Monday Children’s Book Reviews for April 25, 2016

When I Grow Up… by Gill McLean

“Fergus is only a little pup, but what should he be when he grows up? His friends all have different ideas and it seems there’s a lot more to being a dog than he first thought! Who will help him decide what to be?”         [JPB McLEAN,G]

The Black Dragon by Julian Sedgwick

“Talented magician Danny, who is half-Chinese, half-British, and dwarf strongman Zamora try to find the connection between the disastrous end of the circus Mysterium, where Danny’s performer parents were killed, and the disappearance of his guardian aunt,who is investigating sinister gangs in Hong Kong.”                          [J SEDGWICK,J]

The Little Girl’s Little Book of Art by Kathryn Dixon

“Paintings by thirty of the most talented and renowned artists the world has produced. Beginning with Leonardo da Vinci and ending with Paul Klee, the paintings in this book have been specially selected to appeal to a little girl. Your little girl can explore the pages of this book and see artworks with colors, subjects and scenes that she can relate to and enjoy. Every painting has the potential to engage her imagination, spark her curiosity, and encourage her to want to learn to know more about art, artists, and the creative process.”                                [J709 DIXON,K]

Monday Children’s Book Reviews for May 11, 2015

  Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio and Christian Robinson

“This is the story of four puppies: Fi-Fi, Foo-Foo, Ooh-La-La, and Gaston. Gaston works the hardest at his lessons on how to be a proper pooch. He sips—never slobbers! He yips—never yaps! And he walks with grace—never races! Gaston fits right in with his poodle sisters.

“But a chance encounter with a bulldog family in the park—Rocky, Ricky, Bruno, and Antoinette—reveals there’s been a mix-up, and so Gaston and Antoinette switch places. The new families look right…but they don’t feel right. Can these puppies follow their noses—and their hearts—to find where they belong?”                       [JPB DIPUCCHIO,K]

Catch You Later, Traitor by Avi

“Twelve-year-old Pete Collison is a regular kid who loves Sam Spade detective books and radio crime dramas, but when an FBI agent shows up at Pete’s doorstep accusing his father of being a Communist, Pete finds himself caught in a real-life mystery. Could there really be Commies in Pete’s family? At the same time, Pete’s class turns against him, thanks to similar rumors spread by his own teacher; even Kat, Pete’s best friend, feels the pressure to ditch him. As Pete follows the quickly accumulating clues, he begins to wonder if the truth could put his family’s livelihood–and even their freedom–at risk.

“In the tradition of his Newbery Honor book Nothing But the Truth, Avi’s newest novel tells a funny, insightful story packed with realistic period detail of a boy in mid-twentieth-century America. Its unique look at what it felt like to be an average family caught in the wide net of the Red Scare has powerful relevance to contemporary questions of democracy and individual freedoms.”                [J AVI]

Monday Children’s Book Reviews for November 1

One Pup’s Up by Marsha Wilson Chall

“A loveable litter of puppies encourages youngsters to count from one to 10 and back again as each wakes up in turn and wriggles, eats and plays before falling back to sleep in a furry jumble.”                                   [JPB CHALL]

Funny Lunch by David Catrow

“This second installment in the early-reader series is laugh-out-loud silly. Max comes from a long line of chefs and embraces the role at the diner where he works with his feline pal. He pushes the special of the day, pizza pie, but has no takers. When chili is ordered, Max delivers a scarf; a hot-dog order is filled with a panting dog and a fan. Finally a busload of people order 100 pizzas with everything to go, and the chef is unable to deliver. Dog and cat hop on a tandem bike and head to the local pizza shop, returning loaded with steaming hot pies. In the end, the customers leave happy and the two friends can finally sit down for a satisfying and well-deserved lunch break.”   [JE CATROW]

Guys Read 1 Funny Business edited by Jon Scieszka

“The funny fellow (Jon Scieszka) with the impressive title (Emeritus National Ambassador for Children’s Literature) presents a collection of 10 humorous (you were expecting tragedy?) stories by some leading lights in literature for young readers. This is the first volume of the promised official Guys Read library, which is named for Scieszka’s well-known Web site, designed, like this book, to encourage boys to read. And what better way to start than with this collection of howlers by the likes of Eoin Colfer, David Lubar, Christopher Paul Curtis, and other yuk-inducing luminaries. Standouts include Kate DiCamillo (the lone female among the authors) and editor Scieszka’s charmer of a story in letters between a famous author named Maureen O’Toople and a boy named Joe; David Yoo’s wacky, laugh-out-loud story about a disappointed father and an evil turkey; and from the diabolical imagination of Jack Gantos, a cautionary tale about dangerous friends and rusty pliers.”                                    [J GUYS]

Dora and Diego Let’s Cook

“Dora, Diego and their friends teach kids how to make awesome (and healthy!) recipes while learning Spanish words and phrases along the way and includes 50 simple, delicious recipes that emphasize healthful ingredients, “Kids Help” icons flagging steps in every recipe where kids can lend a hand, useful material on health and nutrition for preschoolers, plus the basics of kitchen safety. Kid-friendly dishes that are easy to prepare, with advice for parents on appropriate ways to involve children in the preparation of the meals.”                                [J641.5 DORA]