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Posts Tagged ‘Ages 4-5’
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
 + + + + Is There a Monster Over There?
Author/Illustrator: Sally O. Lee
Paperback: 36 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (February 13, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1450531024
ISBN-13: 978-1450531023
Book description: Mabel and her cat Tiffany are afraid of monsters. Mabel thinks they are hiding under her bed or in her closet. One day she decides to face the monster and she learns an important lesson about overcoming fears.
Book review: The illustrations perfectly match the mood of the story, evolving from scary to imaginatively playful as Mabel overcomes her fear of monsters. What a great story for young readers who are afraid of the dark; a really non-threatening way of facing those scary beasties and making friends with them.
Tags: Ages 4-5, Ages 4-8, Author last name L, bedtime, bedtime story, Highly Recommended titles, monsters, scary, Title I
Posted in Book Reviews |
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
 + + + + Passing By
Author: Yona Tepper
Illustrator: Gil-ly Alon Curiel
Reading level: Baby-Preschool
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Kane/Miller Book Publishers; 1 edition (January 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 193527936X
ISBN-13: 978-1935279365
Book description: Yael peeks out from her balcony and sees everything that’s happening in the street below, from the cat in the garden next door to a green tractor chugging down the road. Finally, she sees the best thing – her dad on his way home! There’s one surprise after another in Passing By, and children will love guessing where everyone is coming from and where they’re going to.
Book review: The view from Yael’s balcony is awesome and little ones will love guessing and exploring each new discovery. Loved the point of view – young readers will immediately relate. This is what makes reading fun for little ones!
Tags: Ages 0-4, Ages 4-5, Author last name T, Highly Recommende dtitles, preschool, Title P
Posted in Book Reviews |
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
 + + + Andy and Sam Hide-and-Seek
Author: Liesbet Slegers
Reading level: Baby-Preschool
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Kane/Miller Book Publishers; 1 edition (January 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1935279351
ISBN-13: 978-1935279358
Book description: An engaging seek and find book for young children – each colorful spread asks simple questions: Where is the rabbit? Who is living in the apple? How many elephants are there in the zoo?
Book review: A colorful first seek-and-find for little ones. Totally engages the little mind and starts them seeking details in each illustration, helping them develop skills that will make them solid readers. Great for long car or plane trips. Especially perfect for young lovers of cats, as there is a hidden cat in each picture.
Tags: Ages 0-4, Ages 4-5, Author last name S, cats, fun, hide-and-seek, Recommended titles, search and find, Title A
Posted in Book Reviews |
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
 + + + + One Night in the Zoo
Author/Illustrator: Judith Kerr
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Kane/Miller Book Publishers (March 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1935279378
ISBN-13: 978-1935279372
Book description: One magical, moonlit night in the zoo…an elephant jumped in the air and flew! But nobody knew. So begins an extraordinary night. The zoo is filled with the wild antics, high spirits and sily games of some of the, most beloved zoo animals…does anyone know? Will anyone find out? Nobody…except you!
Book review: This is what the best children’s books are made of: magical imagination, silly and creative instances and pure fun. One Night in the Zoo has all that and more. Kerr’s carefully drawn, colorful menagerie perks the imagination and invites readers to pretend along–which we do all too willingly and discover pure fun! Little ones will love counting the animals and turning the page to see what new clever event awaits.
Tags: Ages 4-5, Ages 4-8, animals, Author last name K, counting, fun, Highly Recommended titles, silly, Title O, zoo
Posted in Book Reviews |
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
 + + + + Boom Bah!
Author: Phil Cummings
Illustrator: Nina Rycroft
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Kane/Miller Book Publishers; 1 edition (January 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 193527922X
ISBN-13: 978-1935279228
Book description: Shhh . . . Listen! What’s that sound? TING! When a tiny mouse taps a cup with a spoon and creates a simple TING! everyone else wants to join in. Ting! Tong! Clickety-click! Clap your hands and join the band as it gathers and grows from a solo performance, to an explosive full orchestra.
Book review: Lyrical prose and dancing, music-playing animals draw young readers in. It starts with a mouse and a spoon, then a cat joins in with a tin can and a spatula, then a hen joins in, followed by a goat and several more animals until the whole barnyard comprises a band. Kids will love the alliteration and the growing number of animal characters as the music grows. A great book to practice counting and reading.
Tags: Ages 4-5, Ages 4-8, animals, Author last name C, farm animals, fun, Highly Recommended titles, music, Title B
Posted in Book Reviews |
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
 + + + + + A Paddling of Ducks: Animals in Groups from A to Z
Author: Marjorie Blain Parker
Illustrator: Joseph Kelly
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press, Ltd. (March 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 155337682X
ISBN-13: 978-1553376828
Book description: Featuring groups of animals from an army of ants to a herd of zebras, this book takes young children on a wildly imaginative tour through a zany animal kingdom. Each group of animals is described using a collective noun (for example, a skulk of foxes, a nest of vipers, a labor of moles). Joseph Kelly s richly detailed illustrations show animals engaged in gently surreal play on a summer day in various park-like settings. Young readers will revel in the visual jokes and puns on every page.
Book review: LOVED this book. The illustrations are superb, fun and very appealing. Reading this with your little one is a real visual treat as you run through the alphabet of animals and take in their silly fun on each page. Definitely an ABC book worth buying and adding to your home library. Will be a favorite for years to come.
Tags: abc, Ages 4-5, Ages 4-8, alphabet, animals, Author last name P, humor, Outstanding titles, Title A
Posted in Book Reviews |
Thursday, February 18th, 2010
 + + + Mandie Pandie in “The Curfew”
Author/Illustrator: Samuel Vera
Publisher: Crazee Comics, November 2008
Ages: 4-8
http://www.crazeecomics.com
Book description: When a young girl named Mandie Pandie decides to stay up past her bedtime, she finds she has entered a nightmarish world. Now Mandie Pandie must escape the clutches of Witches and Goblins and get back home with her friends Bunny and Bear. Does Mandie Pandie learn a valuable lesson about having a curfew?
Book review: A great read for ages 4-8. Vera’s illustrations are laughable and quite expressive, making this page turner more silly than scary, but he gets the point across.
Here’s the breakdown:
Characters: Mandie does what we all desire: she stays up way past her bedtime.
Events/story line: But what happens next serves as a chilling, but humorous, reminder that mom and dad know best.
Illustrations: These illustrations are so expressive – the looks on Mandie and her friends’ faces! They will definitely give parents a great chuckle.
Reader relevance: 4-5 yr. olds can try out their fantasy of staying up past their bedtime in this comic.
Reader Excitability/ Overall Presentation: A little different from the other comics by Samuel Vera that I have reviewed so far, but definitely a worthwhile comic to read with your little one that will spark an interest in comics.
Tags: Ages 4-5, Author last name V, bedtime, Crazee Comics, humor, Recommended titles, Title M
Posted in Book Reviews |
Monday, February 1st, 2010
 + + + + + The Kissing Hand
Author: Audrey Penn
Illustrators: Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Tanglewood Press (July 25, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1933718072
ISBN-13: 978-1933718071
Book description: Chester Raccoon doesn’t want to go to school–he wants to stay home with his mother. She assures him that he’ll love school–with its promise of new friends, new toys, and new books. Even better, she has a special secret that’s been in the family for years–the Kissing Hand. This secret, she tells him, will make school seem as cozy as home. She takes her son’s hand, spreads his tiny fingers into a fan and kisses his palm–smack dab in the middle: “Chester felt his mother’s kiss rush from his hand, up his arm, and into his heart.”
Book review: As a mother I was very touched by “The Kissing Hand.” This is an idea mothers can share with their little ones and easily implement creating both confident kiddos and childhood memories to treasure.
Here’s the breakdown:
Characters: Chester and his mother quickly resonate with the young reader especially in their dialog where Mother Raccoon is soothing and reassuring, wise and nurturing.
Events / Story Line: It’s Chester’s first ‘night’ of school and he’s nervous and wants to stay home with mother where everything is comforting and familiar. Mrs. Raccoon shows him a special way to keep ‘in touch’ with her throughout the night by teaching him about the kissing hand.
Illustrations: The illustrations are wonderful and remind me of the old Golden Books. Filling the page, detailed and comforting, they underscore the warmth of the narration.
Reader relevance: This is the perfect gift for a child starting school! Little one’s will relate to Chester’s feelings and love the concept of the kissing hand.
Reader Excitability / Overall Presentation: Moms will absolutely be touched. Little ones will immediately take to the idea of a kissing hand – if they haven’t already been doing this at home.
Tags: Ages 0-4, Ages 4-5, Author last name P, first day of school, kindergarten, Outstanding titles, Title K
Posted in Book Reviews |
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
 * * * Wet Friend! (Adventure of Meno)
Authors: Angela & Tony Diterlizzi
Illustrator: Tony Diterlizzi
Reading level: Baby-Preschool
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing (October 6, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416971491
ISBN-13: 978-1416971498
Book review: If you are looking for untarnished innocence, joy and glee read the Meno books. Add me to the fan club, please! My six-year old (and certainly younger children) will love these not only because he can master the language, but also because the story is appealing, silly and fun.
Tags: Ages 0-4, Ages 4-5, Ages 4-8, Author last name D, baby, Meno, Outstanding titles, Title A, Title M, Title W, toddler
Posted in Book Reviews |
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
 * * Big Fun! (Adventure of Meno)
Authors: Angela & Tony Diterlizzi
Illustrator: Tony Diterlizzi
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing (October 6, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416971483
ISBN-13: 978-1416971481
Book review: Silly! Definitely a toddler-tickler that will have your tot giggling at the end. The illustrations are nostalgic-esque and remind me of both the Jetsons and the Campbell Soup kids; the books definitely have a ‘nostalgic commercial feel’ and I could just imagine product placement here–great for merchandising, right? Great colorful pages and great lovable characters. For parents that care, this book has very mild bathroom humor which is pleasing to this age group, but is also a heads up for those to whom it might matter.
Tags: Ages 0-4, Ages 4-5, Ages 4-8, Author last name D, baby, Highly Recommended titles, Meno, Title A, Title B, Title M, toddlers
Posted in Book Reviews |
Friday, November 6th, 2009
 * * * Ten Hats: A Counting Book
Author: Carolyn Mott Ford
Illustrator: Jack Gordon
Paperback: 34 pages
Publisher: E & E Publishing (September 11, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0979160626
ISBN-13: 978-0979160622
Book description: This is a counting book showing the different kinds of hats worn by amusing animal characters doing different jobs. It ends with the hat worn by a kindergarten graduate (a young bunny), with the promise that “you can be anything you want to be!” Can serve as an early reader.
Book review: The perfect book for your little reader! Counting backwards, ‘playing dress-up’ and dreaming big! The repetition is fun and seeing who wears the next hat is a definitely a big hook. Loved the concept and the ending. A worthwhile book that offers something more than just counting.
Tags: Ages 4-5, Author last name F, counting, Outstanding titles, Title T
Posted in Book Reviews |
Thursday, September 10th, 2009
 * Cookie
Author: Lisa Woomer
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 28 pages
Publisher: Outskirts Press (March 17, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1432730207
ISBN-13: 978-1432730208
Book description: How many cookies can one little girl eat before something strange begins to happen? Once there was a very happy little girl who loved cookies. She loved them so much that she wouldn’t eat anything but cookies-cookies for breakfast, cookies for lunch, cookies for dinner. (Need we even mention dessert?) Her parents tried everything they could think of to get her to eat the right foods, but all she would eat were cookies! Then one day, she began to change.
Book review: Get the point about good eating across with Cookie. Not only will the younger kids (4-5, 6) get a kick out of this tale, the older kids will love reading it to them. Imaginative and a topic of great interest, Cookie can help your little ones make better food choices.
Tags: Ages 4-5, Author last name W, healthy eating, Recommended titles, Title C
Posted in Book Reviews |
Sunday, July 20th, 2008
 * * * Tiger at The Table
Author: Scott Parish
Illustrator: Andrew Chandler
Pamphlet: 14 pages
Publisher: Lulu Press
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1411647041
ISBN-13: 978-1411647046
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 * * * Tigre a La Mesa
Author: Scott Parish
Illustrator: Andrew Chandler
Pamphlet: 14 pages
ISBN-10: 141166003X
ISBN-13: 978-1411660038
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Book review: Both these books are ADORABLE! The lesson is simple and easily grasped by your little one. The illustrations just make these books instant favorites.
I’ve had these books for sometime and finally have a book review blog to share them with my readers! Author Scott Parish is a Dad and writes from experience with a lot of love and creativity.
You can buy both these books on Lulu.com.
Tags: Ages 0-4, Ages 4-5, animals, Author last name P, manners, Outstanding titles, Spanish, tigers, Title T
Posted in Book Reviews |
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