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.