Isaacs, Anne. Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2014. 978-0-375-86745-3. 50 p. $17.99. Gr. K-3.
One of my favorite books this year! In the tradition of Swamp Angel and Dust Devil, Anne Isaacs has created another great over the top tale. I’m planning to read this story aloud to my students as soon as possible. Kevin Hawkes’ colorful illustrations are full of fun and compliment the story.
In 1870, a rich British widow named Tulip Jones inherits a Texas ranch named By-Golly Gully. She promptly moves there with three maids and a year’s worth of tortoises (named January, February, etc.). Tulip soon discovers that things really are bigger in Texas, and everything from her tomatoes to her tortoises grow to enormous proportions. As soon as word gets around that a rich widow is living there, suitors line up to win the widow’s hand. Tulip, however, is perfectly happy living with her maids and baker Charlie Doughpuncher (who is hired to feed all the suitors). After several crazy contests, the widow finally outsmarts the suitors and discovers her one true love—none other than Charlie Doughpuncher.
A few of the exaggerations? Chickens laying hard-boiled eggs, tortoises the size and speed of horses, and a wedding cake to feed thousands that’s baked in a crater after the ingredients are mixed by paddling around in a canoe.
This is one of my picks for this year’s Best of the Best. A must read!
Easy Fiction Lindsey Long, Nye Elementary School
Fullerton, Alma. A Good Trade. Toronto: Pajama Press, 2013. 978-0-9869495-9-3. 32 p. $19.95. Gr. K-3.
Kato, a young Ugandan boy, has a typical day. He walks a long distance to fill two containers with a day’s supply of water for his family, and heads home to do the rest of his chores. He goes a bit faster than usual, however, because he saw an aid worker’s truck in the village. Before he rushes back to the village, he picks one perfect white poppy from his family’s garden to make a “good trade”—he receives a pair of new sneakers in return.
Karen Patkau’s illustrations are just lovely. She uses beautiful colors and lots of patterns to create pictures that really make Kato’s village come to life. They highlight this sweet story and help show how a new pair of shoes can mean so much to a boy like Kato.
I’m looking forward to sharing this story with my students—I think that a lot of them will be very surprised at how different their lives are from Kato’s, and I know that it will inspire some good discussion.
Easy Fiction Lindsey Long, Nye Elementary School
Rosenthal, Amy Krouse. Exclamation Mark. New York: Scholastic Press, 2013. 978-0-545-43679-3. Unpaged. $16.00. Gr. K-3.
I love, love, love this story! Poor exclamation mark doesn’t fit in among a crowd of periods. He knows that he’s different and starts to get down on himself until he meets a question mark. This spirited question mark is a bit overwhelming for exclamation mark until he finds his “voice” (!) and gains confidence in himself and his ability. Not only is the writing comically perfect, the illustrations really make the story. Tom Lichtenheld uses a backdrop of notebook paper to make the punctuation marks look right at home.
This book is perfect for use in grammar lessons, language arts classrooms, or just as a fun shared story.
This is one of my picks for Best of the Best this year. It’s a winner!
Easy Fiction Lindsey Long, Nye Elementary School
O’Ryan, Ellie. Jasmine: The Jewel Orchard (Disney Princess Chapter Books). Minneapolis: Spotlight, 2014. 978-1-61479-213-0. 90 p. $16.95. Gr. K-3.
Richards, Kitty. Cinderella: The Lost Tiara (Disney Princess Chapter Books). Minneapolis: Spotlight, 2014. 978-1-61479-212-3. 93 p. $16.05. Gr. K-3.
These easy fiction chapter books are sure to be popular with second grade girls. Both books have a reading level around low fourth grade, so they will likely be too difficult for younger students, but the short chapters and familiar characters will engage early chapter books readers who love princesses.
Jasmine: The Jewel Orchard finds Jasmine and Abu venturing to the market to find out why no fruit is available in Agrabah. They return home late that night with no answers, but Jasmine discovers that Abu has a satchel full of amethysts that look exactly like grapes. A ride over the Royal Orchard on Magic Carpet helps Jasmine and Aladdin discover that a spell has transformed all the fruit in the orchard into gemstones. Jasmine, Aladdin, and Abu help the orchard keeper reverse the spell and save the orchard.
Cinderella: The Lost Tiara sees Cinderella expecting a visit from the Prince’s grandmother. Cinderella wants to wear her wedding gift from Grandmama, a beautiful tiara, but realizes that it’s missing! After a thorough hunt of the Palace, she thinks that it’s lost forever. The ladies are sent on a wild goose chase and after lots of confusion Grandmama admits that she went to the jeweler too late for the real tiara to be ready by the wedding. The lost tiara was a fake—she has the real one in her bag. All is saved!
Easy Fiction/Fiction Lindsey Long, Nye Elementary School
Thaler, Mike. The Custodian from the Black Lagoon. New York: Spotlight, 2014. 978-1-61479-196-6. 32 p. $15.95. Gr. K-3.
Thaler, Mike. The Dentist from the Black Lagoon. New York: Spotlight, 2014. 978-1-61479-197-3. 32 p. $15.95. Gr. K-3.
Mike Thaler is at it again with the two newest installments in the “Black Lagoon” series. Both titles feature Jared Lee’s clever, detailed illustrations and Thaler’s usual mix of punny jokes and occupational clichés.
The Custodian from the Black Lagoon tells the tale of Fester Smudge, the school custodian, whose creepy underground office is said to house a pet dragon. The tales of his failed attempts to fix and clean the school are legendary. One day the narrator needs his locker opened, at which time the real Mr. Smudge, a kindly man with a large ring of keys, opens the jammed locker and makes a friend.
The Dentist from the Black Lagoon takes place during Dental Health Month. The school nurse tells the kids that Dr. B. N. Payne, a dentist, will visit the school to check everyone’s teeth. (I find this concept a bit far-fetched but perhaps this does happen in some areas.) Our narrator runs through a slew of dental-themed puns with accompanying illustrations, such as his Aunt Penny with a mouth full of crowns and an illustration showing an older lady with mini royal crowns atop all her teeth. Dr. Payne, of course, turns out to be a nice man who gives the boy a new toothbrush and sends him on his way.
While not my favorite books in the series, fans of Thaler’s work will surely enjoy these titles.
Easy Lindsey Long, Nye Elementary School
Hoffman, Sarah. Jacob’s New Dress. Park Ridge, IL: Albert Whitman & Company, 2013. 978-0807563731. 32p. $16.99. Gr. Prek-2.
Jacob loves to dress up, as a firefighter, a knight, a princess, and a witch. When Jacob asks to wear a dress to school, mom and dad are unsure, so Jacob fashions a dress out of a towel, and gets teased by the boys at school. Jacob’s teacher is supportive and tells the other kids that Jacob should be allowed to wear what makes him comfortable, as well as informing the students that not long ago, women could not wear pants, “Can you imagine that?” Jacob convinces mom to help him sew a dress, and dad gets on board too, admitting “there are all sorts of ways to be a boy.” This is a sweet and unaffected tale that I consider a MUST READ at home and at school! As a teacher who has worked with a number of “gender fluid” children, I would love for them to all feel comfortable being who they are.
Picture Book, Gender Roles and Stereotyping Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School
Pringle, Laurence. The Secret Life of the Woolly Bear Caterpillar. 978-1620910009. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press, 2014. Prek-2. $16.95 . 32p.
Gorgeously illustrated story of the life cycle of our beloved Woolly Bear Caterpillar. Younger children (preK – K) may enjoy having this read aloud however scientific vocabulary, such as mandibles and stemmata are introduced, which keeps this book relevant for your nature-loving readers up to grade 3 or beyond. Pringle is the author of 100+ children’s books, and gives us an informative section at the back that tells more about the caterpillar and gives a glossary and anatomical diagram. Highly recommended.
Picture Book / Nature Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School
Helakoski, Leslie. Big Pigs. 978-1620910238. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press, 2014. Prek-2. $16.95 . 32p.
Mama pig has to go out and tells her three boys, “Be good little pigs.” Determined to prove they are BIG pigs, not little, the three brothers get into a series of competitions that involve stuffing themselves, slopping in the mud, and other antics. This fun picture book contains fun illustrations, lots of onomatopoeia, rhyming, and sing-songy refrains that little ones are sure to enjoy.
Picture Book / Pigs / Humor Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School
Reid, Aimee. Mama’s Day with Little Gray. 978-0449810835. New York: Random House, 2014. Prek-2. $16.99 . 32p.
This beautiful little book begins with Little Gray asking Mama Elephant: “When I grow up, will you grow down?” What follows are a number of wonderful imagined role reversals, as Little Gray plans what she would do if SHE were the Mama, and Mama was her calf. Any elephant lover or child who wonders what it will be like to be a grownup will love this book!
Picture Book Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School
Lloyd-Jones, Sally. Poor Doreen: A Fishy Tale. 978-0375869181. New York: Schwartz & Wade, 2014. Prek-2. $17.99 . 40p.
Doreen the little fish is about to be caught by a fly fisherman when a Great Blue Heron snatches her from the net for a snack, Oh No! But Doreen the Ample Roundy Fish is unfailingly optimistic, and believes all the perils that befall her are part of a wonderful adventure. Very cute, whimsical story that weaves words in verse with some alphabet learning. Recommended.
Picture Book Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School
Rosenstock, Barb. The Streak: How Joe DiMaggio Became America’s Hero. 978-1590789926. Honesdale, PA: Calkins Creek, 2014. Grade 3+. $16.95 . 32p.
Fabulous read-aloud picture book about Joe Di Maggio’s hitting streak of 1941. Contains background on DiMaggio’s life, suspenseful summaries of the games that summer, and news clippings and player quotes. The Author’s Note at the end gives fabulous background, stats on DiMaggio and the Top Ten MLB hitting streaks, followed by a bibliography, websites and additional suggested reading. I can’t wait to use this for my grade 2 – 4 read-aloud biography lessons as well as to share this with any age sports fans.
Picture Book / Nonfiction: Sports Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School
Lodding, Linda Ravin. A Gift for Mama. 978-0385753319. New York: Knopf, 2014. Prek-2. $17.99 . 32p.
Set in Vienna, Oskar wants to buy Mama the perfect gift but he only has one coin, just enough for a single, perfect yellow rose. Through a series of chance meetings Oskar trades the yellow Rose for other treasures that are to be Mama’s gift, but as the story proceeds, the reader suspects this is not going to end well. But it does! Sweet and engaging read aloud with gorgeous illustrations, you will immediately recognize the style of the artist from The Cloud Spinner.
Picture Book Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School
Sheehan, Kevin. The Dandelion’s Tale. 978-0375870323. New York: Schwartz & Wade, 2014. Prek-2. $16.99 . 40p.
Sparrow is flying along when she hears Dandelion crying: “A short while ago, I was so strong, and the brightest yellow you’ve ever seen. Now I’m white and fuzzy and I’ve lost most of my seedpods.” Sparrow agrees to fly Dandelion to all her friends to tell them about herself, and in so doing spreads Dandelion’s seeds far and wide. A great tale about the circle of life; I’d read this aloud to Pre-K and Kindergartners asking them to predict what will happen next.
Picture Book / Nature Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School
Donofrio, Beverly. Where’s Mommy? (Mary and the Mouse series). 978-0375844232. New York: Schwartz & Wade, 2014. Prek-2 . $17.99 . 32p.
Maria and Mouse Mouse are secret friends: If Maria’s mom knew about Mouse Mouse, she’d get a cat. If Mouse Mouse’s mom knew about Maria, they would hide in a hole. So they keep their friendship secret until one night at bedtime, the mothers of both these friends disappear, and it starts to get scary! You will never guess where they are and what they are doing. Very cute story, gorgeous illustrations.
Picture Book / Mice Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School
Reagan, Jean. How to Babysit a Grandma. 978-0385753845. New York: Knopf, 2014. Prek-2. $16.99 . 32p.
Step-by-step instructions for little ones who LOVE sleepovers at Grandma’s! A loving, delightful and funny role-reversal tale of a little girl babysitting her Grandma. Highly recommended.
Picture Book / Humor Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School
Offill, Jenny. Sparky!. 978-0375870231. New York: Schwartz & Wade, 2014. Prek-2. $16.99 . 40p.
The girl who speaks first person in this book asks her mom for a pet. Mom says no to a bird, bunny, a seal….and finally agrees that the girl can get any pet that doesn’t need to be walked, bathed or fed. So the girl visits the school librarian (“who knows everything in the world”), who gives her the Animal Encyclopedia., and she opens to “S” and you guessed it, orders a sloth. Hilarity ensues. By the authors of one of my favorite picture books of 2012, “11 Experiments that Failed.” Highly recommended.
Picture Book / Sloths / Humor Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School
Brown, Marc. In New York. 978-0375864544. New York: Knopf, 2014. Prek-2. $17.99 . 40p.
From the author of the beloved Arthur series, this is a wonderful New York travel guide for kiddies! Brown succinctly tells about all the major attractions as well as food, culture and some history, beautifully illustrated to tempt both the little ones and the readers to visit NYC very soon. Arthur the aardvark even makes a cameo appearance as a balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Highly recommended.
Picture Book Kathie Jackson, Plymouth Meeting Friends School