Dog Days of School review

 

Charlie thinks his dog, Norman, has got it good: he gets to spend his days lounging on the couch or playing fetch, and he never has to do any homework. But when Charlie makes a wish to be a dog instead of a boy, things get a little topsy-turvy!  (goodreads summary)

This is one of my favorite back-to-school reads and I bet many of our children could relate to this funny story about Charlie. He does not like going to school and is tired of practicing his letters and drawing pictures. Most of all he seems anxious on Sunday nights and has trouble falling asleep. That night, he makes a wish that he could be like his dog Norman, whose life seems pretty grand at the moment. He wakes up the next morning and finds that he has switched bodies with Norman the dog! This funny story shows kids that the grass may not always be greener on the other side. Illustrations are large and bold making it a visually great read-aloud for the younger ones. They will giggle seeing Charlie doing the things his dog really does during the day while Norman goes to school supposedly like a real boy.  Well, I guess be careful what you wish for!  I have enjoyed many books by this author and again this one definitely will be added to my list. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

Title: Dog Days of School
Author: Kelly DiPucchio, illustrated by Brian Biggs
Pub. Date:  June 2014, Disney-Hyperion
Genre: picture book
Hardcover, 40 pgs.

How to Get Your Teacher Ready review

Written in tongue-in-cheek instructional style, a class of adorable students gives tips and tricks for getting a teacher ready for the first day of school, and all the events and milestones that will follow. (goodreads summary) 

 

 

 

  

 One of my favorites of the back-to-school books!

 

This cute and simple how-to book is a great way to help kids get off on the right foot when starting out a new school year.   The children are the experts in this story by giving their teacher wonderful advice that starts with the transition of the first few days. It then prepares the class for several other special events to expect throughout the upcoming year such as; picture day, holiday concerts, the 100th day of school celebration and many other amazing things the class will encounter.  The text is simple with large and colorful illustrations making this a nice circle time read aloud for the younger grades.  This is a fun role reversal book showing how students are getting their teacher ready for a new school year instead of the teacher getting her students ready.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-7.~

Title:  How to Get your Teacher Ready

Author:  Jean Reagan, illustrated by Lee Wildish

Pub. date:  July 2017, Alfred A. Knopf 

Genre: picture book

Hardcover,  32 pgs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeti is Not Ready for School review

First day of school jitters? Yeti knows all about that! She's not ready for her first day of school either in this colorful picture book that is a gentle reminder that's it OK to be scared to start something new.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

Yeti has everything ready for her first day of school. She has been practicing her stomping, mastering her growl and even filed her fangs. But her tummy still has the fire-breathing moths fluttering around.  Tomorrow is the big day but can Yeti think of a good excuse to stay home instead?

 

It is that time already for the new school year to begin and many kids are feeling butterflies in their stomach. This is a fun back to school story for those first day jitters to let kids know that it is okay to feel nervous.  Kids will relate to Yeti's worries when they see how she feels about her upcoming first day meeting new classmates or doing something embarrassing in front of others.  The illustrations are bold and bright and the text can be easily read to one child or to a large group.  It may open up conversation to help kids ease into a new school year knowing that others share the same feelings when starting something new.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-6.~

 

Title: Yeti is Not Ready for School

Author: Leigh Ann Carter

Pub. date: July 2025, Random House for Young Readers

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs. 

 

 

Crouton review

 

Join Crouton, a lovable shelter cat, as she searches for her perfect person—because not everyone would be the right fit.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

Crouton is a shelter cat who is looking for just the right person to take home. Not everyone will be perfect but she knows when she finds that special one!  Just as she starts to give up hope, an adorable little girl walks in and Crouton decides she better get her attention so nobody else will adopt her before she can!

 

This is a sweet and really cute story told from a shelter cat's point-of-view about waiting and finding that one special person to share your life with. It is a reversal on how we adopt pets from shelters and would be a wonderful conversation starter if you are thinking about a pet adoption.  As cute as animals can be, it comes with a lot of responsibility and hearing it from Crouton shows us just that.  We also feel the happiness and love that can be shared between a pet and human. The text is simple but the illustrations on each page are in eye pleasing black, white and pink tones and the characters are expressive and cute.  The book is based on the authors own experience of adopting a shelter cat and I am glad she shared her personal story so others can think about the process for themselves.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

 

Title: Crouton

Author: Kristine A. Lombardi

Pub. date: January 2026, Random House

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs. 

 

Lydia Loves Bugs review

 

Discover the wonderful world of insects as Lydia collects bugs for show-and-tell in this picture book perfect for little entomologists (goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

Lydia is a lover of bugs! She loves big bugs and little bugs, bouncy bugs and even stinky ones.  She is lucky because her mom is an Entomologist, a person who studies bugs for a living.  Together they collect various insects for a special show-and-tell day at school and Lydia cannot wait to share with her classmates what they find.  

 

There is still time before school starts to get outside and explore nature.  If you know a child that loves bugs, this will be the perfect book for them.  The text is simple and short but the illustrations are large, bold and colorful making this a great read aloud to a large or small group.  There are so many different insects throughout the story that kids will either recognize a few or learn about a new one. All the bugs shown in the story are real and the author has added a wonderful back page description to help understand them more. After reading about Lydia's love and seeing her enthusiasm, it may spark interest in having their own bug hunt at a nature area or their own backyard. Collecting and observing bugs is a fun activity that will keep kids occupied for hours.  Another part of learning is to make sure they release them back to nature when they are done.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

 

Title: Lydia Loves Bugs

Author: Heidi E.Y. Stemple & Yuliya Pankratova

Pub. date: May 2026, Familius

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.