Giant John

Lobel, Arnold. Giant John. Henry Holt: 2008. ISBN: 9780805082951.

My book, Giant John, is a story about a giant named John. His mother has only 2 potato chips left in the cupboard, so John had to find a job. John met a king, queen and princess. They ask him to work for them. Keeping the castle dry when it rained was just one of his jobs. You will have to read the book to see what else John has to do! The artwork was detailed and great! I think kids ages 4 to 10 would enjoy this book.

K.H. Fourth grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Bambiraptor and Other Feathered Dinosaurs

Dixon, Dougal. Bambiraptor and Other Feathered Dinosaurs. Picture Window Books: 2008. ISBN: 9781404840133.

My book, Bambiraptors and Other Feathered Dinosaurs, is about dinosaurs with feathers and how they compare with animals we have today. It also gives some different explanations as to why dinosaurs are extinct. The book had a combination of computerized artwork and photographs. Even though I did not have a favorite part of the book, I think younger kids ages 6 to 8 would like this good book.

M.R. Fourth grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Finding Home

Markle, Sandra. Finding Home. Charlesbridge: 2008. ISBN: 9781580891226.

My book, Finding Home, was fantastic! It is the best book I have ever read in the world! The story is about a bush fire and how a mother koala and her joey survive. Alan Marks, the illustrator, made the best pictures ever! The koalas were so cute. The oranges and yellows used in the paintings made me feel like I was looking at a sunset. My favorite part of the book was when the koalas, kangaroos and birds were climbing, running and flying away from the fire. I think kids ages 7 to 11 would enjoy this excellent book!

A.J. Fourth grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Animals Grow and Change

Kalman, Bobbie. Animals Grow and Change. Crabtree Publishing: 2008. ISBN: 9780778732518.

The book, Animals Grow and Change, was sweet. I liked how the life cycle of animals was included, especially when certain words were in dark black to show that they were important. The photographs of the animals were taken up close and far away. The color was nice. I really liked the picture with the puppies! I think kids ages 6 to 10 would enjoy this book. I LOVED IT!

Z.R. Fourth grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Vera's Halloween

Rosenberry, Vera. Vera's Halloween. Henry Holt: 2008. ISBN: 9780805081442.

Vera's Halloween is a story about a girl named Vera. This is the first Halloween that Vera will be trick-or-treating out at night. While Vera is trick-or-treating she loses her family and is lost. While she searches for her family she conquers rain, sleet and snow! I liked some of the artwork. Some of it looked ugly. I really liked the illustrations of the sleet, snow and details. I really liked this book! My favorite part was when she got bat-shaped cookies for Halloween. I think kids between the ages of 6 and 8 years old who like Halloween and candy would really like this book. The 8 year old kids would like the pictures!

K.L. Fourth grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Imaginary Menagerie: a Book of Curious Creatures

Larios, Julie Hofstrand. Imaginary Menagerie: a Book of Curious Creatures. Harcourt: 2008. ISBN: 9780152063252.

Imaginary Menagerie: a Book of Curious Creatures is a book of poems about imaginary creatures from the past. Dragons, mermaids, the firebird, trolls, sphinx, gargoyles and hobgoblins are just some of the creatures in the book. The illustrations are very colorful. In the back of the book there is a page with more information about the creatures in the book. This is a good book if you like imaginary creatures and poetry.

A.P. Fourth grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Penny and the Punctuation Bee

Donohue, Moira Rose. Penny and the Punctuation Bee. Albert Whitman & Company: 2008. ISBN: 9780807564776.

Penny and the Punctuation Bee is about punctuation marks. They enter a punctuation bee and have to make a sentence. A period named Penny and a question mark named Quentin are in the punctuation bee and beat a show-off girl! The artwork is colorful, bright and amusing to me. This book is really good!. My favorite part is when the person named Penny beats the show-off girl named Elsie. I think kids should buy this book because it's educational, hilarious and has lots of sparkle to it! Kids 7 to 12 years old would like this book.

D.M. Fourth grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

The Birthday Tree

Fleischman, Paul. The Birthday Tree. Candlewick Press: 2008. ISBN: 9780763626044.

The Birthday Tree is a story about a sailor and his family. They lost three sons to the sea, so they decided to live on the land far away from the sea. They have another baby, a boy. They plant an apple tree when he was born. They did not want their child to be fond of the sea, but one day he ran away to see the sea. The sketches in the book are nice, cool and fun to look at. The pictures are sad sometimes and nice other times. I think this book is sweet, sad, happy and has great pictures. My favorite part is when they had the baby and planted a tree. This is a great book for second to fourth grade.

F.G. Fourth grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Hansel and Gretel

Rylant, Cynthia. Hansel and Gretel. Hyperion Books for Children: 2008. ISBN: 9781423111863.

Hansel and Gretel is about two children, their father and their mean stepmother. Their stepmother leaves them in the forest, but they find their way out. Their father is so happy! Hansel and Gretel's father and stepmother take them out once more. This time thy find a small house made of candy and begin to eat it. The artwork looks like water colors. There is detail, but not on everything. You can really see the facial expressions! I really like this book. My favorite part is when they find the candy house and begin eating the candy. I do recommend this book to other kids, but not if you are under seven or over eleven.

M.J. Fourth grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Chester the Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully

Penn, Audrey. Chester the Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully. Tanglewood Press: 2008. ISBN: 9781933718156.

Chester the Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully is a story about a raccoon who is being bullied, and he is trying to stop it. You have to check this book out! The artwork in the book is very colorful and incredible!! I really like this book. My favorite part is when the raccoons stand up to the bully. I think kids from 5 to 8 would enjoy this excellent book!

A.J. Fourth grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

There Was a Man Who Loved a Rat and Other Vile Little Poems

Rovetch, Gerda. There Was a Man Who Loved a Rat and Other Vile Little Poems. Philomel Books: 2008. ISBN: 9780399250149.

The book There Was a Man Who Loved a Rat and Other Vile Poems lots of terrible poems that will make you laugh! Most of the poems may seem disgusting! The artwork in the book is cartoony, bright and most of it is in black and white. It looks like the illustrator used markers to draw the pictures. This book is great! Every poem made me laugh! I would not mind going to the library to check this book out!

N.N. Fourth grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Ocean Wide, Ocean Deep

Lendroth, Susan. Ocean Wide, Ocean Deep. Tricycle Press: 2008. ISBN: 9781582462325.

Ocean Wide, Ocean Deep is a story about a girl's papa who joins the China trade. The girl talks about what happens and what she does throughout the year without her papa. The artwork has a lot of detail. It almost looks like photographs. I love this story because it has a lot of rhyming words and fabulous pictures. I also like this story because of what it is about.

A.C. Fourth grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Oodles of Animals

Elhert, Lois. Oodles of Animals. Harcourt: 2008. ISBN: 9780152062743.

Oodles of Animals is a story about animals and shapes made out of them. It is also about slithery snakes and various creepy crawler kinds of animals. The artwork in the book is very colorful. It was cool how the animals made different shapes. I think little kids would like this book. It was too kiddish for a fourth grader. I would buy this book to read it to my little sister.

L.H. Fourth grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

The Way Back Home

Jeffers, Oliver. The Way Back Home. Philomel Books: 2008. ISBN: 9780399250743.

The Way Back Home is about a boy and a Martian. They both end up getting stuck on the moon! The boy's fuel ran out, and the Martian's engine broke. But you can't find out what happens at the end of the story until you read the book! The artwork was cartoonish, and I thought it was amusing. Although, I think the Martian should have yellow hair. My favorite part was when they got stuck on the moon. I would recommend this book to children ages 5 to 7.

S.T. Fourth grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Silent Music: a Story of Baghdad

Rumford, James. Silent Music: a Story of Baghdad. Roaring Brook Press: 2008. ISBN: 9781596432765 .

Silent Music: a Story of Baghdad is a book about a young man named Ali who loved to dance and enjoyed parent-rattling music! Ali also likes to practice writing his native language in calligraphy. He likes to talk about his secret hero and history. The artwork is very colorful. Calligraphy looks like art, too. My favorite part of the story is the castle. I would recommend this book to all kids and adults.

A.W. Fourth grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Lincoln and Douglass: an American Friendship

Giovanni, Nikki. Lincoln and Douglass: an American Friendship. Henry Holt: 2008. ISBN: 9780805082647.

Lincoln and Douglas: an American Friendship is a story about President Abraham Lincoln and his friend Frederick Douglass and their history together. The artwork in the book reminded me of a collage. Close to the end of the book are pages that fold out to show a battle between the soldiers of the North and South. I liked this book because it explained the main topic and told about the history of Lincoln and Douglass. My favorite part was when they met again during the Civil War. I would recommend this book to kids in grades 3, 4 and 5.

J.C. Fourth grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

The Fish Who Cried Wolf

Donaldson, Julia. The Fish Who Cried Wolf. Arthur A. Levine Books: 2008. ISBN: 9780439928250.

The Fish Who Cried Wolf is about a fish named Tiddler who was always late for school and told tall tales about why he was late. One day he was late again, but didn't tell a tall tale. He actually got in trouble and was lost in the middle of the ocean. Tiddler found his way home by other fish telling him his own tall tale and who they heard the tale from! The illustrations in the book look like artwork and are really colorful and detailed. I think this is a good book for kids who are about 6 years old.

C.C. Fourth grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Madeline and the Cats of Rome

Marciano, John Bemelmans. Madeline and the Cats of Rome. Viking: 2008. ISBN: 9780670062973.

Madeline and the Cats of Rome is a book about cats that don't have a home. Madeline helps the cats by caring for them and finding new homes for them. The illustrations are very good. They are nice drawings and colors that come to life. My favorite part of the story is when Madeline has to chase the camera thief into a very creepy house! I would recommend this great book to my friend's little brother because I want him to grow up to be a caring and charming boy.

B.W. Third grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Before John Was a Jazz Giant: a Song of John Coltrane

Weatherford, Carole Boston. Before John Was a Jazz Giant: a Song of John Coltrane. Henry Holt: 2008. ISBN: 9780805079944.

Before John Was a Jazz Giant is a book about a boy named John who wants to be a jazz player. He is hearing all these sounds. He can play the horn, and he blew every note and made them into a bold different note. The pictures in the book are super, they look like art! My favorite part of the story is when John got out his horn and played every note he knew. My sister would like this book because she loves art, and this book has a lot of great pictures!

S.T. Third grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Join Hands!

Mora, Pat. Join Hands! Charlesbridge Publishing: 2008. ISBN: 9781580892032.

Join Hands! is a book about friends and all of the activities that they can do together. They play, have parades, dance and surprise each other. The pictures are photographs and really funny! The best part of the book is when the friends have a pet parade. I wish I was in their parade with my pet dog, Momo! I think first graders would really enjoy this great book! It is a book they could read by themselves.

A.Y. Third grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Market Day

Cordsen, Carol Foskett. Market Day. Dutton Children's Books: 2008. ISBN: 9780525478836.

The family is late for Market Day! The forget to feed their cow and close the barnyard gate. No one looks back to see the cow. The cow is so hungry it follows them to the market. You will have to read the story to find out how it ends! The pictures are beautiful, cool and fun for little kids. My favorite part of the story is when everything gets spilled at the market. The father catches pies and the mother wipes her eyes! I know my little sister would like this great book because she loves books and going to the market!

A.C. Third grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Little Rabbit and the Night Mare

Klise, Kate. Little Rabbit and the Night Mare. Harcourt: 2008. ISBN: 9780152057176.

The book, Little Rabbit and the Night Mare, is a story about a rabbit who has to do a report for school. He can choose any topic he wants, but when he has the nightmare that gives him an idea for his report! The pictures in the book are so colorful. They are incredible! My favorite part of the book is when I see the horse in little rabbit's nightmare. I think kids of all ages would enjoy this great book because the first time I read it, I felt like I was in the story!

I.P. Third grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Gulliver Snip

Kay, Julia. Gulliver Snip. Henry Holt: 2008. ISBN: 9780805079920.

This is a story about a boy named Gulliver Snip who had a clipper ship but it is really a bathtub! Gulliver pretends he is a pirate and he does really crazy and wild things. The pictures in the book are very funny, interesting and colorful. The best part of the book is when Gulliver 's clipper ship sunk so he went into a packing trunk and pretended he was going down a waterfall, but he was really going down a set of stairs! I would recommend this book to my little brother because he really likes picture books, and I think it would be a very interesting book for him. This is the best picture book I ever read.

B.S. Third grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

It's a Baby Opossum!

Doudna, Kelly. It's a Baby Opossum! ABDO Publishing: 2008. ISBN: 9781604530285.

Did you know that baby opossums are as big as honey bees and that 10 of them can fit in a teaspoon! That is what I learned when I read It's a Baby Opossum! The cool part is that a baby opossum goes into its' mothers' pouch for 4 to 5 months. The illustrations are great because they are cool and give you facts about opossums. My favorite part of the book is when an opossum hangs upside down! I would recommend this book to anyone because I would like to have it myself! It is a good book and the pages are great!

C.W. Third grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

The Robot and the Bluebird

Lucas, David. The Robot and the Bluebird. Farrar, Straus and Giroux: 2008. ISBN: 9780374363307.

The Robot and the Bluebird is a story about a robot who has a broken heart and meets a bluebird. You will have to read the book to find out how the bluebird helps the robot! The illustrations have good texture and the colors are in lots of different shades. My favorite part is when the robot lays all day and night in the rain and snow. I would recommend this good book to people who would like to draw robots.

A.E.C. Third grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Is It the Same or Different?

Kalman, Bobbie. Is It the Same or Different? Crabtree: 2008. ISBN: 9780778733379.

Is It the Same or Different? is a book about all kinds of animals. It asks you questions about frogs, cats, dogs, bees, bugs, snakes, bugs, giraffes and eels. I liked the pictures in the book. They are cool, colorful, funny and weird! My favorite part of the book is the cover because I like the cat dressed in a frog costume! I think first, second and third graders would like this great book with short words.

J.K. Third grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Harriet Dancing

Symes, Ruth. Harriet Dancing. Chicken House/Scholastic: 2008. ISBN: 9780545032049.

Harriet Dancing is about a girl hedgehog named Harriet who goes to her friend's house. Along the way she bumps into butterflies. Harriet starts to dance with the butterflies, but they don't want to dance with a hedgehog. Harriet goes to her friend Ivor's who says he will dance with her. You will have to read the book to find out if the butterflies ever dance with Harriet! The illustrations are great and very colorful. They look like they could come out of the book! My favorite part of the book is the WHOLE book! I think this is a really great book, and I would like to have it for myself!

B.B. Third grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Big Chickens Fly the Coop

Helakoski, Leslie. Big Chickens Fly the Coop. Dutton Children's Books: 2008. ISBN: 9780525479154.

Big Chickens Fly the Coop is a story about crazy chickens that try to get to a farmhouse! The pictures are funny and hilarious! The animals in the story have funny faces. The best part of the book is when the chickens find a tractor and think it's the farmhouse! I think little kids would really enjoy this great book!

H.M. Third grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Big Plans

Shea, Bob. Big Plans. Hyperion Books for Children: 2008. ISBN: 9781423111009.

There is a boy in a classroom who dreams about Big Plans! In his dreams he becomes the Mayor, then he is the President because he still has those big plans! The pictures in the book are funny and colorful. My favorite part is when the boy tells Idaho to make space suits out of the latest potato technology! I think kids my age would really enjoy this great book because there are hard words in the story like mynah bird and president.

M.W. Third grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Buster Goes to Cowboy Camp

Fleming, Denise. Buster Goes to Cowboy Camp. Henry Holt: 2008. ISBN: 9780805078923.

In the book, Buster Goes to Cowboy Camp, Buster's owner is going away for a few days and Buster gets to go to cowboy camp! Buster is not sure about being at cowboy camp, but read the book to find out what happens! The illustrations are super good! The pictures are cute and friendly. I really liked the part where Buster pretends to study a butterfly! I would recommend this book to all kids because the story is very good and has great pictures!

K.K. Third grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

In the Chicken Coop

Stockland, Patricia. In the Chicken Coop. Magic Wagon: 2008. ISBN: 9781602700239.

In the Chicken Coop is a book about the life of chickens. The pictures in the book are colorful and simple. Little kids would enjoy them! This book would be good for little kids to learn about chickens. Farmers would like this book, too! I think that this book is more for younger kids than third graders.


J.D. Third grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Silly School Riddles

Eisenberg, Lisa. Silly School Riddles. Dial Books for Young Readers: 2008. ISBN: 9780803731653.

The book, Silly School Riddles, has lots and lots of funny jokes about school. The pictures are very weird and funny for kids. I really liked the joke that said, "Why did the silly goose feel sorry for the math book? It had so many problems!" I would recommend this great book to my big brother because he likes jokes so that he can tell them to other people!

T.H. Third grade, Elmhurst Elementary School

Tadpole Rex

Cyrus, Kurt. Tadpole Rex. Harcourt: 2008. ISBN: 9780152059903.









Tadpole Rex is a great book about dinosaurs and frogs! The story is about a frog's inner tyrannosaur, and how he survived. The illustrations are really cool! My favorite picture in the book is almost at the end with all of the frog, with one frog sitting on the head of another frog. I think my cousins would like this book because they are 4, and they like dinosaurs and frogs.


H.D. Third grade, Elmhurst Elementary School