Archive for July 27, 2015

The Seeds of Friendship

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Written and Illustrated by Michael Foreman

When Adam and his family move to a new city, he naturally misses the sights and sounds of his old home. The new home seems gray and uninviting. And he has no friends. He draws pictures that remind him of home and asks his parents to tell him stories. He even does outlines of animals from home on the frosted windows in his building. Finally, he gets to see snow for the first time in his life. As a group of kids build a snowman, Adam quietly builds a snow elephant. The kids take up the idea, and they soon have a whole snow zoo. When Adam starts to school, many of his new friends are in his school. His teacher provides him with seeds from the school’s green space, which starts Adam and his friends on the road to a whole series of window boxes and rooftop gardens.

The wonderful text in this book shows how all you need to make a friendship is some common ground. It also shows how a little green space can improve your enjoyment of a place. First graders can start their own little gardens and read more about urban green spaces while practicing their literacy skills.

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  • Seeds of FriendshipTitle: The Seeds of Friendship
  • Author/Illustrator: Michael Foreman
  • Published: Candlewick Press, August 2015
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska
  • Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
  • Grade Level: PreK to 3
  • Genre: Fiction, Picture book, Friendship
  • ISBN: 978-0-7636-7834-0

 

Posted in 2015, Fiction, Friendship, Picture book tagged with ,

Dilly Dally Daisy

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Written and Illustrated by Mark Fearing

Getting out the door on time is a challenge for all of us, but especially for children engaged in playing. Mark Fearing uses lively, funny illustrations of Daisy as she is waylaid by activities as well as by her inability to make a decision.

As is natural, little episodes, like having a favorite shirt in the dirty clothes hamper can turn a day into a dismal disaster. Preschool, kindergarten, and grade one readers will giggle their way through pages even though, they recognize themselves in some situations.

Parents, and teachers can use this as a realistic and fun way to help children set a goal for themselves to be on time. Discussions about putting clothes out the night before or preparing a bag for piano lessons or swim lessons can follow each reading.

While this book would fit core curriculum standards for literacy, there are several basic life skills involved in getting to appointments on time that can relieve much family and personal stress whether it is on some educational standard list or not.

This is a good book that should be part of every child’s library collection where preschoolers visit.

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  • Dilly Dally DaisyTitle: Dilly Dally Daisy
  • Author/Illustrator: Mark Fearing
  • Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers/ Penguin, 2015
  • Reviewer: Elizabeth Swartz
  • Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
  • ISBN: 978-0-8037-4065-5
  • Genre: picture book fiction
  • Grade level: PreK to 1
Posted in 2015, Fiction, Picture book tagged with

Max the Brave

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Written and Illustrated by Ed Vere

In this adorable picture book with equally adorable illustrations, first graders learn what it’s like to face your worst fears and to be brave in facing them. It all depends on what name you put on it.

For all his blustering, small kitten Max doesn’t know what he has gotten himself into by saying he will chase mice. He is young and cute and has never encountered a mouse. He’s so cute, he gets dressed up with bows. And he doesn’t want to be cute. He wants to be brave. He discovered: no mice in tin cans, flies are not mice, goldfish are not mice, birds are not mice, elephants are not mice, and even mice are not mice. At least, that’s what mice will tell you. Mice are monsters and monsters are mice. So, mice are scary and Max should chase monsters instead.

Whether read independently or as a read aloud bedtime book, kids will see that bravery (and chasing mice) is not always desirable. Assessing the situation, however, is always a good idea. Small kittens should avoid large teeth and even large sneezes. The illustrations, alone, are laugh out loud funny.

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  • Max the BraveTitle: Max the Brave
  • Author/Illustrator: Ed Vere
  • Published: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, September 1, 2015
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska
  • Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
  • Grade Level: PreK to 3
  • Genre: Fiction, Humor
  • ISBN: 978-1-4926-1651-1

 

Posted in 2015, Fiction, Humor tagged with ,

Papa Gave Me a Stick

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Written by Janice Levy
Illustrated by Simone Shin

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Always. And the stick that Antonio’s papa gives him is certainly no exception. What Antonio really wants is a guitar (guitarra), but the best his papa can do is a stick with which to play. Antonio soon encounters a dog who needs help lighting a fire – to keep warm. His stick is perfect. The grateful dog brings him a tortilla. The tortilla saves a starving bird, who gives him a string. The string is used to pull a burro’s tooth. The burro’s blanket saves a drowning cat. The cat gives Antonio a ring he’d found. The ring proves to be the lost ring of a mariachi musician, who is about to get married. The man is so grateful, he gives Antonio the guitarra he wished for.

The illustrations are wonderful and in keeping with the lightheartedness of the story.

Mexican culture and language are highlighted in this delightfully simple story. First graders and older will love learning and pronouncing the Spanish words and delight in the lovely conclusion to the story.

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  • Papa Gave Me a StickTitle: Papa Gave Me a Stick
  • Author: Janice Levy
  • Illustrator: Simone Shin
  • Published: Star Bright Books, 2015
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska
  • Format: Hardcover, 40 pages
  • Grade Level: PreK to 2
  • Genre: Fiction, Helping others, Language, Culture
  • ISBN: 978-1595723420
  • Extras: Glossary, Mariachi instruments
Posted in 2015, Culture, Family, Fiction