Book Review #127

 Moondog

Author: Alice Hoffman
Illustrator: Yumi Heo

Publisher: Scholastic Press
ISBN: 978-0439598545
Reading Level: Early Elementary

Main Character: Angel (the “were-puppy”), along with Michael and Hazel

Plot: Michael and Hazel find a puppy left on their porch and decide to keep him, naming him Angel. At first, everything feels normal until the moon comes out. 

Settings: A cozy home and neighborhood.

Genre/Theme/Style: Children’s picture book, light fantasy, responsibility, and the unexpected.

I Gave This Book 4 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 4 Roars? This book leans into that slightly strange, slightly fun feeling kids get around Halloween. It doesn’t try to be scary; it plays right on the edge of it. 

The illustrations carry a lot of the mood. They make the nighttime scenes feel active but not overwhelming. Kids who like animals and a little bit of mystery will stick with it.

It’s not a loud, high-energy story. It’s quieter and a bit odd in a good way, but that also means it won’t land the same for every reader.

Critical Analysis: It starts off typical, just kids and a puppy, then slowly introduces something unusual. That transition is handled without a big explanation, which fits the tone.

The story doesn’t spell everything out. Instead of explaining the rules, it lets the situation sit there. That can be a strength because it leaves room for imagination, but it can also leave some kids with questions.

It’s less about the creature itself and more about how the kids respond to it. 

Connections: Even though Moondog is a children’s book, it fits into the same kind of storytelling world that Practical Magic 2 is part of. The new movie is expected in theaters September 18, 2026.

In Practical Magic 2, it’s a family dealing with a long-standing curse and hidden powers.
In Moondog, it’s a puppy that changes under the moon.

With Hoffman’s style, kids get the lighter version: a strange situation that doesn’t turn dark, just different. 

So if the movie brings attention back to her works, this book fits right in, just in a simpler form. 

"Tooth of wolf and morning dew/something old and something new."

Book Review #126

Tap Tap Boom Boom (A Rhyming Rainy Day Read-Aloud for Toddlers and Preschoolers) 

Author: Elizabeth Bluemle

Illustrator: G. Brian Karas

Publisher: Candlewick Press
ISBN: 978-0763681357
Reading Level: Toddler/Preschool

Main Character:

A group of city people caught in a storm.

Plot:
A storm starts to roll into a busy city; it goes tap, tap, then boom, boom. As the rain picks up, people rush to get out of it. Strangers end up packed together inside a small diner, shoulder to shoulder. People begin to relax, notice each other, and share the space. 

Settings:
A city street during a thunderstorm, then a cozy diner filled with people waiting out the rain.

Genre/Theme/Style:
Children’s picture book, rhythmic, chant-style rhyme, community, shared experience, and unexpected situations.

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? I think this one stands out because of how it sounds when you read it out loud. It drives the whole story. 

The setting does a lot of the work. A bunch of strangers squeezed into one place could feel strange and uncomfortable, but here it turns warm and even a little funny. 

Younger kids will enjoy the sounds and movement, while adults will notice the way it quietly shows people coming together.

My one real critique is you don't need to put everything in the name of a book. (A Rhyming Rainy Day Read-Aloud for Toddlers and Preschoolers) This part of the name is unnecessary. We get it! LOL 😒

Critical Analysis: The book leans heavily on rhythm and repetition. It gives the story a steady pace and makes it easy for kids to anticipate what’s coming next.

What really works is the change in mood. The storm brings people together instead of staying tense. There’s no big speech about kindness, just small interactions that show it.

It doesn’t explain much about storms or weather, so it’s not trying to teach in a direct way. Its focus is more on experience than information. It is a nice way to spend a rainy day. 

Connections: This book pairs well with lessons about weather, but it fits even better with conversations about community and shared spaces. It shows how people react when plans change.

It really works well as a read-aloud during rainy days. It matches the mood without making it gloomy and is uplifting in a strange way. 

Book Review #125

The Wonder of Thunder 

Author: Sharon Purtill
Illustrator: Tamara Piper
Publisher: Self-published
ISBN: 979-8489566070 (paperback)
Reading Level: Preschool

Main Character: Sally Storm

Plot: The story follows Sally Storm, a cheerful and energetic storm, who floats across the sky explaining what she does and why she is not something to worry about. 

Settings: The sky during a thunderstorm.

Genre/Theme/Style: Children’s picture book, rhyming text, educational fiction, overcoming fear, understanding nature, and curiosity about weather

I Gave This Book 4 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 4 Roars? This book does something very practical; it takes a real childhood fear and softens it without dismissing it. Sally Storm is written in a way that feels friendly rather than overwhelming. It works especially well for younger children who need reassurance.

The concept carries the book more than the depth. It stays simple, which is appropriate for the age, but older kids may move through it quickly without much challenge. It is a great read for rainy seasons. 

Critical Analysis: Instead of saying “don’t be afraid,” it replaces fear with an attempt at understanding. Children are not told their fear is wrong; they are given a new way to interpret what they experience.

The use of personification (turning the storm into Sally) is effective. The added facts at the end extend learning beyond the story, which makes it useful in both home and classroom settings.

One limitation is that the science remains very simple. It opens the door, but it does not go far into explanation, which means it works best as a starting point, not a complete lesson.

Connections: This book connects to early science learning, especially basic weather units. It also ties into helping children process fear through storytelling. Teachers could easily pair it with simple experiments about rain or discussions about what causes thunder. 

National Certified Nurses Day

Celebrating Nurses  🩺

On March 19th, we are celebrating National Certified Nurses Day. This special day honors nurses who work hard every day to help people stay healthy and feel better when they are sick.

Nurses are helpers, problem-solvers, and caregivers. They work in hospitals, schools, clinics, and many other places. Nurses use their knowledge, compassion, and courage to take care of patients and support families during difficult times.

Just like readers learn new things from books, nurses are always learning too. They study, practice important skills, and continue reading and training throughout their careers so they can provide the best care possible.

Books about nurses can help young readers discover how important this career is and how helping others can make a big difference in the world.

So from Read’em & Roar!, we say thank you to all the certified nurses who care for other people.

And remember, reading today might inspire the nurse of tomorrow! 🦁

Book Review # 124

The Ultimate Nursing Handbook for Kids

Author: Melanie Keepers
Publisher: Independently Published
ISBN: 979-8316971305 
Reading Level: Ages 8–12

The book introduces young readers to the world of nursing. It explains what nurses do each day, the different kinds of nurses, and the important skills needed to care for patients. 

Settings: Hospitals, clinics, healthcare centers, and other places where nurses care for patients.

Genre/Theme/Style: Nonfiction, educational, careers, community helpers, healthcare.

I Gave This Book 3 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁

Why 3 Roars? This book is engaging for older readers who want to learn how nurses help people every day. Unfortunately, it does not have pictures. It is written for pre-teen readers, but I would have liked to see some type of artwork. 

Critical Analysis: The book introduces healthcare careers to young readers. It highlights the knowledge, compassion, and dedication required to work in nursing while making the subject approachable for children. 

Connections: National Certified Nurses Day reminds us to appreciate the nurses who dedicate their lives to caring for others. 

🎉 National Bubble Wrap Day!

Let's Pop!

Yes, this is a real day, and yes, it absolutely deserves celebrating! I mean, why not?! 

(The kids will thank you.)

National Bubble Wrap Day is a joyful reminder that sometimes the simplest things bring the biggest smiles. That soft crackle-pop sound? It’s practically universal. Kids love it. Adults secretly love it. Scientists even agree it can reduce stress and engage the senses in calming ways.

Why Bubble Wrap Is a Big Deal (Especially for Kids)

Bubble wrap isn’t just packaging... it’s a sensory experience.

• Touch: The raised bubbles invite squeezing, pressing, and popping

• Sound: Each pop delivers instant cause-and-effect feedback

• Focus: Repetitive popping can help kids regulate energy and attention

• Fine motor skills: Pinching and pressing strengthen small muscles

A Cold-Weather Connection ❄️

Bubble wrap also pairs beautifully with winter and weather learning:

• Talk about how air gets trapped inside bubbles (hello, insulation!)

• Compare bubble wrap to winter coats or animal fur that trap warm air

• Use it during cold-weather units as a tactile way to explain heat retention

Easy Bubble Wrap Activities 

• Bubble Wrap Painting: Paint + popping = art therapy

• Freeze the Wrap: Put bubble wrap outside or in the freezer and compare textures

• Pop Patterns: Can you pop every other bubble? What shape appears?

• Quiet Challenge: Can you not pop it? (Harder than it sounds.)

Why We Love This Day

National Bubble Wrap Day gives us permission to:

• Celebrate play

• Embrace sensory learning

• Laugh at something delightfully ordinary

And honestly? In a world that can feel heavy, popping a few bubbles feels like a small, satisfying win.  So go ahead, Let's pop! 

🫧 Pop Till You Drop

Pop goes the bubble—

soft, then loud,

a tiny thunder

wrapped in cloud.

Press with a finger,

press with a thumb,

here comes a pop—

then another one.

Air trapped inside,

then—pow!—it’s gone,

science and silliness

rolling as one.

So pop till you giggle,

pop till you plop,

pop every bubble—

then…

pop till you drop!

Book Review #123

 Wolf In The Snow

Author: Matthew Cordell
Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
ISBN: 978-1250115572
Reading Level: Grades K–3 (visual literacy)

Main Character:
A young child and a lost wolf pup, neither named, whose parallel journeys unfold during a winter snowstorm.

Plot: Wolf in the Snow is a wordless picture book. It tells a clear and powerful story about survival in cold weather. A child becomes separated from her family during a snowstorm, while a wolf pup is separated from its pack. As the storm intensifies, the child helps the pup find its family, only to be rescued moments later by the wolf pack when the child collapses from cold and exhaustion. The story ends with both reunited with their families.

Settings: The entire book takes place in a snow-covered forest during an active winter storm. The environment itself functions as a force in the story, shaping movement, visibility, temperature, and survival.

Genre/Theme/Style: Wordless Picture Book, Weather & Environmental Science & Winter Survival.

The illustration style uses stark contrasts, limited color, and motion lines to communicate snowfall, wind, cold, and urgency. Scientific ideas are conveyed visually rather than verbally.

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars?  This book teaches cold-weather science without ever explaining it outright. Children see how snow reduces visibility, how cold exhausts the body, and how animals are adapted to survive winter conditions. The lack of text invites observation, inference, and discussion. (Caldecott Medal Winner)  

Critical Analysis:
Wolf in the Snow is an outstanding example of visual science literacy. It illustrates real winter weather conditions, snow accumulation, wind chill, isolation, and exposure through cause-and-effect visual storytelling.  The contrast between the child’s vulnerability and the wolves’ adaptation subtly introduces biological and environmental concepts.

Because the book is wordless, readers must actively interpret what is happening, making it especially effective for developing scientific thinking and observation skills.  The illustration style uses stark contrasts, limited color, and motion lines to communicate snowfall, wind, cold, and urgency. Scientific ideas are conveyed visually rather than verbally.

Connections: Great for lessons on winter weather, animal adaptations, and survival in cold environments. It works well alongside nonfiction titles about snowstorms, hibernation, or Arctic animals. It is also ideal for library programming, guided discussions, and inquiry-based learning, where students are asked to explain what the weather is doing and how it affects living things.