Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com

Photo by MShades on www.flickr.com
Picture book, contemporary fantasy, for prekindergarteners to 1st graders
Little cake makers as the main characters
Rating: One of those clever books that makes writers say, “Why didn’t I think of that?” Your child will LOVE this book–especially at birthday time!
Short, short summary: And you always thought your [...]

(Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com
Picture book for PreK to third graders, contemporary
Young elementary-aged boy as main character
Rating: This is a beautiful book with a beautiful message that tries to help children understand our complicated world!

Short, short summary: Daniel lives in an apartment building in a busy city. (Bunting wrote this book after the L.A. [...]

Review by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com
Middle-grade novel, fantasy
Upper elementary-aged boy as main character
Rating: This is one of those classics that will be enjoyed again and again–as much by children as adults.

Short, short summary: Omri receives some interesting gifts for his birthday–a plastic Indian figure from his friend and an old cupboard from his brother. Put [...]

Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com
Picture book, contemporary, for preK-1st graders
Dinosaur as main character
Rating: This book gets four roars! Roar! Roar! Roar! Roar! Your kids will love it!

Short, short summary: Our little dinosaur friend is tough. Nothing can defeat him. Dinosaur versus a pile of leaves, and dinosaur wins. Roar! He also versus a big [...]

Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com
Picture book for Prek-2nd graders, contemporary
Hank the Snake as the main character
Rating: This is a great book to use with any study on communities!
Short, short summary: Hank the Snake and his friend, Stanley, are not inspired, and Stanley decides to go to the city to find inspiration. The problem is [...]

Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com
Before I get on with the usual business of talking about a book, I want to share with you that this blog has recently won an award–The Premio Dardos–and it was given to Read These Books and Use Them by a fantastic blog about women and writing, “The Muffin” (WOW! [...]

photo by Mike Baird www.flickr.com
Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com
Contemporary picture book for preK-1st graders
Little Otter as main character
Rating: Preschool and young elementary children will really understand the way Little Otter feels in this book. And I just love Hoyt’s illustrations. This team is a dynamic duo!
Short, short summary: Little Otter is having an utterly [...]

Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com
Young adult fantasy novel
15-year-old boy as main character
Rating: The relationship between the boy and his dragon is truly touching and keeps you mesmerized until the end of the book.

Short, short summary: Eragon is a 15-year-old farmboy, who finds a dragon’s egg, although he doesn’t realize that’s what it is until [...]

photo by jetheriot www.flickr.com
Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com
picture book for pre-k through 5th grades(Older elementary kids will LOVE the humor!)
the English alphabet letters as main characters
Rating: This is one of the funniest, cleverest (is that even a word?) ABC books I’ve seen in a long time.

Short, short summary: Actor and comedian Steve Martin and [...]

photo by exfordy www.flickr.com
Reviewed by Margo Dill, www.margodill.com, margodll@aol.com
Picture book for PreK-2nd grade students, contemporary
Young girl as main character
Rating: I fell in love with this story and the cute, brilliant illustrations!

Short, short summary: A girl sets out with her dog to go on a canoe ride. Soon a beaver asks if he can join them, [...]