Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

This is a classic children’s book, about the inchworm that measures the birds, tail, neck, beak, legs and body. The inchworm provides his talents so that the birds of the forest will not eat him. The last bird, a nightingale, asks him to measure his song. How will the inchworm outsmart this bird? All my grandchildren have loved this book, and I recommend it for all toddlers

 

Published In: 1962
Publisher: William Morrow & Company Inc.
Age Level: 2-5 years
AR Level: 1.8
Pages: 32
Stars: 5
Awards: Caldecott Honor

Mister Max The Book of Lost Things by Cynthia Voigt 🟒🟒🟒🟒🟒

Max’s parents are actors who have been offer the job of a lifetime in India. Max and his parents live in England and when Max misses the boat that was to take them to India he is separated from them. As the days pass, he does not hear from his parents, and he is left to fend for himself. Max must find a way to support himself. After finding a runaway child in the neighborhood Max becomes a finder of lost things. He turns his newfound talent into a business and starts to earn money. While still trying to figure out what happened to his parents.

Max is a wonderful character who is full of courage and guts. He has all the appropriate response you would expect from a 13-year-old boy. The mystery around his parents’ disappearance and the way he tackles each job of finding lost things is engaging. I will be getting the series of Mister Max books for my grandchildren.

Relevant Information	Content Review
Published In: 2013	Profanity: None
Publisher: Knopf	Violence: None
Age Level: 8-12 years	Sexual: None
AR Level: 5.8	Mature Themes: None
Pages: 367
Stars: 5

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