Kids Book Reviews
In case folks want to share the reviews with others, here's just the reviews without my life ramblings:
Radio Man: A story in English and Spanish by Arthur Dorros
This is a lovely little story about a child growing up in a family of migrant workers. Each page has the same text in both English and Spanish, and introduces a common Spanish term or phrase in the English side. Kidlet's grandmother was a Spanish teacher, so I'm sending it home for them to enjoy together. I also really love that it humanizes migrant workers so well, and has additional information and poetry at the end of the book. Highly recommended.
Hug by Jez Alborough
Just ridiculously adorable. It's a board book with almost no text, about a little ape baby wandering the forest, seeing all the other babies and parents together, hugging and cuddling, and looking for that himself (of course, he finally finds his mama). The illustrations are fantastic, with all kind of detail to look at and explore, and I suspect it'd be a great read-aloud book for that reason -- easy to stop on each page and talk about what's happening. Highly recommended.
A Trip to the Farm (Stencil Picture Books)
This is a nifty older one that's apparently out of print. Each page has a line or two of a basic little story about going to the farm, and a large stencil cutout. There's a fold-in cardboard page you put under the stencil, and then you can slide in a piece of paper and trace it. Kidlet's a bit too young to make good use of stencils right now, but I think he might dig it in a year or two. Neat if you happen to run across a copy like I did, but not something I'd jump to chase down.
Zootles series/magazine (the ones I found at the dollar store are hardcover books, and not something I'd think of as a magazine, but ok). This was the big Dollar Store score; they had stacks on them, and I hunted through 'til I was pretty sure I had one of each. I also got a bunch of the regular Zoobooks that they had, and few other similar large-format animal books. I'm really impressed by the Zootles, though. Lots of interactive stuff (find all the blue parrots on this page, are you taller than a hyacinth macaw, etc), good information, good suggestions for parents for further activities. Fun and colorful and engaging. I learned plenty about Parrots that I didn't know from the one volume I've read so far! Highly recommended, especially for animal-lovers.
The Good Luck Glasses (Hello Reader, Level 3) by Sara London
There¹s good luck and bad luck. For Nomi, bad luck is tripping over the family cat and squinting at the blackboard. But when she gets her special eyeglasses, Nomi discovers that the best luck of all is being able to see better than ever. (from Amazon)
Great for kids who need glasses at an early age! I got mine in 4th grade, and I think I would've appreciated this take on it. Highly recommended, especially for kids who need glasses.
My very special friend by Lucille E. Hein
This one is long out-of-print, but has aged quite well. It's about a little girl who stays with her grandparents and great-grandmother while her Mother is in the hospital. It primarily follows the friendship between the girl and her great-grandmother, and includes lots of ideas and encouragement for ways children can interact with the elderly. Highly recommended if you can find it.
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten (Miss Bindergarten Books)
This is essentially a really engaging alphabet book; there are 26 children in the class, each with an animal species and a name that begins with a different letter of the alphabet (although they did really have to stretch on a few of the letters!), and it goes through all their preparations for the first day of kindergarten at the same time it follows Miss Bindergarten's prep work. Great illustrations, fun rhymes, and a lot of encouragement to think of kindergarten as an exciting and fun new thing. Highly recommended.
Turtles / Bees (Getting to Know...Nature's Children Series - Bk. 11)
Why Turtles and Bees in the same volume? I haven't the foggiest. Still, many good photos throughout. Much above Kidlet's level textually at the moment, but will the good in the future, and in the meantime Chad can use it to answer questions and explain things. Seems to be a nice series, but nothing about it that jumps out (except that it was only a dollar at the dollar store).
The Old Steam Train (Usborne Farm Tales)
Usborne does almost as much good and inexpensive stuff as Dover does, FYI. I enjoyed this one, and particularly liked the fold-out town map in the front and back covers. Nothing else amazing, but a good choice for kids with a train fascination.
Ballerina Wings (Dragon Tales Books with Wings)
Cassie has always wanted to be a ballerina, and she can’t wait to try out for the first annual Big Ballet. But when she finds out the audition is for the Bug Ballet, not the Big Ballet, she and her friends work together to think of a way to make her dancing dream come true.
Beautiful, soft, shimmery cloth wings affixed to the front cover add a unique element to this book about Cassie-everyone's favorite dragon.
Good but nothing "must read" about it. I picked it up due to Kidlet's love of dragons.
I Like Bugs (Step-Into-Reading, Step 1) by Margaret Wise Brown
Margaret Wise Brown has a deservedly high reputation in children's books. This one is funny and entertaining while working with a very minimal vocabulary; great early readers' book! I, of course, love that it shows "creepy" critters as fascinating and fun. I also appreciated that a number of different children are shown throughout, including plenty of girls interacting with bugs. Yay for that! Highly recommended.
The Big Snowball (All Aboard Reading)
I actually really liked the story and the rhyme in this one, but not the format. In place of most nouns it uses pictures. Although there's a key in the back, and they're pretty easy to figure out from context and rhyme, I didn't see the point of this for young readers. A picture/word combination would've made sense to me, but this doesn't at all, and as an adult reader reading aloud, I'd find it pretty annoying. Not recommended due to format (probably applies to this entire line of early reader books).
A Dog Needs A Bone by Audrey Wood
I really liked this one; a fun look at life from the dog's perspective, including the ways he entertains himself while his person is out. Not a "must-read", but a four-star for the dog-lover audience.
The Copycat (Picture Books: Set A) by Kathleen Hersom
PreSchool-K-- Resembling a small tiger, a non-conformist cat copies a variety of animals from barnyard to graveyard. The young narrator of this rhymed tale finally asks readers for a "stay-at-home cat" who would teach his pet proper catlike behavior. At story's end, it appears that the copycat is adopting "catness," but with a vengeance. The final picture shows it standing on hind legs, emitting an operatic and ear-splitting "Meow!" The repetition of "I have a cat, a bold copycat," will please young listeners. While some words and expressions are unlikely to come from the small child telling the story, this flaw won't distract youngsters from the humorous pictures. Large, boldly colored forms in watercolor and crayon on textured paper stretch from edge to edge of the double-page illustrations. Backgrounds of straw, flowers, grass, and water splash across pages with movement and color. Animals' startled expressions will elicit giggles, especially when cat and snake hiss together. Repetition, rhyme, and colorful illustrations combine to make this tale a winner at storytimes. --Jane Saliers, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library
Sadly out-of-print, I enjoyed it immensely. If your kiddo has a cat, check the library for this one. Highly recommended if you can find a copy.
A Family for Jamie: AN ADOPTION STORY
PreSchool-Grade 1-- After a favorable interview with an adoption counselor, Dan and Molly dream of and plan what they'll do when they have a child to share their lives. In the fall there is a baby for them; friends and relatives rejoice at the arrival of Jamie. This is a well-done addition to the meager adoption literature accessible to very young children. The parents' longing for a child is clearly explained without sentimentality, and the adoption procedure is appropriately simplified. Bright, detailed illustrations abound in equity--Molly builds, Dan bakes; family friends are multiracial and of various ages; the endpapers show a child in a wheelchair; even Jamie is portrayed generically. On some spreads, full-page illustrations stand opposite brief text surrounded by the accoutrements of childhood. A book that will fit nicely with I Am Adopted (Bodley Head, 1983; o.p.) by Susan Lapsley and The Chosen Baby (Lippincott, 1977) by Valentina Wasson. --Virginia Opocensky, formerly at Lincoln City Libraries, NB
Really quite lovely, and the review above encapsulates basically everything I would've said about it. Highly recommended, especially for kids who are adopted or know another adopted child and have questions.
Mac the Knight (Phonics Fun, Book 10) -- Basic little learning-to-read book with characters from Clifford the Big Red Dog. Fine, but nothing special in the least. Not particularly recommended.
Friendship: From Your Old Friends to Your New Friends
When families move from one neighborhood to another, it is often a difficult experience for younger boys and girls. Often, it means losing touch with old friends and having to make new ones. This sensitively written book with appealing full-color illustrations on every page explores children's mixed emotions at such times. The boys and girls in this story recall the fun they had sharing games and secrets with old friends. Now, in among a new group of children, they are afraid of being left out. The narrative helps young readers explore their feelings at such times and guides them through the process of making new friends while keeping in contact with old ones. The book offers kids reassurance--and two pages at the back of the book also present guidelines for moms and dads when moving time approaches or other changes occur.
Really quite well done, and I appreciate a lot that it goes into alternate ways to stay entertained when you haven't made new friends quite yet. Highly recommended for kids who are moving, or for a group of kids who need to think about being welcoming to a new kid.
Franklin and the Tooth Fairy
Franklin is fun, and I love turtles, so I dug this one. Nice approach to questions about why teeth fall out, and a good "growing up" theme. Bonus points for scientific accuracy; I hate when turtles have teeth in illustrations! Recommended.
Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi Barrett
Unbridled silliness from the author of "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs". Thoroughly enjoyable, not much to say beyond that. Recommended.
Flight of the Space Quester: Bungalo Boys by John Bianchi
The four Bungalo Boys set new standards in extraterrestrial travel when they board the Space Quester to blast off to parts unknown. This long-awaited addition to the continuing adventures of the Bungalo Boys delivers all the laughs that John Bianchi fans have come to expect since the publication of his first adventure spoof (Last of the Tree Ranchers) in 1986. Full-color illustrations.
This gets a "so-so" from me. Entertaining and funny, but totally lacking in female characters in a way that kind of grated on me. Not particularly recommended.
A Dragon in My Backpack by Elvira Woodruff
Bumps the toy dragon helps his friend Ben deal with his first-day-of-kindergarten apprehension in this back to school adventure. (from Amazon)
I really enjoyed this one quite a bit. I'm a sucker for dragons anyway, and this was a great use of them in the service of addressing childhood fears about starting school. Highly recommended.
The Brave Little Mouse (Storytime Books) by Roz Rosenbluth
She's not just brave, she's smart and creative too! When the house gets a cat, the mice can't get out to get food from the kitchen. The daughter mouse comes up with an idea to wrap herself in string and roll out the mousehole. She leads the cat on a chase through the kitchen, creating havoc while doing so, and the cat gets blamed and banished to a farm. Really quite cute, although children with pet cats may find their loyalties torn. Recommended.
What Do Animals Eat? by Ruth Belov Gross
Another that's aged quite well since 1974, but is sadly out of print. Each pages answers the question for a different animal. I'd say it's as much a reference book for parents as for the kids themselves; I could see using it whenever kids come up with those sorts of questions. The illustration style and color scheme does feel a bit dated, but the info seemed accurate from what I skimmed through. There are so many good books about animals out there these days, though, that I wouldn't particularly worry about hunting down this particular one through used book channels. Recommended if you happen across a copy.
OK, more in a bit after my break (I've been taking a small stack of books out on each one and reading through them -- I suspect our security guard is starting to wonder about my literacy level).
Edit to add:
All for the Best: The Secret to Happiness by Hans Wilhelm
From the theft of his sheep to his grandson's breaking a leg, the old weaver only says "It's all for the best," leading the townspeople to wonder if he's crazy. And he keeps on weaving his rugs. A greater lesson is learned when the king's soldiers come to town, looking for able-bodied men.
Based on a traditional Eastern story, Hans Wilhelm's whimsical watercolor illustrations perfectly complement this tale of patience and wisdom. (from Amazon)
It's a lovely book, with nice illustrations and a good story. My only frustration is that I don't actually believe the message it teaches. I personally hate the "everything happens for a reason" cliche, although I'm all good with looking for silver linings and being generally optimistic. Since this is very much a "for a reason" sort of story, I'm unlikely to pick up more copies of this in the future, but it may suit very well for folks of other philosophical bents.
Work & Simple Machines - Science Court Investigations
This series of books is based on the Science Court TV series that teaches science and math theories and concepts. Science Court - Where Science is the Law and Scientific Thinking Rules!
This makes me really wish the program it was apparently based on, Science Court, was available on DVD. The book is illustrated in black-and-white comic book style, and includes a series of home experiments to try that had my fingers twitching for thread spools and rubber bands. This particular volume was mostly focused on the idea that force x distance = work, and is premised on two employees arguing over who does the most work -- the one who gets all sweaty, or the one who uses a lever. Highly recommended for kids who need some encouragement getting interested in the sciences in their schoolwork. It appears to be designed largely as a teaching supplement.
The Ankle Grabber (Creepies) by Rose Impey
Very mixed impressions of this one in our house last night. Caleb says it's exactly the sort of thing he'd have loved as a kid, since it would've let him know that he wasn't the only one scaring himself silly with imaginary monsters. Chad and I both thought it was pretty likely to instill new monsters to fear, and lead to a lot of interrupted nights for parents, since we took the message to be "monsters are real, monsters are scary, and only your parents can chase them away" (it does end up on a positive note, with the Dad scaring away the monsters with his silliness). I'm much more fond of stories in which either the monsters are friendly in the end, or the child manages to resolve the issue with them him or herself. I'd only recommend this for very specific children that are pretty fear-tolerant and actively enjoy playing with horror-chills. I would absolutely NOT recommend it for kids who are already having problems in the monster-under-the-bed department.
Eency Weency Spider by Margaret Wang
Another awesome score from the thrift store; the music even still plays! It's a board book with cut-outs for the little 3-D spiders, and they count down from 10 to 1 as the pages turn. I really enjoyed the extended version of the song that the author created for the book, too. My only complaint is that to the extent the spider kids were gendered, they were gendered in pretty traditional ways, with girls dancing and carrying things to grandma and boys driving racecars and such. Recommended, but not a must read at all.
For those of you who are reading the book reviews and finding them at all useful, any suggestions on other information or details I could/should include to make it more helpful?
Radio Man: A story in English and Spanish by Arthur Dorros
This is a lovely little story about a child growing up in a family of migrant workers. Each page has the same text in both English and Spanish, and introduces a common Spanish term or phrase in the English side. Kidlet's grandmother was a Spanish teacher, so I'm sending it home for them to enjoy together. I also really love that it humanizes migrant workers so well, and has additional information and poetry at the end of the book. Highly recommended.
Hug by Jez Alborough
Just ridiculously adorable. It's a board book with almost no text, about a little ape baby wandering the forest, seeing all the other babies and parents together, hugging and cuddling, and looking for that himself (of course, he finally finds his mama). The illustrations are fantastic, with all kind of detail to look at and explore, and I suspect it'd be a great read-aloud book for that reason -- easy to stop on each page and talk about what's happening. Highly recommended.
A Trip to the Farm (Stencil Picture Books)
This is a nifty older one that's apparently out of print. Each page has a line or two of a basic little story about going to the farm, and a large stencil cutout. There's a fold-in cardboard page you put under the stencil, and then you can slide in a piece of paper and trace it. Kidlet's a bit too young to make good use of stencils right now, but I think he might dig it in a year or two. Neat if you happen to run across a copy like I did, but not something I'd jump to chase down.
Zootles series/magazine (the ones I found at the dollar store are hardcover books, and not something I'd think of as a magazine, but ok). This was the big Dollar Store score; they had stacks on them, and I hunted through 'til I was pretty sure I had one of each. I also got a bunch of the regular Zoobooks that they had, and few other similar large-format animal books. I'm really impressed by the Zootles, though. Lots of interactive stuff (find all the blue parrots on this page, are you taller than a hyacinth macaw, etc), good information, good suggestions for parents for further activities. Fun and colorful and engaging. I learned plenty about Parrots that I didn't know from the one volume I've read so far! Highly recommended, especially for animal-lovers.
The Good Luck Glasses (Hello Reader, Level 3) by Sara London
There¹s good luck and bad luck. For Nomi, bad luck is tripping over the family cat and squinting at the blackboard. But when she gets her special eyeglasses, Nomi discovers that the best luck of all is being able to see better than ever. (from Amazon)
Great for kids who need glasses at an early age! I got mine in 4th grade, and I think I would've appreciated this take on it. Highly recommended, especially for kids who need glasses.
My very special friend by Lucille E. Hein
This one is long out-of-print, but has aged quite well. It's about a little girl who stays with her grandparents and great-grandmother while her Mother is in the hospital. It primarily follows the friendship between the girl and her great-grandmother, and includes lots of ideas and encouragement for ways children can interact with the elderly. Highly recommended if you can find it.
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten (Miss Bindergarten Books)
This is essentially a really engaging alphabet book; there are 26 children in the class, each with an animal species and a name that begins with a different letter of the alphabet (although they did really have to stretch on a few of the letters!), and it goes through all their preparations for the first day of kindergarten at the same time it follows Miss Bindergarten's prep work. Great illustrations, fun rhymes, and a lot of encouragement to think of kindergarten as an exciting and fun new thing. Highly recommended.
Turtles / Bees (Getting to Know...Nature's Children Series - Bk. 11)
Why Turtles and Bees in the same volume? I haven't the foggiest. Still, many good photos throughout. Much above Kidlet's level textually at the moment, but will the good in the future, and in the meantime Chad can use it to answer questions and explain things. Seems to be a nice series, but nothing about it that jumps out (except that it was only a dollar at the dollar store).
The Old Steam Train (Usborne Farm Tales)
Usborne does almost as much good and inexpensive stuff as Dover does, FYI. I enjoyed this one, and particularly liked the fold-out town map in the front and back covers. Nothing else amazing, but a good choice for kids with a train fascination.
Ballerina Wings (Dragon Tales Books with Wings)
Cassie has always wanted to be a ballerina, and she can’t wait to try out for the first annual Big Ballet. But when she finds out the audition is for the Bug Ballet, not the Big Ballet, she and her friends work together to think of a way to make her dancing dream come true.
Beautiful, soft, shimmery cloth wings affixed to the front cover add a unique element to this book about Cassie-everyone's favorite dragon.
Good but nothing "must read" about it. I picked it up due to Kidlet's love of dragons.
I Like Bugs (Step-Into-Reading, Step 1) by Margaret Wise Brown
Margaret Wise Brown has a deservedly high reputation in children's books. This one is funny and entertaining while working with a very minimal vocabulary; great early readers' book! I, of course, love that it shows "creepy" critters as fascinating and fun. I also appreciated that a number of different children are shown throughout, including plenty of girls interacting with bugs. Yay for that! Highly recommended.
The Big Snowball (All Aboard Reading)
I actually really liked the story and the rhyme in this one, but not the format. In place of most nouns it uses pictures. Although there's a key in the back, and they're pretty easy to figure out from context and rhyme, I didn't see the point of this for young readers. A picture/word combination would've made sense to me, but this doesn't at all, and as an adult reader reading aloud, I'd find it pretty annoying. Not recommended due to format (probably applies to this entire line of early reader books).
A Dog Needs A Bone by Audrey Wood
I really liked this one; a fun look at life from the dog's perspective, including the ways he entertains himself while his person is out. Not a "must-read", but a four-star for the dog-lover audience.
The Copycat (Picture Books: Set A) by Kathleen Hersom
PreSchool-K-- Resembling a small tiger, a non-conformist cat copies a variety of animals from barnyard to graveyard. The young narrator of this rhymed tale finally asks readers for a "stay-at-home cat" who would teach his pet proper catlike behavior. At story's end, it appears that the copycat is adopting "catness," but with a vengeance. The final picture shows it standing on hind legs, emitting an operatic and ear-splitting "Meow!" The repetition of "I have a cat, a bold copycat," will please young listeners. While some words and expressions are unlikely to come from the small child telling the story, this flaw won't distract youngsters from the humorous pictures. Large, boldly colored forms in watercolor and crayon on textured paper stretch from edge to edge of the double-page illustrations. Backgrounds of straw, flowers, grass, and water splash across pages with movement and color. Animals' startled expressions will elicit giggles, especially when cat and snake hiss together. Repetition, rhyme, and colorful illustrations combine to make this tale a winner at storytimes. --Jane Saliers, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library
Sadly out-of-print, I enjoyed it immensely. If your kiddo has a cat, check the library for this one. Highly recommended if you can find a copy.
A Family for Jamie: AN ADOPTION STORY
PreSchool-Grade 1-- After a favorable interview with an adoption counselor, Dan and Molly dream of and plan what they'll do when they have a child to share their lives. In the fall there is a baby for them; friends and relatives rejoice at the arrival of Jamie. This is a well-done addition to the meager adoption literature accessible to very young children. The parents' longing for a child is clearly explained without sentimentality, and the adoption procedure is appropriately simplified. Bright, detailed illustrations abound in equity--Molly builds, Dan bakes; family friends are multiracial and of various ages; the endpapers show a child in a wheelchair; even Jamie is portrayed generically. On some spreads, full-page illustrations stand opposite brief text surrounded by the accoutrements of childhood. A book that will fit nicely with I Am Adopted (Bodley Head, 1983; o.p.) by Susan Lapsley and The Chosen Baby (Lippincott, 1977) by Valentina Wasson. --Virginia Opocensky, formerly at Lincoln City Libraries, NB
Really quite lovely, and the review above encapsulates basically everything I would've said about it. Highly recommended, especially for kids who are adopted or know another adopted child and have questions.
Mac the Knight (Phonics Fun, Book 10) -- Basic little learning-to-read book with characters from Clifford the Big Red Dog. Fine, but nothing special in the least. Not particularly recommended.
Friendship: From Your Old Friends to Your New Friends
When families move from one neighborhood to another, it is often a difficult experience for younger boys and girls. Often, it means losing touch with old friends and having to make new ones. This sensitively written book with appealing full-color illustrations on every page explores children's mixed emotions at such times. The boys and girls in this story recall the fun they had sharing games and secrets with old friends. Now, in among a new group of children, they are afraid of being left out. The narrative helps young readers explore their feelings at such times and guides them through the process of making new friends while keeping in contact with old ones. The book offers kids reassurance--and two pages at the back of the book also present guidelines for moms and dads when moving time approaches or other changes occur.
Really quite well done, and I appreciate a lot that it goes into alternate ways to stay entertained when you haven't made new friends quite yet. Highly recommended for kids who are moving, or for a group of kids who need to think about being welcoming to a new kid.
Franklin and the Tooth Fairy
Franklin is fun, and I love turtles, so I dug this one. Nice approach to questions about why teeth fall out, and a good "growing up" theme. Bonus points for scientific accuracy; I hate when turtles have teeth in illustrations! Recommended.
Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi Barrett
Unbridled silliness from the author of "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs". Thoroughly enjoyable, not much to say beyond that. Recommended.
Flight of the Space Quester: Bungalo Boys by John Bianchi
The four Bungalo Boys set new standards in extraterrestrial travel when they board the Space Quester to blast off to parts unknown. This long-awaited addition to the continuing adventures of the Bungalo Boys delivers all the laughs that John Bianchi fans have come to expect since the publication of his first adventure spoof (Last of the Tree Ranchers) in 1986. Full-color illustrations.
This gets a "so-so" from me. Entertaining and funny, but totally lacking in female characters in a way that kind of grated on me. Not particularly recommended.
A Dragon in My Backpack by Elvira Woodruff
Bumps the toy dragon helps his friend Ben deal with his first-day-of-kindergarten apprehension in this back to school adventure. (from Amazon)
I really enjoyed this one quite a bit. I'm a sucker for dragons anyway, and this was a great use of them in the service of addressing childhood fears about starting school. Highly recommended.
The Brave Little Mouse (Storytime Books) by Roz Rosenbluth
She's not just brave, she's smart and creative too! When the house gets a cat, the mice can't get out to get food from the kitchen. The daughter mouse comes up with an idea to wrap herself in string and roll out the mousehole. She leads the cat on a chase through the kitchen, creating havoc while doing so, and the cat gets blamed and banished to a farm. Really quite cute, although children with pet cats may find their loyalties torn. Recommended.
What Do Animals Eat? by Ruth Belov Gross
Another that's aged quite well since 1974, but is sadly out of print. Each pages answers the question for a different animal. I'd say it's as much a reference book for parents as for the kids themselves; I could see using it whenever kids come up with those sorts of questions. The illustration style and color scheme does feel a bit dated, but the info seemed accurate from what I skimmed through. There are so many good books about animals out there these days, though, that I wouldn't particularly worry about hunting down this particular one through used book channels. Recommended if you happen across a copy.
OK, more in a bit after my break (I've been taking a small stack of books out on each one and reading through them -- I suspect our security guard is starting to wonder about my literacy level).
Edit to add:
All for the Best: The Secret to Happiness by Hans Wilhelm
From the theft of his sheep to his grandson's breaking a leg, the old weaver only says "It's all for the best," leading the townspeople to wonder if he's crazy. And he keeps on weaving his rugs. A greater lesson is learned when the king's soldiers come to town, looking for able-bodied men.
Based on a traditional Eastern story, Hans Wilhelm's whimsical watercolor illustrations perfectly complement this tale of patience and wisdom. (from Amazon)
It's a lovely book, with nice illustrations and a good story. My only frustration is that I don't actually believe the message it teaches. I personally hate the "everything happens for a reason" cliche, although I'm all good with looking for silver linings and being generally optimistic. Since this is very much a "for a reason" sort of story, I'm unlikely to pick up more copies of this in the future, but it may suit very well for folks of other philosophical bents.
Work & Simple Machines - Science Court Investigations
This series of books is based on the Science Court TV series that teaches science and math theories and concepts. Science Court - Where Science is the Law and Scientific Thinking Rules!
This makes me really wish the program it was apparently based on, Science Court, was available on DVD. The book is illustrated in black-and-white comic book style, and includes a series of home experiments to try that had my fingers twitching for thread spools and rubber bands. This particular volume was mostly focused on the idea that force x distance = work, and is premised on two employees arguing over who does the most work -- the one who gets all sweaty, or the one who uses a lever. Highly recommended for kids who need some encouragement getting interested in the sciences in their schoolwork. It appears to be designed largely as a teaching supplement.
The Ankle Grabber (Creepies) by Rose Impey
Very mixed impressions of this one in our house last night. Caleb says it's exactly the sort of thing he'd have loved as a kid, since it would've let him know that he wasn't the only one scaring himself silly with imaginary monsters. Chad and I both thought it was pretty likely to instill new monsters to fear, and lead to a lot of interrupted nights for parents, since we took the message to be "monsters are real, monsters are scary, and only your parents can chase them away" (it does end up on a positive note, with the Dad scaring away the monsters with his silliness). I'm much more fond of stories in which either the monsters are friendly in the end, or the child manages to resolve the issue with them him or herself. I'd only recommend this for very specific children that are pretty fear-tolerant and actively enjoy playing with horror-chills. I would absolutely NOT recommend it for kids who are already having problems in the monster-under-the-bed department.
Eency Weency Spider by Margaret Wang
Another awesome score from the thrift store; the music even still plays! It's a board book with cut-outs for the little 3-D spiders, and they count down from 10 to 1 as the pages turn. I really enjoyed the extended version of the song that the author created for the book, too. My only complaint is that to the extent the spider kids were gendered, they were gendered in pretty traditional ways, with girls dancing and carrying things to grandma and boys driving racecars and such. Recommended, but not a must read at all.
For those of you who are reading the book reviews and finding them at all useful, any suggestions on other information or details I could/should include to make it more helpful?