Write It Now! Competitions
For Teachers and Librarians
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 The King's Taster
Written by Kenneth Oppel
Illustrated by Lou Fancher & Steve Johnson
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060753722
Ages: 4 to 8
Review and Lessons Plans by Donna O'Donnell Figurski
There are so many jobs in the world. Teachers, doctors, lawyers, mail carriers, firefighters and police officers are most common. Ask any six year old child and chances are one of these jobs will pop up. So will nurses, football players, and astronauts. I've never heard of any child, though, aspiring to become the king's taster. Most have never heard of this desirable profession, I'm sure. I know I never had until I read The King's Taster written by Kenneth Oppel and illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher.
Being the king's taster sounds enticing, though, doesn't it? Everyone knows the king eats the best food - cheese pies and rose puddings and syllabub, whatever that is - all fit for a king. So being the king's taster seems like a yummy kind of job. Who wouldn't want to get paid to eat?
Max, the chef's dog, was the king's taster and he loved his job. Max ate the best food in the kingdom. But there is a drawback to every good job and the downside to Max's job was life threatening. Max tasted the king's food before the king ate it to be sure that it was not poisoned.
When the new “boy” king was enthroned, something went wrong … terribly wrong! The new king refused to eat the chef's masterpieces. Of course, Max didn't mind; he still ate his share and more. But what if his owner, the chef, lost his job? In desperation Max and the chef searched the world for new recipes - pizza, tacos, French fries. No king could resist those - could he? He could … and he did until his secret was discovered. Peek into the king's crown.
FROM the MOUTHS of KIDDLE CRITers: a critique group
“There is this dog named, Max,” said Danae.
“He lives in a castle,” said Daisy.
“Max is the chef's dog,” explained Abby.
Lucy nodded, “But, he was the king's taster,” she announced.
“If I were the king's taster, I would love my life,” said Diego with a grin.
Brayden raised his eyebrows. He didn't look convinced. But, Max makes sure that the king's food is not poisoned,” he said.
Mikaela agreed. “I wouldn't like to be the one trying the food, either,” she said and scrunched up her face.
“I would not taste that food,” said Danae. “Because if I die, that would not be good.”
Mark nodded, too. “I wouldn't want to be the king's taster,” he said indignantly.
Diego seemed to reconsider.
“But, Max loves to eat the king's meals,” said Brayden.
“I'd like to eat the leftovers,” said Mark.
“Max is lucky to have leftovers,” said Abby.
“The chef was a good cook,” said Juliana.
“But, I would not want to be the king's chef,” announced Mark.
“Yeah, the king always throws his food,” said Daisy.
“How rude of the king to throw out good food,” said Brayden shaking his head in disgust.
“That is just not right,” said Danae.
“I think the king was mean,” said Abby.
“I say the king was nasty, “ungood,” terrible, and very, very, very bad,” said Lucy.
“Spoiled!” Callie added.
The CRITers all seemed to agree. (for once)
“He was a meany. He was a brat and he was selfish,” said Juliana.
“Who does he think he is?” asked Brayden. “He's only a small, little five year-old.”
“He was a kid,” explained Diego. “So you would expect that from him.”
“NO WAY!” yelled Juliana. “I wouldn't want to have a king like that!”
“The poor cook traveled all around the world,” said Brayden.
“He went to France,” said Caden.
“To get new recipes …” Juliana added.
“ … for the king,” interrupted Abby.
“The chef was trying hard to please the king,” said Tala.
“The cook made French fries and pizza and chili tacos,” said Daisy.
“Tacos! Ole!” yelled Callie
“But, the king would not eat the food,” said Caden. “He picked and poked it.”
“Who does not like fries?” asked Tala incredulously.
“I noticed candy in the king's crown,” said Lucy in explanation. “At night the king ate candy.”
“The king was busted,” said Daisy.
“Yeah, he got caught,” said Brayden rather smugly.
“He would only eat candy,” exclaimed Tala.
Daisy pondered a moment as if thinking about eating all that candy. Then she said, “If I were the king, I would eat all the food that the cook made for me.”
“I would eat everything on my plate,” said Lucy.
“The chef was a good cook,” Juliana said again.
“Well, I would enjoy whatever the cook gave me … except for the boar's head, said Callie with a giggle. The CRITers laughed. I think they all agreed. (one more time)
TEACHER TALK
Strange Jobs - Guess What I Do: Language Arts/Social Studies
There are certainly some strange jobs in this world. Being the king's taster is just one of them. Have you ever heard of a tosher? A tosher is a person who scavenges in the sewers for lost treasures. I wouldn't mind finding a lost treasure, but it sure sounds like messy, dirty work. Definitely not for me! How about a knocker-up? He is a human alarm clock. With a long pole in hand he goes from house to house waking up the sleepy occupants. I'd never be up on time. I would be the sleepy occupant I was supposed to wake up. Nix that job. Maybe a gum buster would be the right job for you. If you like to de-stick gum from sidewalks and street benches, then it would be perfect. Not perfect for me. Then there is the dog food tester? Hmmm … tasting dog food. No thanks. I'd prefer Max's job! In the following game, Strange Jobs - Guess What I Do! your students can design their own jobs. They can make them as crazy and as outrageous as they wish.
- Children may work in pairs or small groups to make up a job - something totally unfamiliar.
- (Ex.: garuffler, sprantzer, oomager)
- Then they decide what that person does for his or her job.
- Ex.:Neel
- A garuffler climbs trees to rescue misplaced snails.
- A sprantzer is a rubber band sorter.
- An oomager works in a zoo taking care of baby hedgehogs.
- Next the team can write three clues about their new job.
- Ex.:
- A garuffler is a good climber.
- A garuffler does not mind slime.
- A garuffler likes to eat escargot.
- After the children have completed this activity, they can meet in large group to share their clues. The rest of the class tries to guess what the job is. Additional questions may be necessary.
When I Grow Up, I Want to Be: Language Arts/Social Studies
All children dream of what they want to be when they grow up. I wanted to be a flight attendant, a guitar player, a singer, and a world traveler. I was too short to be a flight attendant. (Yes, back in the day there were restrictions.) I own a guitar. Is that close enough? I did sing karaoke once - scr-e-e-ch. And I've traveled to France, Portugal, Germany, New Zealand, Mexico, Canada, England, Scotland, and Wales. I've trekked through Spain and Portugal and Italy and I even spent one afternoon in Tangier on the north coast of Africa. But I haven't fulfilled my goal. I haven't yet been to Central America or the Galapagos Islands. I need to go to the Caribbean and go down-under to see Australia. I haven't been to South America or Asia or North Pole. Though at -35˚, brrrrr, maybe I won't be visiting Santa anytime soon. There are thousands of jobs in this world. Let your kids discover them.
- Have the children brainstorm as many types of jobs that they can think of.
- Make a list on chart paper.
- Ex.:
- doctor teacher professor football player
- realtor scientist hairdresser party planner
- Have each child choose the perfect job - just right for him or her.
- Then have them research their job choices and the tools of the trade -- what one must do or need to perform the job.
- Ex.:
- Firefighter: helmet, water hose, fire truck
- Teacher: pencils, paper, books
- Hairdresser: blow dryer, hair dye, scissors
- Doctor: white coat, stethoscope
- Realtor: house listings, newspaper classifieds
- Have children write a paragraph highlighting the features of their chosen profession.
- Set aside an afternoon for Career Day.
- Children can dress to depict their chosen profession. They can also use props.
- Gather children together and have them take turns reading their paragraphs to the class.
SUGGESTED WEBSITES:
(Although I examined these websites and found them to be very helpful, please use them at your own discretion.)
Activities: Summer Jobs for Kids / Holiday and Seasons / Family Fun
20 Strange Jobs
Ways for Kids to Make Money, Jobs, Ideas, Tips
BLS Career Information Home Page: What Do You Like?
SUGGESTED BOOKS:
Jobs for Kids: A Smart Kid's Q & A Guide written by Jeanne Kiefer, illustrated by Carol Nicklaus
Curious George Takes a Job written & illustrated by H. A. Rey
DK Readers: Jobs People Do -- A Day in a Life of a Teacher written by Linda Hayward (Additional books in this series include musicians, doctors, fire fighters, builders, and police officers.)
Marshall Cavendish series: Tools We Use - Librarians written by Dana Meachen Rau (Additional books in this series include artists, builders, chefs, doctors, and emergency medical technicians.)
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 Baby, Baby Blah Blah Blah!
Written by Jonathan Shipton
Illustrated by Francesca Chessa
Publisher: Holiday House, Inc.
ISBN: 0823422135
Ages: 4 to 8
Review and Lessons Plans by
Donna O’Donnell Figurski
When Emily learned that she was no longer going to be the only child, she started making lists. That’s what Emily does. She makes lists for everything … especially when her life turns upside down. I totally understand. I am the queen of list-making. It helps to keep my life in order. I guess it helps Emily too.
Emily’s lists showed the pro and cons of having a baby brother or sister. Babies are soft and “snuffly.” That’s good. You can feed babies mushy foods. Yum! Yum! You can tickle them and swoosh them through puddles. Fun! But what about when they cry? Everyone knows that babies cry for everything. They cry when they are hungry, when they are tired, and when the unthinkable happens … diapers. They really bawl then. Peeeew!
It wasn’t, though, until Emily thought about the baby taking her place in her family that she got really worried. What would happen to her world when it was baby this and baby that; when everyone went gaga for the new baby? What happened when they forgot about her? It was bound to happen. She knew it! It would be baby, baby blah, blah, blah -- all the time.
Baby Baby blah, blah, blah! written by Jonathan Shipton and illustrated by Francesca Chessa is a fun book that will help to ease the fears and anxieties of many youngsters who find themselves in Emily’s place. (And many of us did at one time in our lives. It happend to me four times.) It will help reassure children that they will always be special in their parents’ lives, even though there may be new “babies” on the way. No … that was not a slip. Twins! Emily’s worries just doubled.
FROM the MOUTHS of KIDDLE CRITers: a critique group
“There was a girl named Emily,” said Danae.
“She made lists,” said Rena.
Caden nodded. “Emily loved to make lists,” he said.
“She made good list and bad lists,” explained Diego.
Daisy said, “Then one day Emily’s mom said …”
“… The “B” word,” interrupted Diego.
Daisy rolled her eyes at Diego. “… That they were going to have baby,” she continued. “A baby,” she repeated.
“So, Emily made lists about good and bad things about babies,” said Tala.
“She wrote good things … like you could swish them around puddles,” said Juliana with a laugh.
“Nice stuff!” announced Diego.
“The other list said that babies cry when they have to go to the bathroom,” said Rosie.
“Babies cry for everything,” announced Mark.
“Bad stuff!” Diego called out again
“ They really do cry,” said Juliana, “Over everything! And their food is disgusting!” she added. “A baby eats gross, mushy food. I had to eat mushy food, too,” she moaned.
“When Emily heard that they were going to have a baby, she did not like it,” said Mikaela.
“She thought that it would blah, blah, blah and cry too much,” Juliana said.
“Emily wanted to be to be the only child in the family,” said Caden.
Diego nodded. “Right!’ he said. “She doesn’t have any brothers or sisters.”
“And she didn’t want to have a baby sister or a brother,” said Tala.
“Because Emily felt jealous,” explained Lucy.
“Yeah … she thought that her parents would not have enough time for her,” said Tala.
“She thought that her mom and dad would love the baby more than her,” agreed Lucy.
“It happened to me when I had a baby brother,” explained Rosie. “I felt a little upset. But I always knew that my mom would love me the same way as my brother.”
“Emily liked being an only child,” Callie explained. “Because she got to do what she wanted.”
Abby shook her head. “Well, I don’t like to be an only child,” she said. “I really like someone around.”
“At my home there are seven kids,” said Danae. “I like having sisters and brothers.”
“I have a brother but I would like a to have a baby sister,” said Callie.
“I want a baby sister, too,” said Juliana. “Because I like to hold babies and feed them. I practice on my dolls.”
“I wish my mother could have another baby,” mused Danae.
“They are cute,” agreed Lucy.
“Well, I don’t think that Emily should be worried,” Danae said.
“Right!” said Mikaela. “Emily should know that when she was a baby, she had to be taken care of, too. Emily’s mother is going to have to spend more time with the baby.”
“Yeah,” agreed Lucy. “A baby will take up her mom and dad’s time.”
“But, I think her parents are going to love them equally,” said Mikaela.
Juliana took a few seconds to think that over, then blurted. “I still don’t want my mom to have a baby.”
Everyone giggled – including Juliana.
TEACHER TALK
Memory Lane: Language Arts/Social Studies
Kids like babies. Well, just about everybody does. What’s not to like? After all they are cute and cuddly – except when they are not. Think diapers! As Emily pointed out babies cry a lot … and they do spit up and dribble. But we were all babies once in our lives and a trip down memory lane will conjure up some funny and maybe embarrassing stories. So start conjuring!
Have children ask their parents about some of the capers the children did as babies – or toddlers. Have them gather as much information as they can. Then they will write a Memory Lane story. The stories will be compiled into a book and each child will receive a book of all of his or her classmates’ capers.
* Have each child choose his or her favorite “caper.” Then have him or her write one to five sentences, depending on ability,
about their chosen caper.
* Sample stories below.
o When I was a baby, I swam in my kiddy pool with my pet duck. His name was Herbie.
o When I was a baby, I hated to eat spinach. I smeared it all over my face and rubbed it in my hair. It was yucky, but it was
fun too. I looked like a green-slime monster.
o When I was a toddler, I used to take apart the coffee pot. Then I would put it back together. I played with the coffee pot for hours.
* When the children are finished writing their stories, type each child’s story into the computer and print it.
* Compile the children’s stories to make a story collection.
* Copy the set of stories to make a booklet for each child.
* Use colored construction paper to make book covers and staple the story collection into book format.
* Give each child a story collection booklet.
* Have the children write the title, MEMORY LANE by ______ (their name) on the cover.
* Have them illustrate each story in the booklet.
* When the project is completed, have each child read his or her story in a circle-time story share.
It’s List Time: Language Arts/Writing
People make lists for everything. Sometimes they make lists of foods to buy at the grocery store. Some make lists of things to do. Lots of children make lists for Santa or long, hopeful birthday lists. Lists are helpful. They help us to remember things. They help to keep our lives in order. And for Emily, lists helped to sort out the pros and cons of having a new baby brother or sister. Lists can be fun to make, too. I like to keep lists of my favorite books. No surprise there!
The following activity can be adapted to whatever topic you wish. Why don’t you make a list of all the possible topics for your children to work on? What an idea!
“It’s List Time!” Children will love to hear those words.
* Give each child a roll of cash register tape.
* Have them keep it in their desks for easy and quick access.
* You can find cash register tape at Staples or any office supply store.
* Then have the children start to make random lists or tie the list-making in with the curriculum you are teaching. See possibilities below.
* Language Arts
o nouns, verbs, synonyms, words with two syllables
* Math
o number words, shapes, money, measurement tools
* Science
o matter – solids, liquids, gases
o farm animals, wild animals, flowers, types of weather, planets
* Social Studies
o states, inventors, countries, places in the community, holidays
* Art
o color words, famous artists, favorite picture book covers
* Music
o instruments, types of dance, song titles
Watch as your children’s vocabularies grow … and Grow … and GROW!
SUGGESTED WEBSITES:
(Although I examined these websites and found them to be very helpful, please use them at your own discretion.)
Preparing Siblings for the Baby
Welcoming A New Baby Into Your Family
Two Babies Dress-Up Game
SUGGESTED BOOKS:
You’re The Boss, Baby Duck! written by Amy Hest, illustrated by Jill Barton
Arthur’s Baby written and illustrated by Marc Brown
The Baby Sister written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola
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 Sand to Stone and Back Again
Written by Nancy Bo Flood
Illustrated by Tony Kuyper
Publisher: Fulcrum Publishing
ISBN 1555916570
Ages: 4 to 8
Review and Lessons Plans by Donna O'Donnell Figurski
Our world is in constant change. Sometimes it is obvious as hurricane winds rip trees from their roots or lava slides down the side of a mountain, or an earthquake sends gigantic tsunami waves to flood and engulf entire villages. But much of the time the earth's changes are not visible, though we know with the passage of time that they have occurred.
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 I Need My Monster
Written by Amanda Noll
Illustrated by Howard McWilliam
Publisher: Flashlight Press
ISBN 9780979974625
Ages 4 to 8
Review and Lessons Plans by Donna O'Donnell Figurski
Every kid has had a monster under his bed at some time or another, or maybe it was a monster hiding in the closet or stuck in a drawer or trapped under the blankets. But it was there – somewhere – and it was scary. No doubt!
Monsters aren’t real – or are they? In the mind of a small child, monsters can be very real. I remember a long, white, flowing monster in my bedroom when I was about eight. It didn’t help that I lived across the street from a funeral home. I thought a ghost escaped. But it was only my curtains flapping in the night breeze. My mother tried to reassure me. My father said that monsters weren’t real. But I knew ... it was a monster.
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 Stanley's
Beauty Contest
Written by Linda Bailey
Illustrated by Bill Slavin
Publisher:
Kids Can Press
ISBN-10: 978-1554533183
Ages: 4 to 8
Review and Lessons Plans by
Donna O'Donnell Figurski
http://www.donnaodonnellfigurski.com/content/blogcategory/10/10/
There's
the Miss America contest and the Miss World contest. There's even a Mr.
Universe contest for all those bodybuilding men out there. There are beauty
competitions for children, too, but did you know that there are beauty contests
for dogs? Well, actually there are. In fact, Porterhouse recently won the
title in the bulldog contest. The judges weren't looking for the most beautiful
dog. No! They were looking for the dog that drooled the most or had the biggest
bowed legs or the most bloodshot eyes. Now that's something to aspire to! I
guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There are also beauty contests for
Chihuahuas . . . dogs with names like CoCo or Kiki or Pepito who, adorned in
ribbons and bows, strut down the platform to the delight of their owners. Seems
like wearing a pink tutu might be a little embarrassing . . . even for a dog.
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 The Day Leo Said I Hate You!
Written by Robie Harris
Illustrated by Molly Bang
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
ISBN-10: 0316065803
Ages: 4 to 8
Review and Lessons Plans by
Donna O'Donnell Figurski
As a kid I hated when my mom said, “NO!” “Can I go outside to play?” I'd ask. “No!” she'd reply. “Can I stay up to watch King Kong on the late night movie?” Again, “No!” she'd answer. “Can I have ice cream? Please! Please! Please!” “No! No! No!” That was always her answer. Why did she always have to say, “NO?”
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 The Worst Best Friend
Written by Alexis O’Neill
Illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith
Publisher: Scholastic Press
ISBN-10: 0545010233
ISBN-13: 978-0545010238
Ages: 4 to 8
Review and lesson plans by
Donna O'Donnell Figurski
A best friend is someone special. He is someone you can always count
on. She is someone you can share your most private secrets with and
know that they are safe. Your best friend is the person who is always
there for you, no matter how bad things may be. So when your best
friend finds another best friend, he or she becomes your worst, best
friend. That’s what happened to Mike in Alexis O’Neill’s new book
entitled, The Worst Best Friend.
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 Smelly Stink Bugs
Written by Meish Goldish
Publisher: Bearport Publishing Company
ISBN-13: 9781597165808
Ages: 5 - 9
Review and lesson plans by
Donna O'Donnell Figurski
Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! They are just about everywhere. There’s one crawling
up my arm. Another just flew by my nose. Some bite. Some sting. Some
pinch. Some look downright disgusting. Of course, to be fair, I am not
looking at it from a fellow bug’s perspective. One bug may look
beautiful to another bug. And . . . some even look beautiful to me.
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 Little by Little
Written by Amber Stewart
Illustrated by Layn Marlow
Publisher: Orchard Books
ISBN-10: 0545061636
Ages: 4 to 8
Review and lesson plans by
Donna O'Donnell Figurski
Did you ever want to get something done quickly?
Little by little by little . . . that's how to accomplish something BIG. Well, that's a reasonable way to think about it. Of course, I am always too impatient. I want results . . . yesterday. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way.
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 Rosie and Buttercup
Written by Chieri Uegaki
Illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch
Publisher: Kids Can Press
ISBN-10: 1553379977
Ages: 3 to 7
Review and lesson plans by
Donna O'Donnell Figurski
It’s as old as time. It’s happened to me and I’m sure it’s happened to you . . . unless, of course, you are an only child. Sibling rivalry rears its ugly head in almost all families. Oh, Rosie, no doubt, loved her little sister, Buttercup. She couldn’t wait for her to be born. She couldn’t wait to have her as a playmate. She wrote songs for her and played the silly sock game with her. But as Buttercup grew older, Rosie’s sisterly loved waned. She grew tired of Buttercup’s demands, her noise, her “stuff” strewn all over the room. Sometimes Rosie just wanted to be alone. Rosie was furious when Buttercup almost freed Eenie and Meenie, Rosie’s prize crickets, from their cage. What was Buttercup thinking? So, it was no surprise when Rosie decided to give her little sister, Buttercup away. Wouldn’t you?
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 Seeing Red: The Planet Mars
Written by Nancy Loewen
Illustrated by Jeff Yesh
Publisher: Picture Window Books
ISBN: 978-1-4048-3953-3
Ages: 7-12
Review and lesson plans by
Donna O'Donnell Figurski
Seeing red, makes me think of strawberry licorice, a fire engine racing down the street, a ladybug, a plump, juicy tomato, and, of course, Mars. Mars the fourth planet from the sun is called the “red” planet. And there’s a good reason for that. Its soil contains the reddish metal called iron. Mars can be seen in the night sky from Earth with the naked eye. It’s our neighbor.
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 A Day With No Crayons
Written by Elizabeth Rusch,
Illustrated by Chad Cameron
Publisher: Rising Moon
ISBN: 0873589106
Ages: 4-8
What do wild watermelon, tropical rain forest, dandelion, and neon carrot have in common?
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 Farmer Cap
Written by Jill Kalz, Illustrated by Sahin Erkocak
Publisher: Picture Window Books
ISBN: -13: 9781404831391
Ages: 5 to 7
Farmer Cap . . . to say he is a little strange, a little off-center, and a lot eccentric is being kind. He is like no farmer I have ever met. Of course, you can count on half a hand the number of farmers I know. But, I’ve read the Farmer in the Dell and he seemed kind of normal, except, of course, for letting the cheese stand alone, but that is a whole other issue.
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 A Little Peace
Written by Barbara Kerley
Publisher: National Geographic Children's Book
ISBN-13: 978-1426300868
$16.95
Ages: all ages
Peace—a simple word that packs a lot of wallop. For me peace is a comfortable place, a quiet space, the absence of car motors, the hum of air conditioners, or the whir of the refrigerator. Peace is being curled up by the fireplace with a good book or lying in the sand at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, California. Peace is feeling the warmth of the sun or marveling at the millions of stars twinkling in the night sky of Taos, New Mexico. Peace is stilling my mind.
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 Fix-It Duck (Board book)
Written and illustrated by Jez Alborough
Publisher: Kane/Miller Book Publishers
ISBN-13: 978-1933605302
$7.99
Ages: 1-8
Fix-It Duck is no ordinary duck. He means well, but whenever he is near—LOOK OUT! Bad luck seems to follow this duck. When a drop of water falls into Duck’s tea—that’s bad luck. When Sheep’s window won’t close—that’s bad luck. Sheep’s jeep’s flat tire is bad luck, too. But, when Sheep’s house rolls into the pond, that’s the toughest luck of all.
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 GORILLAS
Written by Meish Goldish
Publisher: Bearport Publishing Company
ISBN 13: 978-1-59716-369-9
ISBN 10: 1-59716-369-4
$23.96
Ages: 6-12
When I think of gorillas, I think of wild, jungle beasts. My guess is that most folks do, too. Gorillas are massive animals. Some males stand as high as six feet and weigh as much as six hundred pounds. That’s a lot of gorilla! Though gorillas are intimidatingly huge and look rather fierce, most gorillas are peaceful, non-aggressive animals, unless provoked, of course.
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 LOVE THE
BABY
written by Steven L. Layne
illustrated by Ard Hoyt
Publisher: Pelican
Publishing Company, Inc.
ISBN: 1-58980-392-
$15.95
Ages:
0-5
“Help me love the baby!” “Help
me love the baby!” Everybody said it. Mama said it. Papa said it. Even Nana
said it. Can you believe Nana said it too? Little Rabbit was happy when Baby
came home from the hospital. Who wouldn’t be? Little babies are pretty exciting,
especially when you’ve waited for nine months for that little brother or sister
to arrive. Most children think - instant playmate! But when Baby came home from
the hospital on that day that the flowers were blooming, Little Rabbit realized
that the Baby was no playmate – no playmate at all! He couldn’t do anything -
unless you counted crying. He did that plenty well. And, if that wasn’t bad
enough, Mama and Papa and Nana, yes, even Nana, gave Baby all of their
attention. So what would you expect? How could Little Rabbit love the baby?
Jealousy abounded! Frustration swelled! Anger overwhelmed! His world turned
upside down when his new baby brother arrived.
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 GRANDPA FOR SALE
written by Dotti Enderle and Vicki Sansum
illustrated by
T. Kyle Gentry
Publisher: Flashlight Press
ISBN-13
9780972922586
ISBN-10 097292258X
$15.95
Ages 4-8
For five
hundred dollars, Lizzie imagined the exquisite tree house she could buy. For one
thousand dollars, she could buy a small boat with her own name engraved on both
the front and the sides. Imagine -- the S. S. Lizzie!
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 Harriet Tubman: Hero of the Underground Railroad
written by Lori Mortensen
illustrated by Frances Moore
Picture Window Books
978-1-4048-3103-2
$17.95
Ages 5-9
Everyone loves a hero! Someone to look up to! Someone who can do superhuman things! Someone who accomplishes deeds that you wish you could!
Superman was a hero, a comic book hero, created by Siegel and Schuster in 1938. Mighty Mouse came on the scene only four years later, in 1942, with the imagination of I. Klein. Mighty Mouse’s refrain, "Here I come to save the day," brought hope to many a distressed cartoon character. As a child I loved Nancy Drew. She was my hero. I couldn’t get enough of her. She was self-confident. She was feisty. She was courageous and brave and honest and independent and strong. She wandered haunted mansions and traveled deep, dark tunnels to find truth; and I read every book I could l lay hand to. Rosa Parks was a hero in 1955. She changed the way our country viewed black people. Her refusal to give up her seat on a bus resulted in a Supreme Court ruling, which said that segregation on buses was unconstitutional.
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 IF YOU WERE A CONJUNCTION
written by Nancy Loewen
illustrated by Sara Gray
Picture Window Books
1-4048-2385-9
$25.26
Ages 7-10
Conjunctions may seem like pretty insignificant words. You can’t get an
image of them like you can with other words, like . . . baby OR teddy
bear OR a warm summer day at the beach, BUT conjunctions play a very
important role in our language.
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 WHO LIKES THE SNOW?
written by Etta Kaner
illustrated by Marie Lafrance
Kids Can Press
ISBN: 978-1-55337-842-6
ISBN: 1-55337-842-3
$14.95, Ages 4 – 7
Snow tumbling from the sky
Flakes big and small.
I wonder why they’re whirling by?
I wonder where they’ll fall?
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 TUDLEY DIDN’T KNOW
written and illustrated by John Himmelman
Sylvan Dell Publishing
ISBN: 0976494361
$15.95
Ages 3 – 8
Peter Pan believed he could fly. The Little Engine believed that she could pull the toy train over the mountain. Many people believe in a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow and some folks believe in fairies. (If you believe in fairies, then clap your hands. I’m clapping and I hear a lot of other clapping hands, too.) Believe!
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FARMER MCPEEPERS and HIS MISSING MILK COWS
by Katy S. Duffield, illustrated by Steve Gray
Rising Moon
ISBN 0-87358-825-8
$15.95
Ages 4-8
The milk cows on Farmer McPeepers’ farm are simply up to NO good. I mean, have you ever seen milk cows fishing FROM a row boat, jumping double Dutch rope, skateboarding, or flying kites? “Outrageous!” you say. “Ridiculous! Impossible!” Well then, would you believe milk cows playing a fiddle, do-si-do-ing, or waiting in line at the local movie house? Yep! Down by Farmer McPeepers’ farm you’ll see all this and more. So go on. Open Farmer McPeepers and His Missing Milk Cows. But try not to laugh. I dare you! |
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WHEN I WAS BUILT
by Jennifer Thermes
Henry Holt and Company
ISBN 0-8050-6532-6
$16.95
Ages 4-8
“Who’s been eating my porridge?” Just about everyone recognizes those words FROM GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS. But, really, have you ever wondered who has taken a bath in your bathtub, or sprawled in front of your fireplace, cooked dinner on your stove or climbed the stairs to your bedroom . . . before you moved INTO your house? |
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THE SUNDAE SCOOP
by Stuart J. Murphy, illustrated by Cynthia Jabar
HarperCollins Publishers
0-06-028925-2
$16.89
Ages 6 and Up
Most kids love ice cream. They love as it drips down their fingers and smears their noses and they love to swirl their tongues around its creamy flavor. So what could be more fun than making ice cream sundaes for the school picnic? In THE SUNDAE SCOOP written by Stuart J. Murphy, Emily, Lauren, and James decide to do just that. |
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MY BROTHER DAN’S DELICIOUS
by Steven L. Layne, illustrated by Chuck Galey
Pelican Publishing Company
1-58980-071-0
$14.95
Ages 6 and Up
“Monster Fear!” We’ve all had it. Come on. Admit it. Remember shadows drifting across your bedroom walls, curtains flapping in the night, or spooky noises bumping behind your closet door? “Quick!” you yell. “Shut it!” Then you jump into bed and dive under the covers. Remember the last time a monster visited you? |
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GRANDFATHER COUNTS
by Andrea Cheng, illustrated by Ange Zhang
LEE & LOW BOOKS, Inc
1-58430-010-8
$16.95
Ages 5 to 8
When Gong Gong arrived, Helen’s life turned upside down. I mean, he couldn’t even speak English. How was Helen going to communicate with him? Sure, he was her grandfather, but why did mom have to give him Helen’s bedroom? Why couldn’t Gong Gong sleep in Cece’s room . . . or Henry’s? Helen loved standing at her bedroom window to watch the trains hurry down the tracks. She loved counting the cars from engine to caboose. Now Gong Gong was in her room with only Chinese in his head. |
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JOHN GLENN
by Thomas Streissguth
Bridgestone Books an imprint of Capstone Press
0-7368-1625-9
Ages 5 to 9
Have you ever wanted to be a hero? Ever thought you might grow up to do something you were really passionate about? I think we all hope to make our mark on the world. With me . . . it’s teaching and writing. John Glenn pursued his passion and made history. In 1962 he became the first person to orbit the earth. Thirty-six years later, Glenn again put his stamp on history when he became the oldest person to travel in space.
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TINKA
by Rainy Dohaney
Anne Schwartz Book
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
0-689-85261-4
$15.95
Ages 3-7
Sure you’ve heard of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina . . . each no bigger than your thumb. But have you ever heard of Tinka? No? Then, you are in for a treat. Tinka is a sheep. She’s soft and cuddly and absolutely adorable. But, Tinka is no ordinary sheep. She’s as small as a cupcake. She can fit in your hand or you can easily tuck her away in your pocket. Sounds fun, huh? |
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| Unique Monique |
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UNIQUE MONIQUE
by Maria Rousaki, illustrated by Polina Papanikolaou
Kane/Miller Book Publishers
1-929132-51-4
$15.95
Ages 4-8
At the shopping mall today I saw a boy with blue hair, a girl with five rings in her nose, and another with hair standing straight up. I think they call it “spiked.” Some might call it weird. It does look a bit strange, but I think it’s creative. It’s a statement. It says, “Look at me! I am unique!”
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| Suki's Kimono |
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SUKI’S KIMONO
by Chieri Uegaki, illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch
Kids Can Press, Limited
1-55337-084-8
$15.95
Ages 5 to 8
The first day of school is special. Hey, every school day is, but I have to admit that the first day holds a bit of extra magic. It’s a day of newness . . . new classroom, new teacher, new backpack, maybe even a new outfit or a pair of new shoes. Yes, it’s a very important day. |
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 READ-IT! READERS: FAIRY TALES
Picture Window Books
ISBN: 1-4048-0240-1W
12 Book Set $167.40
(Single Titles $13.95)
Ages 4 to 9
Do you ever want to believe something; I mean really, truly want to believe, even though you know it can’t possibly be true? Maybe you just want to believe because everyone else does. Or have you ever decided that you didn’t like someone because of how they look? These story concepts are as old as time, and there are many lessons to be learned from them.
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| Fossil Tales |
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FOSSIL TALES
by Meish Goldish
Chelsea House Publishers
ISBN: 1-7910-7411-0
$13.95
Ages 9 - 12
Did you know that the word, “dinosaur” was not even a word before the 1800s? Nowadays that word tumbles off the lips of most children, even as young as preschoolers. Children are fascinated with dinosaurs. They are in awe of their size and their strange looks, so it was no wonder that there was an audible buzz from the KIDDLE CRITers as I prepared to read FOSSIL TALES to them. |
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| An Ant's Day Off |
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AN ANT’S DAY OFF
by Bonny Becker, illustrated by Nina Laden
Simon & Schuster Children's
ISBN: 0-689-82274-X
$15.95
Ages 4 – 8 years
Working! Working! Always working! That sums up Bart’s life in AN ANT’S DAY OFF written by Bonny Becker and illustrated by Nina Laden. Moving sand from one tunnel to the next, day after day -- hey, that’s the life of a sand ant!
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| The Case of Vivian Vampire |
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THE CASE OF VAMPIRE VIVIAN
By Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Amy Wummer
KANE PRESS
ISBN: 1-57565-127-0
Ages 5 – 8 years
$4.99
Well, she is sort of weird -- that new girl who just moved in -- her hair all sticking out like bat wings. How can you ignore thatbat shirt she’s wearing and those bat stickers on her notebook and what about her bat earrings? Now isn’t that a “bat” much? Who can blame Molly for thinking Vivian is a vampire? Wouldn’t you? |
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| Selma |
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SELMA
written and illustrated by Jutta Bauer
Kane/Miller Book Publishers
ISBN: 1-929132-50-6
$7.95
All Ages
It’s a “quiet” story. But quiet and gentle are what children yearn for. In their fast - paced lives of soccer games, dance classes, and play dates a quiet book is a welcome respite.
SELMA, written and illustrated by Jutta Bauer is no bigger than an index card, yet it packs a whopping, powerful punch. How can a tiny sheep know about happiness? |
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| The Dirty Cowboy |
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THE DIRTY COWBOY
written by Amy Timberlake
illustrated by Adam Rex
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ISBN: 0-374-31791-7
$16.00
Ages 4—8
You know, there’s something to be said about loyalty and obedience, but Eustace Shackleford Montana may have gone too far the day his cowboy took a bath. When the Cowboy said, “Dawg! No one touches these clothes but me. Hear?”, Eustace took the Cowboy at his word. What good dog wouldn’t? On that fateful day under the New Mexico sky, Eustace demonstrated his dedication to his Cowboy . . . to the limit. That’s definitely an A+ dog and THE DIRTY COWBOY written by Amy Timberlake and illustrated by Adam Rex is an A+ book. |
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BEAVERS
by Margaret Hall
Capstone Press Pebble Books
ISBN: 0-7368-2063-9W
$11.95
Grades PreK-2
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COYOTES
by Patricia J. Murphy
Capstone Press Pebble Books
ISBN: 0-7368-2072-8W
$11.95
Grades PreK-2
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FOG
by Helen Frost
Capstone Press Pebble Books
ISBN: 0-7368-2093-0W
$11.95
Grades PreK-2
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PENGUINS
Emily Rose Townsend
Capstone Press Pebble Books
ISBN: 0-7368-2357-3W
$11.95
Grades PreK-2
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SITTING BULL
by Lisa Trumbauer
Capstone Press Pebble Books
ISBN: 0-7368-2371-9W
$11.95
Grades PreK-2
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WOODPECKERS
by Emily Rose Townsend
Capstone Press Pebble Books
ISBN: 0-7368-2070-1W
$11.95
Grades PreK-2
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| CAPSTONE PRESS produces a vast range of non-fiction titles for Pre-K through 12th grade. These easy to read fact-filled, photo-illustrated books are a great addition to your personal library, but they are also especially valuable for teachers and students as a resource tool in any classroom. High interest topics combined with reading ease make these books fun to read. Pebble Books are written for beginning readers in grades Pre-K to 2nd grade. |
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| Blueberry Mouse |
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BLUEBERRY MOUSE
written by Alice Low
illustrated by David Michael Friend
Mondo Publishing
ISBN: 1-59336-111-4
$15.95
Ages 3--7
I’ve heard of a greenhouse, the Whitehouse, and even a house of cards. I’ve heard of a townhouse. I live in one. But, who ever heard of a blueberry house? Well, Blueberry Mouse, of course! Blueberry Mouse, written by Alice Low and illustrated by David Michael Friend, tells of a mouse as sweet as she can be. And, why not? She nibbles the whole day long . . . on sweet, juicy blueberries inside her blueberry house. |
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THE GIANT JELLY BEAN JAR
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The Giant Jelly Bean Jar
written by Marcie Aboff
illustrated by Paige Billin-Frye
Dutton Children's Books
ISBN: 0525472363
$13.99
Ages 5-8
Beans! Beans! Beans! There are lima beans, coffee beans, kidney beans and refried beans. I love them all! But my favorite kinds of beans are jelly beans – and every flavor, too. Cherry, grape, lemon-lime, licorice . . . YUM! Double yum for strawberry and banana.
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OUT AND ABOUT AT THE SUPERMARKET
Written by Kitty Shea
Illustrated by Becky Shipe
Picture Window Books
ISBN: 1-4048-0295-9W
Ages: 4-9
$17.95
This is a selection of non-fiction titles from Picture Window Books. Featured is OUT AND ABOUT AT THE SUPERMARKET by Kitty Shea, illustrated by Becky Shipe.
Kiddles love to learn facts. They love to spout them off in the least expected places. It makes them sound so smart and . . . oh so worldly. You’ve heard of name-droppers, well you can just think of them as fact-droppers. This sample of Picture Window Books will have KIDDLES dropping facts all over the place.
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| Whose House? |
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WHOSE HOUSE
Written by Barbara Seuling
Illustrated by Kay Chorao
Gulliver Books Harcourt Children’s Books
ISBN: 0-15-216347-6
Ages: 3-7
$16.00
Houses come in so many colors and sizes and shapes. Some are tall and skinny and rise high into the sky. Some are kind of fat and have acres of land around them. That’s called s-p-r-a-w-l-i-n-g. Some are in big buildings called apartments and some are tiny, little cottages or bungalows. Houses are made of wood, brick, stone, or mud, and some are even made of ice. There are castles and palaces and mansions. There are igloos, and houses made of grass, which have thatched roofs. I’ve seen purple houses and bright yellow and green houses. Once, I even saw a pink house with blue shutters. That was pretty scary unless, of course, pink and blue are your favorite colors. So, with so many different kinds of houses, how can you ever choose which house is exactly right for you? |
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| Mud Pie for Mother |
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MUD PIE FOR MOTHER
by Scott Beck
Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers
0525470409
$14.99
Ages 3 to 6
Shop! Shop! Shop ‘til you drop! Race from store to store. Search for the “perfect” gift. Sound familiar? We all do it. In MUD PIE FOR MOTHER, written and illustrated by Scott Beck, Little Pig searches the farm for the perfect birthday present for his mother. |
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| Myrtle |
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MYRTLE
written by Tracey Campbell Pearson
illustrated by Tracey Campbell Pearson
Farrar Straus and Giroux
ISBN: 0-374-35157-0
Ages: 3-6
$15.00
There are bullies everywhere, but don’t you hate it when you find them in your own back yard? Once at the grocery store checkout as I waited patiently, grasping a bunch of broccoli, a woman pushed her overflowing cart right in front of me. Every day on my 20 mile commute to school, there are cars that bully their way into the line exiting the highway. Can’t they see the 50 cars waiting, patiently? HOW RUDE! That’s what Myrtle would say and I fully agree with her. “RUDE! RUDE! RUDE!” These are the bullies in my back yard. |
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| Paul Needs Specs |
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PAUL NEEDS SPECS
written by Bernard Cohen
illustrated by Geoff Kelly
Kane/Miller Book Publisher
ISBN: 192913261
$15.95
Ages 5-9
Paul asked, “Has the world gone fuzzy, . . .?” What a scary feeling to have your world blur in front of your eyes, especially when you are a child no bigger than Paul. The world hadn’t gone fuzzy or blurry or misty or foggy . . . well not really. But, Paul’s eyesight did. Author, Bernard Cohen takes us on a trip to the eye doctor. What a strange place that is! Paul tries many different lenses. Some make him see fat and some make him see tall and I wonder if some do nothing at all. Then Goeff Kelly adds his zany, very psychedelic illustrations, which will make readers howl. This book should definitely allay the fears of any child who needs to get glasses. PAUL NEEDS SPECS is a real eye-opener. |
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| Big Week for Little Mouse |
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BIG WEEK for LITTLE MOUSE
written by Eugenie Fernandes
illustrated by Kim Fernandes
KIDS CAN PRESS
ISBN: 1-55337-665-X
Ages: 2-5
$14.95
Birthdays come and birthdays go,
Some come fast and some come slow.
Birthdays are a time of fun . . .
For you, for me, for everyone.
Little Mouse can hardly wait.
For her it’s time to celebrate.
. . . and celebrate she did, but not before she finished her chores. Preparing for her birthday party was lots of work. Little Mouse had to mop and scrub and pick flowers and hang up balloons. Yes, it was a busy week for Little Mouse. |
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| Circle Unbroken |
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CIRCLE UNBROKEN
written by Margaret Theis Raven
illustrated by E. B. Lewis
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ISBN: 0-374-31289-3
$16.00
Ages 6-9
Life goes on and on and on like a circle unbroken. Traditions pass from family to family, from generation to generation. Traditions that define what a family or a culture is, are invaluable and must be treasured and cherished. Margot Theis Raven’s new book, CIRCLE UNBROKEN demonstrates this concept as she weaves and intertwines a story of how a young boy was stolen from his village in Africa and brought to the New World . . . a world that for many showed promise, but for this young boy brought only the loss of his freedom. “But long night after long day, he (the boy) sewed baskets in the old way . . . preserving the traditions and memories of those who were plucked from their homes and villages in Africa and thrust into slavery in America. As years and years have passed, the tradition of the sweetgrass baskets is still being weaved in South Carolina and the Georgia Lowcountry . . . proof that the tradition remains alive. |
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| No Money? No Problem! |
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NO MONEY? NO PROBLEM!
written by Lori Haskins
illustrated by John Nez
Kane Press
ISBN: 1575651416
Ages 4-8
$4.99
Don’t you just hate it when you don’t have enough money to buy what you want? You know -- that dress with the pink and orange umbrellas in the store window downtown, or the complete set of square marbles, the one-of-a-kind, kind, or maybe it’s the dyed-purple alligator purse that you have been dying for. Okay . . . so maybe you never wanted a dyed-purple alligator purse. Well, neither did I, but you know what I mean.
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| CARLA'S SANDWICH |
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CARLA’S SANDWICH
written by Debbie Herman
illustrated by Shelia Bailey
Flashlight Press
ISBN: 0972922520
$15.95, Ages 4-8
Whole wheat, rye, croissant, wrap, toast, bagel – all yummy sandwich covers. Turkey, peanut butter, jelly, liverwurst, cow’s tongue – all yummy sandwich fillings. Uhh . . . well, maybe not cow’s tongue – I’ll pass on that. But there are endless combinations and varieties of sandwiches to fulfill just about anyone’s desire.
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| Flusi, the Sock Monster |
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FLUSI, the SOCK MONSTER
written and illustrated by Bine Brändle
Kane/Miller Book Publishers
ISBN: 1-929132-69-7
$15.95
Ages 5-6
Kiddles love monsters – any kind of monsters. Well, maybe they don’t exactly love them, but they are fascinated by them. There are the creepy monsters that hide under the bed and the scary ones in the closet. The best monsters are the ones that slip and slither across the wall in the moonlight. My mother tried to pass them off as the shadows of my drapes blowing in the wind. Yeah right, MOM!!!! |
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| The Only One Club |
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THE ONLY ONE CLUB
written by Jane Naliboff
illustrated by Jeff Hopkins
Flashlight Press
ISBN: 0-972-92253-9
$15.95
Ages 4-8
It’s scary feeling different . . . not monster scary, or falling out of bed scary. Not darn! I forgot my homework scary either. Feeling different can set you apart . . . maybe the rest of the kids won’t like you kind-of-scary or they’ll make fun of you kind-of-scary. But in The Only One Club, Jennifer uses her “different-ness” to her advantage and soon all of her classmates are looking for ways to show how they are different, too.
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| JOSÉ! Born To Dance |
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JOSÉ! Born To Dance
written by Susanna Reich
illustrated by Raúl Colón
Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
ISBN: 0-689-86576-7
$16.95
Ages 5-8
José Limón was born to dance and like the CHIC recording of the late 1970s, DANCE, DANCE, DANCE, José did! Of course, Limón, born in Mexico in 1908 wasn't dancing the latest disco craze nor was he swaying to the more recent country song by Lee Ann Womack, I HOPE YOU DANCE. His dream wasn't realized until many years later when dance, dance, dance, became José's life, love, and passion.
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| Cinco de Mayo |
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CINCO DE MAYO
written by Marc Tyler Nobleman
pictures by a variety of contributors
Compass Point Books: Let’s See Series
ISBN: 0-7565-0768-5
$14.95
Ages 6-9
The whole world has one – each year it comes around again and again and again. In Poland they call it Piàtego Maja. In Germany it is known as Fünfter Mai. The French say Cinquième de Mai and the Italians say Cinque di Maggio. Here in the United States, we call it the Fifth of May. For many countries it is just another day, but in Mexico, it’s called Cinco de Mayo and it’s a very important day in their history books. Marc Tyler Nobleman provides us with a glimpse into this festive holiday in his book entitled, none other than, CINCO de MAYO.
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Water Beds
Sleeping in the Ocean |
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WATER BEDS SLEEPING in the OCEAN
written by Gail Langer Karwoski
illustrated by Conne McLennan
Sylvan Dell Publishing
ISBN: 0-9764943-1-0
$15.95
Ages 3-8
Water Beds - Sleeping in the Ocean, written by Gail Langer Karwoski and illustrated by Connie McLennan is a bedtime story. It’s a scientific book filled with information about the sea and how animals sleep in the depths of the ocean. It’s a book that children will love to hear over and over again, and it’s a book that parents will love to read, as they lull their “little person” to sleep on the gentle waves of his dreams. |
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Camilla Chameleon
written by Colleen Sydor
illustrated by Pascale Constantin |
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CAMILLA CHAMELEON
written by Colleen Sydor
illustrated by Pascale Constantin
Kids Can Press
ISBN: 1553374827
$16.95
Ages 4 – 8
Cream of Tomato Soup, Cream of Broccoli Soup. . . Yum! Yum! M-a-a-a-ay-b-e Cream of Leek Soup, BUT, come on! Cream of Chameleon Soup or Cream of Pterodactyl Soup? You’ve got to be kidding. That’s a stretch . . . a playful stretch, a delightful stretch, a weird and wacky stretch. Yes, Camilla Chameleon written by Colleen Sydor and illustrated by Pascale Constantin is a fanciful stretch all the way to Camilla’s long . . . very, long hopscotch-playing tongue to her favorite soft drink, Fizzy Fizzy Make Ya Dizzy Rootin’ Tootin’ Root Beer. |
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| Palapalooza |
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PALAPALOOZA
written by Daphne Skinner
illustrated by Jerry Smath
Kane Press
ISBN: 1-57565-163-7
$4.99
Ages 5 - 7
You’re a pal! or What a pal! – two great sayings – comforting sounds. Having a pal IS a comfort. It means having a special friend -- someone that really likes you. It means not being alone, though there’s nothing wrong with being alone, and I even enjoy it at times. But, for most Kiddles there is safety and comfort when being with a pal. It means being one of the gang, the group. It means having someone to do something with. It doesn’t matter what . . . climb a tree, swing on a vine, read a book together. It doesn’t matter what; it’s the “being” together part that feels good.
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Donna O'Donnell Figurski has authored the column,
TEACHER'S PETS on SmartWriters.com since 2002. She works with a team of
elementary-aged school children, called KIDDLE CRITers, who review the
books with her. The review group consists of about seven to fifteen
children ranging in ages from 6 to 12 years old.
One section of the review, called FROM the MOUTHS of KIDDLE CRITers,
includes comments by the children. Since Donna is also a 1st grade
teacher, she designs lessons for teachers to use with the books she
reviews. This section is called, TEACHER TALK. Donna also suggests
additional books, as well as two or three websites, which teachers may
use to compliment the reviewed book. Of course, there is also Donna's
review. |
Donna O'Donnell Figurski
Author, Educator and Book Reviewer |
If you would like to have your book considered for review by Donna and the KIDDLE CRITers, please contact her at
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Although she cannot promise that every book will be reviewed, she will try her best to feature as many books as possible. |
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