Book Reviews: Early Readers

Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel (1970). 64 pages.
Frog and Toad are certainly a dynamic duo. This book contains five short stories of the two best friends’ adventures. Actually, “adventures” is too strong of a word, as Frog and Toad don’t do too much. They lose buttons, try and get out of bed and tell each other stories. Despite the fact that the stories seem like they should be mundane, Frog and Toad are so quirky that the stories become fun. Not only that, Arnold Lobel’s mostly brown and green illustrations enhance each tale. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see what a Toad looks like standing on his head?

We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems (2010). 57 pages.
I really enjoy Willems’s Elephant and Piggie series. They are short, simple books with simple illustrations, but lots of character. In We Are in a Book! Elephant and Piggie become self aware that they are being read. While this can come across contrived, Willems pulls this off with lots of fun. We Are in a Book is a great read-along book. The characters laugh about making the reader say funny words (like “banana”) aloud, making the reader a part of the book experience. Not since Kilgore Trout met Kurt Vonnegut Breakfast of Champions have I enjoyed characters realizing that they, indeed, are in a book.

Little Bear by Else Homelund Minarik and illustrated by Maurice Sendak (1957). 67 pages.
Little Bear includes four sweet stories about a young bear. Each story is pretty simple for early readers, yet creative and engaging. One of my favorite parts of the Little Bear stories is that Mother Bear is so loving to her son, yet also has a sense of humor in playing along with his games. Theirs is a sweet, uncomplicated relationship. Sendak’s illustrations definitely add to the stories. The mostly black-and-white illustrations that include a splash of color let the reader into the imagination of the story. For example, the reader gets to see what Little Bear imagines when he believes he is flying to the moon, even though he really just jumped off of a small tree. This is a classic that should be included in early reader collections.

Early Readers 9/15/2010

Judy Moody and Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt

by Megan McDonald

It's the summer, and Judy Moody and Stink are on vacation! They become part of a several day treasure hunt, where the winner gets to ride on a pirate ship!

This is a great story for young readers who are not quite ready for chapter books, but illustrated books are a bit too easy. It is fun to go on the adventure with Judy Moody and Stink and try and figure out the clues to the treasure along with them.

Early Readers 8/30/2010

Ivy and Bean

by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall

Ivy and Bean live across the street from each other. Both of their mom's keep telling them that they should play together, but both Ivy and Bean know that they will never be friends. Then, one day Bean needs to hide quick from her sister, and Ivy helps out!

Ivy and Bean is the start of a super fun series geared towards young girls. The two friends (that were never supposed to be friends) end up getting into funny predicaments and make up creative solutions to get out of them. This series is perfect for the young reader who is beyond illustrated books but not quite ready for chapter books.

Early Readers 6/4/2010

The Horse in Harry's Room by Syd Hoff

Harry has a horse that nobody else can see. Every night, he rides him in circles and jumps over his bed without even hitting his head on the ceiling. Harry loves his horse, so much that he even gives it the freedom to leave and be where he can run and kick and nibble.

The Horse in Harry's Room is a great story about imagination and friendship. This is a great story for a young reader who loves animals and thinks outside the box.

Early Readers 5/17/2010

My Friend is Sad by Mo Willems

My Friend is Sad is a book in the Elephant and Piggie series. Piggie stumbles on Gerald the Elephant who looks very, very sad. To cheer him up, Piggie dresses up as some of Gerald's favorite things - a cowboy, a clown, and a robot - but Gerald is still sad. Finally, Piggie comes as himself and Gerald is happy again. All Gerald wanted was to share the awesome creatures he was seeing with his best friend.

My Friend is Sad is a great book for those just learning to read. It is a short but fun tale. Mo Willems uses simplicity to tell the story of these friends, and even includes little humorous lines that adults will chuckle at. What a cute story!

Early Readers 5/10/2010

Elmer and the Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

In the continuation of My Father's Dragon, Elmer and the baby dragon leave Wild Island and search for Elmer's home, so that he could be back in time for his father's birthday. On their way, they get stranded on Feather Island, a island where escaped canaries go to. Elmer and the baby dragon help the canaries get better from a deadly case of curiosity, which has slowly been killing the canaries over the years.

Elmer and the Dragon is such a fun and creative follow up to My Father's Dragon. The adventures that Elmer and the baby dragon go on are simple and fun. They're perfect for early readers, but they're also fun stories for adults to read as well.

Early Readers 5/3/2010

Little Bear's Visit by Else Homelund Minarik

Little Bear goes on a visit to see Grandmother and Grandfather Bear. They each tell him a story. Grandmother Bear tells the story of how Mother Bear took care of a baby robin. Grandfather Bear tells the tale of a goblin being chased in the woods--by his own shoes! Before he even realizes it, Little Bear is exhausted from his visit.

The Little Bear books are definitely classics for a reason. The stories are short, simple, and fun, and Maurice Sendak's illustrations are great as usual. This is most definitely a book that will be around for years to come.

Early Readers 4/25/2010

Arthur's New Puppy by Marc Brown

Arthur is so excited to have a new puppy. That is, until Pal leaves messes all around the house and destroys the new curtains. Arthur becomes very worried that his parents will send his problem puppy away. What will he do?

Arthur's New Puppy is a great book to teach early readers about responsibility. Instead of despairing over the puppy's lack of control, Arthur decides to do his very best to train him. This is a cute tale of a boy and the love he has for his dog.

Early Reader 4/12/2010

Cam Jansen: The Chocolate Fudge Mystery

by David A. Adler

Cam Jansen has a special talent. She is able to look at an object, close her eyes, say "click," and store a mental photograph of what she just saw. This talent helps her remember things quite well, but also helps her solve mysteries

In The Chocolate Fudge Mystery, Cam and her friend Eric are going door to door to sell fudge and rice cakes to support Ride and Read, a program that helps provide rides for elderly people to go to the library. As Cam and Eric collect money for the program, they come across a house that should be empty that seems to have someone inside. Who could it be?

Early Readers 4/5/2010

Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant

Henry is lonely. He has no brothers and sisters, no children live on his street, and he has no pets. Because Henry was so lonely, his parents let him get a pet dog to keep him company. Thus begins the friendship with Henry and Mudge, the 180 pound, 3 foot tall, drooling dog.

Henry and Mudge is a cute story about the love between a boy and his dog. They are best friends and constantly make each other happy. It is a great story for children who are just learning to read

Early Reader 3/29/2010

Frog and Toad Forever by Arnold Lobel

This charming little book comes with five short stories, perfect for a young reader. In "A List," Toad makes a list of everything he wants to get done during the day, but doesn't know what to do when the list blows away. In "Cookies," Toad bakes cookies, and neither Frog nor Toad can stop eating them.

This book is very cute. The stories are short and simple, yet great fun to read. Frog and Toad are a dynamic duo, with each story about them fun and quirky

Early Reader 3/22/2010

My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

Elmer Elevator rescues a stray cat from outside, and sneaks her milk as often as possible. When his mother kicks the cat out, Elmer decides to run away to Wild Island, an island no one has left alive (minus the cat), and rescue a poor baby dragon. In order to save the dragon, Elmer has to get past many terrifying, wild animals that want him for dinner.

This book is a classic for young readers. The story is fun--Elmer has many creative ways to get past the wild animals. It is also well-illustrated with very fun pictures

Early Reader 3/15/2010

Father Bear Comes Home by Else Holmelund Minarik

Little Bear has a great imagination. While fishing, he pretends to be Father Bear, and even catches an octopus! When Father Bear comes home from fishing on a big boat in the ocean, Little Bear thinks that maybe Father Bear will bring home a mermaid.

The Little Bear series are classics for early readers. Not only do they have fun stories about Little Bear and his friends, they include illustrations by Maurice Sendak, author of Where the Wild Things Are. Father Bear Comes Home is the perfect book for a young one with a head full of ideas.

Early Reader 3/8/2010

Early Readers:

Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne

While playing in the woods, Jack and Annie discover a tree house way up high in a tree. They go up there to discover that it is filled with books! As Jack opens a book about dinosaurs, the tree house starts to spin and they find themselves in prehistoric times! Will Jack and Annie find their way back home?

This is a great tale for young readers. It is full of adventure and makes you want to read more! Good thing this is only the first book of many in the Magic Tree House series to keep your young reader's head in a book.