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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Pillbugs by Donna Schaffer

Title/Series:   Pillbugs
Author:  Donna Schaffer
Pages:  24 pages
Copyright  Date:  1999
Reading Level:  3rd grade
Interest Level: 1st to 4th grade

Summary:  This nonfiction book gives information about the pillbug.  You will learn about the pillbug’s life cycle, mating, food, and habitat.  The book includes many full page, color close-up pictures of pillbugs.  This is a great book for a child who loves to learn about animals.

Educational: Great – nonfiction book,  glossary,  access to more information (websites, book suggestions)
Content: Good – text gives a lot of information, pictures and diagrams help to make these ideas clear
Message: Average – tells us about the life of an animal








Pillbugs (Life Cycles)












Saturday, April 16, 2011

Jump! by Scott M. Fischer

Title/Series:   Jump!
Author: Scott M. Fischer
Pages: 32 pages
Copyright  Date: 2010
Reading Level: Read-Aloud
Interest Level: PreK- K

Summary:  It all starts with a bug, with a bug.  This rhythmic tale shows an animal sleeping which is then woken up by a larger animal.  The smaller animal JUUMMPS!  The predator animal then sleeps and a new larger animal will make its prey jump.  This story would be fun for a little one to read the “jump” page while they themselves jump.

Educational: Great– bold rhyming words, multiple predictable patterns
Content: Average – illustrations are full of action
Message: Poor– larger animals have power over those smaller than them, you may be attacked when you’re sleeping

Tip:  If you go to Amazon.com and look at the reviews for Jump!, there will be one by the author Scott M. Fischer.  He includes a video of himself reading/singing the entire book to a group of children.  This is a good way to make the book fun for your little one.

  






Please Sy Please, Grumpy Bunny! by Justine Korman Fontes

Title/Series:   Please Say Please, Grumpy Bunny!
Author: Justine Korman Fontes
Pages: 32 pages
Copyright  Date: 2007
Reading Level:  2ndgrade
Interest Level:  Pre K – 3rd grade

Summary:  Can a word really be magical?  When Hopper decides to win the “please day” game, strange things begins to happen.  Join Hopper as he learns about the magic of the word please. 

Educational: Average– practicing to get better at saying please
Content: Average – short chapters (more like an older child’s book), large color pictures
Message: Great– shows the reason for using the word please with examples children can relate with, being a good sport


Tuesday, January 11, 2011

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss


Title/Series:   One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
Author: Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel)
Pages: 63 pages
Copyright  Date: 1960
Reading Level:  1st grade
Interest Level:  K – 2nd grade

Summary:  This classic rhyming story tells about the activities of the characters in Seuss’s world.  Each few pages has a new character and what fun action it’s involved with.

Educational: Good– rhyming words (poem format), color words, counting, opposites, counting by 2’s, phonics
Content: Good – imaginative illustrations and ideas, short mini stories (poems)
Message: Poor– there are many funny things to enjoy

   













No T. Rex in the Library by Toni Buzzeo


Title/Series:   No T.Rex in the Library
Author: Toni Buzzeo
Pages: 32 pages
Copyright  Date: 2010
Reading Level:  3rd grade
Interest Level:  Pre K– 2nd grade

Summary:  Tess goes to the library with her mother on Tuesday morning and displays beastie behavior.  While in time-out, Tess goes on an adventure with a T. Rex from a book.  The T. Rex shows Tess how out of control her beastie behavior has been.

Educational: Average– vocabulary words (orcas, synchronized, stampede)
Content: Average – colorful illustrations with details, varied sentence and word placement on each page
Message: Average– respect books and do not use beastie behavior

   


Tuesday, December 7, 2010

On Hanukkah by Cathy Goldberg Fishman

Title/Series:   On Hanukkah
Author: Cathy Goldberg Fishman
Copyright  Date: 1998
Reading Level:  5th grade
Interest Level:  K – 6th grade

Summary:  Join a Jewish family as they celebrate a traditional Hanukkah.  Every day that a candle is lit on the menorah a tradition is shared.  This book teaches the history behind the holiday as well as modern family traditions.  We watch the family hang their Hanukkah quilt, make potato latkes, and play dreidel.

Educational: Good– teaches the history behind the holiday, introduces many vocabulary words, includes a glossary
Content: Good – shows the holiday in an interesting way, colorful illustrations
Message: Good– teaches the reason behind Hanukkah and how to celebrate this holiday


Friday, December 3, 2010

The Wild Christmas Reindeer by Jan Brett

Title/Series:   The Wild Christmas Reindeer
Author: Jan Brett
Pages: 30 pages
Copyright  Date: 1990
Reading Level: 4th grade
Interest Level: K – 4th grade

Summary:  This is the first Christmas that Teeka will get the reindeer ready to fly on Christmas Eve.  When Teeka is strong and firm with the reindeer, everything goes wrong!  Will Teeka be able to get Santa’s reindeer ready to deliver gifts on Christmas Eve?

Educational: Average –Teeka learns that it is better to be patient than push and yell
Content: Excellent – magical pictures, boarder pictures show the elves working in Santa’s workshop, meaningful story that contains the Christmas spirit
Message: Average – teamwork and patience is important