Summary: This book simply goes through the Hebrew Alphabet and shows yoga poses for each letter. It is to help children to learn the Alef-Bet and gain the benefits that come from doing yoga.
My Reaction: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I think that is because I recently started to learn Hebrew.
Recommendations: I think little kids would enjoy this book. I think they would enjoy trying to do the poses and looking at the pictures of the kids.
This doesn't directly tie into the book but this is one of my favorite Alef-Bet videos.
Summary: Treva is preparing for Christmas, but important objects keep going missing. She discovers that her things were taken by Trolls that want Christmas. Treva teaches the little trolls how to have Christmas and they become friends.
My Reaction: I love this story! I think the story is so sweet and I love the art and the side story the art provides.
Recommendations: I was reading these books into high school. I think that if someone has an imagination and loves a good story and great art than they would love this story.
I love this Author. I've read several of her books and I think they are so fun. In this video Jan Brett tells a little about her books.
Summary: Stillwater's newphew, Koo, came to visit him. They play with Stillwater's friends and they all help out an older lady that is sick. The lady helps them out in return.
My Reaction: I thought it was such a sweet story. It is so good because they all learn about serving people, even people they don't like, and all of their attitudes change. I also loved the pictures. I thought Stillwater and Koo were so cute!
Recommendations: I think little children would love the pictures and the simplicity of the story and young grade school children would be able to read it and I think they could enjoy it to.
Summary: Bear had lots of money and land but was lazy and only wanted to sleep. His neighbor, Hare, was poor and his family was starving, so they came up with a plan to trick Bear. They offered to work his land if he gave them part of the crop. Bear chose the part of the plants he wanted and the rabbits grew plants so they could get the parts with the food. They teach Bear to work and save their family in the process.
My Reaction: I thought this book taught a valuable lesson and the telling was fun. I thought it was hilarious that Bear was in a different napping position on almost every page. I also thought that it was neat that the book was sideways so that top was one one side and the bottoms on the other.
Recommendations: I would recommend this as a great book to read to younger children, but I think school aged children could read it.
Awards this books has received:
ABA's Pick of the Lists
ABC Children’s Booksellers’ Choice
ALA Notable Children’s Book
Bill Martin Jr Picture Book Award [Kansas]
Booklist Editors’ Choice
Caldecott Honor Book
Colorado Children’s Book Award [Colorado]
Instructor Magazine's Best Picture Book of the Twentieth Century
IRA Teachers’ Choice
IRA-CBC Children’s Choice
KCTE Storytime Feature Book
Maryland Children's Book Award [Maryland]
National Parenting Publications Gold Award
New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
Parents’ Choice Silver Honor
Show Me Readers Award [Missouri]
Society of School Librarians International (SSLI) Honor Book
Published by: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (2000)
Ages: 4-8 years
Pages:32
Genre: Picture Storybook
Summary: The Cows find an old typewriter and enjoy using it. They leave a message for the farmer that they want electric blankets. Several of the farm animals go in strike until the farmer gives them what they want. Then the ducks get the typewriter and want a diving board.
My Reaction: I thought this book was very cute. The art was fun and creative and I liked they way the author used repetition.
My Recommendations: I think this book is definitely better for younger children and beginning readers.
Summary: Hugo Cabret is a kid that lives in a train station in Paris taking care of the clocks alone after his Uncle disappeared. Hugo is a genius with clocks and tinkering with machines. His father had been a clock maker and repairer and taught Hugo. Hugo's father found an automaton in a museum and studied and worked at fixing it and wrote down all he learned and gave a copy to Hugo. His father died and the automaton was damaged. Hugo tries to fix it and he steals things from the toyshop to be able to fix it but gets caught stealing and the gentleman takes his notebook. The gentle man, Georges makes Hugo work for him to earn back his notebook and the things he stole. Hugo makes friends with Isabelle, Georges god daughter, and asks her to find his notebook. Hugo and Isabelle share a love for the movies and Hugo learns he's good at magic. Hugo fixes the automaton and learns that Georges was a famous film maker and Hugo gets caught living by himself. He is taken in by Georges and his wife and Hugo starts to fulfill his dream of being a magician.
My reaction to this book: This book blew my mind! but in a good way. I loved how the author used pictures to tell the story and text, but not at the same time. I also loved the way the story unveiled itself a little at a time until the end.
Potential Problems: It does talk about ghosts a little bit. That could be scary.
Recommendations: I would recommend this to older kids because of the story. Younger kids might enjoy the pictures but I think the story would be enjoyed more by older kids. Kids that enjoy mysteries and magic would definitely enjoy this book.
To see a preview of the book and to get information about the Hugo Cabret movie check out the Hugo Cabret website! www.theinventionofhugocabret.com
Summary: Horace is turning 11 years old and he decides he should have a birthday party. He invites his friends and makes a wonderful feast. His friends come but they cant eat the feast until the eleventh hour. So they go and play games until the time and when they go for the feast all the food is gone. Everyone claims they didn't eat it. Horace makes sandwiches and then he brings out the Birthday Cake. It hadn't been eaten. To find out who took the feast we have to solve the mystery.
My Reaction to the Book: I thought it was fun. The mystery was fun to figure out. I had lots of fun staring at each page and trying to figure out the messages and who stole the food and every time a clue it was so exciting! I still haven't solved all of the mysteries or found all the hidden things on each page so there is more to find the next time I read it.
Recommendations: I think younger children and older children would enjoy this book. The story is simple enough for young children and the pictures are fascinating, but the older children would enjoy solving the mystery.
Potential Problems: I can't see any problems with this book. I thought it was incredible.
Interview with Graeme Base:
Other books by this author:
My Grandma Lived in Gooligulch (1983)
Animalia (1986)
The Sign of the Seahorse (1992)
The Discovery of Dragons (1996)
The Worst Band In The Universe (1999)
The Water Hole (2001)
Truck Dogs (2003)
Jungle Drums (2004)
Uno's Garden (2006)
The Discovery of Dragons: New Research Revealed(2007)
Summary: This book contains five short stories about the Frog and Toad and their friendship. In the first story Toad is discouraged with all that has to be done "tomorrow" and Frog helps him understand the value of doing things today. In the second story Frog and Toad go fly a kite and Toad gets discouraged because the kite wont fly and the bird's make fun of him. Frog encourages him until the kites flies. in the third story Frog tells toad a scary story so that they can both enjoy getting the shivers. In the fourth story Frog gives Toad a hat that Toad loves because it came from his best friend but it doesn't fit so Frog helps it fit without Toad knowing. In the last story Toad can't find Frog anywhere and he is afraid that Frog isn't his friend anymore but finds out that Frog is as good a friend as ever. The stories are sweet and all about friendship. The illustrations are simple and fun.
My reaction to the book: I thought this book was very cute. I love the friendship that is shared by the main characters and that Frog is always encouraging and helping Toad. I think this is a good book to teach about how to be a good friend. I also really liked that when the characters encountered a problem they always found a way to resolve it.
Recommendations: I would recommend this to younger children. I think that it would be great to read to children just learning to read and also for young children learning how to make friends.
Potential Problems: The story called "Shivers" might be scary for small children afraid of the dark.
Reading Level: 4-8 Years
