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 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

Tackylocks And The Three Bears by Helen Lester - 4 Stars

Tacky and his friends are a waddle of penguins, and they are going to put on a play for Mrs. Beakly’s school. They will be preforming Goldilocks (Tackylocks) And The Three Bears. When it’s time for the play to start the penguins are rambunctious and cannot settle down. Will Tacky’s unusual portrayal of Goldilocks keep the audience entertained. It’s a cute book but first get one of these books in the series from the library to see if it will captivate your child.       

Published In: 2002

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Age Level: 4-7 years

AR Level: 3.3

Pages: 32                                                   

Stars: 4

Series: 10 Books

Princess Posey and the First Grade Parade by Stephanie Greene - 4 Stars

Posey is not ready for the first grade. Two things scare her, first she must enter the school by herself. Everybody knows there is a monster in the “Blue Hall” which is the hall all first graders have to go down to get to their classrooms and monsters frighten her. Second, her mother will not let her wear her favorite tutu. The tutu makes her feel special and she can do anything when she is wearing it. How will Posey survive the first day of school?

My 8-year-old granddaughter is in second grade but the reading level for this chapter book is 2.9, so I decided to see if it would appeal to her. Surprise, surprise she liked it. Not a great read but enough humor and “how does Posey get out of this fix?” to keep my granddaughter interested. A 4 out of 5 stars from this grandmother.

Published In: 2010
Publisher: Putnam
Age Level: 6-8 years
AR Level: 2.9
Pages: 82
Stars: 4
Series: 12 Books

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

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

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

The Stray Dog by Marc Simont 🟊🟊🟊🟊

A family from the city has a picnic out in the country. While eating their lunch a “scruffy little dog” interrupts their picnic. The children spend the day playing with the dog. When it’s time to leave the kids want to take the dog home but Mom and Dad say no. The family spends all week thinking about the dog and by the time it’s the weekend they decide to go back and bring him home. Will they be able to find him before the dog catcher? The story is sweet and simple and animal lovers will appreciate the compassion given to the stray dog. My granddaughters were ok with the book but did not ask for it again. So, it gets only a 4-star rating from this family.


Published In: 2001
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers, Inc.
Age Level: 4-8 years
AR Level: 1.7
Pages: 30
Stars: 4
Awards: 2002 Caldecott Honor

The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock 🟊🟊🟊🟊

“The Noisy Paint Box” is the story of Vasya Kandinsky, one of the first painters of abstract art. Vasya was a very “proper Russian boy” but when his aunt gave him a paint box a whole new world opened up to him. When he painted, he heard noises, then the more he painted it turned into an orchestra. As an adult Vasya tried to conform to Russian society and he becomes a lawyer, but one night he goes to the opera, and again sees the music as art. Not able to stop himself from doing the one thing he truly loved, he quits his job and moves to Munich to paint. Buy this book for the artist in your family. They will appreciate Vasya’s nonconformist approach to art.

Published In: 2014
Publisher: Knopf
Age Level: 4-8 years
AR Level: 4.4
Pages: 36
Stars: 4
Awards: 2015 Caldecott Honor

Inspector Flytrap: The President's Mane Is Missing by Tom Angleberger 🟊🟊🟊🟊

Inspector Flytrap solves BIG DEAL mysteries, and he has decided to also take on THRILLING mysteries to become the World’s Greatest Detective. This is the second book in a series of three about Inspector Flytrap and his assistant Nina the Goat. In this mystery the President’s of the Unites States, who is a horse, mane is missing from his statue. Can the Inspector and his assistant solve the mystery?

The story is very silly but perfect for the beginner readers of chapter books, especially boys. The print is big and with graphics on nearly every page making the book easy to read. The series may not win any awards, but elementary school kids will love the ridiculous humor.

Relevant Information	Content Review
Published In: 2016	Profanity: No
Publisher: Amulet Books	Violence: No
Age Level: 5-8 years	Sexual Content: No
AR Level: 3.8	Mature Themes: No
Pages: 99
Stars: 4

Journey by Aaron Becker 🟊🟊🟊🟊

A young girl cannot find anybody to play with her. Her friends are off doing other things, and her family is too busy. So, with a red maker in hand, she draws a red door, and that door leads to another world. She sets off on a boat to a castle, then rides a red balloon and is captured by a evil emperor. When she loses her red maker how will she ever get back home? The book is wordless so be prepared to use your imagination when “reading” this book with your child. What the book lacks in words is does make up in the stunning illustrations.

Published In: 2013
Publisher: Candlewick
Age Level: 3-6 years
AR Level: N/A
Pages: 40
Stars: 4
Series: 3 Books
Awards: 2014 Caldecott Honor

Ramona and Her Father by Beverly Cleary 🟊🟊🟊🟊

Beverly Cleary’s series of books about Ramon are classics. In this book she is in second grade, and she has two big worries. They both concern her father. First, her father has been laid off from this job and her mother must go back to work full-time. Not only is the money tight but the family routine has been disrupted. Second, Ramona’s sister had told her their father’s smoking will cause him to die. Ramona and her sister embark on a campaign to get their father to quit smoking.

In today’s world not many American families have a parent that smokes. So, I found this part of the book irrelevant. On the other hand, many families can relate to a parent losing their job. Ramona antics bring laughter to the story and overall, it is an enjoyable read, even thou if feels a bit dated. I would get this one from the library.

Relevant Information	Content Review
Published In: 1975	Profanity: No
Publisher: Fitzgerald Books	Violence: No
Age Level: 8-12 years	Sexual Content: No
AR Level: 5.2	Mature Themes: Unemployment
Pages: 165 Series: 8 Books
Stars: 4 Awards: 1978 Newbery Honor

 

Jake the Fake Keeps it Real by Craig Robinson and Adam Mansbach 🟊🟊🟊🟊

Jake will attend a new school starting in 6th grade, the Music and Art Academy. This is the same school that Jake’s very talented and gifted sister goes to. Jake is not sure how he managed to get into the school but now that he is there can he convince his teachers that he is talented and gifted like his siter? Jake attempts several projects to find his true talent with no results. Finally on the night of the big talent show Jake finds his true calling. The book is funny and middle school boys will enjoy Jake’s antics. The book is not a classic but great for reluctant readers.

 

Relevant Information	Content Review
Published In: 2017	Profanity: No
Publisher: Crown Books	Violence: No
Age Level: 8-12 years	Sexual Content: No
AR Level: 5.4	Mature Themes: No
Pages: 135
Stars: 4 Series: 3 Books

The One Thing You'd Save by Linda Sue Park 🟌🟌🟌🟌

“If your home was on fire, what one thing would you save?” People and pets are safe, and it doesn’t matter the size of the item. This is the homework that Mrs. Chang gives her class. The answers she gets back are as varied as the diversity of the children in her class. The book is written in verse which is the perfect vehicle for each the students to express their thoughts. Being a Nana I particularly loved the responses that had items associated with family, the sweater that Gran had knitted, hair clippings from a dead brother, or the plant cutting from a grandmother’s philodendron.

My 9-year-old grandson liked the book, but he found it a bit overwhelming. After each student’s response he would have to rethink his own answer. It took us two sittings to finish. I do agree with other reviewers that the author jumped around too much between students and their inner thoughts. “The One Thing You’d Save” gets a solid 4 from me.

Published In: 2021
Publisher: Clarion Books
Age Level: 8-12 years
AR Level: 3.9
Pages: 80
Stars: 4

26 Fairmount Avenue by Tomie DePaola 🟊🟊🟊🟊

“26 Fairmount Avenue” is a good book but not a great one. The one-year autobiography of Tomie DePaola covers his fourth year of life. The first event he describes is the hurricane of 1938 that hits the town of Meriden, Ct., what it was like and the aftermath of the storm. This is also the year that his family starts to build a new home and with all building projects there are ups and downs. Two other significant events happen to Tomie, he starts kindergarten, and the movie Snow White by Disney is released. He is very disappointed to find out that he will not learn to read until 1st grade and refuses to go back to school. Then the movie Snow White is not at all like the book and is very upsetting. The book is heartwarming and entertaining, but it did not leave my grandkids wanting more. Get this one from the library.

Published In: 1999
Publisher: Putnam
Age Level: 5-8 years
AR Level: 4.6
Pages:58
Stars:4
Awards: 2000 Newbery Honor

A Child's Good Night Book by Margaret Wise Brown 🟌🟌🟌🟌

“A Child’s Good Night Book” is a calming and soothing story about all the animals in the world going to sleep at night. Its text is repetitive which makes it a favorite with children under 4 years. The illustrations were creepy to me. I know the animals were suppose to be sleeping but they looked almost dead. I would borrow this one from the library before buying.

Fun Activity: Name an animal and have your child tell you where they think they sleep at night.

Published In: 1943
Publisher: William R. Scott
Age Level: 0-4 years
AR Level: N/N
Pages: 32
Stars: 4
Award: 1944 Caldecott Honor

When Giants Come to Play by Andrea Beaty 🟌🟌🟌🟌

It is summertime and two giants have come to play with Anna. The play hide and seek, marbles, catch and a slew of other games. It is fascinating to see how the author and the illustrator pull together to make this book a fun read. Each page displays an activity that Anna plays with her giant friends. These are not scary giants at all and by the end of the book you wish you had two giants for friends.

The whimsical illustrations are what makes the book entertaining. When I read this to my 5-year-old granddaughter we had more discussions about the pictures than the text. I would have liked more substance to the story. I went back and read the book without the pictures, and it was not that exciting. “When Giants Come to Play” is 4-star book.

Published In: 2006
Publisher: Abram Books for Young Readers
Age Level: 4-8 years
AR Level: 3.2
Pages: 31
Stars: 4

The Pied Piper's Magic by Steven Kellogg 🟌🟌🟌🟌

Peterkin is a cheery elf even though he is poor. He is searching for work when he comes across the home of a retired witch whose house need some repairs. The witch tells him she has no money to pay him, but he does the work anyway. Upon Peterkin completing the work she gives him a magical pipe. The pipe does not make the sound of notes but instead letters. When he spells out the letters of animals they appear before him and then when he reverses the letters the animal turns into what he has spelled out. While Peterkin is traveling the county, he comes upon a dark and dreary city full of rats. With his magical pipe he is able get of rid the rats but also turn the city into a lovable place for people to live.

The illustrations in this book are bright and colorful. The pictures make the reader happy just looking at them. I never read the original tale of the Pied Piper which apparently is not a very happy story but this one has a feel-good ending. My granddaughter and I liked the book, and we will read it again. If you were to pick just one of Kellogg’s books, I think there are better ones such as the those that retell American folk stories.

Fun Activity: Try to find some simple wind instrument in your house such as a recorder or harmonica, and have your child make some noise.  

Published In: 2009
Publisher: Dial/Penguin
Age Level: 4-8 years
AR Level: 4.3
Pages: 40
Stars: 4