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

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

 

Snow by Uri Shulevitz 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

Love the illustrations, love the book. One boy and his dog really want it to snow. As they look out the window, they see a snowflake. They run outside and go all around town telling the people on the streets that it will snow but the towns people tell him it will melt. The boy is right and by the end of the book the whole town is white. This book was at my granddaughter’s reading level, so she read the book to me. We had fun with the pictures, and she was so proud to be able to read it by herself. A great first reader that is actually a good book.

Published In: 1998
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, Giroux
Age Level: 2-7 years
AR Level: 1.6
Pages: 28
Stars: 5
Awards: 1999 Caldecott Honor

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

Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal by DanTDM 🟌

The book is written by a popular You Tuber and Minecraft gamer, DanTDM. The plot of the book “reimagines the minecraft-style world and characters”. My 9-year-old grandson read the first 30 pages and he had enough. Even though he is into gaming and watches You Tubes he didn’t like the book. He told me the main character was not interesting and kind of boring. Which is too bad because I thought the book had great potential.

I did make an attempt to read some of this book myself but I have to say graphic novels are not my thing. I am not sure if it’s all the pictures on the page or the small print. I never know what panel to read next. I had a very hard time following the story. I did notice that it was all the DanTDM fans that gave the book 5 stars. Wish I could rate it higher, but Nana gives it 1 star.

Published In: 2016
Publisher: Harper
Age Level: 7-9 years
AR Level: 2.7
Pages: 192
Stars: 1
Graphic Novel

Galaxy Zack Monster In Space ! by Ray O'Ryan 🟊🟊🟊

The “Galaxy Zack” books are perfect for the student who is just beginning to read chapter books, lots of pictures and big print, but that might be all its good for. I read the “Galaxy Zack Monsters in Space!”, number 4 of 18, with my grandson and he was not impressed. The book did excite him enough to want to read anymore in the series. The story is about a new kid at school who does look like anybody else in the class. Can Zack find it in himself to be friends with him? There are more engaging books for the beginner reader, get this one from the library before you purchase.

Relevant Information	Content Review
Published In: 2013	Profanity: None
Publisher: Little Simon	Violence: None
Age Level: 5-9 years	Sexual: None
AR Level: 3.3	Mature Themes: None
Pages: 119	Series : 18 Books
Stars: 3

Henry Heckelbeck Gets a Dragon by Wanda Coven 🟌🟌🟌🟌

“Henry Heckelbeck Gets a Dragon” is the first book in a series of 18 books. Henry seems like a normal kid, but his family is anything but normal. His Mom, Sister and Aunt are witches. He does not think that he has any magic until he finds a book of spells in his room. Henry tries one of the spells on his toy dragon to make it come alive. At first, he didn’t think the spell worked but the next morning at school the dragon was flying. Will he be able to corral the dragon and turn it back into a toy?

The book has illustrations on about every page which helps keep young readers engaged. The print is big and the words simple. The series is a great start for reader that are beginning chapter books. The plot is predictable but second graders will enjoy Henry’s antics.

Relevant Information	Content Review
Published In: 2019	Profanity: None
Publisher: Little Simon	Violence: None
Age Level: 5-9 years	Sexual: None
AR Level: 3.2	Mature Themes: None
Pages: 119
Stars: 4

This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience and Regrowth by Sean Rubin 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

I grew up in Brooklyn, NY and the windows of my apartment looked across the harbor at the World Trade Center. Every morning when I woke up, they were the first things I would see and at night before I went to bed the last. I was not living in NY at the time of the 9/11 tragedy but like everybody in America if affected me deeply.

“This Very Tree” is a book that introduces the devastation of 9/11 without being too scary for younger children. The events of that day are told through the eyes of a tree without the details of the death and destruction. The tree is a Callery pear and is based on the real experiences of a tree known as the “Survivor Tree”. This tree is at the new plaza for the World Trade Center.

This picture book is not for preschoolers but rather elementary school children. Children will want to know more about this day so be prepared with your answers. I like to emphasize the resiliency and strength of the people, city and our nation that was shown after the attack. This book is a must for your home library.  

 Fun Activity: Go to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum home page and watch the video on the Survivor Tree and complete the recommended activity.

https://www.911memorial.org/learn/youth-and-families/activities-home/survivor-tree-leaves 

Published In: 2021
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
Age Level: 6-12 Years
AR Level: 2.9
Pages: 48
Stars: 5

The Wall In the Middle of the Book by Jon Agee 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

The wall that is in the middle of the book protects the knight from the wild animals and ogre who live on the other side. He is convinced that the ogre would eat him if the wall was not there to protect him. Then one day the unthinkable happens, there is a flood with dangerous sea creatures on the knight’s side and to his astonishment the ogre saves him. The knight finds out that the other side of the wall is “fantastic”.

This book’s message is unmistakably “don’t judge a book by its cover”. Just because something looks scary it may not be, don’t make assumptions. The books humor will appeal to all preschoolers. My 5-year-old granddaughter wanted to read this one again on my next visit. I will be purchasing this book for both the great story and because it will be an easy read for her when she starts Kindergarten/ 1st grade.

Fun Activity: Take a sheet of paper with a wall drawn down the middle, have your child draw what they might be afraid of or scares them.

Published In: 2018
Publisher: Dial Books
Age Level: 4-8 years
AR Level: 1.7
Pages: 44
Stars: 5
Awards: ALA Notable Book

Mystery on Pine Lake by Tamra Wright 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

This children’s novel is a classic “whodunit” book.  A murder has not been committed, but somebody is trying to sabotage the loon’s nest on Pine Lake. Copper is a middle-schooler, whose parents own the campground on the lake. He and his friend Packrat are on a mission to find out who wants to harm the loons and why. Along with the detective story there is at the beginning of every chapter a cool fact about loons.

This is a great book for the outdoorsy child in your life. It is full of adventure, humor, and mystery. It manages to bring both a passion for conservation in nature with the realities of family life together in a seamless story. I will be getting the series of “Copper and Packrat” to share with all my grandchildren.

Relevant Information	Content Review
Published In: 2013	Profanity: None
Publisher: Islandport Press	Violence: Bullying
Age Level: 8-10 years	Sexual: None
ARLevel:4.4	Mature Themes: Death of a Loved One
Pages: 152
Stars: 5    Series: 5 Books

Belling the Tiger by Mary Stolz 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

All the mice living in a house by the seaside are called to a meeting to discuss the cat problem. July, the cat has been “reducing the ranks and making life miserable”. At the meeting two brothers, Bod and Ozzie, are chosen to put a bell collar around the cat’s neck. These two mice are the most cowardly of all the mice, but they are more afraid of the mouse leader than they are of the cat. The brothers accomplish the task of getting a bell collar but on the way home they are deterred by the cat. Bob and Ozzie end up on a ship headed to the jungle where the cats are a lot bigger.

This picture book is longer than most and many toddlers will not have the patience to sit through it. For older children the brothers are on an adventure that will keep the reader captivated. An easy read for elementary school students.

Fun Activity: With your child do a comparison on how house cats and tigers are both different and the same.

Published In: 1961
Publisher: Harper & Row
Age Level: 6-9 years
AR Level: 4.9
Pages: 32
Stars: 5
Awards: 1962 Newbery Honor

Ricky Ricotta'a Mighty Robot Series by Dav Pilkey 🟌🟌🟌

Dav Pilkey’s books are amazing and children around the world have enjoyed such series as Captain Underpants, Dog Man and Dumb Bunnies. However, the Ricky Ricotta series was a no go for my grandson and me. A mouse named Ricky has trouble making friends at school and the neighborhood kids are always bulling him. Through a series of events Ricky rescues a mighty robot who becomes his friend and protector. In the series Ricky and his Robot fight bad guys from various planets in our solar system. Currently there are 10 books in the series.

The series has a comic book feel to it with no more than two or three sentences per page which makes the books an easy read. New readers will feel a sense of accomplishment reading these books but should not look for any meaningful substance. My grandson age 7 at the time read 2 of these books and told me not to purchase any more. They did not hold his interest. The story line was not complex and honestly boring.  My version of these books was the black and white, so maybe the newer color publications would have made a difference. I know the illustrations would have been more dynamic. I would obtain these books from the library before making any purchases.

Fun Activity: Make a Robot from recycled materials. 

                                                                                    
The first in the series was Published in: 2014
Publisher: Scholastics Inc.
Age Level: 5-7 Years
AR Level: 2.9 – 4.1 (depending on the book)

Stars: 3