Best Read-Aloud Books And Browsing Collection, Grades 2-3

23 Pages·2012·0.3 MB·English

Curriculum Laboratory
Best Read-Aloud Books And Browsing Collection, Grades 2-3
For further assistance in using any of the resources in the Lab, please ask at the Curriculum Lab Information Services Desk Introduction To The Collection and Booklists:
In 2013, the browsing collection of these titles will be found at the beginning of our Fiction Collection. The lists and the collection make an excellent place to start, if you are looking for
well reviewed titles to share with your students. Read-aloud books are also great for independent reading choices, as can be seen from the reviews. As these titles are ordered and received
into the collection, you will also be able to browse these titles in the catalogue by searching for “read aloud books” or “bestread.” You can also add your favourite subject to your search to
find great read-alouds for the classroom curriculum. The grade level recommendations are to be considered an approximation. You be the judge if your students would like a title in your
particular grade. Note: “EC” level on any of the titles indicates it as a read aloud suitable for preschool children. The read-aloud level is usually lower than the independent reading level, so
also pay attention to the reading level in the reviews, if the title is to be read independently by children.. Many of these titles are also found in the main Curriculum Laboratory collection, so
check the library catalogue.
These Read Aloud Lists were consulted:
• Read Aloud America, found at: http://www.readaloudamerica.org/
• Great Books To Read Aloud, found at: http://www.randomhousesites.co.uk/childrens/GreatBookstoReadAloud/Great%20Books.pdf
• The Treasury of Read-Alouds by Jim Trelease, found at: http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/rah-treasury-intro.html
• E.B. White Read Aloud Awards
• The Alberta Read Aloud Registry
• EPL Books To Read Aloud, Good Read Alouds For The Family, NYPL Great Books For PreK To Read Aloud, from Lethbridge Public Library’s Bibliocommons lists.
The reviews are quoted from Books In Print Online, used under the Fair Dealing clause for research and reviewing purposes.
Helpful brochures: (found at http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/brochures.html)
• Why Read Aloud to Children?
• Thirty DO's to Remember When Reading Aloud
• A Dozen DON'Ts to Remember When Reading Aloud
1
Bibliographic Review:
Information:
Ahlberg, Allan School Library Journal: Gr 2-5-This fourth book about the Gaskitts is genuinely entertaining. Horace, the family's cat, describes it as "unputdownable," and it
Katharine McEwen is. Several threads occur simultaneously: Dad chases the baby in a runaway stroller; taxi driver mom finds unusual packages left in her cab; and the children
(Illustrator) try to solve the mystery of their teacher's strange behavior. McEwen's quaint, cartoon illustrations are integrated throughout the chapters and have captions
The children who that tell yet additional tales. Teachers will find useful Ahlberg's inclusion of literary devices in addition to the multiple adventures of the Gaskitts. The book
smelled a rat has 16 easy-to-read chapters, a glossary, a table of contents, and footnotes referencing events that occurred in the previous adventures-all devices to teach
2005 children about intricate and detailed story reading and writing. This is a gem of a book: funny, riveting, absorbing, unputdownable!-Jodi Kearns, University
of Akron, OH
Arnold, Katya Booklist: Gr. 1-3. Some elephants can paint! Arnold's unusual picture book centers on a group of pachyderms that do just that. They live in Thailand, where the
Elephants can paint slowing of the logging industry prompted the need to find alternative sources of funding for elephant care. Arnold, an art teacher, juxtaposes human art
too! students with the painting pachyderms in an effective presentation in which brief, matter-of-fact text contrasts hilariously with full-color photographs of
2005 elephants delicately gripping paintbrushes in their giant trunks, mischievously dunking their artwork in the river, and, occasionally, painting one another. It all
looks like great fun, with the elephants making a mess just as kids do. In addition to the silliness, there's some factual information--for example, an elephant's
trunk has 150,000 muscles, but the human body has only 639. An author's note provides information about the nonprofit Asian Elephant Art and Conservation
Project, which sells the work of elephant artists. --Diane Foote
Bailey, Linda After a brief snooze just before story time, Gordon Loggins wakes to discover a secret doorway leading to a forest -- right in the middle of the library! He
Tracy Walker quickly darts through and finds himself in the starring role of a familiar fairy tale. Goldilocks is missing and the three bears, frantic to find a replacement, tell
(Illustrator) Gordon he must fill in if the story is to go on. A refreshing and funny adaptation of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
Gordon Loggins and
the three bears
1997
Barrett, Judi This book, by the team that created Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, takes a quirky look at what might happen if animals decided to don additional
Animals should apparel.
definitely not wear
clothing
1990
Beam, Emily Guardian UK: The miniature but perfectly formed mouse/doll world is given a charming new outing in Tumtum and Nutmeg . The mouse couple set out to
Tumtum and Nutmeg improve the life of their impoverished host family by tidying, mopping, washing, stitching and more. Moving from their palatial and secure quarters to the
2007 dusty and abandoned doll's house, they become a Fairy of Sorts for the children in their care. But then grim Aunt Ivy, with an abiding hatred of mice, comes to
stay and it is all-out war. Can Tumtum and Nutmeg outwit her? Bring on the troops! There's a delightfully twitchy quality to Tumtum and Nutmeg which,
despite their clothes and their domesticity, makes them seem genuinely mousey, and the small-scale world they inhabit is full of just the right tiny details.The
miniature but perfectly formed mouse/doll world is given a charming new outing in Tumtum and Nutmeg . The mouse couple set out to improve the life of
their impoverished host family by tidying, mopping, washing, stitching and more. - Julia Eccleshare.
2
Bibliographic Review:
Information:
Bedard, Michael Booklist: Ages 5-9. For a slightly older crowd than preschoolers, this diverting story begins at the Colossal Duck Factory, where newborn quackers roll off the
Sitting ducks assembly line. Unbeknownst to them, they are being fattened for the alligator inhabitants of the town. One duck, however, escapes his fate and is befriended by
2001 an alligator, who eventually confesses what is in store for the little duck's brethren. Then it is up to the duck to sound the alarm and head to the rescue. All of
this is illustrated by Bedard, a well-known poster artist who is famous for his duck characters and who provides slick, airbrushed pictures that are heavy on the
fun. Some of the laughs will be best appreciated by adult readers: ducks exercising in a frenzy so that they can slim down enough to fly away, and such signs
as Fly or Die on the wall, but there's plenty here for kids, too, who will willingly go with the sassy text and singularly amusing art. --Ilene Cooper
Brown, Jeff Stanley Lambchop is just a normal boy, with a normal younger brother named Arthur, and two normal parents. That is, until a bulletin board falls on him
Scott Nash during the night and flattens him to half an inch thick! From this point on, Stanley will never again be just an ordinary boy. Whether he is flat, invisible, or in
(Illustrator) outer space, Stanley will have the adventures of a lifetime!
The Flat Stanley
collection: Stanley,
Flat again!/Invisible
Stanley/Stanley in
space/Flat Stanley
2006
Brown, Peter School Library Journal: PreS-Gr 1-Lucy, a young brown bear in a pink skirt and hair bow, meets the most adorable little boy in the forest one day. She takes
Children make him home, excitedly shows him to her mother, and begs, "Can I keep him, PLEASE?" Though her mother warns her that "children make terrible pets," Lucy
terrible pets is bound and determined to prove her wrong. Agreeing to take full responsibility for her new companion, Lucy and Squeaker eat, play, and nap together.
2010 However, the cub soon finds that there is some truth to her mother's admonitions. The child is hard on the furniture, creates chaos everywhere, and absolutely
refuses to be potty trained. When Squeaker goes missing, Lucy tracks him down and discovers that all involved will be better off if the lad remains where
she finds him. It's a hard truth, but Lucy has to admit that her mother was right. The amusing, soft-hued illustrations on tan backgrounds are worked in pencil
on cut construction paper and a bit of "digital tweaking." Each spread is placed on frames made of a variety of woods. The dialogue is shown in speech
bubbles, hand lettered by the author/illustrator, while the narration is placed in rectangular boxes. Appealing and humorous, with a lesson to boot!-Maryann
H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI
Brown, Peter Booklist: In a city without gardens or trees or greenery of any kind, a young, curious boy, Liam, discovers a few spindly flowers on an elevated train track.
The curious garden With pruning shears and water (and a few songs), he nurtures the little patch until it thrives and starts to spread. Soon, the entire track is covered in lush green.
2009 Throughout the snowy winter, the boy dreams and reads about plants, and when spring comes, his flowers inspire more gardeners all over the city. The simple
words have a lyrical, rhythmic quality that will read aloud well, and they reinforce the sense that the natural world is a living, breathing character. It's the
illustrations, though, that will engage kids most. Combining panels with full-page illustrations and many wordless spreads, the pages show the city's inspiring
progression from a dull, dreary place to a fantastical, organic metropolis. An image of Liam on a stealth gardening mission, disguised in sunglasses, hat, and
pint-size trenchcoat as he deposits sod and flowers onto a concrete strip, will amuse kids, even as it prompts them to think about unusual places gardens could
grow in their own communities. An author's note about the story's real-life roots concludes. For more books about young gardeners, see the accompanying
feature, Read-alikes: Green Thumbs. --Engberg, Gillian
3
Bibliographic Review:
Information:
Bunting, Eve School Library Journal: Gr 1-4-A poignant look at the pain inflicted upon one child by a dominant culture's heavy-handed attempt to ``help.'' Near the turn of
Irving Toddy the century, a Cheyenne boy, Young Bull, is forced to attend the off-reservation Indian school so that he can learn to become a part of the white world. He is
(Illustrator) housed in soulless barracks and shown repeatedly and quite blatantly that the Indian ways are no good. When he rebels and tries to run home in a snowstorm,
1995 he is caught, returned, and shackled for a day. The story, told from Young Bull's point of view, is not so much judgmental as empathetic-none of the authority
figures is an ogre. The agents for change here are not white bureaucrats, but Indians who have adopted white ways, and Young Bull clearly feels betrayed by
them. Toddy's acrylic and oil paintings add to the emotions expressed in the narrative. The openness, light, color, and individuality of the boy's home
surroundings are in sharp contrast to the formality, emptiness, and uniformity of the school. Young Bull's struggle to hold onto his heritage will touch
children's sense of justice and lead to some interesting discussions and perhaps further research.-Sally Margolis, formerly at Deerfield Public Library, IL
Bunting, Eve PW Annex Reviews: Bunting (Fly Away Home) once again delves into a timely social topic with a straightforward, rather simplistic treatment-in this instance,
Ted Lewin the integration of an immigrant child into a rural setting. Farah, on her second day of school, goes on a field trip to an apple orchard. "I think it odd to have
(Illustrator) boys and girls sit together. It was not like this in my village." Her first-person narration gives the story authenticity, making readers privy to a newcomer's
One green apple feelings of confusion and frustration. After her teacher explains that Farah is to pick only one apple, the girl chooses a hard, presumably unripe one from a tree
that "is small and alone, like me." She notices many things: her classmates' smiles (some unfriendly, some warmer); how her dupatta (head scarf) is the only
thing that sets her clothing apart from her peers; and how the sounds she hears (laughter, a classmate belching) are universal. Lewin's light-filled watercolors
often resemble photographs, especially when depicting the students. Though Farah's insightfulness seems beyond her years, the symbolism of her green apple
and the students' apple cider as a "melting pot" comes across as thoughtful, not overdone. Ages 5-8.
Cameron, Ann Booklist: Gr. 3-5. Seven-year-old Juan lives in Guatemala, a place of stunning natural beauty and grim economic reality. Abandoned by his mother when she
Thomas B. Allen remarries-- his stepfather didn't want him-- Juan lives with his grandmother. He shines shoes in front of the Tourist Office and knows his grandmother
The most beautiful appreciates the money. Yet, when he sees the other children, all neat and clean, going off to school, Juan is deeply envious. He passionately wants to attend,
place in the world but fearing Grandmother will say no, teaches himself to read. Finally gathering his courage, he asks if he might go to school and is surprised and relieved
1998 when Grandmother not only agrees but also chides him about the importance of standing up for himself. Juan does well in school and knows he can look to the
future with hope, secure in his grandmother's love and support. Juan tells this first-person, bittersweet story with warmth and dignity. Its simple directness,
almost naivete, will impress children. Allen's softly shaded pencil drawings offer a telling glimpse of Juan's home and village life. PW.
Carrier, Roch School Library Journal: Gr 2-4-- Readers are taken back in time to 1940, when the narrator was four years old. The world was in the midst of a war, yet in this
Gilles Pelletier small Canadian village of Sainte-Justine, families were able to carry on with holiday celebrations. And what joyful celebrations they were, with large groups
(Illustrator) gathered for the New Year's feast. This is a joyous recollection of just such a day. One can almost feel the warmth and spontaneous gaiety that unfolds when
A happy New Year’s the family gathers together. The text is simple and clear, describing many fascinating details of daily life. Yet the story transcends time as this family could just
day as well be a contemporary one. The writing is cohesive and does not linger in sentimentality or nostalgia. Playful illustrations are well suited to the text. Full-
1991 page paintings are done in a primitive style using bright, bold colors. They sparkle with energy and fun. Intricate details hold viewers' interest and will
guarantee repeated readings. --Alexandra Marris, Rochester Public Library, NY
Ceccoli, Nicoletta Publishers Weekly: In this version of the old story, quiet menace seems to pervade every scene. Evetts-Secker (The Barefoot Book of Mother and Son Tales)
(Illustrator) lingers on the darker bits of the tale, dwelling with spooky pleasure on the scene in which the wolf (whose long teal-colored tail and smooth skin seem
Little Red Riding positively reptilian) lures the girl off the path with the suggestion that she pick flowers for her grandmother: "Little Red Riding Hood gazed to the left, and
Hood gazed to the right, then back to the left path, thinking how much she would love to pick flowers." In Ceccoli's (The Faerie's Gift) dense pastels, the forest
2004 itself sways with indecision. Colorful birds swoop through the treetops, but the trees draw back, as if fearing the girl's rash act and its consequences. When
Little Red Riding Hood makes her way to grandmother's house, its sunny yellow walls loom over her, phantasmagorically. The famous observations are made
("Oh Grandmother! What big ears you have"), the girl is eaten, and the hunter arrives just in time to cut the wolf open and free its victims. The last page
shows grandmother and granddaughter sharing the meal the girl has brought; a reassuring end to an eerie journey. Ages 4-8.
4
Bibliographic Review:
Information:
Cronin, Doreen School Library Journal: K-Gr 2-Remember that audacious duck who made an appearance in Click, Clack, Moo (S & S, 2000)? Well, he's back in this
Betsy Lewin hilarious continuation of the subversive antics of Farmer Brown's animals. The farmer is off on a much-needed vacation, leaving his brother in charge with
(Illustrator) the admonition, "But keep an eye on Duck. He's trouble." Bob dutifully follows his brother's written instructions: "Tuesday night is pizza night .The hens
Giggle, giggle, quack prefer anchovies," and "Wednesday is bath day for the pigs. Remember, they have very sensitive skin," etc. Art and text cleverly play off one another. Early
2002 on, sharp-eyed viewers will observe that Duck is rarely without his pencil, thereby giving a clue as to who is really supplying the daily instructions. And
Lewin's animated cartoon art with its loosely composed black line manages to capture well-meaning, but perfectly clueless Bob and that pampered barnyard
crew. The scam ends when, during a check-in phone call, Farmer Brown hears "Giggle, giggle, quack" (the animals are watching The Sound of Moosic). Kids
old enough to catch on will delight in seeing the clever animals pull off another fast one.-Caroline Ward, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT
Demi Publishers Weekly: Whatever a beggar boy paints with his brush comes to life, in a masterful story that glows with Demi's jewel-like art. A Reading Rainbow
Liang and the magic selection. Ages 5-8.
paintbrush
2008
Denton, Kady School Library Journal: PreS-Gr 2-The abstract concept of time is explained in child-friendly terms: "A second is a hiccup-/The time it takes to kiss your
MacDonald mom/Or jump a rope/Or turn around." A minute is long enough to "sing just one small song," and in an hour, you could build a sandcastle, run through a
A second is a hiccup: sprinkler, climb a tree, and play pretend. A day "needs filling, like a cup," and a week is explained as "Seven wake-ups, seven sleeps." In a month, a scraped
A child’s book of shin will heal with "brand-new skin," and by the end of a year, "You'll grow right out of your old shoes." Denton's charming watercolor-and-ink vignettes,
time showing three friends interacting with one another and with their families, celebrate their joys and accomplishments with warmth and affection. The lyrical,
rhyming text answers deceptively simple childhood questions with great flair.-Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada
DiCamillo, Kate Booklist: PreS-Gr. 2. Mercy the pig, who proved herself a worthy child substitute in ercy Watson to the Rescue (2005), is up to her old tricks again. This time
Chris Van Dusen the self-absorbed, endearingly naughty Mercy brings many a child's dream to life: she squeezes herself onto Mr. Watson's lap and commandeers his beloved
(Illustrator) 1959 pink Caddy for a joyride. Van Dusen's larger-than-life characters and retro sensibility extend the dry humor of the situation, and his shiny, rainbow-bright
Mercy Watson goes gouache art shoots the energy, especially Mercy's, right off the page. Great for emergent readers. --Stephanie Zvirin
for a ride
2006
Doyen, Denise School Library Journal: K-Gr 3-Doyen's utterly sound and alive story is paired with the perfect illustrator, whose deft touch provides all the eeriness that it
Barry Moser begs for. The cautionary tale begins with the "eldermice" telling the youngsters who are gathered to play in the night air that the woods and ponds are filled
(Illustrator) with creatures dangerous to their kind. With gloriously nonsensical words and phrases (e.g., "scritchscrambles"), the author manages to get the point across
Once upon a twice that there is much to fear in the night. Jam Boy doesn't listen and instead brags that he is unafraid, and he stays to play alone by the pond. Here the language
2009 grows taut with suspense, and Moser's dark backdrop is punctuated with fireflies. "Half-submerged, a slender queen/Esses 'cross the pond unseen,/Sly
serpentine-bound not to miss.." Out of nowhere a snake roils, coils, and lashes. Splash! What has happened to Jam Boy? Children will be sitting on the edge
of their seats awaiting some news about their fallen protagonist. Despite the dark feel, there is much to rejoice about in learning of Jam Boy's fate. Ultimately
a story of youthful arrogance-or as Doyen calls it, "furry overconfidence"-versus the elders' wise experience, this wonderful book is a marvelous read-aloud
that children will want to hear again and again. It is too good to save for Halloween.-Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
5
Bibliographic Review:
Information:
Dunrea, Oliver Horn Book Magazine: (Primary) Kindly old Mem Pockets is about to lose her farm for nonpayment of taxes when her devoted hens remember the ""Secret of
Hanne’s quest Laying Golden Eggs,"" a legacy of ancient dragons. Little Hanne has yet to lay an egg, but since she's the only one hatched under a new moon, she takes up
2006 the challenge. Her quest is classic: to find an ancient barrow (where a mole appears to guide her), three standing stones (coming to life, they resemble the
Fates), and the sea; meanwhile, she eats three precious grains in each place. Since all is preordained, there's not a lot of tension here; what engages is the
affectionate, well-honed storytelling voice and the unassuming Hanne herself, whose innocence sustains her through every peril, including laying those eggs
once she's back home. The elemental simplicity of the folkloric setting is extended in the occasional full-page paintings with their elegant limning of minimal
detail and significant characters -- a wise old turtle who rescues Hanne from the sea, a boy who carries her homeward, Mem Pockets in her cozy kitchen.
Since young readers may be daunted by the solid blocks of text on the generously broad pages of this book, it may do best as a read-aloud.
Evyindson, Peter All the best wishes can bring more than you expect. When a grumbling young boy is tested by the Wish Wind, he learns all his requests are granted. Will he
Wendy Wolsak understand the value of patience and youth before he is too late?
(Illustrator)
The wish wind
Fleming, Candice Publishers Weekly: This onomatopoeic romp opens calmly, with a hopeful gardener planting a vegetable patch behind his brownstone house. Bright green
Brian Karas leaves sprout from the rich soil. " `Yum! Yum! Yummy!' said Mr. McGreeley. `I'll soon fill my tummy with crisp, fresh veggies.' " He doesn't notice a
(Illustrator)
cottontail trio watching expectantly from the garden wall. "And the sun went down. And the moon came up. And / Tippy-tippy-tippy, Pat!/ Spring-hurdle,/
Muncha! Muncha!
Dash! Dash! Dash!/ Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!" The brazen "twitch-whiskers" hop and dig their way to a fresh-picked salad, and Mr. McGreeley awakens
Muncha!
to a row of gnawed stems. Karas (Saving Sweetness), who works in chalky gray pencil with brick-red, kale-green and creamy-yellow gouache, pictures the
2002
bunnies waiting patiently as the incensed Mr. McGreeley builds a wire fence, a moat and an enormous cinderblock tower with searchlights. Fleming
(Gabriella's Song) demonstrates an ear for language as the suburban farmer battles his furry foes, night after night. The ritual culminates in the "gotcha"
finale, in which the rabbits seem defeated, only to burst into view with a vigorous repeat of the title. Fleming and Karas demonstrate great comic timing in
this high-spirited tale of one-upmanship. Ages 3-7.
Gaiman, Neil Booklist: Gr. 3-6. Gaiman's picture book about one little girl's prescient concern for the sanctity of her home is visually realized through collage and other
Dave McKean multimedia images that match the sometimes dark, fantastical story, tone for tone. Lucy is the first to hear wolves in the walls of her house, but her family,
(Illustrator) each of whom seems oblivious to the ambiguity of his or her reassurances, dismisses her worries. Indeed, the wolves do emerge, and the family decamps to the
The wolves in the garden, from which Lucy and her pig-puppet bravely lead the family's charge back to reclaim their house from the jam-eating, video-game-playing pack. With
walls the rhythms of an old fairy tale (the end is a new beginning of trouble in the walls), and startling graphics that force readers to look deeply into each scene, this
2003 is a book for the twenty-first-century child: visually and emotionally sophisticated, accessible, and inspired by both literary and popular themes and imagery. --
Francisca Goldsmith
George, Jean As hungry animals close in on an injured wolf, hoping to feed on him after death, help arrives to change the odds.
Craighead
John Schoenherr
(Illustrator)
The wounded wolf
1978
6
Bibliographic Review:
Information:
Gilmore, Don "Shortlisted for Governor General's Award for Children's Literature" Now an animated holiday special on Teletoon! Santa didn't make many mistakes. But he
Marie-Louise Gay made a big one when he asked what Anton Stingley wanted for Christmas. . . . . . Anton's list was sixteen pages long. On Christmas morning, there was one
(Illustrator) thing under the Stingley's tree. It was an orange. Anton was not pleased. He and his lawyer decided to sue Santa Claus. Everyone came. It was the trial of the
The Christmas orange century. But Santa Claus, alias Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas, Pere Noel - has a surprise up the sleeve of his old blue suit. Anton was stunned.
1998 What had he done? With the sparkle and snap of a holiday cracker, Don Gilmor and Marie-Louise Gay deliver The Christmas Orange, a witty, fun filled treat
for all.
Gilmore, Don Publishers Weekly: Gillmor and Gay (The Fabulous Song) team up again for a sympathetic account of a childhood crush in this good-natured book, which
Marie-Louise Gay wisely mentions love only in the title. Austin Grouper says "yuck" when he hears that Amy, a girl his age, has moved in next door. Yet he courts her attention
(Illustrator) by dressing as a superhero and sculpting a dinosaur out of Popsicle sticks in her yard. " `Dinosaurs had very small brains,' Amy said. She was wearing a blue
Yuck, a love story sweater with horses on it. `So do you,' Austin told her, and went home." On Amy's birthday, Austin doesn't get her an ordinary present. He literally lassoes the
2000 moon (alluding to It's a Wonderful Life's romance) and drags it into Amy's backyard, although he never explains why he goes to so much trouble for a girl.
Amy accepts his gift politely. Gay, whose round-faced characters recall Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts, pays attention to small details. A loyal brown dog follows
Austin everywhere, and Amy's three orange-spotted kittens observe each awkward meeting between the tentative couple. Gillmor portrays Austin's
contradictory behavior with understanding, but doesn't sustain the screwball comedy; Amy doesn't tease Austin back, and Austin spends too many spreads
alone, wrangling with the moon. The book veers into fantasy rather than developing the everyday drama it so nicely introduces. Ages 4-8.
Grahame, Kenneth Booklist: Gr. 3-6. Whether you choose the copy with Shepard's expressive line drawings or Hague's lush color illustrations, this is a must for dragon
Micahel Hague collections. Although lengthy, the story of the dragon, the boy, and the saint and how they agree to fight the inevitable battle makes a fine read-aloud.
(Illustrator)
The reluctant dragon
1983
Hansen, Rosanna High-interest/low vocabulary. - Chapters are brief, and each one is tied to a unifying theme. - Important life-science concepts introduced through exciting true
Mysteries in space: stories. - Timelines and maps included where appropriate.
Exploration and
discovery
2005
Hartman, Bob Little Wolf is tired of his mom's cooking! It's the same old thing night after night, Lamburgers and Sloppy Does. How he wishes his mother would serve up a
Tim Raglin nice platter of his favorite dish, Boy! But Boy is hard to come by these days. As Little Wolf trudges home from school one day, he decides to postpone his
(Illustrator) boring dinner by shouting "Boy! Boy!" But what will happen when a real boy finally comes along? In this hilarious twisted tale, Little Wolf learns the same
The wolf who cried timeless lesson that the boy who cried "Wolf!" did so many years ago
boy
2004
Hill, Elizabeth Starr Booklist: Gr. 3-5. Ten-year-old Ben looks forward to celebrating the Fourth of July in Bending Creek, Florida, the village where he lives with his grandparents
Rob Shepperson and great-grandmother. Dry weather and the threat of forest fires have led to the cancellation of fireworks, but when an irksome new boy named Elliot dares
(Illustrator) him, Ben sets off a rocket anyway. The adventure that follows tests his compassion as well as his courage. The sympathetic main character and his clearly
Wildfire! drawn, uncomfortable relationship with Elliot will resonate with many children. The ending provides the satisfaction of justice: Ben deserves both his
2004 punishment and his reward. Printed in large type and illustrated with 10 appealing full-page and double-page drawings, this short chapter book is an attractive
choice for young readers. --Carolyn Phelan
7
Bibliographic Review:
Information:
Howe, James Publishers Weekly: The importance of friendship and of appreciating one's true talents lay at the heart of this appealing collaboration introducing a canine-
Mairie-Louise Gay feline pair. Howe's (Bunnicula) breezy narrative initially reveals Catina hard at work on her book, Life Through the Eyes of a Cat, which she hopes will
(Illustrator)
launch her career as a famous, prize-winning author. When Houndsley reads the opus, he realizes that his best friend is "a terrible writer," yet tactfully keeps
Houndsley and
his opinion to himself ("I am at a loss for words," he tells her). In the following story, Houndsley enthusiastically whips up an appetizing feast for Catina and
Catina
another pal. Declaring, "You could be famous!" Catina encourages him to enter a cooking contest and he does-with comically disastrous results. The final
2006
entry neatly brings resolution with a true confessions session that stresses the importance of friendship. Gay's charming watercolor, pencil and collage art
exudes a spontaneous quality for the feline's environs and an orderliness for the pooch. Catina's dimly lit den wordlessly suggests that her heart is not in her
authorial pursuits, while Houndsley's airy golden kitchen practically emits an appetizing aroma and his passion for cooking. This charming trio of chapters
implicitly testifies to the adage that opposites attract. Ages 5-7.
Hurwitz, Johanna For a shy 4th-grader like Aldo Sossi, making friends is very difficult in this story about the trauma of moving by an author who understands children.
John Wallner
(Illustrator)
Aldo Applesauce
1979
Hutchins, Hazel School Library Journal: K-Gr 2-A duck nests in a field and goes about the business of hatching her eggs. A farmer, who doesn't know about her, decides it's
Ruth Ohi (Illustrator) time to turn the soil. As his tractor gets closer and closer to the hidden nest, the animal senses danger, but is determined to protect her eggs, and flies off only at
One duck the last possible moment. Seeing the duck, the farmer stops his tractor and moves the nest. The next day, the duck is seen leading her newly hatched ducklings
1999 to a pond. The story is written in a lyrical style that effectively sets the mood and tone. This is especially evident in the scene where the duck senses the
approaching danger. The careful choice of words greatly enhances the dramatic effect. Because of its somewhat sophisticated vocabulary, the book is more
suited to reading aloud than as a title for newly independent readers. Watercolor illustrations add to the overall mood. The duck never comes across as a fully
developed character, but the tale's setting and emotional impact give it a great deal of depth, allowing readers to become involved in the action and excitement.
Try pairing this with Robert McCloskey's Make Way for Ducklings (Viking, 1941) for a different, but equally satisfying look at the lives of wild ducks.-Arwen
Marshall, New York Public Library
Hutchins, Hazel Booklist: Gr. 3-5. Tess, her older brothers, and their parents live in a shack on the prairies of western Canada. Tess dearly loves the land, but her parents
Ruth Ohi (Illustrator) remember easier times back East and resent the poverty that the family must endure. When the coal runs out and there is no money to buy more, Tess and her
Tess brother Charlie must gather cow dung for fuel. She understands her parents' embarrassment at their financial need, yet she and Charlie take great pride in
1995 collecting the best cow patties. When a haughty neighbor discovers their secret, Tess feels she has disappointed her family until her own kindness in saving the
man's dog from coyotes wins his respect. Hutchins' sparsely told story, set in the 1930s, vividly portrays both the desolation and the allure of frontier life and
meshes nicely with Ohi's pencil-and-watercolor illustrations. For another portrait of hardships on the prairie, see Eve Bunting's Dandelions [BKL S 15 95]. --
Kay Weisman
8
Bibliographic Review:
Information:
Janeczko, Paul B. School Library Journal: Gr 3-6-Janeczko's collection of "persona" or "mask" poems-poems written in voices of nonhuman things-is varied in topic, mood,
Melissa Sweet and quality. The selector has included many crackerjack poets, such as Karla Kuskin, Bobbi Katz, Lillian Moore, and Douglas Florian, and a few whose
(Illustrator) names are not as familiar. Most of the selections have been taken from other anthologies. Whether thoughtful or humorous in nature, many of them are on-
Dirty laundry pile: target descriptions of a variety of unrelated objects-a kite, roots, a sky-blue crayon, a vacuum cleaner, a pair of red gloves, the winter wind. The cleverness of
Poems in different the best of these descriptions voiced by inanimate narrators might entice young people to try to create some similar verses of their own. Sweet's bright,
voices colorful watercolors in a flat cartoon style depict full- and double-page scenes and borders that feature critters and objects from the poems. Consider this one
2001 for classroom read-alouds.-Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
Kakugawa Francis Ages 4-8. The beautifully illustrated children's book tells the story of Wordsworth, a misunderstood mouse whose love of poetry set him apart from the others.
Scott Goto Everyone in the Hawaiian rainforest makes fun of Wordsworth and his 'silly' poetry. But when a big thunderstorm darkens the forest for days on end, he takes
(Illustrator) pen in hand and shows the other mice how poetry can save the day.
Wordsworth the poet
2003
Keefer, Janice Kulyk Quill & Quire: We live in a time when to be a migrant or refugee is one of the commonest human conditions," writes Janice Kulyk Keefer, who has memorably
Janet Wilson addressed the refugee experience in her award-winning fiction and a family memoir. In Anna's Goat, her first children's book, she approaches the same topic
(Illustrator) from the perspective of two young sisters. Anna's birth is a moment of joy for her family, who have been uprooted from their homeland to a "cold, dark
Anna’s goat country" during World War Two. While feeding baby Anna, Mother also nourishes the hopes of her eldest daughter, Wanda, with tales of the family's former
2001 life in their hometown city of "parks and palaces." Life gets even harder when the girls' father is sent to work in another village. Mother, who works at a
factory, worries about how to take care of the girls on her own. Her fellow workers find an unusual companion for the girls - a loving, protective, playful
nanny goat. When the war is finally over, Anna and Wanda bid farewell to their beloved "nanny" and journey back to their homeland. Expecting a city of
splendour, they are disappointed to find rubble. Once again, Mother turns to the consolations of storytelling, comforting Anna with tales of her unforgettable
nanny. Although it's based on a true story, the omniscient narration lacks the lively immediacy and intimacy of memories being revived in the retelling. While
Kulyk Keefer, with moving delicacy, dramatizes the refugee experience in general, she is less successful in capturing the specific circumstances of the sisters.
That's left to the richly emotive, expressive art of Janet Wilson. Her beautifully textured illustrations on coloured paper with Conte crayon are backlit by the
golden glow of memory.
Kerly, Barbara Booklist: Gr. 3-5, younger for reading aloud. What a marvelous pairing: the life of the nineteenth-century British dinosaur maven Waterhouse Hawkins and
Brian Selznick Selznick's richly evocative, Victorian-inspired paintings. Hawkins had been drawing and sculpting animals from his childhood. As an adult he set to work
(Illustrator)
trying to recreate what a living dinosaur looked like based on fossil remains. Hawkins' dinosaur sculptures still stand in Sydenham, England, a better fate than
The Dinosaurs of
what happened to those he built in New York City. There, Hawkins ran afoul of Boss Tweed; children can thrill to the idea that broken pieces of Hawkins'
Waterhouse Hawkins:
dinosaurs still lie buried in Central Park. Kerley also regales her audience with the story of Hawkins' New Year's Eve dinner, with guests seated inside the
An Illuminating
shell of the iguanodon he was building. Selznick's art is wonderfully wrought, innovative in its choices, clever in what and how he chose to illustrate.
History of Mr.
Warehouse Hawkins, Equally fantastic is the execution: oh, those dinosaurs! Extensive notes from the author and illustrator are clear enough even for younger children and provide
Artist and Lecturer a genuine sense of the thrill of research. Although many of Hawkins' dinosaur models are now known to be inaccurate, the passion of his life and his single-
2001 minded pursuit of it rings loud and clear. Appealing on many levels, this picture book for older readers will be a favorite dinosaur book for years to come.--
GraceAnne A. DeCandido
9
Bibliographic Review:
Information:
Kerrin, Jessica Scott School Library Journal: Gr 2-4-Martin Bridge returns in another book that's just as funny as the previous titles in the series. In the first chapter, he is on an
Joseph Kelly overnight camping trip with the Junior Badgers, including his prankster friend, Alex. In the second chapter, Martin has to help his Dad fix the lawn mower
(Illustrator) during his favorite show. However, he discovers this time spent with his father has fostered a closer bond and has taught him mechanical skills that he can
Blazing ahead! share with his friends. In the end, he helps decorate the lawn mower with lightning bolts because Dad's favorite superhero from childhood was Volt
2006 Thundercloud. Kelly's expressive, quirky drawings in graphite and charcoal with digital shading complement the text. The book's delightful characters and
engaging stories will provide a boy-centered alternative to Barbara Park's "Junie B. Jones" books and Mary Pope Osborne's "Magic Tree House" series (both
Random).-Debbie Stewart Hoskins, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI
Kerrin, Jessica Scott Horn Book Magazine: (Primary) Martin Bridge means well, he really does. But his wonderful plans don't always turn out right. Slice-of-life incidents,
Joseph Kelly presented in three stand-alone chapters, ring with truth and familiarity because Martin is no cookie-cutter elementary school boy. While his regular, ""cranky-
(Illustrator) pants"" bus driver is out on medical leave, Martin develops a crush on her riddle-reciting replacement, Jenny. His plan to show Jenny how much he
Ready for takeoff! appreciates her goes awry when Mrs. Phips returns a little earlier than expected. A rocket exhibition threatens to come between Martin and his best friend as
2005 petty jealousies fester. But the relationship is saved when on launch day both boys' rockets explode. When Martin is put in charge of caring for a neighbor's
hamster, the unspeakable occurs, sending Martin into a spiral of ethical considerations. Should he go along with Alice's mother, who directs him to buy a
replacement and pretend it is the old hamster? Or should he tell little Alice the truth? Kerrin takes on this question with grace, allowing her young
protagonist to work out his own solution. Frequent gentle graphite-and-charcoal illustrations add exuberance and dimension to the text. A warm, rich story for
new chapter-book readers, who will be more than ready for Martin Bridge.
King-Smith, Dick Horn Book Magazine: (Intermediate) First published in England, this beguiling tale is likely to prove popular in the United States. First of all, it is about a
The water horse monster; secondly, it is about children who, with the assistance of understanding grownups, rescue the monster; and finally, it offers an explanation of what
2000 might be lurking in Loch Ness, always an intriguing topic. Set in the thirties, a kinder, gentler era, the book recounts the story of a type of sea monster called a
kelpie, or Water Horse, from the moment it is discovered by eight-year-old Kirstie as a giant mermaid's purse, through its hatching in a bathtub, to its final
disposition, three years later, when the ""amiable beastie"" is full-grown. Because the characters are plausible, the events are believable, an effect due also to
Dick King-Smith's homespun style. King-Smith presents the story from the perspective of both the children and, unanthropomorphically, the sea monster.
Suspense is created as the humans attempt to teach the kelpie what he needs to know in order to survive, but that suspense is laced with humor to provide
balance. Is this a family story with overtones of the fantastic, or a fantasy featuring a family? Who cares? Its pace is compelling and the premise appealing. It's
an ideal family read-aloud. And there's the final chapter, which suggests that there may be an unknown truth hidden in Loch Ness. m.m.b.
Kline, Suzy Booklist: Gr. 2-4. In an affectionate preface, Kline notes that on recent school visits she asked students to name places in school they haven't been to but would
Frank Remkiewicz love to see. In the eighteenth book in her popular chapter-book series, she takes readers to those forbidden school places as Harry and his best friend, Doug,
(Illustrator) chase Harry's one-eyed cat, Goog, through the deserted hallways after the kids have gone home and the teachers have congregated in the library for a meeting.
Horrible Harry and Goog leads Harry and Doug to the empty teachers' lounge, through the darkened basement to the boiler room, and, for one bumbling moment, into the girls'
the Goog restroom. The stern, kind custodian finally brings a stop to their adventure, scolding them and rescuing Goog. The light mischief and innocent defiance of
2005 authority will grab the audience. --Hazel Rochman
Kline, Suzy School Library Journal: Gr 2-3-Harry's classmates in Room 3B know they can count on him to wear a really scary costume on Halloween. After all, he's been
Frank Remkiewicz a slithery snake, the Loch Ness Monster, and Count Dracula in past years. When he arrives dressed in a suit and tie, they feel let down even after he explains
(Illustrator) that he is Sergeant Joe Friday of the LAPD. However, Harry's detective skills come in handy when Mary discovers that the pixie dust is missing from her
Horrible Harry at costume accessories. Primary-grade humor and practical jokes, student science experiments, and mystery are sprinkled throughout the story. "Horrible Harry"
halloween fans as well as newcomers to the series will be amused with his Halloween antics in this chapter book for transitional readers.-Janie Schomberg, Leal
2000 Elementary School, Urbana, IL
10