The Red Thread: An Adoption Fairy Tale

"There is an ancient Chinese belief that an invisible, unbreakable red thread connects all those who are destined to be together." This is the beginning of a very beautiful story: The Red Thread: An Adoption Fairy Tale by Grace Lin.

Even though I did not adopt, I do have a foster daughter and have felt the tug of a red thread.  Children are precious and this story beautifully describes the love felt within an adoptive family.  A good bedtime story for all children, no matter where they came from.

Favorite line:  (Besides the first line listed above.)  They knew they were very lucky. 

Draw Me a Star

Draw Me a Star by Eric Carle is a beautifully draw story about a star and an artist.  It all starts with the simple request to draw me a star.  After that each item requests a new drawing anywhere from a house to a cat to the night and a moon. 

I picked this book up because a co-worker made a comment about one of the drawings.  Knowing it was Eric Carle, the beloved author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, I was intrigued.  The story was good, but the artwork was better, but the personal letter at the end was the best. 

Favorite line: I do not have a line.  I have a picture.  It is the picture in the middle of the book with no words, just everything the artist was asked to draw - a rainbow, a house, people, animals, and butterflies. 

Have I Got a Book for You!

Think about every commercial and infomercial you have ever seen in your entire life.  Did some of them make you chuckle?  If so, you will love this cheesy commercial for a book in Have I Got a Book for You! by Melanie Watt.  I giggled my way through this very entertaining book.

Our salesman in this book tries every trick out there to get you to buy this book.  He uses customer reviews, buy this get this free, and my personal favorite - before and after pictures!  (Be sure to read the fine print though.)

Favorite line: Well, this is your lucky day, my friend!!!  (Read like the old car salesmen that would shout into the TV.)

Vacation's Over! Return of the Dinosaurs

I wanted to read this book last week, but so many other goods ones were calling my name.  But that's okay since this seems to be a better week to remind students everywhere that Christmas vacation is truly over! 

Vacation's Over! Return of the Dinosaurs by Joe Kulka is another great dinosaur book.  Based on the premise that dinosaurs never went extinct; they just went on vacation.  The cruise is over and now it is time to return home.  I won't tell you just how well that goes.  I'll leave it to you to read and find out what all happens.

Favorite line(s):  Staring out at the rain forest, a dinosaur just sighs.  His lawn grew way out of control with weeds that reach the sky.

Fancy Nancy Puppy Party

For all the girls out there I give you: Fancy Nancy Puppy Party written by Jane O'Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser and Carolyn Bracken.   I really wasn't sure what to expect when I read this book.  I haven't read any of the other Fancy Nancy books in the series, but I'm not sure if I want to read any more either.

The illustrations are very colorful and detailed. They definitely play up the theme of a very girlie little girl.  The story is good, but I'm not sure I liked the way Nancy explained all her fancy words.  (Kinda felt a little insulted.)  I know that it is suppose to be part of Nancy's personality and all that, but still...

Overall, I do get why some girls will like Fancy Nancy.  However, I am not one of them.  (Just another reason I am glad I have boys.  We get to play with bugs and dinosaurs instead of ribbons and jewelry.)

Favorite line: I am almost positive she's barking in French.

Blackout

Today we got a little more snow.  So what do I do?  I grab a book about summertime!  Blackout by John Rocco is a beautifully illustrated story about what one family does when the lights go out.  This book gently re-enforces the idea that time spent together as a family is time well spent. 

In this book, the words are few, letting the pictures do most of the talking.  So, finding a favorite line is a little hard, but I do believe I found one.

Favorite line:  And then... the lights went out.

Open This Little Book

This is a cute book!  I loved it.  Open This Little Book byJesse Klausmeier and illustrated by Suzy Lee is about the little books that each animal opens and reads.  The physical layout of the book is the most impressive part.  So, instead of trying to describe it in words, I will do the one thing I hoped never to do in this blog - show the inside of the book.

Isn't that cool?  As the reader, you open each animals little book and read the story inside!  Genius!

Favorite line:  The last line in the book.  (Which you will have to read for yourself.)

Truck Stop

 

Truck Stop by Anne Rockwell and illustrated by Melissa Iwai chronicles the morning activities of a local truck stop.  Even though the pictures are bright and colorful, the story is a little bland making this less than a favorite book for me. 

The most interesting part of the book was all the different trucks.  The way every truck and its driver is introduced and named reminded me of Bob the Builder.  And because of that, I think some little boys might like this book.

Favorite line:  Green Gus is the old green pickup that rattles and clanks as it rolls - but always gets there. 

Ding Dong! Gorilla!

Have you ever had a gorilla show up at your front door?  No? Really?  Well then, you better read Ding Dong! Gorilla! by Michelle Robinson and illustrated by Leonie Lord to find out just how much mischief one gorilla can make.

It all starts with a pizza and some bad news.  You see, when the doorbell rang and the little boy answered it, there was a gorilla standing outside instead of the pizza boy.  And well, as you might guess, gorillas like to play and are not necessarily neat. 

I really enjoyed this book and after reading it, wonder if a gorilla hasn't shown up at my doorstep once or twice.  Definitely a good read for families with boys.

Favorite line:  By now the gorilla was getting really hungry.  I was a bit scared, but he wasn't interested in me. 

Math Potatoes

Okay, I read the title of this book as it came across the circulation desk and immediately started singing to myself, "One potato, two potato, three potato, four..."  However the poems in this book go far beyond simple counting rhymes.  Math Potatoes by Greg Tang and illustrated by Harry Briggs is filled with challenging mental math problems.

There are many really cool math books that are picture books.  This is one of the better ones for older students.  The pages are filled with opportunities to stretch the readers computational skills not just with adding and subtracting, but also with multiplying and dividing.  Oh, and forget needing to find some scratch paper.  All the problems can and should be solved in your head.

If you enjoy these poem problems, be sure to check out Greg Tang's other books in this series.  I know this math geek will be reading the rest of them.

Favorite line: Oh, what tangled webs we weave, when flies and bugs we do deceive.

Once Upon A Cool Motorcycle Dude

Once Upon A Cool Motorcycle Dude written and illustrated by Kevin O'Malley and illustrated by Carol Heyer, and illustrated by Scott Goto has everything a good fairy tale needs (minus the evil step-mother).   It's got a princess, a giant, a motorcycle dude, spun gold, an epic battle, and of course everyone lives happily ever after.

Not only is this a cool fairy tale, but it is an excellent example of cooperative storytelling.  Two kids are assigned to tell their favorite fairy tale and since they couldn't agree on one, they made one up.  The new fairy tale offers both a girl's perspective and a boy's perspective on what makes a fairy tale great.   I totally loved the final product!

Favorite line:Favorite lines (one for the boy and one for the girl): 
     Boy:  Please...don't call him Buttercup.  Call him Ralph or something.
     Girl:  Volcanoes? Where'd the volcanoes come from?

I Don't Want a Cool Cat!

 

This is a really cool book for animal lovers especially cat lovers.  I Don't Want a Cool Cat! by Emma Dodd is about a little girl's description of the not-so-perfect cat.  The simple illustrations compliment the simple text beautifully.

Cats are the most uniquely wonderful and infuriating animals on the planet.  They definitely have a mind of their own and so care must be taken in order to find the right one.  I think that's why I like this book.  The little girl in the story knows exactly what kind of cat she wants and is able to describe it perfectly.    

Favorite line:  Or a slinky, dinky, twinky cat.

Bear's New Friend

Bear's New Friend by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jane Chapman is a cute story for very young readers.  The illustrations are bright and colorful, filled with the greens of spring and the story rhymes and repeats as most stories written for the very young.

In Bear's New Friend, Bear hears a sound and wonders who it could be.  His friends join him as he searches for the source and together they soon find a new friend.  If you enjoy Bear, be sure to check out Karma Wilson's other books about Bear and his woodland friends. 

Favorite line: Come look if you dare!

One

I picked up this book at the library because it is a 2014 Monarch Award Nominee and looked like a cool counting book.  It is sooooo much more! 

One by Kathryn Otoshi is a beautifully illustrated story about self worth.  The water-color illustrations are simple and meaningful.  The words paint a picture full of emotion that go well beyond teaching colors and numbers.  It is one of those rare books that can be read and enjoyed by a preschooler one day and used as a teaching tool in a junior high class room the next. 

Favorite line:  But One stood up straight like an arrow and said, "No."

In honor of the snow storm followed by a polar vortex I bring you Snow Day! by Lester L. Laminack and illustrated by Adam Gustavson.  Yes, yes, all the parents out there are groaning about having a snow day or two added onto the already too long Christmas break.  But for everyone who ever, at any point in their life, wished for a snow day, this is the book for you.

Just imagine it.  No alarm clock ringing.  Staying in your PJ's.  Sipping hot chocolate while snuggling under a blanket.  Building snowmen, snow forts, and lots of snow balls,  Sounding good yet?  Who doesn't want a snow day? Who needs a snow day? You will have to read the this highly entertaining book to find out how this snow day goes.

Favorite line:  Okay I can't share my favorite line without giving away the ending of the book.  So instead I'll tell you it is the last two sentences before the last page.  If you want to guess or think you know, send me a message and I'll tell you if you're right. 

Mommy's New Tattoo: a bedtime story for people

Mommy's New Tattoo: a bedtime story for people by Levi Greenacres is an unusual children's book.  I'm not sure what I was expecting when I picked up this book, but the artwork is colorful and reminiscent of tattoos and the story is a rhyming narrative about the authors first time in a tattoo parlor. 

I will say that even though it is not my first choice in a book to read to my children, it did have a good message for kids about choices.  The author talks about the fact that tattoos are permanent and the decision to get one should be made carefully.  In fact, the authors message is my favorite line.

Favorite Line: Whether or not your decisions leave a scar behind you'll always be the happiest making up your own mind.

 

Skippyjon Jones in Mummy Trouble

After watching it snow all day and knowing that tomorrow will probably be the coldest day of my life, I thought it would be fun to visit Egypt with my favorite Siamese kitty boy.  And of course Skippyjon Jones didn't disappoint.

In Skippyjon Jones in Mummy Trouble by Judy Schachner, Skippyjon goes on another adventure with his Chimichangos pack through his closet and into the Under Mundo.  This time his adventure is filled with a Great Finx, some peas, and three sneaky goddesses.  And no story would be complete without a few songs along the way.  (My students loved to clap along to the songs.)  So, if your looking for a bouncing good time, pick up this or any other of the kitty boy's books.

Favorite line: "Not to the underwear!" exclaimed Skippito.

Dino-Wrestling

Dino-Wrestling by Lisa Wheeler and illustrated by Barry Gott was great!  Having two teenage boys, I have read, and enjoyed, many dinosaur themed books.  This one ranks right up there with best of them.  It had everything little boys (and their moms) like: rhyming, dinosaurs, wrestling, and a set of mischievous twins.

Okay, so there is not much of a traditional conflict/resolution plot. Although there are a lot of great wrestling moves.  The author has creatively described different wrestling styles while entertaining an active dino-sized imagination.  

Favorite line: Well, I don't have a favorite line.  I have a favorite picture this time. At the end of the sumo wrestling match is a picture of the security dino staring down at the pterodactyl twins dressed in a sumo wrestling outfit.  (Not sure what it is called.)  The twins look just like my boys when they were being mischievous. 

P.S. If you like this one, check out the rest of Lisa Wheeler's sports themed dino books.

A Squirrel's Story

Today's book is a new true story written from the perspective of a mother squirrel.  The story was a little long for young readers, but very interesting.  Having spent years watching, yelling, and even shaking my head at the squirrels in my yard, it was cool to read a story written by someone who loves squirrels. 

A Squirrel's Story: A True Tale by Jana Bommersbach and illustrated by Jeff Yesh is the creative retelling of events that took place in Rudy and Willie Bommersbach's backyard.  I really enjoyed having the narrator be a squirrel instead of a human.  It was reminiscent of Diary of a Worm by Dorene Cronin.  Being a realistic story also means that it is full of good information about squirrels and their habits. (Like I always wondered how squirrels remembered where they buried all those nuts.)  At the end of the book are several ideas for parents and teachers to take kids beyond the story.

Overall, this is a great book for a classroom or someone who loves leaning about animals.

Favorite line: "Start acting like a squirrel."

The Library Dragon

This year I am going to read a picture book a day and then write about it here.  Hopefully, by the end of the year, I will have a list of some really great children's books.  The first book is this blogs namesake: The Library Dragon by Carmen Agra Deedy and illustrated by Michael P. White.

Miss Lotta Scales is the new school librarian at Sunrise Elementary.  She replaces all the old, yucky books with new ones.  The problem is she doesn't want the children to mess up her pretty, new books.  So, she works to protect these books from the kids in the school forgetting that, "the Library belongs to the children."  That is until one girl finds a way to remind Miss Lotta Scales that children belong in the library. 

This is a witty story full of medieval play on words.  The illustrations enhance the story filling in all the extra details.  I loved this book because of the story line, the dragon, and the illustrations.  I have worked as a teacher and now work at a public library.  The desire to keep all the pretty, new books looking pretty is hard to balance with the excitement of sharing a cool, new story with a young person. 

So, this blog is dedicated to all those Library Dragons out there.  It's time to share the books.

Favorite Line: But then, every librarian needs to be a little bit of a dragon - or else, who would guard the books?