Snowballs by Lois Ehlert 🟊🟊🟊🟊

Everybody loves a snowman and, the book, “Snowballs” shows kids some very creative ways to build one. My granddaughter and I reviewed all the members of the snow family, and we discussed what made each one unique. The story may be lacking but the illustrations make up for it. They are colorful, crisp and vivid. Another great book by Lois Ehlert. 

Published In: 1995
Publisher: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
Age Level: 2-5 years
AR Level: 1.3
Pages: 36
Stars: 4

Sarah. Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

Anna and Caleb’s father, a widower, is looking for a wife. The Wittings live on the prairie in the late 19th century. Papa has put an advertisement in the newspaper and Sara Elisabeth Wheaton from Maine has agreed to visit the prairie family. Sarah arrives by train and writes to Papa that she “will wear a yellow bonnet. I am plain and tall.” As Sarah develops a relationship with the family they question if she will stay? Or does she miss the sea so much that she returns to Maine?

“Sarah, Plain and Tall” is a classic children’s book. The writing style of this historical fiction is simple and easy to read. The story is told from the point of view of Anna and Caleb. It is heartbreaking to read how much the children want Sarah to stay with them. They want both a mother and a wife for Papa so the family will sing again. This tender story is a must for the grandchildren.

Published In: Harper Trophy
Published:1987
Age Level: 8-10 years
AR Level: 3.4
Pages: 58
Stars: 5
Series: Sarah, Plain and Tall – 5 Books in the Series
Awards: 1986 Newbery Medal & 1986 O’Dell Award

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