Preschool to Grade 4

By Staff -- School Library Journal, 7/1/2006

Fiction

K-Gr 1–Matthew has nothing to share for show-and-tell, so he informs his class that a lion is living at his house. Everyone believes him, and this initial lie spawns many others, as the boy must answer questions about his pet’s daily activities and invent fresh excuses as to why no one can come to see it. Eventually Matthew confesses the situation to his mother, who tells him he must be honest with his classmates. The boy puts all his stories into a book and explains to the children that the lion was only real in his head, an explanation they readily accept. The idea that all of the students would have believed him in the first place strains credulity, as does the fact that his deceptions would be so easily forgiven. However, the story could spark discussions about the value of honesty and facing up to bad decisions. Cravath’s chalk pastel and acrylic illustrations have a pleasant hazinesss appropriate to the theme of fantasy blending into reality. Evaline Ness’s Sam, Bangs and Moonshine (Holt, 1966) is a stronger book, but this one would be a useful addition for larger collections.–Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

Gr 3-5–Twin brothers are very different, especially in the way that they deal with money: Rock is a spender and Brock is a saver. Their grandfather hires them to do chores and then encourages them to save by matching the total amount of money that they have accumulated from their pay each week. Brock manages to amass $512 in 10 weeks, while Rock spends his money as soon as he earns it, purchasing a fanciful array of toys, gum, and yard-sale items, all of which are comically depicted in the bright cartoon illustrations. Ultimately, Brock uses his proceeds to buy a fancy telescope and some gifts for family members, generously putting his remaining $50 dollars into a joint savings account that he shares with his brother. Evidently Rock learned his lesson as the tale ends with the twins in their old age as millionaires. A section entitled “Do the Math” contains charts showing the cash accumulation and what would have happened if Brock had spent some money during the 10 weeks. An explanation of compound interest and advice about saving are included. While the rhyming text has some awkward passages, this picture book is a good way to examine the issue of saving vs. spending.–Erlene Bishop Killeen, Fox Prairie Elementary School, Stoughton, WI

Gr 1-4–Seven-year-old Bean likes stomping in puddles, climbing fences into neighbors’ backyards, and playing tricks on her older sister, Nancy. She wears dresses as seldom as possible and avoids big books. Her new neighbor appears to be a quiet, orderly girl who sits on her front step day after day reading tomes. The two seem to have nothing in common, and Bean is not interested in getting to know Ivy, despite her mother’s prodding to make friends with the nice girl next door. Then Bean gets into trouble, and Ivy helps her out. She discovers that Ivy is practicing to be a witch, and when they decide to cast a spell on Nancy, their friendship is sealed. With echoes of Beverly Cleary’s “Ramona” series, this easy chapter book will appeal to children who are graduating from beginning readers. The occasional black-and-white illustrations highlight the text and provide visual clues. The characters are appealing, the friendship is well portrayed, and the pranks and adventures are very much on grade level.–Eve Ottenberg Stone, Cooper Lane Elementary, Landover Hills, MD

PreS-Gr 3–In this funny picture book, a young narrator shares her unusual concern: “My father pretends to be human, but I know he is really a dog.” She goes on to list the undeniable evidence: he likes a good scratch, growls when he is suddenly awakened from a nap, and when he toots, he looks around as if someone else were responsible. The illustration of the girl peeking under the dining table to see if he is begging for treats offers a clever shift in perspective. The clean, yet warm oil paintings are the perfect accompaniment to the understated and almost deadpan delivery, and they enhance the humor of this doggone good tale. It’s ideal for storytimes or one-on-one sharing.–Piper L. Nyman, formerly at Fairfield Civic Center Library, CA

K-Gr 3–When his blissfully out-of-touch mother announces Cousin John’s upcoming visit, Ben and his cat flash back to all their previous encounters with this obnoxious relative and immediately start worrying. The lively text consists entirely of Mom’s happy chatter about the fun the boys will have playing “cowboys…and superheroes… and magicians,” but the accompanying illustrations tell a very different story, in which Ben usually plays John’s hapless victim. Just as Ben and his cat are heading for the door, planning to escape, they learn that poor John has developed a violent allergy to felines and suffers terribly if one so much as approaches him. So, with high-fives and sidesplitting laughter, they roll out the red carpet and prepare to welcome their guest with open arms and plenty of pet dander. Barbara Bottner’s Bootsie Barker Bites (Putnam, 1992) tells much the same story, but Broach’s version, featuring male characters and radically different art, is by no means redundant. In Lilly’s cartoon illustrations, created with pencil and digital color, the backgrounds are busier, the color scheme is harsher, and Cousin John looks like Eddie Munster gone evil. A fun choice for all collections.–Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC

K-Gr 1–In Carlson’s third book about Henry and his adventures, the mouse has just spent his first day in first grade and is not quite sure how he feels about it. However, as he describes his experiences to his mother, he realizes that for every negative (he doesn’t sit near any of his old friends) there is a positive (he’s made a new pal who likes soccer and spiders as much as he does). By the time he’s finished with his recitation, he’s excited, happy, and proud that he’s “a real first grader now!” Children taking this monumental step will sympathize with Henry’s uncertainty and be reassured by his adjustment. The vibrantly colored illustrations and the cast of animal characters have lots of child appeal. Librarians will particularly appreciate the page where Henry and his classmates are eagerly investigating the “Everybody Books” in the school library. Whether used for storytime or independent reading, the book is sure to find an audience.–Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

Gr 1-5–The creation of Gershwin’s 1924 masterpiece is the subject of this picture book. The story, rendered in watercolor-and-ink caricatures, opens in the legendary pool hall where George’s brother Ira discovers a newspaper announcement for a concert at which his sibling’s new jazz concerto is to be featured–only it hasn’t been written yet. After the disbelief subsides and the conductor who placed the ad is confronted, the musical genius embarks on a journey in which doubt, inspiration, and frustration overlay frenzied periods of intense work. Celenza’s tale, complete with invented dialogue, brings the composer to life. The text incorporates musical ideas to discover the “klezmer howl” of the opening clarinet, the blues, and the “love song for New York” in the main theme. An author’s note contains Gershwin’s words describing the rhythm of the train ride that freed his mental block, providing ideas for content, style, and direction. Kitchel’s sensitivity to this source material is especially evident in her spread of multifaceted patterns and images, presented as cameos against a black background; they relate to the composer’s concept of a “musical kaleidoscope of America.” An accompanying CD features Gershwin himself (courtesy of a piano roll). Pair this with Robert Burleigh’s Langston’s Train Ride (Scholastic, 2004) to compare how a trip on an iron horse affected another American artist from the same period.–Wendy Lukehart, Washington DC Public Library

K-Gr 3–The art is the strong point in this story that promotes literacy. Horrible Harry, the resident monster of a forest, takes great pleasure in terrorizing human visitors who blunder onto his path. He sees a girl sitting on a rock and attempts to frighten her, but she is so caught up in what she is reading that he has to roar twice. Thinking that the book must be magical, he takes it when she leaves it behind and sets off to learn how to read; in the end, he shares the stories with others, ultimately adjusting his own attitude and converting other resident monsters. Harry’s greatest wish becomes to meet up with the little girl again–not to terrorize her, but to share a book with her. The pictures have that ghastly but humorous quality so enjoyed by children. The wolf Harry eats for breakfast, for example, sits frowning in a bowl as Harry gleefully dumps a bottle of milk over it. A bowl of eyeballs rests on a rock, ready for a quick snack. Illustrations on full-bleed spreads are boldly colored with garish streaks of acrylic paint. Sharp teeth, eyeballs, and two-headed creatures abound. Children will find Harry a delight.–Corrina Austin, Locke’s Public School, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada

K-Gr 2–Because Jake is the shortest kid in his class, he is either dismissed or teased by his classmates. Then Jacomo arrives, and the focus of the children’s derision shifts to him. He is enormous–he’s too big to fit on the school bus, and he crowds the other children at storytime. Jake befriends the new boy, teaching him how to kick a soccer ball so it doesn’t disappear and defending him when the others insist he doesn’t belong. By the end of the day, the two are best friends, and Jake has “never felt so tall.” This is a quirky tale of two opposites who find common ground because they are regarded as different, but who together make a good team. It is unfortunate (but perhaps also realistic) that the other children never come to truly value either boy, and that their consistent meanness is never addressed by their teacher. Walrod’s highly stylized color cartoons are a good match for the text.–Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

Gr 1-4–Enormous numbers are often difficult for children to conceptualize, but Clements makes the process enjoyable. The book begins and ends with a single dot. In between, readers not only view the other 999,998, but also pick up some fascinating tidbits of information. Each page features an array of dots arranged in a rectangular shape with an illustration superimposed on top, all set against a warm-hued background. One or two boxed facts help readers visualize particular amounts, and the spreads have arrows pointing out how many dots have been presented so far. The examples bring the concept home while reflecting kids’ interests: “There are 525,600 minutes from one birthday to the next one” or “To eat 675,000 Hershey’s bars, you would have to eat one bar every two minutes, nonstop, for more than 234 days!” Reed’s humorous and eye-catching digital artwork adds to the appeal. The phrase “It’s 238,857 miles from the Earth to the moon” is illustrated with a cow in space gear making its famous jump, while the fact that an arctic tern will fly more than 650,000 miles in its lifetime shows a camera-toting bird complete with Panama hat, suitcases, and passport clutched in wing. Pair this imaginative title with David M. Schwartz’s classic How Much Is a Million? (HarperCollins, 1985) for a tremendous math lesson.–Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

Gr 1-4–The people of Maldinga take their unpleasant secrets to Kalli, the “secret-keeper.” A baker tells her that he sells bread that weighs “less than full measure,” a matchmaker reveals that she lied about a groom’s merits, and a rich man discloses that he refused to help a beggar that came to his home. Only Taln, a potter, does not bring secrets. Instead, Kalli visits his shop and they enjoy friendly conversations. One winter, she becomes ill, and it is only when the villagers share some happy confidences with her (“My mama and I dance in the meadow”) that she regains her health. Then Taln arrives to reveal his own hidden thoughts–“I love the secret-keeper.” The illustrations are an intriguing blend of paint and collage that exude texture and depth. Illuminating oil colors contrast with the softer and more muted watercolors. Expressive faces and postures individualize the characters, and a lovely spread shows the villagers celebrating Kalli’s recovery. An uplifting modern fairy tale.–Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma Library, CA

PreS-Gr 3–“As the day begins, the beach is empty, waiting to be filled.” Cooper opens with a gorgeous stretch of sand in sun-flecked, amber-white watercolors, bounded by a sea so darkly blue that it seems still half-asleep. In the following pages, he tells the story, mainly in detailed splashes of paint, of the people and things that transform the quiet area into a lively spot. Readers will enjoy the affectionate portraits of swimmers, kite-flyers, sunbathers, seagulls, and barking dogs. A struggle with an inner tube or a beach umbrella, the people who go into the water but forget that they are still wearing their glasses, the clouds that look like spilled popcorn: here, as in life, it’s the little things that snag readers’ attention. Cooper’s portrayal of a day at the shore is generous with such minutiae; his fondness for his subject is evident and infectious. As the beach once again empties at the end of the story, it’s tempting to return to the first page, to a hundred possible activities at the shore–none of which is more earthshaking than a toppled sandcastle.–Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY

K-Gr 2–Dirk Bones, a skeleton newspaper reporter for The Ghostly Tombs, is dispatched to a haunted house on Ghoul Street, where the residents complain about spooky noises coming from their cellar. Dirk’s investigation leads him to the nearby graveyard, where the sounds are traced to a crypt containing a bubbling soup pot and a vampire who is writing a cookbook. Cushman’s illustrations are delightfully silly and spirited; his hilarious plot will please youngsters who often claim that they want horror but are relieved to get humor instead. This title has more sentences per page and more sophisticated puns than the usual “Level 1” reader. However, librarians, whose focus is not exclusively decoding, will welcome this addition to the primer shelves both at Halloween time and throughout the year.–Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT

PreS-Gr 2–Under a hot African sky, Mama Jumbo the elephant walks down Zanzibar Road and finds the perfect spot to build her house–under the pawpaw tree. Animal neighbors help her build her scrap house, hang a 7-Up sign above her door for her address, and settle in happily. Soon, however, Mama Jumbo is lonely, and she asks the animals if any of them would like to move in. Only Little Chico, a scrappy, uncared for chicken, takes her up on her offer. After she gives him a strawberry-bubblegum-scented bath, snazzy pajamas, and a lullaby, Little Chico and Mama Jumbo are content with their living arrangements. However, the next day the elephant cannot find her friend anywhere and she frets that he has left, but children will be quick to notice that he is on her head. After a day of searching, the two are happily reconnected. Through his warm, expressive watercolors, Daly teaches readers about some of the important things in life–friendship, family, and how to make a house into a home. Details abound, and the animals’ patterned clothing adds texture and variety to the pages. Colorfully painted endpapers further weave Mama Jumbo and her animal friends together. South African culture flows joyfully in this vibrant tale that’s sure to be a hit as a read-aloud or as a beginning reader.–Michele Shaw, formerly at Yorkshire Academy, Houston, TX

Gr 2-3–Readers will welcome the return of the lovable but henpecked hippo and his tick bird buddies. Amos is worried because Amoeba, who lives in a nest on top of his head and eats his troublesome bugs, is bored. She thinks Amos is dull and prefers the company of her imaginary friend, Nungwe. Stung, Amos determines to prove that he is a fun guy and, after canvassing the avian and reptilian populations, takes the advice of a vulture travel agent to take an adventure-filled trip down the river to the Serengeti. Poor Amos doesn’t count on all of Amoeba’s friends and relations tagging along and causing all sorts of hilarious complications. Children will enjoy the humor in the contrast between the well-meaning huge hippo and the bossy, controlling birds–a nice bit of empowerment for the small. The ridiculously silly circular conversations between Amos and the birds are laugh-out-loud funny, and the whimsical cartoon illustrations perfectly capture the animals’ personalities. Drawings of Amos’s cross-eyed attempts to see what’s happening in the aviary on his head are particularly delightful. Large print and generous white space make this a perfect transition book between easy readers and intermediate fiction. A few lessons on African animals fit in nicely. Happily, all ends well as Amos–quite by accident–discovers how to please his demanding friends. An appealing fantasy.–Quinby Frank, formerly at Green Hedges School, Vienna, VA

K-Gr 2–A boy curls up in a cozy chair to enjoy his favorite book, whereupon readers are whisked away on a trip through different types of literature. The story assumes a “book within a book” format, as a turn of the page takes youngsters inside Charlie’s pirate adventure. Here the layout resembles an open novel, with the title Shiver Me Timbers emblazoned across the top. A pirate digs up a treasure chest that contains–you guessed it–a book. Another page turn reveals that it is a collection of fairy tales, as Baby Bear finds Goldilocks in his bed reading his favorite story about a knight and a dragon. This pattern continues until the action returns to Charlie, still in his armchair, now surrounded by all of the characters. The spreads cleverly reflect the featured tales, and the endpapers show all of the volumes lined up on a shelf. Unfortunately, the loosely rhyming text is awkward to read aloud and the transitions often seem forced. Youngsters are ultimately left looking for more substance to accompany Scheffler’s humorous, brightly colored cartoons. For a story that celebrates reading, try Michael Garland’s Miss Smith’s Incredible Storybook (Dutton, 2003), which deftly delivers hilarious, quirky tales.–Jill Heritage Maza, Conn Elementary, Raleigh, NC

K-Gr 2–Bold color graphics are the highlights of these easy readers. In Bath, Tanya and her dog are gardening. When she tells her brother she needs a bath, he says that the dog needs one, too, and helps the pair wash in the wading pool. Average-quality illustrations fill the spreads. In the second title, three bears dressed in boots, down jackets, and hats go ice fishing in a sturdy cabin on the frozen lake. They catch one small fish and enjoy some fish-shaped crackers. The pictures have lots of expression and detail. In Night-light, Mike dreams of scenes evoked by the light, such as sitting in the dentist’s chair and floating in space. Children immune to night terrors might like this book, but all three stories will have limited appeal to beginning readers.–Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI

PreS-Gr 2–Dismayed when his mom asks him to play with his baby brother, Morton wishes that the tot could turn into something fun, like a kite, or better yet, a hulkingly huge, lime-green dragon. In a series of amusing illustrations, the boy imagines the activities that he and his new companion would share, followed by the less-than-fun results on the next spread. A walk seems like a great idea, but the page turn shows the creature flying off into the sky with Morton dangling from its leash. A basketball game might be enjoyable, until he realizes the impossibility of scoring against a wall of towering green flesh. Whistling together is also a bust, as the youngster ends up with toasted hair. Chastened, Morton banishes his imaginary playmate and races home to join his brother in the sandbox. The brief text, interspersed with wordless spreads, makes this offering a great choice for newly independent readers as well as for sharing aloud. The exuberant watercolor-and-charcoal cartoons take maximum advantage of the dragon’s girth, and the images sprawl across the pages. The wacky elasticity, breezy hilarity, and unexpected perspectives in the art add a sense of mad motion. This book’s theme will resonate with children, who will appreciate the jokes and identify with the mischievous protagonist and his unusual friend.–Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha Public Library, WI

K-Gr 3–Ellis provides readers with a step-by-step depiction of a food chain that exists in a pond. He cloaks the information in recollections of a fishing excursion with his father, although he acknowledges that not all the events actually occurred in a single day. From the annoying mosquito that bites him to the bass that Brian catches for his family’s supper, the boy observes various predator-prey relationships. His father’s pronouncements sometimes sound more like a textbook than a conversation. Italicized phrases and paragraphs seem to signal Brian’s thoughts, but the font change confuses as much as it clarifies. Maydak’s illustrations convey some of the beauty and drama of the setting, but his depictions of people, especially their facial expressions, are much less effective. It is unlikely that children will read this book by themselves. The detailed explanations about the book’s “main characters” following the story also seem to signal its intended use by adults reading to children. Teachers looking for supplemental material for units on pond ecology might consider the book. However, Brian J. Heinz’s Butternut Hollow Pond (Millbrook, 2000) or Gordon Morrison’s Pond (Houghton, 2002) are better choices. For an outstanding visual and poetic introduction to pond life, don’t miss Joyce Sidman’s Song of the Water Boatman (Houghton, 2005).–Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato

PreS-Gr 1–A family piles into the car in the early morning for a two-day drive to Grandma’s house. The parents and children engage in the usual road-trip activities–playing games, eating at a truck stop, singing, getting on each other’s nerves, being bored, taking in the tourist sites, and staying in a motel–until they finally arrive for a festive reunion. Each activity is told in somewhat painful verse (often stretched to fit the situation) and illustrated with bouncy cartoon watercolor-and-ink art. The overlong and often forced text may not keep children’s attention and may seem just as boring as a youngster’s perception of a never-ending journey. Virginia Walters’s Are We There Yet, Daddy? (Viking, 1999) and Dandi Daley Mackall’s Are We There Yet? (Dutton, 2003) cover the same ground more enjoyably.–Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha Public Library, WI

PreS–Syrupy dialogue overwhelms this latest story about Little Red. “The River Noodle Boating Bonanza is always so much fun. What a buzz of a day!” Little Red judges the boats that her animal friends create and selects a winner. The soft pencil-and-watercolor illustrations do a nice job of conveying the action. Imaginative boats include a gravy boat, a teacup, a boot, and a watering can; the animals riding in them are lively and have personality. Buy only if you have fans of Little Red’s previous adventures.–Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, CA

PreS-Gr 1–Cold Paws, a polar bear, is cold and lonely; his chilly condition comes from inside and not from his surroundings. Attempts to play with other animals haven’t worked because they’re all intimidated by his large size. So, he plays his silver flute in an attempt to forget his problems. One day, a girl from the nearby village follows his music and discovers the reclusive animal. Assuming he is cold, Hannah gives him her long striped scarf and begins to build a friendship that ultimately warms Cold Paws up on the inside. While this gentle, fanciful story doesn’t offer anything new, the watercolor, ink, and pastel illustrations, done predominantly in the blues, whites, and grays of the Far North, are noteworthy. An additional purchase.–Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI

PreS-Gr 3–A charmingly fleshed-out version of the traditional story. One morning, an acorn falls on Henny Penny’s head. As she encounters various animals, she explains, “I was shaking my dustcloth this way and that, round and round, and all of a sudden the sky fell down!” Fortunately, when she and her friends are trapped in Foxy Loxy’s house, she realizes the severity of their situation. Seeing “feathers on the floor,” “a pile of old bones,” and “a BIG pot of water on the roaring fire,” she cleverly fools the gullible fox and springs them from their otherwise dire ending. Brightly colored and skillfully drawn illustrations balance perfectly with the delightful text and draw readers into their depths. Whimsical details include a napkin holder and a fork decorated with a fox head, a cookbook that has an image of a dressed fowl on the cover, and a picture of an imagined stew pot on a lit fire that is filled with all the birds surrounded by carrots and onions. Even if your library has Steven Kellogg’s Chicken Little (HarperCollins, 1987), you’ll want this sprightly retelling of a favorite tale. It will make a great read-aloud.–Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma Library, CA

K-Gr 3–Zack and his second-grade teacher, first featured in Miss Smith’s Incredible Storybook (Dutton, 2003), have returned for another escapade, this time with a prehistoric twist. Miss Smith has an amazing book that, when read aloud, brings tales to life. As she begins to read Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World, her class is transported to an Amazonian jungle inhabited by a ferocious Tyrannosaurus rex. When Zack unintentionally changes the plot and the teacher disappears, the students must use their wits to survive. Luckily the young protagonist knows a bit about dinosaurs and is able to save Miss Smith and bring everyone safely back to the classroom–along with an extra traveler. While the first title introduced children to a story’s magical powers through a multitude of recognizable characters from classic tales and nursery rhymes, this one focuses on a single story, and the nonstop action will win an even larger audience of fans. Youngsters will be drawn to the boldly colored computer-generated illustrations, particularly the jungle scenes, which show an interesting array of dinosaurs. A fun-filled literary adventure.–Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA

PreS-Gr 2–Gordon’s third tricked-up automotive interpretation of a familiar children’s tale is Grimm with a gimmick: Hansel and Diesel are sibling pickup trucks (so the text reads, though they’re pictured as flatbeds) who wander from their junkyard home in search of fuel (trailing bolts in lieu of bread crumbs) and into the clutches of the Wicked Winch. She lives in “the most beautiful gas station they could have imagined…right in the middle of the junkyard!” When the thirsty little vehicles help themselves to deep glugs of her warm gasoline, the Winch inquires, “Guzzle, guzzle, drip and drool, who is drinking all my fuel?” The little ones are saved from the jaws of her ominous metal shredder by their worried parents, who push the winch to her just reward and admonish their evilly gleeful-looking kids: “Don’t you ever leave home and scare us like that again!” The junkyard-as-forest is effectively rendered, with bleak towers of snow-covered tires giving readers an idea of the relative diminutiveness of the duo, and the candy-land confection of a gas station is an able stand-in for the classic house of bread and cakes. Among the missing are the familial tensions that serve as the original story’s energy source, and the girl-power rescue that makes quick-thinking Gretel a particular favorite. Fans of Gordon’s The Ugly Truckling (2004) and The Three Little Rigs (2005, both HarperCollins)–which put in shameless-self-promotion cameo appearances here–will probably overlook what’s lacking, but others may want to stick with something closer to the original.–Kathy Krasniewicz, Perrot Library, Old Greenwich, CT

PreS-Gr 2–Langley’s oversize ears are always in the way. The puppy trips over them while running in the meadow and they make him hopeless at hide-and-seek. However, when his siblings disappear in the forest, the resourceful pooch uses his ears to listen for them. Hearing whimpers from a deep hole, he enlists the help of Rabbit and a little bird and plans a rescue. Although he has saved the day, Langley still laments his appearance. Rabbit reassures him that “it’s what’s between your ears that counts!” Goschke’s oil paintings show the dog’s funny attempts at making his ears smaller by wrapping them around his head and twirling them on the side. Still, despite the amusing artwork, this tale of canine self-acceptance lacks the witty charm of Amanda Harvey’s Dog Eared (Doubleday, 2002), making it an additional purchase.–Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada

Gr 1-4–Gregorich has fun with idioms in this easy reader featuring a single-minded bear. First, Waltur plans to get a pet and his friend Matilda cautions him, “Do not buy a pig in a poke,” meaning sight unseen. He takes the advice literally and purchases a pig sealed not in a bag, but in a box, and ends up with an unpleasantly bossy porker. Next, the enterprising bear plans to raise chickens from eggs and sell them for honey money. When Matilda warns, “Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched,” Waltur refrains from counting the actual number of eggs, but remains convinced that they will all hatch without a hitch. He is in for a surprise when the big day arrives. In the third tale, Waltur is determined to prove Matilda wrong when she says, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink,” but only succeeds in landing in the drink himself. The author makes excellent use of repetition, sight words, and engaging dialogue to create a manageable and entertaining read. Sorra’s cartoon-style watercolors are perfectly suited to the lively text and help round out the characters’ personalities with added emotional details. A brief note introduces idioms and explains the origins of those that appear in the book. These clever and accessible tales will capture the interest of youngsters who are ready for short chapters but are still most comfortable with the beginning-reader format.–Carol L. MacKay, Forestburg School Library, Alberta, Canada

K-Gr 2–Older children have much to get used to whenever a younger sibling enters the mix, and these lessons are often ongoing. Alice is entering kindergarten and is nervous, while big brother Tom is unhappy about the fact that he now has to share “his school” with her. When asked by his parents to keep an eye on her, he grimaces, growls, and tries his best to ignore her. At the same time that Alice is acclimating to her new situation, Tom is seen trying to find his sister’s yellow curls in a line of children or looking for her on the playground while he is supposedly playing with his friends. When he hears a cry and realizes that another child has taken her beloved teddy bear away, Tom swoops in to save it and comfort her with a kiss. The large illustrations evoke thoughts of Helen Oxenbury or Jan Ormerod’s work, and are depicted in soft pastel hues, capturing the siblings’ facial expressions and the varying degrees of emotion that they experience throughout the day. This is a new take on first-day-of-school stories, and a realistic choice to help children share their lives with a younger sibling.–Lisa Gangemi Kropp, Middle Country Public Library, Centereach, NY

Gr 3-4–In this “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” sort of story for early chapter-book readers, 10-year-old Cal Barraclough learns his lesson after playing with the levers of a machine built by his eccentric neighbor. Mr. Frout is always clamoring about in his backyard, engaging in secret science experiments and driving his neighbors crazy. Drawn by the man’s unconventional manner, Cal and his talking dog, Frankie, like to sit on the roof and observe him. When Mr. Frout’s antigravity experiment goes awry, he reluctantly enlists the boy’s help, and Cal wins his approval and friendship. Then he makes the mistake of playing with the machine in the inventor’s absence and causes his whole neighborhood to be turned upside down–literally. Mr. Frout and Cal get things back under control, and the result is a calmer man who, in the end, takes up gardening and makes peace with his neighbors. Quirky pen-and-ink drawings complement the text, and short chapters make this story appealing to reluctant readers. A fun and inventive romp for those who like Jon Scieszka’s “Time Warp Trio” series (Viking) or Jim Benton’s “Franny K. Stein” books (S & S).–Jennifer Cogan, Bucks County Free Library, Doylestown, PA

K-Gr 1–Mr. Ouchy is looking forward to his first day as a teacher, and while he is excited, he is also worried. Will he remember his students’ names, will he be able to find his classroom, or even the bathroom? When the big day arrives, he is so busy answering his class’s myriad questions that his nervousness evaporates and he and the students have a great day. This story is for a slightly younger audience than Julie Danneberg’s First Day Jitters (Charlesbridge, 2000); it has a simpler vocabulary and sentence structure. Meisel’s watercolor, gouache, and pen-and-ink illustrations have a cozy feel and not only amplify humorous situations, but also sometimes create them when the text does not. For example, the picture accompanying a little girl’s request to learn how to train her cat shows an orange tabby perched coyly on the edge of a toilet seat while reading the newspaper. This picture book is a good choice to share when trying to keep the stress that can accompany that first day for both kids and teachers to minimum levels.–Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ

PreS-K–From breakfast to bedtime, readers follow a pair of siblings through their day of jam, syrup, mud, paste, and mashed potatoes (and the yucky effects they have on cats, dogs, teddy bears, pants, etc.). The chanting rhymes celebrate all this stickiness: “Sticky people love to play with/Furry teddy bears./Fuzzy, wuzzy, sticky also./No one sticky cares.” However, the delicate watercolor illustrations downplay the glorious mess. The book winds down with Dad washing the goo away with a bath. The parents put their clean children to bed, but the last page shows the day’s sticky remnants and promises an equally messy tomorrow. An additional purchase.–Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA

PreS-Gr 2–This wordless picture book is all about design. There is no apparent visual narrative, though some characters appear more than once, and there is some sequencing of events. As the solid background colors change from one spread to the next, what was previously unseen (blended into the background) becomes visible. And, correspondingly, other elements may have disappeared. The first instance is on the cover, divided into two halves, with the word “invisible” floating above the word “visible.” The prefix “in,” rendered in lime green against hot pink on the top half, completely blends into the lime green below. When children catch on to the visual tricks, they will turn the pages back and forth to find what they may have missed. Clothes disappear into the background, leaving what appear to be floating heads and hands–until the page is turned. While the previously missing clothes may now appear, something else may have vanished. The vivid tones of the book are a bit garish at times. While adults may moan at some of the tricks (when the “invisible” dog appears, he is urinating), children will enjoy the game of visual hide-and-seek. They will also smile at the humorous ending, in which a character strips off his clothes to blend in perfectly with the background, so all that is revealed is a wink and a smile.–Robin L. Gibson, Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool, OH

Gr 2-5–Fourth-grader Joe Sherlock aspires to follow in the footsteps of the famous Sherlock Holmes by solving local mysteries for $10 a day. He is endearing as he bumbles toward the solutions. In The Haunted Toolshed, he attempts to discover who has been stealing things from his neighbor’s house, including a glass eyeball and a bundt cake. In Neighborhood Stink, he’s called in to discover which local dog has been leaving a mess in a completely fenced-in yard and gets stuck in a dog door with only his “Inspector Wink-Wink” underpants on. Black-and-white cartoons add to the fun. Allusions to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle abound: Sherlock has an Uncle Mycroft and lives in the town of Baskerville. The gross-out factor is high in these easy chapter books–entire plots pivot on poop and flatulence, which will appeal to fans of Dav Pilkey’s “Captain Underpants” series (Scholastic).–Kathleen Meulen, Blakely Elementary School, Bainbridge Island, WA

K-Gr 2–Mr. Hopper’s class is planning for Family Night, and Luna suggests a Midnight Circus, a celebration perfectly attuned to her own passion for planets and stars. Instead, her classmates embrace the idea of a traditional circus, dividing into groups of lions, tigers, and bears, while Luna grows even more single-minded in her celestial fascination. As a new student, she has experienced some anxiety; now her adjustment is further compromised as classmates are confused by her obsession. When the second graders are forced to make a sudden program change, Mr. Hopper rallies the children around Luna’s creative idea to bring the Midnight Circus to Room 75. On Family Night Luna is beaming, her sense of validation and acceptance reflected back to her wise and gentle teacher. By clearly evoking the discomfort and quirky behavior of the new kid in class, this story offers great discussion possibilities. It is a typical leveled reader with short sentences and chapters and an ample number of engaging cartoon drawings. However, the character development and opportunity for inferential thinking make it more substantial than many books of this type.–Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT

PreS-Gr 2–When the water in the village pond disappears into a hole, Katerina the goose leads her family down it to find a new pool. At the same time, the mayor is having plumbing problems, while the townspeople are concerned about the water’s disappearance. Only little Millie Buswell worries about her favorite goose. Meanwhile, the geese follow the water underground, surfacing through a storm sewer into a fountain and then to the hippo pool at the zoo. Children will foresee what happens next when Millie is pictured in the mayor’s “loo.” The parallel story lines of the geese and the humans flow smoothly into a satisfying ending. The soft, colored-pencil drawings track Katerina and her goslings on their underground adventure, while the townspeople work to refill the pond. Kerr uses a minimum of lines to express a wide range of emotions–puzzlement, concern, curiosity, confidence, sadness, and joy. Simple details add dimension to the story. Foxes, rabbits, and moles live along the geese’s route. Worms, ladybugs, and other soil dwellers crawl in the dirt. A playful cat chases a frog across several pages. Children will enjoy sharing this delightful adventure one-on-one or in a small group.–Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH

PreS-Gr 1–This reassuring tale features the characters from Shall I Knit You a Hat? (Holt, 2004). Almost five, Little Rabbit decides that he is all done with crying. He wants to have a “grown-up” birthday party, with guests who have also outgrown crying. As he extends his invitations, he is surprised to learn that his friends still shed tears, and for a variety of reasons. The squirrel admits to crying when feeling left out of a game and the cat cries when frightened. The horse’s silly explanation helps keep the tone light: “I cry…when I try a new hairstyle and don’t like the way I look.” Little Rabbit returns home disappointed, only to discover that Mother Rabbit still cries too, sometimes even when she is happy. The warm acrylic illustrations have a retro quality and are full of humor and detail: Little Rabbit finds the cat at the fish market (naturally); the horse’s new coiffure is a bit ridiculous; and the animals play pin the tail on the rabbit at the party. A great choice for reading aloud or one-on-one sharing, this tale will prompt comments from children, who will relate to the characters and enjoy the rich artwork.–Robin L. Gibson, Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool, OH

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