Preschool to Grade 4 Cont.

-- School Library Journal, 9/1/2006

KONTIS, Alethea. AlphaOops!: The Day Z Went First illus. by Bob Kolar. unpaged. Candlewick Sept. 2006. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-7636-2728-3. LC number unavailable.

Gr 1-2–Letter A starts to introduce itself and is interrupted by activist letter Z, demanding fair and equal turns at going first, wary of its last place in line, and followed in backwards order by letters Y, X, W, and (oops!) P. Soon all harmony disappears out the window, with the bickering letters and their accompanying words. Letter A remains disgruntled, and letter V insists on a second turn. Turmoil grows until letter A blossoms with not one, but a whole spread of words beginning with its sound. Digitally created googly-eyed letters with stick arms and legs, washed in bold colors, animate the alphabet with personality and emotions. Letter R performs a parody of “Singing in the Rain,” letter B is suspended from big beautiful balloons, letter Y knits a yarn cap, and a Sendak “Wild Thing” look-alike represents the letter M. Plenty of details to absorb, colorful images to grab the eye, and a confused letter template running below the action create alphabet antics for early readers. A fun addition.–Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX

K-Gr 3–The most popular food at Nutley School is peanut butter, and Simon eats it on a bagel every day. Then a new student who has a peanut allergy comes to the school. Principal Filbert makes a peanut-free lunch table, and anyone who has a peanut-free lunch can eat there. Grant sits there alone. Simon suggests that they make the table a fun place, and the school starts a Peanut-Free Cafe that features snacks, arts and crafts, and a movie for the admission of a peanut-free lunch. Simon can’t participate because he is unable to give up his favorite food. Finally he convinces himself to eat something else so that he can join his friends, but after school and on weekends he still enjoys peanut butter. The story addresses several important topics, all with a lighthearted touch. Cocca-Leffler’s humorous and exuberant illustrations make the book fun. An informative and colorful selection, told in a nonthreatening way that kids will relate to.–Debbie Stewart Hoskins, Grand Rapids Public Library, MI

K-Gr 2–Omar wants to wear the scariest costume to the Halloween party at his house. He thinks a spider costume would be just the thing, until he learns that spiders are helpful in eating bugs. A ghost outfit just isn’t scary enough. Time is running short, and Omar is running out of ideas. At the last minute, the little cub ends up with the simple ghost costume he had been avoiding. While trick-or-treating, no one is even remotely afraid of him. Suddenly, it begins to rain, and Omar becomes separated from his friends. He falls into a thorny bush, and then a mud puddle, and is covered with dirt and debris. He finally reaches home, where the party is in full swing. When he enters the house, all of his friends are terrified at what they see. The ghostly sheet is now dingy, and leaves and branches protrude from it, creating a scary costume indeed. The simple text is easy enough for primary-grade readers, and it effectively captures the small bear’s frustration and ultimate success. The soft, warm fall colors bring to life the bear’s cozy home and surroundings, while touches of Halloween gloom give an appropriate punch to the story. Buy where other “Omar” books are popular.–DeAnn Okamura, formerly at San Anselmo Public Library, CA

K-Gr 3–This picture book is inspired by the true story of an Indian boy, Dinakaran, who escaped the 2004 tsunami with the help of his dog, Selvakumar. While the boy’s family innocently goes about their morning routine, the dog whines and paces to alert them to impending disaster. When Dinakaran runs to the house in the midst of the tsunami, instead of further inland, his pet stays with him until he is able to herd the boy to safety. Li’s rich illustrations are breathtaking, but the tension and emotion wrapped up in the characters’ faces are often lacking in the text. The narrative veers off course when the believable portrayal of a dog’s extra sense turns into his fortune-telling: “Didn’t they know that a mighty earthquake had rumbled under the ocean and would soon bring raging waves onto the shore?” A merely adequate option for a discussion on tsunamis.–Jill Heritage Maza, Conn Elementary, Raleigh, NC

Pres-Gr 2–Having a pal like Slug can be too much of a good thing. The big orange creature shows up everywhere, intruding on all of his friend’s activities, even inviting himself for dinner and a sleepover. Finally the child screams, “He’s ANNOYING….I’M SICK OF HIM!” Slug, overhearing the outburst, slinks away. The boy soon feels lonely, but after an apology, all ends well. This all-too-familiar theme is given fresh treatment with quirky, cartoonlike illustrations of the giant slug, done in acrylics. Large print makes the book accessible to beginning readers.–Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY

PreS-Gr 1–Boo and Baa, two small sheep, are raking leaves when they discover a cat stuck up a tree. In their attempt to lure it down, Boo gets stuck instead. Ultimately he gets down, and the cat gets back up, so they leave it an escape route and go to bed. The final spread shows Boo and Baa in their beds, and the cat asleep on the carpet. The text, only a few lines per page, is so spare that it verges on being stilted, but it is this very restraint that imbues it with humor. The story is likely to tickle youngsters’ funny bones. The Landströms use bold outlines to depict the two appealing little lambs with large eyes and very expressive faces. The illustrations vary in size and page layout, which adds both motion and visual appeal and enhances the minimalist text. While not an essential purchase, this enjoyable autumn tale will certainly find an audience with preschoolers and early readers alike.–Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

Gr 1-4–Lee-Tai based this story on the experiences of her grandparents and her mother, who were interned in Topaz, Utah, during World War II. With quiet understatement, the text focuses on the confusion and sadness young Mari feels after her family’s abrupt relocation to the camp. In the harsh desert landscape, she thinks wistfully of her home, where she played with her brother in a yard filled with flowers. Her parents are worried about her silence and listlessness, but an art class offers her a means of expressing her feelings. She makes a friend as well, and when her desert sunflowers put up seedlings, she feels a new sense of hope. The story is told in both English and Japanese, and the earth-toned illustrations, created using watercolors, ink, tissue paper, and acrylic paint, nicely detail the simple plot. Hoshino modeled some of her compositions on those of Hisako Hibi, the author’s grandmother and a prominent Japanese-American painter. Other picture books dealing with this topic include Eve Bunting’s So Far from the Sea (Clarion, 1998), Yoshiko Uchida’s The Bracelet (Philomel, 1993), and Rick Noguchi and Deneen Jenks’s Flowers from Mariko (Lee & Low, 2001). Lee-Tai’s tale, with its emphasis on the internees’ dignity and feelings, offers the gentlest introduction to this tragic episode.–Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA

Gr 1-2–Jake, canine friend to Richie, the principal stagehand of the Philharmonic Orchestra, answers the birds, the cars, and the clap of thunder with a distinct bark, a wagging tail, or flattened ears and a whine. Jake simply loves sound. His first trip to Richie’s workplace confounds him as he confuses car horns with the brass section and the rumble of thunder with the boom of the percussion section. It also results in his false identification of the conductor’s wand as a new toy and eventual duty as “principal stagepaw.” LeFrak introduces musical terms within the story, including identification of the instruments. Illustrations, done in acrylic and tempera paint, frame the account of the pup’s activities. This straightforward, predictable story will appeal to dog lovers and may serve as a painless introduction to the orchestra as well. Pair it with Alan Madison’s Pecorino’s First Concert (S & S, 2005) or Lloyd Moss’s eye-catching Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin (S & S, 1995).–Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX

PreS-K–In a book similar to their Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo (Hyperion, 1999), Lewis and Kirk combine rhythmic text, descriptive language, and colorful pseudo-realistic artwork to depict the adventures of a toy tugboat. From early morning (“Cast off!/Anchor’s aweigh./Aye, aye, Captain./Busy day!”) to evening (“Day is over. Moon shines bright./Engine rumbles through the night”), the hardworking vessel scoots, splashes, pushes, and pulls through a busy day. Youngsters will appreciate the rhyming text and quickly learn the refrain, which changes slightly with each verse. Illustrations in bright primary colors and geometrical shapes match the playful verse. The toylike quality of the boats, cargo, and crew becomes more apparent with each page, so it is no surprise when the bathtub setting is revealed. In the end, a smiling, freshly washed, pajama-clad youngster is taken off to bed, while his still-dripping playthings rest contentedly at tub’s edge. The simplicity of both narrative and pictures makes this story a strong choice for children.–Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH

PreS-Gr 2–When Owen’s harried, grumpy mom suddenly wakes up as a dragon, he is initially pleased. Soon, however, he discovers that she has forgotten how a mother behaves. When she licks the dishes clean and puts the cornflakes away on the toilet seat, her son decides he’d better take her to the doctor to see if she can be cured. The trip turns into a mini-epic adventure as Mom is mistaken for an escaped crocodile at the zoo; scares the little boys at the playground; and, to her delight and the hysteria of passersby, discovers that she can breathe fire. When the doctor can’t provide any remedy, Owen turns to his grandmother for help, and she reassures him that everything will be all right in a few days. Sure enough, the next morning, a decidedly less frazzled and perfectly normal and smiling Mom greets Owen. Lindenbaum’s watercolor-and ink-illustrations and use of playful angles and perspectives give the art a sprightly, kinetic energy. The pink dragon with the mom’s topknot of hair is hilarious, and the humor will appeal to children. Owen’s resourcefulness in light of his mother’s transformation will delight young readers, who will recognize a child coping with a parent’s very bad day.–Marge Loch-Wouters, Menasha Public Library, WI

Gr 2-5–This fictionalized tale is based on actual events that occurred in the early 1900s, when five- and six-year-old Cambodian girls were trained at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh in the art of their country’s traditional dance. Lord describes how Little Sap, a girl from a family of poor rice farmers, wins a place in the royal dance troupe. After briefly detailing the child’s years of training, the story focuses on a trip to France, where the troupe performs before an audience that includes Auguste Rodin. Enchanted with the gracefulness of the young dancers, the artist arranges to spend two days drawing Sap and two other girls. An author’s note explains that the real sketches, with color washes added, were exhibited in 1907 under the title Danseuse Cambodgienne. Hoshino’s matte acrylic paintings with pen-and-ink outlining and some paper collage contain elements of both impressionist and folk-art styles. They feature eye-pleasing shades of peach, burnt orange, soft yellow, aquamarine, and green. Images of lovely wide-eyed girls, sampan boats, and the cobblestoned courtyard of a French villa draw readers into Little Sap’s world and expose a moment of creative inspiration. An inviting glimpse at Cambodian dance and a sweet tidbit of art history.–Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

PreS-K–This gentle bedtime story begins when a small boy sees a prop plane in the sky and imagines riding in it–first gliding over a car, then soaring past a train. His flight of imagination takes him beyond the ocean and into outer space, where he lands on the moon, takes a few steps on its surface, jumps, and flies “just like the airplane.” At last he returns home to his mother, who tucks him into bed to dream of airplanes. A prop plane is just the right technology for this subdued tale, and the monochromatic pencil-on-watercolor-paper illustrations create the atmosphere of a silent movie. This quiet mood encourages readers to listen for the hum of the engine and the whisper of the wind. The book’s sensual qualities will entrance youngsters, and the soothing text and soft artwork create the comfort and reassurance that children need at bedtime. A must-buy.–Carolyn Janssen, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH

PreS-Gr 2–On Halloween, Angela is always upstaged by her older sister. When she is four, she is forced to cover her pretty fairy ensemble with a jacket, and her sister’s rabbit outfit gets all of the attention. The next year, she dons the bunny suit, but a rainstorm transforms her into a soggy rat, while Bernadette’s plastic witch hat and cape remain pristine. The next Halloween, Angela wears the hat and cape, adding makeup for a “really ugly” effect, but Bernadette steals the show with a beautiful gypsy dress. By age seven, Angela is fed up with being a copycat and makes herself a stylish ghost costume. Chicken pox keeps Bernadette from trick-or-treating and, with no older sister to overshadow her and a great getup, Angela is finally the star. She enjoys the glory, but also saves a special treat for her sister. The detailed watercolor-and-ink illustrations include wonderful facial expressions and scenes that capture the joy of Halloween. Warm hues and homey backdrops keep the tone light. Filled with gentle humor, this is a fun, non-preachy story about the challenges of being a younger sibling. Use it as a holiday selection or when exploring family relationships.–JoAnn Jonas, Chula Vista Public Library, San Diego, CA

PreS-Gr 2–With a style familiar to fans of I’m Mighty! (2003) and I Stink! (2002, both HarperCollins), McMullan introduces a sassy backhoe loader who relishes his dirty job. He brags about his equipment and then heads to work, where he cleans up an abandoned lot. “Cleaning up this mess? Easy as pie. Make that a MUD pie.” Counting down from 10 to 1, the backhoe removes the alliterative trash: “4 cat-clawed couches,” “3 scuffed-up signs,” “2 tossed-out toilet seats,” “1 wonky washing machine.” Then, he pulls out a tree stump, takes a mud bath, and back-drags his bucket over the dirt. Throughout the story, the machine becomes progressively dirtier, with a repeating motif of mud. The text flies about the pages, changing size, shape, and orientation. With its saucy tone and dynamic color cartoon illustrations, this picture book exudes energy.–Suzanne Myers Harold, Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR

PreS–Grandma Cat’s apple pie is devoured by her family, a mouse family, and a family of ants. The book’s charm is in the joyous, deliciously appealing pen-and-ink and watercolor spreads detailing the domestic life of each group and in the repetitive narrative structure of the story, which has very few words. “Little Brother Mouse ate a piece./Big Sister Mouse ate a piece./Momma Mouse ate a piece./Poppa Mouse ate a piece./Grandma Mouse ate a piece./Six crumbs were left./And then the mice took naps.” A natural for storyhours, this title will be savored by listeners just discovering the delicious world of books.–Kathleen Whalin, York Public Library, ME

Gr 1-4–Montes smoothly incorporates Spanish terms into a rhythmic poem describing a moonlit Halloween night. Los esqueletos rattle bones and clatter in a dance, los fantasmas “drag their chains” and “shriek their pains,” and los muertos emerge from their graves to join other creatures at a haunted casa for music and dancing. However, the party stops dead with the arrival of trick-or-treaters, which causes the frightened spooks to hide, for “The thing that monsters most abhor/Are human niños at the door!” The full-bleed paintings create a creepy mood with curving lines, fluid textures, and dusky hues. Rounded figures dance across the atmospheric spreads, which depict blank-faced skeletons, a toothy werewolf, and a child zombie with glowing eyes. The pictures are eerie enough to tingle spines, but the effect is leavened with bits of humor (witches perform skateboard tricks on their brooms, a vampire admires himself in a mirror that reflects only his clothing). The poem’s cadenced rhymes and descriptive language build suspense until the satisfying ending. Spanish words are easy to understand in context, but are also defined in a glossary with pronunciation guides. This book is just right for children who are beginning to find typical Halloween fare a bit too tame.–Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 3–A bouncy, boisterous, colorfully illustrated story. Several prehistoric beasts are sitting down to enjoy their snacks at the Dinosaur Cafe when along comes Tyrannosaurus, who is not satisfied with gobbling and gulping up menus–he wants meat! Iguanadon sneaks away to phone Terry Triceratops for help. With cacophonous commotion, Terry and the other dinosaurs knock down, jump on, and tickle the bully until he leaves. Afterward, the victorious friends regale each other with battle tales. The picture-book crowd will delight in the tumult and turmoil included here. Pair this title with Bernard Most’s ABC T-Rex (Harcourt, 2000) and Tony Mitton’s Dinosaurumpus! (Scholastic, 2003) for an energetic, spirited storytime.–Andrea Tarr, Corona Public Library, CA

K-Gr 3–This hybrid picture-/short chapter book introduces free-spirited, precocious, and self-absorbed Henrietta, who describes herself as “a good wiggler, and sometimes I’m exhillperating and sometimes I’m expasperating.” In a rambling narrative featuring creative wordplay and colorful fonts, the girl describes her family, pets, friends, and imaginative journeys. Scattered throughout are plenty of whimsical, childlike drawings with red accents. In one venture, she sets sail in her bathtub for undiscovered lands, first dropping her baby brother, Albert, in the Land of One Thousand Alberts before heading on to the Wide Wide Long Cool Coast of the Lost Socks. She also has a special relationship with “the Rietta,” an imaginary partner-in-crime. While her musings are a bit silly at times, they are effervescent and inventive, too. One episode gently relates the demise of one of her pet mice, who dies of loneliness after her companion runs away. This causes Henrietta to muse thoughtfully that “all things get lonely.” This girl will be embraced by many young readers, particularly those who’ve enjoyed Lauren Child’s “Clarice Bean” books (Candlewick).–Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA

K-Gr 2–Readers will happily board the plane with precocious Junie B. as she sets off for Hawaii with her parents. Her school assignment is to complete a photo journal documenting her vacation, but from the start it’s clear that her adventures are really misadventures. Her first photo captures two “grouchpots,” one in the seat in front of Junie B., and the other behind. Clearly, neither passenger is pleased with the girl’s seat kicking, endless chatter, or imaginative games with stuffed elephant Philip Johnny Bob and Barbie doll Delores. In the hotel gift shop, Junie insists on purchasing a parrot swim ring that proves much too small and gets stuck on her body for the entire trip. Later episodes include an unfortunate encounter with eels and jellyfish while snorkeling, and a bird that nests in Junie B.’s hair when she adorns herself with exotic flowers. Clever language and outrageous antics make this irrepressible youngster a standout character. Brunkus’s delightful black-and-white illustrations are a delight.–Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT

PreS–Fragmented text and chaotic acrylic paintings aptly convey the frenzy and cacophony of metropolitan life: “Sun comes up…/Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!/Dusty little/street cleaner/swishes down/the street.” Bright colors and bold print depict the rhythm of a typical day with traffic jams, construction sites, church bells, and a thunderstorm, as a host of community helpers go about their tasks. The hullabaloo diminishes a bit toward evening, but there is still lots to listen to, including ambulance sirens, dogs barking, garbage cans crashing, and the rumbling of trucks and trains. Amid this “symphony of sounds,” urbanites contentedly fall asleep. Characters with oval-shaped heads, large noses, and exaggerated hairdos appear alongside simply drawn vehicles and buildings, and the energetic artwork is filled with curving lines and contrasting colors. The rhymes can be a little forced, but will still be fun for reading together.–Linda Staskus, Parma Regional Library, OH

Gr 2-4–Beginning with the endpaper that shows a boy outlined in blue ink roaring at a frightened wolf that is hiding next to a bed, readers are caught up in the wry humor of both text and illustrations. The child explains, “Usually, when I get home from school, nothing exciting happens.” Then, “the Big Bad Wolf” arrives at his house and moans, “Nobody believes in me anymore. I don’t scare anyone.” Sympathetically, the boy sets about helping his new friend regain his confidence. Each of 12 chapters has one enticing sentence that appears by itself on the first page (e.g., “I always wondered what he did when I was at school”), followed by small evocative line drawings. In one scene, the wolf growls at himself in a mirror, tries to scare a child walking by a window, and records his progress in slash marks on a wall in the closet where he resides. Spare use of yellow, red, and green serves to emphasize a few dramatic moments: one drawing shows the little boy with a yellow face, lit up by a flashlight, when he tries to demonstrate one way to be scary. These whimsical illustrations show up clearly on the warm cream-colored paper. This charming book sings with humor that younger children will likely appreciate; older readers may also smile.–Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, CA

Gr 2-4–This picture book combines attractive illustrations and lively text to provide an introductory glimpse into the life of Galileo, imagining what he might have written in his journal. It focuses on the scientist’s improvement of the telescope and his subsequent realization that planets other than the Earth also have moons and rotate around the sun rather than the Earth. While the story joins fabricated thoughts and dialogue with actual science and biography, Pettenati does a good job, both in the text and in an author’s note about the scientist’s life, of clearly pointing out the difference between her creation and historical data. A fictional dog, Luna, adds playfulness to the story and gives it a more personal feel, as do Rui’s lighthearted illustrations. Pair this title with Peter Sís’s exceptional Starry Messenger (Farrar, 1996) to provide a fun introduction to Galileo and to inspire young readers to explore further.–Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Library, UT

Gr 1–While collecting blue pebbles from the ocean floor, Rainbow Fish disregards his friend’s warnings and gets swept away in a storm. Far from his normal habitat, he finds himself lost. A puffer fish, scallop, and others attempt to guide him home, to no avail. Eventually, however, he is escorted back. Blues and greens fill the pages, which teem with fish and plant life, and Rainbow Fish wears his trademark scales and expressive face. If you have a large collection of Pfister’s work, add this to it; otherwise, don’t let it hook you as the story–with its moral of asking for help and helping others–doesn’t make enough of a splash on its own.–Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio, TX

Gr 1-3–Isabel Bloom is ferociously eager for her parents to receive only the best possible news about her school performance. As her teacher explains the common report-card words (“excellent,” satisfactory,” “needs improvement,” etc.), Isabel pictures her parents jumping for joy. But her overconfidence turns to dismay as she imagines what her teacher might say, and by the time the sealed evaluations are ready to be sent home, the frightened child makes a drastic and desperate decision. Poydar weaves an entertaining, suspenseful, and ultimately affecting tale. Her illustrations are straightforward and colorful, and are particularly successful in communicating children’s emotions. The story underscores the tensions inherent in the evaluation system. Adults may want to think carefully about their own feelings regarding report cards before sharing this tale. It might, on the other hand, be an excellent discussion-starter. Isabel is a character who’s easy to relate to and root for.–Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY

PreS-Gr 1–This gentle tale combines basic teachings of the Buddha with a knowing appreciation of the love most children have for small animals, in this case a mouse. Tsi Tsi enters a Buddhist temple by night and finds a wealth of food offerings left there. As he eats, the Buddha, via the temple statue, shares with him the essence of his wisdom: “Be kind to others,” “Be forgiving,” “Have compassion for those less fortunate than you,” and so on. Tsi Tsi takes the teachings to heart and begins to help older mice, those who are lonely and sick, and so forth. The Buddha, in return, receives the mouse’s tickling of his stomach and the gift of laughter. Openly didactic, the tale serves as a simple introduction to Buddhism in an easily digestible form. Most of the teachings are given in a series of spreads. The illustrations are simply drawn, featuring black outlines and rich colors. Children might pay more attention to Tsi Tsi’s activities than to the teachings, which are central to all religions, but since the mouse decides to act upon the instruction, the lessons are likely to make an impression.–Coop Renner, Hillside Elementary, El Paso, TX

K-Gr 2–A simple text celebrates a child’s connection with her mother’s sari, a stretch of cloth that is “long like a train” and that “fills the air with color when I dance and sing.” A blue sari is a “river”; a patterned one is a place to hide with her friends. Best of all, the youngster wraps herself in the vivid cloth because she loves how it makes her dream. The endpapers demonstrate how to wrap the garment. Full-spread illustrations capture the colors and textures of the fabrics and the little girl’s wide-eyed playfulness and love of her mother’s attire.–Alexa Sandmann, Kent State University, OH

PreS–This book is the third in a series of rhyming books to introduce youngsters to the Jewish holidays. This time, the dino arrives to inform the children that “Shabbat is near” so they must prepare for the weekly observance. He spills some wine on the tablecloth, falls asleep in synagogue, and generally behaves like a mischievous toddler, while clearly enjoying every part of the rituals. The inclusion of the Havdalah is especially welcome. The colorful and large illustrations are appealing and will be helpful at storytime. This book is the best of the series and will be heavily used by teachers in Jewish preschools. However, for schools without large Jewish populations, stick with the others in the series for a taste of mainstream Jewish tradition.–Lisa Silverman, Sinai Temple Library, Los Angeles

Pres-Gr 2–This gentle picture book captures the impact a sensitive teacher has on the lives of her students. Molly is having a “totally wonderful day”: the weather is wonderful, and she is bringing a special crystal from Grandma’s house to school to share with her classmates. However, when the other children are distracted from admiring her prize by Russell and his water-squirting stegosaurus, “Molly’s eyes burned hot and wet….She felt her heart go thumpity-thumpity-thumpity inside.” Fortunately, Miss Plumberry redirects the class’s interest back to Molly’s crystal with thoughtful questions and observations. For the girl, it is a totally wonderful day again thanks to her teacher. Rosen deftly captures Molly’s feelings: “a great big lion was going to run in and gobble everyone up. Come on, lion. Come on, lion, thought Molly.” The soft watercolor-and-pencil illustrations reveal her emotions and expose the fickle attention of children in engaging, somewhat idyllic, spreads. This title is a good choice to share when discussing feelings and consideration, and it makes an excellent selection for teacher-appreciation day.–Piper L. Nyman, formerly at Fairfield Civic Center Library, CA

Gr 1-3–In this addition to the series, Vera enters a new school after a family move. From drawing the wrong kind of picture in art class, to being either ignored or teased by her classmates, to being bitten all over by red ants, the girl’s first day is disastrous. In the end, however, she makes a new friend. This book is anything but reassuring, and it is not realistic in its portrayal of a typical first day. For example, instead of being escorted to her room and properly introduced to the teacher and class, Vera is handed a note with a name and room number. Her teacher makes no obvious effort to help her feel comfortable, such as encouraging her to introduce herself or assigning a buddy. And it’s highly unlikely that an art teacher would instruct the children to draw their favorite pets without ascertaining whether or not they have pets. Vera’s first day is so disturbing largely due to the ineptitude of the school’s personnel, an unfortunate message to give to children. Although the plot is fast moving and the watercolor illustrations are expressive, the story does nothing to allay the fears that youngsters in this situation might be experiencing.–Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, Waterford, NJ

Gr 2-4–One day, a talking hot dog appears in Bob’s lunch box. He has been sent from the planet Dogzalot to help ward off trouble–and trouble (or chaos) does arise in this off-the-wall, zany early chapter book. The fifth grader’s usually sweet teacher, Miss Lamphead, gets tummy trouble, turns into a giant evil-alien pizza named “Cheese Face,” and tries to take over the classroom by turning her students into pizza soldiers. Thanks to Hot Dog’s array of condiment weapons: ketchup, mustard, relish, as well as a take-out meal from a Chinese restaurant, Miss Lamphead returns to her normal self and literally “hurls” (yes, vomits) out the students whom she has eaten. A superhero in the form of a hot dog, a teacher who transforms into a pizza, and bullies by the name of Barfalot, Slugburt, and Pigburt all make for an outlandish and ridiculous cast of characters and events. Wacky black-and-white cartoons appear on every page. Boys looking for something “gross” and fans of Dav Pilkey’s “Captain Underpants” books (Scholastic) are the most likely audience for this title, but it is a bit over-the-top even for them.–Jennifer Cogan, Bucks County Free Library, Doylestown, PA

PreS-K–Based on the author’s song “I’m Five,” this story is disjointed, likely stemming from the attempt to adapt the lyrics to a broader audience. A young boy boasts of his bravery and new skills. At first, his claims are realistic (he can dress himself and wrestle his older cousin to the ground), but they quickly become exaggerated (he can “throw this rock a mile away/and bean that rattlesnake” and “paddle down a river/on an alligator’s back”). Many of his boasts, such as being “King of the Cannibals” or walking away from the cops when they “started buggin’ me with questions,” will be more readily understood by older readers than by preschoolers who consider themselves “big.” The text rhymes lightly, with a bouncy refrain, and the exuberant cartoon line drawings colored in pastel shades capture the tale’s energy and quirky humor. The boy is clearly a rascal, as demonstrated by his rough play, his protruding belly, and his misshapen crew cut. This offering might appeal to some readers, but it is not an essential purchase.–Suzanne Myers Harold, Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR

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