 5
Series: 4 Books

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