Saturday
Mar262011

Butterfly Boy by Virginia L. Kroll Children's Picture Book Review

Imagination takes wing in gentle Butterfly Boy

Butterfly Boy

By Virginia Kroll

Illustrated by Gerardo Suzan

First published by Boyds Mills Press

For children ages 5-8

 

Butterfly Boy is an exceptional book.  A beautifully written story, it has caring, serenity, and excitement packed into every page.

This children’s picture book is about

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Saturday
Mar192011

Along the Seashore Book Review

Book takes kids into the world of rock pools and hermit crabs. “Along the Seashore”

by Ann Cooper

Illustrated by Dorothy Emerling 

Denver Museum of Natural History Press

 

Search for treasures Along the Seashore (Wild Wonders Series).

So its summer, and you want to go to the seashore to see dolphins, sea stars, hermit crabs and other between-tide animals.

Not sure how you’ll get there?  Well, get out your sunscreen and flippers and pull out your copy of “Along the Seashore” By Ann Cooper.  You’ll learn lots about this special place.  It features detailed and captivating

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Friday
Mar182011

Angela and Diabola Book Review - Humor and horror provide engaging mix in tale of twin sisters

“Angela and Diabola,” by Lyne Reid Banks, is a story of angelic forces and diabolic evil.“Angela and Diabola”

By Lynne Reid Banks

Lynne Reid Banks, the best-selling author of “The Indian in the Cupboard” series, brings us a comic novel of two sisters in “Angela and Diabola.”

Banks has written more than 20 books for children and adults, including “I, Houdini,” “The Magic Hare,” “One More River,” “Broken Bridge” and “Adventures of King Midas.”

“Angela and Diabola” is a story that will tickle your funny bone, but do not think for a moment that it is not equally as scary.  It is a story fo angelic forces, diabolic evil, and the necessary balance of the two in every child.

The story begins with the unexpected arrival of

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Thursday
Feb112010

How to Eat Fried Worms: Children's book critique

Grades: 3rd-5th

In the 70’s, Thomas Rockwell’s How to  Eat Fried Worms was a children’s book that was either given as suggested reading or was read out loud in class.  How to Eat Fried Worms can still be found on elementary school reading lists today. 

When I was in the third grade, we would all join together for group reading time. It was one of the last things we did in our day. All four groups and three of the teachers would gather together on the carpet, with Mrs. Yaeger at the head in a student chair. Muffled movements of excitement and getting comfortable, and of Mrs. Yaeger clearing her throat were the only things that could be heard at those times. I rather believe you could also hear the anticipation in all the third graders’ breathing as we looked around to make sure everyone was doing what they were suppose to be doing. No one wanted there to be any reasons for Mrs. Yaeger to decide reading time would be replaced with heads down time at our tables. It was a late winter day, when we got to hear… How to Eat Fried Worms, by Thomas Rockwell.

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