Guess How Much I Love You

Guess How Much I Love You

By Sam McBratney; Candlewick Press 1994

Summary: Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare discover that love isn’t an easy thing to measure. They find ways of describing and showing how great their feelings are for each other.

My Review: This was such a cute book! The water colored pictures in this book are amazing. I love Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare. They do really silly things to measure their love for one another. Definitely a must read.

Runaway Marie Louise

Runaway Maria Louise
By Natalie Savage Carlson;  Charles Scribner's Sons 1977


Summary: Marie Louise is a little brown mongoose who, on occasion, acts naughty. Her mother spanks her after Marie Louise's naughty behavior and Marie decides to runaway and find a new mother who will love her.


My Review: This is has always been a childhood favorite. My mother would read this to me and my siblings when were were little. I always put myself has Maria Louise because I was a naughty child. Ha Ha. I love the search Maria goes through in finding a new mother that will love her. The different animals she tries to convince to take her in and gets shut down by just cracks me up. The ironic thing of it is that she finds out that it is her own mother that is the best and the one that loves her the most.

Watch Out For: Runaways, naughty behavior.

The Littlest Angel

The Littlest Angel
by Charles Tazewell; Ideals Children's Books 1947


Summary: An earth-sick little angel arrives in the celestial kingdom. He because known as the cherub who gets into trouble. The Littlest Angel, as they call him, is struggling with his recent transition from boy to cherub.Will the Little Angel resolve his sadly state and find happiness?

My Review: I absolutely love this book. This is the first time I have ever read this story and it was amazing. I have always heard of it, but thought nothing of it, until now. Let me first say that the illustrations are incredible. The people's faces and the scenery look so real to me. The Littlest Angel is adorable! The story is so deep and insightful and it made me even choke up a bit. I love it!


Watch Out For:  Religious mentioning.

Heckedy Peg

Heckedy Peg
by Audrey Wood; Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1987

Summary: A mother saves her seven children named Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from Heckedy Peg, a witch who has changed them into different kinds of food.

My Review: I officially love the couple Audrey Wood and her husband Don Wood! Their books have interesting stories that keep you enthralled and guessing the whole time. This of all their book is the most dramatic and a tad bit scary. Heckedy Peg is one scary old woman. I was terrified! The illustrations are unbelievable. Each page is full of intricate detail and color. I really enjoyed this book because of the pictures.

Watch Out For: Heckedy Peg, Magic, abduction,  and mentioning of eating the children.

The Bunyans

The Bunyans

by Audrey Wood; Blue Sky Press 1996

Summary: You may have heard of Paul Bunyan who was taller than the biggest tree, but have you heard of his family?  Meet Paul, his giant wife Carrie, and their two king-sized children Little Jean and Teeny. This is a family who helps create some of the most striking natural wonders of North America!  Through their footprints and adventures they create infamous sites such as the Rocky Mountains, Old Faithful, and Niagara Falls. They are a family you will never forget.

My Review: My Aunt introduced me to this book when I was a little girl and I've loved it ever since. The idea of the ginormous Paul Bunyan having a family is mind boggling. While reading through the book you see how the Bunyan family shapes out the geological sites in North America. The illustrations in this picture book are incredible. My favorite picture is the one with Paul Bunyan and his son Jean walking away from a pile of sand dumped from Jeans shoes. That pile of sand is known as the Great Sand Dunes today! I was so blown away that a National Park near my home is in a children's book. Its an awesome book.

The Lorax

The Lorax
by Dr. Suess; Random House Books 1971

Summary: The Once-ler discovers a land full of Truffula Trees that he can use to make Thneeds. He starts up an industrial business where he hacks down the Truffulas. The Lorax, the speaker of the trees, protests and pleads with the Once-ler. Once-ler won't stop until the last Truffula falls down. By then will it be too late for the entire ecosystem?

My Review: I don't really know how I feel about this book. It is definately not my favorite by Dr. Suess. I found the illistrations to be very well done as always when it comes to his books. The wording creative and definately catchy with the rhymns.  This is a enivormental children's book, so in other words very "tree-huggie." The message is about being aware of the enviroment and how we can damage it with productions. I'm not that big of a fan of it.
 
Watch Out For: Pollution, ecosytems being wiped out, and the faceless Onceler.

ABC Math Riddles

ABC Math Riddles
by Jannelle Martin; Peel Productions 2003

Summary: A collection of 26 riddles, one for each letter int he alphabet, that describes mathmatical operations, shapes, and other concepts and ask the reader "What am I?"

 My Review: Ok I must be an idiot. This book was difficult for me because I don't really remeber math terms that well. I think it would be a great book for those children who are studying and learning about this area of mathmatics.  This is a nofiction book, which I am not a big fan off, but it was worth a try. Overall I would rate it as OK. The illistrations were not all that exciting.

Tilly Witch

Tilly Witch
By Don Freeman; Viking Press 1969

Summary: One bright moonlit night, Tilly Ispswitch, Queen of Halloween, stood atop her high mountain peak and sighed, "My, my! What a lovely evening! It makes me feel like being kind to everyone in the world especially children."
I know what you are thinking. What the? Tilly is in a great mood and cannot get out of it. Halloween is hear and how is she suppose to frighten children when she is smiling? Tilly gets on her surfboard to visit the witch doctor who sends her to  Miss Fitch's Finishing School for Witches. Will Tilly find her oldself by Halloween?

My Review: My aunt would read thsi to me and my cousin when we were little girls. I remember her changing her voice into sounding like a witch. My cousin and I would giggle and enjoy every minute of the book. Tilly is such a fun character. A witch who forgets to mean? Common! That is hilarious! The illistrations are very well done. Look below for examples of the pictures.

Things to Watch Out For: Halloweens stuff, training school to be a mean witch, witchdoctor with tiki mask.

The Great Kapok Tree

The Great Kapok Tree
by Lynne Cherry
;The Gulliver Green Book Harcourt, INC. 1990


Summary: The many different animals that live in a great kapok tree in the Brazilian rain forest try to convince a man with an ax of the importance of not cutting down their home.


My Review: I have never been one of those people who is into these tree-hugging type of books, but I really like this one because of the art! Each pictures is vibrant with color and texture. The animals are drawn to perfection! The story line is very well done done. It was a good read.

Things to Watch Out For: Message about saving the rain forest.

The Relatives Came

The Relatives Came

by Cythia Rylant; Bradury Press 1985

Summary: 

It was the summer of the year when the relatives came. The relatives stayed for weeks and weeks. They helped tend the garden and fixed the broken things. They ate up the strawberries and melons. We were always so busy hugging and eating and breathing together.

My Review: This is such an intriguing book to me. The one thing I love about it is the illustrations. The pictures are all in color pencil. The faces and the scenery are so serial. Its a cute book about love and family.
  

White Socks Only

White Socks Only
By Evelyn Coleman;Albert Whitman & Company 1996

Summary: 

"You know you ain't big enough to walk into no town alone, girl. 

You ain't big enough 'til you gon' do some good there." 

A young African American girl sneaks into town on a hot summer day to fry eggs on the sidewalk. She is wearing a nice white summer dress, cool white socks, and black patented leather shoes. She faces discrimination while she drinks from a water fountain in the park. The sign on the fountain says "whites only." She thought that "whites only" meant white socks only.


My Review: This book makes me so sad. Just to read about a little girl who misunderstood "whites only" for socks makes my heart just break. the saddest thing is when the man yells at the little girl because she misunderstood the sign, but the happy news is that chicken man comes the rescue! I thoroughly enjoy this book.

Things to Watch Out For: Discrimination and mild violence

The Seven Silly Eaters

The Seven Silly Eaters
by Marla Frazze;Voyager Books 1997


Summary:Peter wants only milk, Lucy won't settle for anything except pink lemonade, and Jack is stuck on applesauce. Each new addition to the Peters household brings a new demand for a special meal. What's a mother to do? Even though Mrs. Peters picks, peels, strains, scrapes, poaches, fries, and kneads, the requests for special foods keep coming. It isn't until her birthday arrives that a present from her children solves the picky-eater problem and surprises everyone.


My Review: The first time I read this book was at my aunts house and ever since then it  has been one of my favorites. I admire Mrs. Peters so much. Any mother who deals with picky eaters is a saint in my eyes. This is also a rhyming book which makes it really  fun and enjoyable.


Things to Watch Out For: Picky eaters

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 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

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.

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!