Specs for Rex

Specs for Rex

Written and illustrated by Yasmin Ismail

Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2014, Ages 4-8

This book is about Rex who has new glasses. He hates his glasses with a passion so he tries to hide them in the weirdest places. Throughout the book it talks about the different hiding places. After awhile his glasses earn him a big gold star and that makes Rex think twice about his glasses. 

The author uses short sentences that attract the younger audience. 

The illustrations are a watercolor and the colors the author uses are a red and a yellow. These colors pop off the white background and it is fun and interesting to the eye. 

I found this book very good. It shows the audience that being different is a good thing. Growing up with glasses I related to this book because I also hated my glasses. I thought everyone was judging me by the way I looked. This is a very good book to read to a class of diverse children. I would really recommend this book to many teachers. 

Reviewed by Kelsey C.

Specs for Rex

Specs for Rex

Written and illustrated by Yasmin Ismail

Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2014, Ages 4-8

The story is about a little lion named Rex who gets a new pair of glasses or specs as they call them. Rex doesn't like his new specs and is going to do anything not to wear them. He tried to hid them in the cereal, or put his hair over his face so nobody could see them. Rex was trying anything to make sure nobody could see them. He just really didn't want the others at school to see him in his new specs. But, then he realized his new specs might not be so bad after all. Once he found Miss Spots whistle, and he earned a gold star he started to like his new specs. He then realized wearing his specs was the good thing to do. 

The author's writing style was very easy to read. She used nice and simple words that would make it easy for younger readers. She also used fun descriptive words that younger children would both enjoy hearing and reading. The descriptive words made the story more interesting to read. As well as the rhyme words, like Rex and specs were both fun to say throughout the story. 

The illustrations definitely enhanced the story and made it better to read. Seeing Rex with paint all over his new specs, or with a trash can on his head are what the children are going to want to see and they are going to enjoy seeing. It looks as if the illustrations were painted in watercolor, with some fine colored pencils mixed in. The illustrations were great to look at and helped the story continue along. 

Overall, I enjoyed the book. From the cover of the book I didn't think I would like it. But, after reading it, it was a good book. I would recommend this to others, especially parents or teachers with children who are getting new glasses. This could be a good transition book for them and help them be more comfortable with their new specs. This is definitely a book I would put into my future classroom. 

Reviewed by Morgan Dyke

Pig Kahuna Who’s That PIG?

Pig Kahuna Who’s That PIG? 

Written and illustrated by Jennifer Sattler

Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2015, Ages 3-6

This picture book is about two brother pigs enjoying a normal day on the beach. They end up seeing another little girl pig on the same beach. The younger of the brother pigs is more outgoing and immediately runs over to meet the potential friend. The older of the two pigs is shy and keeps his distance for most of the story. The older pig brother starts to feel left out because his younger brother and the little girl pig start look like they are having so much fun without him. Eventually the older pig breaks out of his shyness by helping out a friend and he gets proper recognition for his sweet personality. 

This children’s book would better be described as a picture book. Every page of the book is a full illustration. The words are used in active places on page. For example, much of the dialogue is written in text that curves around the speaker. It is obvious that the author chose every word in a particular way. The text of the pages is written on both the top and the bottom of the pages. 

The illustrations in the book are beautiful and add to the story. The art in this book was created with acrylics and colored pencil. The way in which each of the pigs is illustrated depicts their personality. For example, the younger brother pig that has an outgoing personally is dressed minimally in a small diaper. The older brother pig that has a very shy personality is dressed in a button up shirt even though he is on a hot beach. The girl pig is wearing a very quirky outfit complete with crazy glasses; this represents her unique personality very well. 

I think that this is a very cute book for young children. This book might be more special for children that are shy. This book has a very sweet and simple value that would be easy for children to understand. The pictures are well done and would be keep the interest of a young student. There is a lot of dialogue in this children’s book, which gives teachers and parents an opportunity to act out different voices. This book would be a good addition to a lesson. 

Reviewed by Taylor Hanes 

Nelson Mandela: South African Revolutionary (A Real-Life Story)

Nelson Mandela: South African Revolutionary (A Real-Life Story)

Written by Beatrice Gormley

Aladdin, 2015, Ages 11+

Nelson Mandela: South African Revolutionary (A Real-Life Story) is a biography detailing the life of Nelson Mandela. Mandela was born in 1918 in South Africa. He went to the University College of Fort Hare where he showed interest in politics, specifically equality. Mandela became part of the ANC, the African National Congress, an anti-apartheid group. Mandela was elected president but shortly after was arrested for communism and was later sentenced to a life in prison. From prison, Mandela spoke with the President of South Africa and then was released from prison after serving 27 years. He shared a Nobel Peace Prize with F.W. de Klerk. In 1994, Mandela was elected president in the first democratic election. Mandela is one of the most well-known revolutionaries, bringing about great change for South Africa. 

The author's writing style is non-fiction and factual. She provides readers with clear, accurate facts and includes sources in the back of the novel. Her writing style is very fluid and easy to read. She uses appropriate vocabulary and grammar and includes a glossary in the back of the book. The author's description of Mandela's time in prison allows readers to identify Mandela as a real person. "For Nelson Mandela, solitary confinement was harder to bear than the lack of food. There was nothing to do, nothing to see except the four walls of the cell, and worst of all, no one to talk to. He lost track of time, and his mind began to play tricks on him. He was glad if a cockroach crawled out of a crack, because even an insect was some kind of company." The descriptive passages provide the reader with an idea of what life in prison was really like. 

I really enjoyed this book! I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about the anti-apartheid movement and Nelson Mandela. This book can be used in conjunction with teaching about the anti-apartheid movement in classrooms. Beatrice Gormley tells the life story of Nelson Mandela in a very pleasing way. I believe that readers will identify with Mandela's kindness and peaceful ideals. I recommend this to anyone over the age of 11. 

Reviewed by LRA

The Day the Crayons Came Home

The Day the Crayons Came Home

Written by Drew Daywalt; Illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

Philomel Books, 2015, Ages 5-7

This story is about 14 crayons who left their owner or was left by their owner at some point and ended up in different situations. Throughout the book, the crayons are writing letters to their owner, Duncan, to let him know what happened to them and why they are on their way back to him. They also write him letters about the journey and the obstacles they faced to get back to him. When Duncan learned of everything that had happened to them he ran around his house searching for them and finding them. Once he did find them, he realized they were all so broken and damaged that they would not fit into their crayon box, so he decided to make them a new home where each crayon would fit in. This kept the crayons happy and pleased so they would never leave again. 

The author used humor in his story by making them all have their own personalities. Each crayon is coming from a different destination trying to make their way back to their owner, Duncan. Throughout the book, each crayon gives a little background information and when they will be back. For example, Pea Green wanted to change his name to Esteban... the Magnificent. He also had a crown named Neon Red who traveled the world to get back to him which is also another funny little adventure. I liked he introduced and closed the book with a narrator, but every other page is like the crayons are talking right to Duncan. 

The illustrations in this book are so bright and colorful. They are very fun to look at because the drawing alone are good, but with all the colors make it more interesting and give it more life. I also like how on some of the pages there are drawings as if they were Duncan's so it gives it more of a realistic point of view. I also like how the author and illustrator made the words on the envelopes look like the crayons were writing it, not the author writing it and for any children reading or having this read to them. This would be very interesting to them and they may even think the crayons at their desk are living. He also made the backgrounds different so that each picture would stick out more. For example, Glow in the Dark Crayon can only be seen in darkness, so the illustrator made the whole page black with the writing and drawings on it. That made it a little more interesting than just another white page. 

I really liked this book, this is actually one of my new favorite children's book. I would absolutely recommend this book to other teachers, any parents, and individuals who just like to read and look into different styles of books. I think this book would be best for kindergarten through second grade because they are all at the age where they will think it is so cool that the crayons are talking. I would say past that age though, they will know this is not a realistic book and may not be as amused with it. I enjoyed reading this book and I think kids would love this. Having a younger classroom would be the perfect time to grab this book so you could read it at circle time or even just for a reward they could get to pick this book to read. It is very visual, bright, and funny which are three main reasons I really enjoyed this book. 

Reviewed by Sara Utley 

Be A Friend

Be A Friend

Written by Salina Yoon

Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2016, Ages 3-6

The book Be A Friend, is about a young boy named Dennis who expressed himself in a very unique way when compared to others. Everyone called him ‘Mime Boy’ because he dressed like a mime and never spoke a word! He would only act out how he was feeling or what he was thinking. However, not many people understood him which left him lonely at times- he felt invisible. That was until a girl named Joy showed Dennis that he was not invisible and she saw the world the same way he did. They never spoke a word, but were still able to develop a friendship just like everyone else. 

It is obvious when you read this book that it was written for children. The author uses short and simple sentences while still being descriptive and getting her point across. She keeps the story very engaging by using descriptive words and keeping readers interested by leaving sentences unfinished from one page to the next. For example, on one page it reads “Dennis was an ordinary boy…” and then on the next it finishes with, “…who expressed himself in extraordinary ways.” In addition to all of this, the author also chooses words on each page and  puts them in bold and capitalizes all of the letters in them for emphasis as well. For example, on one page it reads “Dennis didn’t speak a word. He would only ACT- in scenes.” All of these techniques that the author is using is a way to enhance the experience for the readers learning. 

With this being a picture book, the illustrations is the most important element. The illustrations take up the entire page and show Dennis acting out his different thoughts and scenes. Throughout the entire story the illustrations are very detailed and colorful which only makes the story stronger in all aspects. The pictures are so colorful and bold and show so much detail that it’s hard not to fall in love with the story when paired with the illustrations. Everyone in these pictures are so happy- including Dennis once he meets Joy, which shows children that it’s important to accept others- even if they are a little different than you. 

I would definitely recommend Be A Friend for children or teachers for their classroom. This is a great story that will teach children a very important lesson- accepting others. This lesson is perfect for children at this age considering how they will be working on forming relationships with others and how important it is for them to have friendships with children their age. Not only is the text and theme of this story great, but the illustrations are also fun, wonderfully made and help to keep children engaged in the story. The pictures are colorful and go along perfectly with the text so that readers know exactly what is happening throughout the story. I would definitely use this book in my future classroom to show my students and any other teacher should as well- it would be a perfect addition to any classroom. 

Reviewed by Emily Ervin

Horton Hears A Who!

Horton Hears A Who! 

Written by Dr. Seuss

Random House Books for Young Readers, 1954, Ages 4-9

Horton Hears A Who! is about an elephant named Horton that hears a voice coming from a speck on a flower. His big ears allow him to hear the voices of the Whos, unfortunately the other animals cannot hear anything which makes him look crazy. The voice coming from the speck turns out to be the voice of the Mayor of Whoville, the town that is placed on the tiny speck. At first when Horton tells the mayor that their whole town is so small it can fit on a speck he does not believe it. However, after he pays attention to all the strange things happening around him he comes to the realization that they are in fact living on a speck and everything in Whoville begins to make more sense. Horton decides that in order to keep the city of Whoville in existence he must get the speck on the flower to a safe place, even if it puts himself in danger. The author’s purpose for “Horton Hears A Who!” is to show the audience that all people are equal whether they are big or small. 

Dr. Seuss' writing style in this book is bold and exciting. Dr. Seuss rhymes in a lot of his books and uses simple words since the audience is mostly children. He does an amazing job of keeping the readers engaged which is obvious because it seems as everyone knows who Dr. Seuss is. He is very expressive when it comes to using his words in his stories. Dr. Seuss is an overall great writer, he uses his creativity when writing and that definitely shows in his books. 

The illustrations in the book Horton Hears A Who! are pretty simple for the most part. The animals are outlined in black and are very straightforward. The setting of this book is in the jungle of Nool. The jungle is filled with plenty of wacky wildlife illustrations such as the trees and strange shaped plants. Dr. Seuss focuses a lot on the expressions of the characters in this book, for example the kangaroo always looks angry, and even though Horton is a very large elephant there are times when he looks scared and nervous. 

I would absolutely recommend this book to any child. Dr. Seuss did an outstanding job on this book as well as his whole collection of others. The particular age interests for this book are anywhere between 4-9 years old. Of course if a younger or older individual enjoys Dr. Seuss books as much as I do, the age range would be all ages. Horton Hears A Who! is a wonderful book with a story line and illustrations to keep any reader engaged. 

Reviewed by Bridget Benedict 

I Really Like Slop!

 I Really Like Slop! 

Written and illustrated by Moe Willems

Hyperion Books for Children, 2015, Ages 4-8

The story I Really Like Slop! is about an elephant named Gerald, and a pig named Piggie. Piggie made himself a meal that does not smell too appetizing to Gerald and he calls it “slop” Piggie starts to explain to Gerald the different things that go into slop that makes it so delicious to him, but Gerald finds it to be repulsive. When Piggie asks Gerald if he would like to try Gerald says no, and this hurts Piggie because he really likes slop, and he really likes Gerald so he wants Gerald to enjoy what he enjoys. When Gerald sees that Piggie is upset he decides to take one for the team and give it a try for his good friend Piggie. When he tries the slop you can tell by Gerald’s reaction that he does not like the slop, and when Piggie asks if he likes it Gerald is honest to Piggie and says, “No, but I’m glad I tried it. Because I really like you.” It is obvious that that made Piggie very happy. 

The writing style is an interesting one. Every page is just a back and forth conversation between Gerald and Piggie about the slop. There is a lot of exaggeration between the two and that is obvious in the text. An important thing to understand about this book is that the text is apart of the illustration too. When you see the two talking it is in text bubbles above their heads. A good example of the exaggerated speech is when Piggie is trying to explain slop to Gerald and he says, “Sure, I eat this! Pigs really, really, really, really, really like slop! Eating slop is part of pig culture.” Gerald’s response to his extreme opinion on slop was just, “oh” as he rolls his eyes. It is an easy, and interesting read that children would definitely enjoy. 

The illustrations are pretty basic but really add character to the story as well. There is no scenery it is just the two of them in a blank area, with Piggie holding the slop that has a few flies around it, and that is about as in depth as they go. Their facial expressions and body language change as their conversation continues. Even though it doesn’t have all these extravagant details and scenery I think this is good enough for this story. The best part is when Gerald tries the slop and he starts to flop around and change colors. I think this is important because it really gets the point across about how gross slop really is. Also, kids will really get a kick out of it because he is really having a hard time with enjoying such a nasty dish. 

I feel this is a very well written children’s book, and it is the type of book I would want in my classroom one day. It has such a silly story, but it carries a nice message about friendship that would be important for children to understand at such a young age, especially because kids at this age are all about “mine” and not wanting to share or try things the other kids do. The characters are very cute, and the text is so simple that it would even be a good book for a child in the early stages of independent reading. 

Reviewed by J.E.

A Bear Called Paddington

A Bear Called Paddington 

Written by Michael Bond; Illustrated by Peggy Fortnum

Harper Collins, 2014, Ages 6-10

A Bear Called Paddington is an entertaining children's book. Paddington bear is from Peru, he originally lived with his aunt who pushed him to move away after she decided to check into a retirement home for the older bears. With that being said, Paddington sets out on the adventure of a lifetime carrying only a few jars of marmalade, a suitcase, and a tag around his neck saying "Please take care of this bear. Thank you." Paddington meets Mr. and Mrs. Brown at Paddington station where they ask him his name and he replies that he does not have one. The Browns decide to name him Paddington because they met him at Paddington Station and take him in as one of their own. Paddington easily becomes part of the family, the two Brown children love Paddington as well as most of the people around him. Throughout Paddington's time at the Brown families house he gets himself into many messy adventures including his first bath and his first time to the store. Nonetheless, things always work out in the end for the always friendly Paddington Bear. 

The author's writing style is very smooth, the book flows very well together and keeps the readers engaged throughout the whole book. The word choice in this book seems to be very carefully written with just the right amount of humor along with imagination to keep the attention of the readers. 

The illustrations in this book are innocent and pleasant to look at. Paddington is presented as a charming little bear with distinct features that set him apart from the rest. The illustrations are simple but they get the point across of where the characters are at and what the setting is. 

I would absolutely recommend this book to others. Paddington is a feel good book for anyone who wants to enjoy a delightful story and end with a smile. 

Reviewed by Bridget Benedict

Specs for Rex

Specs for Rex

Written and illustrated by Yasmeen Ismail

Bloomsbury, 2015, Ages 3-5

This story is about a young lion named Rex who gets glasses for the first time. Originally Rex is very unhappy about getting the new glasses. He tries to hide his glasses multiple different ways, including shoving them in his cereal box. He finds out he has no luck trying to hide them because they were so big and round and red. He didn’t however want any of the other children in school to see him in his new specs so he continued to try and hide them. After trying to hide his glasses for so long Rex found that they actually had some use to him. He found them helpful when he was able to spot his teacher, Miss Spots’ glasses. He finally realized the value of his glasses and he appreciated them greatly. 

The author's writing style was nice and simple, allowing young readers to follow. She uses nice descriptions, such as crinkling and crunching that are describing the cereal being smashed when Rex tried to stuff his glasses into the cereal box. The sentence structure is also strong enough for the children to follow along with what is happening in the story and assists the images perfectly. 

The illustrations of this book have an effect that makes it appear as if it was made with watercolors. This is especially creative because it is kid friendly. They are also full of color and cover most of the page leaving little white spaces. The illustrations correspond to the story in a way that allows the children to clearly understand what is happening without even reading the pages. There are also lines throughout the illustrations that display the movement of the pictures which is a good enhancement of the story. 

Overall I really enjoyed reading and viewing this story. It can really give a nice perspective on children who have to receive glasses for the first time and how they may be hesitant at first on wearing them. It gives the example of how they may not want their fellow classmates to see them in their new glasses. This story also shows how in the end wearing glasses isn’t a bad thing and it can really benefit you after all. The book kept me entertained by making me wonder what Rex would do next and how he would handle each situation. I think this book could benefit children with and without glasses and I would definitely recommend it or even have it in my own classroom. 

Reviewed by Libby Burkhart 

I'll Never Let You Go

I'll Never Let You Go

Written by Smriti Prasadam-Halls; Illustrated by Alison Brown

Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2015, Grades K-3

This is a fiction story about the love of a parent for their child. This love is represented in many different animals, such as a bear, kangaroo, or crocodile. Each parent talks about how they love their child when they are happy, sad, angry, naughty, excited, or even irritated and bored. Each parent also laments how they will never let their child go, and will love them forever. There are a variety of animals because everyone expresses love in a different way, and a good parent will love you through anything. It is a very sweet story, with such a simple message; it will touch anyone's heart. 

The author's style is very simple; each page, for example, goes on to say when you are sleeping, curled up so tight, I stay awake, keeping watch through the night. There is repetition all throughout this book, as the parent states what they will do when their child needs them. There is rhyming all throughout the story, and there are also metaphors. For example, the line "When you are sad and troubled with fears, I hold you close and dry all of your tears." represents a parent being there for their child, whether it is in good times or bad times. The rhyming in the story will catch the attention of younger children and adults everywhere, because every line contains a heartwarming message. 

The illustrations are very cute and colorful. You can tell that they were painted in watercolor. Each illustration shows an animal and their young, and accurately describes each scenario. For example, on one page, a young dog is disobeying its parent by coloring on the wall. The illustration accurately depicts this. Each illustration also shows colors that go with the mood of the text; when the child is sad, the colors are blue, and when the child is happy and excited, there are bright orange or red colors. The illustrations are eye-popping, and will appeal to younger audiences because of the detail. I think the illustration that is the most effective in this book would be the last page, which shows every animal with their baby, hugging and watching fireworks go off in the sky. This is effective because it shows many different animals all celebrating the same thing, which is love.

I thought this book was very sweet. I think that any loving parent would want this book for their child, because it will accurately show how much they love them. The goal in this book is to show how love takes different forms, and that is accurately shown. Younger audiences will love this book because the story is simple, and the illustrations are creative and fun. Parents, teachers, and other adults will also love this book because it is about one of the greatest love stories; the story between a parent and their child. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a young child, particularly around the ages of kindergarten through third grade, because it is so heartwarming. I would also recommend this to early childhood teachers, because it would be a great addition to have in their classroom. Overall, everyone will enjoy this book, because love is contagious, especially the love between a parent and their child. 

Reviewed by Katie Partyka

The Nonsense Show

 The Nonsense Show

Written and illustrated by Eric Carl

Philomel Books, 2015, Ages 3-6

This book is about taking everyday things, and looking at them in a different way that is more silly. There are pages with illustrations showing a lion taming a human and a human in a doghouse while the dog is watching him. There is a different idea on each page showing nonsense and how that is typically incorrect. There are several different characters and animals that you will see throughout the story. This is a great book where children can laugh and find the different illustrations to be humorous. 

Eric Carl has a very descriptive writing style that helps tell the story very well. Without his disruptive words, it would be more difficult to see the humor throughout the story. An example from the book of his descriptive writing is when the author said, "Up-sy, down-ay, nice and strait. Smile a mile." You can then see in the pictures of how the words perfectly describe it. The author also uses a lot of communication between the characters in the book, which gives it more action and descriptions of the scenes. 

Eric Carl is the same author/illustrator that wrote The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which I know of as a very well known book with its colorful and fun illustrations. Eric Carl uses a varsity of vibrant colors and a cut paper look to make his pictures. There are illustrations on each page of the book that really relate to the text and give a great image of what the story is saying. This is a great book where children can laugh and find the different illustrations to be humorous. 

I would recommend this book to a young audience, toddlers- early elementary age. I think it is a funny book that can get the children to giggle and they will also interact with the book. They can notice the humor easily and be able to correct it in their minds. I think this is a fun and easy read to read aloud to a class or for an older child to read to themselves. 

Reviewed by HT

Little Puffin's First Flight

Little Puffin's First Flight

Written by Jonathan London; Illustrated by Jon Van Zyle

Alaska Northwest Books, 2015, Ages 4-8

This fiction story is about a two puffins who meet at sea and then decide that they want to have a baby. The story follows the little family consisting of Father Puffin, Mother Puffin and Little Puffin and shows a brief life cycle that a puffin goes through. In the story there are three puffins and a gull. There is not a lot of internal conflict with any of the characters but there is some external conflict in this book. There are some adventures that characters go on such as finding food and how it can be hard sometimes and there is also learning how to fly. This book shows the life of the puffin family have a chick, raise it and then watch it learn to fly. This book is fiction, but the actions of the puffins are all actual actions the puffins would do in real life. 

The author, Jonathan London, has his own unique writing style that sets him apart from others. In this book he uses a lot of onomatopoeia which helps give the book more character and makes it more fun to read for little kids. An example of this is, “Finally, in the cliff-top nest, there’s a tap! tap! tap!”. Additionally, something that stands out is whenever he uses onomatopoeia, he makes those words look different from the rest. For instance, sometimes he will change the font of the words, he will make them bold, or he will make them go in different directions. 

The Illustrations in this book are wonderfully done and are painted by Jon Van Zyle. He tends to stick to earth tone colors such as blues, browns, greens, blacks and yellows. All of the paintings are very realistically done and are appealing to the eye. I think that the painting that is most effective in developing the story is near the end of the book where it shows Little Puffin jumping off the cliff for the first time. I think that it is a powerful part of the book because it represents the independence of getting older and learning to do things on your own for the first time. 

I think that this is a good book and both parents and kids would enjoy it. Kids are able to relate to this book because it shows a puffin being born and growing up. Kids are at the point where they are learning to do things on their own but still need their parents help and this book shows that process with the puffin. Adults, and even kids, like to feel independent and like they can do things on their own so I think that no matter who is reading it, they can relate to the puffins. Parents also may like this book and can relate to this book because it shows the parents taking care of Little Puffin and they can relate because they take care of their kids every day. Additionally, this book does a good job at not only telling a story but showing the life of a puffin and giving indirect facts as well. All of the facts about this book check out so kids are not only reading a story but learning about a species of birds as well. Overall, this is a good book and would be a good book to have on a bookshelf both at school and at home. 

Reviewed by Kelly Vantrease

The Storm

The Storm

Written and Illustrated by Akiko Miyakoshi

Kids Can Press, 2016, Ages 3-7

This story is about a little boy that is excited to get through his last day of school, so he can go to the beach the next day. The boy is upset when his teacher informs the class that they should get home immediately, as a large storm was approaching the area. As the teacher warned, a very large and dark storm arrives; leading the boy to become very disappointed and unhappy, as he is left with the option of waiting to go to the beach the following week. Distressed, the boy goes to bed and dreams of sailing a ship and struggling with the massive, dark storm, until he is finally able to push it away. In the morning, he awakes to a beautiful day with perfect weather to go to the beach, making the child quite excited for the time ahead. 

The Storm was written in a narrative writing style that was very modest and directed to be easily understood by children in the 3–7 year old audience. The author uses simple words and strays away from very complex sentence structure. The voice of the narration was in the first person, from the perspective of a little boy. 

All of the illustrations are done in a black and white scale with the exception of the last two pages of the book that incorporates the color blue. Each page is drawn in a sketchy style that looks like a pencil was the medium. The illustrations are very detailed, besides the people who have a more cartoonish quality to their facial features. The illustrator uses a lot of dark shading in the pictures to depict the big storm and lack of color to reflect the main character’s feelings. The blue at the end is the best example of the bright, happy feeling the main character feels with seeing a beautiful, sunny day. 

This book drew me in with the beautiful, unique illustrations and limit of colors. The illustrations continued to mesmerize me, as I skimmed through the pages. When I finally got into the book and actually read it, I was dissatisfied. In my opinion, the text paled in comparison to the great illustrations. I felt that the book didn’t have an actual content to gather from it, and it left me feeling like the story was pointless to read. I prefer story to have a message built-in while being enjoyable to read. 

Reviewed by CRF

What James Said

What James Said

Writen by Liz Rosenberg; Illustrated by Matt Myers

Roaring Brook Press, 2015, Ages 4-8

The story What James Said is about a little girl who finds out one of her friends, James, was telling kids that she thought she was perfect. This made her very upset, so all day at school she avoided and ignored him. James followed her around all day asking if she was okay. When it came to the art show James told her her art was perfect. When the girl won the art contest her friend James cheered and whistled her on. She felt so happy that she gave James her ribbon and winning picture. 

The writing style is that of the little girl telling the story. The writing style makes it sound like any young child who is fighting with their friends. 

The illustrations are open, fun, and are used with watercolors. The illustrations also add more to the story, and keeping it engaging. 

I really like this book. I would recommend the book, because I think it teaches a very good lesson to young kids. I would read this to a 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th grade class. This book explains how rumors get spread, and how they are not always true. This book demonstrates that if the little girl would have asked her friend James if what he said was true, she wouldn't have ignored him all day. Another thing is, the book could show kids what could happen when they spread rumors. At the beginning of the book it shows all the kids passing the rumor. They can show kids that this can change the wording of something someone said, and can hurt someone's feelings. 

Reviewed by Hannah Mulford

Lloyd Llama

Lloyd Llama

Written and illustrated by Sarah Jones

Blue Manatee Press, 2015, Ages PreK-K

This story is about Lloyd Llama, who loves all things containing the double-L sound, such as spelling, cello, and the color yellow. Then Al Alpaca comes to town. He loves all things that begin with A, such as apples, art, and air guitar. At first, Al and Lloyd do not get along because they only liked things with their preferred letter sounds. Then, they realize that many things have both letter sounds, such as allergies, alleyways, and alligator shoes. They become best friends and true allies. 

There is one sentence or a portion of a sentence on each page. This is a good way to divide the story because it allows the reader to focus on the spelling of the word and pay attention to why each character likes certain things. This is a good way to teach young children about alliteration and recognizing these two letter sounds in words. The author also uses exclamation points when explaining things that both characters like, which emphasizes them becoming friends. 

The illustrations in this book really add to the story. When the reader looks at the pictures, they can see what activity or thing the author is referring to in the text, which provides further understanding. The illustrations also portray the character's facial expressions, which show the reader when the characters are in disagreement or when they finally become friends. Through the illustrations, the reader can see that although the two characters have different interests, they actually look very similar. 

I would recommend this book for young students who are just getting a sense of literacy skills because it allows them to recognize common, repeated letter sounds so that they can become more familiar with them. This book also has a good theme for children which is that even if someone has different interests from you, you can still find common ground with them, and you might find a best friend in someone you never expected. I think this book is a cute way to introduce some important ideas to young children. 

Reviewed by Rachel Baughn

Pinkalicious and the Pink Parakeet

Pinkalicious and the Pink Parakeet

Written and illustrated by Victoria Kann

Harper Collins, 2015, Ages 4-8

This story is about a young girl named Pinkalicious. It is bird week at her school. Throughout the story Pinkalicious explains different bird facts that she has learned from her book. She is specifically interested in the Pink Parakeet. On the last day of bird week, her class took a field trip to the zoo. They saw many birds at the zoo such as parrots, peacocks, lovebirds, and toucans. Just as they were walking out, one of the birds gave her a hint and they found the Pink Parakeet. It was sitting in Pinkalicious’ teacher’s hood. Unfortunately, by the time Pinkalicious caught up to her teacher outside, the bird had flown away. Pinkalicious recalled the facts that she had read about in the bird book and put out water and fruit to attract the Pink Parakeet. Her tactics to get the bird back worked and Ms. Penny returned the Pink Parakeet back to the zoo safe and sound.

The author using a writing style that is interesting and attention-grabbing for the reader. One aspect of the writing style that the author uses is alliterations. These alliterations make it fun and entertaining for the reader. The alliteration used in the title “Pinkalicious and the Pink Parakeet” grabs the reader’s attention right from the start. The alliteration in this title focuses on the letter “p” and the sounds that it makes. The author also uses a lot of quotes and conversations between the characters to tell the story. This helps keep the reader entertained and engaged throughout the story. 

The illustrations are one of the main supporting factors for this story. The illustrations help add detail to the story that the reader needs in order to fully understand and visualize the text. The illustrations seen in this children’s book are very detailed and colorful. They help portray the emotions of the main characters throughout the book. They also make the story feel more lively and engaging for the reader. On majority of the pages throughout the book, the illustrations are the main focus of the pages. The text is just supporting the main focus of the illustrations on many of the pages. 

Personally, I really enjoyed this book. It was very entertaining and engaging for the reader. The author made sure to create a fun and light-hearted book for young children through the use of colors, alliterations, and illustrations. This book is a successful children’s book because it is fun, entertaining, and engaging while also educational about birds at the same time. I would recommend this book to anyone between the ages of 4-8. It is also a book that parents can enjoy, too. It is a perfect starting book for children beginning to read. The illustrations can help the beginning reader use context clues to figure out any words that they do not know yet. This is a skill that all children need to learn, and this book is a good start for developing this skill. 

Reviewed by Emily Hawley

Woodpecker Wham!

Woodpecker Wham!

Written by April Pulley Sayre; illustrated Steve Jenkins

Henry Holt, 2015, Ages 4-8

This book is from the viewpoint of a woodpecker. Children reading this book get to experience the everyday experiences of a woodpecker. The book presents many different kinds of woodpeckers. It discussed what woodpeckers eat and what they have to do in order to find food. It talks about how a woodpecker gets clean, and how they feed their kids. It also shows the reader how a woodpecker builds a home out of a tree for his/her family. It teachers children the different types of woodpeckers that exist and may live near them, and creates an understanding for children of what a woodpeckers life is like. 

April Pulley Sayre uses a few different aspects in order to create a writing style for this book. She uses alliteration in the title of the book “Woodpecker Wham” in order to create a fun title that students will enjoy saying aloud. This also helps the reader to remember the title of the book because they have similar sounds. In addition to using alliteration in the title, Sayre also uses it throughout the picture book. In addition to alliteration, she uses rhyming throughout the book to grab the reader’s attention while informing them about woodpeckers. The rhyming throughout the book makes it fun for the reader to read, and the listener to hear. 

In “Woodpecker Wham” there are illustrations on both pages. In order for the illustrations to stand out more without being over stimulating the illustrator places text only on one page, while putting illustrations on both. To make this book more physically appealing she bolds some words to make them stand out. For example, on the first page she bolds the words “chop, chip chop!” This stands out to the reader and the listener because the text is larger and darker. The black text against the bright colors of the illustrations helps them to stand out. The illustrations are nice visuals for children reading this book in order to better understand the text. The illustrator uses a two-page spread in order to show some of the illustrations. The two-page spread allows the reader to see the flow between the illustrations and the text and how they connect. 

The book’s title caught my interest right away. The use of alliteration in the title made me want to open the book to see what it was about. The text is a fun story and is informational as well. The use of rhyming throughout the story keeps the reader intrigued. The bright colors and the illustrations are relevant to the text and make sense with the story. This helps younger readers to visual what the author is saying. The information of the book is also accurate. This gives the author credibility. Overall, based on the informational text, use of rhyming and alliteration, and the illustrations I believe this is a quality children’s picture book.

Reviewed by ML