HOW DO DINOSAURS SAY HAPPY CHANUKAH?

Author (last name first):Yolen, Jane and Teague Mark
Publisher,Date of Publication: The Blue Sky Press/2012
Grade Level/ or Age Level:
Kindergarten- 2nd Grades
Classification: 
Fiction 

This book is about the Chanukah festival. Throughout this book ideas are given about how dinosaurs may celebrate this event. At the end of the book the dinosaur is shown as good during Chanukah. It is one who shares and cooperates. 

I see this book as a good one for parents to read to children when trying to teach them new vocabulary and new ideas. The vocabulary used was linked to the theme and that was excellent. Also the use of pictures helped bring across the message intended.

Reviewed By: Wenisha Gabriel ( Sigma Lambda Alpha)

CHICK & CHICKIE

Author (last name first):Ponti, Claude
Publisher,Date of Publication: Toon Book/ 2012 
Grade Level/ or Age Level:
1st-3rd GradesClassification: Fiction 

This book is about two chicks playing. They do different activities to pass the time and entertain themselves. 

I would recommend this book only because of its demonstration of cause and effect. For example, "When we tickle...he laughs." This would help the students learn cause and effect relationships. 

It also had pictures which were appropriate for the content.

Reviewed By: Wenisha Gabriel (Sigma Hambda Alpha PNM) 

A TRIP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD WITH MOUSE

Author (last name first):Viva,Frank
Publisher,Date of Publication: Toon Book
Grade Level/ or Age Level:1st Grade-3rd GradeClassification: Fiction 

This book is about a boy's trip on the ocean with mouse. Despite all that was going on the mouse was anxious to go home which is made clear by several repeats of the line, "Can we go home now."

I would recommend this book for first to third graders because it is fairly simple and easy to read. Each page has pictures and language appropriate for the content. 

Also, I am particularly impressed with the authors introductions of things which can be seen or will be needed for different situations. For example: "It is cold.... you will need... boots, mittens, a hat a scarf." 

Reviewed By: Wenisha Gabriel(Sigma Hambda Alpha PNM) 

WITH ALL MY HEART

Author (last name first):Rock,Brian
Publisher,Date of Publication:
Grade Level/ or Age Level:
Head Start-3rd Grade
Classification: 
Fiction 

During a game of tag, Jacob asks Momma Bear which of her two cubs she loves best. She sings the praises of each of her children, Jacob for his artistic talent and Casey for her dancing ability. She loves both of them for the way they make her laugh. The cubs are discontented and press her to choose. "You cubs are both a part of me," she responds, and explains her love for them to the impossibility of preferring one paw or one arm over the other. She needs two paws to applaud her cubs and two arms to hug each of them close.

This is a very good book for children with siblings and it teaches them that their parents love for each of them is different, but yet the same in the amounts of love they share. 

Reviewed By: Donnicia James (Student) and Lila Davis (M.S.U's Moffett Library Night Circulation Manager)

A HOME FOR BIRD

Author (last name first):Stead,Philip C.
Publisher,Date of Publication:Roaring Book Press/2012 
Grade Level/ or Age Level:
Head Start-3rd Grade
Classification: 
Fiction 

While out foraging for things, Vernon the toad found a new friend, a small blue bird who is always silent. Vernon shows the blue bird many different places and some of his favorite things and bird still says nothing. Vernon takes it upon himself to help his new friend find his home. They take many ways to travel and soon come to a farm to rest for the night. Will Vernon be able to help his new friend find his home?

This is a delightful book with many washed out colorful drawings. It teaches children to never give up on one of their friends. It also teaches children that helping a friend in need can be rewarding.

Reviewed By: Donnicia James (Student) and Lila Davis (M.S.U's Moffett Library Night Circulation Manager)

DEAR DRAGON GOES TO THE BANK

Author (last name first):Hillert, Margaret
Publisher,Date of Publication:

Grade Level/ or Age Level:

Head Start-2nd Grade 
Classification: 
Fiction 
In this story a little boy and his pet dragon go to the big bank because the little boy’s dragon broke his piggy bank. The little boy’s father takes him and the dragon to the town bank and open’s an account for him. Then they go to the store and buy a new bank for the little boy and take it home to show his mother.

This book includes an instructional note to caregivers, a word list, and activities to promote reading success. The illustrations are colorful and help tell the story. I would recommend this book to young children as a reading tool to learn to read. 

Reviewed By: Donnica James (Student) and Lila Davis (M.S.U's Moffett Library Night Circulation Manager)

ES PRIMAVERA,QUERIDO DRAGON/ IT'S SPRING, DEAR DRAGON

Author (last name first):Hillert, Margaret
Publisher,Date of Publication:

Grade Level/ or Age Level:

Head Start-2nd Grade 
Classification: 
Fiction 

Margaret Hillert introduces a new story in her Dear Dragon series. The little boy and his dragon get stuck inside when it rains and the boy’s mother takes the time to explain that the water is a good thing for the outside world. The story covers the spring months of March and April and tells about the things that kids do during the spring outside. Dragon joins his friend and watches while the little boy tries each of the games other kids are playing.

This book includes an instructional note to caregivers, a word list, and activities to promote reading success. This book is bilingual book and can be read in Spanish or English to children. The illustrations are wonderfully colorful and helps tell the story as you read. I would recommend this book to young children as a reading tool to learn to read. 

Reviewed By: Donnica James (Student) and Lila Davis (M.S.U's Moffett Library Night Circulation Manager)

JUNIE B., FIRST GRADER TURKEYS WE HAVE LOVED AND EATEN (AND OTHER THANKFUL STUFF)

Author (last name first): Park, Barbara

Publisher,Date of Publication:Random House Books for Young Readers / August 7, 2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

Gr2-Up/Ages 6 and up 
Classification: 
Fiction 

Junie B. Jones, the first grader with an attitude, is at it again. This time she and her classmates are trying to think of what they are thankful for during the Thanksgiving season. If you have read any of the titles in the long running series you will enjoy the laugh out loud humor and Junie's plain spoken ways. From tattletale classmates to a long suffering teacher all the favorites are back. If you never read any of the titles this is a quick read and likely to be enjoyed by both adults and children. This book is a good chapter book for kids who are up to reading those kinds of works too. 

Reviewed By: Andrea Williams(Associate Univ. Librarian for Public Services/CML)

COLD SNAP

Author (last name first): Spinelli, Eileen

Publisher,Date of Publication:Knopf Books for Young Readers /October 09, 2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

Preschool-Gr3
Classification: 
Fiction 

Cold Snap  is a magnificent story of the children of Toby Mills Town. They follow the days of the week, seeing how the icicle on General Toby's statue continues to grow from Monday to Tuesday to Wednesday. While the story is lovable, it is the illustrations that makes this book so wonderful. Marjorie Priceman creates a brilliant world wrapped up in colors that warms up the eyes as the town gets colder. It also tells about how the towns people work together to warm themselves up. I would recommend this book as a story time book. 

Interest Level: Preschool- 3rd Grade

Reviewed By: Lila Davis (Midwestern State University's Moffett Library Night Circulation Manager)  

UNSPOKEN: A STORY OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

Author (last name first): Cole, Henry

Publisher,Date of Publication:Scholastic Press /November 1, 2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

Kindergarten-Gr3
Classification: 
Fiction 

There is a saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. This book without text proves that. With breathtaking pencil illustrations the story is told of a young farm girl who discovers a runaway slave and helps in small ways. Knowing that things like this story have taken place makes the book even more touching. This book was written to honor the author's family's oral tradition of stories about the civil war and life in and around some of those events. The author Henry Cole states in the back that he hopes you can make up your own story to go with the pictures. Children can use their imagination and learn of things that happened in the past. I would recommend it for a lesson in writing or on life using the Underground Railroad period.

Interest Level: Kindergarten- 3rd Grades/Ages 4 and Up

Reviewed By: Lila Davis (Midwestern State University's Moffett Library Night Circulation Manager)   

RAILROAD HANK

Author (last name first): Moser, Lisa

Publisher,Date of Publication:Random House /2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

Preschool-Gr3
Classification: 
Fiction 

Railroad Hank is a story about a man who drives a train up the mountainto see Granny Bett to make her feel better. On the way he meets his friend and tells them about his sick friend. As a result they offer various things to take to her to make her feel better. While Railraod Hank is sweet he isn't the sharpest tool int he shed, furthermore, he misunderstands what his friends tell him to take and ends up taking things literally such as chickens instead of eggs, cows instead of milk, the pind of fish instead of a couple of fish, etc. Will Railroad Hank's friends ever catch up to him?
 The illustrations by Benji Davies are wonderfully colored and help visualize Lisa Moser's story. I would recommend this book to children of all ages for a laugh and fun or for a storytime book. 

Interest Level: Preschool-3rd Grade/Ages:3 and Up

Reviewed By: Lila Davis (Midwestern State University's Moffett Library's Night Circulation Manager)    

THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

Author (last name first): Emberley, Rebecca & ED

Publisher,Date of Publication:Dial /May 10, 2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

Preschool-Gr1/Ages:3 and Up
Classification: 
Fiction 

Rebecca and Ed Emberley point their attention to the brilliant tale of the grasshopper and the ant and put a spin on it. The hard working ant discovers that music can make any burden lighter when she stumbles upon a musician grasshopper and his buggy band. Inviting the jazzy bug band back to her underground colony, the group moves on to "Laissez les bon temps rouler!" with the foldout translating for children, " Let the good times roll!" The intensely colored, textured illustrations  are very eye catching and abstract which makes the story even better. I would recommend this book for storytime or just a good time with your young children. 

Interest Group: Preschool-1st Grade/Ages 3 and Up

Reviewed By: Lila Davis (Midwestern State University's Moffett Library Night Circulation Manager)   

DOG IN CHARGE

Author (last name first): Going, K.L.

Publisher,Date of Publication:Dial /May 10, 2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

Preschool-Gr2
Classification: 
Fiction  

When Dog is left to take care of the family cats, he finds out that it is easier said than done. He tries to keep them on the couch but the cats are more rambunctious then he anticipated.  The cats destroy the house . He then tries to feed the cats to keep them out of trouble but temptation from the cat food smell entices him to eat all the food and fall asleep. Just then he hears the family car pull up. He is scared that the hous is a mess. Dog finds that the cats clean up their mess and discovers cats and dogs can be one happy family. 
The illustrator Dan Santat did a wonderful job of making the pictures colorful as well as eye catching to go along with the wonderful story K.L. Going has written. I would recommend it to teacher as a story to read during story time or families to read together as family time.

Interest Level: Preschool- Gr.2/Ages 3 and Up

Reviewed By: Lila Davis (Midwestern State University's Night Circulation Manager in Moffett Library)   

I HAIKU YOU

Author (last name first): Snyder, Betsy

Publisher,Date of Publication:Random House /2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

Preschool-Gr2
Classification: 
Fiction 

I Haiku You is a series of short poems of affection and admiration. Betsy Snyder did a wonderful job of illustrating colorful pictures for children to look at,as well as easy to read poems. All the pictures show some sort of heart shape in them which would be a great read for Valentine's Day in the classroom or on your own.

Interest Level:Preschool- 2nd Grade/Ages: 4-8

Reviewed By: Lila Davis (Midwestern State University Night Circulation Manager) 

AVA AND THE REAL LUCILLE

Author (last name first): Best, Cari

Publisher,Date of Publication:Farrar, Straus and Giroux / September 4, 2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

Preschool-Gr2
Classification: 
Fiction 

Ava and her sister enter a contest in hopes of winning a pet dog. Ava especially is distressed to win instead unusual pet, a bird. This engaging warm hearted book shows Ava;s evolution from grudging new pet owner to and owner who accepts her unusual prize with real affection. This book will appeal to children who either have pets or want to be pet owners. 

Interest Level: Preschool-Gr.2/Ages 4-8

Reviewed By: Andrea Williams (Midwestern State University  Associate Univ. Librarian for Public Services/CML)   

BAD KITTY FOR PRESIDENT

Author (last name first): Bruel, Nick

Publisher,Date of Publication: Square Fish / August 21, 2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

Ages 7 and up
Classification: 
Fiction 

Bad Kitty the beloved series of picture books has now expanded into chapter books uneasily. This time the Bad Kitty tries to run for president against another nneighborhood cat. If there are children who are familiar with the kitty with and attitude this look at the ins and outs of running for office may appeal. Otherwise the author attempts to pile too much useful information into the kitty series and the result is not as funny as the kitty was without a useful agenda. Still, the useful information  becomes a somewhat painless way to get information on the facts associated with running for office. It may be a means to an end that normally kids would accept without some sugarcoating. This is not an essential purchase for libraries unless you have an audience that wants all Bad Kitty titles. 

Reviewed By: Andrea Williams (Midwestern State University  Associate Univ. Librarian for Public Services/CML) 

KNUCKLES & POTTY DESTROY HAPPY WORLD

Author (last name first):

Proimose, James
Publisher,Date of Publication:

Henry Holt and Co./ May 22, 2012

Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

Second Grade and Up
Classification: 
Fiction 

Knuckles Triggerelli and Potty Polarberg have been in their share of cheerful books. When told they are going to star in a book about Happy World, they decide to take matters into their their own hands. After some advice from Winkie the Pug and The Chicken in the Beret, the two set off for the outside world to have a little discussion with their editor and illustrator. Their talk does not go according to plan, so the twosome decide instead  to obliterate Happy world altogether. They set off with giant pencils that fire erasers at cartoon figures,and is set on destroying Happy World and all of its residents. 
When Knuckle, Potty, the Chicken and Pug get to Happy World, they see that while things are bright and cheerful on the outside, those characters are not going to let themselves be erased. In the end Knuckles changes his mind and tries to get everyone together to stop fighting and apologize. They all become friends and the two decide to write their own book the next time.

Reviewed By: Lila Davis(Night Circulation Manager at Midwestern State University Library)   

IT'S A DOG'S LIFE: HOW MAN'S BEST FRIEND SEES, HEARS, AND SMELLS THE WORLD

Author (last name first):

Goodman,Susan E.
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Flash Point/ July 3,2012
Grade Level/ or Age Level:  

2nd and Up
Classification: 
Non-Fiction 

Have you ever wondered what your dog sees when he/she looks at a bone? Or what he/she smells when he/she has his/her snout to the ground? And what is your dog trying to say when he/she looks at you with those big puppy eyes? With a silly text and loveable illustrations, It's a Dogs Life answers those questions and a whole lot more. Covering everything from dog breeds to their evolution and behavior, this obtainable non-fiction book is sure to satisfy even the most insatiable fact hounds. This would be a good book to use for a book report on dogs. There is a AR test available for this book. This book will have you laughing and thinking about what man's best friend really thinks. It's was very enjoyable to read.

Reviewed By: Lila Davis (Night Circulation Manager in Midwestern State University's Moffett Library)