photo by Arwen Abendstern www.flickr.com
Pippi Longstocking is perhaps one of the most-loved orphans of all time (well, maybe she’s an orphan since she’s still waiting for her father to come back from being a cannibal king), along with Annie and the Baudelaire children. The style of this book reminds me very much of [...]

Talk about timeless–how about this book from 1937? It’s Dr. Seuss’s first children’s book, and I thought I’d wrap up this week of celebrating his birthday with talking about one more of his classic books. And to Think that I Saw It on Mulberry Street is, of course, a fantastical version of an actual [...]

Henry Huggins is the lesser known resident on Klickitat Street, but he’s got a lot to offer kids and their parents even sixty years later! You are probably more familiar or might remember better from your childhood Beezus and Ramona books, but these two lovable sisters show up in Henry Huggins, too! Plus who can [...]

photo by creativedc www.flickr.com
Clifford the Big Red Dog first appeared on the scene in 1963. Now he has appeared in his own book series with more than ninety million books in print. He also has his own television series on PBS, and children around the world love him. So, this Timeless Thursday post [...]

photo by digitalART2 www.flickr.com
*Picture book for preschoolers through second graders
*A skateboarding cow and other critters as main characters
*Rating: A Crazy Day at the Critter Cafe is a fun, crazy read that will leave kids laughing and wanting more. Cute ending!
Short, short summary: In rhyme and with super illustrations, Barbara Odanaka and [...]

washing hands photo by edenpictures www.flickr.com
I am happy to announce that the winner of Hate List by Jennifer Brown is Sara L. Congratulations, Sara! Enjoy the book. It’s a great read!
So, on Maniac Monday today, we’re talking germs! This winter everyone has had germs on their mind with the H1N1 scare, and [...]

photo by kimbospacenut www.flickr.com
I decided to write about this book today in honor of the approaching holiday–Valentine’s Day. This book is about love in one of the most selfless and special ways we can give love–to animals who have been in puppy mills. **A portion of the sales profits from A Home for [...]

photo by asplosh www.flickr.com
Do you L. O. V. E. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh? I do! And it was published the year I was born, so that makes it almost 40 years old. (That makes me almost 40 years old, too. Egads!) Anyway, I remember teaching this book as part of my [...]

My Basset Hound, Hush Puppy, under the Christmas tree
*Picture book for preschoolers through 2nd graders
*Young girl and cute dog as main characters
*Rating: Anyone, child or adult, who has ever been searching for the perfect pet will love You? by Vladimir Radunsky.
Short, short summary: In the park, a poor, little lonely dog is searching for [...]

photo by mdxdt www.flickr.com
*Picture book for preschoolers (However, this can be used with elementary students during a poetry unit.)
*Young boy as main character
*Rating: Red Sled is a clever book about a night time sled ride for a boy and his dad. Not to mention, there’s wonderfully bright illustrations!
Short, short summary: A sad [...]