Book Review #92

Silly Sally

Author: Audrey Wood
Illustrator: Audrey Wood
Publisher: Red Wagon Books, 1999
ISBN: 978-0152010765 

Reading Level: Preschool to Kindergarten

Main Character: Silly Sally

Plot: Silly Sally follows the adventures of Sally, as she encounters various animal friends along her way. Sally engages in activities such as skipping, dancing, and tumbling, spreading joy as she goes to town.

Settings: The settings in Silly Sally vary as Sally embarks on her journey to town.

Genre/Theme/Style: Children's Picture Book, Board Book, Playfulness, Friendship, Fun, and Rhyming.

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? The story is filled with playful antics, laughter, and delightful silliness. This is a book that children want to read over and over again. A classic that never goes out of style.

Critical Analysis: A rhythmic, rhyming text full of fun. The repetitive nature of the book allows children to anticipate and participate in the story, making it an interactive and engaging reading experience...over and over again!

"Exploding with whimsy, humor, and zest . . . Be prepared to read this one a

thousand times!"

~Booklist

Connections: Silly Sally Read-a-loud

Book Review #91

Coat Of Many Colors

Author: Dolly Parton
Illustrator: Brooke Boynton Hughes
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap, 2016
ISBN: 978-0451532374
Reading Level: Ages 4-8

Main Character: Dolly - (A young girl inspired by Dolly Parton's own childhood experiences.)

Plot: This is the story of Dolly, a girl growing up in a rural setting. The plot revolves around the special gift her mother creates for her—a coat made from rags of different colors. 

Settings: The story takes place in a small rural community where Dolly and her family reside. This includes the family's home, and Dolly's school.

 

Genre/Theme/Style: Children's Literature, Love, Family, Self-acceptance, Resilience, and Biblical Learning.

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? Dolly Parton is such an inspiration! I first loved the song this book was based on and now the children's book. It is a beautiful book that relates to the Biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors. 

"Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors."

~ Genesis 37:3 KJV

Critical Analysis:

Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors would be a great addition to any library, as it speaks to multiple generations. It conveys a meaningful message about love, acceptance, and the strength to be oneself.

"Country singer/songwriter Parton has,

 with illustrator Boynton-Hughes, turned her famous song "Coat of Many Colors" into a delightful and evocative picture book. Dolly grew up in rural Tennessee, where love was plentiful but money was scarce. Her mother was given a box of fabric scraps, but with winter coming, Dolly needed a coat. So as the song relates, Dolly's mother pieced together the scraps and made her daughter a "coat of many colors." As she sewed, she told Dolly the Bible story of Joseph's coat of many colors. Of course, Dolly's schoolmates didn't see her coat as special, and they laughed and made fun of her. Parton tells readers that the hurt did not go away until, as an adult, she sat down and wrote this song. This title reminds children that bullying hurts and doesn't help anyone. Boynton-Hughes presents Dolly as a blonde, curly-haired moppet, so happy to be wearing her multihued coat. The bright fall colors give the book vibrancy. The illustrations also depict the love that was abundant in the Parton family." 

 ~Elaine Lesh Morgan, 

School Library Journal

Connections: Dolly Parton's 

Imagination Library

Happy Mother's Day!

 Mother's Day 2023

Book Review #90

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Board Book (Chronicles of Narnia)

 

Author: C.S. Lewis (Re-telling)

Illustrator: Joey Chou 

Publisher: HarperFestival, 2021
ISBN: 978-0062988775
Reading Level: 1-4 years

 

Genre/Theme/Style: Children's Fantasy & Magic Books, Children's Action & Adventure Books, Board book 

 

Main Characters: Lucy, Edmund, Peter, and Susan Pevensie (siblings), Aslan (lion), and The White Witch.

 

Setting: The magical land of Narnia

 

Plot: The plot is a very simplified version of the story.

 

I Gave This Book 4 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 4 Roars? It is a very sweet and simple version of the classic. This board book edition is perfect for young children who are just beginning to explore the magical world of Narnia. The only issue I found was that it might be a tad bit too simple.

Critical Analysis: This board book depicts the surroundings and characters, bringing them to life for younger readers. It's perfect for small hands that can be prone to tearing or ruining typical paper pages.

The narrative of the book centers on the adventures of four siblings who accidentally enter the magical land of Narnia through a magical wardrobe. They come across mythological creatures, talking animals, and an evil witch who has cursed the region with eternal winter. The children set out on an adventure to destroy the witch and put Narnia back in order with the lion Aslan's assistance.

Connections: BBC's "The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe" 1988

Book Review #89

Bible Verses for Toddlers from 

2-6 years old

Author: Boyana Atwood

Publisher: Highbridge Stories, 2022

ISBN: 979-8885870122

Reading Level: 2-6 years

Genre/Theme/Style: Christian Picture Books, Religious, Bible, God

I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? This is a great way for little ones to learn scripture.The drawings are meant to spark discussion and boys and girls will easily identify with it.

Critical Analysis: The book is written for parents or grandparents who desire to instill a strong foundation of Biblical knowledge in their young children and introduce them to the Christian religion. 

The book's verses were chosen with young children in mind and touch on a variety of significant subjects, such as love, generosity, forgiveness, and thankfulness.

This book's emphasis on encouraging participatory reading of the poems/verses is one of its highlights. The book includes questions and suggestions that are meant to encourage kids to reflect more thoroughly on the verses' meaning and apply it to their own lives.

Connections: Bible Verse Flash Cards