The illustrations in this book are beautiful and filled with humor. If I was still doing regular story times I would definitely add this book to my reThe illustrations in this book are beautiful and filled with humor. If I was still doing regular story times I would definitely add this book to my reading list. The story centers on a girl and a scruffy pack of dogs who move in next door. Despite the dogs being messy and sloppy and a bit mean, Girl and dogs become friends and play and visit the river together. Until Girl sees a poster at the park. Just who are these dogs? Read the charming, funny, and goofy story to find out. Enjoy the twist on the very last page. ...more
With bright emotion-filled illustrations, this story is all about a love of reading and the important part Libraries play in making sure everyone - evWith bright emotion-filled illustrations, this story is all about a love of reading and the important part Libraries play in making sure everyone - even bears - have access to books in a welcoming environment. When a bear finds an abandoned book in the forest, he learns to read and then wants more books. Traveling to the City he is told time and time again that "books are not for bears." Discouraged, he is on the way home, when he passes a Library and is invited in by the librarian. A lovely addition to Storytime, this will be enjoyed by all ages. It is a lovely reminder that books ARE for everyone....more
This is a charming picture book filled with bright and colorful pictures and sparse text. In fact, a part of the book is wordless. The main character This is a charming picture book filled with bright and colorful pictures and sparse text. In fact, a part of the book is wordless. The main character is a longhaired Dachshund living in the City during a very hot summer. The heat, the crowds, the noise of the City are just too much for the little dog. Fortunately, He has a responsive lady who realizes what is going on and has just the thing for him: a day at the beach! A Storytime crowd pleaser with plenty of opportunities for engaging and interacting with your audience....more
This is a darkly funny and charming retelling of the classic tale - retold as only Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen could. The troll under the bridge is grThis is a darkly funny and charming retelling of the classic tale - retold as only Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen could. The troll under the bridge is gross and disgusting - eating ear wax - and the goats clomping over the bridge are sweet and cute. The troll dreams of eating goat and lists all of the ways to cook his dinner including Goat Benedict with Hollandaise, Goat flame with candied yams and a Goat Kale Salad (hold the Kale). The text is bouncy with a great read-aloud rhythm and rhyme and the illustrations are dark and a nice balance to the text....more
This a charming book with bright, colorful illustrations, simple text and a brave piece of toast with big dreams. Toasty loves dogs, and wanted so badThis a charming book with bright, colorful illustrations, simple text and a brave piece of toast with big dreams. Toasty loves dogs, and wanted so badly to be one! Watching dogs play in the park, he sets out to join them with a sparkly new ball. Things don't go quite as Toasty hoped, but what follows is laugh-out-loud funny with a surprising and heartwarming ending. ...more
When I opened this book I knew I was in for a treat - the inside cover is decorated with the most exquisite shell drawings. The rest of the book's illWhen I opened this book I knew I was in for a treat - the inside cover is decorated with the most exquisite shell drawings. The rest of the book's illustrations are equally amazing showing beach scenes and imaginative underwater scenes and a lovely young girl and her Grandparents interacting at the beach. The simple text works with the illustrations to create a love letter to the beach, ocean and family. Sooo beautiful....more
This book received multiple honors and they are all well deserved. The illustrations are beautiful and filled with movement and emotion and the simpleThis book received multiple honors and they are all well deserved. The illustrations are beautiful and filled with movement and emotion and the simple text works beautifully to convey everything a young Chinese American girl is feeling about a family outing. While in the car with her family one day, her mother spots a patch of watercress growing wild around a ditch at the side of the road. The girl doesn't feel her family's joy over the found treasure; she feels only the discomfort of the cold water, the mud her brother splashes on her shirt and the embarrassment she feels about harvesting watercress at the side of the road. Served for dinner that night, her family encourages her to eat it - it is fresh and free. When her Mother talks about her life in China, and the great famine she begins to understand her family's culture and what this treasure meant to them. It is a beautiful moment when she tastes some of the watercress and finds it is delicious and a tie to a family she knew little about. Just a beautiful story....more
This is an utterly charming book. Bernice is the epitome of the grumpy toddler! Bernice goes to a birthday party and everything is just terrible, puttThis is an utterly charming book. Bernice is the epitome of the grumpy toddler! Bernice goes to a birthday party and everything is just terrible, putting her in an awful mood, from warm soda to only getting one, stepped on, piece of candy from the piñata. When she greedily grabs the whole bunch of balloons meant to be handed out to the party guests she gets...carried away. Being up in the air gives her a new perspective and changes her mood entirely. The illustrations are marvelous and capture all of the emotions perfectly. The text is simple enough to be a great read-aloud for all ages....more
With beautiful illustrations and equally beautiful text this is the story of the last living thing pulled from the rubble of the World Trade Center: AWith beautiful illustrations and equally beautiful text this is the story of the last living thing pulled from the rubble of the World Trade Center: A Callery Pear tree that refused to die, even after "the sky exploded." On Sept 11. The tree, crushed and burned still showed some new green growth when dug out. This true story written by a teacher, is gentle and hopeful even while discussing how the tree struggled in spite of exceptional care to come back from the brink of death. Ten years later the tree was returned home as part of the Memorial museum and thrives today. There are author and artist notes. This is one amazing book for children of all ages....more
This is a charming adventure story about finding out who you are. A small dog is adopted by a loving lady and leads a pretty good life - dinners in frThis is a charming adventure story about finding out who you are. A small dog is adopted by a loving lady and leads a pretty good life - dinners in front of the fire and curled up with her under the covers every night. The lady loves the dog and baked potatoes - and the dog becomes her little Baked potato. So when he gets lost one stormy day, that is what he answers when asked what he is. After being told several things by several different animals he comes upon while searching, it is a wise old owl that tells him he is a dog and he should just follow his nose to find home. The illustrations are colorful and filled with emotion. I fell in love with little Baked Potato when I first saw the cover of this joyous book encouraging the reader to be themselves....more
This is a beautifully illustrated picture book filled with wonderful images and facts about elephants, while still being very lyrical and a wonderful This is a beautifully illustrated picture book filled with wonderful images and facts about elephants, while still being very lyrical and a wonderful read-out-loud Storytime book. There is a glossary that lists all of the elephant facts that appear in the book, but it is much more fun to absorb these facts by reading the book....more
This is a beautiful illustrations and secret scavenger hunt will engage even the youngest readers and introduce them to life cycles in a tropical rainThis is a beautiful illustrations and secret scavenger hunt will engage even the youngest readers and introduce them to life cycles in a tropical rain forest. The text contains enough science that, combined with the glossary and author's notes, will also engage and teach older elementary aged kids as well. ...more
Filled with humor, bright bold illustrations and bouncy rhyming text Big Brother tries to keep his loud and expansive family from waking up his baby sFilled with humor, bright bold illustrations and bouncy rhyming text Big Brother tries to keep his loud and expansive family from waking up his baby sister. This is a great Storytime audience pleaser - in addition to the illustrations and rhyming text there are noises to make. As a bonus the family is African-American and there is a great twist at the end....more
This is a modern retelling of the classic fairy tale, Three Billy Goats Gruff. Latinx characters, including smart, problem solving, Ruby are drawn to This is a modern retelling of the classic fairy tale, Three Billy Goats Gruff. Latinx characters, including smart, problem solving, Ruby are drawn to scrumptious blueberries growing across the river. Ruby engineers a way to outsmart the bully that stands between those blueberries and her family. Bright child-like illustrations compliment the text beautifully. There are notes on bridge types and author's notes about the story as well. ...more
This is an absolutely fabulous book - the illustrations are just beautiful and the spare text is filled with upbeat emotion combined with the yearningThis is an absolutely fabulous book - the illustrations are just beautiful and the spare text is filled with upbeat emotion combined with the yearning to be outside that we all felt in 2020 when we were inside during the pandemic. An ode to nature and endurance and strength. ...more
This beautifully illustrated book will help even very young children relax and be more mindful. Helping with deep breathing, using images to help withThis beautifully illustrated book will help even very young children relax and be more mindful. Helping with deep breathing, using images to help with negative or scary thoughts that leads to calm and peace. This would be a great addition to a story time to help antsy kids or read to a young child in a lap who is upset or stressed about life. ...more
A City dweller and his Dad leave the City for a day long hike. They experience nature in all it's grandeur - views from the top of a mountain...deer tA City dweller and his Dad leave the City for a day long hike. They experience nature in all it's grandeur - views from the top of a mountain...deer through binoculars. There is a unique 2-page spread that shows them walking through a deep forest from above and the reader is treated to animals hidden from the view of our hiking duo. This book is wordless, but well worth the effort to read to a story time audience or child in your lap. At one point they even plant a tree. The illustrations are beautiful and convey plenty of emotion and joy that can be found in nature. Any reader who has taken a hike will also recognize the tiredness they feel at the end of the day after a day of fresh air and exercise. Truly lovely....more
Like the other Little Blue Truck books, this one has bright happy illustrations and bouncy rhyming text that is great fun to read aloud. Little Blue TLike the other Little Blue Truck books, this one has bright happy illustrations and bouncy rhyming text that is great fun to read aloud. Little Blue Truck is delivering all of his homemade valentines to his friends on Valentines Day. Each of is as unique as its recipient - a polka dot egg-shaped card for hen, one that floats for duck and one almost as big as horse with a horseshoe on the front. There is even something special waiting for Little Blue Truck at the end of his trip. The bright colors and animals will appeal to even the youngest story time audience and the size of this book is large enough to read to a group, and lovely enough to read to a youngster cuddled into a lap....more
