Pretend by Jennifer Plecas 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

An adventure starts when Jimmy asks his father to pretend “that this couch is a big boat and that we are floating in the ocean”. Using their imagination father and son take off on a journey that becomes the “best time ever”. This is a wonderful book for both children that have a wild imagination and for those that need a bit of encouragement. Maybe even Mom and Dad could pick up a few pointers on how to build an imaginary world. “Pretend” is a great addition to your home library. 

Published In: 2011
Publisher: Philomel Books
Age Level: 3-7 years
AR Level: 2.2
Pages: 32
Stars: 5

My Teacher is a Monster! By Peter Brown 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

Bobby has a problem, his teacher is a monster. Ms. Kirby stomps her feet, roars at the class, will not let the kids throw paper airplanes and she calls him Robert not Bobby. Then one Saturday morning they accidently run into one another at the park. As the morning wears on Booby and Ms. Kirby find out that they like to do some of the same things. By the end of the book Bobby and Ms. Kirby are glad they ran into each other.

“My Teacher Is a Monster “is a fun book. It brings a smile to your face when reading it with your child. All of us have had the experience of running into somebody outside of the normal environment when suddenly, they become a totally different person. My granddaughter enjoyed the book and I recommend it especially to those children that think they have a mean teacher.

Fun Activities: Make a paper airplane with your child or go to the Peter Brown website to find a packet of activities:
https://www.peterbrownstudio.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/TeacherMonster_kit.pdf

Published In: 2014
Publisher: Little, Brown & Co.
Age Level: 3-9 years
AR Level: 1.7
Pages: 40
Stars: 5

The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher by Molly Bang

 The Grey Lady loves strawberries and so does the Strawberry Snatcher. Throughout this wordless picture book, the Snatcher tries to steal her strawberries. He stalks her in town, follows her while riding the bus and then creeps into the woods behind her. The Grey Lady eventually evades the Snatcher, and he finds out that blackberries are just as delicious as strawberries. I thought the book was clever and fun to “read” but my 3-year-old granddaughter was not impressed. She said the book was “scary”. Make sure that the child you read this book to does not get frightened easily. 

Published In: 1981
Publisher: Aladdin
Age Level:  2-5 years
AR Level: N/A
Pages: 48
Stars: 4
Awards: Caldecott Honor

 

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

Angela's Glacier by Jordon Scott 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

Angela’s Glacier is a book that reminds both adults and children how important it is to go outside and communicate with nature. Whether it is a walk in the woods, wading in a stream or visiting a glacier, the outdoors is a place to work out your worries. Both my 10- and 6-year-old grandchildren enjoyed this book. They related to Angela’s busy life and how good it felt for her to take a break from all the activities. After we finished the book, both children wanted to know more about glaciers. Highly recommend. 

Published In: 2024
Publisher: Neal Porter Books
Age Level:  4-8 years
AR Level: N/A
Pages: 32
Stars: 5

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

“The Little Engine That Could’ was one of my favorite books as a child. The idea that once you set your mind to something and you worked at it, you could then make it happen gave me confidence in myself. A train engine carrying toys and good things to eat for the boys and girls on the other side of the mountain breaks down. The toys traveling on the train stop 3 engines passing by, asking them for help so the train can get to its destination. All three of these engines think they are too good to pull the small train. Finally, a small blue engine helps the train but has trouble climbing the steep mountain. She says over and over to herself “I think I can – I think I can” until she makes it over the mountain. 

The book sends two important life lessons: always help other in need and never give up. The three engines all had excuses for not helping the small train instead of giving assistance. The small blue engine used her positive thinking and motivation to keep her going up the mountain to deliver all the toys and good food to eat to the boys and girls. “The Little Engine That Could” may not be my granddaughter’s favorite book but she enjoyed the story and will read it again with Nana.

Fun Activities; Make an egg carton train engine or using construction paper shapes make a train. The internet has examples of both these activities.

Published In: 1930
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Age Level: 1-4 years
AR Level: 3.5
Pages: 48
Stars: 5

Red & Green by Lois Ehlert 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

This book is a new twist on a classic story, “The Night Before Christmas”. The story is told from the mouse’s perspective and describes to the reader all the things he sees in the house on that very special night. I loved the die-cut pages, they made the book fun and interactive. This book is a great addition to your collection of holiday books.

 Fun Activity: Have your child pretend to be a mouse and have them tell you what things he/she would find to write about. Published In: 2023

Publisher: Beach Lane Books
Age Level:  1-8 years
AR Level: N/A
Pages: 40
Stars: 5