Holub, Joan, and James Dean. Mighty Dads. New York: Scholastic, 2014. 978-0-545-6098-5. 34p. $16.99. Gr PK-1.
A cute picture book for young boys who want to grow up and be just like their dad. The illustrations and colorful images bring out the fun playfulness of the book. Each page introduces a big and small truck. The big truck (Dad) is in the front doing its job while the small truck (son) is behind imitating. The Dad and son work together side by side in a construction site. The end is heartwarming as the Dads tell their sons how proud of them they are and the sons respond with, “I Love You Dad.”
Picture Book Jenn Roth, Lincoln Elementary (Gettysburg Area School District)
This book would be a great read of Father’s Day or for those reader who can’t get enough of trucks. I read this to my Kindergarten students and they loved it. This would be helpful when teaching Kindergarten about vehicles around the community.
Richards, Dan. The Problem With Not Being Scared of Monsters. Honesdale, Pennsylvania: Boyds Mill Press, 2014. 978-1-62091-024-5. $15.95. Gr. K-3.
While many books about monsters deal with the fear of them, this charming story takes readers on a different sort of journey. Instead of being unable to sleep at night because of shadows, noises, and of course, the possibility of finding a horrific monster under the bed, a young boy cannot sleep because the monsters in his life just won’t leave him alone! Because he is NOT afraid of monsters, they think he is one of them. Throughout a normal day, the boy has trouble getting anything accomplished because the monsters always want to play. At the end of the story, the boy’s younger brother seeks help because he fears there might be something scary hiding in his room. Lucky for him, his older brother is there to help him see that while there are monsters hiding in his room, they aren’t in the least bit scary!
This story give readers a fun and unique perspective on the theme of monsters and children. Instead of seeing a sinister relationship between the two, we see a sense of playfulness and lightheartedness. Kids will love to imagine a world in which they can have food fights and play games with giant, colorful, and gleeful monsters.
Picture Book Lisa Naylor, Concord Elementary
Wilson, N.D. Ninja Boy Goes to School. New York: Random House, 2014. 978-0-375-86584-8. $16.99. Gr. K-3.
Being a ninja is not easy. One must be strong, nimble, fast, patient, and tenacious. The young boy in this story understands what it takes to be a ninja. He dresses like one and practices the ways of the ninja throughout his day at school. While he understands what it takes, many others just don’t seem to get it. Including his teacher, who is not pleased when she finds the boy outside playing when he should be in the classroom. But then again, part of being a ninja is having the ability to disappear when the time is right, such as, in the middle of a tedious math lesson. Needless to say, the little ninja gets into trouble at school and at home with his parents for his sneaky behaviors. His parents put his ninja clothes in a box and we are led to assume that he will not be able to dress the part anymore, at least not for awhile. Luckily though, the young boy knows that part of being a ninja is pretending to be a normal old kid every once in awhile.
This story will be a hit with young readers, especially those with big imaginations and maybe even a slight knack for troublemaking.
Picture Book Lisa Naylor, Concord Elementary
Willems, Mo. The Pigeon Needs a Bath! New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2014. 978-142319087-5. 34 p. $16.99. Gr. K-2.My favorite pigeon book to date! Mo Willems’ pigeon is back in a tale about why he definitely doesn’t need a bath. After all, he just took one last month and “Y’know, in some places it is impolite to bathe.” When he’s finally convinced that he needs a bath, there are tons of excuses given in a multi-panel scene showing the pigeon changing the temperature, the water level, and so on, only for the pigeon to discover that taking a bath can be quite a good time.
This is a wonderful additional to Willems’ Pigeon series. He’s as charming and convincing as ever and Willems’ trademark illustrations only add to the fun. It’s a must-buy for your pigeon fans!
Picture book Lindsey Long, Nye & Conewago Elementary Schools
Krull, Kathleen. What’s New? The Zoo!. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2014. 978-0-545-13571-9. 40p. $17.99. Gr. K- 3.
Fun filled facts about the history of zoos around the world. The book includes short facts about the zoos and artists renderings of the facts in watercolor. Good 5 minute filler at the end of class.
Picture Book, Nonfiction Lourie Stewart, Dunbar and Connellsville Township Elementary Schools
Verburg, Bonnie and Teague, Mark. The Tree House that Jack Built. New York: Orchard Books, 2014. 978-0-439-85338-5. Unpaged. $17.99. Grades K – 2.
Following the familiar rhythm and cadence of the original House that Jack Built, this wonder-full twist takes a boy named Jack to a tropical treehouse that can’t be beat. Jack built the place, but the ever-growing animal menagerie that inhabits the house make the story buzz. Mark Teague’s superb illustrations also bring life to the rhyming text, with plenty of extra action to explore in repeated readings. Jack spends his day moving among the animals and his inventions with a sense of calm wonder and developed routine. Robinson Crusoe and Tarzan would both approve of his lifestyle, and there is also a sense of Goodnight Moon to the script. Students will love to explore Jack’s place, and likely dream of their own tree house after this enjoyable story.
Fiction; Picture Book Dustin Brackbill State College Area School District
Joyce, William and Ellis, Christina. The Numberlys. New York: Simon & Shuster, 2014. 978-1-4424-7343-0. Unpaged. $17.99. Grades K-2.
In a world of order and systems and manufacturing, is there room for imagination and creativity? This is the question at the heart of The Numberlys, when 5 friends sneak through a factory to turn parts of numbers into a brand new alphabet. The new creations break the mold and invite a culture of fun foods, new names, colors and emotions. William Joyce works this Numberly world playfully with clever wording, unique formatting and design, including neutral color tones and a factory setting paying homage to Fritz Lang’s Metropolis. This book was inspired by the Moonbot app of the same name, but there are interesting differences between the book and app. While personally the book was not as satisfactory as the app’s interactions and humor, those familiar with both will appreciate the comparisons and the book’s colorful ending.
Fiction; Picture Book Dustin Brackbill State College Area School District