Matilda

Matilda - Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake
Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-224-02572-4

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

"Matilda" is the story about a young girl born into a family who seems to not want her. She spends most of her time reading, making herself a genius before even starting school, which is run by the nefarious Ms. Trunchbull. This book is a fun read that kids will really get into. I feel that this book is one of Dahl's best.

Additionally, there is a movie adaptation of this book, which is also good. Like any other movie based a pre-existing book, I would recommend using it along with the original text. It can help show that even though movies show a lot, books are usually better because they can incorporate a lot that movies just cannot.

"Matilda" is one of Dahl's best books and I would strongly recommend it.

Beethoven Lives Upstairs

Beethoven Lives Upstairs – Barbara Nichol, illustrated by Scott Cameron
Orchard Books
ISBN: 0-531-06828-5

My rating: 4 out of 5

This is the fictional story about a boy writing to his uncle about a person who has moved into he and his mother’s attic – Ludwig von Beethoven. Even thought the correspondence between the nephew and uncle are fiction, the incidents that Beethoven goes through are quite real. This book really showed some of the struggles he went through in order to finish his music, even after he was completely deaf. It gave a personality to a man who has been dead for many many years. The book also discusses the creation of the well-known “Ninth Symphony” that most students have probably heard in the past.

The illustrations in this book are rich and detailed oil-paintings. The colors and shadows really give a sense of sunlight and candlelight, which is very hard to do. I really like these illustrations and think that they add a whole new dimension to this story.

“Beethoven Lives Upstairs” would be great to use to introduce classical music to students.

Oh, No! Where Are My Pants? And Other Disasters: Poems

Oh, No! Where Are My Pants? And Other Disasters: Poems – Lee Bennett Hopkins (editor), illustrated by Wolf Erlbruch
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0-688-17860-X

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

This anthology of disaster poems is very well done. There are a wide variety of poems in here from the very silly to the very serious. I liked how this was done and all of the poems selected for this book are very appropriate. I like how there were a few serious poems included in this book. They are pretty relatable, with subjects such as the death of a pet or a friend moving away. Most of us have experienced these and because of this, these can serve as gateways into teaching the fundamentals of poetry and how it’s more than just writing rhymes – it’s writing to convey feeling.

I enjoyed the illustrations in this book. They really captured the spirit of each poem and pretty much told the entire story without actually needing to read the poem.

“Oh, No! Where Are My Pants?” is a great book to use to introduce poetry to children. I would recommend buying this to put into your classroom library.

The Time Warp Trio: Knights of the Kitchen Table

The Time Warp Trio: Knights of the Kitchen Table – Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith
Viking Press
ISBN: 0-670-83622-2

My rating: 5 out of 5

This is the hilarious story of three friends who get tossed back in time to the age of King Arthur. While trying to find a way home, they must deal with the villainous Black Knight, a giant, a dragon, and Merlin the Wizard. I really loved the interactions between the three boys in this book. They act and talk to each other just like real kids do. I would recommend this book both kids and adults because the comedy in this book is something people of all ages will laugh at.

This would be a great book to use to read-aloud to kids over the course of a week or two. The chapters are short, simple, and easy to follow. After reading “Knights of the Kitchen Table,” kids will want to go and read more books in this series (I know I do).

Dinosaur Mummies: Beyond Bare-Bone Fossils

Dinosaur Mummies: Beyond Bare-Bone Fossils – Kelly Milner Halls, illustrated by Rick Spears
Darby Creek Publishing
ISBN: 1-58196-000-X

My rating: 4 out of 5

This highly informative book tells about fossilized dinosaurs and important dinosaur fossil discoveries. This is definitely not a real-aloud book – there is simply too much content. Kids should certainly be encouraged to read this on their own, especially if they enjoy dinosaurs. The author clearly shows a passion for dinosaurs and she conveys that through her book. Halls is a qualified author for a book like this because she has spent time actually working at dig-sites along with dinosaur archeologists. She has written about dinosaurs quite a bit in publications spanning from the “Chicago Tribune” to “Highlights for Children.”

There are a wide variety of pictures in this book ranging from diagrams, to artistic depictions, to actual photographs of fossils and people. This book is more than just a lot of text, which is what you really need in a book for kids.

I would highly recommend “Dinosaur Mummies” when using doing a unit on dinosaurs. It can serve as an additional resource that I think kids will enjoy looking at.

Kingdom of the Sun: A Book of the Planets

Kingdom of the Sun: A Book of the Planets – Jacqueline Mitton & Christina Balit
National Geographic Society
ISBN: 0-7922-7220-X

My rating: 4 out of 5

Each body in the solar system was named after a Roman or Greek god or goddess. This book shows readers why certain names were given to certain planets. The stories are told as if the planet was telling them and explaining their connection with the mythological beings of the past. I myself learned something after reading this book – the sun was named Helios and the moon was named Selene by the Greeks.

I love the illustrations in this book. The first thing that jumped out at me was that the gold color that is used is actually a metallic/foil-like gold that reflects light. Each planet is richly illustrated by a picture of the corresponding Greek/Roman god/goddess in a modernized Greco-Roman style.

“Kingdom of the Sun” is a great book with stunning visuals that I think kids will really enjoy.

Nature’s Paintbrush: The Patterns and Colors Around You

Nature’s Paintbrush: The Patterns and Colors Around You – Susan Stockdale (also illustrated)
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0-689-81081-4

My rating: 4 out of 5

This book tells students of different colors and patterns found in nature. The main thing she shows reader is how different animals can blend-in with their surroundings in order to protect themselves. She uses simple, colorful illustrations that really make the images jump out at you. I enjoyed this book and think that children will like it too.

“Nature’s Paintbrush” would be a great book to use in a science unit discussing animals and their environment.

Pish and Posh

Pish and Posh – Barbara Bottner (also illustrated) and Gerald Kruglik
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0-06-051418-3

My rating: 3.5 out of 5

“Pish and Posh” is the story about two girls, Pish and Posh, who discover a fairy handbook. Posh attempts a few magic tricks from the book to make her life easier, but they all seem to backfire. This book is designed for developing readers who may need assistance with some words. I liked this story, especially the silliness and simplicity of it, but there were a few things I did not like. One minor thing is that, on the back cover, it states that Pish and Posh are best friends, but when you read the story, Pish looks and acts more like a mother-like figure. There were times that I was not sure if they were supposed to be just friends or a mother and daughter. The main thing I did not like about this though was in the dialogue. At some points in the book, it was tricky to catch just who was talking. It was not too bad for me, but for beginning readers, it may be confusing for them.

“Pish and Posh” would not be my strongest recommendation, but it is still a good, funny book that I think younger kids would like.

The Enormous Crocodile

The Enormous Crocodile - Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake
Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-140-36556-7

My rating: 4 out of 5

"The Enormous Crocodile" is the story about a very hungry crocodile who is on a mission to eat a child. Along the way, he talks to other animals in the jungle who try and stop him. This book is a very quick read. I like how Dahl incorporates his characters the Roly-Poly Bird and Muggle-Wump from his other work, "The Twits" into this story. This story is a fun one that, in a way, reminds me of classic "Looney Tunes" cartoon shorts. The illustrations are fun and simple and really add to the animated feel of the story.

"The Enormous Crocodile" is a quick, short read, but is also fun and entertaining at the same time.

Hatchet

Hatchet - Gary Paulsen
Newbery Honor Book
Scholastic, Inc.
ISBN: 0-590-98182-X

My rating: 5 out of 5

"Hatchet" is the story of thirteen year-old Brian whose plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness. With only a hatchet, Brian must learn to survive. I remember reading this book in grade school and it is just as good now as it was then. Paulsen carefully crafts this tale of survival very well and readers will be hooked from the very first chapter.

I really liked how Paulsen shows the reader how Brian changes over time. We get to see how he grows from a scared little boy to a confident and self-reliant young man. After reading this book, readers, myself included, will want to rush out to the library and check out all of the sequels (even though this story is self-contained, there are other books that deal with what happens to Brian after he is rescued and at least one that deals with the scenerio of "what if Brian wasn't rescued and had to deal with the winter?")

"Hatchet" is a fantastic book that will certainly hook it's readers. Chances are, those who do not like to read just may read this one and discover that they really like it.

Jack and the Beanstalk

Jack and the Beanstalk - E. Nesbit, illustrated by Matt Tavares
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 0-7636-2124-2

My rating: 4 out of 5

This story is a bit more descriptive than what I was used to for “Jack and the Beanstalk.” Despite it’s length, I thought it was pretty good. I’m not really sure that I liked how the land The Giant ruled first belonged to Jack’s father. That seemed a little much for me because it created more questions in my mind than answers. There is one line in this book that I feel some people may take the wrong way: “Jack screamed to his mother for a chopper, and, like the good woman she was, she brought it without asking what it was for (emphasis added).” Some may interpret that as saying that “good” women do not ask questions when told by a male to do something. I feel that line could have been worded a lot differently.

I really liked the illustrations in this book. They are done very realistically and show what is going on very well.

This version of “Jack and the Beanstalk” may be a little too long to use as a read-aloud, but I think that kids would enjoy reading this.

The Emperor’s New Clothes

The Emperor’s New Clothes - Hans Christian Anderson, translated by Naomi Lewis, and illustrated by Angela Barrett
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 0-7636-0119-5

My rating: 4 out of 5

This book tells the classic tale of a self-centered emperor who gets tricked by two swindlers into wearing nothing. The emperor, of course, thinks he’s wearing an outfit of fine material that is invisible to anyone “unfit for their job or particularly stupid.” This story is a good one that has a good moral –

The illustrations are done realistically and are very detailed. As a dog lover, I liked how various breeds of dog make appearances all throughout the book. Because the illustrations are so good, I can see some parents challenging this book. On the last page, it shows the king, from the backside, completely naked. Even though it’s used for comedic effect, teachers should show caution if they decide to use this book.

“The Emperor’s New Clothes” is a good adaptation of this classic tale.

The Steadfast Tin Soldier

The Steadfast Tin Soldier - Rachel Isadora
G.P. Putnam’s Sons
ISBN: 0-399-22676-1

My rating: 3 out of 5

This story about a one-legged tin soldier is a good one. The soldier gets knocked out of the windowsill and ends up going on a journey through the storm drains, the canal, and even a fish. I thought that having the soldier have only one leg did not make a difference in the story, because things probably would have ended up the same way, even if he had two. I thought it was a good thing to do this because it can show children that even though someone may only have one leg, they can still do things just as well as those with two.

The only part I did not like about this book was the end of the story. It looks as if all is going well when, all of a sudden, the soldier gets knocked into the stove. I feel that this was not really needed and it seems as if it was just added onto the end just to have a different ending than you expect. If this ending had not occurred, I would have like this book much more.

Overall, “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” is just an alright book that I would not go out of my way to obtain for my library.

Shades of Black: A Celebration of Our Children

Shades of Black: A Celebration of Our Children – Sandra L. Pinkney, photographs by Myles C. Pinkney
Scholastic, Inc.
ISBN: 0-439-14892-8

My rating: 4 out of 5

This book presents a simple concept to readers – “I am Black, I am Unique.” This book shows it’s readers that being different is OK and is nothing to be ashamed of. It has a good message and words that go along with the pictures are just as good.

What really drew me to this book was the pictures. All of these pictures are very well done and the composition of them all is excellent. I liked how the photographer created unity in the composition by repeating various colors and tones throughout each picture.

This would be a great book to refer to if a child is having self-esteem issues regarding what he or she looks like. Being different is nothing to be ashamed of, and “Shades of Black” is a good book to use to convey that message.

Benny's Pennies

Benny’s Pennies - Pat Brisson, illustrated by Bob Barner
Doubleday
ISBN: 0-385-41602-4

My rating: 4 out of 5

This book is about a boy named Benny who goes on a journey to buy something with his five pennies. The format is pretty simple: Benny is walking along with his pennies and his purchases until he comes across someone selling something. Then, he buys it and has one less penny with him. The story is simple and younger readers will be able to predict what happens next.

The illustrations in this are pretty unique. It looks like they are paper cut-outs layered on top of each other. It is a really neat idea and I think kids will really enjoy them.

“Benny’s Pennies” is a simple book that teaches a good moral at the end – think of others before you think of yourself.

Flotsam

Flotsam - David Wiesner (also illustrated)
Caldecott Award Winner
Clarion Books
ISBN: 0-618-19457-6

My rating: 5 out of 5

“Flotsam” is probably my favorite book by David Wiesner. It is about a boy who is playing at the beach and discovers a camera that has washed-up on shore. He takes the film to get developed and finds some very interesting pictures inside. What I really loved was the very last picture he finds – a picture of a person holding a picture of a person holding a picture (it goes on quite a bit from there). It is a very unique idea that I think I may even try to replicate in a way.

The illustrations are fantastic, particularly the underwater pictures. They are creative and imaginative and yet done in a very realistic way. Wiesner’s illustrations never cease to impress me and “Flotsam” is certainly no exception.

I feel that “Flotsam” is one of David Wiesner’s best book and strongly recommend it to kids of any age.

Sector 7

Sector 7 - David Wiesner (also illustrated)
Caldecott Honor Book
Clarion Books
ISBN: 0-395-74656-6

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Sector 7” follows a young boy who visits the Empire State Building on a cloudy day and befriends a cloud who takes him to see Sector 7 – a flying cloud-making station. Like most of his other books, no text appears in this book.

The illustrations are, as usual, excellent. Wiesner was able to capture both the softness and the opacity of clouds in his paintings. His illustrations of Sector 7 reminded me of a busy train station, which exactly what I think he was going for.

“Sector 7” is a fun book that I feel teachers can use in their classroom. It would a fun book to show students when beginning a science unit on clouds.

Tuesday

Tuesday - David Wiesner (also illustrated)
Caldecott Award Winner
Clarion Books
ISBN: 0-395-55113-7

My rating; 4.5 out of 5

“Tuesday” is the story of frogs who are sitting on their lily pads one Tuesday night when, all of a sudden, they begin to fly. For the most part, no text appears at all in this book, which seems to be a common theme in most of his books.

The illustrations are incredible. They are realistic paintings that really capture what he is trying to say. Because they are done so well, text is really not even necessary to describe what is going on. The reader can take on look and know exactly what is going on. I was very impressed with how he can paint a picture, make it look like nighttime, and you can still tell everything that is going on.

“Tuesday” is a great book by Wiesner and it is pretty apparent why he received the Caldecott Award for this one.

The Boy, The Bear, The Baron, The Bard

The Boy, The Bear, The Baron, The Bard - Gregory Rogers
Roaring Brook Press
ISBN: 1-59643-009-5

My rating: 5 out of 5

Even though no text appears in this book, it is not really needed. The pictures in this hilarious story of a boy who unwittingly travels back in time to Elizabethan Europe tell the reader everything they need to know. What amused me the most about this book was that the boy was being chased the entire time by none other than William Shakespeare for interrupting one of his plays.

This book is put together in a style very similar to a comic book, which I love. There are panels of illustrations on each page that expertly tell what is going on. These drawings are done just like cartoons, which kids will enjoy even more.

I highly recommend “The Boy, The Bear, The Baron, The Bard” to everyone. Kids will not be the only people who enjoy this.

The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon

The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon - Mini Grey
Random House
ISBN: 0-375-83691-8

My rating: 4 out of 5

In nursery rhyme of “Hey Diddle Diddle,” we all learned that the Dish ran away with the Spoon, but what happened after that? This book goes on to tell of the rise, fall, and triumphant return of Dish and Spoon. This book made me laugh the entire time. Not only is story funny, but there are little things placed in the background that just make the story even funnier.

The illustrations are what make this book. The art is done in a cartoony style that both kids and adults will love. I also liked how a variety of media (such as photos, watercolor, pastels, and paint) was used. I really gives a nice effect to the book.

Overall, “The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon” is a fun read that kids will enjoy.

123: A Child’s First Counting Book

123: A Child’s First Counting Book - Alison Jay (also illustrated)
Dutton Children’s Books
ISBN: 978-0-525-47836-2

My rating: 5 out of 5

This is a fantastic book. “123” begins at number one and goes all the way to ten before counting back down to one. What I loved about it is that it also tells a story. It is about a little girl who falls asleep and dreams of traveling to a land full of classical fairy tales. Each number in the book is a different fairy tale. The last page contains a list of each tale used.

What catches your eye is the illustrations. They are bright, colorful, paintings completed with a slightly distressed finish. What I really enjoyed was the fact that each painting shows characters and landmarks in the background that reflect on what you have already seen and what you will see later in the book.

“123: A Child’s First Counting Book” is one I highly recommend every library to have.

Adèle & Simon in America

Adèle & Simon in America - Barbara McClintock
Francis Foster Books
ISBN: 0-374-39924-7

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

“Adèle & Simon in America” is about a brother and sister in early 20th century France who go on a trip across America with their Aunt Cécile. She tells her nephew to be careful and not lose anything on their trip, but he inevitably does anyway.

I really enjoyed this book. It has a nice, simple story that exposes children to various parts of the U.S. and what was going on there at that time. In the back of the book is an index that tells historical facts of each place the trio visited as well as what is going on in each illustration. The illustrations are done incredibly well and are richly detailed. Students will have no trouble at all identifying what is going on.

Even though this book is written for young children, this could easily be used for older children when discussing U.S. geography or history. “Adèle & Simon in America” is a book I would strongly recommend getting.

Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark - Alvin Schwartz, illustrated by Stephen Gammell
HarperCollins
ISBN:0-397-31926-6

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

This much-challenged book of scary stories are great for intermediate-aged kids, especially around Halloween. The stories are very short, but they are suspenseful. Many of them are retellings of classic urban legends and folktales.

The illustrations in this book are especially scary. They are pencil drawings, all done very realistically and really add to the overall spookiness of the book. Unfortunately for some parents, the illustrations are done a little too well for their liking as they tend to be one of the main points when trying to ban the book. I do not really see a problem with them.

Even though this book is often challenged, it is still a great read. Children will remember these stories for years to come and will look forward to reading these to others.

Paul Revere's Ride

Paul Revere's Ride - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, illustrated by Nancy Winslow Parker
HarperTrophy
ISBN: 0-688-04014-4

My rating: 4 out of 5

I enjoyed this book. It is an illustrated edition of Longfellow's poem describing the legendary ride of Paul Revere. What I liked most was the illustrations. They were simple, and yet they clearly conveyed what was going on in the poem and really helped bring to life the setting of colonial America.

This would be a great book to use while studying about the Revolutionary War.

Jazz

Jazz - Walter Dean Myers, illustrated by Christopher Myers
Holiday House
ISBN:0-8234-1545-7

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

This is a poetry book centered around the theme of jazz music. I enjoyed this book, mainly because of it's subject. I love music and I really like jazz. I found that with this book, it really helped me to read these poems aloud in order to find the right rhythm. I think many kids will like this, especially when they can find their own rhythm.

The illustrations in this book are wonderful. I love this style and how each poem had its own jazzy picture. The pictures were not generic either - many of the paintings were of famous jazz musicians, such as Billie Holiday.

If you are looking for poetry books that kids will enjoy, "Jazz" certainly qualifies as one.

The Three Little Wolves And The Big Bad Pig

The Three Little Wolves And The Big Bad Pig - Eugene Trivizas, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
Margaret K. McElderry Books
ISBN: 0-689-50569-8

My rating: 4.5 out of 5

I really liked this book. It is the story of the three pigs, but just a little different. The wolves don't cook the big bad pig in a pot, like you would think (similar to the traditional fairy tale), but at the end, they all become friends. This story is very good and shows how even the worst of enemies can become a good friend.

The pictures were very well done and I enjoyed them very much. I really liked how you can see the wolves carrying the Chinese tea pot from house to house.

"The Three Little Wolves" is an amusing take on the story of the three pigs and I would recommend this to any teacher.

The Twits

The Twits - Roald Dahl
Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-14-034640-6

My rating: 3.5 out of 5

"The Twits" is an amusing tale of an ugly, old married couple who constantly play tricks on each other. This is a pretty short read and each chapter is pretty self-contained. I don't think this is one of Dahl's best, but it is still pretty good.

One thing I didn't like was how Dahl kind of perpetuated the stereotype that ugliness is evil. The Twits are incredibly ugly and are very mean to other people, each other, and animals. I feel that there are too many stories that reinforce this idea to kids and having the Twits be ugly doesn't really add much to the story.

"The Twits" is not Dahl's best, but it is not really that bad of a book to read for fun.

The Dark Thirty: Southern Tales Of The Supernatural

The Dark Thirty: Southern Tales Of The Supernatural - Patricia C. McKissack, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
Coretta Scott King Award Winner
Random House
ISBN: 0-679-81863-4

My rating: 4 out of 5

This is a great book to read around Halloween. The stories are relatively short and make for pretty good read-alouds. They all take place in the southern U.S. and are a little different than other "traditional" ghost stories.

The illustrations in this books are pretty good. I believe that the illustrator used a technique called scratching to create these. He painted a layer of black on a layer of white and used a very sharp point to scratch away the paint to make a white line. In my opinion, this technique can be hard to master, mainly because you cannot erase what you have done, but I think Mr. Pinkney has done a good job.

The only thing I would caution about this book is that some of the stories involve the Klan and slavery. If the children have not been taught about these things, I would be hesitant in selecting this book.

All in all, I belive that "The Dark Thirty" is a great book to read aloud - especially in late October.

The Witches

The Witches - Roald Dahl
Puffin Books
ISBN: 0-590-03249-6

My rating: 5 out of 5

I have been hooked on this book ever since I first read it in fourth grade. The story is told from the point-of-view of the hero, a young orphaned boy who gets turned into a mouse by the witches.

The witches in this book are not the typical "black hat and broomstick" kind of witches. These witches are bald, toe-less women, who have long claws and blue saliva. What's even more appealing about this book, is that it is told as if all of this really happened. This suspension of disbelief is fun for kids, especially around Halloween time.

I would also recommend the 1990 film version of this books, starring Angelica Huston. For the most part, it follows the story well and the visuals are excellent.

In my opinion, this is one of Dahl's best books. I would highly recommend Roald Dahl's "The Witches" for anyone to put into their library.

The Grey King

The Grey King - Susan Cooper
Newbury Award Winner
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0-7011-5071-8

My rating: 2.5 out of 5

When I started reading this, I did not realize it was a part of a series. However, as I read it, it became apparent. I quickly became confused as to what exactly was going on and why things happened the way they did. I really wish the author would have included a short summary of the series so far, or at least explained things as the story went on. I found it very hard to continue reading this book because I had no idea what was going on. This was really my main reason for rating this book so low.

One thing that I think may turn kids away from this book is the large number of Welsh names and words. Although expanding vocabulary with foreign words can be good, the words are so alien looking and I am very certain children will have no idea how to pronounce them, especially without any sort of pronunciation key being provided.

I would like to think that, in context within the entire series, this book is pretty good. However, standing alone, "The Grey King" falls short and I doubt I would recommend it for students to read.