Early Elementary – Page 12 – Sneak Peek Books

Sugar and Spice and Everything Mice

Like most mice, Mona, Millie, and Marcella saw winter as a time to burrow deep underground away from the cold outdoors. To their friend Lucy, winter is the best season of the year — a season that gives the most reasons for going outside. Winter means snowball fights, snow angels, and her favorite pastime, ice skating.

Lucy’s love for winter used to confuse Mona, Millie, and Marcella, but once she showed them how to ice skate, they quickly embraced winter. So goes the story of Mice Skating, a short and delightful picture book by Annie Silvestro. Its sequel, Sugar and Spice and Everything Mice, shows the four mice out in the snow, bundled in winter clothes, and gliding across a frozen pond together on their ice skates. Since the last book, the mice have become better skaters, and winter has become each mouse’s favorite time of the year. However, their fun is interrupted when a harsh storm forces the mice to stay underground for the day.

As Lucy prepares hot chocolate for her friends, she has an idea — this is a perfect opportunity to show her friends how grateful she is that they embraced winter. To give her friends something truly special means Lucy will have to teach herself a new skill — baking. But this skill is more difficult than she expects.

Sugar and Spice and Everything Mice is a warm and pleasant picture book that perfectly plays off the message of its predecessor. Whereas Mice Skating shows that moments spent alone can help you discover some of your favorite interests, Sugar and Spice and Everything Mice teaches readers that it’s okay to struggle with new activities and it’s smart to ask for help from friends. As Lucy tries and fails to bake a perfect meal for her friends, she repeatedly refuses their offers to help because she’s afraid of being seen as a failure. By the end of the story, she learns that everyone needs help sometimes, and learning to receive it is just as important as knowing how to offer it.

The book is a brief and easy read for younger readers, with about three to seven short sentences per page. While the writing itself is approachable for younger readers, Christee Curran-Bauer manages to perfectly convey the book’s story through her illustrations. Drawing simple characters and dressing them in several unique outfits to fit each moment of the story. For example, she draws beanies and scarves when they’re skating, blankets when they’re inside, and aprons when they’re baking. The mice are placed in carefully colored backgrounds. The walls of the burrow are covered in pleasant shades of brown, orange, and yellow, while the frozen pond outside is painted black to contrast with the snowy environment. Curran-Bauer visually translates the cozy, fuzzy feeling of Silvestro’s story.

If you enjoyed Mice Skating, you are sure to find the second adventure of Lucy and her friends just as charming. If this is the first book you will read about the four mice, it is sure to give you the same warm, blissful feeling. If you’re looking for more winter-themed books to snuggle up and read, A Loud Winter’s Nap by Katy Hudson and Fox Versus Winter by Corey R. Tabor are great options.

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Sprite’s Secret

Eight-year-old Violet didn’t expect to find a portal to the fairy world in her backyard. And she certainly didn’t think she would have to defend the human world from trickster pixies! With the help of her new fairy friend Sprite, Violet sets out to catch Pix, a lively fairy who just wants everybody to have fun – all the time. When Pix’s playfulness starts to cause serious trouble, it’s up to Violet and Sprite to put an end to his fun and send him back to the fairy world!

When Violet meets Sprite, her whole world changes. Instead of being a normal eight-year-old, Violet has to help Sprite trick the escaped fairies and send them back to the Otherworld. Violet is a likable character who worries about breaking rules. However, once she sees the dangers the fairies will cause, she jumps in to help Sprite. This gets her into some silly situations. For example, Sprite accidentally transports Violet to the mall, “right in the middle of the wishing fountain! She was standing knee-deep in water. A big statue of a fish squirted water on top of her head.”

Sprite is new at his job as a Royal Pixie Tricker, which adds suspense since readers never know what Sprite will accidentally do. Even though Sprite hasn’t learned all of the ways to stop fairy magic, Violet is patient with him and she never gets angry. Instead, she does everything in her power to help Sprite. For example, to keep Sprite safe, she hides him in her pocket.

Newly independent readers who love fairies and magic will enjoy Sprite’s Secret. The story uses easy-to-read text and a fast-paced plot with lots of fairy mischief. Black and white illustrations appear on every page, which will help readers visualize the characters and understand the plot. To help readers know when characters are under Pix’s spell, the characters’ eyes turn into swirls and they have silly facial expressions.

Sprite’s Secret is a fun story that will keep readers interested until the end. Readers will enjoy learning about the fairies’ magic and the different ways to break the fairies’ spells. Both Sprite and Violet are interesting characters who learn to work together to send the trouble-making fairies back to the Otherworld. While the story isn’t unique, readers will cheer when Sprite and Violet trick Pix and send him back to his world. Readers who love fairies and want to add a little magic to their lives will enjoy the Pixie Tricks Series.

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Pix throws balls at Sprite. “Sprite flew all around the yard, trying to dodge the balls. He looked exhausted.”
Pix goes to the city park and taps kids on the head, putting the kids under his spell. “Pix jumped up to pat Violet on the head. She swatted him away. When his feet touched the ground, he pushed Violet. She magically flew through the air and across the playground. She landed on the seesaw.”

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Fairies find their way into Violet’s world. One fairy, named Pix, loves to play. Pix traps Violet in a fairy ring when “he threw the dust into the air. The dust whirled around. It formed a big circle and then surrounded Violet.”
To break the fairy ring magic, Violet “quickly took off her hoodie and turned it inside out. Then she put it back on.”
Pix uses fairy dust to make a jump rope magically appear. “The rope was turning by itself!” When Sprite refuses to play, “Pix made the jump rope twirl like a lasso. . . Then Pix pulled Sprite to the ground.”

If Pix “taps you on the head. Then you’re under his spell. You’ll want to play with him all the time.” Even when it’s no longer fun, you cannot stop playing.
To get somewhere fast, Sprite blew pixie dust over himself and Violet. “Then she felt her body tingle like a million tiny feathers were tickling her skin. Then the lights faded and the tingling stopped.” Violent ends up in a water fountain at the mall.
A fairy named Hinky Pink can control the weather. He makes fog to keep Sprite and Violet from finding Pix. In order to break Hinky Pink’s spell, Violet and Sprite have to say his name backward. They say, “Kniop Yknih. Knip Yknih. Ynip Yknih.” Then “a strong wind came. It blew the fog away.”
To send Pix back to the fairy world, Sprite, and Violet trick him into doing work. “Suddenly, a cold wind kicked up. The wind blew all over the playground. . . The wind formed a tunnel in the air. Right behind Pix. The tunnel closed up. Then it disappeared. Pix was gone!’
Hinky Pink makes a cloud over Violet’s head. “Cold raindrops fell from the cloud.”

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Tyrannosaurus Rex vs. Velociraptor

What would happen if a Tyrannosaurus rex and a velociraptor met each other? What if they had a fight? Who do you think would win?

Even though Tyrannosaurus Rex vs. Velociraptor ends with a battle scene between the two dinosaurs, the book also has several pages discussing fossils as well as the reasons dinosaurs may have become extinct. Throughout the book, interesting facts are included such as “a newborn T. rex skeleton has never been discovered. Maybe you will be the person who unearths it.” Each page has large pictures as well as fun facts including dino trivia, gross facts, and definitions. For example, one gross fact is “A raptor’s arms and hands seem perfect for a dinosaur that is an aggressive hunter—quick, long, and strong. A raptor could easily rip apart its prey.”

The nonfiction reader is packed full of interesting information about the two bear species. The book also has two pages devoted to funny bear stories. Similar to a picture book, each page has a full-page illustration. With 6 to 11 simple sentences per page, Tyrannosaurus Rex vs. Velociraptor is accessible to most readers. However, younger readers may need help with some of the vocabulary such as excavation, articulated, paleontologist, and proportionally.

Tyrannosaurus Rex vs. Velociraptor fun format will appeal to most readers. Each two-page spread has large illustrations and explains the characteristics of each bear. Readers may be surprised by the ending battle the T. Rex dies. However, the text also explains why the outcome could have been different.

The box is jam-packed with interesting facts, photos, and illustrations. The nonfiction text will spark reader’s attention as it teaches readers about dinosaurs. To learn more about dinosaurs, read about famous fossil hunters in Barnum Brown Dinosaur Hunter by David Sheldon and The Dog that Dug for Dinosaurs by Shirley Raye Redmond. Dinosaur-loving readers would also enjoy these fictional books: the Dino Files Series by Stacy McAnulty and Don’t Disturb the Dinosaurs by Ada Hopper. 

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One illustration shows a T. Rex eating a smaller dinosaur. The illustration shows some blood.
The end battle between the T. rex and the raptor is illustrated and includes some blood. While fighting, “the raptor slices the T. rex with its sickles. The angry R. rex bucks, and the raptor gets flung into the air. . .” The raptor calls to its pack and the pack appears. “The raptor pack slashes and cuts the T. rex. It’s over The T. rex crashes to the ground. . .” The fight is illustrated over six pages.

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Rocket Says Speak Up!

When Rocket finds out that her town’s library is closing, she knows something must be done. Inspired by the activism of Rosa Parks, Rocket rallies support from her peers, and together they lead a peaceful protest that spreads awareness and raises enough money to save their beloved library.

The story begins with Rocket explaining why she loves the library. She also talks about reading a book about Rosa Parks and gives a brief description of Rosa’s famous protest. Because of Rosa, Rocket decides to help the library by having a peaceful protest. However, Rocket doesn’t act alone. Instead, she gathers students, teachers, parents, and the librarian to all “get prepared and spread the word.”

After the protest, Rocket feels discouraged and wonders “What was the point?” But then the mayor shows up and explains that “people around the world were inspired by our protest, and lots of them have given money to save the library.” While the positive outcome of the protest may feel unrealistic, young readers will learn that their voice matters.

Even though Rocket Says Speak Up! is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for a child to read it for the first time independently. Most pages contain one to four sentences, and some of the sentences are complex. The picture book’s bright illustrations are full of fun details. Readers will enjoy looking for Rocket’s cat, who appears on many of the pages. Another positive aspect is that scenes of the library and school show a diverse group of children, including one who is in a wheelchair.

Rocket Says Speak Up! shows the importance of libraries and encourages readers to spend time at their local library. The book also includes many interesting facts about libraries and encourages children to check out different types of books. To further foster a love of learning at the library, Bunny’s Book Club by Annie Silvestro is the perfect book to read after Rocket Says Speak Up!

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Hot Rod Hamster and the Wacky Whatever Race!

Hot Rod Hamster LOVES to drive superfast. And today he’s building a box car from scratch to race downhill in the Wacky Whatever Race. He needs to pick out a box, wheels, and a paint color for his car. Can you help him?

With the same bouncing rhythms, fun choice rhymes, and daredevil antics that made the picture book so popular, this original Level 2 reader will be a sturdy stepping-stone for Hot Rod Hamster fans as well as series newcomers as they move on to independent reading. The years Cynthia Lord spent as a first-grade teacher have given her the perfect sense of what language and storylines work best for emerging readers. This new adventure skillfully emphasizes word families and rhyming structures with pedal-to-the-metal flare!

Join Hot Rod Hamster as he builds his race car with help from his friends, Dog, and three mice. To keep readers engaged, they are asked to help Hot Rod Hamster decide what items he should use to build his race car. For example, which type of box should be used—a big box, a long box, a tall box, or a small box? Which would you choose?

On the day of the exciting race, Hot Rod Hamster’s car starts to slow down. Young readers will love how the creative hamster finds a way to stay in the race.

To make the story accessible to young readers, the story uses simple sentences and illustrations on every page. Each page has a large illustration that uses primary colors. Humor is added through the characters’ facial expressions. Hot Rod Hamster’s three mice friends also appear on every page. Even though they’re small, they help build the car and cheer for Hot Rod Hamster as he runs the race.

Hot Rod Hamster will win the hearts of young readers as he races to the finish line. The fast-paced story teaches readers about shapes, sizes, and colors in a way that makes learning fun. Young readers will be eager to read all of the books in the Hot Rod Hamster Series. For more hamster fun, check out Pets on the Loose! by Victoria Jamieson and Max & Mo Make a Snowman by Patricia Lakin.

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Snow Day!

The brother and sister from Pumpkin Day have woken up to a winter wonderland—it’s a snow day! Read along as they engage in their favorite winter activities with their neighborhood friends on their day off from school. The kids go sledding, build a fort, and have a snowball fight. Then best of all, the siblings and their friends cuddle up to sip hot cocoa. The next day, the siblings happily return to school.

Snow Day! is intended for children who know the alphabet and are eager to begin reading. With large text, easy words, and full-page pictures on every page, Snow Day! is a quick story to read. Each page has two to seven words that are used in easy-to-read sentences.

Younger readers will enjoy the story and the cute illustrations that fill every page. The unnamed siblings create a fun winter wonderland to explore. The kids find “fluffy bushes [that] look like sheep. They follow “bear tracks” and discover they really belong to a boy. The siblings stay outside and play until their hands are freezing and their noses are cold. After the plows come and push the snow away, the illustration shows smiling children getting on the school bus the next day.

This story is perfect for preschool and kindergarten readers who are ready to learn to read. Parents will enjoy reading the story aloud, especially because it’s such a quick read. Readers will enjoy looking at the pictures that bring the winter landscape to life. After reading Snow Day!, younger readers may want to snuggle up with cocoa and read another snow-related book such as Max & Mo Make a Snowman by Patricia Lakin and A Loud Winter’s Nap by Katy Hudson.

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Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen

Eight-year-old Jasmine Toguchi is a flamingo fan, tree climber, and top-notch mess-maker!

She’s also tired of her big sister, Sophie, always getting to do things first. For once, Jasmine wishes SHE could do something before Sophie—something special, something different. The New Year approaches, and as the Toguchi family gathers in Los Angeles to celebrate, Jasmine is jealous that her sister gets to help roll mochi balls by hand with the women. Her mom says that Jasmine is still too young to join in, so Jasmine hatches a plan to help the men pound the mochi rice instead. Surely her sister has never done THAT before.

But pounding mochi is traditionally reserved for boys. And the mochi hammer is heavier than it looks. Can Jasmine build her case and her mochi-making muscles in time for New Year’s Day?

Jasmine is determined to prove that she is strong enough to pound mochi. To achieve her wish, she devises some unique and silly ways to get more muscles. However, Jasmine will also need to convince her family to break tradition — after all, pounding mochi is only for boys who are ten years or older. While Jasmine appeals to her father, he doesn’t give her a quick answer. Instead, before making his decision, he consults with the other family members to obtain their approval. In the end, Jasmine discovers that pounding mochi takes a lot of strength and hard work. She’s disappointed that she was only able to lift the heavy hammer one time. Despite this, Jasmine’s family showers her with praise because “you’re the first under-ten-year-old and the first girl to pound mochi in our family.”

The story is suitable for fluent readers who are ready for a book with multiple plotlines. Black and white illustrations appear every two to three pages, showing Jasmine’s daily life. Many of the illustrations depict the characters’ facial expressions, which will help readers understand their emotions. Another positive aspect of the story is that difficult words are explained within the text. For example, Jasmine explains that her mom is an editor. “An editor reads other people’s work and fixes the words.” For more fun, the back of the book has a recipe for microwave mochi. Although Jasmine Toguchi is a series, the books do not need to be read in order because each book focuses on a distinct storyline.

Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen is an entertaining chapter book that teaches the importance of controlling one’s emotions. For instance, Jasmine has a cousin named Eddie, who often teases her. To control her anger, Jasmine uses a counting strategy that works…most of the time. Jasmine can do this because her family members have taught her healthy communication skills.

Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen will encourage readers to work towards a goal — even those that seem unlikely to happen. Because the story focuses on Jasmine, young readers will feel as if they have made a new friend. Readers will also adore Jasmine’s spunky attitude and understand her determination to do something before her sister. In the end, Jasmine is an admirable character not because she has muscles, but because, “You’re strong. . . You believe in something and you don’t let anyone change your mind.”

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When Eddie makes fun of Jasmine, she “forgot to count to ten again. My foot flew out from under me and kicked the ball. Smack! It pounded Eddie in the back.” Afterwards, Eddie leaves the room.

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Jasmine’s cousin Eddie is mean to her. He calls her “Jasmine Pee” and says she’s a weakling.
When Jasmine ignores Eddie, he asks, “Are you so dumb you can’t make conversation?”

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The Miracle of the First Poinsettia

It is la Noche Buena, Christmas Eve, and soon festivities will be taking place in the mountain village that is Juanita’s home. But as she wanders through the colorful marketplace, Juanita feels lonely and sad. This year, her father is out of work, and their family has no pesos for parties or gifts. How can she enter the church for midnight mass with nothing—not even the tiniest present—to give to the baby Christ Child?

As her family prepares for the holiday, Juanita is embarrassed that she doesn’t have a gift to present to the baby Christ Child. However, when an angel statue speaks to Juanita, the young girl trusts the angel and plucks the weeds from around the statue. At first, Juanita was “frightened and confused. She wondered how she could bring such plain weeds to the Baby Jesus.” However, Juanita follows the angel’s instructions and takes the weeds into the church. As Juanita walks down the aisle, the weeds miraculously turn into poinsettia flowers, which today grow in abundance in Mexico.

The Miracle of the First Poinsettia explains the story behind the first Poinsettia. Each illustration uses the dark red tone of the flower to bring traditional Old-World Mexico to life. Even though the illustrations are enchanting, young readers will have a difficult time sitting still through the entire story. Because of the text-heavy pages, which have up to 15 complex sentences, parents will need to read the book to their children. To highlight Mexican culture, Spanish words are used within the text. Each Spanish word appears in italics and a glossary appears at the back of the book to aid non-Spanish speakers.

The Miracle of the First Poinsettia is a beautiful story about the wonder of Christmas. At first, Juanita focuses on the gift-giving traditions. Even though Juanita does not have a gift to give, her mother reminds her, “Ah, mi hija, you give gifts all the time. You gave your galletas to your brothers. You sang songs for Papá. You bring such joy. To us, you are a gift!” Through her difficulties, Juanita learns that “a gift from the heart is the best gift of all.”

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The story focuses on the Christmas season and the miracle of the first poinsettia.

Mice Skating

Like most mice, Mona, Millie, and Marcella are no fans of winter. During these cold months, they dig a burrow for themselves deep underground to keep warm until spring. Their friend Lucy is not like most mice. Winter is her favorite time of year. She spends these days outside, making snow angels, snow mice, and catching snowflakes with her tongue. When she returns to the burrow with dripping fur and snow-covered paws, her friends are none too pleased.

Mona, Millie, and Marcella do not understand the appeal of winter, but this hasn’t stopped Lucy from trying to sway them. She has made snow cones for her friends and gifted them giant icicles from outside. Once, she even brought in heaps of snow for an indoor snowball fight. Hard as Lucy tries, each attempt always ends the same. Her friends stay averse to winter, and Lucy continues to play outside alone.

One day, after slipping on a patch of ice, Lucy discovers a new activity – ice skating! Crafting a pair of ice skates from pine needles, Lucy commits to the new hobby. No matter how many times she slips or loses balance, she is determined to keep trying until she gets it right. It doesn’t take long for Mona, Millie, and Marcella to notice that Lucy is spending less time pestering them and more time by herself outside. Has Lucy finally given up on convincing them? Or has she found a winter activity that all her friends can enjoy?

Mice Skating is a fun and cheerful picture book that will show young readers the many ways that they can enjoy winter. The story also shows spending time alone and spending time with friends can be equally rewarding. With one to seven short sentences per page, Mice Skating is an easy read. Teagan White’s illustrations give the book a distinct warmth, placing modern, streamlined characters in desaturated vignette drawings to give the book a nostalgic and timeless feel. These illustrations will be particularly fun for the many detail-oriented readers, who will enjoy the many background gags that White hides in every other page (among these gags, you will find that cases of cheese are hung about the burrow as decorations, while bits of litter serve as the mice’s furniture and kitchen supplies).

If you are looking for a funny and clever story to entertain young readers this winter season, Mice Skating is the book for you. If you enjoy this book, make sure to check out its sequel, Sugar and Spice and Everything Mice, where a snowstorm forces Lucy to adapt to life indoors. For more ice-skating fun, check out Tallulah’s Ice Skates by Marilyn Singer.

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Amy’s Very Merry Christmas

It’s holiday time in the ninth book of the Critter Club Series, and Amy is especially excited for Christmas. Her dad and soon-to-be stepmom and stepsister are visiting. Plus, there are some adorable guinea pigs at the Critter Club. But amidst the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations, Amy notices that her neighbor Ms. Sullivan seems lonely. Though Ms. Sullivan assures Amy that she will have a lovely holiday with her dog Rufus, Amy begins to wonder if there’s something she can do to cheer up Ms. Sullivan.

As Christmas Eve nears, the Critter Club girls still have not found families to adopt the guinea pigs. But then, in a Christmas miracle, each guinea pig gets a home. And come Christmas Day, Amy has devised a great plan to give Ms. Sullivan some cheer—and some company—on Christmas!

In Amy’s Very Merry Christmas, Amy notices Ms. Sullivan is lonely because she will be spending the holiday alone. To spread holiday cheer, Amy makes Ms. Sullivan’s favorite cookies to give Ms. Sullivan on Christmas day. This simple gesture shows that the holidays aren’t about expensive gifts, but about spending time with the people you care about.

Amy’s Very Merry Christmas will get beginning readers into the holiday spirit. The Critter Club Series has many positive aspects including characters who are friendly, helpful, and considerate. With her friends’ help, Amy makes gifts for animals in the shelter and hosts a holiday party to find a family to adopt the guinea pigs. For the holidays, instead of buying gifts, the girls use their creativity to make gifts that will warm their friends’ and families’ hearts. For example, for Chanukah, Marion gives her mom and dad coupons that they can cash in for chores.

With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, The Critter Club chapter books are perfect for beginning readers. Each page has three to nine sentences that use simple vocabulary. Besides being adorably cute, the illustrations will help beginning readers visualize the characters and understand the plot. Animal-loving readers will enjoy finding all the animals that are featured—dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and even a horse.

The Critter Club Series has relatable characters who display positive behaviors such as helping animals. Each book can be read as a standalone and with 25+ books in the series, readers can pick and choose the books that most interest them. Strong readers who want more animal adventures can take a trip to the zoo by reading The Messy Meerkat by Amelia Cobb.

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The Christmas Witch: An Italian Legend

Belifna spent her time cleaning and sweeping and singing. But the people in her town thought her singing was awful and the kids in her town thought she looked like a witch. One night, Belifna saw a strange new star. Next, she saw a procession of travelers. The travelers stopped and three kings asked Belifna to join the group who were traveling to welcome the newborn Christ Child. Belfina was afraid to go without gifts, so she went into her house and closed the door.

Belifna kept thinking about the star, but when she went to look for it, she couldn’t find it. On the first Christmas, Belfina missed her chance to go to Bethlehem. Now, each year, the good Christmas Witch leaves cookies and gifts at the homes of sleeping children. For even now, Belfina is still hoping to find the Christ Child.

The Christmas Witch introduces an Italian legend that explains why children receive gifts on Christmas Eve. Belfina’s story will instantly captivate young readers, who will relate to Belfina’s fear of leaving home. Even though the story revolves around the birth of Christ, the story mostly focuses on Belfina’s missed chance to meet the Christ Child. The Christmas Witch is a fun story that shows how different cultures explain the Christmas gift-giving tradition.

The Christmas Witch is perfect for early independent readers and for parents looking to read a book aloud. Each page has large illustrations that are similar to watercolors. Plus, readers will have fun finding Belfina’s cat which appears on almost every page. The story uses simple vocabulary words with two to five sentences per page which makes it accessible to early readers.

The Italian legend is an interesting retelling that shows how an old woman became the Christmas Witch. The Christmas Witch can be used to start a conversation with your child about different cultural beliefs as well as the true meaning of Christmas. Readers interested in more Christmas-themed books should read Mortimer’s Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson and The Little Reindeer by Nicola Killen.

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The story retells the story of the first Christmas. When Belfina looks for the dazzling new star, she sees “the sky filled with a shower of heavenly lights. And a choir of angels sang. . . Joy to the world!”

The Christmas Tree Who Loved Trains

In a far-off corner of a tree farm, beside a train track, sits a solitary pine. There are no other trees to keep this pine tree company. The noisy rumbling of each passing train scares squirrels from climbing onto the tree’s branches and birds from nesting there. But this tree doesn’t mind.

Having grown up beside the train track, the pine tree loves the trains. They are the only company she needs. One morning, a little boy visits the farm looking for a Christmas tree. To the pine’s surprise, the boy picks her. Before the pine tree knows it, she is dug out from the ground and taken to the boy’s house, where she is placed in a dark and cramped corner of the living room. Will being separated from the trains be too much for the tree? Or will she find something new with the boy and his family?

The Christmas Tree Who Loved Trains is a charming and heartfelt story for readers who celebrate the holiday, as well as for anyone who has to adjust to a big change in their life. With one to eight short sentences per page, younger readers should have little trouble enjoying the book.

Annie Silvestro’s writing manages the near-impossible task of getting readers to empathize with a faceless pine tree. Illustrator Paola Zakimi gives readers a closer understanding of the tree with drawings that visualize the tree’s feelings towards the events of the story. For example, each train emerges from a majestic, mysterious fog. The train and track are drawn with meticulous detail, while the field of trees behind the pine tree fades into a smaller, muted background. Meanwhile, the living room corner is drawn as dark and dull, with faded colors and shadowy backgrounds. As the tree warms up to the family and their house, the drawings of the room become increasingly brighter and colorful.

In The Christmas Tree Who Loved Trains, readers of all ages will find a sweet and sincere story about adjusting to change and embracing your unique traits and interests. Readers who celebrate Christmas are sure to relate to the tree’s growing admiration for the holiday, and all readers are likely to find comfort in the tree’s story. If you are looking for a warm read this winter, The Christmas Tree Who Loved Trains may be the book for you.

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Spiritual Content 

Although the book is a celebration of Christmas, it does not define the holiday as a strictly spiritual one. Instead, Christmas is portrayed as a day for being together with the ones you love.

Merry Fish-mas

It’s almost Fish-mas in Kittentail Cove and the purrmaids can’t wait for Santa Paws to arrive! When Coral’s younger brother, Shrimp asks her to mail his letter to Santa Paws, Coral is happy to help! But then the day gets busy and the post office closes early and. . . will Santa Paws still bring presents if he doesn’t get Shrimp’s letter? With some help from her friends, Coral will do whatever it takes to give Shrimp the Merriest Fish-mas ever!

Merry Fish-mas adds holiday sparkle and a lot of friendship fun to create a fin-tastic chapter book that young readers will adore. In this holiday-themed story, Coral is excited to celebrate her favorite holiday—Fish-mas. However, the festivities don’t stop Coral from worrying about making the holiday perfect. When Coral isn’t able to deliver Shrimp’s letter to Santa Paws, Coral is sure that the holiday will be ruined. However, the holly jolly conclusion shows that Fish-mas magic does exist.

Merry Fish-mas is perfect for readers ready to read chapter books. The story has easy vocabulary, short sentences, and cute black-and-white illustrations approximately every three pages. Younger readers will enjoy the cat puns that appear often, such as when Coral thinks, “This has not been a very Meow-y Fish-mas.” This series will keep readers entertained with ten books that can be read in any order.

While young readers will fall in love with the cute characters in the Purrmaids Series, parents will appreciate the characters’ kindness, the positive adult role models, and the life lessons that appear in each book. In Merry Fish-mas, Coral and her friends go to many traditional holiday events. But the true gift of the book is that Coral realizes Fish-mas isn’t about gifts. When Coral is disappointed in herself for not delivering Shrimp’s letter, Papa says, “You tried to do something nice for someone you love. You did your best to spread Fish-mas spirit. That’s what Fish-mas is really about.” To sweeten up the holidays, readers can find more holiday cheer and kind characters in Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light by Apryl Stott and the Diary of an Ice Princess Series by Christina Soontornvat.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

None

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content

None

How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah?

Even during the holidays, little dinosaurs sometimes misbehave. It’s tempting to peek at brightly wrapped presents, snatch a dreidel, or grab all the gelt!

Children and their parents will laugh at this playful glimpse at some mischievous antics as the family gathers and fresh latkes are served. But when mama comes in with the holiday lights, it’s time to share a special tradition. How do dinosaurs celebrate Chanukah? With an abundance of love, joy, memories, and gratitude.

Children will fall in love with each mischievous dinosaur that appears in brightly colored full-page illustrations. Each two-page spread has one sentence printed in large font. Plus, the short rhyming lines add to the playful nature of the picture book.

The first half of the book focuses on the dinosaurs’ naughty behavior by asking a question: “Does he peek at the presents stashed under Dad’s bed?” The dinosaurs’ naughty behavior includes one dinosaur who is sneaking off with the gelt and “squeezing the candy coins till they all melt.” Readers will giggle at the family’s funny facial expressions, which show their dismay.

The second part of the book uses the same brightly colored illustrations to show how the dinosaurs actually act during the holiday. Instead of misbehaving, a dinosaur sings “the holiday prayer, takes turns with the dreidel, remembers to share,” and other good behavior. Throughout the book, the menorah often shines in the window. While the story highlights the holiday traditions, readers unfamiliar with the holiday will not understand some of the terms such as dreidel, latkes, and gelt.

How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah? uses silly dinosaurs to show the importance of acting properly during the eight days of Chanukah. While the story doesn’t explain the meaning behind the traditions, readers familiar with the holiday will enjoy the unique perspective that shows the joy of the Chanukah season. Hoppy Hanukkah! by Linda Glaser is another fun picture book that introduces readers to Jewish customs.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

None

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content

The book highlights the traditions of Chanukah.

Saving the Sun Dragon

Drake and his fellow Dragon Masters are back in the second installment of the Dragon Masters Series. This book follows Dragon Master Ana and her sun dragon Kepri. One day, after witnessing another mysterious magic red orb in the castle, Kepri falls ill. In order to save Kepri, Ana decides to take Kepri to their home. Ana and the Dragon Masters make many discoveries as they journey to Ana’s home, see the pyramids, and fight off a band of thieves, making for an action-packed story!

The first book in the series, Rise of the Earth Dragon, set up some key plots that are revisited and expanded upon in this book, like the red orbs and King Roland’s unusual obsession with dragons. For instance, the Dragon Masters learn from Griffith and his friend, a fellow wizard named Diego, that the magic red orbs likely come from the evil wizard Maldred. This links the books together and builds tension. West ties up loose ends from book one while still leaving enough inquiry to pique young readers’ interests. However, because the plots build on each other, the books should be read in order.

The Dragon Master Series bases the characters on common fantasy stereotypes. The Kingdom of Bracken draws information from King Arthur’s England, and in many respects, Griffith is similar to the famed sorcerer Merlin. Likewise, Saving the Sun Dragon follows Ana and her dragon Kepri. This explains their backstories and gives each character more definition. Ana and another Dragon Master, Bo, are the two non-white Dragon Masters. Ana’s background is clearly based on Egypt and shows the pyramids and a desert. These basic cultural differences are not very creative and are typical of the fantasy genre, but young children will find the different landscapes and people interesting.

Regardless of the backstories, the Dragon Masters still exhibit empathy for each other and for the dragons as they try to figure out the dragons’ magic powers. In addition, they continue to grow as friends. For instance, Ana and Drake both note that when Kepri meets her twin dragon, Kepri is suddenly renewed with energy. The Dragon Masters see Kepri’s struggles and admit that they also miss their own families much like Kepri, and this allows for them to become even better friends. Although the characters come from different places, they are friends and understand each other’s struggles.

Saving the Sun Dragon is a solid continuation to the Dragon Masters Series. The story continues to unpack the mystery of this fantastical world, and young readers will enjoy the excitement and adventure that West unpacks. The black-and-white illustrations by Graham Howells are fun and help convey the whimsical nature of the world and feature on nearly every page. Young readers will find themselves liking the characters even more as they learn about them. Readers will discover that adventures are wonderful, and homesickness is normal. In addition, the book shows that there are plenty of adventures to experience, but you should never forget your roots.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

The Dragon Masters reunite with their Sun Dragon, Kepri, with her Moon Dragon, Wati, when a group of robbers burst into the pyramid and attack. “Wati quickly sprang into action. He shot a black beam of light from his mouth. The beam hit the first robber in the chest and knocked him down.”
During the fight sequence, an arrow is shot at Kepri, and Ana “jumped in the path of the arrow. . . but before [Drake] could reach her, the arrow stopped in midair—inches from Ana’s face.” It is revealed that Worm used his mind powers to stop the arrow. Worm then destroys all the robber’s weapons.

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

None

Supernatural

Ana and the other Dragon Masters live in the Kingdom of Bracken, and they all have their own dragons and can use magic. They are being taught this magic by the king’s wizard, Griffith, who consistently references the magical entity known as the Dragon Stone. This item presumably gives the dragons and the Dragon Masters their powers.
Griffith the wizard does magic from time to time. For instance, the fire dragon, Vulcan, sets fire to things on occasion. In these situations, Griffith “pointed his finger at the fire. Water flowed from his fingertip, and the flames went out.”
Kepri the Sun Dragon falls ill. Her Dragon Master, Ana, feeds her a magical “healing potion” hoping to make her better. This does not work. Kepri is healed when she is reunited with her Moon Dragon, as she is a Sun Dragon.
Each of the Dragon Masters has a piece of the Dragon Stone around their neck. When Drake’s stone glows, he can mentally communicate with his dragon, Worm. The other Dragon Masters cannot do this magic. Drake’s dream is described: “He dreamed of rivers and big tombs shaped like triangles. Then the desert sky turned green. Drake woke up. The green Dragon Stone around his neck was glowing brightly . . . Then he heard Worm’s voice inside his mind. Come now!”

Worm helps the Dragon Masters teleport. “Worm’s body began to glow. Drake wasn’t sure why, but he knew just what he had to do. He put one hand on Worm’s snout and one hand on Kepri’s tail. [The Dragon Masters] all laid their hands on Worm.” From there, they disappear in an exploding green light.
Ana’s piece of the Dragon Stone glows, and she hears Kepri’s voice in her head. Ana says, “Kepri wants to come back to be with her brother one day, just like I want to come back to my family. But until then, she wants to stay with me in the kingdom of Bracken.”

Spiritual Content

None

A Fairy’s Gift

No one believes in fairies more than the Never Girls—Kate, Mia, Lainey, and Gabby. The four best friends can visit Never Land anytime and have adventures with Tinker Bell and the rest of the fairies.

But eventually, most people grow up and forget about fairies. And fairies need people—especially children—to believe in them. Without belief, a fairy’s magic cannot exist.

When the girls find out that widespread disbelief is threatening the fairies, they must find a way to make their families and neighbors believe again—and save the magic of Pixie Hollow. But how can they convince people to believe in something they cannot see?

Grab a cup of hot chocolate and curl up with a copy of A Fairy’s Gift, the perfect book to get you into the holiday spirit. When Mia’s cousin, Angie, visits for the holidays, Mia is surprised that her fairy-loving cousin no longer believes fairies are real. The fairies need all the Never Girls’ help, but Mia is spending all her time doing grown-up stuff with Angie. Soon, the other Never Girls wonder if Mia has caught the Disbelief as well!

Two of the fairies join the Never Girls in the Clumsies’ world and learn about the magic of winter—snowball fights, hot chocolate, and toy donations. While the joy of the holidays is apparent, the fairies’ plight adds suspense and increases the worry about Mia’s grown-up behavior. Nevertheless, Mia’s absence allows Gabby, the youngest of the girls, to shine. Gabby is determined to help children believe in fairies, and her optimism is contagious. The happy conclusion will leave readers believing in both Christmas magic and fairy magic.

The chapter book has ten short chapters. While the short chapters and illustrations make the story accessible to readers, younger readers may need help with the vocabulary. Each page has a festive red border to add more holiday cheer. Cute black and white illustrations appear on every one to four pages, which helps bring the fairy magic to life. Plus, the illustrations will help readers visualize the story’s plot.

A Fairy’s Gift is a fun holiday read that will remind readers that the holidays aren’t about gifts, but about spending time with family and believing in magic. Readers who want to cuddle up with a good book with holiday cheer should also check out these picture books: Bear Stays Up for Christmas and Mortimer’s Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

During a snowball fight, a fairy gets hit. “The snowball knocked the fairy clean out of the air. She landed headfirst in the snow. . .” The fairy is not hurt, but she “looked a bit stunned.”
One of the fairies goes around and pinches people. The pinch feels like a sting.
When the magic of Prilla, one of the fairies, starts to fade, she couldn’t fly as fast and a hawk “caught her. It tore her wing—she was lucky to get away.”

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

None

Supernatural

Prilla can travel to the Clumsies’ world when she blinks.
To stay strong, fairy magic needs children’s belief. Prilla helps “children believe in magic. And in turn, children’s belief is what keeps fairy magic alive.”
When the fairies’ magic begins to fade, Prilla explains that “Every time a child stops believing in fairies, a fairy’s magic fades. Usually more children come along to keep the balance.” When too many children stop believing, the fairies lose their magic and their ability to fly.

Spiritual Content

None

Race to the North Pole

Splashing through the snow, Wally and the puppy pirates have landed at the North Pole. They want to win the Great Ice Race because the prize is the greatest treasure of all—and every pirate loves treasure! They’re going to need a sled, a fast team of runners, and a little help from their magical new friend, Mrs. C.

Race to the North Pole is packed full of new sights that blend the Candy Land game with Christmas. The illustrations of gingerbread people, narwhals, and Mrs. Claus will fill readers with wonder. As the dogs race, they must solve riddles in order to earn another piece of the map. As the puppy pirates try to guess the answer, a dog always has a comic answer that is given before the correct answer is revealed, which adds humor. While the puppy pirates don’t win the race, they learn some valuable lessons along the way.

At first, Captain Red Beard is totally focused on himself. He says, “Doing Christmas right means giving . . . your dear ol’ captain the right gifts. This season is all about me getting exactly what I want. And what I want is to win that shiny, sparkly treasure!” By the end of the story, Captain Red Beard learns that the treasure isn’t gold or jewels but sharing “the joy of the season.” Wally also demonstrates the joy of giving when he makes a gift for his best friend, Henry.

While Race to the North Pole focuses on Christmas, the story also shows the importance of working together. During the race, the pirates meet Frosty, a North Pole husky, who “went out of your way to help our visitors.” Frosty emulates kindness and goodwill. In the process, Frosty makes new friends and eventually joins the crew of the Salty Bone. This development will leave readers cheering for the new crew member and wondering what will happen next.

Race to the North Pole and all the Puppy Pirate books will entertain readers while teaching important life lessons. The black and white illustrations will help readers understand the plot; plus, they are adorably cute! The large illustrations appear every three to seven pages. Even though the book is packed full of dog sledding language, readers will not become confused because all the dog sledding terminology is explained as a natural extension of the story.

Race to the North Pole is sure to make readers merry with its unique story that allows Mrs. Claus and the puppy pirates to shine. For added fun, the end of the book includes directions on how to draw a puppy pirate, a secret message from Mrs. C, and how to make a present delivery race game. If you’re still looking for more pirate fun, yo ho ho, you don’t need to walk to plank—you’ll find more treasure when reading Captain Bling’s Christmas Plunder by Rebecca Colby and Stinky Spike the Pirate Dog by Peter Meisel.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

None

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

Captain Red Beard says a harness “feels icky-poo on my fur.”

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content

None

Otters Love to Play

On the edge of a river sits a neat pile of sticks, leaves, and grass. Last year, this was a beaver lodge, but now, in spring, it has become the home of a new family of otters! Inside this otter den, a mother otter feeds her three newborn pups (the pups’ father, readers will learn, is chased away by the mother after the pups are born). Readers will follow the mother otter as she shows the pups how to swim, hunt for fish, and perhaps the most important lesson for an otter pup – how to play!

Written by the author of Froggy and nature-lover Jonathan London, Otters Love to Play is a quick and straightforward book that educates readers on the early lives of otters. While readers may already know that otters live in dens and hunt for fish, they may be surprised to learn that the species’ powerful tails and waterproof fur allow them to swim faster than Olympic swimmers! Each page features the otters learning something new – from walking to swimming. With each new thing the pups learn, the reader also learns a fact about the otters which are at the bottom of every other page. For example, while the story shows how fiercely protective otter mothers are of their pups, a note at the bottom of the page explains how adult otters can run up to eighteen miles an hour on snow, making them intimidating forces to predators.

Otters Love to Play is brought to life by the illustrations of Meilo So. Throughout the book, readers witness the pups as they experience each season for the first time. So’s beautiful mix of colors gives life and variety to each season. Pages set in spring are painted with beautiful swabs of pink and purple skies, filling the reader with the same wonder felt by the pups, while pages set in winter are made with harsh whites and grays, sharing the idea of brutal climates and perilous conditions endangering the pups. All these illustrations are brightened by So’s adorable drawings of the otters, which are sure to delight readers of all ages.

Even though Otters Love to Play is intended for younger readers, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. As part of the Read and Wonder Series, Otters Love to Play introduces readers to natural history and fascinating facts that show how wonderful the natural world is. If you are looking for a book that educates young readers on a fascinating species while also providing plenty of fun and cute moments, Otters Love to Play is an excellent choice. Readers who love the ocean should jump in and read Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Ice-Cold Birthday

A seven-year-old girl is excited about having a birthday party, but she’s a little worried because she often has bad luck. When the day of her party arrives, it starts out great! But then, it starts to snow and snow and snow. Then the electricity goes out and no one can come to her party. “No cake. No party. No fun. Just an ice-cold birthday!”

But her mom brings out ice cream and cookies. Then the girl makes shadow puppets with her sister. When the girl opens her present and finds a brand-new sled, she realizes the snow isn’t all bad luck because there is plenty of snow for sledding. The girl expected her birthday to be awful, but then she realizes, “Lucky for me, it snowed! . . .Maybe I don’t have such bad luck after all.”

The level 2 book is perfect for readers in preschool and grade one. However, the topic will still appeal to readers who are in higher grades. Each page has a large illustration that will help readers understand the plot. Each page also has two to six easy-to-read sentences. The mix of illustrations, simple sentences, and the highly suspenseful plot will have readers eager to finish the story.

Ice-Cold Birthday is surprisingly suspenseful. From the first page, readers will wonder what other bad luck will happen to the unnamed girl. Readers will understand the girl’s excitement about her upcoming birthday party and her disappointment when the party is snowed out. With her family’s help, the girl has a fun-filled night that highlights how a positive attitude can make bad luck turn into good luck.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

None

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content

None

Thanksgiving on Thursday

With each step, orange leaves crunch, and the smell of roasted turkey seeps into the living room. Paper-hand turkeys cover the fridge and the taste of pumpkin pie warms the heart. There are so many amazing traditions that come with Thanksgiving. Now, where did these traditions come from? Jack and Annie travel to Plymouth in 1621 to experience the first Thanksgiving and find out.

When Jack and Annie arrive, they are dressed in outfits that look just like the other settlers. Annie wears a long dress with an apron and Jack wears trousers with stockings. They silently try to make their way to the village, but Jack gets caught in a trap. With all the commotion, the settlers and Squanto, a member of the Wampanoag tribe, spot the siblings.

Jack and Annie are interesting and likable characters. Jack’s fearsome nature compliments Annie’s brave and headstrong attitude. This is shown even more with the black and white illustrations. For example, when Jack grabs an eel, his facial expression shows his fear. The siblings both use words like “sure” and “oh brother!” which gives them more personality.

When reading Thanksgiving on Thursday, children will learn about the Pilgrims’ journey on the Mayflower as well as how Squanto and other Native Americans helped the Pilgrims survive. The author incorporates facts about the first Thanksgiving into a fun adventure. For example, “Squanto showed the Pilgrims a way to catch eels. He showed them how to push the eels out of the wet sand with their bare feet, then grab them with their hands.”

While much of the story is fictional, the book includes historical figures like Squanto and Priscilla. Priscilla is one of the most notable Pilgrims from the Mayflower and she becomes a guide for Jack and Annie’s adventure. Squanto was also helpful to the kids. He taught them that, although someone may look different or come from a different place, they should still be treated kindly. Squanto not only tells them this but shows by example. Although Squanto does not know who Jack and Annie are or where they truly came from, he still welcomes them to the feast.

Proficient readers who are ready for chapter books will enjoy Thanksgiving on Thursday’s fast-paced plot. There is large text and black-and-white illustrations every two to seven pages, which makes the story accessible to young readers. The large, detailed illustrations also help to bring the characters to life. In addition, readers will see the characters in action, such as when Jack drops the turkey. Even though Thanksgiving on Thursday is part of a series, the books do not need to be read in order. However, readers will enjoy discovering the other quests that Jack and Annie go on.

Follow Jack and Annie on an exciting adventure in 1621 while they experience the first Thanksgiving. After reading Thanksgiving on Thursday, readers will be ready for pumpkin pie, but, most importantly, they will learn why Thanksgiving is monumental. Readers who want to learn more about Thanksgiving can read the following non-fiction books: The Magic Tree House Fact Tracker: Pilgrims by Mary Pope Osborne and What W as the First Thanksgiving? by Joan Holub.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

There is mention of the family and friends who traveled on the Mayflower and died from disease and were “cold and hungry.”

Drugs and Alcohol 

Squanto smokes a pipe with the other men.

Language 

When Jack makes a mistake, Priscilla laughs. He blushes and thinks, “Priscilla must think I’m an idiot.”

Supernatural

Jack and Annie have a magic tree house that allows them to travel to the past.

Spiritual Content 

Pilgrims wanted to travel to America because “the people on board [the Mayflower] wanted freedom of religion. They wanted to worship God in their own way– not the way the king of England made them.”
Children are important to the settlers because “children are a gift from God.”
Priscilla explains the awful winter the people had faced due to the harsh weather. She says, “And now, God be praised, we had a good harvest, and we have peace with our neighbors.”

Pilgrims

After Jack and Annie’s feast in Magic Tree House #27: Thanksgiving on Thursday, the pair was still hungry for more information about the Pilgrims’ history. When they go to the library to research, they are flooded with stories, illustrations, and facts that help them better understand life in the 1600s. Pilgrims gives readers more information about the history by introducing readers to historical figures such as William Bradford, the governor who led the Pilgrims, along with familiar faces like Squanto and Priscilla Alden. By reading Pilgrims, readers can follow Jack and Annie as they find the deeper meaning of Thanksgiving.

The non-fiction story follows the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe from the first meeting to the first Thanksgiving feast. There are many connections between Pilgrims and Thanksgiving on Thursday. For example, in Thanksgiving on Thursday Jack and Annie learn how Squanto helped the Pilgrims grow crops by using rotting fish. Pilgrims goes into more detail about this as well as the other actions Squanto did to help them. On the other hand, Squanto lies about the Pilgrims to create tension which causes the two groups’ problems.

The first couple of chapters explain the impact religion had on the people leaving England as well as their many months on the Mayflower. Black-and-white illustrations appear on almost every page and include historical people and places as well as props to reenact scenes and show examples. One of the illustrations gives an inside look at the Mayflower, which helps the reader better understand the close quarters the Pilgrims lived in for months. Illustrations also show the clothing that both the Native Americans and Pilgrims wore. Along with the illustrations, there are many pictures of historical people.

Pilgrims is packed with information that is easily digestible for young readers. There are many tools to help a young audience follow along. For example, each chapter is broken into small sections that give historical information. Plus, the illustrations break up text into much smaller pieces and some pages only have an image. The tribe’s name, Wampanoag, is explained. “Today we know them as the Wampanoag (wahm-puh-NO-ag) Nation. This means ‘People of the First Light’ or ‘People of the East.’ They were hunters, gatherers, farmers, and fishermen.” Also, complicated words like “Patuxet”, and “moccasins” are sounded out, (puh-TUX-it) and (MOCK-uh-sinz), and explained to expand vocabulary. Readers will find it interesting to learn the difference between the original Thanksgiving meal versus today’s Thanksgiving meal, and they will find humor in the faces Jack makes when he tries the unsweetened cranberry sauce.

Pilgrims presents nonfiction information in a way that will engage young readers. Adults can use Pilgrims as a conversation starter because the Pilgrims’ journey was not only the start of a holiday with delicious food but also the start of a nation. The book is perfect for readers who are interested in doing research because the author includes the best way to research Pilgrims as well as more resources such as books, videos, and museums. Pilgrims is packed full of historical information that is fun to read. Whether it is for research or for fun, reading Pilgrims will delight those who love Thanksgiving. Readers who are interested in learning more about the Pilgrims’ journey should also read The Voyage of the Mayflower by Allison Lassieur. Those who are ready to jump into another imaginative story based on the Mayflower should add Mayflower Treasure Hunt by Ron Roy to their must-read list.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

A section of the book is titled “Cruel Treatment” which describes some ways the Pilgrims and native people treated each other. “Sometimes the strangers [Pilgrims] treated the Native People badly. They shot at them without reason. They stole their corn and furs. Sometimes they even captured them and sold them into slavery.” There is also non-physical cruelty explained too. “Too often, Native People died from diseases the newcomers brought…Their bodies had no way to fight the new infections. Whole villages were wiped out. Later more settlers arrive. They forced the Native People from their lands. Farms and towns grew where native villages once stood.”

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

The term “Separatists” is explained and sometimes used to describe the individuals who “separated for the Church of England.” This group took the trip on the Mayflower because they wanted the freedom of religion and “the Separatists wanted to worship their own way.”

The Mayflower Compact explains how the Pilgrims governed themselves during their time on the Mayflower. The compact said, “The people were united in their belief in God.”
Once the Mayflower reached land, the individuals on board “felt their prayers had been answered. They fell to their knees and gave thanks.”
After Squanto helps the pilgrims, “they were so grateful to him, they called him ‘an instrument of God.’”
The first Thanksgiving is described as, “a harvest festival. The 50 surviving Pilgrims met to praise God for their good fortune.”
A section is titled “Church” and explains that many of the Pilgrims came on the Mayflower to “worship as they wished.” Also, it is revealed there was no physical Church, only a room, and Sunday was a day no one worked or played but rested.

Marion and the Girls’ Getaway

Marion plans a perfect girls’ weekend for her friends—with a surprise appearance from a snow bunny!—in the twentieth book of The Critter Club Series.

Marion has planned the ultimate girls’ getaway. There will be skiing, a trip to the spa, and of course, hot chocolate! What Marion didn’t plan was a snow bunny sighting! As members of the Critter Club, she and her friends are so excited to find the most adorable bunnies. But when Marion’s kitten, Ollie, scares the bunnies away, Marion scolds him. That’s when she notices he’s been acting a little strange the whole time. What’s wrong with Ollie? And will the girls get to see the bunnies again?

Marion is a considerate friend who plans a weekend full of snowy fun. As Marion plans the trip, she finds activities that each girl would enjoy, even though that meant that the girls were not always together in a single group. However, while planning the trip, Marion needs to find out if her friends know how to ski. In order to do this, Marion “fibbed. She figured a little lie wouldn’t hurt, since she was about to tell her friends the truth!” Because of this, parents may want to talk to their little reader about when it’s okay to keep something a secret, and when it’s not.

The story has a slow start because the plot focuses on Marion’s planning stage. During an outdoor activity, the girls see some cute white rabbits and the curious girls use a wildlife guide to learn more about them. When Ollie refuses to come out of his cat carrier, the girls decide to stay inside so they can take turns sitting next to him, which makes Ollie feel comfortable and safe to come out of his carrier. While the girls have a fun weekend, reading about their adventures isn’t very exciting. However, fans of the series will still enjoy this winter-themed story.

The Critter Club Series is perfect for animal-loving readers. The story uses easy-to-read language in large font. In order to break up the text, large illustrations appear on almost every page. The black and white illustrations use bubbles to show the girls’ thoughts and bring the winter wonderland to life. Plus, Ollie and the bunnies are super cute. The Critter Club chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.

Sexual Content 

None

Violence 

None

Drugs and Alcohol 

None

Language 

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content 

None

Tallulah’s Toe Shoes

Tallulah is back in ballet class and now she wants to go en pointe—to dance up on the tips of her toes in pink satin toe shoes, like a real ballerina. But going en pointe is not good for growing feet, and her ballet teacher says her feet aren’t ready yet. “Oh, yes, they are,” Tallulah thinks. “And so am I.” Not only is she ready, but she is also determined. And nothing stops Tallulah when her mind is made up!

When Tallulah sees the Lilac Fairy throw away her toe shoes, Tallulah sneaks them out of the trash. Once she’s home, she tries to stand on pointe, but she “didn’t look much like the Lilac Fairy. She looked more like a rat.” Tallulah asks her brother, Beckett, to help her by pretending to be a prince. With Beckett’s help, Tallulah is able to stand on pointe, but afterwards her toes are “hot and red.” Tallulah doesn’t think she will able to be able to dance on pointe, but with a little encouragement from the Lilac Fairy, Tallulah realizes that even though she can’t dance on pointe today, someday she will get her own toe shoes and will be able to dance on pointe.

Tallulah’s Toe Shoes highlights Tallulah’s desire to be able to dance on pointe like the older ballet students. Throughout the story, Tallulah uses her imagination, which comes to life as part of the illustrations. In this installment of the Tallulah Series, Beckett plays a larger role which adds cuteness to the story and shows that boys can also love ballet. Another positive aspect of the illustrations is that the other students in Tallulah’s ballet class have different skin tones and the class includes a boy.

Tallulah’s Toe Shoes will appeal to readers who are interested in dance; in class, Tallulah learns different types of positions that are illustrated in the front and back of the book. In order to help readers distinguish the narration from Tallulah’s thoughts, her thoughts are written in large, bold letters. Since each page has two to seven sentences, parents will need to read the picture book to their kids.

The Tallulah picture book series is a wonderful series that will appeal to many young readers, especially those who dream of becoming a ballerina. Tallulah is a likable protagonist with a relatable conflict, and even though Tallulah doesn’t get her pointe shoes, she learns the importance of patience and hard work. Tallulah’s dance dilemma comes to life in beautiful illustrations that show Tallulah’s wide range of emotions. The illustrations show several scenes of dancers performing Sleeping Beauty, which adds a fairytale quality to the book. Tallulah’s Toe Shoes will delight young readers and have them imagining themselves as beautiful ballerinas.

Sexual Content

None

Violence

None

Drugs and Alcohol

None

Language

None

Supernatural

None

Spiritual Content

None

What If You Had an Animal Tail!?

What if, one morning, you got out of bed to find that you had grown an animal’s tail overnight? What if you now had the tail of a spider monkey, allowing you to swing through trees? What if you had a crocodile tail, allowing you to swim at Olympic speed? These are some of the possibilities shown in What If You Had an Animal Tail!?

In What If You Had an Animal Tail!?, Markle invites young readers to picture their lives with the tails of different animals, from the extravagant peacocks to the deadly scorpions. Each page is dedicated to the tail of a different animal and describes each tail’s unique abilities. Readers will explore how the animal’s tail would help them in their lives. For example, South African ground squirrels use their big, bushy tails to shade themselves in hot temperatures. If readers had these tails, they could forget about ever needing an umbrella, as they would already have one attached to their body! Each description is brief and informative; however, each two-page spread has seven to eight complex sentences that beginning readers will need an adult to read aloud to them.

The full-page illustrations, drawn by Howard McWilliam, provide each example with funny, exaggerated drawings of children enjoying their new animal tails. While one child uses his thresher shark tail to hit home runs, another uses her giraffe tail as her own paintbrush. The illustrations are an excellent companion to the book’s educational content, creating a unique non-fiction book that will educate and engage the reader’s imagination. What If You Had an Animal Tail!? gives readers a lot of animal information in an engaging format with illustrated examples of how animal tails would play into their daily lives.

Sexual Content 