Mountain Born by Elizabeth Yates 🟌🟌🟌

Peter’s family are shepherds, and they have a flock of over 100 sheep. The book details how the lives of sheep and Shepards are intertwined. A young Peter with the help of his mother saves a lamb that is close to death. Over the years the boy and his lamb become best friends and learn to trust and help each other when taking care of the flock. 

“Mountain Born” is a heartwarming historical fiction book that most of today’s readers will find boring. It moves slowly, the dialogue is not that enthralling, and the action is almost non-existent. If your child has an interest in farming and living off the land this is the book for them. If not, they should skip this one.

Published In: 1943
Publisher: BJU Press
Age Level: 6-10 years
AR Level: 5.6
Pages: 112
Stars: 3
Award: 1944 Newbery Honor

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

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

Swimmy by Leo Lionni - 5 Stars

 

Swimmy, a fish gets separated from his school. They are eaten by a larger fish but Swimmy is faster than all his friends and he gets away. He is now on his own and he starts to travel throughout the ocean. He discovers amazing sights such as, “sea anemones, who look like pink palm tress swaying in the wind”. He eventually finds another school of fish like him, and he wants to share the fantastic sights with them. The school is too scared to leave their hiding place, can Swimmy figure out a way for them to travel without being eaten by a bigger fish?

“Swimmy” is an older book than I thought, it was first published in 1963. It’s over sixty years old. This book is one that has stood up to the test of time. Both my 4-year-old and 8-year-old granddaughters loved the book. Rarely do they both like the same book so it’s a win, win for my family.

Published In: 1963
Publisher: Knopf
Age Level: 2-8 years
AR Level: 2.9
Pages: 28
Stars: 5
Awards: 1964 Caldecott Honor

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

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

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
 

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

A Good Night Walk by Elisha Cooper 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

The reader takes a walk before bed with a child and parent through the neighborhood. They pass the neighbor who is gardening, the squirrels in the trees, the birds in the air and much more. The illustrations are charming and the words soothing. The book is perfect to settle down with when it’s bedtime. A great book to end the day.

Published In: 2005
Publisher: Orchard Books
Age Level: 3-5 years
AR Level: 2.3
Pages: 36
Stars: 5

The Wheel On The School by Meindert DeJong 🟊🟊🟊

I tried so hard to read all of this children’s classic but after 100 pages I was done with it. Six schoolchildren are on a quest to bring back storks to their small Dutch fishing village. They are looking for a wagon wheel which supposedly is where storks like to build their nests. The story moves very slowly, and it was not that interesting. Maybe in 1955 it appealed to elementary school students, but it will not engage today’s children.


Published In: 1954
Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers, Inc.
Age Level: 8-12 years
AR Level: 4.7
Pages: 298
Stars: 3
Awards: 1955 Newbery Medal

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

 

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

Picking blueberries is hard work and Little Sal would much rather be eating berries than picking them. At Blueberry Hill Little Sal and her mother are picking berries to be canned for winter. Eventually she becomes tired and sits down in a clump of berries to rest and of course eats more berries. Meanwhile on the other side of the mountain Little Bear and his mother were getting ready for winter by eating lots of berries to prepare for their long winter nap. Little Bear and Little Sal lose track of their mothers and both venture from their resting place to find them. In their attempt they pair up with the wrong mothers. Oh No!

“Blueberries for Sal” is a timeless story. It was one of my favorites as a child and my 5-year-old granddaughter enjoyed the book. Even though it was published 75 years ago both the illustrations and text are relevant for today’s preschoolers. The story has suspense without being scary. I think every child at one time, or another comes behind a person at the grocery/mall thinking it was their mother only to find out its somebody else. A must for every home library.

Fun Activity: If possible, go berry picking and then make something with them; pie, muffins or jam.

Published In: 1948
Publisher: The Viking Press
Age Level: 2-5 years
AR Level: 4.1
Pages: 64
Stars: 5
Awards: 1949 Caldecott Honor

 

Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

 

“Across Five Aprils” is an historical novel that takes place during the Civil War. Jethro Creighton is a nine-year-old boy living in rural southern Illinois when the Civil War breaks out. He watches as his brothers go off to war and he is left at home to take care of the family farm. He endures many hardships over the next five years, his father’s heart attack, the family barn burns down, always worrying about the crops and if his brothers will come home from the war.

The book is hard to read whether you are an adult or a middle schooler. The words are written as they are pronounced but the dialect is 1800’s farm county which takes a couple of chapters to catch on to what the characters are saying. The author gives a lot of details about the battles and Generals. The history is accurate but it’s easy to lose interest in the story. I was much more focused on how the family was going to survive the war then which General fought what battle. The book is a classic, but your child will need encouragement to finish it. A book for the student in your family.

Relevant Information	Content Review
Published In: 1964	Profanity: No
Publisher: Follett Publishing Company	Violence: War
Age Level: 12-16 years	Sexual Content: No
AR Level: 6.8	Mature Themes: Racism
Pages: 223
Stars: 5 Awards: 1965 Newbery Honor

Stone Soup by Marcia Brown 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

“Stone Soup” is a children’s classic tale that has been retold by many authors. This version was written in 1947. Some of the older Caldecott books do not age very well, but this one does stand up to the test of time. Three soldiers are on their way home after fighting in the wars. They are very hungry when they come to a village. They ask the villagers for some food and a place to sleep. After the villagers say no to their request they have an idea, let’s make stone soup. Can stone soup turn in to a feast? This vintage book is a must for the home library.

Published In: 1947
Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Publisher
Age Level: 3 -8 years
AR Level: 3.3
Pages: 46
Stars:5
Awards: 1948 Caldecott Honor

There's a Nightmare In My Closet by Mercer Mayer 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

Parents of toddlers around the world are familiar with the “Little Critter” series by Mercer Mayer. They are a great set of books and part of almost everybody’s childhood since the 1970’s. However, there is another series of Mayer’s books that I think are better, called “There’s Something in My Room”. The first in the series “There’s a Nightmare in My Closet” is the one most readers recognize. The other two are “There’s an Alligator Under My Bed” and “There’s Something in the Attic”. In the series the character conquers their fears, whether it’s the monster in the closet, under the bed or in the attic.

“There’s a Nightmare in My Closet” is the first book my granddaughter had memorized by the age of 3. At the age of 5 she still loves this book and will ask me to read it again and again. The humor is spot on and if you read the book using the right voice and with some drama, any child will forget to be scared about the monster in the closet. All three books give solutions on how to overcome the imagined fear of a scary monster. I would recommend all three for your home library, just be ready to read them over and over.

Fun Activity: Your and your child take on the task of cleaning out their bedroom closet just to make sure no monsters are living in it.

Published In: 1968
Publisher: Penguin Putnam
Age Level: 2-5 Years
AR Level: 2.4
Pages: 32
Stars: 5

The Black Pearl by Scott O'Dell 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

“The Black Pearl” is a classic and should be read by every middle schooler. Ramon Salazar wants to be a great pearl diver like his father and to find the largest pearl in the sea, the Pearl of Heaven. As with most who desire treasure, there is a price to pay and Ramon pays with the life of his father.

The text is straightforward, and the storyline flows effortlessly. The book should be an easy read for any 10–13-year-old. “The Black Pearl” is an adventure novel with lots of suspense that keeps the reader going page after page until the book is finished. My only complaint is that the illustrations are dark and hard to decipher but otherwise this book has a place in every home library.

Published In: 1967
Publisher: Dell
Age Level: 10-13 years
AR Level: 5.4
Pages: 96
Stars: 5
Award: 1968 Newbery Honor

The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash by Trinka Noble 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

This is one of the funniest children’s books you will ever read. A little girl describes to her mother the class trip to a farm. It starts with a crying cow and from there she tells her mom a series of hilarious events that took place at the farm all because Jimmy brought his pet Boa to meet the animals. My kids loved this book and now the grandchildren like it just as much. It’s a classic in our house and a book that is asked for over and over.

Published In: 1980
Publisher: Penguin Putnam
Age Level: 3-7 years
AR Level: 2.2
Pages: 32
Stars: 5

The View from Saturday by e.l. konigsburg 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

Four sixth-grade kids unexpectedly become friends over the course of the school year. The characters Noah, Nadia, Ethan and Julian are a bit quirky and all of them have issues and problems. Julian the most ostracized of the kids finds a unique way to bring all four of them together. Mrs. Olinski, their teacher, then picks them for the school’s Academic Bowl which helps solidify their friendship. As the children prepare for the competition and work on their friendship all four become confident and self-assured in themselves.

“The View from Saturday” is not for all middle schoolers it was written in the 90’s when everything moved at a slower pace and so does the book. However, if you can get your child to read the book the message of friendship will stay with them into adulthood. I read this book as an adult and appreciated the depth of the characters and their individual stories. I will be recommending it to my grandchildren.


Published In: 1996
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Inc.
Age Level: 11 + years
AR Level: 5.9
Pages: 176
Stars: 5
Award: 1997 Newbery Medal