Book Review #74

 Happy National Hamburger Day!  

Celebrate May 28th with a book about dinosaurs and hamburgers!

The Dinosaur Who Discovered Hamburgers

Author: Adisan Books

Publisher: Adisan Books, 2021

ISBN: 978-1088003480

Reading Level: 3 to 5 years

Main Characters: Scout and Dr. Ham Burger the 12th

Plot: Scout the dinosaur goes on a journey to find a great food dish. He discovers the ingredients he needs and visits Dr. Ham, the smartest dinosaur in town, to help him put it together. All the dinosaurs love Scout's new discovery...the hamburger. The dish was so popular that the dinosaurs made andishes International Hamburger Day to celebrate it!

Settings: The story takes place in an imaginary location with rivers of  "Ket-chup" and "Mus-tard." 

Genre/Theme/Style: Children's Picture Book, Dinosaurs, Adventure, Children's Humor, Food.

I Gave This Book 4 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 4 Roars? I think kids will enjoy the silliness of the book, especially those that love dinosaurs and hamburgers.

Critical Analysis:The book was a little longer than I would have preferred, and parents might need to explain how food is actually grown or made for younger readers. For example, the "Bread Forest" full of buns might confuse kids if they do not already know how bread is made. Older children might get the humor easier with less work for parents. However, this is a great book for celebrating National Hamburger Day, because the book actually references the holiday. 

Connections: The Dinosaur Who Discovered Hamburgers Read-A-Loud

Book Review #73 - Happy Mother's Day!

 All The Things Mom Will Never Say

Author: Noé Carlain
Illustrator: Ronan Badel

Publisher: Schiffer Kids, 2022

ISBN: 978-0764363313

Reading Level: Ages 4 through 8

Main Characters: An excellent little peashooter, his cat, and his mom. 

Plot: Things you will probably never hear a mom say to her kid. 

Genre/Theme/Style: Children's Humor, Moms, Picture Books, and Parenting. 

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? This might be one of my new favorite books. It is too clever and both parents and kids will appreciate the humor! This would be a great gift for any parent or kid. In fact, I think it would be a fabulous gift for Mother's Day. 

I think I laughed out loud several times. I know I’ve said, “Keep dressing up the cat - He loves it!” several times…not! 😾

Critical Analysis: The book is a short read, but kids will want to read it over and over. Its strength is in its relatable humor. I think every parent has had moments like the mom of this excellent little peashooter.

It also offers parents a few preemptive teachable moments. One example would be in the illustration of the dinner table piled high with dirty dishes and Mom says, “Its ok not to clear the table - were going to eat again tonight.” The image of the dirty table really drives home the need to clear the table. It’s a great way for kids to visually see what the table might look like if he does not help clean up before the next meal.

The book ends on a positive note, with mom expressing her love for her kid despite the frustrating moments that parents endure. It is a great reminder for parents, that all of these frustrating moments are worth it in the end. 

"Parenthood…It’s about guiding the next generation, and forgiving the last."

~~Peter Krause

Connections: All The Things Mom Will Never Say 

Happy Mother's Day!

May the Fourth Be With You!

Happy Star Wars Day! 

Check out these great Star Wars titles at your local library:

Support your local library!

(Use it, volunteer, get a library card, and find other great Star Wars books.)

Book Review #72

 Bubble Head, It's Time for Bed!

Author: Misty Black
Illustrator: Ana Rankovic
Publisher: Berry Patch Press LLC, 2021
ISBN: 978-1951292409
Reading Level: Ages 2 - 6 years

Main Characters: "Bubble Head"- a small boy in the bathtub with bubbles on his head and face.

Plot: Bubble Head goes on adventures in his bath tub before bedtime. 

Settings: Imaginary adventures in the bath.

Genre/Theme/Style: Hygiene Habits, Bedtime Routine, Days of the Week, Rhyming Book, Story in Verse.

I Gave This Book 4 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 4 Roars? I gave this book 4 roars. I felt that the price of the book is high for most parents. The book includes Get-Ready-For-Bed/Hygiene Charts in the back of the book. However, the price is more than what most people expect for a board book.  I did find cheaper audio and Kindle versions, but not a physical version without the charts. 

I liked the book, especially the rhyming verse, and kids will find it easy to relate to, but I would have liked a cheaper physical copy without the charts.

Critical Analysis: The book is a cute story in verse that appeals to children that love bubble baths. Lots of adventure and fun disguises the learning. The book includes the days of the week; “Monday, he's a monster.”  It also encourages hygiene and bedtime routine. 

Connections: Check out these Bubble Head Books: “Bubble Head, HO! HO! HO!: Merry Clean Christmas!” and “Bubble Head, Boo! : Happy Clean Halloween!”

National Poetry Month

Celebrate Poems!

Check Out The Academy of American Poets for more fun ways to celebrate!

Happy Passover!

Happy Passover!

Book Review #71

 Fish Eyes:A Book You Can Count On

Author: Lois Ehlert
Publisher: Clarion Books, 2001 (Brdbk ed.)

ISBN: 978-0152162818
Reading Level: 3 through 5 years

Main Characters: Many interesting fish and one small fish at the bottom of each page. 

Plot: A simple 1 to 10 counting style book that teaches early math concepts such as, number words and symbols, basic addition, and relationships between numbers. A small fish introduces the other fish while counting them and adding himself. 

Settings: Underwater,"flipping down rivers and splash[ing] in the sea."

Genre/Theme/Style: Counting 1-10, simple math, fish, nature, and underwater fun.

I Gave This Book 5 Roars!🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? I love this book! As a Pre-K teacher and librarian, it is always on my shelf. I have used it to teach basic math concepts, big and small, colors, sizes and shapes, and incorporated it into theme units like water, eyes, or nature. It works well at keeping the reader's attention. 

The only thing I disliked about it was the easily torn book pages from children putting their fingers in the cutouts. I solved that by purchasing it as a board book. The board book is a nice solution and a great way to save a few bucks. 

Critical Analysis: The interesting artwork, vivid color selection, and surprise cutouts for kids to find, keep younger readers learning without the book feeling like work. 

I also think the small fish is such a big part of why small children identify with the story. There are many different kinds, colors, sizes, and shapes of fish moving around the small fish in his underwater world. This feels very similar to small children exploring all of the differences in their own environments. 

The book has an easy rhythm that helps the reader along and of course who doesn’t love "all of those fish eyes looking at me." Young readers will ask for this one over and over. 

Every so often, you find a book that you have to experience for yourself to fully appreciate its value. This is one of those books.

Connections: Fish Eyes:A Book You Can Count On Read-A-Long