Unleashing Readers

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 8/4/14

July 27, 2015August 4, 2014 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journeys. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!

Jen Vincent, of Teach Mentor Texts, and Kellee decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Authors Who Are Highly Represented in Our Libraries

Wednesday: Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Winner Announcement

Friday: Bloomsbury Picture Books

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: This week, with going back to work, I found myself having less time to read; however, I did make sure I gave myself at least a little bit of time each day, so I was able to finish 2 books. First, I read Sisters by Raina Telgemeier, and I cannot wait to get it for my classroom because it is going to be a big hit! Anyone with siblings (or a family for that matter) is going to connect with it. I just love Raina’s ease in telling a story, and her realistic, yet fun, comic style. I also got to read Boys of Blur this week and am working on my review of it right now. I will say, I was surprised by this book. I do not read reviews or blurbs or summaries before I read a book, so I had no idea what this one is about and it was not what I’d assumed.

With Trent, I continued reading Mo Willems books I already loved: I Am Going!, Watch Me Throw the Ball, Knuffle Bunny Too, Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog, and The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?. I also read Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct for the first time, and thought it was pretty cute. Though, did it remind anyone else of Danny and the Dinosaur? And I recently got his Pigeon board book The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! I love that he made a Pigeon book for younger kids!

Ricki: This week, I read Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick. It was incredibly compelling. I didn’t expect it to be in the horror genre, and I was drawn to the odd, twisted, interconnected stories. After I finished the book, I couldn’t help but recognize what an incredible writer Marcus Sedgwick is. The concepts of the stories were unlike any that I have read.

Henry and I read a few picture books this week. Our favorite was The Blessing Cup by Patricia Polacco, a biography set in WWII Russia. This book teaches the power of family—and as Polacco highlights, if we have our family, we can never be poor.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: This week I am reading brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson in preparation for our review on Thursday. I also have the new Captain Underpants and Amulet to read, so I will start them when I finish brown girl dreaming.

With Trent, I hope to be able to keep up with our #bookaday now that I am back at work. So far I have just made it part of the “Mommy got home” routine. 🙂

Ricki: Kellee and I are both reading brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. I am pretty excited for our review. So far, the book is absolutely beautiful. I also want to finish Just Call my Name by Holly Goldberg Sloan in preparation for its release this week. So far, I like it even more than the first book (I’ll Be There).

Upcoming Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Top Ten Books We’d Give To Readers Who Have Never Read Historical Fiction

So, what are you reading?

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

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Kellee’s Recently Loved Picture Books from Bloomsbury: The Table Sets Itself by Ben Clanton, Penguin in Love by Salina Yoon, Dino-Baby by Mark Sperring, Moo! by David LaRochelle, & On My Way to Bed by Sara Maizes

August 18, 2016August 1, 2014 by Kellee

Last week I shared with you some wonderful picture books I’d read recently published by Candlewick Press. Today I wanted to share with you even more, but these are published by Bloomsbury.

The Table Sets Itself
Author: Ben Blanton
Published September 3, 2013 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: Izzy is thrilled to finally help set the table, learning all the proper places for her friends Fork, Spoon, Dish, Napkin, Cup, and Knife. But once they get into a nightly groove, Izzy and her friends grow tired of their same old spots. Shaking things up doesn’t go over so well with Mom and Dad, so Spoon and Dish run off for an adventure of their own. Lonely without her favorite tablemates, Izzy will need to find a way to convince Spoon and Dish to come back to the table.

Perfect for any kid who has ever resisted a daily task, this clever, pun-filled story is gentle reminder that every dish has its place, and that injecting some creativity into daily tasks can make even the dullest ones lots of fun.

My Review: This book is just so much deeper than it seems on the surface. There are so many little things going on in it. Puns, word play, allusions, and subtleness in the illustrations. It is a wonderful book for a read aloud and discussion!

Penguin in Love
Author: Salina Yoon
Published December 3, 2013 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: Penguin unravels a mystery that leads him to discover the biggest adventure of his life!

One day, Penguin was looking for love,
But instead he found . . .
A mitten.

When Penguin finds a lost mitten on the ice one day, he wonders who it belongs to—after all, every mitten has a mate! Prolific author/illustrator Salina Yoon’s spare text and bright, energetic illustrations bring to life this endearing story celebrating love in its many forms, reminding us that the greatest adventure begins when you find your other half.

My Review: I love penguins. I love them because they are contemplative and handsome and fearless, and Salina Yoon just captures all of this in her Penguin books. This is the second I’ve read, and I know I will read all of them.

Dino-Baby
Author: Mark Sperring
Illustrator: Sam Lloyd
Published October 1, 2013 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Goodreads Summary: It’s not easy being a big sister, especially when your new baby brother is a dino-baby! There’s a lot to remember:

Be quiet in the morning, when you first get up.
Because crashes, bangs, and thuds will wake our dino-pup. Shh!
Don’t play rough and tumble with a little thing like this.
Instead be soft and gentle. We all LOVE a dino kiss. Mwaah!

But before long, big sister will love teaching her little brother all the things she knows. And pretty soon they’re playing and growing–together! A sweet and funny picture book that’s perfect for older siblings, parents, and dino fans.

My Review: This book is a great way to talk about responsibility and rules (with or without being an older sibling), but in a fun way. And anything written as personified dinos will hold kids’ attention! And I just think these dinosaurs are just so cute!

Moo!
Author: David LaRochelle
Illustrator: Mike Wohnoutka
Published October 3, 2013 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: When Cow gets her hooves on the farmer’s car, she takes it for a wild ride through the country. Moooo! But a bump in the road brings this joy ride to a troublesome end. Moo-moo. . . Has Cow learned her lesson about living life in the fast lane? Moo?

Pairing two talented creators who managed to tell a complete story with just one word—MOO—this imaginative picture book will have readers laughing one moment and on the edge of their seats the next, as it captures the highs and lows of a mischievous cow’s very exciting day.

My Review: This book actually made me laugh out loud. Who knew that a whole book written in one word could be so funny! But the way the author italicizes, bold, lengthens, minimizes, etc. the word as well as the cow’s expressions just bring it all to life. I CANNOT wait to read this one to Trent when he’s a bit older because I know he will just giggle. It would be fun in the classroom to discuss what the cow is saying with her moos.

On My Way to Bed
Author: Sara Maizes
Illustrator: Michael Paraskevas
Published September 17, 2013 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Goodreads Summary: Kids everywhere dread the nightly call to go to bed. But not Livi! Her imagination takes her on a journey full of daring obstacles and exciting adventures on her way to bed. She pilots a spaceship, walks a tightrope, and climbs a mountain, all while her Mom waits with her covers turned down and bed ready. With stalling techniques as creative as this, it’s a wonder she ever makes it to bed! Author Sarah Maizes and illustrative veteran, Michael Paraskevas, once again create a funny, fresh book that will be a must for every parent who wants to foster creativity while fulfilling the every day necessities.

My Review: What a great imagination book! The colorful, page-filling illustrations will take you straight into Livi’s imagination and all of the fun things she does (in her mind) before going to bed. A wonderful bedtime story (or daytime story) that will take the reader on an adventure.

All Books Recommended For:

**Thank you to Linette at Bloomsbury for providing copies of these books for review**

Hidden Like Anne Frank: 14 True Stories of Survival by Marcel Prins and Peter Henk Steenhuis

July 31, 2014 by Ricki

Hidden Like Anne Frank: 14 True Stories of Survival
Authors: Marcel Prins and Peter Henk Steenhuis
Published: March 25, 2014 by Arthur A. Levine Books

Summary: Fourteen unforgettable true stories of children hidden away during World War II

Jaap Sitters was only eight years old when his mother cut the yellow stars off his clothes and sent him, alone, on a fifteen-mile walk to hide with relatives. It was a terrifying night, one he would never forget. Before the end of the war, Jaap would hide in secret rooms and behind walls. He would suffer from hunger, sickness, and the looming threat of Nazi raids. But he would live.

This is just one of the incredible stories told in HIDDEN LIKE ANNE FRANK, a collection of eye-opening first-person accounts that share what it was like to go into hiding during World War II. Some children were only three or four years old when they were hidden; some were teenagers. Some hid with neighbors or family, while many were with complete strangers. But all know the pain of losing their homes, their families, even their own names. They describe the secret network of brave people who kept them safe. And they share the coincidences and close escapes that made all the difference.

Review: This collection showed me the misconceptions I had about those who hid during the Holocaust. These fourteen brave, young people showed me the diversity of experiences that existed among the hidden. For example, I didn’t know that it was common that they were beaten. Many people agreed to hide Jews because they were paid money by the Resistance. They didn’t always do it because they were being morally good people, so they did not have favorable feelings toward the people they hid. Also, I wasn’t aware that many of those who hid during the Holocaust moved from house to house and were frequently uprooted. These are just some of the many lessons I learned from this text, and I think readers will truly appreciate the insight it provides.

Teacher’s Tools for Navigation: I don’t know many school systems that don’t teach a book that is set during the Holocaust. If teachers are unable to use this whole text, I would highly recommend they select a few stories to show students how different the experiences were.

Discussion Questions: How did the Holocaust impact those who hid? After the war was over, how did it affect them emotionally?; What dangers did the Jews face when they hid? Would you accept the danger and work with the Resistance?

We Flagged: “My feelings from back then are very distant. I can still see myself as a boy of six, seven, roaming around Amsterdam, ringing doorbells, getting into mischief. I can think about that boy, about his relationship with his father, with his mother, and with his grandfather. But I can’t feel the emotions I had back then—it doesn’t work. I just can’t reach them anymore. Maybe I’ve automatically kept the past at a distance because I had to hide away for years and deny my background. Or maybe it’s just that impossible to relive those feelings from the past, and so I have to make do with memories.” (Chapter: “Older than my Father”)

Please Note: This quotation is from an advanced reader copy. It may be different in the published text.

Read This If You Loved: The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank; The Nazi Hunters by Neal Bascomb; Hidden: A Child’s Story of the Holocaust by Loïc Dauvillier; Night by Elie Wiesel

Recommended For:

Special Announcement: 2014 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Winner

August 17, 2014July 30, 2014 by Kellee

I, along with the entire Amelia Elizabeth Walden Committee, am so happy to share the winner of the 2014 Walden Award:

The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents (ALAN) of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) is pleased and proud to announce the finalists for the 2014 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Award for Young Adult Fiction. Established in 2008 to honor the wishes of young adult author Amelia Elizabeth Walden, the award allows for the sum of $5,000 to be presented annually to the author of a young adult title selected by the ALAN Amelia Elizabeth Walden Book Award Committee as demonstrating a positive approach to life, widespread teen appeal, and literary merit.

The 2014 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Winner is:

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
(St. Martin’s Griffin)

The 2014 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award finalists are:

Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
(Henry Holt / Christy Ottaviano Books)

The Milk of Birds by Sylvia Whitman
(Atheneum Books for Young Readers)

Openly Straight by Bill Konigsberg
(Arthur A. Levine Books)

Winger by Andrew Smith
(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)

All Walden Award titles will be identified by an award sticker—gold for the winner and silver for the four finalists. The winning title and finalists will be honored on at the 2014 ALAN Workshop on Monday, November 24^th at 4:25pm in Washington, D.C. and will be invited to participate in a panel discussion.

The 2014 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Committee would like to thank: the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Foundation, the ALAN Executive Council, the ALAN Board of Directors, NCTE, and the thirty-six publishers who submitted titles for consideration.

The 2014 Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Committee considered nearly 300 young adult titles throughout the process. The committee was comprised of eleven members representing the university, K-12 school, and library communities. They are:

Kellee Moye, Committee Chair
Teacher/Reading Coach
Hunter’s Creek Middle School, Orlando, FL

Lois Buckman, Past Committee Chair
Assistant Librarian
Anderson County Public Library, Anderson, SC

Jonatha Basye
Teacher/Librarian
Bryan Elementary, Hampton, VA

Ernest Cox
Librarian
Prairie Creek Intermediate School, Cedar Rapids, IA

Paul Hankins
English Language & Composition Teacher
Silver Creek High School, Sellersburg, IN

Nancy Johnson
Professor, Children’s/Young Adult Literature & English/Language Arts Education
Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA

Sara Kajder
English Teacher
Shady Side Academy, Pittsburgh, PA

Mark Letcher
Assistant Professor English Education
Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, IN

Suzanne Metcalfe
Librarian
Dimond High School, Anchorage, Alaska

Mindi Rench
Reading Coach/Literacy Coach
Northbrook Junior High School, Northbrook, IL

Lois Stover
Dean – School of Education and Human Services
Marymount University, Arlington, VA

For more information on the award, please visit ALAN Online: The Official Site of the Assembly on Literature for Adolescents http://www.alan-ya.org/

I hope you all plan some time to visit these amazing books! And maybe I will see some of you in November at ALAN?

Check out our reviews of Eleanor & Park, Openly Straight, Jumped In, Winger (Ricki’s, Kellee’s), and The Milk of Birds

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors Who Are Highly Represented in Our Libraries

July 29, 2014July 29, 2014 by Ricki

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

Today’s Topic: Top Ten Authors Who Are Highly Represented in Our Libraries (In other words, we have a LOT of their books!)

Ricki

1. John Green

I own everything he has written. In fact, I have multiple copies of most of his books.

2. Kristin Cashore

I love this woman, and I could never give up the several copies I have of each of her books.

3. Jodi Picoult

I’ve only read three of her books, but I must own ten of them.

4. Matt de la Peña

I also own every book by this awesome guy. He is an incredible author.

5. Chris Crutcher

Who doesn’t love Chris Crutcher? I have quite the Crutcher collection.

Honorable Mention: John Steinbeck. But I thought it was boring to put him on my list.

Kellee

#1-2 are from my home library, #3-5 are from my classroom library. This, like most of the TTT lists, was really hard for me because there are many other authors I could have included.. And I have to preface with the fact that these are the authors who I own the most books by, not the authors I’ve read the most.

1. Ernest Hemingway

During my literature degree, I was introduced first to Hemingway’s short stories then Sun Also Rises, and I fell in love with how he wrote. Since then I have only read Old Man and the Sea and A Farewell to Arms, but I own most of his books so I can, in my lifetime, read them all.

2. Carl Hiaasen

Carl Hiaasen is one of my dad’s favorite authors, and he introduced him to me while I was in college with Stormy Weather. Since then Hiaasen has also started writing MG and YA books, so I am happy to be able to promote him at school as well. And even though I haven’t read as many as I want to, I own MANY of Hiaasen’s books, and plan on reading all of them.

3. Anthony Horowitz

I LOVE his Alex Rider series as well as his Gatekeeper series (though I haven’t read it yet!), and my students love his books as well. I own all but 2 of his books, and even multiple copies of many of his books.

4. Roald Dahl

Dahl and Horowitz are the ones on the list who I have read the most of. Dahl was one of my favorite childhood authors, so I made sure to have his books in my classroom library for my students.

5. Margaret Paterson Haddix

Kids love Haddix! I own everything she has written, because I know it will get reader. Also, I really adored her Shadow Children series (I’ve read all but the last one. What is wrong with me?!), so I love sharing it with my kids.

Which authors make statements in your library?

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It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? 7/28/14

July 27, 2015July 28, 2014 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

Tuesday: Top Ten Characters We Would Want With us on a Deserted Island

Friday: Candlewick Press Picture Books

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee: First, I want to apologize to anyone who feels that I have not been visiting their blog. Last week, after commenting on many blogs, I went back to visit one and did not see my comment. After talking with the blog author, I realized my comment just disappeared. I started looking at some of the other blogs and past weeks, and I could not find my comments. It seems they were just never getting posted! 🙁 I promise I read your blogs! I worked with some of you, and I think I figured out a solution (I have to enter the comment and spam number/words a couple of times and click post), so hopefully I will not have this problem in the future.

This week I continued to reread for my committee commitments, but I did finish Touched by Paul Mauer and a collection of Peanuts comics. I look forward to sharing Touched with you. It is quite an intense read, and one that high schoolers will truly connect with. I also was able to start reading Boys of Blur by N.D. Wilson. I am not very far into it, but I do find that it is very lyrical and descriptive. I hope I enjoy it as much as others have.

With Trent, we read mostly Mo Willems’s books this week: three Cat the Cat books and three Elephant and Piggie books. I really love the Cat the Cat books, and I know they are going to be a favorite when he is a little bit older. They are interactive, and simple, yet so much fun. I read Elephant and Piggie: Are You Ready to Play Outside? for the first time, and it is one of the best E&P books I’ve read. I love when Gerald is being down to earth, and in this one he is just a super friend. Finally, we also read Naked by Michael Ian Black, and it made me laugh out loud! Have you read it? If not, it will surely make you giggle.

Ricki: I finished an incredible professional development book: Critical Encounters in High School English by Deborah Appleman. The book provides scaffolded lessons to teach literary theory to students. One aspect I liked about this book was that Appleman stresses that literary theory is not just for AP English students. She provides lessons and ideas for all levels of students between grades 6 and 12. This book made me really excited about literary theory. The activities in the appendix are wonderful. I will be writing an extensive blog post about this book soon. I need a few days to digest it all!

Henry and I read seven picture books this week! Our favorite was My Pet Book by Bob Staake. It was very fun to read. We also loved the nonfiction book, The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins. This book proves that nonfiction picture books can be quite marvelous. If you are looking to teach metaphors, I would recommend checking out Ninja Boy Goes to School by N. D. Wilson. The other books we read were just okay, so we won’t share them. 🙂

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee: I go back to work today, so I am going to have to work on figuring out the balance between being a mom, working, and reading (future blog post about this). I do hope to finish Boys of Blur and then get to brown girl dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (thank you Holly!). I also plan on reading a couple of more Elephant and Piggie books with Trent, and then we’ll delve into other picture books we got from the library.

Ricki: This week, I plan to finish Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick. I am also reading the textbook, Young Adult Literature in the 21st Century by Pam Cole. I am listening to The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin—which is excellent thus far.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: Authors Who Are Highly Represented in Our Libraries

Wednesday: Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Winner Announcement

Friday: Bloomsbury Picture Books

So, what are you reading?

and

Kellee’s Recently Loved Picture Books from Candlewick Press: Paul Meets Bernadette by Rosy Lamb, Forever by Emma Dodd, A is for Awesome by Dallas Clayton, Picnic by John Burningham, The Way to the Zoo by John Burningham, & Dinosaur Kisses by David Ezra Stein

August 18, 2016July 25, 2014 by Kellee

Over the last couple of months, I have read quite a few amazing picture books from Candlewick Press, so I wanted to share them all with you.

Paul Meets Bernadette
Author: Rosy Lamb
Published December 10, 2013 by Candlewick Press

Goodreads Summary: Visual humor sweetens an artful tale about a fish who suddenly sees everything a new way — thanks to a charismatic companion.

Paul is a fish who used to go around in circles. He made big circles and little circles. He circled from left to right and from right to left. He circled from top to bottom and from bottom to top. What else was there to do? Until one day Bernadette drops in and shows Paul that there is a whole world out there, right outside his bowl, with so many things to see. A banana-shaped boat! A blue elephant with a spoutlike trunk (be quiet when she’s feeding her babies)! A lovely lunetta butterfly, with tortoise-shell rims! Simple saturated paintings play off this charming ode to an active imagination — and the way that life changes when a bewitching creature opens your eyes.

My Review: This is a special book about thinking outside of your world and exploring. I think it is a good book for young and old because it makes you think about what you are missing out on by limiting yourself. It also is fun because Bernadette isn’t sure of her surroundings as they are new to her, and she makes up fun stories about the things she sees. This would be so much fun to do with young readers. But what pushes this book above many other picture books are its beautiful illustrations. You will not be disappointed.

Forever
Author: Emma Dodd
Published October 22, 2013 by Templar

Goodreads Summary:

If you’re ever feeling scared,
I’ll be right beside you.
If you’re ever feeling lost,
know that I will find you.

A little polar bear discovers that through life’s ups and downs, a parent’s love lasts forever.

My Review: There are a lot of “I Love You Baby” books out there, but few of them make me cry and make me want to reread them to my son. This is one that did. It is heartfelt, lyrical, and the illustrations are so sweet.

A is for Awesome
Author: Dallas Clayton
Published March 11, 2014 by Candlewick

Goodreads Summary: Inspirational artist Dallas Clayton infuses his trademark whimsical art and positive message into an absolutely awesome alphabet book.

Alliterative and rhyming words of wisdom surrounded by all new art fill this energetic alphabet book by Dallas Clayton. Bursting with color and life, each spread offers a rhythmic phrase and an abundance of artwork illustrating the featured letter. The message of dreaming big and living life to its fullest permeates every page, inviting readers to “learn some new letters that you can use to make magical words and share big ideas.”

My Review: Dallas Clayton has a way of making you feel happy whenever you read his books. This one is no exception. His alphabet book focuses on the positive like “D is for dreaming things never expected” and “I is imagine ideas all your own”. Then in the background there are fun little drawings of other things that start with the letter. This is one of my favorite alphabet books.

Picnic
Author: John Burningham
Published May 13, 2014 Candlewick Press (first published August 1, 2013)

Goodreads Summary: The renowned John Burningham is in classic form with a simple story of a boy, a girl, and some animal friends that invites the child listener to join in.

One day, Boy and Girl head down the hill with a picnic basket and meet a fancily dressed Sheep, Pig, and Duck. They all set off to find the perfect place to sit outside — until they see Bull coming! A short-lived chase segues into a gentle interactive text as the friends wend their way from an idyllic outdoor world to a welcoming house on a hill. (Can you find Pig’s ball? Shall we find your bed?) In a charmingly understated tale with child-friendly illustrations and a hint of sly humor, John Burningham evokes a perfect summer day with a fresh new picture book.

My Review: What a fun picture book for summer! I also really like how the author makes the reader part of the story and asks the reader questions. It will definitely make children love this book even more.

The Way to the Zoo
Author: John Burningham
Expected publication August 26, 2014 by Candlewick Press

Goodreads Summary: In her bedroom wall, Sylvie spots a door … and beyond that door she finds a passage … and beyond the passage she discovers … the ZOO! Where Sylvie finds LOTS of animals, looking at her! So she decides to bring a few small ones, like a little bear, into her bedroom at night time, just for a cuddle. And then she takes the penguins back for a splashy bath. Once, she even brings back the monkeys but, really, they were too messy. No matter what Sylvie does though, she always makes sure to close the door in her bedroom wall. Until, one day, she forgets…

My Review: This is a silly book that promotes imagination and curiosity. It’ll also be a huge hit for animal lovers.

Dinosaur Kisses
Author: David Ezra Stein
Published August 6, 2013 by Candlewick Press

Goodreads Summary: WHOMP! An energetic young dinosaur figures out her own way to give a kiss in the latest from the creator of the Caldecott Honor–winning Interrupting Chicken.

For newly hatched dinosaur Dinah, the world is an exciting place. There is so much to see and do. She tries this — STOMP! And she tries that — CHOMP! Then she sees a kiss and knows just what she wants to try next. Who can she kiss? And after a few disastrous attempts, can she figure out how to give someone a kiss without whomping, chomping, or stomping them first? Young children will chuckle and cheer when Dinah finds just the right creature for her dinosaur kisses in this funny new picture book from David Ezra Stein.

My Review: I love Dinah! She is just running crazy and so happy and trying all the new things in her life. This is a funny book that I can imagine kids wanting to read over and over.

All Recommended For:

Next week I’ll share some more great picture books from Bloomsbury!

**Thank you Tracy and Rachel at Candlewick for providing copies of these books for review**