Owl Diaries - Trip to the Pumpkin Farm review

 

 Eva and her friends are taking a field trip to the farm!(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eva and her class are taking a school field trip to the pumpkin farm. They spend three days learning and helping out around the farm to prepare for the Falling Leaves Day Party. But when the giant Thank-you Pumpkin goes missing, Eva and her friends become farm detectives to help solve the mystery before the parties can begin.  

 

If your child likes the Owl Diary Series, here is a fun early chapter book to add to the fall reading list.  The story has colorful illustrations with fairly easy to read text perfect for the newly independent reader.  Eva and her friends showed teamwork, perseverance, kindness, sharing and a sense of community.  So many good things kids will learn but in a subtle way.  It is a fun story with a bit of adventure and mystery with a happy outcome.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 6-7.~

Title:  Owl Diaries - Trip to the Pumpkin Farm

Author: Rebecca Elliot

Pub. date:  July 2019, Scholastic

Genre: early chapter book

Paperback, 80 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.

 

 

The Great Puptective review

A set-in-his-ways housecat has his routine upended by an enthusiastic new puppy with a nose for solving mysteries(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Truffles the Cat has his quiet life turned upside down after Poppy arrives.  Like all puppies, Poppy is energetic, loud and full of excitement.  She thinks she is a Puptective who has the eyes and nose to solve crime and mysteries. Her first crime solving mystery is to find the owner of dirty paw prints left on the floor. But when Truffles gets in trouble for being the perpetrator, he is determined to trap Poppy so he can send her away for good. 

 

This funny graphic novel will be a hit with early readers.   It is has a short introduction, four quick chapters, epilogue and even bonus pages on how to draw Poppy and Truffles at the end.  The illustrations are vibrant and full of silliness that will have kids giggling.  When Truffles is caught trying to get Poppy in trouble, he sets traps to catch her and ships her off to the North Pole.  Kids will play along with the clues and no doubt figure things out for themselves before young Poppy does. There are plenty of mishaps and misunderstandings throughout that are humorous adding to the characters personalities. But after guilt sets in for Truffles, he decides to rescue Poppy and becomes a Cattective himself.  In the end, Truffles finds that he likes Poppy and the two will make a great pair for crime solving.  All in all, this is a fun graphic novel chapter book for kids that like animal characters, humor and fun reads.  The story is age appropriate for young elementary readers and there is a second one coming soon called The Great Puptective - Paranormal Activity which I am looking forward to reading when it comes out.   I think this is a "just right book" for ages 6-9.~

 

Title: The Great Puptective 

Author: Alina Tysoe

Pub. date: March 2024, Simon & Schuster

Genre: graphic novel

Hardcover, 128 pgs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bisquit and the Great Fall Day review

 

Join the beloved and bestselling little yellow puppy, Biscuit, on a great fall day.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biscuit has been around for a very long time. Here is a cute story to help get your early reader ready for the fall season.  Biscuit books have easy sentences with word repetition which helps the little ones learn to read on their own.  As always, the illustrations are so sweet and adds a wonderful visual to the story during reading. This one is perfect for the Autumn season with its' beautiful fall color palette and apple picking theme.   Kids will fall in love with the ever so cute Biscuit as he always manages to find some sort of mischief.  My kids grew up on the many Biscuit books and I always enjoyed hearing them read aloud.  Finding this story at the library will get kids excited about reading and getting ready for the Autumn season.  You cannot go wrong with any book in the Biscuit series and I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-6.~

 

Title:  Biscuit and the Great Fall Day

Author:  Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Pub. date: August 2022, Harper Collins

Genre: early reader

paperback, 32 pgs.

Ty's Travels review

Ty and Corey love to visit the museum. When they step through the doors, they become scientists. They study bugs and hunt for fossils. When Ty can't participate in a lab activity because of his age, he uses his big imagination at home.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

Here is a great book for the beginning reader who loves science.  Another adventure in the Ty's Travels series with simple text along with fun and bold illustrations that will keep emergent readers engaged.  When Ty and Corey see the museum lab scientists at work their eyes light up!  Ty is too young to enter the lab so they  check out all the other wonderful activities the museum has to offer instead.  When Ty gets an idea to be a scientist at home, along with mom and dad's help, the brothers let their imaginations flow.  This wonderful easy reader series is a must have for the home or classroom library. It will not only encourage reading but will spark imagination, play and learning about different things.  Reading Lab Magic together and then follow up with your own science activities is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 5-6.~ 

 

Other Ty's Travel's in the Series:

 

All Aboard

Zip! Zoom!

Beach Day

Winter Wonderland

Camp Out

Title:  Ty's Travels - Lab Magic

Author:  Kelly Starling Lyons  illustrated by Nina Mata

Pub date: March 2022, Harper Collins

Genre: easy reader, picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

Big Shark, Little Shark and the Spooky Cave review

 

Just in time for Halloween comes a spooky, funny early reader starring Big Shark and Little Shark!(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

Big Shark is scared by the spooky cave but not Little Shark.  When brave Little Shark enters the cave, Big Shark decides to follow.  The pair find a few exciting things in there with a fun twist at the end.   With large print and easy words, early readers will find this a fun book to read on their own.  With picture clues and rhyming text children will be able to figure out what comes next.  Big Shark realizes that the spooky cave is not as spooky as he thought.  It has a surprise for him at the end making this a fun Halloween read! Be sure to try the other Big Shark, Little Shark Step into Reading books too.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-6.~

Title:  Big Shark, Little Shark and the Spooky Cave

Author:  Anna Membrino

Pub date: July 2021, Random House Books for Young Readers

Genre:  early reader

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rocket has a Sleepover review

 

Rocket is having fun at a sleepover! But when Owl, Bella, and Fred get ready to catch some Z's, Rocket refuses to go to bed. Can a bedtime story soothe Rocket and help him fall asleep? (goodreads summary) 

 

 

 

 

Rocket stories are always fun to read.  Especially when they are a Step into Reading Book for the beginning reader.  Rocket is happy that his friends are coming over for his sleepover.  They play games and have snacks but when it is time to say goodnight Rocket is not tired.  His friends think a story might help but each one falls fast asleep before the story is complete.  Easy to read large text and short sentences help encourage kids to read on their own.  The illustrations are bold, colorful and appealing. In addition, being able to read these type of books alone builds great confidence for the young reader.  Especially when they have cute characters involved.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 5-6.~

Title:  Rocket has a Sleepover

Author: Tad Hills

Pub. date:  July 2021, Random House for Young Readers

Genre: early reader, picture book

Softcover, 32 pgs.

 

 

Rocket's Very Fine Day review

It's a beautiful sunny day and Rocket and Bella have big plans for fun in the sun. That is until a drop of rain falls and the clouds roll in.(goodreads summary)








Rocket books are one of my favorites and always a great start for the beginning reader.  Bella the Squirrel is introduced as Rocket's newest friend and the two are spending the day together.  Kids will have fun learning to read from the large text, bold bright colors and the cutest of characters.  Using picture clues they will be able to figure out the story or a challenging word.  The characters expressions are sweet and you can sense the friendship between the two while they have fun together .  I think Rocket is a very likable character for the early reader to start out with.  The two look forward to spending a sunny day together but when the raindrops move in they end up making the best of a rainy situation.  I guess it is also teaching young kids that if Plan A doesn't work out you can make a Plan B.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 5-6.~

Title: Rocket's Very Fine Day
Author:  Tad Hills
Pub. date:  July 2019,  Random House
Genre: picture book
Hardcover, 32 pgs


Other Rocket Books you will enjoy:


How Rocket Learned to Read by Tad Hills

Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills



  

Splat the Cat :The Rain is a Pain review

Splat can't wait to try out his brand-new roller skates! But when it starts to rain, Splat's sure that his day will be ruined. Is there anything fun to do inside?

Beginning readers will love this easy-to-read addition to the Splat library!







Poor Splat.....all he wants to do is try out his new roller skates. But when it rains, he finds that roller skating indoors can lead to many disasters. These are great books for the early reader who is ready for the next step to begin reading on their own. Kids will enjoy looking at the whimsical pictures after reading the short sentences while also recognizing the many site words and sounding out new ones.  Splat is a funny and likable character . Many of his books in this popular series will keep kids engaged in reading.  I know my kids thought he was a hoot! I think this is a "just right book for ages 6.~

Title: Splat the Cat: The Rain is a Pain
Author: Rob Scotton
Genre: beginning reader - level 1
Pub. Date: October 2012, Harper Collins
Hardcover, 32 pgs.