Graphic Novel Text Book Blog #3

Title: Pigling

Author and Illustrator: Dan Jolley and Anne Timmons

Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group

Publication Date: 2009

ISBN Number: 978-1580138253

Amanda’s Rating: 5/5

Brief Summary: Pigling is a Cinderella story that is a Korean version of the tale.  The story matches the classic Cinderella story except that the friendly forest creatures help the main character, Pear Blossom.

Evaluation Statement: Pigling is a graphic novel with wonderful illustrations.  The author did specific research to remain culturally accurate.  The story will easily keep a child wondering if Pear Blossom will get a happy ending.  The illustrations and words are balanced well.  Certain words may be difficult for a younger child to read and there are a few Korean words included.  However, the author includes a glossary and pronunciation guide at the back of the book to help with the difficult words.  Further reading and websites are included for children or teachers that want to read more about different Cinderellas.  Also, the book is separated into chapters which may add to a reader’s confidence that they can read a chapter book.  

Graphic Novel Text Book Blog #2

Title: The Little Prince Book 2- The Planet of the Firebird

Author and Illustrator: Julien Magnat

Publisher: Graphic Universe

Publication Date: 2012

ISBN Number: 978-0822594239

Amanda’s Rating: 4.7/5

Brief Summary: The Little Prince and his fox companion travel to different planets in this series.  Book #2 is an adventure on the Planet of the Firebird where the team must work to figure out why the firebird is destroying the planet.  They soon find out that not everyone is telling the truth.

Evaluation Statement: This graphic novel has great illustrations and a well thought out plot.  The plot had me wondering what the end would bring.  A child’s interest would definitely be kept by this book.  I would say this graphic novel is of a high quality and would be loved by children who read it.  The amount of text on the page is not overwhelming.  The words and illustrations balance each other nicely.  

Graphic Novel Text Book Blog #1

Title: DC Super Friends: Hungry for Power

Author and Illustrator: Sholly Fisch and Dario Brizuela

Publisher: DC Comics

Publication Date: 2012

ISBN Number: 978-1434245410

Amanda’s Rating: 3/5

Brief Summary: In this adventure of the Justice League, the superheroes face off against a robot who has powers just like theirs.  They must work together to defeat this new foe.

Evaluation Statement:  This book is very colorful but its quality reminds me of grocery store books.  The actual story is very short but the book includes puzzles and character bios.  One good surprise was inclusion of a glossary for some tougher words.  This would be a good beginner graphic novel but a child should be reading other, higher quality ones as well.

Poetry Text Book Blog #3

Title: Be Glad Your Nose is On Your Face

Author and Illustrator: Jack Prelutsky

Website:  https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/be-glad-your-nose-your-face

Amanda’s Rating: 4.9/5

Brief Summary: This poem discusses the gratitude the reader should have for their nose being where it is located.  It comically lists different places a nose could be and what problems that would cause.

Evaluation Statement:  I found this poem very funny.  I could see this poem being a favorite for a child because of its humor and silliness.  The poem’s rhythm and rhyming make it fun to read and would be a great poem to read in school to get children interested in poetry.  

Poetry Text Book Blog #2

Title: Two Little Kittens

Author and Illustrator: Anonymous

Website: http://www.storyit.com/Classics/JustPoems/twokittens.htm

Amanda’s Rating: 4/5

Brief Summary: Two Little Kittens is a cute, short poem about two kittens that fight during a thunderstorm.  After becoming tired, they realize it’s better to sleep than fight. 

Evaluation Statement: This poem is a nice little story about two fighting kittens who learn that fighting is that fun.  With simple rhymes and imagery, this poem would keep a child’s interest.    

Poetry Text Book Blog #1

Title: Sick

Author and Illustrator: Shel Silverstein

Website: https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/sick

Amanda’s Rating: 4.7/5

Brief Summary: In this poem, a child finds funny excuses for missing school that involve being sick.  However, once the child realizes that it’s Saturday, they are suddenly well enough to go outside and play.

Evaluation Statement:  This poem is super fun and made me laugh out loud a few times.  It includes rhyming and different illnesses that exist.  I feel that a lot of children can relate to wanting to stay home from school occasionally.  

Historical Text Book Blog #3

Title: Show Way

Author and Illustrator: Jacqueline Woodson and Hudson Talbott

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: 2005

ISBN Number: 978-0399237492

Amanda’s Rating: 4.5/5

Brief Summary: This picture book revolves around the family history of the author from slavery to the Civil Rights Movement to the present day.  It follows the women in the family as they learned to make quilts to leave messages for those escaping slavery.  As generations pass the women are not forced to only communicate through oral storytelling and quilts but through reading and writing. 

Evaluation Statement: This is a creative story about overcoming obstacles and the importance of family.  Each mother cared for her daughter very much and instilled in her love, hope, and quilt making.  The mothers fought for a better future for the next generation.  The images are wonderful as quilts are woven onto each page.  With the writing style and word placement there were moments where it is easy to become confused as to which generation the author is talking about.  It is an inspiring tale that would be a great tool in teaching about American history and the people that lived through it.  

Historical Texts Book Blog #2

Title: Calico and Tin Horns

Author and Illustrator: Candace Christiansen and Thomas Locker

Publisher: Dial

Publication Date: 1992

ISBN Number: 978-0803711792

Amanda’s Rating: 4/5

Brief Summary: This book is a fictionalized tale based on the true events that occurred after the American Revolutionary War when farmers fought landowners in order to own their own land.  A little girl named Hannah is curious why her family is keeping secrets from her when the sheriff and his gang come riding toward her farm.  She knows that she needs to call for help and uses a tin horn to the “Calico Indians” who were the disgruntled farmers dressed in disguise.

Evaluation Statement: The illustrations in this book are very well done and the story keeps up the suspense of what will happen next.  The amount of text on the page is just right.  I never knew about the “Calico Indian” farmers that dressed up like Native Americans in order to gain their own land from the rich landowners.  It was a good story to introduce that piece of American history.

Historical Texts Book Blog #1

Title: Hanukkah at Valley Forge

Author and Illustrator: Steven Krensky and Greg Harlin

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Publication Date: 2006

ISBN Number: 978-0525477389

Amanda’s Rating: 4.6/5

Brief Summary: This story is a fictional conversation set during the Revolutionary War at Valley Forge between General George Washington and a Jewish soldier.  After seeing the solider lighting his Menorah, George Washington asks him to explain Hanukkah.  The soldier tells the trials of the Jewish people overcoming obstacles and he ends up inspiring Washington to continue the fight against the British. 

Evaluation Statement:  This is a great historical fiction book for children.  Not only do they see George Washington at Valley Forge, but they also get to learn about Jewish history and culture.  Blues are used during the cold, winter at Valley Forge scenes while warm yellows are used to show flashbacks to Jewish history.  The similar colors on pages may become dull for younger readers.  This would be a great book to educate young children on the history on Hanukkah. 

Informational Texts Book Blog #3

Title: Bald Eagles

Author and Illustrator: Lynn M. Stone

Publisher: Lerner Publications Company

Publication Date: 2004

ISBN Number: 978-0822530343

Amanda’s Rating: 4.2/5

Brief Summary: This book revolves around bald eagles.  It talks about where bald eagles are located globally, the fact that there America’s bird, what they eat, how they raise their young, and environmental dangers that they face.  The is a glossary of terms that may be of a higher vocab level.

 

Evaluation Statement: This is a fun book for children that want to learn about eagles.  Maps and pictures are used.  With the glossary in the back, young readers can learn new vocab words and have help with comprehension of the material.  There’s even a section for adults who may be looking for ways to use this book in other activities like writing and drawing prompts about eagles for students to do.  The author does occasionally use a lot of words per page, but for the majority of the book the pictures and text are balanced.  

Information Text Book Blog #2

Title: Butterflies

Author and Illustrator: Martha E. H. Rustad

Publisher: Bellwether Media

Publication Date: 2008

ISBN Number: 978-1600140754

Amanda’s Rating: 4/5

Brief Summary: This book is all about butterflies.  It talks about the stages a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly.  Different characteristics of butterflies are included along with vibrant pictures.

Evaluation Statement: This book is a great easy reader for beginners.  The colorful pictures and easy sentences will make it fun for a child to read.  The book consists of just texts and pictures and could do more to keep a child’s interest like include jokes or other activities to do while reading.  

Informational Text Book Blog #1

Title: Storms

Author and Illustrator: Miriam Busch Goin

Publisher: National Geographic

Publication Date: 2009

ISBN Number: 978-1426303944

Amanda’s Rating: 4.5/5

Brief Summary: This informational book talks about all different types of storms and precipitation.  Explanations for the occurrence of different types of weather are provided.  It includes interesting pictures especially of lightening, tornadoes, and hurricanes. 

Evaluation Statement:  This book, with its pictures, easy to understand explanations, and cute jokes will definitely keep children interested.  The book also explains what certain higher weather vocab words mean.  This would be a great book for those children who are afraid of lightning and thunder as a way to educate them about the phenomenon and make them feel more comfortable about it.    

Fantasy Text Book Blog #3

Title: The Boy Who Painted Dragons

Author and Illustrator: Demi

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Book

Publication Date: 2007

ISBN Number: 978-1416924692

Amanda’s Rating: 3.8/5

Brief Summary: The Boy Who Painted Dragons is about a young boy named Ping, who was scared of the heavenly dragon in the sky, but painted them over every surface he could find.  Ping lied to those around him and said he wasn’t scared of dragons.  When the dragons realized this, they sent him on a journey to meet different dragons and wanted him learn pearls of wisdom from them.  Finally his fear of dragons disappeared and he painted them out of joy. 

Evaluation Statement: This book includes beautiful illustrations of dragons that have shiny metallic elements to them.  These images may excite or frighten small children depending on their previous experiences.  This would be a great book for a teacher to use when discussing other cultures.  Children may not know all the words but they will be excited to see all the different dragons.

Fantasy Text Book Blog #2

Title: Once Upon a Dragon

Author and Illustrator: Jean E. Pendziwol and Martine Gourbault

Publisher: Kids Can Press

Publication Date: 2006

ISBN Number: 978-1553377221

Amanda’s Rating: 5/5

Brief Summary: Once Upon a Dragon is a rhyming tale of a boy and his dragon friend as they land inside of dragon’s story book.  The pair wander through the chapters of famous fairytales like Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, and Goldilocks.  The boy makes sure to remind his dragon friend about the dangers that can come of strangers until they can finally escape the book.

Evaluation Statement: Once Upon a Dragon is a cute book that promotes stranger danger in clever ways.  The book is fun to read with its colorful pictures and rhyming story.  As the characters walk through the book each chapter is a different fairytale that children are familiar with.  When the friends meet the strangers from the stories, Dragon is tempted to talk to them or believe what they say and the boy keeps reminding him that strangers can be unsafe and to be careful.  The book is must for teachers and parents who want to teach children about stranger danger.  Children will love this fun book.  

Fantasy Text Book Blog #1

Title: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble

Author and Illustrator: William Steig

Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks

Publication Date: 1969

ISBN Number: 978-1442435605

Amanda’s Rating: 4/5

Brief Summary: One day, Sylvester the donkey found a magic pebble and when scared by a hungry lion, he wished he was a rock.  Because he could no longer hold the pebble, he could not switch himself back and all his friends and family worried where he was.  Luckily, a year later, his parents went on a picnic and placed the pebble back on him and he wished himself back to being a donkey.

Evaluation Statement: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble is a cute animal fantasy story that teaches children that having a family and being together can be more magical than a wish granting pebble.  Some of the words used are a higher level of vocabulary so a younger child may need help reading this book.  A child’s interest is easily kept by the suspense of the fate of Sylvester.  

Realistic Text Book Blog #3

Title: The Butterfly

Author and Illustrator: Patricia Polacco

Publisher: Philomel Books

Publication Date: 2000

ISBN Number: 978-0142413067

Amanda’s Rating: 4.5/5

Brief Summary: The Butterfly is a story that tells the difficult tale of a little girl in France during the Nazi occupation.  As she tries to come to terms with everything that is going on around her, Monique finds out that her mother is a member of the resistance and that her new friends living in the basement are in danger.  After helping them escape, Monique worries about the safety of her friends, but is comforted by a swarm of butterflies that not only shows her that beauty is still in the world but also that her friend Sevrine must have sent them to let Monique know she’s safe. 

Evaluation Statement: The Butterfly handles the difficult topics of Nazis and the Holocaust very delicately.  The reader’s interest is kept throughout as they need to find out if the family gets caught by the Nazis.  Some readers may find difficulty reading the few French words during the story.  Butterflies are symbols of beauty and peace in such a horrible time.  When the swarm of butterflies comes to Monique at the end, it was such a meaningful moment that it brought tears to my eyes.  Because of the topic, a parent or teacher should read this with a child unless it is appropriate for them to read by themselves.  Every child should read this book at some point because of how well, for children, it tells an important part of history.

Realistic Text Book Blog #2

Title: Clara and Davie

Author and Illustrator: Patricia Polacco

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Publication Date: 2014

ISBN Number: 978-0545354776

Amanda’s Rating: 4/5

Brief Summary:  Clara and Davie is the true story of a young Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross.  Growing up, Clara had a speech impediment but her super close relationship with her brother Davie helped her to thrive at what her true passion: caring for others.  As different family members and friends got hurt, Clara was the first to help take care of them.

Evaluation Statement: This story is very inspirational to all who read it.  A person can overcome obstacles to excel at what they love to do.  As a nursing student, I found the story of a young Clara Barton, who later became a nurse, very interesting.  For children who have difficult obstacles to overcome, they can read this story and realize that it is possible to do what you love to do.  The amount of words on the pages would require a parent or teacher to help, unless the child is more fluent in reading.  Overall, it is a wonderful story for children.

Realistic Text Book Blog #1

Title: What If…?

Author and Illustrator: Anthony Browne

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Publication Date: 2013

ISBN Number: 978-0763674199

Amanda’s Rating: 4/5

Brief Summary: What If…? is a story about a little boy named Joe who is scared about going to a friend’s party.  As Joe and his mom walk down the street to find his friend’s house, Joe asks a lot of question about bad things that could happen at the party.  His mom tries to comfort him as she drops him off and is relieved to pick him up later after he had a great time.

Evaluation Statement:  This is a cute story that any child who has been scared about new things can relate to.  The amount of words on the page is not overwhelming and looking into the different, crazy houses in the neighborhood will keep a child interested.  Parents reading with their child can relate to the worried feelings of Joe’s mom.  While Joe is worried about his friend's party the characters and setting are draw in the color blue which may indicate Joe's sadness for having to leave his mom.  Once the party is over, the characters are no longer blue and the friendly colors of yellow and brown are dominant.  Children can be comforted knowing that other kids sometimes feel scared too and that scary, new situations can turn out alright.  

Traditional Text Book Blog #3

Title: Eagle Boy: A Pacific Northwest Tale

Author and Illustrator: Richard Lee Vaughan and Lee Christiansen

Publisher: Sasquatch Books

Publication Date: 2000

ISBN Number: 978-1570615924

Amanda’s Rating: 4.5/5

Brief Summary: Eagle Boy is the tale of a boy named Eagle Boy who is shunned by others for giving his fish to eagles.  When the village moves away in search of food, they abandon him.  Eagles help him by bringing him food so he does not starve and Eagle Boy saves his village by forgiving them and giving them food.

Evaluation Statement: Eagle Boy is a wonderful tale for children to read.  It includes beautiful and colorful illustrations.  The story promotes generosity, kindness to animals, and forgiveness while keeping children interested and entertained.  

Traditional Text Book Blog #2

Title: Hansel and Gretel

Author and Illustrator: Cynthia Rylant and Jen Corace

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Publication Date: 2008

ISBN Number: 978-1423111863

Amanda’s Rating: 4/5

Brief Summary: Hansel and Gretel is the story of two siblings that live in the woods with their father and step-mother who wants to get rid of them.  She takes them into the woods to leave them stranded but Hansel leaves a trail of pebbles and they return.  Their stepmother tries again but this time Hansel leaves breadcrumbs which are eaten by animals.  Lost and scared, they find a house made out of yummy food and get trapped by the witch that lives there.  They must use their intelligence to escape. 

Evaluation Statement: Hensel and Gretel is a fairytale that all children should read.  It promotes using intelligence and problem solving.  The entertaining story will keep a child wondering how the characters will handle each new obstacle.  The book has a good balance of words and illustrations.  

Traditional Text Book Blog #1

Title: Love and Roast Chicken: A Trickster Tale from the Andes Mountains

Author and Illustrator: Barbara Knutson

Publisher: Carolrhoda Books, Inc.

Publication Date: 2004

ISBN Number: 978-1575056579

Amanda’s Rating: 3.5/5

Brief Summary: Love and Roast Chicken is a tale about a clever guinea pig, named Cuy, who tricks his way out of trouble.  The fox and farmer become quite  upset at the guinea pig.  Cuy even convinces the  fox to want to marry the farmer’s daughter.

Evaluation Statement: Love and Roast Chicken is a short tale of a cunning guinea pig that children will find funny.  The story from the Andes Mountains contains some Spanish words which may be difficult for young readers who are unfamiliar with the language.  In the book, Cuy lies and tricks others so parents and teachers should cautiously consider that a child may think tricking people and lying are acceptable after reading this book.  The illustrations are cute and there are an appropriate amount of words on each page.  

Picture Book Blog #3

Title: Love, Splat

Author and Illustrator: Rob Scotton

Publisher: Harper Collins Publisher

Publication Date: 2008

ISBN Number: 978-0062077769

Amanda’s Rating: 4.5/5

Brief Summary: On Valentine’s Day, a cat named Splat gets ready for school and is nervous about giving a valentine to his crush, Kitten.  Because he is worried that she doesn't like him and likes another cat named Spike, Splat is surprised when Kitten tells him how she feels and gives him a valentine.

Evaluation Statement: Love, Splat is a cute picture book that includes humor and fun illustrations.  It also teaches good lessons like how important it is to be yourself and to be brave when you need to be.  The number of words per page is just right to keep a child’s attention and the story is easy to follow.  

Picture Book Blog #2

Title: Bits & Pieces

Author and Illustrator: Judy Schachner

Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: 2013

ISBN Number: 978-0803737884

Amanda’s Rating: 3.5/5

Brief Summary: Bits & Pieces is a picture book that follows the tale of Tink, a silly cat.  After spending years as an indoor cat Tink escapes out the front door and goes on an outdoor adventure. 

Evaluation Statement: Bits & Pieces is a cute picture book that uses many colors to gain interest.  However, the author strays from the main plot and loses the reader at certain points.  This might make it hard for a child to figure out what is going on.  Overall, the book is entertaining. 

Picture Book Blog #1

Title: Duck & Goose

Author and Illustrator: Tad Hills

Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books

Publication Date: 2006

ISBN Number: 978-0375836114

Amanda’s Rating: 4/5

Brief Summary: A duck and a goose find what they think is an egg and want to take care of it.  Because they want it to themselves, they argue over who should have it.  After spending time together with the egg, they grow to become friends.  The duckling and gosling are in for a surprise when another bird tells them what the “egg” actually is. 

Evaluation Statement: Duck & Goose is a cute story about a gosling and duckling that teaches children the importance of overcoming differences and becoming friends.  The colors are vibrant and will keep a child’s interest.  There are not too many words per page and the reader can enjoy reading the story and looking at the illustrations without difficulty. 

Decodable Text Blog #3

Title: A Measured Mom Phonics Reader: “am”

Author and Illustrator: The Measured Mom

Publisher: The Measured Mom ™, LLC

Publication Date: 2014

ISBN Number: http://www.themeasuredmom.com/learn-read-word-families-free-books/

Amanda’s Rating: 3.5/5

Brief Summary: In this decodable text children learn how to use the –am sound by reading words like ham, jam, yam, Sam, clam, ram.

Evaluation Statement: This child-sized decodable text allows for children to practice sounding out words that end in –am.  After practicing the words, the text provides a simple sentence for the child to read and a picture to help connect words with their images.  Using this book would help with learning phonics and with learning how to make connections between words and what objects words represent.

Decodable Texts Blog #2

Title: A Measured Mom Phonics Reader: “ag”

Author and Illustrator: The Measured Mom

Publisher: The Measured Mom ™, LLC

Publication Date: 2014

ISBN Number: http://www.themeasuredmom.com/learn-read-word-families-free-books/

Amanda’s Rating: 3.5/5

Brief Summary: In this decodable text children work on the –ag sound by saying words likebag, rag, tag, nag, stag, and flag.

Evaluation Statement: This small book contains simple sentences that contain –ag words along with pictures to help children associate words and images. The size would also allow for the child to use the book all by themselves. It would be very beneficial for a child to learn this way. However, the book is only gray in color which may not interest children.

Decodable Texts Blog #1

Title: Nat’s Cat

Author: Wayne Miller

Illustrator: Angela Kamstra-Jacobson

Publisher: Learning Page, Inc.

Publication Date: 2005

ISBN Number: https://www.readinga-z.com/book.php?id=1106

Amanda’s Rating: 4/5

Brief Summary: Nat has a fat cat who chases a rat until they realize it belongs to his friend Meg.  The cat and rat become friends and take a nap together.

Evaluation Statement: Nat’s Cat is a decodable book that focus on the –at and –ap phonograms.  This book actually has a simple plot that children can enjoy while learning phonic skills. 

Wordless Picture Book Blog #3

Title: The Farmer and the Clown

Author and Illustrator: Marla Frazee

Publisher: Beach Lane Books

Publication Date: 2014

ISBN Number: 978-1442497443

Amanda’s Rating: 5/5

Brief Summary: The Farmer and the Clown is a wordless picture book that tells the tale about a little clown boy who falls off the circus train and about the old farmer that finds him.  The two become close as they work on the farm together and have fun.  When they go out for a picnic, they realize the train is coming back and that they have to say goodbye to one another, but not before switching hats so they can keep a reminder of the time they spent together.

Evaluation Statement: The Farmer and the Clown is an adorable story that illustrates the beauty of friendship between two people and the fun that can be had.  The bittersweet sweet goodbye that the old man and little boy share helps children understand that saying goodbye is sad but remembering the good things that happened is important. 

Wordless Picture Book Blog #2

Title: A Ball for Daisy

Author and Illustrator: Chris Raschka

Publisher: Schwartz and Wade Books

Publication Date: 2011

ISBN Number: 978-0375858611

Amanda’s Rating: 3.5/5

Brief Summary: A Ball for Daisy is a wordless picture book about a dog named Daisy and her new toy ball.  She takes the ball to the park with her and shares it with a friend but they bite and pop the ball.  Daisy is very sad until the next day at the park when her friend brings her a new ball to play with.

Evaluation Statement: A Ball for Daisy is a cute, short story that would be entertaining for children to read.  It has pretty watercolor illustrations that are full of color.  A Ball for Daisy shows the need to handle other people’s toys carefully and to apologize when you hurt another’s feelings.  

Wordless Picture Book Blog #1

Title: Window

Author and Illustrator: Jeannie Baker

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Publication Date: 1991

ISBN Number: 978-0688089184

Amanda’s Rating: 4/5

Brief Summary: Window is a wordless picture book made up of a series of views through a window that follows a boy as he grows up.  It starts as his mother holds him as an infant while looking at the woods behind their house and ends with the boy, who is now a father, holding his infant child while looking out of the window.  The character grows up before our eyes as birthday cards mark milestone birthdays and his hobbies, friends, and neighborhoods change.

Evaluation Statement: This book captures the changes that occur as a child grows up

just by looking at the scenes through his window.  It really portrays how much can change in the span of twenty years as a person ages and how fast time flies.  The book also elicits feelings of nostalgia by showing that when he has a child of his own, he moves back to the less developed countryside that reminds him of his childhood.

Board Book Blog #3

Title: The Rainbow Fish

Author and Illustrator: Marcus Pfister

Publisher: North-South Books

Publication Date: 1999

ISBN Number: 1558585362

Amanda’s Rating: 5/5

Summary: The Rainbow Fish is a board book that tells the tale of a fish with beautiful scales.  Rainbow Fish doesn't want to share his scales with the other fish but soon finds out that no one wants to be his friend because he doesn't share.  He decides to give away his pretty scales and gains friends in the process.

Evaluation: The Rainbow Fish is a colorful book that tells an important story for all children.  Through Rainbow Fish’s story children learn the importance of sharing with others, consequences of not sharing, and the impact that having friends can have on their happiness.  

Board Book Blog #2

Title: Here’s a Happy Pig

Author and Illustrator: Colin and Jacqui Hawkins

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Publication Date: 1987

ISBN Number: 1561484415

Amanda’s Rating: 3.5/5

Summary: Here’s a Happy Pig is an interactive board book about animals. The book has holes in it to allow the reader to wiggle their fingers and almost make the animals come to life.  The book introduces children to different kinds of animals and allows the person reading to them to bring the book to life. 

Evaluation: Here’s a Happy Pig is a fun, quick children’s book that allows parents to use their fingers to add movements to the animals inside.  Young children would be very entertained by the fingers poking through the book that add an element of silliness to it.  It is entertaining while also educating children about what different animals look like.

Board Book Blog #1

Title: The Lady with the Alligator Purse

Author and Illustrator: Nadine Bernard Westcott

Publisher: LB Kids

Publication Date: April 1998

ISBN Number: 978-0316930741

Amanda’s Rating: 4/5

Summary: The Lady with the Alligator Purse is a board book story that involves a baby named Tiny Tim. Tiny Tim drinks his bathwater and eats all his soap while taking a bath one day and his panicked mother calls a doctor, a nurse, and the lady with the alligator purse to help. The lady with the alligator purse has the best recommendation when she suggests pizza as a way to help the child feel better.

Evaluation: The Lady with the Alligator Purse is a fun read with its colorful pictures and rhyming word patterns.  Children will love its elements of silliness, like when Tiny Tim tries to eat the bathtub, and its rhythm of the rhyming sentences that tell the story.