The Last Day of Kindergarten review

A little girl is sad that kindergarten is coming to an end. She wishes it were the first day again, when everything was exciting and new and there was such a fun year ahead. But then she realizes that graduating is exciting, too and maybe first grade won't be so bad after all! (jacket description)

 

The end of another school year is fast approaching... There are so many books about the start of school, how about a book about the end of school?  This is one of my favorite books from a few years ago that will get kids ready for summer.

A little girl reflects back on her first year in kindergarten and all the wonderful things that made it so fun and special.  Leaving a favorite teacher and friends behind can give children mixed emotions and this story helps by remembering good times and preparing for the transition to the next grade. It would spark wonderful discussion on what they themselves would be looking forward to when starting a new grade.  This would be a fun last day of school read before that final goodbye. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 5-6 and perfect for kindergarten classrooms.~

Title: The Last Day of Kindergarten
Author: Nancy Loewen
Genre: Picture Book
Pub. Date: February 2011, Marshall Cavendish Children
Hardcover, 32 pgs.

Moo Hoo review

 

Grab your tissues and meet Milton, a bawling bull who learns to embrace his tears and all his big feelings(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

Milton is a happy Bull and he has a wonderful life.  He is so full of emotion though that it makes him cry all the time.  He cries when he is happy, sad, sometimes nervous and even when music makes his heart swell. He cries at just about everything which also makes it difficult for him to fit in. One day he decides it is time to toughen up and hold in his feelings.  But when he tries this he does not like who he becomes.  Then he tries crying it all out but that doesn't seem to work either.  One day he meets a new friend, Wanda the Sheep, who knows exactly how he feels!  

 

This is a cute story letting kids know that it is okay to have big feelings and just be yourself.  There are others too who share those same big emotions and there is nothing wrong with how you show it.  The bold and colorful illustrations are expressive adding to this heart warming book.  This is also perfect for helping kids understand and show empathy for another person who express their emotions just like Milton does.  I think this is a "just right book for ages 3-7.~

 

Title:  Moo Hoo

Author: Audrey Perrott, illustrated by Ross Burach

Pub. date:  April 2024, Scholastic Press

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs. 

The Secret Elephant review

 

Discover the unbreakable bond between a baby elephant and her keeper in this heartfelt narrative set against the backdrop of World War II.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

This is a beautiful story that is based on actual true events about a young zookeeper, from the Belfast Zoo during World War II, named Denise Weston Austin.  She forms a special bond with Sheila, a baby elephant, comforting her from the scary sights and sounds of the bombings around them.  But as the war intensifies nightly,  Denise vows not to leave Sheila alone and each night sneaks her out of the zoo taking her to her own home.  It was not easy keeping an elephant a secret but with perseverance Denise manages to do so for a while.  The story is told from Sheila's perspective and shows a bit of humor while adjusting to Denise's "enclosure".  The end pages have newspaper articles retelling the story of  Denise also known as the Elephant Angel.  A beautiful name fitting for her as she protects the baby elephant from a very challenging time in history.  This is a heart-warming story of kindness, love, courage and hope.  I enjoyed learning about their story and I think this is a "just right book" for ages 5-7.~

 

Title: The Secret Elephant

Author: Ellan Rankin

Pub. date: March 2023, Wren & Rook

Genre: picture book, historical

Hardcover, 33 pgs.

Go and Get with Rex review

 

Jack, Jill, and Rex are excited to play a game of Go and Get!(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

This story is so much fun, has humor and will get readers thinking outside of the box.  The object of the game is to go and get something that starts with a certain letter.  For example, the letter was F and Jack brings back a frog and Jill brought back a fish.  Rex the dog ends up bringing back a duck?  Our narrator reminds him that duck does not begin with the letter F.  But Rex thinks it does because duck is his friend and friend starts with an F.  The game keeps going and each time Rex comes up with a creative answer for each letter given.  The text and illustrations are both larger making it great for reading aloud to the younger ones.   The characters are sweet and cheerful showing how fun this game can be.  It would be a wonderful story to read and put together your own Go and Get game. It helps teach alphabet letters, recognition and have fun in the meantime.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-6.~

 

Title: Go and Get with Rex

Author:  David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka

Pub. date: May 2024, Candlewick Press

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 48 pgs.

Stephen Hawking - You and the Universe review

We are all time travelers journeying together into the future. But let us work together to make that future a place we want to visit.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

I have always been fascinated with Stephen Hawking and his philosophies.  I think of nonstop questions and seeking answers.  This book was adapted from his 2020 Earth Day message and is his first picture book for kids.  It shares a simplistic but meaningful approach to questions other than about our vast universe and outer space.  It asks readers how can we take care of each other, our planet and can we make the future a place we want to be?   Very deep indeed but he suggests that the answers can come from inside each one of us. The text is short and simple but the artwork of the illustrations is beautiful and calming, showing diverse children working together for a cause. Stephen Hawking reminds us that we are "One planet, one big family" and it is up to everyone of us to help create a better future for the earth and all of human kind.  The back matter offers some of his questions and answers about black holes, stars and aliens which are interesting and something to ponder.  This wonderful book keeps his spirit alive. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 7-9.~

 

Title: Stephen Hawking You and the Universe

Author: Stephen and Lucy Hawking, illustrated by Xin Li

Pub. date: March 2024, Random House

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40n pgs.

Bunny with a Big Heart review

 

In this funny follow-up to the classic Beginner Book It’s Not Easy Being a Bunny, P.J. Funnybunny learns a lesson in kindness(goodreads summary) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P.J. Funnybunny was the kind of bunny who left his toys laying around, didn't return things back to his friends, shows up late for activities and leaves his dirty dishes behind.  He isn't a very considerate bunny but after spraining his ankle during baseball, he gets an eye opening experience on kindness. 

A cute beginning reader about being responsible for yourself and through a valuable lesson learning the importance of being thoughtful.  Being busy doesn't give you a reason to be thoughtless and I like books that have subtle messages that gets readers thinking. The illustrations are large, colorful and the characters are sweet with kindness. When P.J.'s family and friends take care of him while recovering, he decides it might be time to step up and be more like them. It is nice to see that he was inspired by others and decides to change his ways. This book is part of the I Can Read It series for kids to help them learn to read by themselves.  There are three other P.J. Bunny books in this series and I think this is a "just right book" for ages 6-8.~

 

Title: Bunny with a Big Heart

Author: Marilyn Sadler

Pub. date: April 2024, Random House

Genre: beginning reader

Hardcover,  48 pgs.