Reading Level: Early Elementary

If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don’t!

An alligator for show-and-tell sounds like tons of fun. What could possibly go wrong?

Magnolia wants to impress her classmates with the best show-and-tell item: an alligator. The other kids bring ordinary objects like a birds nest, a sparkly rock, and a hollow stick. While these things aren’t as exciting as an alligator, they also don’t try to eat anyone.

If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don’t! is full of funny alligator actions. The best parts of the book are the facial expressions of the teacher, the alligator, and Magnolia. Readers will be able to see Magnolia’s excitement change to frustration as the alligator causes mischief. Her frustration then turns to dismay when the alligator tries to snack on a student. The ending is appropriate and contains a fun display of alligator trouble. Be sure to look inside of the back cover for one last surprising alligator appearance.

The bright, full-page illustrations will draw readers into the story, but the text also has plenty of fun. Each sentence is written in large text and the text size varies to highlight important words. Each page consists of 1-4 sentences which are intended to be read by an adult before children read it independently. Magnolia’s classmates are diverse, but the teacher is portrayed in a stereotypical manner.

Readers will learn a little bit about alligators and a lot about appropriate behavior in this humorous picture book. The surprise ending will have readers laughing out loud. Magnolia and her alligator are full of fun surprises that readers of all ages will enjoy. If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don’t! is one book that every child should have on their bookshelf.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • Magnolia throws a pie into someone’s face.

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

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Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

 

The New Year Dragon Dilemma

Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are in San Francisco, home of the biggest Chinatown outside Asia. Their tour guide, Holden, is going to take them to the famous Chinese New Year parade. Best of all, Holden’s girlfriend, Lily, might be Miss Chinatown. She would get to ride a giant float and wear a crown!

During the parade, Miss Chinatown goes missing, and so does the crown. The police think Holden is behind the crime. Can Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose clear their friend’s name by finding the real crook?

While on vacation, Dink, Josh, and Ruth get to see some of San Francisco’s touristy areas. The kids have positive interactions with their tour guide, Holden. While with Holden, the kids listen to him and stay close by his side. Holden allows the children some freedom, but he is never far from sight. When the police accuse Holden of stealing Miss Chinatown’s crown, the kids are convinced that Holden is innocent and they follow the clues to prove that they are right.

As the kids look for clues to prove Holden’s innocence, they follow a man who they think is the culprit. At one point, Dink follows the man into a warehouse. However, Dink’s friends are nearby and come up with a plan to keep Dink safe. While exploring the city, Josh draws in his sketchbook, paying close attention to his surroundings. In the end, Josh’s power of observation helps solve the mystery.

The New Year Dragon Dilemma will delight young readers who are ready to jump into illustrated chapter books. The story’s short chapters and black and white illustrations make the story accessible to readers. Large illustrations appear every 2 to 4 pages. Many of the illustrations are full page and help readers understand the plot. Plus, readers can hunt through the pictures to find a hidden message.

The New Year Dragon Dilemma gives readers a peek into the Chinese New Year celebration. The festive atmosphere is the perfect backdrop for a mystery. Young sleuths will enjoy following the clues and fitting them together to solve the mystery. While young readers will enjoy the adventurous story, parents will appreciate that the curious kids are well mannered. For more mysteries set in San Francisco, readers should check out The San Francisco Splash by David A. Kelly.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • Someone steals Miss Chinatown’s crown. She tells the police, “It was a man wearing a dragon mask. He pulled me down on the floor and took off my mask. Then he sprayed something in my face. It was awful, and it hurt my eyes. . . He put the bag over my head.”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • Josh teasingly calls Ruth, “Nosy Rosy.”
  • Josh asks, “Where the heck are we?”

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

 

 

One Girl

One girl sits outside in the dark when a bright book falls from the sky. “One spark. Faint and fading in the dark. Flicker . . . Flicker. . . Flicker. . . Glow.” The book is brimming with ideas, knowledge, and imagination. The “one girl” goes on a magical journey through the book. “One girl. One spark. Glowing. Growing in the dark. Burning. . . Burning. . . Burning. . . Fire.”

Beaty uses poetic text to tell an abstract story showing that “today, more than 130 million girls are denied an education. The story begins with one of these girls. It also begins with one book. The girl reads, and the world opens up to her. She discovers other places, other lives, and other possibilities.”

When the girl goes to school, she is “filled with wonder. Heart takes flight. Words like comets through the night.” One Girl does not have a plot, the text is confusing, and it isn’t until the very end that Beaty explains the idea behind the book. While the book’s purpose is noble, the picture book’s message will be lost on young readers.

While the text is confusing, the illustrations are amazing, beautiful, and full of imagination. Through a book, the girl is able to imagine new worlds, new careers, and new ideas. The fanciful pictures are full of rich colors and clearly shows the girl’s wonder at the world that a book opens up. When the girl goes to school, her class is full of diverse students. Each page has 1 to 6 words that appear in poetry format.

Even though One Girl is a picture book, most young readers will have a difficult time sitting through a reading of the book. While the pictures are amazing, young readers may lose interest in looking at them because the concepts they portray are abstract. One Girl has an important message to tell, but the message gets lost on younger readers who won’t grasp the deeper meaning behind the words and pictures. Parents looking for a picture book with educational value may want to check out Andrea Beaty’s other picture book series. the Questioneers Collection. The Amazing Scientists Series by Julia Finley Mosca would also make an excellent choice for parents who want to inspire their children to reach greater heights.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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The Rainstorm Brainstorm

It’s Aunt Miranda’s birthday! The WellieWishers want to give her something special, but they can’t agree on what it should be. Then, Kendall discovers the Tomorrow Pile. What looks like a bunch of old, dirty, broken-down things to the other girls looks like cool stuff with lots of potential to Kendall! Can the girls use it to make something wonderful?

Kendall’s friends play with her tools, but they forget to put them away. The next day, Kendall is upset because her tools are “muddy, messy, and ruined.” Once her friends see how upset Kendall is, they clean the tools and paint them so they look new. Kendall quickly forgives her friends and encourages them to use her tools to finish making Aunt Miranda’s surprise.

The Rainstorm Brainstorm shows how everyday items can be repurposed. As the girls work, they aren’t afraid to scrub, and clean, and cut vines. When the girls give Aunt Miranda her birthday gift, she says, “Thank you for clearing out that pile of old stuff for me—that’s a great present, too! The pile is gone, the stuff in the pile was reused, and I love the presents that you all worked together to make for me.”

The WellieWishers are introduced through pictures that appear on the first page. This diverse group of girls wears adorably bright clothes and wellie boots. All of the girls’ different personalities blend to make a wonderful friend group. Almost every page has a brightly colored illustration that helps the readers understand the plot. The girls’ facial expressions will also help the readers understand their emotions.

Young readers will want to grab The Rainstorm Brainstorm because of the adorably cute pictures. They will also be entertained by the story and learn important lessons about friendship. Young readers will enjoy the story’s rhyming words and how the girls sing songs. The book ends with a section “For Parents” that provides crafts ideas that correspond with the book. The Rainstorm Brainstorm will encourage readers to find everyday objects to turn into useful items such as a weather-vane, garden statues, or a birdhouse. Through the characters’ interactions, readers will learn the importance of sharing, working together, and forgiveness.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

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Teasing Trouble

Hallie’s two loose teeth are the talk of the classroom! Everyone loves watching her wiggle them. Funny Spencer gets lots of attention, too, when he teases Hallie about her teeth. But when Spencer’s jokes go too far, and Hallie’s feelings are hurt, both children have to find a way to stop the teasing and save their friendship.

Spencer wants people to laugh at his jokes, but he doesn’t realize that his jokes are making his classmates mad. Even though Hallie doesn’t like Spencer’s jokes, she bottles up her emotions. Finally, Hallie has had enough, and she yells, “Spencer, I am tired of your teasing. You are a big, mean bully. . . You didn’t hurt me by pinching or punching. But your words hurt my feelings.”

In the end, Miss Sparks helps Spencer and Hallie resolve their conflict. Spencer learns that his words can hurt others. Hallie learns that she needed to tell Spencer how she felt. Both Spencer and Hallie apologize to each other. Spencer and Hallie show that friends can be angry at each other, forgive each other, and save their friendship.

Teasing Trouble includes “Dear Parent,” activities at the end of the book that were created by teachers and child specialists to help you nurture your child’s skills, boost their self-confidence, and encourage a lifelong love for learning.

Readers familiar with the Hopscotch Hill School Series will enjoy seeing a familiar character in an everyday situation. Readers who are beginning to read independently will appreciate the easy vocabulary. Most paragraphs are one simple sentence. Large, colorful illustrations appear on almost every page, which helps the readers understand the plot and the characters’ emotions. Teasing Trouble uses a relatable conflict to teach the importance of working through a conflict.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • When Hallie loses her two front teeth, Spencer says, “Hey, everybody! Hallie has a hole in her head!” Later he says, “You have a hole in your head too, Gwen. It’s your nose!”
  • Spencer tells Hallie, “There’s no such thing as the tooth fairy anyway. Only babies believe in the tooth fairy.”

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

On Beyond Bugs!

The Cat in the Hat, Thing 1, and Thing 2 go on a journey looking for the millions of bugs that live in the world. The Cat in the Hat introduces readers to all sorts of bugs from praying mantis, to grasshoppers, and even butterflies. The Cat in the Hat tells readers interesting facts about the bugs he meets. With the help of a magnifying glass, the smaller bugs grow large enough that readers can distinguish each bug’s differences. Fleas, bees, and bugs in trees all inhabit the world, and with the Cat in the Hat, readers will learn all sorts of interesting facts.

Cat in the Hat uses Thing 1 and Thing 2 to introduce bug facts. For example, they hold up a sign that reads, “Spiders aren’t insects! This news couldn’t wait! Instead of six legs, every spider has eight!” All of the bugs are labeled and some pages have diagrams of bug body parts. The book’s format makes it easy for readers to identify bugs and their body parts.

On Beyond Bugs uses full-page illustrations with bright colors to introduce all types of bugs. Each bug’s unique features are shown through pictures. For example, an underwing moth blends into a tree’s bark, and a spittlebug hides from birds by covering itself with spit bubbles. Some of the illustrations are humorous, such as when the queen bee is being taken care of by the worker bees.

On Beyond Bugs is intended to introduce beginning readers to the importance of basic concepts about the world. Each page has 2 to 4 rhyming sentences. Readers will enjoy seeing the Cat in the Hat, Thing 1, and Thing 2 throughout the story. The end of the book has a seven-word glossary and a list of books that bug lovers might want to read.

Young readers will enjoy the colorful illustrations and learning about bugs. However, every two-page spread introduces a new insect, which some readers may find overwhelming. On Beyond Bugs teaches the importance of learning about bugs because “The world that we know couldn’t go on without them. The butterfly, ladybug, ant, and the bee make everything better . . . for you. . . and for me!”

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

  • None

Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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Scream for Ice Cream

Nancy and her friends think there is nothing more fun than ice cream in the summer. So when they find out that the owners of the local ice-cream factory are hosting a contest, the Clue Crew can’t wait to enter! Contestants must come up with brand-new flavors and they can use whatever ingredients they want! Nancy is sure that her entry—Clue Berry—will win.

But when a friend’s secret recipe goes missing, Nancy suspects that someone not-so-sweet is up to no good. Can Nancy and the Clue Crew find out who took the missing recipe?

Nancy and her friends work hard on creating their ice cream flavors, but that doesn’t stop them from encouraging their classmates to enter the contest as well. Even though the contest is important to the Clue Crew, they are more concerned with Deirdre and Kendra’s friendship. When the two are having friendship trouble, the Clue Crew jumps into action. In the end, Deirdre and Kendra’s friendship drama is resolved and the two remain best friends.

Scream for Ice Cream has enough suspects to keep the story interesting without becoming confusing. Readers will enjoy using their powers of observation to see if they can figure out who stole the ice cream before the big reveal at the story’s end. Most of the time the Clue Crew follows the rules as they search for clues. However, they do wait for an employee to be distracted so they can sneak into the ice cream factory.

The story’s conclusion is surprising, but nicely wraps up all of the story’s drama. Young mystery fans will enjoy the mystery as well as the story’s silly moments. Even though the Clue Crew’s ice cream is ruined three times, the girls don’t complain. Instead, they look forward to making more next year.

Black and white illustrations appear every 2 to 5 pages, which break up the text and help readers visualize the events in the plot. The last page of the book gives directions for making coffee-can ice cream. This modern version of Nancy Drew will be an entertaining summer read. After reading Scream for Ice Cream, readers with a sweet tooth will want some tasty ice cream of their own.

 

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • When Cassidy’s sister grabs someone else’s ice cream and starts eating it, Cassidy yells, “Drop that spoon now, you little pest.”

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Dog Dog Goose

Lily lives with her girl, Maggie Rose. Once a stray, Lily was rescued by the kind people at the animal shelter run by Maggie Rose’s mom. Now she has a very important purpose: to rescue other animals.

A gaggle of orphaned baby geese think Lily is their mother. Lily doesn’t understand why the geese always want to be by her side, even when they are sleeping. Sometimes Lily just wants to do dog things, not gosling things. Plus, the goslings need to learn to fly so they can migrate. Can Lily find a way to teach them to fly?

Dog Dog Goose is told from Lily’s point of view, which gives the reader insight into Lily’s perspective on having a gaggle of goslings by her side. The goslings act adorably cute, and they also add a little humor to the story.

While the story focuses on Lily’s experience with a gaggle of goslings, the story also intersperses Maggie Rose’s family life. However, this book focuses on Maggie Rose’s brother, Bryan, who wants to adopt an older dog named Brewster. Bryan’s parents agree to allow him to adopt Brewster if he can earn the money for the adoption fee. In order to help Bryan, Maggie Rose and her older brother give Bryan money they earned. The two siblings donate their hard earned money without strings attached.

Animal lovers ready for chapter books will enjoy Dog Dog Goose. Realistic black and white illustrations that have splashes of pink appear every 1 to 3 pages. The short chapters and illustrations of the animals are adorably cute. The story has many facts about geese and the end of the book has more interesting information about Canadian geese. Even though this is the fourth book in the series, the books do not need to be read in order to be enjoyed.

Lily is admirable because of her kind nature and willingness to help other animals. The story also emphasizes the importance of keeping the goslings wild. Another positive attribute of the story is the family’s healthy interactions. When Bryan lies to his parents, he is appropriately punished and reminded of the importance of being truthful.

Dog Dog Goose is an entertaining story that has plenty of animal action that will keep readers engaged until the very end. The difficult vocabulary makes the story best for fluent readers. However, the short chapters and the character dialogue make the story a good choice to read aloud. Readers who enjoy this series will also enjoy Pet Rescue Adventures by Holly Webb.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

The Bug Girl (a true story)

Sophia loves bugs. When she was in kindergarten, some of her friends would hunt for bugs with her. But as she got older, kids began teasing her because she was a “bug lover.” Sophia was teased so much that she packed all of her bug stuff into boxes. This made her sad.

Then Sophia’s mom sent an email to a bug scientist. The entomologist Morgan Jackson wrote Sophia, encouraging her to keep studying bugs. When Morgan shared Sophia’s story, other bug scientists also helped Sophia see that loving bugs is not weird or strange. Today, Sophia is a fourth-grader who still loves bugs.

Each page of the picture book has large illustrations that look like watercolors. As Sophia’s classmates grow older and begin to tease her, the illustrations show Sophia’s sadness both in facial expressions and in dark colors. Most pages have 5 to 7 sentences as well as speech bubbles. Even with so few sentences, some pages are text-heavy which may make it difficult for younger readers to sit through a reading. Even though The Bug Girl 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. The end of the book has general information on bugs as well as “super-cool bug facts.” In addition, the book explains the cycle of the butterfly and how to study bugs in the wild.

Any child who has been called weird will relate to Sophia’s struggle. Her story allows readers to see that having a unique hobby is not strange. Sophia realizes that there are many people who love bugs. This realization allows Sophia to enjoy studying bugs without feeling like there is something wrong with her. The Bug Girl will encourage readers to embrace being different and to continue doing what they enjoy, even if others make fun of them. The Bug Girl is a must-read for any child who loves bugs. If you’re looking for another book that encourages children to embrace their differences, add Angus All Aglow by Heather Smith to your reading list.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • When Sophia takes a grasshopper to school, “a bunch of kids crowded around me and made fun of me. . . Then they knocked that beautiful grasshopper off my shoulder and stomped on it till it was dead.”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • Sophia’s classmates tease her and call her names such as show-off, bug lover, and weird. The kids wonder, “Why doesn’t she like regular things?

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Guyku: A Year of Haiku for Boys

Guyku is the right story for little guys on the move!

The collection of poems captures moments of childhood across the four seasons. From fishing to throwing snowballs to playing in leaf piles, Guyku touches on the wide variety of outdoor activities that kids can do. The book is written for boys, like the title suggests, but it is applicable to all children.

Poetry can have a reputation that it is something you give to advanced readers. However, Guyku flips that notion on its head and helps young readers learn through poetry. Because each poem occupies a full page, the poems are not daunting for new readers.

Raczka and Reynolds are an author-illustrator team who are very much on the same page. The pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations capture the simplicity of the poems and the Earth-toned colors take the reader outdoors. These illustrations accompany every poem, and context clues will help struggling readers make sense of the poems. The art is subtle and encourages the reader to explore the meaning of the poem and ask questions. The eye-catching illustrations will make you laugh as you watch boys, and girls explore the outdoors and enjoy childhood. While the book is generally goofy, the illustrations do not shy away from showing an array of emotions from glee to sadness and boredom to enthrallment. Guyku does a good job of normalizing the range of feelings that people encounter, but there is an emphasis on the excitement and wonder of childhood.

Haiku poems are only three lines long; they have five syllables in the first line, seven in the second line, and five in the third line. A haiku is an observation of nature, and nature is a playground for children. The poems do not take long to read, but sometimes more can be said in a haiku than a whole novel. One of the primary rules of a haiku is that it is written in the present tense. Whatever is happening in a haiku, is happening right now! For children who are wrapped up in the moment, the format of the poem lends itself to being active. The book can serve as inspiration for the wide variety of games that can be played, activities to do with friends, and ways to interact with the outdoors.

Guyku is for kids and about kids. All of the characters are children who are doing what children do best, playing! While the poetry moves quickly and the illustrations are fun, there is a reflective part to these poems. The book encourages children to place themselves within all of the great things the outdoors has to offer and brings into question how the outdoors makes the reader feel. It is likely that a child will see themselves in the characters of the book. Guyku encourages outdoor activity in a positive way.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

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Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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by Paul Gordon

 

Iggy Peck and the Mysterious Mansion

Iggy Peck is an architect at his very core: when he’s not making houses out of food, his head is up in the clouds, dreaming of design. So he’s totally blown away when Ada Twist’s Aunt Bernice inherits an old house from ice-cream mogul Herbert Sherbert that is filled with countless rooms from all his favorite architectural periods. But something’s not quite right . . .

Everyone says the house is haunted, and it seems that a number of priceless antiques—which were supposed to help Aunt Bernice pay for the house’s upkeep—have gone missing. If they can’t find those antiques, Aunt Bernice might lose the house forever. It will take all of Iggy’s knowledge of architecture and the help of the other Questioneers—Rosie Revere, Ada Twist, and Sofia Valdez—to solve the mystery and find the treasure!

Iggy Peck and the Mysterious Mansion builds suspense because it has just the right amount of spooky, scary, and strange events. All of the events are eventually solved in a logical way. Iggy and his friends do some sleuthing, but they also research the Mysterious Mansion’s history and Iggy uses his knowledge of architecture to help solve the mystery.

The majority of the story focuses on the Mysterious Mansion’s history. Iggy discovers that two people who lived in the mansion died from the Spanish Flu. “People can still die from the flu, but it’s not as common because scientists invented new medicines and vaccines. People used to die of all kinds of diseases like measles and flu. Vaccines changed that.”

In addition, the spooky story also has humor. For instance, when Mrs. Bernice Twist inherits the mansion, the letter reads, “The Law Offices of Yabba, Dabba & Dew are not responsible for the actions of ghosts or anything that causes shivers, nightmares, heebie-jeebies, or worse. Especially worse.”

Most of the pages have large black, white, and green illustrations that will help readers envision the characters as well as understand the story’s plot. Other illustrations show drawings from Iggy’s notebook. However, younger readers may struggle with the story’s advanced vocabulary and the architectural lingo. However, the story’s use of imagery, onomatopoeia, and alliteration make Iggy Peck and the Mysterious Mansion a fun story to read aloud. The story ends with information about art nouveau and art deco, information about “Weird, Wonderful, and Wonderfully Weird Cats,” and a recipe to make ice cream.

Readers familiar with The Questioneers Series will enjoy seeing the same cast of characters. Iggy and his friends are curious, resourceful, and able to think outside the box. Unfortunately, the conclusion has several events that are unbelievable. Despite this, readers will enjoy the mystery, the friendship, and the illustrations.  If you’re looking for another series that has smart, curious characters, check out the Ellie Engineer Series by Jackson Pearce and the Jada Jones Series by Kelly Starling Lyons.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • Aunt Bernice, Ada, and Iggy try to open the mansion’s door when “the boards of the porch began to rise and fall like piano keys. A wave rolled from one end of the porch to the other and back again. . . Suddenly, the board beneath Aunt Bernice’s left foot rose up and sent her tumbling.” When they jump off the porch, the motion stops.

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • The town folks believe that the Sherbert House is haunted by Herbert Sherbert and his wife. When Iggy stumbles upon the mansion, he thinks, “There were darker tales of a woman whose cries could be heard late at night if you dared to get close enough to the house to listen. They said the ghosts were looking for something—or someone!”
  • The Mansion begins to play music and then “the shutters of the Great Hall window slammed shut. Almost as quickly, they flew open again. The shutter opened and shut in rhythm with the music.”

Spiritual Content

  • None

Out of the Ballpark

Before he hit 400 home runs, before he was named American League MVP, before he was ARod to millions of fans, he was Alex. He was just a kid who wanted to play baseball more than anything else in the world.

Baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez has drawn from his own childhood experiences to write Out of the Ballpark. Alex knows what it’s like to swing at a wild pitch or have a ball bounce right between his legs. Alex is determined not to let his mistakes set him back—even if it means getting up at the crack of dawn to work on his hitting and fielding before school starts.

Baseball fans will be drawn to Out of the Ballpark because of the brightly colored cover and Alex Rodriguez’s name. Alex struggles during a game, but during the championship, Alex’s grand slam won the game. Unfortunately, the story is predictable; however, the story does show the importance of hard work, determination, and practice.

The picture book is comprised of bright, cartoon-like pictures that capture the motion of the baseball games. The unique pictures often use two-page spreads to give the baseball field depth and to showcase the celebrating players. Out of the Ballpark is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for a child to read it for the first time independently. Each page has 1-6 sentences; however, some of the sentences are complex, which makes the pages text-heavy.

At the end of the story, readers will find a letter from Alex Rodriguez encouraging them to stay away from drugs, work hard, and respect their elders. There are also many pictures of him during his childhood. Even though the story is not memorable, Out of the Ballpark will appeal to baseball fans, and parents can use the story to start a conversation about achieving one’s dreams.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

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Charlotte the Scientist Is Squished

Charlotte is a serious scientist. She solves important problems by following the scientific method. She has all the right equipment: protective glasses, a lab coat, a clipboard, and a magnifying glass. But Charlotte has a problem: she needs more room.

Charlotte has so many brothers and sisters (she is a rabbit, after all) that she is too squished to work on her experiments! Can she use science to solve her problem?

Charlotte introduces readers to her 13 brothers and sisters and to the five steps of the scientific method. Charlotte’s dilemma comes to life in bright, humorous, full-colored illustrations. Even though each page is packed with adorable bunnies, Charlotte is easy to recognize because she always has on her safety glasses. Readers will enjoy counting all of Charlotte’s siblings, who are a bit rambunctious.

Charlotte decides to use the scientific method to answer her question: How can I get some space around here? Readers will giggle as Charlotte conducts her experiments and feel joy when Charlotte finds peace and quiet on the moon. Once there, she discovers that being alone is lonely. But Charlotte’s solution to her loneliness brings the story to a sweet conclusion.

Charlotte the Scientist is Squished will entertain and delight young readers who will want to read the book over and over. Charlotte has a relatable conflict and is a determined, funny main character. The story uses humor to introduce readers to the scientific method. However, this science-based book also is a story about her family, who can be annoying but also bring joy to Charlotte.

Each page of the picture book has 1 to 4 sentences. Because some of the sentences and vocabulary are complex, young readers will need an adult to read Charlotte the Scientist Is Squished to them. The end of the book explains how Charlotte followed the scientific method to solve her problem.

Charlotte the Scientist Is Squished is a wonderfully illustrated picture book that young readers will love. Adults will appreciate the story’s educational value. Another amazing picture book readers will enjoy is Mars Needs Moms by Berkeley Breathed. Both stories use humor to show the importance of family.

Sexual Content

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Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

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Cece Loves Science: Push and Pull

Ms. Curie wants her class to conduct an experiment. The class is going to learn about forces that move objects in different ways. Cece is extra excited because her dog, Einstein, is going to be part of the experiment. Cece is partnered with three of her classmates, including her friend Isaac.

Ms. Curie gives each group supplies that include a toy dump truck, a marble, dominoes and doggie treats. The group works together until they find the best way to use all of their supplies. Einstein helps too! After trying different things, the kids build a contraption that gives Einstein a doggie treat.

Push and Pull introduces the concept of force and motion in a child-friendly way that is easy to understand. The story uses several examples and also gives examples of how readers can have fun with push and pull. The end of the book has a four-word glossary. Push and Pull is intended for independent readers who are ready for complex plots and challenging vocabulary. Each page has 2 to 6 short sentences which makes it accessible to young readers.

Push and Pull introduces science in an engaging way. Cece and her group work together and everyone contributes. Readers will love Einstein, who also shows how push and pull work. Each page has large, brightly colored illustrations that show the science experiment in action. By the end of the book, readers will be ready to try an experiment of their own.

With lots of examples and positive classroom behavior Push and Pull would make an excellent pick for any beginning reader. The Cece Loves Science Series will encourage readers to be curious about their world. Those looking for more science related fun should add the Jada Jones Series by Kelly Starling Lyons to their reading list.

Sexual Content

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Violence

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 Drugs and Alcohol

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Language

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Supernatural

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Spiritual Content

  • None

Monsters Don’t Scuba Dive

Howie, Melody, Eddie, and Liza are spending their vacation at Camp Lone Wolf. The kids think that Mr. Jenkins is a werewolf because he is so hairy and he’s super strict. Then, when the kids get to camp, Mr. Jenkins introduces Nessie McFarland, who is going to teach the kids how to snorkel. Nessie loves being in the water and is nervous when she’s on land. Because of her shy demeanor and her strange looks, the kids are convinced that Nessie is the Loch Ness Monster. Will the kids be able to prove that Nessie is a monster?

 Monsters Don’t Scuba Dive will entertain mystery-loving readers. Even though the kids think Nessie is a monster, she is never portrayed in a scary or negative manner. For instance, when the kids fall out of a raft, the monster helps them make it back to shore safely. The fast-paced story never fully reveals whether or not Nessie is a monster. Instead, it leaves enough doubt that readers can make the decision on their own. Throughout the book, the Bailey School kids are reminded that every plant and animal deserves to live out its life in peace, including monsters.

Howie, Melody, Eddie, and Liza are relatable characters who work together to solve the mystery. However, the kids sometimes make bratty remarks to each other. For example, Howie shows his friends a book about monsters and Eddie says, “You have monsters in your head if you think I’m going to read a book on my vacation.” In addition, when the camp counselor is talking, Eddie often whispers complaints to his friends.

Monsters Don’t Scuba Dive allows young readers to wonder if monsters really exist without giving them the heebie-jeebies. The Bailey School Kids Series is perfect for emerging readers who are ready for chapter books because it has easy vocabulary, short chapters, and illustrations. The large, black-and-white illustrations focus on the characters and appear every 2 to 3 pages. The illustrations will help readers understand the plot and visualize the characters. However, Mr. Jenkins is a little bit creepy because he is so hairy and his smile shows all of his teeth, including his eyeteeth that “look like fangs.”

While parents might not like all of the kids’ behavior, Monsters Don’t Scuba Dive will entertain readers and make them excited about reading. Readers who want more monster action should check out the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol Series by Andres Miedoso and the Notebook of Doom Series by Troy Cummings.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • When the camp counselor tells the kids they will learn how to swim, Eddie says, “But this is our vacation. We shouldn’t have to learn a doggone thing!”
  • Eddie calls his friends names such as monster breath, water brains, and octopus brain.

Supernatural

  • None

 Spiritual Content

  • None

A Squirrelly Situation

When Travis finds an abandoned baby squirrel, he brings him home and names him Fluffy. Travis introduces Fluffy to his cat, and the cat welcomes the squirrel into her nest and begins to nurse the squirrel alongside her kitten. Soon, the kitten, named Thud, and the squirrel are running around the kitchen causing havoc.

Mother doesn’t think that Fluffy is such a great family pet, but she’s won over by Travis’s pleas. But when Fluffy is old enough to be put back in the wild, will Travis be able to say goodbye to his squirrelly friend?

Since A Squirrelly Situation is set in 1901, it has an old-fashioned feel in both the language and the illustrations. The story has black and white illustrations of the siblings and the adorable animals. Readers may want to hunt for the various animals are in each illustration. The large illustrations appear every 1 to 4 pages and will help readers understand the story’s plot. The story also has many interesting facts about squirrels.

Callie’s and Travis’s grandfather make a brief appearance and remind her of the importance of not jumping to the wrong conclusion. He says, “Keep in mind, Calpurnia, that there is no point in gathering information unless you are certain it is correct information.” The story also highlights the importance of forgiving others.

A Squirrelly Situation told from Callie’s point of view. Her scientific mind, curiosity, and caring nature make her an extremely likable character. The animals’ behavior and the hint of humor will keep readers interested until the very end. Because of the advanced vocabulary, younger readers will need help. However, the large text and short chapters make A Squirrelly Situation a good book to read aloud to younger readers. Proficient readers will enjoy the silly situations caused by the squirrel as well as the characters’ interactions.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • The town has a competition to see how many squirrels they could kill. A prize went to the boy who shot the most, and the boy who shot the largest squirrel. One boy tries to cheat by putting pellets in the squirrel’s body.

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • When Callie and her grandfather go exploring, they hide from a wild boar. Callie doesn’t tell her parents they were in danger because, “Heck, they’d never let me out of my room ever again. What an idiot I was.”
  • When Fluffy allows someone to put him on a scale, someone says, “I’ll be danged.”

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Caramel Moon

Melli the Caramel Fairy can’t wait for the Caramel Moon Festival—the candy corn crops are picked in the moonlight and there’s a big celebration. When Melli notices that there is something wrong in the fields, she needs her friends to help figure out who—or what—is trying to ruin their treats.

One of the fairies tells Melli a story about Lupa the Sugar Fairy. “She was sure that a troll was stealing her sugar fruit chews and wanted to protect her candy. Lupa caught the troll in the middle of the night and sent him back over the Frosted Mountains. She was very brave.” Melli and her friends use the Lupa story to come up with a way to catch the candy stealing culprit. The story allows Melli to be brave and save the candy corn.

The third installment of the Candy Fairies Series focuses on Melli’s dilemma—she must find out why the candy corn isn’t growing properly. In order to trick the Chuchies, the fairies work together and come up with a plan to defeat them. Like the first two books in the series, the Chuchies are the predictable villain. This time around, the Chuchies are defeated when they eat too much candy.

Caramel Moon is a super sweet story about friendship. The fairies use candy language such as saying “sure as sugar” and “you can bet your sugar fruit chews.” The story begins with a map of the Candy Kingdom. The Peppermint Grove and other elements will remind readers of the game Candy Land. Black and white illustrations appear every 2 to 3 pages, and show the fairies wearing pretty dresses. Although most of the fairies look similar, one fairy is African American. The story is best suited for proficient readers who are ready for chapter books.

The friends emulate positive traits and are always willing to help each other. Part of Caramel Moon revolves around a favorite band, Sugar Pops, coming to sing. This element gives the story a more mature tone. In the end, Melli gets permission for her sister to enjoy the Sugar Pop’s show.

Even though the book is a series, readers do not have to read them in order. Caramel Moon is a sweet story that highlights the importance of asking for help and being kind to others, including your younger sisters. Young readers will enjoy spending time in Sugar Valley with the fairies. Readers looking for more fairy fun should also read Rainbow Magic: The Pet Fairies Series by Daisy Meadows.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • “Hot caramel,” “holy peppermint,” “licking lollipops,” and “choc-Caramel” are used as an exclamation.

Supernatural

  • The fairies have magical powers. For example, Melli spreads fine sugar dust over crops to help them grow quickly.

Spiritual Content

  • None

What Do You Do With A Problem?

What do you do with a problem? Especially one that follows you around and doesn’t seem to be going away? Do you worry about it? Ignore it? Do you run and hide from it?

This is the story of a persistent problem and the child who isn’t so sure what to make of it. The longer the problem is avoided, the bigger it seems to get. But when the child finally musters up the courage to face it, the problem turns out to be something quite different than expected.

This picture book gives a problem the form of a black cloud that grows larger and stormier as the story progresses. The beginning of the book uses dark shades that are predominantly dark and gloomy. The unnamed boy’s worry is apparent because of his facial expression and body language. At one point, the boy wonders, “What if it takes away all of my things?” The illustration shows the boy trying to protect his toys and stuffed animals.

Everyone can relate to the boy, who tries to run from a problem. What Do You Do With A Problem shows the importance of tackling problems by coming up with a plan to overcome them. Eventually, the boy jumps into the dark cloud and discovers that the problem “had something beautiful inside. My problem held an opportunity! It was an opportunity for me to learn and to grow. To be brave. To do something.”

While What Do You Do With A Problem has a positive message about overcoming obstacles, the problem and the solution are vague and illustrated with abstract ideas that show the boy’s emotion, rather than an actual solution. Despite this, the story would make an excellent conversation starter about different ways to approach a problem.

Even though What Do You Do With A Problem is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently. Each two-page spread has 1 to 4 sentences. Detailed, interesting illustrations and a conflict that everyone can relate to make What Do You Do With A Problem a wonderful book to read with children. The story’s conclusion leaves the reader with this thought: “Every problem has an opportunity for something good. You just have to look for it.”

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

Maggie and the Wish Fish

Eight-year-old Maggie isn’t like other girls who live in the Enchanted Forest. She notices magical animals around her that no one else does – like flying pigs and geese that lay golden eggs.

Maggie hasn’t been getting along with her stepmother and stepbrother. It doesn’t help that flying pigs keep messing up her chores and getting her into trouble! One day while she’s near a lake, she catches a magical fish who promises to make her wish come true, but only if she frees him. Maggie wants a new family more than anything, but can she really trust a talking fish?

Even though Maggie works hard, her stepmother keeps punishing her. Every time Maggie gets into trouble, her stepmother withholds food. It’s a good thing there are wild berry bushes in the Enchanted Forest! Maggie’s stepmother is convinced that Maggie is a liar and a thief, so she throws Maggie out into the cold. Like a Disney fairytale, Maggie and the Wish Fish concludes with a happy ending where Maggie has a new home and a new friend.

Maggie and the creatures who live in the Enchanted Forest appear in black and white illustrations. The cute illustrations appear every 2 to 7 pages. Even though the trolls and the goblins are dangerous, they look cartoonish instead of frighteningly scary. One of the characters shares his journal with Maggie. The illustrated journal gives information about the magical animals and their habits. Readers who are not fluent will need help with some of the vocabulary. However, with short paragraphs, large text, and a simple plot, Maggie and the Wish Fish is accessible to readers ready for chapter books.

Young readers will enjoy the fairytale elements of Maggie and the Wish Fish. A mean step-family, arguing goblins, and talking animals combine to make a sweet story. The story contains enough suspense to keep readers interested and a satisfying ending that will leave readers with a smile. Readers who enjoy fairytales should add the Once Upon a Fairy Tale Series by Anna Staniszewski to their reading list.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • Maggie meets a girl who has a goose that lays golden eggs.
  • When goblins see Maggie, she chases them away with a piece of unicorn horn. “Unicorn horns destroyed poison. There was poison in goblins’ blood. Any goblin that even touched a unicorn horn would go poof! and vanish.”

Spiritual Content

  • None

Stowaway!

When Wally meets a band of puppy pirates, he wants more than anything to join them. He knows that puppy pirates are very tough and very brave. Even though he doesn’t always feel brave, Wally is determined to find out if he has what it takes to become a full-fledged puppy pirate. But when he stows away in a pirate ship, he finds out that he’s not the only one hiding. A friendly boy named Henry has also stowed away on the ship. The two promise to help each other. Will the two new friends be able to convince the ship’s captain that they are brave enough to be a pirate?

The front cover art shows an adorable picture of a pirate puppy, which will draw readers to the book. Nevertheless, the story’s plot is full of humor and suspense that will keep readers engaged until the very end. In a series of tests, both Wally and Henry prove that they can be useful to the ship’s crew. And with the help of Old Salt, an older pirate, Wally is able to be brave.

Younger readers will understand Wally’s desire to find a home and cheer for him as he makes friends with the boy and the pirates. Even though Wally is often scared, he still finds a way to complete difficult tasks. There are no other humans on the ship, but Wally stands up for Henry and the ship’s captain allows the boy to remain on the ship. The exciting conclusion has a riddle, kitten pirates, and a funny conflict.

Stowaway is pure pirate fun that will entertain readers who dream of adventure. The black and white illustrations are adorably cute and will also help readers understand the story’s plot. With short chapters, large text, and illustrations every 1 to 5 pages, Stowaway is the perfect book for readers ready for chapter books. Young landlubbers will be eager to read the swashbuckling tale of Wally and the Salty Bone’s crew. With 6+ books in the series, the Puppy Pirates Series has plenty of adventure to entertain readers.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • In order to get the kitten pirates to sail away, the dogs trick them. “The puppy pirates’ cannon blasted out a powerful shot of water. It arched up into the air between the two ships, and then it rained down on the kitten pirates. The kittens all shrieked and hissed and ran for cover.”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

 

Language

  • There’s some infrequent pirate name-calling such as scallywag, landlubber, and lazy bum.
  • The kitten captain calls a dog pirate a fleabag.
  • When the captain finds a stowaway, he says, “This is unpoopitable!”

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

 

She Persisted in Sports

Throughout history, in every sport and at all levels of play, women athletes have been told they were never going to be fast enough, strong enough, or good enough. This book introduces readers to women athletes who have excelled in their sports because of their passion, their skills, and their persistence.

She Persisted in Sports begins with Margaret Ives Abbot, who was the first American woman to become an Olympic champion in the 1800s, and ends with Jocelyne and Monique Lamoureux, who helped the U.S. Women’s Hockey team win their first gold medal in twenty years. The book introduces 16 women athletes across a 200-year time span. The women are of different races and abilities, including one woman who raced in a wheelchair.

She Persisted in Sports has a positive message that women can do anything with persistence. The can-do attitude of the women’s profiles is inspiring. The book covers women who overcame many obstacles including sexism, a club foot, loss of hearing, and other hardships. Each athlete is introduced in a two-page spread. One page includes a short introduction of the athlete and the other page has a beautiful watercolor illustration with a motivational quote. Throughout the book, the words “she persisted” appear in colored ink, highlighting the theme.

Even though She Persisted in Sports is a picture book, it uses advanced vocabulary and sentence structure. In addition, the text-heavy pages make the book better suited for elementary students. While She Persisted in Sports is an inspirational book, each profile is short and does not tell how the athletes overcame their circumstances. While many of the athletes competed in individual sports, many of the women, such as Mia Hamm of the 1996 Olympic soccer team, were able to help propel their teams to victory.

She Persisted in Sports would be an excellent conversation starter about persistence and overcoming obstacles. It will also springboard some reader’s interest in athletes, which will lead them to learn more about the women featured in the book. The wide variety of sports, the diverse women, and the unique obstacles make She Persisted in Sports an inspiring book for girls to read.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

 

Yasmin The Writer

Ms. Alex has assigned Yasmin’s class to write about their heroes. Yasmin loves to write, but she can’t decide who her hero is. After tossing out lots of ideas, could it be that Yasmin’s hero has been right beside her all along?

 Yasmin is a relatable character who struggles with choosing a topic for her writing assignment. At first, Yasmin looks at famous athletes, music stars, queens, presidents, and other leaders. But it’s the day-to-day events that make her choose her topic—her mother. While her mother is not famous, she cooks dinner, helps Yasmin find her pajamas, and comforts her when she has a bad dream.

Even though the story’s plot is predictable, young readers will enjoy the story as it shows both Yasmin’s home life and her school life. The story has three short chapters and each page has large illustrations that will help readers understand the plot. The full-color illustrations use cheerful colors and Yasmin’s class has diverse students. Yasmin is Pakistani and her mother wears a hijab. Yasmin’s mother also uses Urdu words, which are defined in a glossary that appears at the back of the book.

Yasmin the Writer will help emerging readers feel confident with their reading. Each page has 1 to 4 short sentences which are printed with oversized text. The conclusion has an illustration of a piece of paper that shows Yasmin’s writing assignment. At the end of the book, there are questions that will help students connect to the text, some fun facts about Pakistani, and directions to make your own journal.

Yasmin the Writer uses an everyday situation that will make young readers think about the definition of a hero. The story will also remind readers that mothers are heroes because they care for their children. Readers who enjoy the Yasmin Series should put the Sofia Martinez Series by Jacqueline Jules on their reading list.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home

I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home uses cows and other animals to show that love has no bounds. However, the cows are not normal farm animals. Instead, these amazing cows take a “trip to Mars through skies unknown in a rocket ship made of glass and stone.” The story includes yaks, sheep, frogs, and other animals. Each refrain reminds readers that, “I’ll love you until . . .” and then refers to the animal in the picture.

Using hyperbole and humor, I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home wonderfully captures the idea that love knows no boundaries. Beautiful illustrations in muted natural colors depict whimsical animals. Young readers will enjoy looking at all of the pictures’ details. For example, one page shows four frogs “riding on big-wheeled bikes going superfast in a circus of sea horses, shrimp, and bass.” The dancing sea horses and shrimp in top hats will leave readers giggling. Even though the illustrations are silly, readers will easily understand the book’s message: love never ends.

Even though I’ll Love You Till the Cows Come Home is a picture book, it will resonate with readers of all ages. If you’re at a loss for words and don’t know how to express your love, then this picture book would make the perfect gift. After all, what better way to express your love than to say, “I’ll love you till the ants march in wearing tiny hats and tiny ant grins and birthday cake crumbs on their tiny ant chins. I will love you till the ants march in.”

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • None

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin

When young Temple was diagnosed with autism, no one expected her to talk. Some people told Temple’s mother that, “Her brain’s not quite right. You must send her away.” But Temple’s mother never gave up on her. A special teacher helped Temple learn to speak and encouraged her by saying that Temple was “different, not less.”

School was difficult for Temple, and her mother sent her to live on her aunt’s ranch. Temple loved the animals and finally felt like she was fitting in. “Fitting in on a farm was less stress since the pigs didn’t care if your hair was a mess.” Temple loved cows and she wanted to make farms better.

While many believed that Temple would “never be normal,” others saw Temple’s potential. One of her teachers told her, “When you find what your good at, like science—you’ll soar.” Because of the encouragement of others, Temple was able to go to college and became one of the most powerful voices in modern science.

Temple’s inspiring life story shows how Temple’s autism helped her connect with animals and find her life’s work. The Girl Who Thought in Pictures explains autism in a kid-friendly manner and shows how Temple’s thinking allowed her to connect with animals in a special way, helping her invent groundbreaking improvements for farms around the globe. The book ends with a biography, fun facts, a timeline, and even a note from Temple herself.

Each page of the picture book has 2 to 4 rhyming lines. Some of the words have added emphasis and they appear in all capitals. Each page uses colorful illustrations that bring Temple’s world to life. In addition, some of the pictures contain thought bubbles so readers can understand Temple’s thinking process and her inventions. Even though The Girl Who Thought in Pictures is a picture book, the story is intended to be read aloud to a child, rather than for the child to read it for the first time independently.

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures should be read by every child because it will help them become more empathetic towards others. For those who feel different, the story will help them realize that they are not alone and that they too can accomplish great things. In addition, the story will help children understand the behaviors of autistic children. But best of all, Temple’s story reinforces the idea that the things that make people different are the things that make them unique. The Girl Who Thought in Pictures shows that with hard work and dedication, everyone can make a positive impact on the world.

Sexual Content

  • None

Violence

  • At school, “Kids taunted and chased her [Temple] all over the yard.” Then one day, Temple “snapped” and “threw a book at a kid and was kicked out of school!”

 Drugs and Alcohol

  • None

Language

  • None

Supernatural

  • None

Spiritual Content

  • None
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