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Bonaparte Falls Apart An elementary-age skeleton is afraid he won't be able to maintain structural integrity at school. Bonaparte, a friendly-looking skeleton with an oversized skull and red ball cap, has a problem: he just can't keep it together—literally. Even such an apparently low-impact activity as a visit to the doctor results in a lost limb when his reflexes are tested. Worse than the inconvenience is the fact that it is sometimes very hard to find those lost bits. Bonaparte asks his pals for help. Franky Stein tries to bolt and glue him together, but he's too stiff to walk. Blacky Widow spins a web around him, but then he's hopelessly tangled. Mummicula wraps him securely, but then Bonaparte can't see. But when his friends spy a dog running by with a bone in his mouth, they realize he can be trained to retrieve Bonaparte's fallen parts. Mandible proves to be both an invaluable help and a hit with all the kids. Terry's illustrations feature frankly adorable monsters, large heads and eyes combining with very small mouths to make them look as harmless and childlike as possible (though Blacky Widow's fangs are still rather prominent). He positions his characters in vignettes on white space; when more-complicated backgrounds are introduced, they are rendered in muted colors. Both an entertaining spin on back-to-school jitters and an unusual look at service dogs. –Kirkus Reivews Cuyler’s (Skeleton for Dinner) punny barnyard tale is well suited to the playfulness of Purim. Cluck the chicken is initially disappointed when she is passed over for the role of Queen Esther in the animals’ Purim play, and instead consigned to the audience. But Cluck’s efforts to develop an extra-loud cluck to shout at Haman during the play come in handy after the show’s star, Quack, is duck-napped by a fox. Pinillos’s (Look! Fish!) vibrant, painterly images amplify the off-kilter mood of the plot. Whether the dialogue elicits groans or giggles may depend on the family (“ ‘What bad moos,’ mooed Moo”), but it’s undeniably fun to read out loud. –Publishers Weekly Through a simple rhyming text, a little school bus details a typical day of work, beginning with driver Bob climbing on board with a cup of coffee at 5:00 a.m. and ending with a tune-up and scrub down at the maintenance garage. In between, it drives through town, "bouncing, turning, thumping,/always on the go," to pick up a variety of smiling children, including Kate, who uses a wheelchair. The text lends itself well to reading aloud, and the blocky digital illustrations are bright and clear. This book will be a big hit with vehicle-loving preschoolers and is also an excellent selection to use with groups preparing to start kindergarten. A must-have for general purchase, especially in collections in which Cuyler's The Little Dump Truck (Holt, 2009) is already a favorite. – School Library Journal The team behind The Little Dump Truck present this relentlessly cheery offering and an anthropomorphized school bus. – Booklist Rhyming verses stretch out the job of a school bus to 12 spreads. Driving down the road, picking up kids and dropping them off, visiting the mechanic, operating the wheelchair platform and going around a bend are a few of the things the yellow vehicle does in the job it so obviously loves, as evidenced by its smiling bumper, cheerful eyes and pink cheeks—all vehicle parts. Each verse starts with "I'm a little school bus," so readers (especially those reading aloud) will be hard-pressed not to try to force the rhymes into the tune for "I'm a Little Teapot." . . . Kolar's digital illustrations are cartoon-bright, the people are nicely diverse, and there's not a grumpy face to be found. . . .Cute . . . Will help to complete vehicler lovers' collections. – Kirkus Reviews Such a friendly little school bus and it lives such a busy life! The little school bus trusts its friend, Bob the driver, and the two are careful to keep children safe and happy. Bob and his bus smile as they go about their work. Action verbs such as bouncing, clunking, and rumbling describe the fun of riding a school bus. The illustrations are cheerful, vivid, and reflect a contemporary America. Excited children of many racial backgrounds carry brown bag lunches, backpacks, purses, while others roll the wheels on their wheelchairs as the artist celebrates the diversity and inclusivity of this country. The little school bus is as well cared for as the children it carries. When the weather is too bad, Bob and the little school bus stay home; and when the little school bus needs a tune up, people take care of its needs in its own ‘yard.’ Preschool children will be eager to ride a little school bus after they are introduced to this picture book. – Children’s Literature
Tick-Tock Clock Ill. by Robert Neubecker At nine o’clock in the morning, a professional mom, portfolio in hand, drops off her look-alike twins with Grandma, who awaits them with open arms. Simple rhyming words and expressive cartoon illustrations show the trio engaged in activities in two-page spreads for each hour of the day. Pictures of the girls painting Grandma’s portrait are accompanied by “Tick tock. / Ten o’clock. / Tick tock. / Messy smocks.” Using mostly familiar words and concepts, the children play blocks, visit a dock, soak their socks, chase a flock, and walk a block. (The most unfamiliar term might come when Grandma cooks in a wok). Weighing in with a total of 30 words, this book in the I Can Read series (leveled My First) will enable emergent readers to experience success reading and to recognize things from their own lives. No clock pictured on the pages is a missed opportunity for young readers to equate number words and time. – Booklist Bathed in a spooky graveyard glow, Big Witch and Little Witch brew a stew and prepare a list of the guests to invite for dinner. What follows is a kind of Halloween version of Chicken Little, as timid Skeleton misunderstands, believing he’s an ingredient, not a guest. He dashes off to warn two friends—Ghost, a wispy girl, and Ghoul, who resembles Quasimodo. It’s a familiar joke, but Terry’s illustrations give the cast of characters distinctive looks and personalities (they almost resemble rubbery toys). Despite the threat of death by cauldron, neither contributor lets things get too frightening as the story works its way to a happy ending for all. –Publishers Weekly Mother and daughter witch want to have skeleton for dinner. Is he on the menu or intended to be a guest? Big Witch and Little Witch are proud of their yummy stew full of delightfully disgusting ingredients, such as "shark fins and snake skins, spider silk and centaur's milk, catfish whiskers and banshee blisters." Little Witch makes a list of the friends she wants to invite for dinner. She writes "Dinner" at the top, with Ghost, Ghoul and Skeleton below it and tacks it to a tree. When Skeleton reads it, he flies into a panic. Veteran Cuyler keeps the text flowing and sets a just-right pace for reading aloud. Poor Skeleton "rat-a-bat-tat[s] down the hill… / and jingle-jangle[s]" off to warn first Ghost and then Ghoul about what he fears the witches are planning. Terry chooses deep blue-greens and dark craggy trees to create the nightscape. Skeleton's cool white and Ghost's translucent wash of white make them glow on the page, whereas the warmer tones used for Ghoul and the bright green of Little Witch provide refreshing contrast. When Little Witch fails to find her friends to tell them about the dinner party, her despair sends Crow flying to the rescue. A poison-ivy bouquet, full bowls of stew and happy friends bring the story to a satisfying close. Make sure to tuck in to this delicious tale. –Kirkus Reviews Skeleton misunderstands when he overhears Big Witch tell Little Witch, “We must have Skeleton for Big Witch and Little Witch decide to “brew a stew.” As the stew simmers, Big Witch—impressed by their tasty concoction—states that they simply “must have Skeleton for dinner.” Skeleton, passing by, misinterprets her statement and fears the worst. What follows is a comedy of errors in which the childlike skeleton attempts to save itself (and its other friends on the invitation list) from being eaten. The occasionally rhyming verse, along with some changes in text size and font, creates a natural rhythm for Halloween-themed read-alouds. –Horn Book Counting is part of the action-packed farce in this simple rhyming picture book about classroom pets. After a teacher announces that a new animal is coming, his young students imagine a giraffe, an elephant, and a snake. What they find, though, is a guinea pig, and the students enjoy petting and feeding him. Because he is lonely, they get him a playmate, who gives birth to three babies, and the numbers start growing: “Uh-oh—eight weeks later / five pets have fifteen more. / We count them—one to twenty; / help—guinea pigs galore!” The pen-and-ink, watercolor, and acrylic-gouache pictures show the classroom chaos, with the pets jumping off books and knocking off the teacher’s glasses. Finally, the creatures have to go, and affection-filled pictures show each kid cuddling a pet to take home. The arithmetic exercises—addition, subtraction, multiplication—are woven into the story, and there are surprises right up to the end, when the students fill the empty classroom cage with a rabbit, who turns out to be pregnant. – Booklist A humorous look at one classroom's quest for the perfect pet. There is a lot of speculation when Mr. Gilbert announces that the class will soon have a new addition. The students love the guinea pig he surprises them with and incorporate him into their lessons, using tally marks to vote for a name, a chart to track the cavy chores and bombarding Mr. Gilbert with written requests for a companion for their lonely pet. But little did any of them know that their math lessons would soon become more complicated when the two guinea pigs become 20. The chaos that ensues leads the teacher to put them up for adoption and try a different pet instead...but should their new bunny's belly be growing like that? Cuyler's rhymes scan well, and their bouncy rhythms add to the humor of too many cavies. Pearson's line-and-color illustrations ably complement the tongue-in-cheek text. Her guinea pigs overflow the pages, adorably cute and curious, while the children's love for their cavies comes through loud and clear. This should be required reading for any teacher considering a class pet. – Kirkus Reviews Can you guess the theme of this book from the title? One lonely class pet turns into 20 guinea pigs in a blink of an eye. This book is written in rhyme and will be a delightful read-aloud for any elementary classroom, with or without a class pet. Mr. Gilbert, the teacher, quickly gets overwhelmed with the prolific guinea pigs; he must find homes for all of them. But now the students are the lonely ones. When the new class pet, Mr. Whiskers, a bunny, gets a round belly, they find out he is a she! Lively, watercolor illustrations are full of classroom vigor and authentic depictions of classroom life. The child-like artwork skillfully captures the essence of both the students and the adorable guinea pigs. The engaging rhymes and the clever drawings are a perfect match. Recommended, Library Media Connection When her best friend copies from her paper during a spelling test, worrywart Jessica does not know where to turn. She doesn't want to betray Lizzie and lose her friendship by telling their teacher. Then at recess, Lizzie is dishonest in a game of tag. When Jessica writes a poem that Lizzie is praised for, she finds it difficult to hide her feelings. The situation comes to a head when Lizzie takes advantage of her once again and Jessica loses her temper. When their teacher intervenes, the truth comes out. Lizzie apologizes for her behavior and renews her friendship with Jessica. The situation that Jessica faces is a real one that children grapple with on a regular basis. The struggle to find a solution that is fair but does not hurt others is difficult, but the ability to be true to oneself is a hard lesson to learn. The examples in this book are excellent and will encourage discussion and problem solving for similar situations. The writing is a little stiff, and the text is purposeful, but it will reach a wide audience. Howard's engaging cartoon artwork and liberal use of white space help to lighten the message. His large-headed figures convey a plethora of expressions and attitudes with a minimum of line. –School Library Journal This brightly illustrated picture book is a good choice for young readers struggling with issues of friendship and honesty. Jessica and Lizzie are best friends, but that does not prevent Lizzie from taking advantage of Jessica at school, especially when it comes to spelling tests. Jessica is a worrier, and she wonders what might happen if Lizzie keeps lying about spelling as well as other things, like telling Mr. Martin that the poem Jessica wrote is actually Lizzie’s. Jessica worries herself sick over Lizzie’s behavior, then really gets upset at school the next day when Lizzie continues to lie and then tries to blame Jessica for not sharing. The truth comes out, but Jessica and Lizzie both find out that friendship can survive anger and that honesty between friends really is the best policy. The illustrations are a vivid pen and ink with watercolor and add a great deal of visual support to the text. This is a book that deals with a tough childhood issue with sensitivity and clarify. – Children’s Literature Worrier Jessica's previous problems with finding 100 things, remembering fire-safety rules and reading aloud all seem trivial in the face of Brenda Bailey, the bully of the first grade (Hooray for Reading Day, 2008, etc.). The quintessential girl bully, "perfect" Brenda doesn't steal or fightùshe teases and belittles. Downtrodden Jessica changes everything about herself to try to get Brenda to stop. Ignoring her doesn't work, and the threat of telling the teacher only provokes the moniker of tattletale. In the end, Jessica comes up with a reply that she hopes will put an end to the abuse. While readers do not find out if Brenda has been defeated, it is plain that Jessica's actions have boosted her self-confidence. Howard's pen, ink and watercolor illustrations masterfully capture Brenda's "perfection," including the ugly face of jealousy and meanness that she so often exhibits. Body language speaks volumes as Brenda heaps on the abuse, Jessica seems almost to shrink. With messages on many different levels for both the bully and the bullied, this has a home on library shelves. – Kirkus Reviews That’s Good! That’s Bad on Santa’s Journey We’re Going on a Lion Hunt Teacher and students embark on an imaginary, exciting safari in this adaptation of the familiar bear-hunt chanting game.With safari hats on, the class members head out the door and into an exotic landscape, where they join in the refrain: “We’re going on a lion hunt./We’re going to catch a big one./We’re not afraid./Look what’s up ahead.” First they head through mud, then sticks (“snap, snap, snap”), and on until they reach a dark cave, where they feel a c-c-cold nose [and]s-s-sharp teeth... It’s a lion!” Time to run, backtracking from grass to mud to finally, safely, the classroom. The peppy text incorporates repetition, sound effects, and participation opportunities for lively readings. The bright, cartoonlike watercolor-and-pencil illustrations highlight the diverse animals, first shown as classroom pictures and then in their native habitats. The lion encounter is not too spooky but will still bring a fun, tingly thrill. An entertaining version of a ubiquitous imagination game for storytimes and animal-themes class units. – Booklist
In this volume from the Jessica Worries series, Jessica tackles the difficult task of learning to read. Even more difficult is reading aloud in class, where other children sometimes laugh at her mistakes. But most difficult of all is the prospect of Reading Day, when each child will don a costume and read a short line aloud in front of her classmates and their families. Cuyler acknowledges Jessica’s insecurity and shows a practical solution while offering bits of humor along the way. Amusing cartoon-style ink drawings with colorful washes help create the right tone for this encouraging picture book. – Booklist Worrier Jessica reappears in an anxiety-filled story about learning to read. As in Stop, Drop, and Roll (2001) and 100th Day Worries (2000, both S & S), the first grader is filled with dread because of an upcoming Reading Theater day at school. She elicits the help of her busy family members in practicing and is even more alarmed when she finds out that parental attendance and costume wearing are part of the event. This third title in the series does a serviceable job of portraying a young student struggling with the trials of being a beginning reader. The message of “practice makes perfect” and the encouragement of her teacher and family can serve to motivate children. Howard’s cartoon illustrations add to the humor and exaggerate Jessica’s expressions of angst, anguish, and ultimate achievement. – School Library Journal Jessica worries about everything, especially reading aloud in her first-grade reading group. She makes everyone laugh when, while reading her lines of Hot Pot, Jessica says "The p-p-pot was snot." Worst of all, Friday is "Reading Theater" day, with costumes and an audience of parents. Her parents listen to her dismay, and Mom admits that she was the slowest reader in first grade till "one day everything clicked." Jessica decides her costume will be a blanket and practices-faultlessly-with her dog Wiggles, who gives her doggy kisses. On Friday, Jessica is amazed at how poorly some of her classmates read under pressure, so she pretends that she is reading to faithful Wiggles, and no one claps louder than Mom and Dad when she succeeds. Howard's watercolors show a great variety of expressions and humor in the details. This reassuring tale takes its cue from the growing popularity of the use of therapy dogs with slow readers, providing a model for low-pressure help in the home. Linus and Snoopy would give Jessica a high five. – Kirkus Reviews
A cheerily skewed take on the familiar monster-under-the-bed schtick. While the family is nestled all snug in their beds, a clumsy monster creeps around the house. With a head like a frog (including a dangling tongue), an impossibly long tail that curls at the end like a cinnamon bun, funny fins and countless legs ending in red feet that resemble hands, the monster looks designed by a committee. “Shhh, shhh, along the floor I crawl./ Zzzz,zzzz, there’s someone down the hall.” The rhythmic, minimal verse charts his slow progress through the house to his boy pal’s bedroom, which he helpfully cleans, stuffing everything into the closet and spritzing air freshener about. An alarm wakens the boy, and it’s playtime with the monster! Schindler’s quirky and colorful watercolors play with perspective, abetted by a text that dances around the pages in different paths and sizes. Simple but sublime, best suited to the very young. – Kirkus Reviews Ready to go to sleep, a multi-legged, long-tailed monster heads upstairs and into a bedroom only to hurt itself on toy blocks left on the floor. Grossed out by stinky socks and shoes, a juice-stained sheet, and general untidiness, the creature decides to “Clean, clean,/I’ll make the room so neat,” while the room’s young occupant snoozes in the bed. In the morning, the child awakens (“Ring,/ring,/it’s time to start the day”) and happily discovers his visitor (“Giggle,/giggle!/’A monster’s come to stay./Let’s play!’”) The watercolor illustrations at times show only part of the creature as its head or other body parts extend off the page. Its numerous arms allow it to accomplish many tasks at once, an enviable feature. The font varies, emphasizing action words in larger boldface letters (“Stuff,/stuff…”) and the rest of the line is a smaller size (“the/clothes/into/the/drawers”). Rhyming, repetitive text and whimsical images whirl on the pages, making this a fun read-aloud. – School Library Journal Computer graphics help create a great monster in this rhyming nightmare scenario of a creepy presence in the dark. Schindler’s glowing art shows the grotesque creature in intricate detail, complete with multiple popping eyes, tip-toeing feet, and sucking tentacle arms doing all kinds of tasks. Some children may have trouble making sense of the crowded pages, but they will still recognize the scary nightmare (Shhh, shhh, / along the floor I crawl / Zzzz zzzz / There’s someone down the hall) as the monster creeps around the house, stomps up the kitchen stairs, crawls into the boy’s room, and peeks under the bed. Listeners need not worry, however. The climax turns the fear into fun when the boy wakes up in the morning. Kids will want to go back to the beginning to hear and see the shivery stuff again. – Booklist
Most children will enjoy the story, and teachers will find the lesson aptly told. Recommended wherever values education is taught. – Booklist Cuyler has coined a catchy refrain and opts for lingo that is casual and hip. But the comedy of classroom chaos is most entertainingly rendered by the illustrator, Sachiko Yoshikawa. . . . Yoshikawa’s everyday scenes of courtesy and responsibility look heavenly: fluffy white clouds frame the vignettes and float across fields of heart-strewn pink. The kids’ spherical faces resemble cartoon confections, and the cutout hearts, marking their achievements, look good enough to lick. – The New York Times Sunday Book Review Teachers will find the lesson aptly told. – Booklist When students in Mrs. Ruler’s class misbehave, she keeps five of them inside during recess and assigns their punishments. Each one must perform five acts of kindness and report them to the entire class during show-and-tell time throughout the week. The students respond enthusiastically and the twins recite their combined ten good deeds the following day. Soon, the whole class wants to be part of a project to complete 100 acts of kindness. Most of the acts mentioned in the text and shown in the pictures are common chores completed by the students around their homes and in the classroom. A list of “100 Acts of Kindness” divided into the categories of “Family Kindness,” “School Kindness,” and “Community Kindness” appears near the end of the book. The list contains many suggestions not mentioned in the story. The colorful cartoon-like illustrations depict a spirited group of multicultural students frolicking through the pages. – Children’s Literature This story relates 100 acts of kindness as great examples of how to be kind to others. The author had kindergarten and first-grade students in Princeton Junior School to provide these acts of kindness examples. They could be used on any elementary grade level to emphasize kindness in the classroom and school. The story might be a little long to hold the kindergarteners’ attention, but the rhyming text will help. If we start with these acts, then our world would be a better place to live! Fiction, Highly Recommended. – The Lorgnette-Heart of Texas Reviews
The satisfying counterpoint fun of “That’s good! That’s bad!” from previous books continues in this story of a boy’s class trip to our nation’s capital. As they ride past the White House, our hero falls out of the DC Duck onto a motorcycle. Not bad, as he rides to the zoo. Not good, as the orangutans there toss him onto a dump truck. And so he goes from bad to good to bad again as he tours DC, past the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Arlington National Cemetery and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Jefferson Memorial in cherry blossom time, and finally back on the bus home. Garland creates a bunch of cartoon-like kids, all pop-eyed and smiling, with a special “little boy” whose misadventures keep us smiling. There is a slickness and roundness to the digitally created illustrations, but the double-page sweep of the cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin is particularly appealing. A map traces the day’s adventures for those interested in the sightseeing. – Children’s Literature
Penguin's second outing is all about playground safety, with a healthy dose of good manners and respect thrown in for good measure. From taking turns on equipment and sharing toys, to getting friends to play games and cleaning up when it's time to go home, Cuyler covers all the bases. Hillenbrand masterfully portrays facial expressions on his simple cartoon animals, making it clear to even the youngest of readers what the friends are feeling when the playground rules are broken. So expressive are his characters that the text does not spell out why the rule needs to be followed-youngsters can see the panic on Hippo's face when she is sliding down the slide and Bear starts to crawl up, for instance. Penguin's fans will be happy to learn that the author/illustrator team has kept the same format: A blatant wrongdoing is followed by the question, "Is that right?" A turn of the page, and likely a chorus from listeners, reveals, "No, that's wrong," while the text and illustrations demonstrate how to do things the right way. Required reading for parents and children alike. – Kirkus Reviews PreSchool-Grade 2-This child-friendly guide is set up as a series of don'ts and dos. Each vignette shows the repercussions of doing something thoughtlessly-jumping off a seesaw too quickly, climbing up a slide, kicking sand-followed by the proper way to play. Children can participate in the story by replying to the question asked at the end of each don't-Is that right?-with the refrain, No, that's wrong, before Penguin explains the safe way to behave. The text is simple enough for beginners since the softly shaded, multimedia color illustrations provide excellent visual clues. The pictures are full of active animals under the watchful tutelage of whistle-wearing Penguin. A fun addition. – School Library Journal This helpful book cleverly plays on young children's burgeoning sense of irony. Instead of dutifully listing the way kids should act on the playground, little ones get this: "When Elephant plays on the seesaw, he should jump off quickly so that his friend bumps to the ground. Is that right?" Kids will enjoy screaming "No!" at the top of their lungs. Then they can consider the advice offered on the next page: the elephant should "stay put until his friend climbs off." There are discussions about playing on the monkey bars (given by a chimp), sliding down a slide, jumping rope, and lots more. Hillenbrand's artwork features simply shaped, high-spirited animals outlined in black. All the fun they are having is contagious. Whether kids will remember these rules of the road (playground version) when they are on-site remains to be seen, but they will certainly like this activity-filled trip to the park. Penguin and his friends travel together to the playground to play but, just like all little kids, in their excitement they sometimes forget how to behave. Penguin, with his whistle around his neck, notices when his friends are misbehaving and sets about to correct them. He wants to know if one should jump off a seesaw, climb up a slide, kick sand in someone's face, or swing across the monkey bars when they are in use. Of course the answer to these questions and others is a resounding no, but Penguin does not stop there. He gently reminds his friends about the proper way to use the playground equipment and the proper and polite way to play with playground friends. Subtitled Penguins Guide to Playground Safety , this picture book is an excellent introduction to playground etiquette for the littlest of playground participants. It is a must read book for playground visitors both big and small. – Children's Literature
Groundhog prefers playing with his forest friends to preparing for winter, and despite warnings from Bear and Badger he doesn't bother to collect food or locate a shelter. He finds the first snow exhilarating, but building snow forts and throwing snowballs isn't much fun all by himself. Finally, desperate for food, he resorts to a fake declaration of spring, which brings out everyone for a party. A sudden snowstorm unmasks his trick, so the other animals plan a trick of their own–a painted shadow that fools Groundhog on February 2. Cassels' brightly colored gouache illustrations capture Groundhog 's exuberance and the details of his cozy forest home. Children who like to test limits will identify with Groundhog 's attempts to bend the rules to suit his purposes and be glad that despite the consequences of his actions, Groundhog 's spirit is never broken. Pull this out for Groundhog Day story hours. – Booklist A fun-loving groundhog avoids getting ready for winter. When Squirrel, Badger, and Bear urge him to hibernate so that he may awake February 2 and look at his shadow, Groundhog declares that he does not need to hibernate to do that. As his friends curl up in their winter homes, Groundhog plays until he gets lonely, hungry, and cold. When he cannot arouse his friends from their dens, he gets the idea to trick them out by announcing an early spring. The animals appear and begin to share a meal and celebrate until snow begins to fall and a check of the calendar reveals that it is only January 2. When Groundhog awakes February 2, the other animals have prepared a trick to play on him. The illustrations are appealing and are framed in blocks with simple borders. The blocks vary in size, shape, and number on the pages but are formatted in an appropriate way for the young reader. The illustrations support the text with brilliant clarity and quiet additions. The color tone changes from fall to early spring. A two-page horizontal block of only trees showing the changing season is included on select pages that enriches the eye appeal of the book. With its humorous story and natural illustrations, this is a good read-aloud book for young children. – Children's Literature In a twist on the classic tale of the Grasshopper and the Ants, Groundhog must find a way to get his hibernating friends to share their food stores with him after he has played away the fall and early winter. On Jan. 2nd, he climbs to the top of the hill where the sun is shining and the snow is melting, and proclaims that spring has come early. His friends all emerge and feast-until snowflakes start to swirl around them and Squirrel realizes what Groundhog has done. In retaliation, his friends decide to trick him. When he emerges from hibernation on Feb. 2nd, he sees his "shadow" and goes back to sleep, not realizing that spring has already arrived. Cassels's gouache paintings are remarkably detailed and lifelike-blades of grass, tree bark and the hairs on each animal's coat of fur all stand out with amazing clarity. At the same time, she has given the characters the anthropomorphic qualities that will help them appeal to the youngest readers-a brilliant balance that make the illustrations truly memorable. Great for a read-aloud in classrooms. – Kirkus Reviews Who wants to spend all winter sleeping? Groundhog would rather spend his autumn days playing with the other woodland animals than preparing for winter. While his disapproving friends retreat to their warm and cozy burrows, he remains awake. Once the snow begins to fly, he plays in it alone, building snowmen and forts, but soon becomes hungry and cold. In early January during a brief thaw, the mischievous animal tricks the other forest inhabitants into believing that spring has arrived early and they celebrate with a wonderful feast. When his disgruntled companions discover the ruse, they resolve to get back at him, and, because of their trickery, he ends up sleeping through spring. The following winter, an unrepentant Groundhog stays up late once again. Crisp gouache paintings show the cuddly animals standing upright, and the energetic woodchuck proudly sports a red scarf and mittens. The colors and textures of the changing seasons are beautifully portrayed. – School Library Journal
Reminiscent of Charlie Brown's devotion to his scraggly Christmas tree, Little Nell's story is just as satisfying, stressing the worth of a child's handiwork and the value of creating. The colorful cartoons provide the perfect complement. This is a holiday story that can be used year round; it's an excellent choice for reading aloud, both in a group setting or one-one-one. – School Library Journal This companion to The Biggest, Best Snowman is about a little girl named Little Nell who lives in a Big house with her sisters, Big Lizzie and Big Sarah, and her mother Big Mama. When pumpkin harvest arrives, everyone goes to the pumpkin patch to find a pumpkin to carve for Halloween. Big Lizzie and Big Sarah find big pumpkins for themselves while Little Nell finds a little pumpkin . But her sisters refuse to help her carve her pumpkin because they think it is little and ugly. While Little Nell is crying in the garden, her friends arrive to help her. Reindeer, Bear Cub, and Hare, as well as Cardinal, Crow, and Sparrow do their part to turn this little pumpkin into a beautiful jack-o'-lantern. When Little Nell brings her creation home, her mother tells her how beautiful it is. The illustrations in this book are large and colorful and will delight any child who cannot read. For those ready to read, the words are simple and easy to understand. – Children's Literature In this holiday-themed retread of The Biggest, Best Snowman (1998), Little Nell once again "proves" (with plenty of help) that she's more capable than her two big sisters suppose. Here, she rejects the condescending offers of BIG Sarah and BIG Lizzie, enlisting instead a coterie of forest animals to carve something into the small, lumpy pumpkin she's chosen. Hillenbrand sets the woodsy tale in a burgeoning pumpkin patch, surrounds tuft-haired, dot-eyed Nell with smiling fauna and closes with a full-page scene of her embracing her candle-lit, misshapen jack-o'-lantern in the wake of BIG Mama's fulsome praise. Though even younger children may be left wondering how a reindeer's antler or the beaks of birds could produce such straight, knifelike cuts in Nell's pumpkin , the empowerment theme easily leaps such logic gaps-as the likes of Ruth Krauss's Carrot Seed or Pat Hutchins' Titch have demonstrated for generations of post-toddlers. – Kirkus Reviews Little Nell, introduced in The Biggest, Best Snowman (Scholastic, 1998), returns with BIG Mama, BIG Sarah, and BIG Lizzie. It's Halloween, and the three siblings are looking for pumpkins to carve into jack-o'-lanterns. Little Nell's selection is deemed too small and ugly by her sisters. Not to be deterred, Little Nell enlists the help of Reindeer, Hare, and Bear Cub and creates a special jack-o'-lantern that can proudly take its place on the porch. As BIG Mama says, Jack-o'-lanterns come in all shapes and sizes!, a line that can be reassuringly applied to children as well. Reminiscent of Charlie Brown's devotion to his scraggly Christmas tree, Little Nell's story is just as satisfying, stressing the worth of a child's handiwork and the value of creating. The colorful cartoons provide the perfect complement. This is a holiday story that can be used year round; it's an excellent choice for reading aloud, both in a group setting or one-on-one. – School Library Journal
This jovial guide to manners may not tame wild young beasts, but it will have preschoolers giggling to see bears throwing spoons, chimps grabbing, and giraffes burping at Penguin’s house. Cuyler introduces basic party etiquette in a question-and-answer format... By the conclusion, the newly enlightened menagerie is merrily on its way, with a thank-you and a come back soon. Hillenbrand’s simple, comical illustrations harness the messy chaos (and flying food) of childhood with bold black lines and plenty of good humor. – Booklist A must for every children's library – and for the frustrated parents of young ones. – Kirkus Reviews
This delightful, larger-than-life story will leave readers smiling big. – School Library Journal This is a predicatable tale with just enough (and brilliantly lush, acrylic-and-gouache illustrations) to keep readers reading and listening and everyone smiling. – Kirkus Reviews
Ever- and over-sensitive to the many perils that threaten a primary schooler, Jessica achieves a new level of panic when her teacher announces Fire Prevention Week and daily introduces a safety strategy that Jessica translates into imminent household doom... A list of "Sparky's Top 10 fire Safety Tips for Kids" is included on the jacket back. – Recommended, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Still, as they're falling down laughing, readers will pick up a few important safety tips, too. Stop, drop, and read. – Kirkus Reviews Buy plenty of copies; this is sure to be in demand for fire-safety programs. – Booklist Best used in units on fire safety. – School Library Journal
A little math and a lot of reassurance are tucked into a new idea for celebrating the hundredth day of school. – Booklist Cuyler has an unflashily effective style and an ear for easy dialogue that keeps this story smoothly rolling. Howard's art evinces the energetically scrawled lines of Betsy Lewin, and the different perspectives and compositions ensure that the simple visuals remain interesting. Warm, uncomplicated, and believable, this is a happy school story for young audiences. Recommended, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Cuyler artfully ladles on the anxiety and suspense as a chronic worrier confronts a school tradition and succeeds with the support of her family. – Kirkus Reviews
As crisp and delicately patterned as a snowflake, Cuyler's tale brims with rhyming words and recurring phrases with which children will gleefully chime in. Starred review, Publishers Weekly This funny winter's tale from Cuyler features a girl who needs a boost of confidence to get past the teasing of her overwhelming, overbearing mother and sisters... Hillenbrand's comic exaggerations put both the characters and the landscape powerfully in place. – Kirkus Reviews
Cuyler's plain text is laden with meaning for new readers. She allows them to draw their own conclusions, which they will. – Kirkus Reviews This enlightening journey is both a meditation on humanity's small place in the universe and a celebration of each person's immutable individuality. – Publisher's Weekly Selected for Texas Library Association's 2 X 2 Reading List
IRA-CBC Choice Cuyler's fanciful tale is energized by exclamations that beg to be read aloud. Catrow's witty cartoons paint the jungle in a humorous light and hilariously depict the boy's alternating terror and relief. And that's good! – Publisher's Weekly This rollicking romp through the animal kingdom features vibrant, richly colored cartoon illustrations in a style that is reminiscent of Bill Peet's. It will keep children engaged from beginning to satisfying end. They'll beg for another reading. – School Library Journal A surefire hit, the book amuses, delights, and frightens, all within the safe confines of the pages. – Booklist
This adaptation of Aesop's familiar fable has very little conventional text; instead, readers peruse dozens of signs along the route of Tortoise's race with Hare... Readers will enjoy tracing the competitors' progress across the colorful pages. – The Horn Book The signs are fun to read, and the bright acrylic-on-canvas illustrations are playful and appealing. Children can follow the whole route of the race on the endpapers... Roadsigns will provide reading practice, sign recognition, and good fun for both one-on-one sharing and individual reading. – School Library Journal Younger readers will find both visual jokes and plenty of pictures... Open this engaging debut for the illustrator and there'll be "No Stopping. – Kirkus Reviews
This entertaining story may have readers seeking out their own local histories for possible ghost tales. – Kirkus Reviews Interesting facts about the Revolutionary War are woven into the simple plot. – The Horn Book Nominated for Young Hoosier Book Award (Indiana), Land of Enchantment Book Award (New Mexico), Nevada Award
A winner. – Booklist Destined for greatness in the opinions of werewolf-crazy eight-year-olds. – Recommended, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Each phase of Cuyler's terse, rhythmic narrative is punctuated with a 'hic, hic, hic' that's sure to have kids giggling and joining in. Schindler augments the simple idea with funny expressions and details on each handsome, boldly designed page... A Halloween pleaser. – The Horn Book Cuyler cleverly brings readers through the ups and downs of Skeleton's day, from shower to ball-playing ... the right audience will enjoy the fun. – Kirkus Reviews In her bare bones text, Cuyler establishes a strong, infectious rhythm by sandwiching a 'hic hic hic' between each three-or four-word line. Schindler's art is reduced to bare essentials, too: Simply drawn figures, minimal detailing, monochromatic backgrounds. At last, a look in a mirror draws a scream from Skeleton that frightens the hiccups away – but not before they have given readers' funny bones a real workout. – Booklist This is a peppy change of pace from the usual Halloween fare that could make for a bone-rattlingly good storytime. – Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, recommended Winner of the Wisconsin Golden Archer Award, primary category. Nominated for Colorado Children’s Book Award.
The second offering from the team that pairs terror and relief in its wacky text and even wackier illustrations... Particularly fine for reading aloud. Fun! – Booklist The story begs to be read aloud... A natural for storytime. – School Library Journal |