How To Catch A Clover Thief By Elise Parsley 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

Roy, a wild boar is waiting for his clover patch to bloom. Once it does, he can have a snack of sweet blooms. But before this can happen, his neighbor, Jarvis the gopher distracts Roy will all kinds of interesting books. While Roy is busy reading his books, Jarvis sneaks into the patch and steals all of Roy’s clover. Roy has an idea to get even by getting his own book “How to Catch a Clover Thief”. This book lays out a very elaborate contraption that will catch the clover thief and send him off into space on a rocket. The contraption reminds me of a “Rube Goldberg Machine”, and it is fun to go through all the steps with your child.

The book displays great illustrations along with engaging word presentation.  My grandchildren like all the Wup’s , Clonk’s, and more. It also shows young children that books can provide you with a wealth of knowledge. This book is a homerun and can be read again and again. It would be a great addition to any home library.

Fun Activities: Find out what a "Rube Goldberg Machine" is and build one. Look for a patch of clover in your neighborhood or local park. 

Published In: 2021
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Age Level: 4-8 years old
AR Level: 2.5
Pages: 40
Stars: 5

Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Solider by Jeff Gottesfeld

I have never been to the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, but this book made me want to hop in the car and visit Arlington Cemetery to pay my respects to the Unknown Soldier. The monument is dedicated to the dead US service members whose remains have never been identified. Families who have lost their son, daughter, or brother have a place to mourn. Twenty-One Steps tells how the Tomb came about, who it represents and the story of the sentinels that guard the monument. The book highlights dedication and service.

Twenty-One Steps is a great lesson in American history and the wars she fought. In addition, the book is awe-inspiring, moving and beautiful. It was very hard for me to read the book to my grandchildren without getting very emotional. In fact, the nine year old had to finish it for me because I could feel the tears starting to form. Twenty-one Steps is a picture book with great illustrations. It is a book that should be read to the elementary school crowd. My preschooler was having a hard time following the book. This is a great addition to any home library, and I give it 5 stars.

Fun Activities: Find out if there is a National Cemetery in your hometown, if so go visit it. On the internet look up Arlington Nation Cemetery: https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore/Tomb-of-the-Unknown-Soldier

Published In: 2021 

Publisher: Candlewick
Age Level: 7-10 years old
AR Level: 3.8
Pages: 32
Stars: 5

Dog In Charge by K.L. Going 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

My granddaughter and I really enjoyed reading this book. Both the illustrations and story were upbeat and energetic. The faces that Dog made were hilarious. We played a game of looking at the Dog pictures in the front of the book and trying to match it with his emotion.

When the Dog’s family goes to the store, Dog is left in charge of the house and its 5 cats. The cats get into all kinds of mischief and Dog tries to get them to stop by thinking he should offer them cat treats. But before he can give them the treats, he eats them all. Which makes him sleepy, and he takes a nap. While the dog is sleeping the cats clean up the mess they made. Not knowing this the Dog is worried that the family will be upset with him for the shambles the cats made but since the cats cleaning up everything for him all is well. My granddaughter thought this was a very funny book and asked for me to read it to her again. Which is always a good review.

Fun Activity: With your child make faces and have them guess what emotion you are trying to show.

Published In: 2012
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Reading Level: 2-5 years old
Pages: 40
Stars: 5

Wonder Walkers by Micha Archer

The illustrations in this book are amazing and the observations about nature are unique and thought provoking. As two siblings set out on a wonder walk, they ask the reader all kinds of questions about the outdoor world. The text is simple and straight forward but the answers to the questions are anything but that. The pictures in the book are created by the author using “oil and collage on paper she creates with homemade stamp and layered tissue paper”.

“Wonder Walker” is one of those books that adults might like more than children. I love the way the author takes simple natural wonders and turns them into practical things the world needs. My granddaughter listened to the book but once we finished it she was ready to move on. In my mind this is a book that needs to be taken on a hike and read when you are outdoors. “Wonder Walker” is a great addition to my home library. It is a 2022 Caldecott Honor Book.

Fun Activity: Take a hike at a state or city park and try to find some of the wonders mentioned in the book.

Published In: 2021
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Age Level: 3-7 years
AR Level: N/A
Pages: 32
Stars: 5
Award: 2022 Caldecott Honor Book

Something's Wrong! By Jory John 🟊🟊🟊🟊🟊

All children love stories about underwear. They are “hilarious” to quote my grandson. A Bear, named Jeff leaves his house and he knows something is “wrong”. As he walks through the woods, he lists all the things he did that morning thinking that he forgot a task. As Jeff greets his friends, they return the greeting as if everything is fine with Jeff. Once Jeff continues his walk, they all have the same question, “why is that Bear wearing underwear?” Finally, Anders, the rabbit tells Jeff he is walking around the forest in his underwear. By the end of the book wearing underwear, with no pants has become the new “style” and all the animals are doing it.

“Something’s Wrong!” teaches kids how true friend treat each other. They do not make fun of you for being different but rather accept you even if your fashion statement is a bit odd. The book also points out how friends help each other out of jams, like when you forget something.

My grandson liked this book. It was not at the top of his list, but he enjoyed the story. I felt it was a solid tale and the messaging was important. This book has a place in your home library especially if the reader likes books about animals.

Fun Activity: Take a walk in the woods and see what animals your can find.

Published In: 2021
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers
Age Level: 3-7 years
AR Level: 2.1
Pages: 40
Stars: 5

The Rainbow Hunters by Andrea Farotto 🟊🟊🟊🟊

A boy named Bill sets out on an adventure to find a rainbow. As he embarks on his journey, he runs into three of his friends who join him on his adventure. The last child to complete the group is a girl named Liz who in my mind is the smartest of the group because she knows there is treasure at the end of the rainbow. After many attempts to find the elusive “end of the rainbow” the children return home without any gold but instead with a treasure of a different kind, a new friend in the form of a dog.

The children are optimistic and adventuresome, they are not disappointed when they can’t find the treasure. I like the way each child adds something to the journey, a butterfly net, binoculars, a wagon and candy. They follow their quest with cheerfulness and no complaining. My grandchildren (age 9 and 5) enjoyed the story and listened intently. This is a great book to get from your local library.

Fun Activities: Next time it rains look for rainbows. You and your child draw a picture of a rainbow.

Published In: 2022
Publisher: Milky Way
Age Level: 3-7 years old
AR Level: N/A
Pages: 44
Stars: 4

Mouse Mess By Linnea Riley 🟌🟌🟌🟌🟌

I love this book; the rhymes actually make sense. My granddaughter giggled throughout the book. Once everybody is in bed for the night the mouse makes his way into the kitchen. He then proceeds to get out and eat all the foods he loves and leaves a great big mess. When he looks around the kitchen, he has the nerve to say, “These people need to clean their house”.

The simple story line will not hold the older kids’ interest but the 3 and under crowd will enjoy the book. The rhymes are easy to remember so that the non-reader can memorize them. The one-line per page makes this book perfect for the one last book before bedtime. It gets five stars from me.

Fun Activities: Create a mouse mess collage on a paper plate with pictures of a mouse and various foods from the book. Second idea is to have some of the mouses favorite snacks on hand to eat while reading the book.

Published:  1998
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Age Level: 2-5 years old
AR Level: 1.6
Stars: 5