Monthly Archives: September 2011

Mercy Watson Goes for a Ride

Posted on September 29, 2011 by

Mercy Watson is a pig who loves toast.   She lives with Mr. and Mrs. Watson, who love Mercy and treat her like their child except they won’t let Mercy drive the convertible. Watch Mercy take matters into her own … Continue reading →

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I’m Here

Posted on September 28, 2011 by

I’m Here is a gentle book of friendship about a boy who is here, while they are there. The opening pages are especially poignant and show the story of anyone who sits outside societal norms, including children in the autism spectrum. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books with social studies links, Character-driven, Picture books | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

A Cool Drink of Water

Posted on September 27, 2011 by

Around the world, people drink water.  Nuanced photographs highlight people drinking water from a burlap bag in the Simpson Desert, Australia to collecting glacier run-off in the Rocky Mountains, Canada.  With her simple, lyrical text, Barbara Kerley weaves our different … Continue reading →

Posted in Books with social studies links, Nonfiction | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Play’s the Thing

Posted on September 26, 2011 by

Aliki’s eclectic cast of characters put on a play based on a familiar rhyme in Miss Brilliant’s classroom, even though class skeptic José antagonizes everyone.  A Play’s the Thing showcases theatrics in the classroom.  Speech balloons and illustration boxes make this … Continue reading →

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Zero

Posted on September 21, 2011 by

Zero feels empty and wants to count, like her buddies One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight and Nine.  She tries to become just like them in order to improve her value, but even Zero can learn to see … Continue reading →

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I Had a Favorite Dress

Posted on September 20, 2011 by

As a mother of three girls, I may be way off base here, but I think this book, written by Michigander Boni Ashburn and illustrated by Julia Denos, appeals to all types of kids–girls and boys–because even though it’s about dresses … Continue reading →

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Ellie McDoodle: Best Friends Fur-Ever

Posted on September 16, 2011 by

Animals.  Siblings.  Cartoons.  What more could a kid ask for?  In Ruth McNally Barshaw’s third sketch diary featuring Ellie McDoodle, Ellie has to overcome her fear of presentations, find her neighbour’s bird (that escaped during Ellie’s pet-sitting adventure) and deal … Continue reading →

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Toys Go Out

Posted on September 15, 2011 by

At first I was skeptical about another talking toy book, but part way into Toys Go Out, I fell in love with Lumphy, Stingray and Plastic, three of the Little Girl’s very favourite toys. They have curiosity about life around … Continue reading →

Posted in Chapter Books, Character-driven, Fantasy, Voice | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

If Rocks Could Sing: A Discovered Alphabet

Posted on September 13, 2011 by

Calling all baby geologists and kid rock collectors! Take a long look at If Rocks Could Sing by Leslie McGuirk, an avid searcher of rocks and interpreter of rock shapes.  All but one of the alphabet rocks came from Florida—it makes … Continue reading →

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Walter Was Worried

Posted on September 12, 2011 by

Laura Vaccaro Seeger’s expressive faces show a range of emotion from worry to delight while a storm rolls in.  Walter Was Worried is a unique picture book, capturing the feeling behind each reaction to the storm, giving children the vocabulary to … Continue reading →

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