Option One:
The Day the Crayons Quit
A boy named Duncan finds a stack of letters
written by his colors who are basically complaining about being overused,
misused, and not getting the credit they deserve. They are on strike-gone! Told from their point of view, the reader
can’t help but laugh at all the colors good points. Every color is given a personality that is
conveyed through their writing and the wonderful illustrations.
Illustrations
are vivid and real; they appear to have been drawn out by a child which make
them endearing and more luring. The fire engine, purple dragon, brown whale are
all imaginative and encompass the many possibilities of a children’s
imagination. Overall, young readers will
be enthralled by the colorful, creative and funny illustrations.
The Thank You Book
Willems,
M. (2016) The thank you book. NY: Hyperion
Books for Children.
Piggie wants to thank everyone he
knows, but Gerald reminds her that she can’t possibly remember everyone. Piggie is sure she can do it and sets off on
her “thank-o-rama”. Gerald joins her on
her journey reminding her that she’s forgotten to thank someone very
important. Piggie even thanks the flies
before she realizes she has forgotten someone, but they are not thinking of the
same person. Finally, with the help of
Gerald she realizes who that is.
Children will have a blast connecting
with these characters. The illustrations
and dialogue are simple perfect for beginning readers. Children will enjoy and
laugh at Gerald’s hilarious faces and Piggie’s frustrated outbursts.
Are We There Yet?
Santat,
D. (2016). Are we there yet? NY. Little, Brown and Company.
This is an
imaginative interactive book about a boy’s road trip to his grandmother’s
house. Even though his parents say it will be a short trip; to the boy it feels
like an eternity. At times it gets so
boring for him that he describes time as moving
backwards all the way to the dinosaur era. After much complaining, time speeds up and he
imagines ending up somewhere in the future having sped through and passing his grandmother’s
party. Finally, his parents report they have arrived.
The best
feature of the book is that it is interactive.
You turn and twist it every which way which I think makes reading it
more interesting. The illustrations are
rich and funny and help the reader follow how the boy feels about time slowing
down when it gets too boring and then speeding up. The language is simple and
is set in comic book format style which can appeal to some of our comic
readers.
Dogman
Pilkey,
D. (2016). Dogman. NY. Scholastic
Inc.
This is a great chapter comic
book created “anewish” by the imaginations of two fourth graders, George and
Harold. The first chapter explains how
Dog Man was born after a physically strong but dumb police officer and his smart
dog were blown up by a bomb. A new
superhero is unleashed-part human and part dog. Dog Man primarily fights Petey
the cat and does many doggy things like lick the chief of police, pee and poop
on the floor, and shed his dog hair on the chief’s favorite couch. He saves all the books in the world from
Petey, and keeps the city save from the evil mayor and an army of living
hotdogs.
The book exhibits
some crazy spelling and grammar problems that young readers can easily spot,
relate to, and laugh at. The
illustrations are funny and I love how Pilkey shares how he used drawing to
help him cope with his dyslexia and ADHD. The letter written by the teacher
adds humor while instilling a message of caution to adults about the dangers of
being close-minded. The “flip-e-rama” pages are also a great feature that will
have kids having fun while reading.
Frankencrayon
Hall,M. (2016). Frankencrayon.
NY. Harper Collins Publisher.
The first page introduces the
“Frankencrayon” picture book cast and crew and along with it a stamp that reads
the book has been cancelled. Then, an
official notice advises the reader to close the book and find something else to
read. Crayons are baffled and start lamenting the cancellation of the
book. Apparently, a scribble monster is
ruining everything and the more they try to fix it the worse it gets.
The book is appropriate for
children ages 4-8. The book is not your typical picture book
because it speaks directly to the readers “fourth wall”. It is a fun way to teach children the colors,
while trying to figure out the mystery of the scribble.
Worm Loves Worm
Austrian,
J.J. (2016). Worm loves worm. NY.
HarperCollins Publisher.
Two worms fall in love and want
to celebrate their love by getting married.
What should have been a simple affair turns into an ordeal when the
officiating Cricket brings up traditions and rituals and constantly brings up
ideas about how the affair should go. He
repeats the phrase “that’s how it’s always been done”. Issues the two Worms hadn’t even thought
about become nuisances. In the end, the
couple decides to do things their way by breaking any set norms set by society.
The author’s use of simple
language and colorful illustrations are two features that make this book
appropriate for young children. Parents and educators can teach concepts of
equality, same sex marriage, and acceptance using this endearing story where
love conquers it all.
The Dead Bird
Brown, M. (2016). The dead bird. NY. HaperCollins Publishers.
A group of young diverse children are playing in the park when
all of a sudden, they come upon a dead bird. They decide to do what they have
traditionally seen adults do when someone dies which is to give the deceased a
burial. During the funeral they sing a
song, mark the grave by adorning it with stones and finally say goodbye. Afterwards, they visit the grave until they
forget.
The fictional
book is intended for preschool children and can be used as a resource to discuss
the serious topic of death, and grief.
It can also be used to open a discussion about how different cultures
traditionally pay their respect to the dead.
In addition, reading about someone dying or someone losing a loved one
can always teach children about being empathetic toward others. In contrast to
the theme, the illustrations are bright-through the art work the reader can see
how the children feel about their loss.
The illustrations complement the simple language as well.
Tell Me A Tattoo Story
McGhee, A. (2016). Tell me a tattoo story. San Fransisco: Chronicle Books.
In this story,
a little boy asks his father to tell him the stories of what his tattoos mean,
even though he knows them already. His
dad goes on to explain what each tattoo stands for and what each mean. The father talks about the tattoo that tells
the story of his mother reading to him.
He also talks about the one that explains how he met his wife. They are all obviously important to him, but
one is especially special and that is the tattoo of his son’s birth. The son listens intently enjoying the time he
is spending with his father and learning about his family.
This picture
book is intended for preschool children. The story is refreshing in that it is
the first I see depict a person with tattoos in such a positive way. The man with tattoos is depicted as a good
family man and a loving father and not the stereotypical gang member. This book is definitely a window for readers
who might not have family members who have tattoos. It can help them understand that not everyone
who has tattoos is a bad news. In
addition, it can just as well be a mirror to some of our young children who
have parents or family members with many tattoos.
Snappsy The Alligator
Falatko, J. (2016). Snappsy the alligator. NY. Viking.
Falatko, J. (2016). Snappsy the alligator. NY. Viking.
Snappsy the alligator isn’t very
happy. There is an intrusive book
narrator including him in a story he
does not wish to play a part in. Worst
of all, the narrator seems to be set on misinterpreting his every move and
making Snapssy look like a viscous predator who is out hunting defenseless
critters. Snapssy feels exasperated and
is ready to snap when the story takes a peculiar twist. Realizing he can’t get rid of the determined
narrator, he decides to throw a party to liven the story up. He even lets the narrator join in and
everyone has a great time.
The
picture book is appropriate for children in pre-school to 2nd grade.
The illustrations are big and goofy and help tell the story. The language is simple and easy to follow
perfect for young readers. The book can be utilized to teach children about the
importance of questioning what they read or analyzing what the narrator claims
to be the truth.
Pink is for Blobfish
Keating, J. (2016). Pink is for blobfish. New York: Scholastic Inc.
Keating, J. (2016). Pink is for blobfish. New York: Scholastic Inc.
This is an interesting read about different bizarre, pink creatures
from all around the world. Some of these
animals are so peculiar most of us don’t even know they exist. Young readers will have a blast discovering
these amazingly odd, creepy, funny looking creatures!
The illustrations are colorful, and I love that one whole page
is reserved for a full size photograph of the animal for a close look. The book
provides a lot of information without overwhelming the pages with too much text.
The use of different size fonts are used in a uniform manner helping keep
things looking uncluttered. Large font is used for introducing the animal,
medium font for the introductory paragraph, and smaller font for encyclopedia-like
information. The author also adds credibility by including online resources,
books and magazines that were used as references and that the reader can refer
to for additional information. Overall, this book is wonderful because it can
infuse discovery and spark creativity in young readers.
Radiant Child
Javaka, S. (2016). Radiant child: the story of young artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. New York: Little, Brown and Company.
This is a biographical book about Jean- Michel Basquiat a
genius boy whose dream of becoming an artist came true. The book offers a glimpse
into Jean-Michel’s childhood and early career.
It explains how Jean-Michel’s love for art developed when his artistic
mother used to draw and paint with him as a child, take him to museums, and
taught him to see art in the city he lived-New York.
The bold and colorful illustrations mirror Jean-Michel’s style
of fragmented, and messy artwork that conveys a message that unique and
different is a quality that should be embraced and not shunned. There is beauty is everything, even in art
that does not stay inside the lines. The book includes a short biographical
page titled “More about Jean-Michel Basquiat” along with information about his
artwork and a note form the author.
Overall, it is a great book about a true artist who’s climb to fame and
tragic end can inspire other aspiring artists.
The Night Gardener
Fan, T., & Fan, E. (2016). The
night gardener. London: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books. 
Something amazing has happened in Grimlock Lane. William a young boy wakes up to find that a
tree has been trimmed and shaped to look like an owl. He is blown away with this topiary and stares
and gawks at it all day long until dark.
The next morning he is surprised again with rabbit and then parakeet, elephant,
and the most amazing dragon he had ever seen.
The whole neighborhood is enchanted with the magnificent topiaries. One night, William notices someone unfamiliar
and realizes he is the night gardener.
They spend all night cutting and clipping trees into something or
other. The night gardener even gifts
William a pair of and gifts a pair of
shears. After the weather got colder, the
leaves changed color and fell leaving no sign of the night gardener, but his
work had been done. The people who lived
in Grimlock Lane were never the same especially William who was doing some
topiary of his own.
The illustrations of the book tell a story of a place that is
not so interesting at first. People are
routinely walking with their heads bowed down, children are idly sitting doing
nothing of interest. The colors used in
the beginning are grey and gloomy and as the topiary appear-color and
excitement appear as well.
Wolf Camp
Zuill, A. (2016). Wolf camp. New York:
Schwartz & Wade Books. 
Homer is your friendly, typical dog who deep down wants to be
more like his distant and wild relative, the wolf. He has the opportunity to attend camp and
live like one for a whole week; he is determined to go. He shows the flyer advertising the Wolf Camp
to his people and they agree to let do it. To Homer this will be a dream come true! He is accompanied by his friends Trixie and
Rex who are also very excited to let their inner wolf resurface. They are met by Fang and Grr two wild looking
wolves who teach them how to howl, track, and hunt. Homer realizes he doesn’t like his hair on
his food and writes his people a letter asking them to send him his favorite
bacon flavored snack. At the end of camp he becomes an honorary wolf and he has
the certificate to prove it.
I enjoyed the illustrations in this book very much. Homer is
depicted as docile and a little wimpy in contrast to the big, wild wolves. The full page illustrations clearly add to
the short simple text. In the end, Homer a typical indoor dog feels empowered
by his wolf camp adventure.
Du Iz Tak?
Ellis, C. (2016).
Du iz that?. London: Walker Books.
A bunch of curious bugs are intrigued by a tiny growing
plant. In bug language, they ask each
other “Du iz tak?” As the plant grows so
does their own curiosity. They decide to
use a ladder and climb up the plant.
Eventually they build a “furt”.
The fort and all the bugs survive a spider trying to invade, but who
ends up being a huge bird’s lunch. They enjoy it for a while until the weather
is too cold and the plant withers and dies.
I loved the way the
narrative, although in bug language, can be completely understood because of
the illustrations that accompany it. This
makes it a perfect book for young readers. As the reader flips the pages more
detailed illustrations are added and the reader is immersed in what those
little bugs are communicating, thinking, and feeling. I’m sure readers will have fun trying to read
it themselves or listening to someone else read it.
We are Growing
Keller, L. (2016). We are growing!. New York: Hyperion
Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group.
Elephant and Piggie are excited to read a book about growing
grass! Who knew that reading about growing grass could be so much fun? Walt is the first grass leave to realize he has
grown, and just as he was explaining that growing was really hard work, the
others started to grow as well. They
were all happy to be growing, but they realize they were all starting to look
different from each other. One is the
tallest, another the curliest, pointiest, silliest, crunchiest, and
dandiest. Walt, however, didn’t know
what he was. Soon, it wouldn’t matter
because they were all mowed down. A pair
of insects assure the disappointed grass leaves they would grow again. At that moment, Walt suggests cleaning up all
the mess left behind by the grass cutter and realizes he is the neatest. His friends all agree. Elephant and Piggie have such a great time
reading this book that they also realize something about themselves. They both exclaim, “We are the readiest”
This book is perfect to introduce the theme about growing up
and being different and unique. A whole
lesson about adjectives can also be planned and enjoyed by young children. The huge text is a feature that makes it
easier to read for the beginning reader.
The use of onomatopoeia makes language feel playful and fun. The full and double page illustrations are
wonderful and captivating; they are bright, huge, and silly. What I enjoyed the most was the message the
author wants to convey. We are all
different and unique- we are all the “something-est”.
They all Saw a Cat
Wenzel, B. (2016).
They all saw a cat. San
Francisco, California: Chronicle Books.
The main character, a cat strolls through with its whiskers,
ears, and paws while being observed by many different creatures. They all see him from their own perspective.
The cat morphs slightly or a whole bunch with every passerby who happens to see
him.
Wenzel uses simple text and repetition in her writing to
create rhythm something that young children really enjoy. The author also incorporates artistic full
page and double page illustrations that show the reader how the child, dog, fox
fish, mouse, bee bird, flea, snake, skunk, and worm see the cat. For instance, the child sees a fluffy, cute
cat because that’s what the illustration depicts, while the mouse sees a
menacing creature ready to gobble him up.
I love this book too because there are so many wonderful themes to
explore. Observation, curiosity,
perception, perspective and imagination, self-discovery, and exploration.
Excellent Ed
Mcanulty, S. (2016).
Excellent Ed. New York: Random House USA Inc.
The Ellis family is very talented and Ed their dog is feeling
a little left out. He doesn’t quite
think he is excellent at anything and wonders if his lack of excellence is the
reason he is not allowed to do certain things like eat at the table, sit on the
couch, ride in the van and use the indoor restroom. Ed is determined to figure
out what he is excellent in. Every time
he thinks he has, one of the children steals his thunder. Ed is about to give up when all of a sudden
he is told he is the best floor cleaner and the best welcomer. Ed rationalizes that these excellent
abilities are the reason he doesn’t eat at the table (he is great at cleaning
floors), and he doesn’t ride in the van (so he can welcome everyone back). He is left to wonder why he is not allowed to
use the indoor restroom. (LOL!)
The illustrations and colors in this book are very
unique. The dog is drawn in pencil lines
and everything else is illustrated in watercolors. The colors that dominate throughout are
shades of yellow and green which give the book a warm and inviting feel. Added
pictures of Ed rolling around in the grass at the beginning and end of the book
make for an added feature that kids can enjoy.
Overall, a positive message about everyone having special abilities is
conveyed through Ed the dog.
School's First Day of School
Rex, A. (2016). School’s first
day of school. New York: Roaring
Brook Press.
Everyone
gets the jitters about the first day of school.
You start to wonder many things like “Will I know anyone in my class,”
and “will the teacher be nice?” This book gives us insight on how the School
(the building) feels about the first day of school. Fredrick Douglass Elementary School is a
brand new school, who only knew Janitor.
He told School there would be a teacher and children coming soon. School
was very nervous about everything. On the first day, School couldn’t believe
the number of children who showed up. He
felt excited, but that feeling changed to sadness when he overheard a couple of
boys and a little freckled girl say they didn’t like School. “I must be awful,” said School to
himself. There was also a fire drill
that made him feel a little embarrassed. By lunch time he was relaxing a
little; he listened to some jokes, learned about shapes, and admired the little
freckled girl’s portrait of non-other than himself. At three, all the kids left home, and janitor
was back. Janitor told School he was very lucky to be a school.
Children
who read this book will be happy to see roles reversed. It is usually children who get nervous and
jittery, but now it is the school who feels this way. Young and older children can relate to
School making the book appealing for all.
I thought the illustrations were simple, shapy and depicted the school
setting perfectly. It is a perfect read
for the first week of the school.
Thunder Boy Jr.
Sherman, A. (2016). Thunder boy jr. New York; Boston:
Little, Brown and Company.
Thunder
Boy Jr. is unhappy with the name given to him at birth. He is named after his
father, Thunder Sr. who he loves very much, but he still would like a more
normal name or one that says something about him. He hates being called little thunder! He says
it makes him sound like a “burp or a fart”.
He tries a few unique names that celebrate something special he has
done. He also compares his name to that
of his moms’ and sisters’. Just when he
thought he would never get a new name, his father surprised him with one that
was absolutely perfect.
This is a
multicultural book that can be used to teach about different cultures and
traditions. The bold illustrations add
to the text and are captivating. The
text is a combination of large, bold font and smaller font is used in short,
simple sentences. Aesthetically speaking, I think everything about this book is
appealing even though some children might not understand the whole changing
your name tradition without guidance.
I Hear a Pickle
Isadora, R.
(2016). I hear a pickle: (and smell, see,
touch, and taste it, too!) New York, NY: Nancy Paulsen Books.
A great book to
teach children about the senses. The book was divided into sections: hear,
smell, see, touch and taste. It helps
children explore what the different senses can do for them. For instance you can see the snow falling,
but you can hear it.
The book is appealing for many reasons.
The obvious is that it teaches younger children the concept of the
senses in a fun way. The illustrations
are too cute, starting with the front cover.
The kid eating a pickle and the word crunch next to it makes it a
relatable subject for all kids. Having
different illustrations for each of the things one of the adorable kids are
hearing, smelling, seeing, touching and tasting is visually helpful for
beginning readers. Even though the pages
were filled with a number of scenes, clutter was not a problem. I have read all the books to my 2 and half
year old daughter.
