Tag: children’s books

2023 Five Star Picture Book (nonfiction) Part Two

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It’s been another crazy year of reading, with my current total at 343. Much of that has been kids/teens reading through homeschooling and Cybils Awards first round panelist reading. So, like last year, I’m not picking favorites but highlighting my 5 star reads by category.

Since I read over 100 nonfiction picture books for Cybils alone, this will be two separate posts (part one is here) SO MANY fantastic books! 

The Glorious Forest That Fire Built by Ginny Neal. 32 pages, 2023

Simple yet powerful book about the very timely subject of forest fires and how we need trees. Geared for younger elementary.

On a Flake-Flying Day by Buffy Silverman. 32 pages, 2023

Beautiful, high interest photographs with equally beautiful words for vocabulary building. Geared for younger elementary.

Moving the Millers’ Minnie Moore Mine Mansion by Dave Eggers, illustrator Julia Sarda. 56 pages, 2023

This little forgotten story was made great fun by the humor of the words and illustrations. The mother and her son lived in the house as it was being rolled to a different location – for a whole month!

An American Story by Kwame Alexander, illustrator Dare Coulter. 56 pages, 2023

It’s a beautifully illustrated book that will generate great discussion no matter how old your child is. Alexander wrote this book after a conversation with his daughter’s teacher when he asked why she was teaching about the 13 colonies without talking about slavery. It belongs on all of the shelves! The illustrations were a mix of sketches, paints, and clay figures.

We Are Branches by Joyce Sidman, Beth Krommes illustrator. 40 pages, 2023

I’m obsessed with the illustrations in this book! Perfect for early elementary nature lovers.

Digestion: The Musical by Adam Rex, illustrator Laura Park. 76 pages, 2022

Delightful, bizarre, goofy – all things a musical can be. Lots of kid appeal.

Glitter Everywhere! by Chris Barton. 48 pages, 2023

Science, history, fun, and concern for the future combine to make this a flittery, glittery home run.

Checkmate! by John Foley. 112 pages, 2023

This is listed as elementary level, but it’s really for any kid just getting started.

Stranded!: A Mostly True Story from Iceland by Aevar Por Benediktsson, illustrator Anne Wilson. 32 pages, 2023

This funny and scary story about two men exploring an island just made from an active volcano is fun for all.

Rice From Heaven: The Secret Mission to Feed North Korea by Tina Cho. 40 pages 2018

A great inspiration for kids to show what a small group of individuals can do. I loved the details and photos at the end.

Cicada Symphony by Sue Fliess. 32 pages, 2023

A perfect book for younger elementary with outstanding illustrations which is the real showcase here.

Finding Family: The Duckling Raised By Loons by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrator Alexandria Neonakis. 32 pages, 2023

A delightful little story about family.

Inky’s Amazing Escape: How a Very Smart Octopus Found His Way Home by Sy Montgomery, illustrator Amy Schimler-Safford. 32 pages, 2018

A colorful story of a real-life escape artist octopus. The story is perfect for younger kids and the end notes satisfy the older ones.

Sniffer & Tinni by Berit Helberg, photographer Torgeir Berge. 40 pages, 2016

The story of a true life friendship between a dog and a fox told with photographs. Sure to delight elementary school animal lovers.

Meet the Bears by Kate Peridot and Becca Hall. 48 pages, 2023

A sweet comparison of different kinds of bears and where they live.

You and the Bowerbird by Maria Gainferrari, illustrator Maris Wicks. 48 pages, 2023

Simple yet fun for younger elementary kids with just the right amount of additional info at the end.

Circle by Jeannie Baker. 48 pages, 2016

Gorgeous illustrations demonstrating bird migration from New Zealand.

2023 Five Star Picture Books (nonfiction)

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It’s been another crazy year of reading, with my current total at 343. Much of that has been kids/teens reading through homeschooling and Cybils Awards first round panelist reading. So, like last year, I’m not picking favorites but highlighting my 5 star reads by category.

Since I read over 100 nonfiction books for Cybils alone, this will be two separate posts. SO MANY fantastic books! Let’s start with the ones told about specific people. The first two are my favorites.

The Indestructible Tom Crean: Heroic Explorer of the Antarctic by Jennifer Thermes. 56 pages, 2023

Gage and I studied Antarctica this year so I was so excited to see this book on the Cybils first round reading list. I love everyhing about this book. Tom has many dangerous adventures exploring Antarctica. If cats have 9 lives, I think Tom may have been part cat. Sure to please any adventure loving kid.

A Bowl of Peace: A True Story by Caren Stelson and Akira Kusaka. 40 pages, 2020

What a beautiful, heartbreaking, gut wrenching, hopeful picture book about Sachiko Yasui, a survivor of the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan during WWII.

Sachiko and her family always ate out of her grandmother’s bowl, filling it with the delicacies of the region, until the war forced plainer fare. At 6, she was half a mile from ground zero. It killed all of her playmates and one of her siblings. Two of her brothers died soon after from radiation exposure.

When the family went back 2 years later they found her grandmother’s bowl in the rubble of their home, unscathed. Every August 9, first her mother and then she, put ice in the bowl to remember those last.

I cannot recommend this book enough for your middle schooler, but be prepared to talk about death and the ugliness of war. Gage knew the details of the war but this story really brought the people to life.

Sachiko outlived her family and died in 2021 at the age of 83. I’ll be feeling this book for awhile.

Ice Cream Man: How Agustus Jackson Made a Sweet Treat Better by Glenda Armand and Kim Freeman, illustrator Keith Mallett. 40 pages, 2023

In 1820, at just 12 years old, he made his way from Philadelphia to the White House to work in the kitchen. He served 3 presidents before heading home and opening up his own ice cream shop where his innovation led to shipping ice cream to other cities.

Tiny Jumper: How Tiny Broadwick Created the Parachute Rip Cord by Candy Dahl, illustrator Maithili Joshi. 40 pages, 2023

Performing in the air from a young age, Tiny Broadwick became the first woman to parachute from an airplane. Often overlooked because of her size, she proved underestimating her only made her work harder. Inspiring.

One City, Two Brothers by Chris Smith, illustrator Aurelia Fronty. 32 pages, 2007

This folktale of how Jerusalem came to be is beautifully told and illustrated.

Sisters in Science: Marie Curie, Bronia Dluska, and the Atomic Power of Sisterhood by Linda Elovitz Marshall and Anna & Elena Balbusso. 40 pages, 2023

Most of us know about Marie Curie. This is the story of Marie and her sister Bronia, successful in her own right. 

Beulah Has a Hunch!: Inside the Colorful Mind of Master Inventor Beulah Louise Henry by Katie Mazeika. 40 pages, 2023

“Beulah’s brain worked differently. She had hyperphantasia, which meant she saw things in extreme detail in her mind, as well as synesthesia, which caused words and numbers and even music notes to show up as different colors in her brain. Beulah’s unique way of seeing the world helped her think up vivid solutions to problems—her hunches came to her fully formed with gears whirring and wheels spinning. She invented everything from a new and improved parasol to cuddly stuffed animals and from ice cream makers to factory machinery. Beulah’s inventions improved daily life in lots of ways, earning her the nickname “Lady Edison,” and she became one of the most prolific inventors in American history.” from Goodreads.

My Night in the Planetarium: A True Story About a Child, a Play, and the Art of Resistance by Innosanto Nagara. 24 pages, 2016

My Night in the Planetarium tells a bit of the country’s history and politics (like a few pages worth, so it’s not overwhelming) with true experiences of the author’s childhood during the resistance.

Gage and I both loved the humor and conversational flow. I especially loved the real photos that were included and what happened after the night in the planetarium when the government police came for his family. Highly recommend for the older elementary and above reader. 

Just One Pebble: One Boy’s Quest to End Hunger by Dianna Wilson Sirkovsky, illustrator Sara Casilda. 32 pages, 2023

An inspiring 9 year old who saw a problem and didn’t look away. 

To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights by Angela Dalton, illustrator Lauren Semmer. 40 pages, 2023

In the 1960s she became a trailblazer as the first black woman on the TV show Star Trek, and she used her platform to make a huge impact for women in STEM. I loved reading Martin Luther King Jr.’s influence. And I just this cover!

King Sejong Invents and Alphabet by Carol Kim, illustrator Cindy Kang. 32 pages, 2021

This tells how the 15th century king wanted ALL Koreans to be able to read and write. Knowledge is Power. 

Zhang Zheng and the Incredible Earthquake Detector by Randal McGee. 32 pages, 2021

The Emperor tasks Zhang Zheng with finding a way for the those in charge to know when deadly earthquakes have taken place. Great story and fabulous illustrations.

Just Being Dali: The Story of Artist Salvador Dali by Amy Gullielmo, illustrator Brett Helquist. 40 pages, 2021

A fantastic book with excellent illustrations. The recurring theme was no matter what people said Salvador Dali just kept being himself. This was one of those quick reads when we studied Spain.

Never Give Up: Dr. Kati Kariko and the Race for the Future of Vaccines by Debbie Dadey, illustrator Juliana Oakley. 40 pages, 2023

“She became fascinated by science as a child and grew up determined to find a way to use messenger RNA―a copy of a part of DNA that provides cells with instructions to make proteins―to help fight illness. An mRNA vaccine had never been made before, and she faced frequent criticism and was told by other scientists she would never succeed. Kariko refused to give up her research, and when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she played a critical role in developing the successful Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine faster than any other vaccine in history.” from Goodreads

2023 Five Star Middle School Books

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It’s been another crazy year of reading, with my current total at 343. Much of that has been kids/teens reading through homeschooling and Cybils Awards first round panelist reading. So, like last year, I’m not picking favorites but highlighting my 5 star reads by category. Here are the 12 nonfiction and 2 fiction middle school books that I rated 5 * on Goodreads.

Muzoon: A Syrian Refugee Speaks Out by Muzoon Almellehan with Weandy Pearlman. 299 pages. 2023

What happened to Muzoon, age 14, and her family when the civil war in Syria started to hit too close to home? An escape that leaves the reality of ‘home’ a question. I think this will appeal to a lot of middle schoolers as well as teens. We need more Muzoons as role models for our kids (and even for adults like me!). Inspiring.  (Amazon)

Your Freedom, Your Power: A Kid’s Guide to the First Amendment by Allison Matulli with Clelia Castro-Malaspina, illustrator Carmelle Kendall. 192 pages. 2023

Do you have a political or current events kid? This is a visually inviting non-partisan book full of excellent information about the things Americans hold dear; freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and the right to petition. Told in a conversational manner with fun examples. (Amazon)

Plague-Busters!: Medicine’s Battles with History’s Deadliest Diseases by Lindsey Fitzharris and Adrian Teal. 176 pages. 2023

Do you have that kid that enjoys gross stories or interesting facts? This is sure to please. Full of fantastic illustrations and written with great humor and fun. It will teach them loads of history without them even realizing it! (Amazon)

Seen and Unseen: What Dorothea Lange, Toyo Miyatake, and Ansel Adam’s Photographs Reveal About the Japanese American Incarceration by Elizabeth Partridge and Lauren Tamaki. 132 pages. 2022

A gorgeously illustrated book about the Japanese American incarceration during WWII, a terrible time in this country’s history. The photos and art make this feel like a graphic novel. While this is a middle school book, older teens would probably appreciate it more. (Amazon)

Just Jerry: How Drawing Shaped My Life by Jerry Pinkney. 160 pages. 2023

I ❤️ illustrator Jerry Pinkney and any fan of his over 100 children’s books is going to want to pick up this memoir. The copy was almost done, but only sketches of the final artwork were done before he died in 2021. The sketches were used in the book. This is for the artist in your life. (Amazon)

Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport by Caren Stelson, illustrator Selina Alko. 40 pages. 2023

The story of the children put on trains by their parents to escape Nazi controlled homelands. The Kindertransport movement took almost 10,000 children to Britain at the outbreak of WWII. Most of them never see their families again. An important book. This is a picture book, but the content is best for middle schoolers. (Amazon)

The Genius Under the Table: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain by Eugene Yelchin. 208 pages. 2021

A perfectly illustrated memoir about growing up in Cold War Russia. His observations on communism and his experience as a Jewish boy in Russia during the 1980s make this a compelling read. Told with great humor. (Amazon)

Climate Warriors: Fourteen Scientists and Fourteen Ways We Can Save Our Planet by Laura Gehl. 72 pages. 2023

Timely. Important, Inspiring. Tackled big things with approachable ways to make a difference at home. Science is always evolving and it’s imperative that we all stay up to date. For that kiddo who loves science or is interested on conservation. Colorful layouts make it fun. (Amazon)

Cities: How Humans Live Together by Megan Clendenan, illustrator Suharu Ogawa. 96 pages. 2023

A fascinating look at the old, the new and everything in between. It’s an oversized picture book, but with lots of reading on each page with huge pictures and graphics. This covers things like mapping out a city, getting around, water, electric, food, at different points in history.  (Amazon)

Rebel Girls Rock: 25 Tales of Women in Music. 68 pages. 2023

I loved the mix of women in this book! Most I’d heard of, but not all. I also loved the full page drawing of each. An entertaining and well laid out book sure to hold your musical middle schooler’s attention. (Amazon)

Astonishing and Extinct Professions: 89 Jobs You Will Never Do by Markus Rottmann, illustrator Michael Meister, translated by Ashley Curtis. 88 pages, 2023

This oversized, illustrated picture book was SO MUCH FUN. The professions start with the oldest and end with a job that Jason had when he was a teen, sadly extinct now. And, no, it wasn’t a professional fartist, walking toilet, or ornamental hermit, althought those are all in here! Buy it for a kid, but make sure you read it yourself first. (Amazon)

Benjamin Franklin’s Wise Words: How To Work Smart, Play Well, and Make Real Friends by KM Kostyal, illustrator Fred Harper. 127 pages. 2017

Presents 50 quotes from Poor Richard’s Almanac with a bit of history. I loved the full page illustrations. An appealing book that has bite-sized life lessons. (Amazon)

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. 237 pages. 2011

This book was so good I didn’t even mind that it made me cry twice. Not just tears in my eyes, but having to close the book and grab some tissues.

Conor’s mom has been sick awhile and he’s having trouble at school. When a monster appears he’s scared, but nothing can be as scary as his nightly nightmare. The monster tells his stories and Conor’s life continues to get worse.

This is the illustrated version and it’s so good! This is a kids book, but it goes to dark places. I don’t want to give anything away, but there’s so much to say! 

This is a middle school book, but with teen issues. (Amazon)

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. 137 pages. 1989

Ann-Marie and her best friend Ellen are making the best of growing up with Nazis on every corner of their town, until one night the unthinkable happens at the local Jewish synagogue and now the Nazis have a list of Jews.  Ellen’s parents leave her with Ann-Marie’s family as they flee and what happens next is so emotional and horrifying that I became attached very quickly.  Ann-Marie and her family take extraordinary risks to do the right thing.

Historical fiction at it’s finest. This is was a Newbery Award Winner for a reason. (Amazon)

2023 Five Star Elementary Picture Books

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It’s been another crazy year of reading, with my current total at 343. Much of that has been kids/teens reading through homeschooling and Cybils Awards first round panelist reading. So, like last year, I’m not picking favorites but highlighting my 5 star reads by category. Let’s start with Elementary Picture Books (fiction) that I rated 5 * on Goodreads.

I’m recommending you put these under the tree for your littles, middles or put them on hold at your library. If you head over to my Instagram I’ll be including a quick video of each so that you can see some of the pages inside.

Your kid is never to old to read picture books. Give them one at breakfast and talk about it. Read it before dinner and discuss. So many picture books have great things to discuss. In particular, Addy’s Cup of Sugar and Last Flight will benefit older kids and the discussion will probably stick with them.

As I ‘tallied’ this list I was pleasantly surprised at how many countries are represented!

The Yellow Ao Dai by Hanh Bui, illustrated by Minnie Phan. 40 pages, 2023

A beautiful story on so many fronts. It showcases the history of the Vietnamese Fan Dance and the girl’s connection to it through her mother and grandmother. The small girl tries to hide something from her mother and the resolution of this was my favorite part and further enriched the circle of past and present. And to top it off, the illustrations are so colorful and fun. A perfect read aloud for elementary kids. (Amazon)

Addy’s Cup of Sugar: Based on a Buddhist Story of Healing by Jon J Muth. 32 pages. 2020

Have you had to deal with the death of a pet (or even a loved one) with a child? It’s tough enough for adults and a child has little way of making sense of it.

Addy’s cat was killed by a car and she asks Stillwater to help bring him back to life. Stillwater says he can help, but first Addy needs to borrow a cup of sugar from a neighbor, but not from any home who has lost a loved one. Sounds easy enough but as Addy learns, loss is a part of everyone’s life.

It’s based on the Buddhist legend, The Mustard Seed, but it is a book for any faith (or none at all). (Amazon)

Endlessly Ever After: Pick Your Path to Countless Fairy Tale Endings! by Laurel Snyder and Dan Santat. 92 pages. 2022

This oversized picture book is gorgeous. Gage loves choose your own adventure books and when I saw this I knew it would be fun lunchtime browsing material. After he chose at least a half a dozen endings he rated it a 10 out of 10.

There are a few favorite fairytale characters you can run into and some of them are scary 🐺. The illustrations are great and the reading level is maybe 3rd grade? It’s a great gift for your younger readers and one they can proudly display on their bookshelves. (Amazon)

Sister Bear: A Norse Tale adapted by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Linda Graves. 32 pages. 2011

This troll book based on a Noregian folktale about Halva and her foundling pet polar bear is a Christmas story sure to entertain the older elementary set. The troll illustrations alone are worth a look. (Amazon)

Rainbow Weaver by Linda Elovita Marshall and Elisa Chavarri. 34 pages. 2016

This is everything a kids picture book should be. A story set in modern day Guatemala about a little girl born of the Mayan weavers who finds a very timely and creative way to solve more than one problem. Based on what’s really happening. Gorgeous artwork and told in both English and Spanish 😍 (Amazon)

The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination by Brad Montague and Kristi Montague. 40 pages. 2023

A very creative story that will engage the older elementary kid. Ideas weren’t being shared and the inventions, songs, and performances were overwhelming the Cave of Untold Stories. Encourages creativity and putting thoughts and ideas out into the world. (Amazon)

The Pear Tree. A folktale retold by Luli Gray, illustrator Madelyn Goodnight. 40 pages. 2019

A great folktale about when Death comes to visit. I’m a sucker for a these folk retellings and this was well done. I’ll admit that the adult reading this to/with their child will get more out of it than the child. You’re welcome. This retelling is based on an old folk tale called Miseria y la Muerte. (Amazon)

Varenka by Bernadette Watts. 32 pages. 1971

A Russian folktale with the miracles of faith and the horrors of war. (Amazon)

One Little Bag: An Amazing Journey by Henry Cole. 42 pages. 2020

I’m not the biggest fan of wordless books, but this is the exception. It’s a fantastical story of a tree that’s made into a brown paper bag and given to a boy at the store. It’s conservation at its finest and will make kids think about reusing instead of throwing away or even recycling. (Amazon)

My Dragon Boat Festival by Bing Ge, illustrator Li Li. 32 pages. 2021

Every year a boy and his parents visit his grandparents for the Dragon Boat Festival. The festival honors the patriotic port Qu Yuan. I love the inclusion of so many Chinese traditions and foods as well as the end pages that give more information. For the older elmentary kiddo. (Amazon)

Last Flight by Kristen Mai Giang, illustrator Dow Phumiruk. 56 pages. 2023

Historical fiction at its finest. In 1975 the last flight out of Saigon, over 400 children flew out of war torn Vietnam. This is written by one of the children on that flight. This is mostly fact, not fiction, so please share with your child when discussing the Vietnam War or that some heroes you’ve never heard of do miraculous things, like Allan Topping and his adoption of 463 children so that they could escape the country before its surrender. There is additional historical information in the last few pages. This is for older elementary kids because of its length. (Amazon)

Come back tomorrow for more 5* recommendations!

The Suburban Dragon and giveaway, an Aunt Betty review

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The Suburban DragonGarasamo Maccagnone- author, Al Ochsner – illustrator

published 2007, 50 pages, paperback 

I have one copy to give away to one lucky commenter.  Leave a comment and tell me the name of the lucky recipient.  I will draw a name on April 30th at 10 am.  I’ll ship anywhere. 

Aunt Betty says

Funny- hilarious!  It has so much energy and excitement for a young reader to intertwine with throughout the story.  Each page gave way for even reluctant readers to use their imagination and enjoy.  The children I read this to were so anxious to find out what each new page had in store and they were not disappointed.  The illustrations and using a dragon character were perfect for K-3rd graders.  A great family read and personal favorite!

Leave a comment to be entered for a free brand new copy of Suburban Dragon!

My Aunt Betty has been an elementary school librarian for 24 years.  This is not surprising because she loves kids and kids appreciate her enthusiasm.  It is because of her that I enjoy a close relationship with my 7 cousins (later, 9).  She always had all of us over for sleepovers and other outings.  All 9 of us would cram into her Rabbit for trips around town.  You never see that anymore

I asked around for words to describe Aunt Betty and these are the words that came back the most…Happy, Caring, and Thoughtful.  As for me, my top three choices are Fun, Kind, and Full of Life.

9 in ’09 with Laurie Dean

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Laurie is the author of the children’s book Baron Thinks Dogs are People Too (reviewed here).  Visit Baron’s fun website for interactive games and a special offer –  order the book before April 30th and it will be shipped FREE.  http://www.baronthinks.com/  You can also follow Laurie on Twitter (handyauthor).

1. Baron is adorable!  Is there a real Baron?

Baron is a fictional character.  His disposition is a composite from my recollections of behaviors and ‘personalities’ that various dogs from my childhood exhibited.  We lived on a dead end street in an unincorporated part of town.  At the very end of the street, past the last house, was a large woodland area.  Back then, in the 1960’s and 70’s, it was common for people to drive to the woods and drop off unwanted litters of puppies and kittens.  Sadly, they would be abandoned there to fend for themselves.  My siblings and I often played among the trees, whereupon, we would discover the baby animals and take them home with us.  We fostered many dogs and cats over the years.  I grew up in a large family with a lot of pets!

2. How long did it take you to write Baron Thinks Dogs are People Too! ?

For me, the process of writing children’s stories is like having ‘puffy clouds’ of ideas constantly floating around in my mind.  Then when I focus my awareness with the intention to bring a story to life in the form of a book, it’s like the puffy clouds form into a funnel cloud that ‘touches down’ through me.  This rumination process is a perpetual part of my sub conscience.

 Word selection and cadence is very important to me, so I start with a draft of the story, and then ponder the words and movement carefully as I rewrite.  Sometimes, rewrites can take months.  Several kindergarten and preschool teachers, and their students previewed the story text for Baron, even before it was submitted to an editor.  Their feedback helped me write the best story.  This book took me about two weeks to write.

3. When and why did you decide you wanted to write a children’s book?

The exact moment I decided on making my dream of creating this book come true was when I held my newborn grandson for the first time.  I felt an incredible sense of legacy, like a spiritual connection from my ancestors was beaming through me.  I wanted to create a book my own grandchildren would revisit again and again.  A combination of life experiences and time spent pondering my heart’s desire gave rise to my urge, and sense of calling, to publish children’s books.

4. Can you tell us a bit about your road to publication?

So far, I have not had any major challenges in my career as a writer.  Nowadays, it’s much easier for a first time author to publish good quality children’s books.  Since there are so many wonderful books in circulation, the challenge is to get your book noticed by all of the people who would enjoy reading it!

For me, the entire process of having my book published came about through the use of the Internet.  It has totally helped me in my writing career.  I found the website of DragonPencil/Big Tent Books publishing services online, and used them for the entire process.  Now that my book is in print, I use the Internet for marketing and networking with other professionals in the book publishing industry.

5. What was your favorite childhood book?

My favorite book that I read as a kid was Harriet the Spy, by Louise Fitzhugh, published in 1964.  Harriet loves to eat tomato sandwiches, and I do too!

6. I love quotes.  Do you have a favorite?

The only way to have a friend is to be one.  -Ralph Waldo Emerson

7. What are you reading right now?

Currently, I enjoy reading New Age books about affirming and manifesting my heart’s desires.

8. If you were trapped in the life of one fictional character, whom would you choose?

Tinker Bell.  It would be fun to fly around sprinkling magic pixie dust!

9. Are you working on another children’s book?  A follow-up to Baron?

I’ve written a series of stories about two imaginary friends I had when I was preschool age.  As for Baron’s future…his family may get a cat.  Baron thinks cats are cool!

Queen Vernita’s Visitors by Dawn Menge, an Aunt Betty review

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Queen Vernita's VisitorsAuthor, Dawn Menge – Illustrator Bobbi Switzer

Reviewed by Aunt Betty

It was a fun read for me.  I would like to have been one of Queen Vernita’s visitors!  The story is such a great learning tool especially for Kindergarten – 2nd grade.  A child could pick up a lot of spin off ideas furthering their knowledge of the seasons, days and months.

Queen Vernita related a lot of cool everyday fun ideas for young children.  Being a ‘queen” I was impressed with the fun activities that included things she could do with her friends inside the walls of the castle, out on the grounds, or in the village.

The illustrator gave great insight with the drawings as to the characters personalities and the world around the oceaneer.  I was only disappointed there were no roses around the castle as was mentioned in the story, although the ivy was shown.

I was pleased to know Queen Vernita and her friend, Debbie, read books together.  It warms a librarians heart.

The counting of days in each month, I liked.  It encourages the child to learn them for his/her own self.  A teacher, librarian or parent could follow up on some of what was brought out in this fine story.

I liked the ending when each of her friends let Queen Vernita know how anxious they were to come for another visit when their month came around again.  The sparks of friendship glowed in this story.

My Aunt Betty has been an elementary school librarian for 24 years.  This is not surprising because she loves kids and kids appreciate her enthusiasm.  It is because of her that I enjoy a close relationship with my 7 cousins (later, 9).  She always had all of us over for sleepovers and other outings.  All 9 of us would cram into her Rabbit for trips around town.  You never see that anymore

I asked around for words to describe Aunt Betty and these are the words that came back the most…Happy, Caring, and Thoughtful.  As for me, my top three choices are Fun, Kind, and Full of Life.

My Aunt Betty as Guest Reviewer

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My Aunt Betty has been an elementary school librarian for 24 years and I thought it would be fun if she reviewed children’s books now and then for my blog.  In the next few days I’ll be adding a page for her with fun facts and a photo or two.  Feel free to leave her comments 🙂

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We threw my mom a surprise 60th birthday party on Saturday and had around 30 people.  So, it was a wonderful holiday weekend.  Now it’s time to start getting ready for that other little holiday we have coming up.

The Ark, the Reed & the Fire Cloud, by Jenny Cote

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The Ark, the Reed, and the FirecloudThe Ark, the Reed, & the Fire Cloud. Finished 11-21-08, rating 4/5, children’s fiction, pub. 2008

This is book 1 in The Amazing Tales of Max & Liz

Max is a Scottish terrier who is called by the Maker to follow a fire cloud.  He leaves everything he knows behind and follows the cloud through Scotland, across Europe, to the Middle East.  Along the way he meets friends who are also being called to follow the fire cloud.  He meets a new best friend, an orange cat named Al, a mate for life, the beautiful white dog Kate, and a partner in leadership, the intelligent black cat, Liz.  Their adventures are fun and exciting and educational.  Liz loves sharing her knowledge with the others, like where rain and thunder come from and how food is fuel.

Their journey is entertwined with the story of Noah and his family as they build the Ark.  Noah’s family is shunned by their neighbors as they spend 100 years building the Ark as God has instructed.  One day animals from every place on earth begin to make their way to the Ark and a new adventure begins once they all board.

This book is magical and adventurous and fun.  It entertains, but also teaches and I think it is a must have for any Christian library.  It expands on the story of the flood without ever changing the biblical tale.  It is about friendship, loyalty, and hope.

This is a 450 page book for children 8-12.  I think it is beautifully done- the cover and the drawings inside.  Have you seen The Princess Bride?  Where Peter Falk is reading this grand adventure story to his grandson, Fred Savage?  Well, that is what I envisioned as I was reading this book.  It is a perfect book for you and a child to read together.  This is a perfect Christmas gift for preteen readers.

Author Jenny Cote has already written the next three in the series of Max and Liz and is also working with a movie studio to produce this book into a film.  I think it would be a wonderful movie.  Visit her website for more details and information, http://www.maxandliz.com/