Julius

Julius, The Baby of the World
by Kevin Henkes; Greenwillow Books 1990


Summary: Lilly cannot understand why her parent are making such a big fuss on her new brother Julius. He is disgusting, smelly, beady-eyed germ baby. Will she have a change of heart?

My Review: This was a fun book. Lilly cracks me up with her schemes and attempts to deal with Julius. It is a hilarious story and the illustrations will keep you laughing.

Things to Watch Out For: Lilly sometimes makes fun of Julius and says thinks like I hate you

The Princess and the Pea

The Princess and the Pea
By Hans Christian Andersen;C. A. Reitzel 1835

Summary: A prince wants to marry a princess, but has some difficulties because he cannot be determine if they are real princesses. On a stormy night a young woman comes to the castle claiming to a be a princess.The prince's mother decides to test the young woman by putting a pea under 20 mattresses and featherbeds for the night. Only a real princess has the sensitivity to feel a pea through a large amount of bedding.

My Review: This is such a fun story. I've always loved this story because I dreamed of being a princess when I was little. I have to admit that I did try putting a pea under my bed, but alas I felt nothing.

The Steadfast Tin Soldier

 The Steadfast Tin Soldier
by Hans Christian Andersen;C. A. Reitzel 1838

Summary: A tin toy soldier with who stands on a single leg sees a paper ballerina with a spangle on her sash, who stands on one leg also. They fall in love. A troll warns the soldier to take his eyes off the ballerina, but the soldier ignores this warning. When the soldier falls from the windowsill the soldier finds himself in a wild adventure which leads him back home to the ballerina for an epic ending. 

My Review: This is one of my favorite fairytales. I love the love story between the ballerina and the tin soldier. I think it is one of those tragically beautiful stories that lift up your heart.

Things to Watch Out For: Fire, Troll, a rat, a fish being caught and cut open, and evil little boys.

The Ugly Duckling

The Ugly Duckling
By Hans Christian Andersen;C.A. Reitzel 1843

Summary: An ugly duckling is born  and recieves abuse from the farmyard neighbors. He wanders  alone for some time trying to find his place in the world. He is taking in by some and rejected by others. He suffers through a long winter and comes to find himself in the spring.

My Review: I think that this is an incredibly sad story. When I read this version of the ugly duckling I felt so sorry for him. I don't like it when he has to suffer from the abuse of the other animals, humans, and himself. The ending always makes me happy because through a journey of self discovery and trials you come to realize how beautiful you really are. I adore this fairy-tale!


Things to Watch Out For: verbal and physical abuse from humans and framyard animals,hunters, shooting, vows of rather to be killed instead of suffering

The Story of Ruby Bridges

The Story of Ruby Bridges
By Robert Coles; Scholastic Inc.1995


Summary: Ruby Bridges is six-years-old when she is asked to be the first black child to attend an all white elementary school during the civil rights movement and desegregation in New Orleans in 1960.


My Review: I first heard about this book in my education class. A girl read it out loud and I loved it. I just read it for the first time and I think it is a remarkable true story. Ruby Bridges had so much courage to stand alone in the face of racism. She is a hero in my eyes and I love this true story. I love this children's book because it teaches young children about racism and forgiveness.  It is definitely a must read.


Things to Watch Out For: Riots, civil rights movement, and racism.

Love You Forever

Love You Forever
By Robert Munsch; Firefly Books 1986

Summary:

 I'll love you forever

I"ll like you for always

As long as I'm living

My baby you'll be.

My Review: This is by far my favorite children's book ever! I recall those days of my school teachers reading it to my entire class. I also remember my best friend and I using the saying over and over. Whenever I give someone a book for a present I usually will write that saying in it. This story is beautiful. It honestly makes me cry. I love the relationship between the boy and his mother. It is a timeless book that is so worth reading!

Things to Watch Out For: Death

Beauty

Beauty: A retelling of the story 

Beauty & the Beast

By Robin McKinley; HarperTrophy 1978

Summary: Beauty has never liked her nick name. She has always thought she was the plainest girl in the family. She is thin, awkward, and undersized. When her father comes home with a strange tale about an enchanted castle with a beast inside and about the terrible promise he has made with the Beast. Beauty must go to the castle and tame the Beast.

My Review: I actually stayed up all night to finish this book. I have always been drawn to the tale of Beauty and the Beast because of its enchanting tale. I have this special attachment to Beauty because she is a lover of books and she works hard. The Beast to me has always been attractive even though he is a monster who wears clothes!

Things to Watch Out For: The Beast on occasions, enchantments, threats, unusual arrangements.

The Missing Piece Meets the Big O

The Missing Piece
Meets the Big O
by Shel Silverstein;
Harper Collins Publishers 1981

Summary:                                         

The missing piece sat alone

waiting for  someone

to come along
and take it somewhere

My Review: This was such a cute book. Shel Silverstein is an incredible author. His stories always make me laugh and cry. The missing piece was a cute little triangle that just wanted to be apart of something and to become whole. The cool thing about this book is that you can suppliment any kind of situation. Like relationships for example. Sometimes guys never quite fit with you and so you are left alone to try to become a whole.

Round Trip

Round Trip
By Ann Jonas; Greenwillow Books 1983

Summary: Black and white illustrations and text record the sights on a day trip to the city and back home again to the country.

My Review: This book is so cool! I love the black and white illustrations in this children's book. The coolest thing about this book is that you have to turn it upside down to read the rest of the story. I really enjoyed it and I think kids will too.

Cinderella

Cinderella 
K.Y.Craft- Chronicle Books 2000


Summary:Cinderella is a forever-loved story about a maiden  who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters, meets her fairy godmother, and has a magical night.


My Review: Cinderella has always been a fairytale favorite for me. I love the glass slippers, the pumpkin that turns into a carriage, the stroke of midnight, and happily ever afters. I loved the illustrations in this re-telling especially. I thought that they were well done.


Things to Watch Out For: Evil stepmothers and stepsisters and magic.

The Life Cycle of Turtles

The Life Cycle of Turtles
by Bobbie Kalman;Crabtree Publishing Company 2002

Summary: Describes how sea turtles develop from eggs to adult turtles and migrate long distances, talks about the dangers they face from animal and human predators, and suggests ways children can help.

My Review: Sea turtles are my favorite animals. I have been fascinated by them for some time. In this book it shows the different kinds of sea turtles throughout history. It gives facts about their life cycle, birth, diet, etc.. I kinda got choked up at one part of this book because it showed a turtle turned upside down and all of her eggs broken. I really enjoyed this non fiction book about sea turtles

Things to Watch Out For: Dangers sea turtles face like predators, humans, weather, pollution, etc...

Miss Nelson is Missing!

Miss Nelson is Missing!
By Harry Allard; Houghton Mifflin Company Boston 1977

Summary: The Kids in Room 207 take advantage of their teacher's good nature until she disappears and they are faced with a vile substitute.

My Review: This is seriously one of my favorite books of all time! I recall sitting in the classroom listening to my 1st grade teacher reading this to us. She told us that if we are naughty she was going to call Viola Swamp in to teach us a lesson. So of course we were good! But seriously this is beyond funny!

Things to Watch Out For: Viola Swamp!

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Bill Martin, Henry Holt and Company 1967

Summary: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, takes the reader on a journey through animals and colors.

My Review: Through repetition and illustrations this book is loved by all!   It is such an excellent book for little children. It really helps them learn colors and animals. I really like this book!

Tuck Everlasting

Tuck Everlasting

By  Natalie Babbitt; Farrar 1975

Summary: Winifred a ten-year-old rich girl longs to go outside the fence. When traveling through the her family's forest she comes upon Jesse Tuck drinking from a spring. Soon Winifred is thrown into the Tucks life and is keeping thier extraordinary secret. This secret transforms her life and it leads her to make a noteworthy decision.

My Review: Its interesting to see the changes and feelings I have since I've last read this book. I remember reading this when I was in the sixth grade and walking away feeling nothing at all. Now I feel so many things. I admire Winifred and the decisions she makes in this book. She is an amazing girl who just wants to be free and have fun. The Tucks are those naturally good people who love each other and do whats best for thier family.  I really like this book and suggest you see the movie as well. Jesse is both beautiful in the movie and the book. Just saying!

Things to Watch Out For: The man in the yellow suit, violence, death, eternity type dealings.

Movie Trailer:

We're Going on a Bear Hunt

We're Going on a Bear Hunt
By Micheal Rosen; Aladdin 1989

Summary:

We're going on a bear hunt.

We're going to catch a big one.

We're not scared.

What a beautiful day!

We're not scared.

My Review: I recall those days in elementry gathering around my teacher's feet so excited for her to read this book. We would all sing the words and do the actions while she read along. Through grass, water, mud, woods, and storm the charcters traveled to locate a bear. Ther is this feeling of sespence everytime the characters reach a stopping point and it makes the wait worth it.

 The illistrations and rhyming really gets kids into the book and crazies like me.

It is just a fun book that makes you smile.

It is one of my all time favorites. So read it!

Things to Watch Out For: BEAR!!!

The Little Mouse...

The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, 

and The Big Hungry Bear
By Don and Audrey Wood; Child's Play 1984

Summary: Who likes Strawberries? Well the mouse certainly does. The bear most definately does? But what about the reader?

My Review: I thought that this was a well done Children's book. The illustrations and wording were excellent. I couldn't help but very nervous for the mouse who picked the strawberry that hungry bears like to eat. The illustrations are bright and fun and sure to catch a child's eye.  I  seriously muttered "awww that was cute" at the end of the story. I really enjoyed it!

Things to Watch Out For:  Strawberry cravings.