IUP Student Reviews of Children's Books

These children's book reviews were done by IUP Graduate and Undergraduate Students, and were given ratings by the following system.

    The best of the best and highly recommended.  GET IT TODAY!
   A good choice.  PUT THIS ON YOUR LIST!
   Pretty good.  I THINK YOU'LL LIKE IT.
   Just okay.  DON'T STOP LOOKING FOR SOMETHING BETTER!
  Not recommended.  LEAVE THIS ONE ON THE SHELF!
 

Title: Dancing
Author: Denys Cazet
Publisher: Orchard Books
Publication Date: 1995

SUMMARY
This book is about a little boy by the name of Alex, who gets a new brother.  Alex wants to send his new brother back to the hospital and wonders why he can’t.  His questions are all answered by the moon and the stars.

THE REVIEW
This book is a very good book.  It explains how most boys and girls feel like when they are about to get a new baby brother or sister.  I like the book because it helps children understand that their parents don’t love them any less, but explains what is going on within their family.

THE RATING
   “I’d give this book 5 apples.”

REVIEWER INFORMATION
This book was reviewed by Carol W.

Title:  Jigsaw Jackson
Author:  David F. Birchman
Publisher:  Lothrop, Lee, & Shepard Books. New York.
Publication Date:  1996

SUMMARY
Jupiter Jackson is a young potato farmer. He spends his winter time putting things together, playing checkers, reading stories, and listening to opera recordings with his farm’s animals. His life totally changes when he meets Mr. McShaker, a jigsaw-puzzle maker, and Jupiter becomes a famous jigsaw-puzzle joiner. Mr. McShaker keeps Jupiter so busy that he forgets about his farm and animals until the day he has to show his jigsaw-puzzle talent before the United States Congress, and something strange happens that changes his fame.

THE REVIEW
I liked this colorful picture book because it showed us a very talented and kind man, Jupiter Jackson, who left his farm, animals, and friends to search for what he thought it was going to be a better life. Even though, he became a famous jigsaw-puzzle joiner and he enjoyed it, he was not happy at all. He missed his everyday life in the farm with his horse, chickens, barn mice, and mynah bird. What I did not like was Mr. Sean McShaker’s behavior with Jupiter. He took advantage of Jupiter’s talent and speed to make money as much as he could without caring about Jupiter’s feelings. When Jupiter failed solving the puzzle before the United  States Congress, I felt sad  and happy at he same time because I knew it was going to be the end of his career but the beginning of a new life full of happiness. The moral of the story is that fame  does not last forever and money can not buy happiness.

THE RATING

  I would give this book 5 apples.

This book was reviewed by Hilda V.

Title:  Jelly Beans for Sale
Author:  Written and Photo illustrated by:  Bruce McMillan
Publisher:  Scholastic Press
Publication Date:  1996

    In Jelly Beans for Sale, Bruce McMillan makes math, numbers and money not only fun and interesting but also deliciously tempting.  His fascinating and colorful way of introducing or reinforcing these concepts is by the use of children buying and selling jelly beans at a roadside stand. His  beautiful photographs of children from diverse
ethnic backgrounds only makes this a book that is bound to be loved by all children in the early grades (and a few adults too!)

  I felt the book did a good job of introducing or reinforcing the associations between money and counting because it uses the real objects of coins and jelly beans photographed so the children can see the connections.  It would not be difficult for a teacher to purchase a few jelly beans and replicate the pictures in the classroom with the children.

   I highly recommend this book and give it a 5 APPLES rating.

This book was reviewed by Bonnie O.
 

Title: The Polar Express
Author: Chris Van Allsburg
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Publication: 1985

SUMMARY
The Polar Express is about a young boy who steps aboard a mysterious train discovering its designation, North Pole.  When the boy arrives, he asks Santa for one silver bell from his sleigh.
Santa gives the boy a bell calling out, “The first gift of Christmas!”  If one can hear the sound of the bell, such as the boy and his sister, that person never lost faith.

THE REVIEW
When I read Chris Allsburg’s picture book, The Polar Express, I felt astonished.  Mr. Allsburg uses startling images that evoke a sense of mystery.  At the same time, the text brings about an emotional premise of magic.  The unique combination of art and text work together to engage imagination of the reader.  My favorite part of the book is when Santa hands the boy the silver bell which creates a beautiful sound for those who hold faith.  The Polar Express is a remarkable Christmas narrative that brings about belief in children as well as adults.

THE RATING
  I’d give this book 5 apples.

This book was reviewed by Pam W.

Pickles to Pittsburgh
By Judi Barrett
Atheneum Books for Young Adults, 1997

 In her sequel to Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Judi Barrett brings back Kate and Henry and their fun-loving grandfather.  In this story, Kate and Henry are awaiting a visit from their grandfather.  While they are waiting they dream of how Chewandswallow is today, now that all its' people have moved.

 I feel that this book is a wonderful follow-up to the first story.  Barrett uses the same creativity and imagination in portraying Chewandswallow as in her first book.  I enjoyed this book more because the characters must now help solve the problems left in the town since its' inhabitants are gone.  Kate and Henry explore the deserted, but food-packed, town and discover that workers have begun to distribute the food to all areas of the world: for example, pears are sent to Paris and pickles are sent to Pittsburgh.  Kate and Henry help in the effort to send food to the needy.

 With a more serious theme, I think this book will be enjoyable and encouraging to students.  It will also be a great resource to teachers.
 
  I give this book 5 apples for being entertaining and inspiring.

Jen M.

Title: The Berenstain Bears and the Green-Eyed Monster
Author:  Stan & Jan Berenstain
Publisher:  Random House
Publication Date:  1995

Summary-
In this story it is Brother Bears Birthday and he gets a lot of very nice presents, especially the present from Mama and Papa.  Sister Bear gets very jealous when she sees the present Mama and Papa bought for Brother Bear.  Mama and Papa Bear realize this and talk to Sister Bear about the Green-Eyed Monster. The whole family learns a lesson about jealousy in this story.

The Review-
I think that this is a very good book for children to read because it teaches them a lesson about jealousy.  This particular book is a first time book, so it is a good book for children who are just starting to read.  I liked particularly, how this book illustrated clear pictures that describe exactly what the story is talking about. I would highly recommend this book to parents and classroom teachers.

The Rating-
  I’d give this book 5 apples.

This book was reviewed by Kim B.

Title:  The Devil's Arithmetic
Author:  Jane Yolen
Publisher:  Puffin Books
Publication Date:  1988

Summary
Hannah, a twelve year old from New York, resents the traditions of her Jewish heritage until time travel places her in the middle of a small Jewish village in Nazi occupied Poland. It is 1940 and the Nazi soldiers have come to take the villagers away, but only Hannah knows what might be in store for them.

The Review
This historical fiction novel brings to life the devastation and cold reality of the Holocaust. It is an excellent tool to help young adults experience the harsh conditions of the Holocaust through the eyes of a twelve year old.  I enjoyed reading Jane Yolen's detailed accounts of the prisoners daily routines and their strength to withstand the physical and mental abuse, while still maintaining their dignity.  This book is a must for intermediate grades.  I couldn't put it down and left feeling the need to help keep the memory alive and to celebrate the heroism of the Jews.

The Rating
  I'd give this book 5 apples.

This book was reviewed by Diana J. Bennett

Title:    Stone Fox
Author:   John Reynolds Gardiner
Publisher:  Harper and Row
Publication Date: 1980

Little Willie is a ten-year-old boy determined to help his grandfather keep the farm they might lose.  Willie has high hopes of winning a dog race that pays five hundred dollars that would pay for the taxes they owe.  Stone Fox, an Indian who races with five experienced Samoyeds will be Willie’s most challenging competitor.

The book Stone Fox projects love in a tender and heart-warming manner.  Little Willie’s love for his grandfather is demonstrated in both his words and actions.  The physical care he provides his grandfather and the labor he performs on the farm shows that his grandfather has helped Little Willie learn an excellent work ethic.  The sacrifice Little Willie’s dog makes for him proves total love and devotion to his master.  The kindness shown by the Indian, Stone Fox, towards Little Willie is the final act of love in an excellent novel for young readers.

  I’d give this book 5 apples.

This book was reviewed by Kelly G.

Title:  Goosebumps:  Beast From the East
Author:  R. L. Stine
Publisher:  Scholastic Inc., by Parachute Press
Publication Date:  1996

SUMMARY
Twelve-year-old Ginger Wald, her ten year old twin brothers, Pat and Matt along with Mom and Dad pack off for a camping trip along a sh/mall stream in the woods.  Ginger and her Brothers take off for a game of hide-and-seek, getting lost in a strange area of the woods where they encounter hideous, smelly, insect-infested talking creatures who tag Ginger "it" in a wild game of hide and seek in which the rules are constantly changing and the last person to be "it" at sundown (along with all accomplices) are to be eaten.  The action is fast-moving and loaded with plenty of frustrating variables in which the main characters are constantly being placed in and out of danger in such a way as to keep the reader off balance.  The author is not bashful about habing the characters cobered with slimy snakes, creepy bugs, frustrated by lost direction, pursued by the awful creatures and all of this being capped with a deadline (sundown) after which total destruction (being eaften) must be avoided.

THE REVIEW
This looks like Steven King for kids!  If adults can have the space between their ears brought to an uncomfortable (but satisfying) state of tingle, then why not kids having a crack at it too?  Though there is no measurable literary value herein, there is an important factor present which should interest most parents and teachers:  motivation.  That is what I liked about this book.  What I did not like is the spell-binding power that it appears to have upon most children who read it without providing any literary gifts to them.

smallhavingcoveredeatenfortable (but satisfying) state--With these children having their literacy-receptors laid bare with such a tabloid-type item, we should be careful to be sure that there is an adequate follow-up of reading more academically profitable material with lasting learning value.

THE RATING
Standing alone, this book is a 2 apple

As a motivator, it could be a 4 apple

This book was reviewed by A. J. Grybosky.

Title: Old Winter
Author: Judith Benet Richardson
Illustrator:  R.W. Alley
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: 1996

In one small town, winter decides not to leave and let spring begin.  So while one town grows tired of winter, another town around the world longs for some snow.

I liked this book because of how it describes not only the beauty of winter, but also its bad side.  This is a great book to read during the gloomy time between the changing of winter to spring.  With detailed pictures, this book really brings winter into a new light!  With the introduction of some unusual, and unexplained, vocabulary, it may be difficult for very young children (below 5 years old).

  I would give this book 4 apples!

Reviewed by Sonya G.

Title:  The Fascinating World of … BEARS
Author:  Maria Angels Julivert
Publisher:  Barron’s Educ. Sys., Inc.
Publication Date:  1995

Summary:
 This book includes factual information on bear’s eating habits, physical attributes, social interaction patters with people and other wildlife, as well as a vast amount of facts on where bears are located in the world.  The illustrations are life-like and capture your attention.  This book would be useful for gathering bear facts for reports.

Review:
 I liked the concise manner in which the facts were presented.  Important words or ideas were in bold-face type which helps intermediate age readers sift through a lot of information more quickly.  The illustrations supported the information given on the corresponding page.  I enjoyed this book as a reference book, but would not just sit down to read it.  However, my five-year old son enjoyed reading it aloud.

Rating:  4 apples

Reviewed by Jill D.

Rosy Cole: She Grows and Graduates
Sheila Greenwald
Orchard Books
1997

Summary:
    Rosy Cole: She Grows and Graduates is a story of young Rosy Cole trying to decide where she is going to attend her high schools years.  She wants to attend Hilyard an upscale school where there is a “certain something that is hard to describe.”  She faces setback after setback and still has her sights set on Hilyard.  Only when she discovers her true passion does she face the prospect that Hilyard may not be the school for her.

The Review:
    I feel this book is a good look at the maturation of a young girl facing the pressures of what she wants to do and the pressure friends can put on an individual.  I  think the book is easy for low level readers and interesting enough for more skilled readers.  I enjoyed the pictures in the book.  The pictures are done in the same manner as that of an eighth grader who doodles, which coincidentally is the one passion of Rosy.  The story shows the generalized responses and actions of young girls trying to vie for admission to the schools of their choice. Even though the book is written in first-person point of view there is little depth to the main character and the minor characters.  I feel that this story needs more personal attention to the main protagonist.  More emotion and more internal conflicts should be addressed.

The Rating:

  Overall this book is entertaining enough for most readers and I would give this book three apples.

Reviewed by Steve Ansani

Title:   Imogene’s Antlers
Author:   David Small
Publisher:  Scholastic, Inc.
Publication Date:  1985

SUMMARY
 One morning, Imogene woke up to find that she had antlers growing out of her head.   Even though they were very surprised, her family and friends found different uses for her antlers and tried to cover them up.  When Imogene woke up the next morning, her family was very glad to see the antlers had gone away, until they noticed that she had grown feathers like a peacock!

THE REVIEW
 I really enjoyed reading this book because it kept me laughing.  Imogene did a lot of funny things when she had her antlers and the book kept me wondering what would happen next.  The pictures in the book were really funny and gave me a good idea of what Imogene looked like.  I think that the best part of the book was the surprise ending when Imogene turned into a peacock.

THE RATING
  I give this book  5 apples!

REVIEWER INFORMATION
 This book was reviewed by Amy B.

Title:  Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs
Author:  Tomie de Paola
Publisher:  G. P. Putnam’s Sons
Publication Date: 1973

SUMMARY
 This enlightening story deals with the loss of a loved one is sure to warm the heart of any reader, young or old.  Tommy shares with us his relationship with his grandmother and great-grandmother whom he refers to as Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs.  Every Sunday, Tommy visits his Nanas until one day Nana Upstairs passed away.  Tommy learns about death and how to deal with his loss- without losing the memories.

THE REVIEW
 I really enjoyed reading this story.  Tomie de Paola’s words and illustrations are easy to follow and children will be able to relate to the story with ease.  I feel that the story should be included in a classroom library, but I wouldn’t read it aloud.  I suggest making the story available for students to read during free time or to take home and read with their parents.  Although death can be a sensitive topic, it is a reality many children will have to face and therefore should not be ignored.

THE RATING
“I’d give this book four apples.”

REVIEWER INFORMATION
This book was reviewed by Ashley B.

Title:  The Brave Little Bunny
Author:  Linda Jennings
Publisher:  Dutton Children’s Book
Publication Date:  1995

Summary
 “The Brave Little Bunny”, is about a bunny named Millie who lives in a backyard hutch with her family.  Millie liked her home but she alway wondered what it would be like to run free.  One night Millie gets the chance.  Will she like her new freedom?

Review
 I liked this story.  I think that it is well written.  Children would like this story because it moves quickly and has a lot of action.  It also has a good moral, which is to follow your dreams.

The Rating
  I’d give this book 4 apples.

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Stephanie P.

Title: Penguin Pete’s New Friends
Author: Marcus Pfister
Publisher: North-South Books, New York
Publication Date: 1988

SUMMARY
 Penguin Pete’s New Friends is about a young penguin who sets off on his own fishing journey.  Unfortunately this cute little penguin encounters his fair of problems due mostly to bad luck and his own clumsiness.  The island he thought he was on turns out to be the back of his friend to be, Walter the Whale.  Eventually Pete gets to do the fishing he has wanted to do so badly.  Even though Pete the penguin is not very successful at fishing he gets the opportunity to get to know and make friends with several animals and a boy.  One of the main lessons this story teaches is about how difficult something can be at first for somebody doing something for the first time.  However, if you keep trying, things become easier.  So even though Pete returns home empty handed, the day has been spectacular for him.

THE REVIEW
 I really enjoyed reading Penguin Pete’s New Friends.  The main character is an interesting fellow who wants more than anything to go fishing.  The pictures and illustrations in this book were excellent.  They went along very nicely with the text.  The reader can’t help but take an instant liking to Pete.  It is also very evident that Pete has a clumsy side that is always getting him into trouble.  The book gives several key lessons. One is the importance of getting to know and making friends with others while being outgoing.  Another is recognizing that it takes time in order to master something.  Perhaps most importantly in my mind that is the fact that we can be happy and satisfied even if things do not work out completely as we had

THE RATING
I’d give Penguin Pete’s New Friends four apples based on a scale ranging from one to five.  I highly recommend it.  It will be equally well liked by students in grades k through 2 as well as teachers and parents.  Be sure to put it on your list!

REVIEWER INFORMATION
 This book was reviewed by David C.

Title:  RAIN FOREST
Author:  Helen Cowcher
Publisher:  Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Publication Date: 1988

Summary
The animals of the rain forest are faced with a problem.  There is something that is stirring up the forest and the animals are getting worried.  What will they do?  Where will they go?

The Review
When I read this book I had some mixed feelings.  At first I thought it was going to be pretty interesting.  The pictures were very bright and colorful.  It brought life to the story as well as the animals.  However, the more I read on the more disappointed I became.  To me, the story seemed to be cut short in a sense.  It seemed as though the author was trying to hurry and rush through the story.  The sty also seemed to be short and choppy, it didn’t have a nice flow to it.  There were also parts of the book that seemed kind of violent and a little too bold for a younger audience.  For example there is a part in the story that gives a graphic description of what happens to the “thing” that’s endangering the forest.  On the other hand, this book does send a very good message about the environment and our world today.  The message is one that should be talked about, I just don’t think this is the book to do the job!  One final note on the ending.  To me, it seemed as though it was cut off and there should have been at least one more page.  This could be used as an advantage though.  This may allow the students to become more involved in the story and get real creative!  That could be a major bonus!

The Rating
“I’d give this book 2 apples.”

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by:  Maria  D.

Title:  The Giving Tree
Author:  Shel Silverstein
Publisher:  HarperCollins
Publication Date:  1964

Summary
 This book is about a little boy and a tree who are great friends.  The tree has always been there for the boy to eat apples, swing, play, and even relax.  Together they grow old, yet the tree continues to give the boy anything that he needs.  This book illustrates the amount of love one can have for a true friend.

The Review
 This book is one that is appropriate for all ages.  It teaches the importance of giving, which I feel is a great lesson, even for adults.  I like the set up of the book, because both the reading level and the pictures are simple and easy to understand.  The only thing that I disliked about the book was that the author would split up a sentence between pages.  This is fine; however, sometimes the author would leave only one or two words for the next page.  I felt that this disrupted the flow of the book.  Other than that, this was an excellent book.  The author was both creative and thoughtful in his words.

The Rating
  I would give this book five apples. Get it today!

Reviewer Information
 This book was reviewed by Kimberly K.

Title:  The M&M's Counting Book
Author:  Barbara Barbieri McGrath
Publisher:  Charlesbridge Publishing
Publication Date: 1994

Summary
 The now famous red and yellow talking M&M characters narrate the book in rhyme and take children through numbers, counting, addition, subtraction, and shapes all through the use of M&M's!

The Review
 I really enjoyed this book, but, then again, who doesn't enjoy the thought of eating M&M's as a method of learning subtraction?  The book is written with rhyming words, which I found really keeps the book moving and keeps the reader excited about what is going to happen next.  The M&M character narrators give a lot of positive feedback and encouragement throughout the book and creating shapes with M&M's is quite a creative way of teaching children.  The book merely touched on some different math concepts and did not provide much detail or explanation but it did make some not so exciting math concepts fun because of the sweet and sugary subject material!

The Rating
  "I'd give this book 4 apples."

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Kerri D.

Title:  Lucky Russell
Author:  Brad Sneed
Publisher:  G.P. Putnam's Sons
Publication Date:  1992

Summary
 A small kitten named Russell feels embarrassed every day when a little girl dresses him up in a baby bonnet, wheels him around in a baby carriage, and has a tea party with him.  He wants to have a more important job on the farm like so many of the other animals do.  He escapes from the little girl and tries to help some of the other animals to do their various jobs, but he is turned away each time and told that he is too small.  In the end, he realizes that he has the most important and luckiest job on the farm-being the little girl's playmate.

The Review
 I really liked this book and think it would be great for kindergarten or first graders to read.  The story is interesting and has a lot of dialogue.  The illustrations are also very good.  This book does a good job of showing what jobs the different animals on a farm do.  It also teaches children that everyone's job, no matter how big or small it may be, is important.

The Rating
I'd give this book 4 apples.  It's definitely one to put on your list!

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Sherry L.

Title:  Elmo’s Counting Game
Author:  Sarah Albee
Publisher:  Golden Books Publishing Company, Inc.
Publication Date:  1997

Summary
 The book, Elmo’s Counting Game, is a book about counting.  It features one of Sesame Street’s most popular characters, Elmo.  In this book Elmo encourages the reader to become enthusiastic about counting by making it a game.  It counts from one to ten and at the end of the book there is a surprise.

The Review
  I felt that this book was a fun and exciting way for younger children to learn or practice counting from one to ten.  I also think that it is motivational for children because most every child loves Elmo.  Elmo makes counting interesting because he gives each number a different object to count.  One last good point of this book is that it is a board book.  It will be durable for young children and will last a long time.

The Rating
“I would give this book five apples, most definitely!”

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Kelly E.

TITLE:  The View from Saturday
AUTHOR:  E.L. Konigsburg
PUBLISHER:  Scholastic, Inc.
PUBLICATION DATE:  1996

Summary
The Souls - a team of four sixth graders - have already achieved the unthinkable by beating both the seventh and eighth grade teams.  As they compete in the state championships, their teacher, Mrs. Olinski, struggles to determine why she chose these four individuals.  What do each of the four members of the souls have in common and do they have enough to win the state championship?

Review
This is a good book because it shows how ordinary students can be extraordinary when given the opportunity.  It is also a good book to use in a classroom because it has a diverse group of characters.  Each characters has a different trait that makes him/her unique; some come from broken homes, are Jewish, have a handicap, or wear funny clothes.  The story line keeps the readers attention because the reader wants to know whether the team wins or loses.  Younger readers may have a difficult time following the story because of the many flashbacks.  The book is like a jig-saw puzzle with each flashback providing another answer to the question of what each of the characters has in common.  All of these things make The View from Saturday very enjoyable.

I'd give this book four apples.

This book was reviewed by Mandy F.

Title: Time for Bed, Sleepyheads
Author(s): Normand and Sandra Chartier
Publisher: Western Publishing Company
Publishing Date: 1983

SUMMARY
 Time for Bed, Sleepyheads is a book about what animal children do before they go to sleep at night.  The mommy and daddy animals call their children in from play when the sun goes down every day.  All of the little animals brush their teeth, read bedtime stories, get baths, and do other things that real children do before they go to sleep at night.

REVIEW
 I really liked this book for many reasons.  The little animals all had very good habits, like brushing their teeth, before bedtime.  The pictures were cute, and they showed what things families do together before bedtime.  I also liked this book because it reminded me of the things that I used to do with my parents before my bedtime.

RATING
I would give this book FOUR apples.  It was a good choice, and you should definitely put it on your list.

This book was reviewed by Lindsay W.

Title: Great Aunt Martha
Author: Rebecca C. Jones
Publisher: Dutton Children's Books, a division of Penguin Books, USA, Inc.
Publication Date: 1995

Summary
This book is about how a young girl must give up some of her favorite activities, like watching television, playing with the dog, and listening to music, because her parents do not want her to disturb Great Aunt Martha, who is a guest at their house.  After all, Great Aunt Martha needs her rest, right?  Wrong!  She surprises everyone when she starts to "have some fun"-- dancing with her cane, ordering a pizza, and claiming that the house is just too quiet.

The Review
I think that anyone who has ever had houseguests can relate to this book.  Granted, not everyone must stop watching television, or avoid playing with the dog, but most people would agree that sacrifices are almost always made from the time the guests arrive.  "Why don't you give your bed to Sally?  You can sleep on the floor for a week-- it won't kill you."  Suggestions like these often lead to a little bit of resentment, especially in children.  This seems to be the case with the girl in the story.  Her facial expressions and body language effectively convey her disappointment, frustration, and boredom.  She does not want to sit on the couch and talk about "weather and airplanes and people I never knew."  The beauty of this story is-- neither does Great Aunt Martha!  However, the girl has, in a sense, misunderstood her great aunt.  She assumes that "old" people like to be bored, which is not true at all.  This very important message is conveyed  in a humorous, lighthearted manner that will appeal to children.  The book certainly appealed to me, and I would attribute this partly to the repetitive language.  There is continued reference to Great Aunt Martha "needing her rest," and after a while, it becomes rather comical.  It almost seems like the mom and dad don't want Great Aunt Martha to do anything but rest!

The Rating
I'd give this book 4 apples.

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Sharon M., age 19

Title: The Cinder-Eyed Cats
Author: Eric Rohmann
Publisher: Crown Publishers, Inc., New York
Publication Date: 1997

Summary
 The story involves a boy and five cinder-eyed cats.  The boy takes a magical journey to an island and joins the five cats.  At night, they sit encircling a campfire waiting  for the numerous sea creatures.   When everyone is there, they all dance around the campfire.  But when the sun comes the dancing stops.  The sea creatures return to the sea and the boy and cinder-eyed cats sleep.

The Review
 I really enjoyed this story.  The illustrations in the book are wonderful and done by the author.  I think that an imagination is one element that every child should be strong in so that it can be built upon.  This book is all about a boy and his imagination.  The book contains drawings of the party going on around the campfire with all of the fish and other creatures that is just a wonderful picture.

The Rating
I give this book 4 apples.  Definitely put this on your list!

Reviewer Information
 This book was reviewed by Tricia B.

Title: Soon, Annala
Author: Rikki Levinson
Publisher: Orchard Books
Publication Date: 1993

Summary
 This book tells the story of Annala, an immigrant, and her family. Annala must wait for her Aunt, Uncle, and youngest brothers to arrive in America, and also has to try to fit in with the other people in her new home, which means not speaking Yiddish, her native language, and learning English. Annala waits and waits for her relatives to arrive. When will they be reunited?

The Review
 This book is a heartwarming tale. It does a great job of showing the feelings of Annala, and makes the reader almost as expectant for the arrival of her relatives as Annala is herself. I think the book could have added more detail about Annala’s life, though. The colorful description of life for an immigrant in 1910 whets the readers appetite for more, but doesn’t provide more information, nor does it tell the reader other possible sources for information on this topic. The characters in the book could have been developed a little more, also. Aside from Annala, the reader isn’t told too much about the characters, and I think that a more in depth description of at least some of them would have helped. The illustrations are good, though, and really add to the story. Overall, I think Soon, Annala was a good book, but I think it was too disappointing in a few aspects to be considered a must read.

The Rating
I’d give this book 3 apples.

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Adam S.

Title:  Caps for Sale
Author:  Esphyr Slobodkina
Publisher:  Scholastic
Publication Date:  1968

Summary
A cap salesman who wears all his caps for sale on his head, decides to take a nap one day.  When he awoke, he found that many monkeys had stolen the caps from his head.  He begged and pleaded with them until they returned all of his caps.

Review
This is a classic story about an unusual salesman.  It puts a funny twist on how a salesman works.  I liked this story because it has the monkeys fight with the salesman.  At the end of the story, we find out that the monkeys were only copying the same actions as the salesman.  This story is most definitely for a young audience.  I would not suggest it for children more than 6 or 7 years old.

I would give this book 3 apples.

Reviewed by Mike N.

Title:  My Father Always Embarrasses Me
Author:  Meir Shalev
Publisher:  Wellington Publishing Company
Publication Date:  1990

Summary
 This book is about a boy, Mortimer Dunne, and his father.  Mortimer’s father always embarrasses him by dressing funny, kissing him in front of his friends, and just being silly.  Mortimer does not realize how wonderful his father is until the end of the book when his dad surprises him with a talent Mortimer never knew he had!

The Review
 I think that the book is very appropriate for children.  This story deals with an issue that everyone has had to deal with in one way or another.  I really liked how the book ends and Mortimer realizes how important his dad is to him.

The Rating
“I’d give this book 4 apples.”

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Janie B.

Title:  The Mystery of the Missing Treasure
Author:  Janet Lorimer
Publisher:  Scholastic Inc.
Publication Date:  1987

Summary:
 For years Pete had heard stories of a treasure buried near his home.  He had repeatedly searched for it, but never found the treasure.  One day he awoke in strange, old-fashioned clothing.  Pete never realized that he would only be able to solve the mystery of the missing treasure in another time and in another boy’s body.

Review:
 I loved this book as a child and still find the story exciting as an adult.  The book is filled with intresting characters.  I often found myself in the character’s shoes.  The old fashioned time period added another dimension to the plot of the story.  The book suspensfully builds up to a creative, exciting, and unique conclusion.

Rating:
4 apples,  A good choice.   Put this on your list!

Reviewer Information:  Jillian P.

Title:   The Velveteen Rabbit
Author:   Margery Williams
Publisher:   Holt, Rinehart and Winston
Publication Date:   1983

SUMMARY
 The velveteen rabbit almost has given up hope when he hears that he will get thrown away and burned.  All he wants is to find the magic of being Real.  Suddenly, the nursery magic Fairy finds him and takes him to Rabbitland.  Finally, the velveteen rabbit gets his wish of becoming Real.

THE REVIEW
 The Velveteen Rabbit was a very good book and I’m glad I chose this for my book critique.  I highly recommend this book for children.  I thought it was interesting and it teaches each and everyone one of us a lesson, and that is to never give up on hope.

THE RATING
I would give this book 5 apples”

REVIEWER INFORMATION
This book was reviewed by Heather Linn

Title:   Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime Thumps
Author:  Cynthia Rylant
Illustrator:  Su?ie Stevenson
Publisher:  Scholastic Inc.
Publication Date: 1991

SUMMARY
 A visit to Henry’s grandmother in the countryside causes Henry to worry about his big dog Mudge.  Will his grandmother like Mudge?  Will Mudge drool on his grandmother?  Most of all, Henry worries that Mudge will have to sleep outside.  When they finally arrive at grandmother’s house, Henry and Mudge find out that, despite their worries, everything will turn out okay.

THE REVIEW
 I really enjoyed this book, and I could truly relate to Henry’s worries.  Because this book is divided into four short chapters and also has colorful illustrations, I think it may appeal to readers of both picture books and chapter books. The characters, a boy named Henry and his dog Mudge, are very likable.  Many children, as well as some adults, may be able to relate with Henry’s anxiety about taking Mudge with him on a trip to his grandmother’s house for the first time.  Anyone who has ever had a pet will be able to sympathize with Henry when he faces possible separation from Mudge.  Also, the illustrations and text work together to depict the characters’ feelings in the story.  For example, on the way to grandmother’s house, the illustrations show Henry chewing his fingernails and Mudge chewing his toenails as they worry.  The problems faced in this story, as well as in other Henry and Mudge books, are problems that many children experience.  In this particular story, both Henry and Mudge accept the fact that a big dog and a cramped house are not compatible.  Together, they find a workable solution to this problem, and both are happy in the end.  I particularly enjoyed the very end of the book, and I’m sure other readers will too!

THE RATING
I’d give this book four out of five apples.  It is a good choice.

REVIEWER INFORMATION
This book was reviewed by Holly Z.

Title:  The Bubble Factory
Author:  Tomie de Paola
Publisher:  Tomie de Paola
Publication Date:  1996

Summary
 Sam and Molly are two young twins who definitely know how to get themselves into trouble.  Thankfully, though, Grandpa is always there to help them out of it.  When Grandpa takes them to visit the bubble factory where he used to work, the twins wonder into the bubble lab where their curiosity tells them to pour two different bottles of bubbles into the bubble machine.  This, of course, creates a messy situation but is their mess really a wish come true.

The Review
 I feel that The Bubble Factory is a wonderful book for young children because it talks about the making of all different kinds of bubble which most little kids are fascinated with.  The friendly and colorful illustrations attract the eyes of children and adults alike and the idea of a factory that can produce any kind of bubble a person can think of makes children want to read the story.  The character's curious actions make children anxious to turn the pages.  Tomie de Paola creativity is definitely present in this story.  I feel that The Bubble Factory definitely exercises a child's imagination.

The Rating
I would give this book four apples

Reviewer Information
 This book was reviewed by Julie D.

Title:  Doctor De Soto
Author:  William Steig
Publisher:  Scholastic Inc.
Publication Date:  1982

Summary
Doctor De Soto is about a mouse that treats a fox with a terrible toothache.  As Doctor De Soto treats the fox, the fox intends to eat him.  Realizing this, Doctor De Soto devises a plan and outsmarts the fox.

The Review
I enjoyed Doctor De Soto and thought it was a very funny book.  I liked how the author gives the animals humanlike characteristics.  All different kinds of animals come in to be treated by Doctor De Soto, from animals as small as moles to as large as cows.
 I thought the ending was good when Doctor De Soto outsmarts the fox.  This is an ironic ending since foxes are known to be sly and clever.

The Rating
  “I’d give this book 5 apples!”  Get it today!

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Lesley R.

Title:  The Berenstain Bears and the Sitter
Author:  Stan and Jan Berenstain
Publisher:  Random House, Inc.
Publication Date:  1981

Summary
 The book The Berenstain Bears and the Sitter was about the fear that young children have when they get a new babysitter.  Brother Bear and Sister Bear had to have a sitter because Mama and Papa Bear had to go to an important town meeting for the night.  The children were scared because the only sitter that their parents could get was Mrs. Grizzle.  When Mrs. Grizzle first got there the children were very scared of her but by the end of the night their opinion changed.  Mrs. Grizzle turned out to be the best sitter the children ever had and they are very excited every time she comes back to be their sitter.

The Review
 I liked this book very much because I can relate to every word of it.  I used to get scared when my parents would have a sitter over because I was not sure how the sitter was going to treat me.  And just as the children did in the book I would end up liking the sitter very much and having a good time with them.  It was a well written and illustrated book and once again I enjoyed the book very much.

The Rating
  I would give this book four apples.

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Stephen R.

My Teacher Sleeps in School
By Leatie Weiss
Published by Frederick Warne & Co., Inc.
1984

Summary
 Mollie and her classmates are sure that Mrs. Marsh lives in their classroom.  She is always there early in the morning and after the students leave at night.  All through the school day Mollie and her friends search for clues that Mrs. Marsh sleeps at school.  Wait until you see what they find!

The Review
 This is an excellent book for younger children.  It answers many questions they may have.  First of all the book brought back many memories of myself thinking that my teacher did, in fact, sleep at school.  In my early school career it had amazed me that my teacher actually had a life outside of school.  The children are very realistic and find evidence that yes, Mrs. Marsh does live at school.  The part I liked best about this book was that Mrs. Marsh actually took time at the end of the book to take the students to her own home.  I felt that this was very well written because it actually showed that teacher have their own life and family

I would give this book 4 apples. Put this on your list!

This book was reviewed by Kelly Kamer.

Title:  My Little Red Car
Author:  Chris L. Demarest
Publisher:  Caroline House, Boyds Mills Press, Inc.
Publication Date: 1992

Summary
A little boy wishes that when he grows up he will travel around the world.  He wants to go to different places like Paris, Egypt, North Pole and many more.

The Review
I like this book because I think that with this book teachers can do an extension activity with Geography.  It is also a nice book because the pictures in the book are just like the words of the book so it is very easy to read.  However, it would have been nicer if they had some more pictures of other places the little boy could have gone to.

The Rating
  “I’d give this book 4 apples.”

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Irene N.

Title: Changes
Author: Anthony Browne
Publisher: Alfred A. Knoff, Inc.
Publisher Date: 1990

Summary
 Joseph's father told him things were going to change, but when he woke up things were the same, or were they?  He saw the kitchen kettle turn into a cat and the arm chair turn into a gorilla!  Is this what his father meant about change?  Or was it something else?

 Review
 I liked the drawings the most.  The illustrator made non-living things turn into living things and morphed some other common everyday objects into something silly.  Everytime Joseph goes into another room or outside he sees something that has changed, and the change is not a very normal one!  Finally at the end, you find out what the big change is, and of course, it is a happy one!

The Rating
"I'd give this book 4 apples."

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Aubrey S.

Title:  The Berenstein Bears and the Trouble with Friends
Author:  Stan & Jan Berenstain
Publisher:  Random House, Inc.
Publication Date:  1986

Summary
Sister Bear always wanted another cub her age to play with.  Finally one day Lizzy Bruin moved in down the street.  Sister Bear found out the way little girls are when it comes to playing--bossy!  Sister Bear also realizes what a good friend is.

The Review
I really liked this book.  I thought this was a good way to show how children play.  Its not always fun.  This book shows that in order to play with someone you must share.  I thought it also showed that children do forget about things easily and friendships can have their ups and downs.

The Rating
“I’d give this book four apples”

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Josalyn H.

Title:  The Giving Tree
Author:  Shel Silverstein
Publisher:  HarperCollins Publishers
Publication Date: 1964

SUMMARY
 Once there was a tree that loved a boy.  When he was small he would climb her and swing from her branches.  As the boy got older, the tree would give up everything she had to make the boy happy and to desire her again.  When he came to her and asked her for something, that she could give him, it made the tree very happy.  She was only happy when the boy came to her, even if it was only to take something away from her.

THE REVIEW
 This book emphasized how we keep taking different things from the environment, even if it is something as small as a tree’s apples.  It also emphasizes that the environment is willing to give to us until it has nothing left.  I feel The Giving Tree is a good book, which involves parent-child involvement.  A child may not be able to grasp the role the environment is playing in the story.  As an adult, I had to sit down and think about the story line before I came to my conclusion of its figurative meaning.  After coming to my conclusion, I came to appreciate the book more.

THE RATING
I’d give this book 4 apples.

REVIEWER INFORMATION
 This book was reviewed by Brandy M.

Title:  Train to Somewhere
Author:  Eve Bunting
Publisher:  Scholastic Incorporated
Publication Date:  September 1997

SUMMARY
 In 1878, orphans from New York City were taken by train to the Midwest to find homes.  In this book, Marianne, one of the orphans, shares her feelings as she goes from town to town waiting for her mother to come and pick her up at the next stop.  When she finds herself to be the last orphan left on the train, she feels very sad and alone because nobody wants her.  But, as the train makes its final stop at Somewhere, Iowa, Marianne is greeted by two unexpected people who are willing to give her a home.

THE REVIEW
 I found this book to be very heart-wrenching.  This poor girl gets picked over so many times!  The information about the trains taking orphans from New York City to the Midwest is very factual.  Eve Bunting makes this a personal journey, though, as she allows the readers to feel the pain Marianne is enduring.  The book was very well written, but I'm not sure young children will be able to grasp all of the ideas portrayed.  This would definitely appeal to older children, as they may be able to sympathize with Marianne.

THE RATING
I'd give this book 4 apples.

REVIEWER INFORMATION
This book was reviewed by Julie Walters.

Title:  Nicholas Bentley Stoningpot III
Author:  Ann McGovern
Publisher:  Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Groups, Inc.
Publication Date: November 1997

Summary
     Nicholas Bentley Stoningpot III is vacationing on a big boat with his wealthy parents and their friends.  His parents are too busy to spend time with him during the trip.  All Nicky wants to do is find a new and exciting adventure.  On a stormy night, the big boat crashes and Nicky is lost at sea.  He is stranded until he is cast ashore onto a deserted island.  Many adventures await him at every turn as well as new friendships.

The Review
     I highly enjoyed reading Nicholas Bentley Stoningpot III.  I would recommend this book to children between the ages of 6 and 8.  Many young children get excluded from adult activities leaving them bored and distraught.  This book allows kids to relate with Nicholas and enjoy his adventures.  This book is a way for kids to escape reality and enjoy a farfetched tale of adventure.  One other highlight is the illustrations, which are brightly painted by Tomie de Paola.  I would use this book with young children in and out of the classroom.

“I would give this book four apples.”
This book was reviewed by Ann G.

TITLE:  See You Tomorrow, Charles
AUTHOR:  Miriam Cohen
PUBLISHER:  Bantam  Doubleday Dell Publishing Groups, Inc.
PUBLICATION DATE:  June 1997

Summary
School has been in session for three weeks and Charles is the new boy in first grade.  There is something special about Charles he is blind.  His classmates want to help him in anyway they can but they don’t if they should give him special treatment or just simply treat him like everyone else.  One day Charles and a couple of his friends find themselves in a scary situation.  Is Charles able to get them out of this trouble?   If you want to find out what kind of trouble they are in then I suggest you read See You Tomorrow, Charles.

Review
I really enjoyed reading See You Tomorrow, Charles.  This book is great for young children of all ages because it teaches them about a certain disability, being blind.  Most important, children will realize that even though someone is blind, it doesn’t stop them from having fun like everyone else.  Children may feel nervous around blind people but after they read this book, they will understand that you don’t need to be.  You can act just the same around blind individuals as you do around anyone else.

“I would give this book Four Apples”
 This book was reviewed by Marbeth G.

Title: Bunnicula: a Rabbit-tale of Mystery
Author: Deborah and James Howe
Publisher: Avon Books
Publication Date: 1979

SUMMARY
 Harold the dog likes the pet rabbit that his owners, the Monroes, found at a Dracula movie. But his friend Chester (a cat) thinks Bunnicula (the rabbit’s name) is really a vampire that sucks the juice out of vegetables! This is the story of how Chester tries to prove the truth about Bunnicula and how Harold just tries to make sense of it all!

THE REVIEW
 This is the first book in a series of five about the Monroe family pets and their wild (and often eerie) adventures, as told by Harold. All five books are very funny, but I’m focusing on this book because it started the whole thing! Harold is a wonderful storyteller, telling things just as he sees them. He finds things pretty bewildering at times and it’s fun to hear exactly what he thinks about the strange things Chester, the Monroes, and anyone else does. Chester’s ideas are crazy, and the ridiculous situations he and the other characters keep getting into will make you laugh out loud sometimes (I did. Sometimes I still do after having read it many times!). But the book isn’t the sort of joke-after-zany-joke funny that makes you laugh and nothing more.

I give this book 5 apples! I’d give the whole series, in relation to other series, 5! The other books in the series are about 4 apples, too, but this one holds a special honor because IT CAME FIRST.

Reviewer Information
 This book was reviewed by Amy M. She’s nearly 20, but she thinks she’s a kid.

Title:  The Socksnatchers
Author:  Lorna Balian
Publisher:  Abingdon Press
Publication Date:  1988

SUMMARY
 The Socksnatcher family was upset because their son stole a pair of socks, which was against the rules, and they were clean!  Mama Perkins, who lived in the house, was trying to match the socks that were washed in the laundry, but could not because the Socksnatcher Family stole of the matches.  The family was hungry for stinky sock soup, so Daisy Socksnatcher went out to gather the Perkins’s dirty socks.  She left the door open a little and the Perkins’s cat got in and took back some of the socks.  The Perkins Family blamed the cat for stealing the socks.

THE REVIEW
 I disliked this book because it had no point to it at all.  The story did not follow a specific sequence.  It was very uninteresting and the ending was not well written.  There was no plot and little action to stimulate the reader even a little bit.

THE RATING
“I’d give this book 1 apple.”
Reviewed by Mandy D.

Title:   McGraw’s Emporium
Author:  Jim Aylesworth
Publisher:  Henry Holt and Company, Inc.
Publication Date: 1995

Summary
A small boy is searching for the perfect gift to cheer up his sick friend.  He finds many interesting things in McGraw’s Emporium but he finally decides to give his friend a free kitten.

The Review
I liked this book.  It used a lot of different words, and the way that it was written was interesting.  The book was written in a poetic form that rhymed which gave the book some rhythm.  The pictures were very well done and grabbed my attention as the reader.  Every object that was discussed in the story was illustrated on the pages.  I really liked this book.

The Rating
I’d give this book 3 apples.

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Toni Hallow

Title:  Stellaluna
Author:  Janell Cannon
Publisher:  Harcourt Brace and Company
Publication Date:  1993

SUMMARY
Stellaluna had been separated from her mother when she was a young fruit bat.  Forced to be raised by birds, she grows  up to become just like them.  She does everything that a bird does and looses her bat qualities. Will she find her mother and become a bat again?

THE RATING
I feel that this book is an excellent book and feel that children as well as adults can enjoy reading Stellaluna.  This book raises many issues.  It can teach children about friendship, love, and diversity.  This book, I feel was touching and educational.  I learned a lot of interesting facts about bats and the way that they live.

THE RATING
"I'd give this book 5 apples."

REVIEWER INFORMATION
This book was reviewed by Nadine Pennesi.

Title:  Jamaica Louise James
Author:  Amy Hest
Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Publication Date:  1996

Summary
 Jamaica Louise James is the one with the cool idea.  On her eighth birthday, Jamaica gets a gift from her Mama and Grammy that she uses to change the lives of people around her.  What’s the gift?  What does she do with it?  Pick up Jamaica Louise James and find out all about her cool idea!

Review
Amy Hest really brings the character of Jamaica Louise James to life.  The way Jamaica and her family talk is contemporary and fun.  I really enjoyed the illustrations, they appear culturally accurate and lots of color, too!  The plot was something  I appreciated also.  Jamaica is given a gift, and in return she uses this to create a gift for someone else.  I think it can show children how to “give back.”

Jamaica Louise James deserves 4 apples!
This book was reviewed by Rosie M.

Title: Flood Fish
Author: Robyn Eversole
Publisher: Crown Publishers, Inc.
Publication Date: 1995

Summary
When the rains come from Australia, out of nowhere dry riverbeds fill up with water and big fish.  A child wonders, where do they come from?  The boy and his family suggest some reasons for this sudden appearance of fish.  In the end, the secret of the flood fish continues on as a puzzle waiting to be solved.

The Review
This book made me feel a calm sense of wonder and a calm sense towards nature.  It made me recollect how beautiful nature is and all the mysteries that go along with it that can only be answered by God himself.  It also struck a fascinating curiosity about how these fish really do get there.  I believe the calm feeling was influenced by the beautiful dark oil paintings that portrayed wonderful colors of nature.  I felt such a mystery because all kinds of explanations where given, but which one might be right is unknown.  I became curious because I remember wondering as a child how tadpoles got into the once-dry ditches up in the strippens above my house.  We always went up there to pick blackberries in the summer and sometimes a rain would feel up ditches and sure enough tadpoles would appear.  Also, this book never answers the question of where these fish really come from.  It’s a mystery even to Scientists!

The Rating
“I’d give this book 4 apples.”

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Nicole Ferrari

Title: The Animals Who Changed Their Colors
Author: Pascale Allamand
English version by Elizabeth Watson Taylor
Publisher: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Company
Publication Date: 1979

Summary:
 This book is about animals from different climates that want to change their color in order to appear more beautiful and brighter in color.  They travel down the river and find a beautiful land of bright colors where they rub themselves with different flowers and plants to change the color of their skin or fur. The animals meet up with a parrot of bright, beautiful color that reminds them that if they change their colors, they will be easily recognized by predators.   The animals agreed with the parrot, and they decided
that they would change themselves back to their original colors.  The polar bear reflects on their journey, and wonders why he ever wanted to change his beautiful white coat.

Review:
 I read this book when I was a small child, so I was familiar with it.  I like this book because I think it sends a good message.  The moral of the book is to be yourself no matter what you may think would make you look better.  Children at a young age sometimes have trouble finding their identity and liking themselves.  This book gives the reader the message that being yourself is the best thing to do.
 I liked the animals the author chose in this book and also the bright illustrations.  The book is easy enough for a beginning reader to understand, but also sends a good message for any age reader.

Rating:
I would give this book 4 apples.

Reviewer Information:
 This book was reviewed by Shannon S.

Title:   Can’t You Sleep Little Bear?
Author:  Martin Waddell
Illustrator:  Barbara Firth
Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Pulication Date: 1988

Summary
The little bear, in this book, is so afraid of the dark that he can not get to sleep.  Big bear has to shed a little light on this problem or he will never get his interesting book read.  Big bear shows little bear some love and compassion towards his problem, and he takes little bear for a walk to confront the dark.  Sleep was finally in sight for the little bear and big bear can finish his story.

Review
 I really liked this book; it makes you feel like you have to help the little bear with has problem too.  I felt bad for the big bear, but that is the role that a parent must play.  Children can really relate to this book well.  Children know that bears are big and fearless, and when they see a bear that is afraid of the dark it makes it all right for them to be afraid too.  I really liked that about the book.  I really liked pictures in this book.  The pictures are done in watercolor and pencil, they have a soft look and the bears have the cutest faces that I have ever seen.  The pictures are so adorable and they seem to tell the story without the words.  Overall this book is a really good book, and I believe it would make any child happy to hear it told to them before bedtime.

Rating
I would give this book 5 apples.  Get it Today!!

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Cori B

Title: How I was Adopted
Author: Joanna Cole
Publisher: Marrow Junior Books
Publication Date: 1995

Summary: This children's book deals with a young girl growing up as an adopted child.  She tells the story of how she is adopted by a loving family and the things they do together, as an adoptive family.

The Review: I felt this book was very interesting.  It comforts children who are living in an adoptive home.  It lets children know that being adopted is not bad at all.  I feel kids need to know about other kinds of families outside their own.  This book is also very informative for children and parents.  I like the section in the beginning of the book that deals with children questions about adoption, and the section to help parents who are raising adopted children.  This was a good addition.

The Rating:
I give this book 4 apples.

Reviewed by Xavier K.

Title: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Author: Judi Barrett
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks
Publication Date: 1982

Summary: In the book, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, grandpa tells us an extraordinary story about the tiny town of Chewandswallow. Grandpa tells how this town is different from your average, ordinary, everyday town.  Each day the weather drops food from the sky to provide meals for the people.  However, the people quickly discover that this becomes a problem when too much food continues to fall.  Food stormed on Chewandswallow for an entire week causing havoc and disarray in the town. As a result, the towns people were forced to leave their homes to find a new place to live.  Come and experience the adventure of Chewandswallow with grandpa as you read Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.

Review: I really enjoyed this book for its comic nature and use of illustrations.  I feel children of all ages will enjoy hearing this story.  The story provides fantastic imagery and sensory appeal and is sure to get laughter or a smile from any crowd.  The text and vocabulary is difficult for younger children and is most appropriate for fourth and fifth graders.  My only suggestion for improving this book would be to add more color or perhaps use a different media for illustrations.

Rating:
I'd give this book four apples.  It's a good choice.  Put this on your list!

Reviewer Information: This book was reviewed by Steve P.

Title:   The Twiddlebugs’ Dreamhouse
Author:  Pat Tornburg
Publisher:  Western Publishing Company, Inc.
Publication Date: 1983

SUMMARY
The McTwiddle’s are happily living in their cookie carton house until one day when Tessie and Tiny saw the beautiful dollhouse through the window outside their cookie carton.  They thought it would be much nicer living in this big house.  However, Tessie and Tiny learn through some devastating events and decide it is better to live in their own cookie carton.

THE REVIEW
I liked this book because I think the Twiddlebugs are cute characters.  I also think the illustrations are very realistic.  For example, the cookie carton, the matchbox beds and the bottle cap plates all look like the real life objects.  The book also lets children use their imagination through the McTwiddle’s adventures.

THE RATING
I’d give this book 4 apples.

REVIEWER INFORMATION
This book was reviewed by Delilah Derr.

Title: Rapunzel
Author: Nicola Baxter
Publisher: Ladybird Books USA
Publication Date: 1997

Summary
Rapunzel was a beautiful baby girl traded to a wicked witch at birth for some rampions.  After many years of being locked up in a tower a hansom prince loses his sight, in a failing effort to rescue to rescue Rapunzel.  The story ends with the prince regaining his eyesight and the reuniting of Rapunzel and the Prince.

The Review
I did not like how the young couple at the beginning traded their baby to a wicked witch in exchange for a vegetable.  However, I did like the happy ending.

The Rating
I'd give this book four apples.

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Sandy F.

Title: The Town That Got Out of Town.
Author:  Robert Priest
Publisher: David R. Godine, Inc.,1989.

Summary
 It was a Labor Day weekend like any other in the historic city of Boston.  The sweltering heat forced all of Boston’s population out of town, traveling to cooler places, this last weekend of summer.  Soon, the animals followed suit.  When there were only three living things left in the city, a bug, a bird and a dog, they soon made their exit as well.  It was that Friday night, when the buildings, feeling very lonely, decided to ignore the laws of nature and make a trip across New England to visit their friends, the buildings of Portland.  The Town That Got Our of Town traces the buildings’ journey across the countryside to their friends in the North.  When the buildings arrive, they reminisce with old friends, make new ones and just have a wonderful time, but the weekend is winding to a close, and Boston must make its journey back home.  With a heartfelt good-bye the buildings return to where they belong.

Review
I would wholeheartedly recommend The Town That Got out of Town, authored and illustrated by Robert Priest, to anyone searching for an endearing book loaded with humorous and unimaginable absurdity.  The text flows well, building to a delightful climax as the buildings make their journey home.  Will they make it back to the city before its residents?  Will the people ever know what happened?  The illustrations, done completely in black and white from  scraperboard, a cut-away printmaking technique, add tremendously to the readers enjoyment, with their cartoon-like representations of the buildings’ personification.   Make sure you check out this book, which will delight younger audiences and allow older audiences to once again visit that land where anything and everything is completely possible and plausible.

On the scale of one to five apples, The Town that Got out of Town rates a four thanks to its imaginative illustrations and absurdly believable storyline.

Reviewed by Douglas T.

Title: A Cool Kid- Like Me
Author: Hans Wilhelm
Publisher: Crown Publishers
Publication Date: 1990

SUMMARY
 Some times cool kids seem like they are always cool, that’s not true though.  Even the coolest kids have fears but no one to share them with.  This cool kid can share his fears with his grandma, but she is leaving on a big trip and gives him a present.  Is this cool kid too cool for his present?

THE REVIEW
 This book is one that almost every kid can relate to.  Sometimes everyone feels like no one, or just one person understands them.  The cool kid in this story gets a teddy bear from his grandma before she leaves for a big trip but everyone thinks that he is to old for a teddy bear.  The cool kid finds the teddy bear comforting, it is something that he can tell his fears to that won’t laugh at him.  Everybody needs someone or something like that they can confide in.  It is a great story to let everyone know that they are not the only ones who are scared.

I’d give this book 4 apples.

This book was reviewed by Meghan.

Title:  Invasion of the Giant Bugs
Author:  A.J. Wood
Publisher:  HarperCollins
Publication Date:  1996

Summary
 Professor Sponge, Lucy, Max, and their dog Soap are returning from their adventure to outer space.  With a push of one wrong button they end up somewhere other than home.  They encounter ten ENORMOUS bugs and decide they have to find their way home, fast!  But Max recognizes one of the bugs.  Will they ever get home, or are they already there?

The Review
 The holograms are a neat attraction and would definitely pull kids in to enjoy the book.  It's very imaginative.  I enjoyed this book.  It kept you guessing what they were going to do next and the expressions they used when they talked were good.

The Rating
I'd give this book 4 apples!

Reviewer Information
 This book was reviewed by Nikki F.

Title:  Berenstain Bears And The Truth
Author:  Stan and Jan Berenstain
Publisher:  Random House
Publication Date:  1983

Summary
 Every household has certain rules that everybody has to follow.  Well, Brother and Sister Bear knew the rules in their house but one day they were bored, and  decided to break one.  The rule they broke was No Playing Ball In The House!  The two siblings were playing soccer in the house, and Sister Bear blocked one of Brother Bear’s kicks and then all you heard was a loud crash!  Mama’s most favorite lamp broke.  In order to make the cubs sound innocent, they decided to tell Mama and Papa Bear a lie.  Did they get away with the lie?  Read the book and you will find out.

The Review
 I enjoyed this book very much.  One of the reasons I enjoyed it, was because the Berenstain Bear’s books are my favorite.  Another reason I feel that this book is a good book to recommend to others is because it teaches a lesson.  Telling a lie usually comes natural to children, to keep them out of trouble, so this book is normal for children to listen to or read.  I like how the authors of the Berenstain Bears always relate their stories about Sister and Brother Bear, and the troubles that either one of them might have.  This book would be great for children to read because it helps the children see what is right or wrong by looking at the pictures.  I like how the pictures help the story along, by seeing reactions and just the environment the bears are in.  I like this story because it is an easy way to teach a child not to do something, but also to let the child know that most kids do tell a little white lie now and then.

The Rating
I would give this book 4 apples.  It is a good choice, so put it on your list!

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Shira T.

Title:  The Cut-Ups Carry On
Author:  James Marshall
Publisher:  Viking Penguin
Publication Date:  1990

SUMMARY
 Spud Jenkins and Joe Turner are at it again in The Cut-Ups Carry On.  These two jokesters are upset about having to take a dance class until they hear Captain Kideo talk about the big talent contest coming up.  Spud and Joe want to win their very own lunar walker and they will do whatever it takes to enter the contest and win!

THE REVIEW
 I felt this book was very funny and thoughtful.  You can not miss with this book if you liked the Cut-Ups cut Loose or the Cut-Ups at Camp Custler.  Spud and Joe’s determination lead to a hilarious attempt at winning the lunar walker.  Read this book and find out what these two kids have up their sleeve this time and what they will go through to win a lunar walker.

THE RATING
I would give this book 4 apples!

REVIEWER INFORMATION
 This book was reviewed by D. Marchant

Title:  Search for the Lost City
Author:  A.J. Wood and Jen Green
Publisher:  Templar
Publication Date:  1997

SUMMARY
Come along for an adventurous journey with Tam and his friends to find the Lost City!  Tam finds his fathers old diary that contains a map to find the lost city while cleaning up the library shelves.  Each page contains lots of fun to keep you the reader excited to read on to find out what is going to happen!  Figure out all the clues and you too will find the Lost City!

THE REVIEW
I thought that the book was excellent.  I wanted to go on and on just to find out what I was going to read next.  I really enjoyed the different things that the book lets the reader do such as:  figure out mazes, puzzles, cracking codes, and finding the lost city.  The pictures in the book are very colorful which help to tell the story a little better.  Another good thing about the book is that it gives the reader a guide in the back of the book in case they can't figure something out or just want to check to see if they are correct.  Pick this book and I'm sure that you will have tons of fun!

THE RATING
I would give this book 5 apples

REVIEWER INFORMATION
This book was reviewed by Ryan R.

Title:  Dream Peddler
Author:  Gail E. Haley
Publisher:  Dutton Children's Books
Publication Date:  1993

SUMMARY
     John Chapmen is a passionate peddler of the many kinds of books or "dreams" that he sells.  Unfortunately, he is a man of limited means.  However, one day he has a dream of his own;  one that changes his life and the lives around him forever.

THE REVIEW
     Children will enjoy the Dream Peddler, by Gail E. Haley.  This delightful book teaches children both the importance of books and the importance of following your dreams.  Also, the colorful pictures are sure to captivate the reader.  There is also a historical aspect for John Chapmen existed in the eighteenth century.  Gail E. Haley also based this book on an old sixteenth-century folktale called "The Peddler of Swaffham."   The book's only possible drawback is that it is long and may need to be read over a couple of days.

THE RATING
"I'd give this book 4 apples."

REVIEWER INFORMATION
This book was reviewed by Krisy Z.

Title:  It's the First Day of School
Author:  Charles M. Schulz
Publisher:  A Division of Harper Collins
Publication Date: 1996

SUMMARY
The first day of school is coming very fast and Sally Brown is very nervous.  This book is about a brother and sister getting ready for the first day of school. Sally Brown is very anxious so she asks her brother Charlie tons of questions to prepare themselves herself for school. Do you think starting her first day of school was all that difficult?  Find out what she learned from second grade by reading  It's the First Day of School.

THE REVIEW
I thought the book was very exciting.  Students are very nervous about the first day in a new grade.  I think this book shows that students have nothing to worry about.  I think the author made the story very realistic. Students are very worried and ask a lot of questions.  I also liked the pictures in the story and how the illustrator used different color to show the mood of the character.  I also liked the expression on the character's face because they look so real.  I think the book was very realistic and I enjoyed reading it.

THE RATING
"I'd give this book 5 apples."

REVIEWER INFORMATION
This book was reviewed by Nikki H.

Title:  First Grade Can Wait
By: Lorraine Aseltine
Illustrated by: Virginia Wright-Frierson
Publication Date: 1988

Summary
 Have you ever felt unsure of yourself or about a big decision? Everyone in Luke’s class seems ready to move onto first-grade except for Luke. Will Luke ever feel sure about school?

Review
 This book is super for children who do not feel ready to, or are comfortable about advancing to a new grade level. Unsure children may be eased when they relate their uncertainties to Luke’s, the main character. The decision make by Luke, Luke’s mother and father, and Luke’s teacher to stay in kindergarten for another year is shown to be in Luke’s best interest; no negative aspects of being held back are shown. Perhaps Luke’s family or teacher could have warned Luke about feeling even more behind when all of his friends go onto first-grade while Luke is left behind. All in all, however, Luke’s family and teacher made him feel better about himself. That, in my opinion, is most important part of this book and why I liked it so much.

The Rating
“I would give this book 4 apples.”

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Greg Daniels.

Title:  Aaahh!  School Lunch
Author:  Molly Wigand
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Company
Publication Date:  November 1997

Summary
     This book is about a monster kid named Ickis.  His homework from the Monster Academy is to frighten his classmates with yucky school lunches.  So Ickis and his friends went to the dump and found slimy peaches, smelly socks and many other disgusting things.  However, the children in the class loved the scary monster lunches.
They were not afraid one bit.  Instead, they ended up screaming when Ickis brought in a lunch meat sandwich.

The Review
      I really enjoyed reading the book.  The illustrations are full of life and color.  The text is very clear and easy to read.  However, the monsters are not scary at all, they appear to be very friendly and nice.  I think that this book would be great to read in your classroom because it talks about school lunch.  Every child brings a lunch in elementary school.  I think the students would find this book interesting and funny at the same time.  This book can relate to their feelings on school lunch and what they like and dislike.

The Rating
“I’d give this book 4 apples.”

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Amy Bacha.

TITLE:  The Berenstain Bears and the Sitter
AUTHOR:  Stan & Jan Berenstain
PUBLISHER:  Random House Publishing Company
PUBLICATION DATE:  1981

SUMMARY:
     This book was about how brother and sister bear had a babysitter for the first time.  There mother and father were called out to a meeting and they were forced to call in a sitter.  The cubs were very scared of her and did not want their parents to leave.  They were afraid that she would not be able to do the same things as Mama and Papa did.  However, once she got their and began playing games with them they instantly fell in love with her.  The cubs went from being extremely afraid of the sitter to begging their parent s for her to come back again the next day.

REVIEW:
     I really enjoyed this book and felt that it would be an excellent book for young children to read.  I feel that young children would be able to relate to this book since all children are faced with a sitter one time or another throughout their life.  Just like the cubs, most children are afraid of there babysitters and don't know what to expect.  I think this would be a great book to read to a child who is nervous about having a babysitter.  Hopefully, they will learn to love their sitter just like brother and sister bear did.

RATING:
I would definitely give this book 4 apples.  I would recommend adding to any book children's book collection.

REVIEWER INFORMATION:
     This book was reviewed by Kelly Greer

Title:  Shiloh
Author:  Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Publisher:  Macmillan Publishing Company
Publication Date:  1991

Summery
 A young boy, living in West Virginia, named Marty is walking along the road one day and discovers a young beagle puppy.  It is obvious to him that the puppy has been abused, and is looking for a nice person to care for him.  Marty, being a warmhearted animal lover, takes the dog in, without his parents knowing.  Although this is not the only problem that Marty has.  This beagle belonged to the meanest man in town, Judd Travers, and he is looking for his dog.  What should Marty do?  He can't let anyone know about his dog, but he is running out of food for him.  Find out how Marty solves his problem by reading Shiloh.  This Newberry award winner will surly win your heart!

Review
 Personally I liked this book, and I thought that it was true to the setting of West Virginia.  The characters used the dialect of the area, and the description of the daily life seemed true enough.  The one thing that I found truly amazing was the maturity level of Marty.  He realized that his parents could not afford to have a dog.  There were also a lot of other things that eleven year old boys usually do not understand, that Marty did.  This book definitely won my heart over, and I think it will win yours too.  Especially if you are an animal lover!

The Rating
I would give this book 4 apples!

Reviewer information
This book was reviewed by Krista Hamilton.

Green Eggs and Ham
By Dr. Seuss
New York, Beginner Books: distributed by Random House
1960 and 1988

Summary:
Green Eggs and Ham is an amusing story about a creature named Sam-I-am and how he tries to convince another creature to try something new.  He gives many suggestions of different ways to eat Green Eggs and Ham until the friend gives up in desperation.  Sam-I-am helps us to realize, things are not always as bad as we sometimes think.

The Review:
This childhood favorite has stood the test of time and has an even greater impact on me as an adult.  The book uses rhymes to get across a very important message.  As in other Dr. Seuss books the illustrations leave much to the imagination and draw the reader into the world of Seuss.  This book can be considered a masterpiece that will be enjoyed by many in the future.

The Rating:
I am giving Green Eggs and Ham 5 Apples!!!!

Reviewer Information:
 This Dr. Seuss book was reviewed by Scott B. Beckner.

Title: Mama, Do You Love Me?
Author: Barbara M. Joosse
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Publication Date:1991

SUMMARY:
 A young Inuit (Eskimo) girl finds out through a series of questions which become more and more extreme, that her mother will love her totally and unconditionally.

THE REVIEW:
 This is a story that will pull on your heartstrings and make you smile.  The little girl in the story is so like a real child, asking the questions a real child would ask.  The illustrations are fabulous, and the book gives insight into the culture of the Inuit people, as they prefer to be called.  In the back of the book is a small glossary that contains words that may be unfamiliar.  This book could lead into an excellent unit on Alaska and other northern territories, and the culture that they contain.

THE RATING:
I give this book five apples.

REVIEWER INFORMATION:
 This book was reviewed by Carolyn Kuehn

Title:  Penguin Pete
Author:  Marcus Pfister
Publisher:  North-South Books
Publication Date:  1987

Summary
 Penguin Pete is very small and can not wait to grow-up and swim with the other penguins.  He meets a small bird, and they become very good friends.  When his new friend has to leave, he learns just how grown-up he really is.

The Review
 I like this book because it emphasizes the importance of friendship.  I also think that it is a book that children can really relate to.  Who hasn’t wished that they were all  “grown-up”?  There are always things that we have to wait for, and Penguin Pete’s situation is no exception.

The Rating
“I’d give this book 3 apples.”

Reviewer Information
This book was reviewed by Stacey H.

TITLE:  The Treasure
AUTHOR:  Uri Shulevitz
PUBLISHER:  Harper Collins, Canada Ltd.
PUBLICATION DATE:  1978

SUMMARY
 A poor man named Isaac, had a dream about where he could find a treasure.  He traveled a long way to get to the treasure.  However, Isaac’s dream was slightly wrong.  To find out whether he finds ever gets the treasure read this book.

THE REVIEW
 This book, The Treasure, had a very good moral ending.  I think children can learn a lot from the moral in this book.  I learned quite a bit from this book and I am a college student.  People of all ages will be able to relate this to their own lives.  However, some of the vocabulary may be hard for children to understand.  I would suggest that very young children should read it with their parents so they can fully understand the story.

THE RATING
I’d give this book 5 apples!

This book was reviewed by Nicole H.

Title:  Off to the Rescue!
Author:  Sandra Damashek
Publisher:  Wishing Well Books
Publication Date:  1991

SUMMARY
 This story is about firefighters and their duties including spraying out forest fires, rescuing cats stuck up on roofs of houses, cleaning up truck spills on the highway, and taking care of water pipe bursts.  The book also talks about their duties in taking good care the fire trucks, ladders, and hoses and how they’re on call at all times, even while the rest of the city is sleeping.  A firefighter’s work is never done!

THE REVIEW
 I liked this book because, when I pictured myself as a 5 or 6-year-old child, I felt that this was a book I would greatly enjoy for several reasons.  One of these is that firefighters are people that every child admires and looks up to as role models and heroes.  This makes learning about them and what they do at work from a book that much more enticing.  The book also has a catchy rhyming pattern and a repetitive phrase that children would easily catch onto.  Also, every time you read the phrase, you’re supposed to push in a button which makes a siren sound and also lights up a red flashing light on the picture of the siren!

THE RATING
 I’d give this book 5 apples because of its educational and entertaining content.
This book was reviewed by Jessica Lindner

Title:  Midnight Farm
Author:  Carly Simon
Publisher:  Simon and Schuster
Publication Date:  1997

SUMMARY
 This book is about a farm in which all of the animals, plants, and vegetables come to life at midnight every night.  Two little boys are witness to the dancing, singing, and gossiping that takes place one night, and are invited to join in the fantasy.

THE REVIEW
 I greatly enjoyed this book mainly because of the imaginative quality it possesses.  Every child seems to have a fascination with animals, singing, dancing, and laughing, all of which are combined in the story.  The catchy rhyming pattern and the beautiful Caldecott-worthy illustrations are also attributes that make the story worth reading to children again and again!

THE RATING
 I’d give this book 5 apples because of its entertaining appeal.  The fantasy, fun, rhymes, and illustrations make this book a “must read”!

This book was reviewed by Jessica Lindner

Title: Just Me and My Baby-sitter
Author: Mercer Mayer
Publisher: Golden Books Publishing Company
Publication Date: 1986

SUMMARY
 This book is about Little Critter’s night with the baby-sitter.  Little Critter talks all about how he helps the baby-sitter take care of his little sister and about all the fun games they play.  Little Critter believes he is helping the baby-sitter but instead he is making messes and causing trouble.

THE REVIEW
I have always enjoyed Little Critter books.  This book relates the story line to something that children have experienced; most children have had a baby-sitter.  The story also makes jokes that young children can easily understand.

THE RATING
"I give this book 5 apples."

REVIEWER INFORMATION
This book was reviewed by Denise Frederick

Title: CHEER UP!
Author: Don Ferguson and others
Publisher: The Walt Disney Company
Publishing Date: 1993

SUMMARY
 In this book Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, and Roo try to cheer up Eeyore, he seems very sad.  In order to cheer Eeyore up Pooh and his friends explain how they feel sad when he feels sad.  Pooh and his friends give Eeyore a balloon and tell him when he is happy they are happy also.

THE REVIEW
I must admit that this book made me feel good.  This book would be perfect for a child who was feeling down.  The book explains emotions very simply so that a young child can easily relate and understand.

THE RATING
"I give this book 5 apples."

REVIEWER INFORMATION
This book was reviewed by Denise Frederick
 

Title:  Andy Bear
Author:  G. Johnston & J. Cutchins
Publisher:  Scholastic Inc.
Publishing Date:  1985

SUMMARY
 This book is a true story.  Andrew Nicholas Polar Bear was born in the Atlanta Zoo.  He was not able to be raised with the adult polar bears, so Constance Noble the zookeeper, took him under her wing.  The story is about Andy growing up.  He stayed in a playpen, drank a bottle and had a pacifier just like infants.  The story takes us through Andy’s life until he is ready to be in his own cage at the zoo.  It shows us the struggles that a baby cub must go through in order to survive.  Also, the story lets the reader learn about all kinds of bears, especially Polar Bears.

REVIEW
 I read this book when I was a little girl and I loved it!  I read it over and over again!  Now as I read it, I find myself finding it still charming and interesting.  It is a wonderful story, but do to its length it would probably be best for children in the third or fourth grade.  I think the children will be fascinated with the turning of events and take interest in the facts that are presented.  The pictures are real photographs of Andy, and are excellent, even for younger children just to look at.

RATING
 I would give this book 5 apples.  It is appealing to a child with and includes some facts.  It is a good book for a parent to read to a child.
Reviewed by Becky Spiegel

Title:  Six Perfectly Different Pigs
Author:  Adrienne Geoghegan
Publisher:  Gareth Stevens Publishing
Publication Date:  1993

Summary
 This story is about six pigs that live together on a farm.  They all have names that begin with ‘P’ and they all play in the same mudhole.  One day they find something different about one of the pigs and start to make fun of him.  The pig, Pauly, feels lonely and self-conscious and tries to change, but he cannot.  At the end of the story they meet a frog who finds something odd about each of them and there is something unique about the frog, too.  They realize they are all “perfectly different” and that is fine.

Review
 I think this is an excellent book for all ages of children in elementary school.  It is short and easy to read.  It is about silly pigs and the kids will enjoy it.  It is funny in the story as well as in the illustrations.  It is like reading about a real human family or group of friends but it is a group of pigs.  It also shows the children that everyone is different and unique in their own way, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Rating
 I would give this story 5 apples.  It is cute and funny.  It is a book a child can read on his/her own, but would also enjoy hearing it told.  It is a book that children can relate to.
Reviewed by Becky Spiegel

Title:  Arthur’s Family Vacation
Author:  Marc Brown
Publisher:  Little, Brown & Company Limited
Publication Date:  1993

Summary
 The story was about Arthur and his family’s trip to the beach, for a summer vacation.  Arthur is unhappy about going on the trip.  Using his camp ideas, Arthur makes the trip fun for the family, even though it rains the entire week.

The Review
 I liked this book because it stresses the importance of spending time with your family.  Although Arthur would rather be with Buster at camp, he ends up spending valuable time with his family and having a great time.

The Rating
 “I’d give this 4 apples because the book is very enjoyable and entertaining.  The book has a plot which kid’s could relate to.  The book is easy to read and understand, and the illustrations are good.

This book was reviewed by Ryan Staats
 

Title:  The Grasshopper and the Ants
Author:  Margaret Wise Brown
Publisher:  D.C. Heath and Company
Publication Date:  1993

Summary
 The story was about a grasshopper that tried to get ants to stop working because the sun was shining.  The ants told him that they had no time for play because winter was coming.  The ant laughed at them and ignored them until winter came and he was freezing and hungry.

The Review
 I liked this book because it has an excellent moral.  Even though it is a children’s book, it sends out an important message to all ages.  It emphasizes the importance of preparing ahead of time, because procrastination could lead to disaster.  The grasshopper didn’t prepare for winter efficiently and barely survived.  The ants prepared for winter and were able to enjoy themselves after their work was done.

The Rating
 I’d give this book 5 apples because of the message the story contains.  The story can be related to many real-life situations.  The story is well written and the illustrations are excellent!

This book was reviewed by Ryan Staats

Title:  The Witch Has an Itch
Author:  Donna Guthrie
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division
Publication Date: 1990

SUMMARY
 This story is about Gromelda.  Gromelda is a wicked witch who gets a terrible itch every time she tries to do her magic.  After several itching spells, she decided to go to see Womack the wizard, who she thinks is sure to help cure her problem.  When she arrives at Womack’s house, she decides to show off to prove that she is the wickedest witch in all the land.  Gromelda does a magic spell and discovers that her itching is back.  Womack tells her that he thinks that she is allergic to evil magic.  He tells her that she should change her ways so that she only performs good magic.

THE REVIEW
 I liked this book because it teaches a lesson while telling a fun story.  It also contains a silly rhyme that you can repeat over and over again.  This is an excellent Halloween book for young children.  It does not contain anything that would scare a young child.  The pictures are also large and colorful.  I would recommend this book to any teacher who is looking for a Halloween book for Kindergarten, First, or Second graders.

THE RATING
 I’d give this book 5 apples because it is the perfect Halloween book for young children.
 

This book was reviewed by Heidi Mahaffey

 Title:  The New Vestments
Author:  Edward Lear
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 1995

SUMMARY
 This story is about an old man and his flashy coat.  His coat is made of edible things like cabbage, pancakes and biscuits.  When he ventures out into the street to show off his coat, it is quickly eaten many different things.  He returns home after being attacked with no clothes on at all.

REVIEW
 I liked this book because it contained a very silly story.  The whole thing rhymed which also made it fun to read.  The pictures are magnificent.  They contain a lot of color and contrast.   The only thing that I did not like about the story is that it contained some unfamiliar words that young children would not understand.

RATING
 I would give this story 4 apples.  Although it is a colorful, fun picture book, it may be hard to read for some people because of the unfamiliar words.

This book was reviewed by Heidi Mahaffey.

Title:  The Art Lesson
Author:  DePaola, Tomie
Publisher:  Scholastic
Publication Date:  1989

Summary
 This book is about a boy named Tommy who desires to be an artist.  When Tommy wants to use his own artistic ability and creativity in school, his teacher tells him that he must draw the same things that the rest of the class is drawing.  At the end of the  book, the art teacher and Tommy compromise.

The Review
 I liked this book because it shows that teachers are sometimes closed minded and they do not let their student s express their own individuality.  It is a story that children will enjoy, and the illustrations go along will with the book.

The Rating
 I’d give this book 5 apples because it shows kids that they should express themselves.  I really liked this book and I think children will enjoy it also.

This book was reviewed by Marianne Kreider.
 

Title:  Purple, Green and Yellow
Author:  Munsch, Robert
Publisher:  Annick Press
Publication Date:  1996

Summary
 The story is about a little girl named Bridgid who wants all different types of markers.  She convinces her mother to buy her washable markers, markers that smell, and even “super-indeleble-never-come-off-till-you’re-dead-or-maybe-even-later markers.”  She ends up coloring herself with the permanent markers and she finds different ways to make herself look like she is back to normal.

The Review
 I liked this book because it was funny and it related to many things that children think about doing and even sometimes try themselves.

The Rating
 I’d give this book 5 apples because the story is good and the pictures are very colorful and pretty.  They go along well with the plot of the story

This book was reviewed by Marianne Kreider
 

Title:  When Grandma Came
Author:  Jill Paton Walsh
Illustrator:  Sophy Williams
Publisher:  Penguin Group
Publication Date: 1992

SUMMARY
 This story was about a grandma who came to stay with her granddaughter, Maleleine.  The grandma names all of the places she has traveled to in the world and the animals that live in those places.  After the grandma names a new place and the animal that lives in that place she explains how her granddaughter is different from the animal she has seen.

THE REVIEW
 I like the book because it introduced many places and the animal that lives in that place from all around the world.  I think that this book would work well in the classroom while doing a lesson on the different places and animals in the world.  This book also is repetitive and predictable on certain pages so kids would actually be able to join in on the reading.  Most children would like this book because they would get to see so many different kinds of animals, which they may never seen before.

THE RATING
 I’d give this book four apples because the book shows many different places and the animals that live in those places.  My only complaint was that the pictures could have been a little clearer.
This book was reviewed by Amanda Kline.
 

Title:  Glasses Who Needs ‘em?
Author:  Lane Smith
Publisher:  Penguin Group
Publication Date: 1991

SUMMARY
 The story was about a little boy who didn’t want to get glasses.  The eye doctor in the book tries to talk the little boy into wanting glasses by telling him that his mom, dad, and sister all have glasses but the little boy comes up with reasons why he doesn’t want glasses.  The eye doctor goes on to tell the little boy that all different kinds of people, animals, and things wear glasses and love ‘em.  The little boy starts to thing that the doctor is nuts and is driving him crazy so he finally gets the glasses with the gold-wire rims.

THE REVIEW
 I liked this book because it was a funny way of getting a child who doesn’t want glasses to want them.  The book also explains that a lot of people and things wear glasses and love ‘em. I wasn’t too crazy about the ending of the book because it seemed kind of abrupt.  The pictures are also sort of weird and maybe scary to younger children.

THE RATING
 I’d give this book three apples because the pictures may scare young children but the message that the book was trying to get across was a good one since many children may think that glasses stink.

This book was reviewed by Amanda Kline.
 

Title:  Six Perfectly  Different Pigs
Author:  Adrienne Geoghegan;  Illustrated by Elisabeth Moseng
Publisher:  Hazar Publishing, LTD.
Publication Date:  1993

Summary
     The story was about six piglets who each possessed a quality different from all the others.  During the story one of the piglets gets picked on for having a straight tail, (everyone else’s was curly) and becomes the laughing stock of the barnyard.  One day a purple frog comes along and points out every other pigs “flaws” and the piglets soon realize that everyone has differences.  By the end of the story all the piglets were happy and enjoyed each others company.   This book is geared toward kindergarten and even first grade.

The Review
     I liked this book very much because it shows that everyone has differences but that they aren’t necessarily bad.  Also, the pictures covered the entire page which I liked very much.

The Rating
     I’d give this book 4 apples because it demonstrated how differences shouldn’t come in the way of friendship.  I believe that is a very important lesson for young children to learn.  The reader can relate because there are people that he/she encounters with differences and the book teaches the reader that differences shouldn’t separate friends.
This book was reviewed by Emily Racculia

Title:  The Tunnel
Author:  Anthony Browne
Publisher:  Alfred A Knopf, Inc.
Publication Date:  1989

Summary
     This story is about a brother and sister who never got along.  They didn’t enjoy the same sports and activities either.  One day, the mother makes the brother and sister play together until lunchtime.  While exploring, the brother finds a tunnel and is drawn to enter, even thought the sister pleads for him not to.  After a while the sister goes in the tunnel after him and encounters an enchanted wood.  Finally, spying her brother, the sister runs toward him only to see he has turned to stone.  Devastated, she wraps her arms around the statue and begins to cry.  Slowly, the brother comes back to life.   They then realize that being together will get them through any rough times.

The Review
     I liked this book because it demonstrated how brothers and sisters, although they fight, are always there when they are needed by the other.  There are aspects about the book I didn’t really like such as the make believe forest and the brother turning into stone.  I don’t believe children would be able to relate easily with this.

The Rating
     I’d give this book 2 apples because the theme of the book could be demonstrated in other ways.  I didn’t like the whole idea of entering a forest through a tunnel and finding the brother turned to stone.  Also, the illustrator used very dull, ugly colors and didn’t draw many eye catching, interesting things.
This book was reviewed by Emily Racculia

Title:  Chipmunk at Hollow Tree Lane
Author:  Victoria Sherrow
Publisher:  Smithsonian Institution
Publication Date:  1994

Summary
 This book is about a chipmunk that lives in the backyard of a blue house on Hollow Tree Lane.  The story tells how the chipmunk gets ready for the winter months.  To prepare, she has to gather all sorts of nuts and berries in her cheeks and then she stores them in her underground burrow for the winter.  During the winter, the chipmunk spends most of her time sleeping and eating the food that she buried under her nest.

The Review
 I really enjoyed reading this book because it was both educational and fun.  The story was interesting because it explained the process a chipmunk undergoes to prepare for the winter.  I feel that children would especially like this book because it would be fun to read and they would learn something at the same time.  The pictures were very bright and colorful, giving the book a lively look.

The Rating
 I would give this book 5 apples because it was very informative and I think young children would just love it!  It is definitely a must have!

This book was reviewed by Valerie P.
 

Title:  Someday a Tree
Author:  Eve Bunting
Publisher:  Clarion Books
Publication Date:  1993

Summary
 This book is about a young girl, Alice, and her parents.  The family lives in the country and spend a lot of their time sitting under a tree in the nearby meadow.  One day, the family discovers that something is wrong with the tree and they call a tree doctor who tells them the tree has been poisoned.  Everyone in the town helps to save the tree, but it is too late.  Alice plants some acorns, hoping that one day a new tree will grow.

The Review
 I really disliked this book.  I felt that it was very boring and dull.  The story seemed to drag on with no specific purpose and was definitely not a page turner.  I thought the ending was poor because you do not even know if a new tree grows.  It just leaves you puzzled.

The Rating
 I would give this book 1 apple because I can not think of one good quality for it.  I feel that children would also dislike this book because it is very uninteresting.  I would definitely leave this one on the shelf!

This book was reviewed by Valerie P.
 

Title:  Best House Ever
Author:  Kathryn and Byron Jackson
Publisher:  Golden Book Publishing Company, Inc.
Publication Date:  1989

SUMMARY
 The story was about two mice, who made their house out of things that they found laying around on the ground.  Every time they would leave their house another animal would find it and take it.  Whisker the husband mouse always promised Frisker the wife mouse that he would find her the best house ever, and finally he did.

THE REVIEW
 I liked this book because I think that it is easy for a child to follow.  I also really liked the pictures, because they are colorful, and nicely drawn.

THE RATING
 I give this book 5 apples because I think that young children would really like it.  When reading this book children can really get involved because they can predict what is going to happen, and who is going to steal their house next.

This book was reviewed by Jana Ruffner
 

Title:  Earl’s Too Cool for Me
Author:  Leah Komaiko
Publisher:  Harper and Row publisher
Publication Date:  1988

SUMMARY
 There is a boy named Earl who does all kind of cool, and exciting things.  There is another boy who looks up to, and admires Earl, and he wishes he could be just like him.  The boy thinks that Earl would not like him because he has not done cool things like Earl, but it turn out that they end up being friends.

THE REVIEW
 I really did not like this book, because it was very choppy, and there really was not much to it.

THE RATING
 I give this book 2 apples because I think that it is hard to follow, and the things that are easy to follow suggest things that children might try that could be dangerous to them.  I do like the pictures in this book, because they are very colorful, and detailed.

This book was reviewed by Jana Ruffner

Title: In the Rain with Baby Duck
Author: Amy Hest
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication Date: 1995

SUMMARY
      The story was about a baby duck whose feathers have not yet grown in. She is still full of fluffy yellow fur, and water does not roll off Baby Duck’s back yet, like her parents’.  This makes the Sunday family trip to get pancakes at Grandpa’s very miserable due to the rain.  When Grandpa realizes what the problem is, he is quick with a solution that saves Baby Duck’s day!

THE REVIEW
      I truly enjoyed this book because I laughed aloud the first time I read it.  This is an easy to read book with great pictures and the cutest story about the trials and tribulations of a young duckling.  With its predictable phrase, young children would just adore this story as much as I did.  The pictures were a plus, too.  They were very bright and lively.

THE RATING
   I give this book 5 delicious apples because of how much fun I had reading it.  I would buy it today!  It is fun, easy to read, funny, cute, and simply pleasurable.  The book is large enough to show to a group of children, the words are big and bold, and the colors are remarkable.  The wording that Amy Hest used for the book is wonderful and fits well with the targeted audiences’ age.
This book was reviewed by Chelsea Stewart
 

Title: Gracie
Author: Robin Ballard
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: 1993
SUMMARY
Gracie was about a little girl whose parents are divorced.  Gracie lives with each of her parents in a different home.  She describes what it is like for her.

THE REVIEW
I liked this book because of its relevancy to the lives of children in divorced home settings.  It was very well thought out and very similar to reality of a child in this situation.  It focuses on the different types of activities she does with each parent, mentions how much she misses each of them, and pretty much hits the basics.

THE RATING
I’d give this book 2 apples.  It is just okay.  It is quite bland.  It is not a bad story, as I do appreciate the topic and its relation to so many kids today, but there has to be a better book with the same topic.  The pictures were not too exciting, they were a little drab.  The wording is not like that of a child’s, and the story line could have been a little more interesting.

This book was reviewed by Chelsea Stewart

Title: Time for School, Little Dinosaur
Author: Gail Herman
Publisher: Random House
Publication Date: 1998

SUMMARY
 The story was about a dinosaur, who is very anxious about going to school.  He wakes up early each morning, gets his things together, and waits outside for the school bus, despite the fact it is summer.  His friend, Spikey tells him that there is no school in the summer.  When the first day of school finally does arrive, the Little Dinosaur is ready, but his friend, Spikey wakes up late and he almost misses the bus.

THE REVIEW
 I liked the book because I thought it was enjoyable to see how anxious and determined the Little Dinosaur was about going to school.  I also thought it was funny how he kept getting up early each morning and was fully prepared for school, while Spikey laughed and slept in late and told him continuously that there was no school in the summer.  But when it was time for school to begin, the Little Dinosaur was at the bus stop on time, while Spikey almost did not make it.

THE RATING
 “I’d give this book five apples because the positive attitude Little Dinosaur portrays about school really shows children that school is a fun and worthwhile place to be at.”

This book was reviewed by Erica Berkheimer
 

Title: The Little Flower Girl
Author: Linda Tracy Brandon
Publisher: Random House
Publication Date: 1997

SUMMARY
 The story was about a little girl named Louisa and how her Uncle Jim asked her to be the flower girl in his wedding and also have her two-and-a-half year old brother, George to be the ring bearer.  Louisa was excited because she had never been to a wedding before, but when the day approaches her anxiousness quickly turns into fear because she is nervous and scared that she will not know what to do and everyone will laugh.  With a few reassuring words from her family, she ends up doing an excellent job and realizes that weddings are not just cake and fancy dresses, but families coming together and sharing lots of love.

THE REVIEW
 I liked the book because Louisa was excited and then scared about being in her Uncle Jim’s wedding, unlike her little brother who was shy and afraid about the whole thing.  Louisa’s brother was the ring bearer and he ended up walking down the aisle with the pillow over his face because he was so frightened.

THE RATING
 “I’d give this book five apples because it was amusing at times and also because Louisa ended up discovering the true value of a wedding and how it involves family togetherness.”
This book was reviewed by Erica Berkheimer
 

Title:   Waiting for Mom
Author:    Linda Wagner Tyler
Publisher:    Viking Penguin Inc.
Publication Date:  1987

Summary
This book was about a young hippo whose mom gets stuck in traffic and is late picking him up after school.  His teacher helps him not to be scared and takes him back into the school.  Here he learns what goes on after school is over.  At the end his mother tells him how proud she is of him.

The Review
I liked this book because it is one that children can really relate to.  Children know how scary it is to be waiting for a long time for their mom to pick them up. This book teaches them to be brave if their parents are late and that some one will be there to help them.

The Rating
I give this book 5 Apples because it is a good book to read at the beginning of the school year.  Students may for the first time be waiting for their mom to pick them up from school.

This book was reviewed by Lori McClintock.
 

Title:   Is Your Mama a Llama?
Author:   Deborah Guarino
Publisher:  Scholastic Inc.
Publication Date:  1989

Summary
This book was about Lloyd the Llama who meets many animals.  He asked all the animals an important question, “Is your mama a Llama?”  They respond by describing their mama and Lloyd realizes that they’re not Llamas.  Only at the end of the book he does find a Llama with a mama.

The Review
I liked this book because it teaches children in a fun way about a lot of different animals.  Children can learn what they look like, where they live, what they eat, and even what noisy they make.  It has a great rhythm to it and is sure to keep the attention of curious children.

The Rating
I give this book 5 Apples because it has a lot of information about animals and is entertaining to children.

This book was reviewed by Lori McClintock.
 

Title: When Cows Come Home.
Author: David L. Harrison
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Publication Date: 1994

SUMMARY
 The story was about what a group of fictional cows do when the farmer isn’t looking!  They dance and sing and laugh and carry-on whenever the farmer isn’t paying attention, but in the end, the farmer always gets his milk.

THE REVIEW
 I liked this book because it was a fun, rhyming book that tends to have a repetitive nature about it.  The author will start out with a phrase and end with the same one.  However, I disliked the book because it was not the best children’s book I’ve ever read.

THE RATING
 I would give this book 2 apples because it is not a book that I would recommend to a classroom setting.  It may be appropriate for fun time learning, but other than that, I would not buy it.  Children may have a different opinion about the book, but I thought it was okay.  Keep looking for a better book and if you can’t find one, take some time and have fun with this one while you’re looking.

This book was reviewed by Andrew Gibson.
 

Title: Mystery in Bugtown.
Author: William Boniface
Publisher: Accord Publishing, Ltd.
Publication Date: 1997

SUMMARY
 Mystery in Bugtown is about an accident that occurs in Bugtown on the night of the big ball.  Everyone in Bugtown is going to it, but to everyone’s surprise, poor Mr. Charlie Roach is hurt and no one knows quite why.  Can Inspector Cricket find out who did it?

THE REVIEW
 I really liked this book because the cover and the format of the book just caught my attention.  On the book, there are two, eerie-looking eyes that stick out of the book!  They help to enhance the pictures in the book.  The format of the book is a rhyme . . .sort of like Dr. Seuss, but educational.  The book’s main characters are bugs and each of the bugs in the story is defined in the glossary.  Children can read a fun book and learn about science, too!

THE RATING
 I would have to give this book 3 apples because it can stand to have some more verses to it, but the eyes and the humorous nature make up for the lack of words.  I think that children will definitely be drawn to the eyeballs sticking out of the book, but there may be a stumbling block to understanding the text if the children do not understand the different words that can be used to describe an insect.

This book was reviewed by Andrew Gibson.

Gray Rabbit’s Odd One Out
Alan Baker
Kingfisher
1995

SUMMARY
 Gray Rabbit’s Odd One Out was about a baby rabbit who made a mess with his toys.  He wanted to play with one particular toy, but he could not find it.  So, he decided to separate all of his toys into separate categories, so he could find the missing toy.  While he was separating, he notices that each group of his toys have one toy that does not belong with the rest.

THE REVIEW
 I really enjoyed reading this book.  It would be a good book for young children to read, because it teaches them that they should clean up as well as recognizing things that do not belong.  You could make this book into a game when you are reading it, have the children guess and pick out the one toy that does not belong.  The pictures were good, and the rabbit got cuter and cuter on every page.  The pictures and cute animals would really capture the children’s attention.  This book really encourages the concept of cleaning up after yourself and would enforce that concept on children.

THE RATING
 I would give this book five apples.  GET IT TODAY!!  It teaches a good lesson and lets children get involved in the story and really grabs and keeps their attention.  I would recommend this book to a parent who may have a problem with a child who does not want to clean up.  The pictures and the story were great, I would highly recommend this book.
This book was reviewed by:  Lisa McGinnis

My Many Colored Days
Dr. Seuss
Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
1996

SUMMARY
 This is a rhyming story  that describes each day in terms of a particular color, which is then associated to a specific emotion.

THE REVIEW
 I liked My Many Colored Days because it showed children that it is okay to feel different on different days.  For example a “black” day was a “mad” day.  This book is telling children that everyone has their good and bad days, and it is okay.

THE RATING
 I would give this book five apples.  GET IT TODAY!  This book teaches a good lesson on feelings and emotions and how it is okay for children to have good days and bad days.  I think that this is definitely something that children should be aware of.  I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has children.
This book was reviewed by:  Lisa McGinnis

Title:  Fly Away Home
Author:  Eve Bunting
Publisher:  Clarion Books
Publication Date:  1991

Summary
 The story was about a homeless boy who lives in an airport with his father.  Their desperate situation seems a little more hopeful when the little boy sees a bird, which was trapped in the airport for days, escape through an open door.  He knows that one day he and his father will escape from the airport and have a real home.

The Review
 I liked the book because it presents the issue of homelessness sensitively and realistically.  Readers will realize that “normal” people can be homeless.  Although this story is a bit sad, it’s underlying theme is that there is hope, even in difficult situations.

The Rating
 I’d give this book 4 apples.  The touching story combined with the watercolor illustrations put you in the shoes of a homeless child for a day.

This book was reviewed by Rebecca Myers
 

Title:  The Fortune-Tellers
Author:  Lloyd Alexander
Publisher:  Dutton Children’s Books
Publication Date:  1992

Summary
 This story was about a young carpenter who goes to a fortune-teller to find out what his future holds for him.  Although the fortune-teller makes some very unlikely predictions, the carpenter finds out that his future is turning out just as it was predicted, only in a very unusual way.

The Review
 I liked this book because it was entertaining.  The story is unpredictable and funny. The carpenter is a likeable character who readers can relate to. I liked the illustrations because of the bright colors and detailed drawings that filled the pages and brought the story to life.

The Rating
 I would give this book 4 apples.  While the story was fun to read I am a little concerned that it sends the message that it is OK to benefit from the misfortune of others.

This book was reviewed by Rebecca Myers

Title:  The Best Present
Author:  Holly Keller
Publisher:  Greenwillow Books, New York, NY
Publication Date:  1989

SUMMARY
 The story centers around a little girl named Rosie.  Her grandmother is in the hospital and Rosie really wants to go visit Grandma.  The problem is, she is eight and you must be ten years old to be allowed to visit someone in the hospital.  With the help of a friend, Rosie dresses up to look older.  She even buys flowers to give to her grandmother, but her disguise doesn’t work.  Rosie is helpless and gives the flowers to a man in the hospital elevator, asking him to give the flowers to her grandmother.  Later on, when her grandmother is home, she tells Rosie about all the presents she got while in the hospital, including her very best present, her flowers.

THE REVIEW
 I liked this story a lot because I could relate to the love a little girl shares with her grandmother and her being upset because she is too little to do something.  I can also understand how upsetting it could be for a child to not be able to see their grandparent who is in a hospital.

THE RATING
 I’d give this book 5 apples because I think it is a very well written book on the subject of the love between a grandparent and their grandchild, and also the subject of having loved ones  in a hospital. It tells a story that many people, not just children can relate to.  It’s hard enough to deal with having a family member in the hospital, but to be told that you’re not allowed to see them for one reason or another is devastating.   I also liked the way it showed this event from a child’s perspective.

This book was reviewed by Erin Bellissimo

Title:  Thank you, Mr. Falker
Author:  Patricia Polacco
Publisher:  Philomel Books,  New York
Publication Date:  1998

SUMMARY
 The story was about a little girl named Trisha.  At first she is excited about going to school and learning to read.  After awhile, however, when the rest of the class is going onto their next reading levels, Trisha is still on her first.  To her the words just don’t make sense.  In fifth grade, everything changes when she gets a new teacher, Mr. Falker.  He sees through the wall Trisha has built up around herself, and discovers her secret.  Trisha has a learning disability.  Mr. Falker sets out to prove to Trisha that she can read and helps her on her way.

THE REVIEW
 I really liked this book because it addressed a problem that has become very common within the past decade.  There are many children out there who, like Trisha, cannot read, but are too afraid to admit it.  This book, I feel, will reach out to those children and let them know that they’re not alone, and that there is help for them.

THE RATING
 I’d give this book 5 apples because I think that the author did a great job of addressing this problem.  This book may encourage a child who has trouble reading, to seek out help and realize that they’re not stupid or slow.  I think it’s also a very good motivational book because when you try hard to accomplish something, and when there’s support backing you up, nothing is impossible.

This book was reviewed by Erin Bellissimo
 

Title: Kinda Blue
Author: Ann Grifalconi
Publisher: Little, Brown, and Company
Publication Date: 1993

Summary: A little girl named Sissy is feeling down because her father has passed away and she misses him. Her Uncle Dan notices her sadness and cheers her up by taking her to his cornfield. When they get there he shows her that, just like people, corn needs attention to keep them happy.

The Review: I liked the book because Sissy tells the whole story herself. The story is written in the dialect of the Georgia countryside where she is from. I also liked it because it touches the issue of a parent that has died, which some children may be able to relate to.

The Rating: I'd give this book 4 apples because the storyline is interesting and the illustrations are very well done. The only thing that I found wrong was that some children may not be able to understand the slang and word structure that is used.
This book was reviewed by Sean Hickman.

Title: Black and White
Author: David Macaulay
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Publishing Date: 1990

Summary: There are four short stories going on simultaneously and they are all connected in some form or another.

The Review: I liked the book because it makes you think as to how each short story is connected. The only downside is that it can be confusing. It's not intended for children under 3rd or 4th grade from what I can tell.

The Rating: I'd give this book 4 apples because it's very clever how the author set up the book to make each story connect with another. It's also not a typical picture book, which caught my eye. The only part that I found negative was the confusion it may cause.
This book was reviewed by Sean Hickman.

Title:  The Kissing Hand
Author:  Audrey Penn
Publisher:  Child & Family Press
Publication Date:  1993

SUMMARY
 In the book, The Kissing Hand, Chester Raccoon is very upset about beginning school.  He wants to stay home with his mother, his toys, and his books.  Mrs. Raccoon gives him something very special to take with him and use when he feels lonely and needs a little loving from home.   With this, Chester is able to go to school and Mrs. Raccoon finds it a little easier to send him there.

THE REVIEW
 This is a wonderful book for young children who don’t feel they are ready to leave home and parents for a day at school.  Mrs. Raccoon’s gift is one that all parents and children can exchange before such difficult moments as leaving for the first day of school.  The gestures of Mrs. Raccoon and Chester are heartwarming.  The pictures are as bright and loving as the story itself.

THE RATING
 I give this book 5 apples because of its lovingly simple solution to a problem parents and their children face at all ages.  The pictures and the plot will capture the readers’ attention and emotions.

This book was reviewed by Kristy Csensich
 

Title:  Dear Mr. Blueberry
Author:  Simon James
Publisher:  Simon & Shuster
Publication Date:  1991

SUMMARY
 This book is about a young girl named Emily, who was convinced she had a blue whale living in her pond in Nantucket, Massachusetts.  The story consists of Emily’s letters to her teacher, Mr. Blueberry, asking for information on whales to take care of him.  Mr. Blueberry’s replies to Emily’s letters show he is not convinced that she has found a whale, but this does not stop her imagination and love for her whale, Arthur.

THE REVIEW
 This is one of my favorite books!  I love the imagination of Emily, despite her teacher’s attempts to convince her that she has no whale in her pond.  Emily consistently exhibits the imagination and love that most young children have, despite the adults and world around them that grow more serious and realistic with age.  Emily has an innocent faith in her teacher, as she tells him, “I shouted that I loved him (Arthur) very much and, I hope you don’t mind, I said you loved him too.”

THE RATING
 I give this book 5 apples.  The story sparks the imagination of both children and adults as they read about the make-believe whale that Emily has found.  Children relate to Emily’s imaginary friend, while older readers realize the necessity for such thoughts and yearn to “believe” again.

This book was reviewed by Kristy Csensich
 

Title:  The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs
Author:  A. Wolf
Publisher:  Scholastic Inc.
Publication Date:  1989

SUMMARY
This book is about the well-known story “The Three Little Pigs.”  The story is told in a different point of view than one might imagine.  The wolf tells the story in his perspective, as it “really” happened.  The wolf goes through the story step by step and informs the reader how he became the “bad guy” and who actually huffed and puffed and blew it all out of proportion.

THE REVIEW
I loved this book from start to finish.  The main reason that I felt it was a good book was because of the book being told in the wolf’s perspective.  It was really neat to hear the “bad guys” side of the story.  I think it is also very important not to always believe what you read or hear and that there is always another side to a story.

THE RATING
“I’d give this book five big, huge, red apples”

REVIEWER INFORMATION
This book was reviewed by Jodi M.
 

Title:  The Stupids Take Off
Author:  Harry Allard and James Marshall
Publisher:  Harry Allard  James Marshall
Publication Date:  1989

SUMMARY
This book is about a family named the Stupids.  This family received a telegram that their Uncle Carbuncle was coming to visit.  The Stupids didn’t want to see their uncle, so they decided to take their vacation early.  While being stupid, the Stupids took a stupid trip and went to visit other members of their Stupid family.

THE REVIEW
I liked this book very much.  The whole time I read the book I laughed.  By the end of the book, I read it again because I couldn’t find what a child would be learning from this book.  What is great about it is that there really is no lesson.  It is a fun book that a child would find to be so amusing because these people don’t do anything that is expected of people to do.  They do a lot of silly things that have no meaning and that a child or their family wouldn’t do in a million years.  The distance from real life to reality is one thing that you could base a lesson on with children while reading this book.

THE RATING
“I don’t always like reality, so I’d give this book a definite 5 apples.”

THE REVIEWER
This book was reviewed by Jodi M.
 

Title:  Welcome, Little Baby
Author:  Aliki Brandenberg
Publisher:  Greenwillow Books
Publication Date:  1987

Summary:
 This book is all about a newborn baby in the world.  The book talks of a baby’s likes, activities, and what it will discover.  Also, it tells who will care for the baby in the world.

Review:
 I think this would be an excellent book for a mother or father to read to their newborn.  However, as a book I did not enjoy it.  The book seemed like one long sentence, and I feel nothing was there to make it exciting.  Children will enjoy some of the pictures, but other than that, I felt this book was a disappointment.

Rating:
 I would give this book two apples.  The only thing good about this book is the advantage of reading it to a newborn baby, and a few illustrations.  I think it lacked excitement, which children love in books.  Also, the book does not grab the readers attention, yet may help a child understand the meaning of the baby.  I think this book would have been better as a pop-up book, not just a picture book.

This book was reviewed by Joe Cook.
 

Title:  Boodil My Dog
Author:  Pija Lindenbaum
Publisher:  Henry Holt and Company
Publication Date:  1992

Summary:
 The story was about a child and his dog.  The child thinks of the dog very highly, and feels she can do no wrong.  Anything that goes wrong is not the dog’s fault, and Boodil does not like to play like other dogs, except for a little bit before bedtime.

Review:
 I liked this book, because it demonstrated friendship in a very good way.  Friendship is very important, and this shows young kids can have a pet as a best friend, not just a human being.  Boodil was content with her owner, as long as he was happy, and that is important.  This shows that it is important to be good to your friends.  Boodil did not have to play fetch, run through mud puddles, only relax and let her owner use his imagination.  Along with the illustrations is why I enjoyed this book.

Rating:
 I would give this book four apples.  I felt it did a good job in demonstrating friendship, and responsibility for children.  It sets some good examples for kids to follow in friendship.  However, one weak feature of the book was a lack of characters.  I think children enjoy a number of characters, and this book could have used more involvement from the family.

This book was reviewed by Joe Cook.
 

The Fortune Tellers
Author: Lloyd Alexander
Illustrator: Trina Schart Hyman
Publisher: Dutton Children’s Books
Publication Date: 1992

 Summary

Set in Africa, The FortuneTellers is the tale of a discontented carpenter who visits an old fortuneteller to find out where his life will take him.  Will he be rich?
“Rich you will certainly be . . .” answers the clever soothsayer, “ . . . on one condition: that you earn large sums of money.”  The cryptic codger continues answering the carpenter’s questions with the same silver tongue until the man is satisfied and leaves full of hope and excitement.  On the way home the carpenter thinks of more questions to ask the weird old man and he runs back to the village to find him.  When he arrives there the old man is gone and the carpenter is mistaken for a fortuneteller.  What will happen to the carpenter?  What has happened to the strange old man?  Read this clever tale to find out.

Review

I was drawn to this book because of the fantastic illustrations that depict scenes of Africa with stunning detail and bold colors.  The pictures seem to be alive. The story is a retelling of an African folktale.  It is a clever story and employs a great deal of irony and humor.  The conclusions come a bit quickly and the fate of the Old Fortuneteller seems to be a bit more of an afterthought rather than a smooth transition of the plot.  It was an enjoyable read and the illustrations make up for lapses in the story line.

The Rating

I give The Fortunetellers four apples because the plot was thin at times but the illustrations are captivating.

The Reviewer

This review was done by Molly Jo McKnight
 
 
 

Guess How Much I Love You
Author:  Sam McBratney
Illustrator:  Anita Jeram
Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Publication Date: 1994

Summary
Little Nutbrown Hare is getting ready to go to bed but before he does he wants to tell his father just how much he loves him.  No matter what Little Nutbrown Hare does to illustrate the depth and distance of his feelings, Big Nutbrown Hare always one-ups him.   “ ‘ I love you as high as I can reach,’ said Little Nutbrown Hare.  ‘ I love you as high as I can reach,’ said Big Nutbrown Hare.  That is very high, thought Little Nutbrown Hare.  I wish I had arms like that.”  Will Little Nutbrown Hare express his love more than hid Dad will?  Read this touchingly beautiful story to find out.

Review
Guess How Much I Love You is one of the most endearing children’s book I’ve ever read, (and I’ve read a lot of children’s books).  The characters are wonderfully written and illustrated.  The dialogue is sincere and the pictures perfectly complement this gentle tale.  Anne Jerams pen ink and watercolor artwork has a classic look not unlike that of Milne’s Winnie the Pooh.  I am sure we will eventually see prints for sale through bookstores, if they aren’t already.
This is a fantastic book that early readers and children’s story fans of all ages will cherish.  Read it now with someone you love.  I do every night.

The Rating
I give Guess How Much I Love You my most sincere five apples because I never tire of reading it.

The Reviewer
This book was reviewed by Molly Jo McKnight
 

Title:  Chicken Sunday
Author:  Patricia Polacco
Publisher:  Philomel Books, New York
Publication Date: 1992

SUMMARY
 In this book, three children want to get Miss Eula, their grandmother, a special hat for Easter that Miss Eula adores.  The children want to do this to thank her for all of the special chicken dinners that she makes for them every Sunday.  To accomplish their goal, the children sell specially decorated eggs and finally end up getting Miss Eula her Easter hat.

REVIEW
 I particularly liked this book because it is based on the author, Patricia Polacco’s life as a young girl.  The people in this story were really her friends.  This book is realistic as most of Polacco’s books are.  This story shows the power of friendship and dedication.  I also loved how the background of the pictures incorporate real life photographs of the people that she knew at this time.  Some of which are involved in this adventure with her.

RATING
 I would definitely give this book five apples because it teaches children about honesty and about using your imagination.  It also involves many races and nationalities including African American and Russian and you get a sneak peek inside of these cultures when Polacco tells of the different food that they would eat.  I think children would enjoy reading this book.
This book was reviewed by Laura L. Bowser.

Title:  The Bee Tree
Author:  Patricia Polacco
Publisher:  Philomel Books, New York
Publication Date: 1993

SUMMARY
 This book is about a young girl, Mary Ellen, who would rather be outside running and playing instead of reading her book.  Mary Ellen’s grandfather decides that this is the perfect time to take Mary Ellen on a hunt for a bee tree.  As the grandfather and Mary Ellen run to the bee tree where the bees store their honey, people from the town join them one by one until there is a crowd of people running to find the bee tree.  The grandfather does this to show his granddaughter that there is adventure, wisdom and knowledge to be found in books.

REVIEW
 I really enjoyed this book because it truly is an adventure.  As the townspeople joined the
group hunting for the bee tree, I felt like I wanted to be a part of  the fun.  This is a fun book with a good lesson that the grandfather teaches us so well.  I think that children from Kindergarten to third grade would thoroughly enjoy this book.
 

RATING
 I would give this book five apples.  I was very pleased with this book because there is a
wonderful moral to this story about the importance of reading and how valuable reading is.  There
is also a great adventure in the story that is icing on the cake.

This book was reviewed by Laura L. Bowser.
 

Title:  Biscuit Finds a Friend
Author:  Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Publisher:  Harper Collins Publishers Inc.
Publication Date: 1997

SUMMARY
This book is about a new found friendship between a puppy named Biscuit and a baby duck. Biscuit and his owner are out for a walk whenever Biscuit finds a lost baby duck.  Biscuit leads the baby duck back to its mother and brothers and sisters.  He then has an enjoyable time splashing around in the pond with his new found friend until it is time for Biscuit to say goodbye.

THE REVIEW
I thought that this book was very appropriate for preschool students.  The words were big enough and easy enough for them to comprehend.  The story was also suitable and interesting for this age group.

THE RATING
“I gave this book five apples.”

REVIEWER INFORMATION
This book was reviewed by Amy M.
 

Title:  Clifford’s First Halloween
Author:  Norman Bridwell
Publisher:  Scholastic Inc.
Publication Date:  1995

SUMMARY
It was Clifford’s very first Halloween and he was only a puppy.  Throughout this story, Clifford experiences many different Halloween traditions.  Emily Elizabeth, Clifford’s owner, tries to find him the perfect costume for Halloween. Then throughout the story, Clifford goes Trick or Treating, carves a pumpkin, attends a Halloween party, makes candy apples, goes into a haunted house, and listens to scary stories.  Everything a child would do while getting ready for Halloween.

THE REVIEW
I thought that this story was very appropriate for young children during the Halloween season.  Clifford books are written for first through third grade reading levels though it provides a wonderful story suitable for children of all ages.

THE RATING
“I’d give this book a rating of 5 apples.”
 

REVIEWER INFORMATION
This book was reviewed by Amy M.
 

Title: Vampires Don?t Wear Polka Dots
Author: Debbie Dadey & Marcia Thornton Jones
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Publication Date: 1990

SUMMARY
The story was about a third grade class at Bailey Elementary who always got a new teacher.  All their other teachers quit and moved away because of frustration with the class.  But Ms. Jeepers had a control over this class that they could not figure out.  When they tried, things only got stranger.

THE REVIEW
I liked the book because it was easily understood and kept my interest.  A few illustrations were throughout the book to give you a clearer vision of the characters.

THE RATING
I?d give this book 5 apples because it was very easily understood with a little suspension.

The book was reviewed by Danielle Rader
 

Title: What Is Thanksgiving?
Author: Harriet Ziefert Pictures by Claire Shumacher
Publisher: Harper Festival
Publication Date: 1992

SUMMARY
The story was about a mouse family that was teaching their little mouse about Thanksgiving.  It gives a few simple facts that lead up to Thanksgiving. Then the mouse family prepares and celebrates a traditional Thanksgiving with the rest of their family.

THE REVIEW
I like the book because it was easily understood and gave facts about the holiday, Thanksgiving. The illustrations were great and there are flaps in the book to help little mouse prepare for Thanksgiving dinner.

THE RATING
I?d give this book 5 apples because it was an interesting yet educational book on Thanksgiving.  It would give young children a clear understanding of this holiday.

This book was reviewed by Danielle Rader.

Title: The Mud Pony
Author: Caron Lee Cohen
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Publication Date: 1988

Summary
 The story was about a young Indian boy who longed for a pony.  One day he made a pony out of mud and from that day on he treated the pony as if it were alive.  One day the troops came while the young boy was caring for his mud pony and the whole tribe traveled west.  The mud pony was suddenly alive and guided him to his people.  He was finally made chief of his people for his strength, courage, and of course the guidance he received from his mud pony.

The Review
 I liked this book for many reasons.  One reason is the realistic and creative pictures.  I also enjoyed the characters.  The young boy and his pony seemed very alive and the plot was captivating to the reader.  I saw the book through the eyes of this young Indian boy and felt as if I experienced his life with him, and this was a life that I had never imagined.  The main reason I enjoyed this book so much was the imagination that the author allowed the reader to share with her.

The Rating
 I'd give this book 5 apples because it is an enjoyable book that students could sit and enjoy, and at the same time the book could be used for an educational lesson on the Native American culture.  A dual-purpose book that any audience young or old could sit back and enjoy.

This book was reviewed by Jessica Stover
 

Title: Goggles!
Author: Ezra Jack Keates
Publisher: Macmillan Publishing Company
Publication Date: 1987

Summary
 This story was about a young man named Peter who one day found motorcycle goggles.  He loved the way he looked in those goggles and was extremely happy with his find.  On the way to his house with his friend Archie, they ran into a group of big boys who wanted his goggles.  The goggles were knocked to the ground by one of the big boys, but Peter and Archie arranged to meet at the hideout and the goggles were saved by Willie, the dog.  Peter continued to wear his wonderful find, the goggles.

The Review
 I liked this book for the wonderful pictures and the realistic story plot that children would enjoy.  However, I did not particularly care for the story.  I felt it lacked creativity and imagination.  It is extremely realistic and children will relate to this and will enjoy reading the book for this quality.

The Rating
 I'd give this book 3 apples.  I think children will enjoy the pictures and the story and this is the reason I will have this book in my library.  The real problem that I did not like is the lack of imagination and I did not feel the plot was captivating to me as the reader.  This does not mean that children should be denied this book because many people young and old do probably relate and enjoy this book.  I feel that the students will relate well to this book because unfortunately many will experience this story in reality every day and this is why this book will be on my shelf.

This book was reviewed by Jessica Stover
 

Title:  Anna Banana and Me
Author:  Lenore Blegvad
Publisher:  Macmillian Publishing Company
Publication Date:  1989

SUMMARY:

 The story was about a little girl named Anna Banana who wasn’t afraid of anything because she had a magic feather.  She had a little friend that remained nameless throughout the story.  They went through many adventures throughout the story but Anna Banana was never afraid with what they did.  However, her little friend was afraid because he didn’t have a magic feather.  Read Anna Banana and see what happens next to her and her friend.

THE REVIEW:

 I like the book because it shows how little children have fears, but they believe in one certain object that protects them.  I think everyone could relate to this type of situation when they were a child.  It gives you something to believe in.

THE RATING:

 I give this book five apples because the illustrations are wonderful.  The story has you sitting on the edge of your seat to see what crazy thing Anna is going to do next.  All in all I highly recommend this book for all adventurous ages, because you can relate your own experiences with this book.

This book was reviewed by Lori Yackuboskey
 

Title:  Fanny’s Dream
Author:  Carolyn Bueher
Publisher:  Dial Books for Young Readers
Publication Date:  1996

SUMMARY:
 The story was about a sturdy woman named Fanny Agnes.  She had dreams to marry a tall, handsome young man.  The mayor was throwing a ball and that is where Fanny thinks she is going to meet her prince charming.  However, her family and friends laughed at her and told her she looked like an ox and wasn’t pretty enough.  Fanny knew though that someday she would meet prince charming through her fairy godmother.  Fanny’s dream that she wanted didn’t come true but she loved her knew dreams even more.  Read Fanny’s Dream to see what her new dreams are.

THE REVIEW:
 I liked the book because it was a heart warming story of wanting and dreaming of that perfect life.  However, you don’t know what that perfect life is until it grabs you.  The illustrations conveyed the books message beautifully.  The book was excellent.

THE RATING:
 I’d give this book five apples because the story was so touching it made me cry.  I feel again that all ages would be touched by the heart warming life of Fanny Agnes.  The book truly portrays that life is never how you dream of it to be, but it works out in time.

This book was reviewed by Lori Yackuboskey
 

Title: Shadows Are About
Author: Ann Whiteford Paul
Illustrated By: Mark Graham
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: 1992

Summary
 The story was about how different objects give off shadows.  It also talked about where shadows are located and how they are formed.

Review
 I liked the book because it taught children about shadows.  The words were in big print and they were simple which made them easy to read.  The reading was also written in rhythm, which made it easier to read.  The pictures were big and very realistic and they went along with the printed words.

Rating
 I’d give this book 4 ½ apples because I don’t think it provided enough useful information about shadows.  The title of the book is Shadows Are About and it implies that the book will give you information about shadows and I don’t feel it accomplished this.

This book was reviewed by Jennifer Peters.
 

Title: When I Am Alone
Author: Carol Partride Ochs
Illustrated By: Vicki Jo Redenbaugh
Publisher: Carolrhoda books
Publication Date: 1993

Summary
 The story is about a little girl who is always left home alone.  She hates being left home alone and she always imagines all these different things that are messing up her room while being there all alone.

Review
 I liked the book because it is a story children can relate to.  The little girl using toys she has in her room is the object messing up her room.  This book also teaches counting backwards to the children.  I think that is a great concept to use with something children can relate to, like being home alone with a messy room.  The children are learning without even realizing it.  The book is also written in rhythm and that makes it easy for children to read.

Rating
 I’d give this book 5 apples because I think it really is a story the children can relate to.  It shows how a child imagination runs wild and it is usually about things they do own.

This book was reviewed by Jennifer Peters.
 

Title:  I Can’t Sleep!
Author: Michi Fujimoro
Publisher:  Price Stern Sloan, Inc.
Publication date:  1994

Summary
 The story was about a slumber party at the puzzle place.  It was time for bed and Kiki, Leon, Julie, and Skye could not fall asleep without doing their normal bedtime routines.  Even Nuzzle and Sizzle (the cat and the dog) could not get comfortable.  Everyone worked together to accommodate everyone’s needs so they could all fall asleep.

The Review
 I liked this book because I have been a lot of different places and it is not always the same going to bed some place other than my house.  It helped me to think about the things that I use to do to make where ever I was feel a little more like home.  I am also big on working together and this book does a wonderful job of showing kids working and helping out together.

The Rating
I’d give this book 4 apples because it was very cute.  It showed kids how to improvise when everything was not normal and we have to adjust.  I did think that it got a little long.  It needed something a little more exciting to happen in order to keep the children’s attention throughout the entire story. The pictures were very colorful and pleasing to look at.

This book was reviewed by Gina Fedon
 

Title:  Love You Forever
Author: Robert Munsch
Publisher:  Firefly Books Ltd.
Publication:  1986

Summary
 This book is about a mother’s love for her child at any age and at any stage of life they are going through.  It shows that a way a mother loves her child carries on from generation to generation.  A mother sings a boy a little song every time he goes to sleep no matter how old he is.  The mother gets old and is dying at that point the son sings the song to her and then goes home and sing it to his child.

The Review
 I loved this book because I just thought it was wonderful!  I loved the refrain of the song that was repeated throughout the book.  The pictures were funny.  The moral lesson was good.  I was touched by the ending of the book when the mother dies and the son that was suppose to be so bad growing up was a mature adult singing to his mother and then to his daughter.

The Rating
 “I’d give this book 5 apples because it was one of the best books I have ever read.”  It was one of those book that make you laugh, they make you think, and they make you sad.  It was an all around good book.

This book was reviewed by Gina Fedon
 

Title: Glow in the Dark Stars, Moons, and Clouds
Author: Eugene Bradley Coco
Publisher: Western Publishing Company
Publication Date: 1990

SUMMARY
 This story is about a little boy named Eugene and his fascination with the stars.  He wanted the stars to shine only for him.  When he gathered up the stars and took them to his room, they wouldn’t shine.  They wouldn’t shine without the moon, the moon wouldn’t shine without the clouds, and the clouds wouldn’t shine without the sky.  Now Eugene has to make an important decision—whether or not to keep the stars, moon, and clouds, or set them free.

THE REVIEW
 Apart from the pages glowing in the dark, I liked this book because it had a deeper meaning that many people encounter in their lives.  We have all come across things that we desire, and when we get them, the beauty it held is no longer there.  In fact, we realize that certain objects belong to the environment in which they are born so they too have a chance to “shine.”

THE RATING
 I’d give this book 5 apples- There’s more to this book than just pictures.

This book was reviewed by Carmen Maccarelli
 

Title: Oh, Brother! SOMEONE WON’T SHARE!
Author: Betty Birney
Publisher: Western Publishing Company, Inc.
Publication Date: 1993

SUMMARY
 This is a classical story of friendship and sharing with Winnie the Pooh and friends.  Rabbit refuses to share his vegetables with his friends but an early frost threatens the survival of the crops.  Will Winnie the Pooh and his friends still help Rabbit cover the crops even though he wouldn’t share?

THE REVIEW
 I liked this book because it covers a topic that frequently comes up in the elementary grades as well as society: sharing.  The story is told in such a way that you aren’t picking sides even though Rabbit wouldn’t share.  Instead, you are happy that everybody joins together to help Rabbit.  Hopefully, Rabbit will learn something more important- “The more you share with others, the more they’ll share with you!”

THE RATING
I ‘d give this book 5 apples- I couldn’t find any worms!

This book was reviewed by Carmen Maccarelli
 

Title:  The Bug Book
Author:  Kathy Kranking
Publisher:  Golden Books Publishing Company
Publication Date:  1998

SUMMARY
 This book talks about different kinds of bugs that are all around us.  It tells us if they crawl, fly, or jump, what kinds of food they eat, and how they communicate with other bugs.

THE REVIEW
 I liked this book because it was educational and interesting.  The book taught me things about bugs that I did not know.  The pictures are very colorful and the bugs look real.

THE RATING
 I would give this book 5 apples because it has great pictures and a lot of educational facts that will help children learn about bugs in a fun way.

This book was reviewed by Brandie Shiock
 

Title:  How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World
Author:  Marjorie Priceman
Publisher:  Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
Publication date:  1994

SUMMARY
 This book tells a story about a young girl who wants to make an apple pie, but she can’t get the ingredients because the market is closed.  Since she can’t get the ingredients for the pie she travels around the world to get them.

THE REVIEW
 I liked this book because the girl goes on an adventure and travels around the world just to get the ingredients to make an apple pie.  The book is funny because some of things that happen are bazaar.

THE RATING
 I would give this book 5 apples because it talks about places in the world that are famous for different resources.  At the end of the book there is a recipe for an apple pie.  This book is fun and educational and after you read it you will be able to make your own apple pie.

This book was reviewed by Brandie Shiock
 

Title:  Up North at the Cabin
Author:  Marsha Wilson Chall paintings by Steve Johnson
Publisher:  Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books
Publication Date: 1992

SUMMARY
 The story was about a girl who spends her summers at a cabin. She enjoys the many beautiful things that nature has to offer such as fishing, swimming, and walking through the woods.  When she leaves the cabin all she has to do is shut her eyes and use her imagination and she is right back at the cabin.

THE REVIEW
 I liked the book because it let me use my imagination.  Nature gives us a chance to explore our imaginations and the book really emphasized this.   The book was very easy to relate to.  It also stressed the beauty and importance of nature and all the fun things nature has to offer.  The pictures are so beautiful that you really gain an appreciation for nature and its beauty.  The pictures kept my undivided attention.

THE RATING
I’d give this book 5 apples because I think that children will definitely enjoy reading this book.  The story will let them use their imagination and also give them a sense of what nature has to offer.  The children will also like the pictures because they are very colorful and fun to look at.
This book was reviewed by Kristy Rado
 

Title:  Two Bad Ants
Author:  Chris Van Allsburg
Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin Company
Publication Date: 1988

SUMMARY
 The story is about two ants that were greedy one day.  Their greed caused them to encounter many problems.  The ants finally realize that giving to others is much more rewarding than being selfish.

THE REVIEW
 I liked the book because it was written in a fun way and at the same time it taught a very important lesson.  It emphasized that selfishness leads to problems.  When you give to others is when you truly feel good inside.  It kept my attention because I was anticipating what would happen next.  Also the pictures of the ants were fun to look at because everything visually was from an ants perspective.

THE RATING
 I’d give this book 5 apples because kids will enjoy it.  They will get to see things through the eyes of an ant.  The pictures of the ants are also fun to look at.  They can have fun and learn an important lesson at the same time.

This book was reviewed by Kristy Rado
 

Title: Bunny Cakes
Author: Rosemary Wells
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 1997

SUMMARY:
 It was Grandma’s birthday and Max and Ruby wanted to make her a special
birthday cake. Max made Grandma a earthworm cake, but Ruby wanted to make her an
angel  surprise cake with raspberry- fluff icing. Max tried to help Ruby, but every time he
stepped into the kitchen, he messed things up.

REVIEW:
 I liked this book because of the special illustrations added to involve the reader.
The story was easy to read and understand and very easy to relate to.

RATING:
 I’d give this book 4 apples because it’s nicely presented and very creative. The
characters are endearing and the situation is relative. However, although the book has
great illustrations and adorable characters, the story is itself is not very original.

This book was reviewed by Clarissa Bollman
 

Title: “I Remember!” Cried Grandma Pinky
Author: Jan Wahl
Publisher: Troll Associates
Publication Date: 1994

SUMMARY:
 Grandma Pinky has come to visit her family. She tells them stories about her
childhood and she seems to remember everything, but for some reason she forgets
everything else.

REVIEW:
 I liked this book because it tells a story from a child’s point of view about what
may happen when a family member grows older. It is an endearing story to be cherished
by its readers, especially those who have experienced a situation like this in their own
family.

RATING:
 I give this book 5 apples because it is definitely one to share with your family.
It is beautifully written and illustrated, and the story is especially heartwarming- one to
own and treasure.

This book was reviewed by Clarissa Bollman
 

Title:  A South African Night
Author:  Rachel Isadora
Publisher:  Greenwillow Books
Publication Date:  1998

 SUMMARY
The book was about people in Johannesburg and animals in Kruger National Park.  As the people slept the animals were awake.  Then the animals went to sleep the people rose to start their day.

REVIEW
This book had beautiful pictures of city scenes and animals you would find in South Africa.  Although the books teaches about animals and shows African people in a city, it did not give enough accurate information to be an informational book.  The book made it seem as if all the animals were nocturnal, when in fact most of them were not.  There was no plot or characterization.

RATING
The pictures were beautiful.  It was clear what each animal mentioned looked like.  The reader could look at the pictures for quite some time and notice wonderful use of color and detail.  The text, on the other hand, was not so great.  It leads to misconceptions that are hard to break.  I give this book three apples--pretty pictures but mediocre text.

This book was reviewed by Cinnamon De Marco
 

Title:  Bones
Author:  Seymour Simon
Publisher:  Morrow Junior Books
Publication Date:  1998

SUMMARY
The book is about bones in the human body.  The book explains the purpose, composition, and number of bones.  There is lots of easy-to-read text.  The text is accompanied by photographs.

REVIEW
The book explained everything you ever wanted to know about bones.  The pictures would intrigue children in the middle elementary grades as well as older children and adults.

RATING
I give this book five apples:  I enjoyed the book and I learned from it.
Reviewed by Cinnamon DeMarco
 

Title:  Truman’s Aunt Farm
Author:  Jama Kim Rattigan
Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin Company
Publication Date:  1994

SUMMARY
This book is about a little boy name Truman, who wants an ant farm for his birthday present.  Instead Truman receives an aunt farm from his Aunt Fran.  Aunts were showing up at Truman’s door by the hundreds.  They played, worked, and ate just like real live ants.

REVIEW
I enjoyed the story about Truman and how he wanted an ant farm for his birthday but instead he got an aunt farm.  I think this book would be very interesting to children because of all the activities Truman’s aunts were performing just like if they were real live ants.

THE RATING
                      I’d give this book 5 apples.

REVIEWER INFORMATION
This book was reviewed by Desiree B.
 

Title:  A Teeny Tiny Baby
Author:  Amy Schwartz
Publisher:  Orchard Books
Publisher Date:  1994

SUMMARY
This book is about a little baby boy who tells his adventures of being a teeny tiny baby.  He tours his house and the big city.   He explains in his baby words how he interprets the world.

THE REVIEW
I personally enjoyed this book because it showed me how babies react to many situations.  I think that this book is a useful resource for young readers.   The reason I say this is because they will have the understanding of how they once thought when they were a baby and also they will have the knowledge of how their younger brother or sister think.

THE RATING
                      I would give this book 5 apples.

REVIEWER INFORMATION
This book was reviewed by Desiree B.
 

Title: My Buddy
Author: Audrey Osofsky
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Publishing Date: 1992

SUMMARY:
 This story is about a little boy and his dog, Buddy.  The little boy has muscular dystrophy, is in a wheel chair, and has trouble doing things for himself.  The boy tells the story explaining all of the things that Buddy does for him.

REVIEW:
 I liked this book because I think that it is a great way to teach children that not everyone is the same and that it is okay to be different.

RATING:
 I'd give this book 5 apples because of the unbiased view that it takes toward the handicapped.

This book was reviewed by Katey O'Neal
 

Title: My Dad the Magnificent
Author: Kristy Parker
Publisher: E.P. Dutton
Publishing Date: 1987

SUMMARY:
 This story is about a little boy who is telling his friend how wonderful his father is.  He builds him up to be something that he is not but tells the truth in the end.  After telling the truth, he goes on to tell the "real" magnificent aspects of his dad.

REVIEW:
I loved this book because it reminded me of something that I would have done when I was little.

RATING:
 I'd give this book 4 apples.  It is not very educational, but it is entertaining and will make you smile!

This book was reviewed by Katey O'Neal
 

Title:  Gotcha!
Author: Gail Jorgensen
Publisher:  Scholastic Inc.
Publication Date: 1995

Summary;
     The story was about Bertha Bear’s birthday party.  However, her party was ruined by a big, BLACK,
beastly fly.  The fly kept buzzing and bothering Bertha, and she kept trying to swat it, but she did not
succeed.

The Review:
     I liked this book, because it made me laugh and contained many repeated phrases.  I also enjoyed the
book, due to a similar incident that happened to me with a pesky fly.

The Rating:
     I give this book 5 apples, because it is a very good book for young children.  They will be interested
with the story and enjoy the pictures.  It was an excellent book for its action words that made the book
more lively.

By: R. Johns

Title:  Wednesday is Spaghetti Day
Author:  Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Publisher:  Scholastic Inc.
Publication Date: 1990

Summary:
     The story was about a cat named Catrina, who enjoyed herself a great deal when her owners went away.
One day (Wednesday), Catrina invited her friends over for a spaghetti dinner.  They had a wonderful time
eating and playing around the house.  However, Catrina had to make sure that everything was cleaned up
by 3:00 sharp.

The Review:
     I liked this book because it had good and descriptive pictures and it made me laugh a little.  It was a book where great imagination was used.

The Rating:
     I give this book 4 apples, because it was an entertaining book with great pictures.  It gives the reader a
possible solution to a question that children might have “ What do pets do when you leave the house?”.

By: R. Johns
 

Title:  Moss Pillows- A Voyage to the Bunny Planet
Author:  Rosemary Wells
Publisher:  Dial Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 1992

Summary
 The story was about a young bunny named Robert who went to go visit his cousins.  His visit turns into a disaster so he closes his eyes and drifts off into the Bunny Planet.  At the Bunny Planet Robert can do whatever he wants to and at the Bunny Planet Robert is always happy.

The Review
 I liked this book for children around the age of 3-7.  The pictures in this book are simple and very colorful.  This book is a good book to help children express their imaginations.  This book is a good book to read to a child anytime.

The Rating
 “I’d give this book 4 apples.”- The transition at the end of the book could have been smoother.

This book was reviewed by Kelly Dunlay.
 

Title:  Garth Pig Steals the Show
Author:  Mary Rayner
Publisher:  Dutton Children’s Books
Publication Date: 1993

Summary
 The story was about a family of pigs that put a band together but they needed someone to play a low instrument.  They put an ad in the paper and a wolf responded to it.  The problem that they had was that the wolf wanted to eat all of the pigs and during the performance that is what he is trying to do.  Garth comes up with a plan to stop this nonsense.

The Review
 I liked this book a lot it was a good knee slapping book purely for entertainment.  The pictures in the book were portrayed very well.

The Rating
 “I’d give this book 5 apples.”- I really thought that this book kept the attention of the reader or audience.
This book was reviewed by Kelly Dunlay.
 

Title: Night Noises
Author: Mem Fox
Publisher: Omnibus Books
Publication Date: 1989

Summary:
 One winter night an old lady and her dog fall asleep on a chair only to be awoken by noises outside.  The woman goes to the door and opens it, only to get a pleasant surprise.  Her family and friends were throwing her a surprise birthday party!

Review:
 Overall, the book was fairly average.  I thought the pictures were very entertaining, especially the dog!  However, the plot of the story left something to be desired and a little more suspense would have helped.  The pictures alone could probably keep most first graders interested though.

The Rating: I’d give this book 3 apples out of 5.  The book did not build up as much suspense as I would have liked, but it was good enough to keep my attention.  The pictures were good, especially those of the dog.
This book was reviewed by Phil Sechrist.
 

Title: Tough Boris
Author: Mem Fox
Publisher: Harcourt Brace & Company
Publication Date: 1994

Summary:
 Boris von der Borch is a tough and fearless pirate.  However, he cried and cried when his parrot died!

Review:
 I liked the book a lot because it was entertaining and had a good theme.  Boris shows kids (especially boys) that it is ok to cry.  There is no reason to feel ashamed because you cry, after all, Boris the pirate cried!  The pictures were also good.  They were very graphic and amusing.  I think the book is great for first graders, maybe even second graders.

The Rating: I’d give this book 5 apples!  The book was very entertaining and had a good theme.  I definitely would recommend it to second graders!

This book was reviewed by Phil Sechrist.
 

Title:  Home on the Bayou
Author:  G. Brian Karas
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date:  1996

SUMMARY
 The story is about a cowboy named Ned, and his mom who move from the West to s swamp.  Ned doesn't want to move and he has trouble fitting in at the swamp.  Then everybody likes Ned after he makes the bully, Big Head Ted, look like a fool and Ned is now happy.

THE REVIEW
 I liked this book because it will help children with moving to a new school.  I also liked the illustrations in the book.

THE RATING
 I'd give this book 4 apples because along with being a good story, it would be very helpful for children.  In the end it showed Ned apologizing to his mom and that Ned still thought about his dad even though he left.  The only part I did not like was that Ned had to do something as drastic as fight the bully to make any friends.

This book was reviewed by Jonathan Nihart.
 

Title:  Night Noises
Author:  Mem fox
Publisher:  Omnibus Books
Publication Date:  1989

SUMMARY
 The story was about an old lady, Lily Laceby, who lived alone with her dog.  Lily was sleeping one evening while there were people outside her house.  In the end, it turned out to be her family and friends coming over for Lily's birthday.

THE REVIEW
 I liked this book because it kept you guessing who was outside.  Children would enjoy the surprise party at the end.

THE RATING
 I'd give this book 4 apples because it keeps you attention to the end trying to guess who is outside Lily's house.  I didn't like the illustrations in the book.  The illustrations were too focused on Lily and the dog.  They needed to show a broader picture of the house.

This book was reviewed by Jonathan Nihart.