Adventure Annie Goes to Kindergarten review

Annie Grace wears her “Adventure Annie” cape to her first day of kindergarten, and proceeds to barrel through the day, searching for adventure in every moment. Her interpretation of the class’s Gold Star Rules isn’t exactly what her teacher, Mr. Todd, had in mind. (goodreads summary)

 

 

 

This is a repost from September 2011 I thought I would add for back to school season:

Adjusting to kindergarten is an adventure itself and now in progress for many children these past couple of weeks. I found this funny story the other day that may be a fun read to help lighten up the nerves while the first few days go by. 

On her first day of school, Annie is expecting quite a few fun adventures in kindergarten such as a wild animal zoo or high-flying circus one. Her mom explains to Annie that kindergarten is an adventure on its own.  Annie soon finds that there are rules and good choices to be made and eventually being a helper leads her to a special adventure after all. Children could connect with the school day scenario and giggle at Annie's attempts for making her own adventures. The illustrations are sweet and the story has a happy outcome for Annie's patience. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4 and up.~

Title: Adventure Annie goes to Kindergarten
Author: Toni Buzzeo- illustrated by Amy Wummer
Genre: picture book
Pub. Date:  May 2010, Dial Books for Young Readers
Hardcover, 32 pgs.

How to Get Your Octopus to School review

Learn how to get your octopus to school in this back-to-school story!(goodreads summary)
 

 

 

 

Trying to get your Octopus to school can be one challenging task. This is a fun and humorous story that will make kids giggle as they prepare themselves to head back to school.  The ups and downs of getting ready for the big day is relatable from both a child's and a parent's point-of-view.   The illustrations are so cute and kids will love searching for Octopus on each page as he hides from getting ready and going off to school.  The emotions are expressive as well and we can sense how nervous and reluctant Octopus feels.   It is a wonderful read to help calm the back to school jitters and a conversation starter about how your child feels about a new school year.  The end pages include interesting Octopus facts.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-7.~

Title:  How to Get Your Octopus to School

Author: Becky Scharnhorst, Illustrations by Jaclyn Sinquett

Pub. date: May 2023,  Flamingo Books

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

 

The Camping Trip review

 

Ernestine has never been camping before, but she’s sure it will be lots of fun . . . won’t it? An endearing story about a girl’s first experience with the great outdoors.(goodreads summary)
 

 

 

 

 

Ernestine is excited to go on her first camp out with her Aunt and Cousin. She has a list of all the things she will need to pack for the trip.  After a long drive to Cedar Tree Campground, she finds camping is harder than she thought. Setting up her tent is not as easy as making blanket forts at home.  Swimming in the lake with fish is not like swimming in the pool at her neighborhood Y.   Falling asleep is different when you are outdoors in a tent and you really start to miss home. What did Ernestine get herself into?

August is here and there is still time for this fun book.  It is the perfect story for a first time camper or camping trip.   It starts with the excitement of a camping trip, preparing, setting up and the anxious feelings a child may have being away from home for the first time.   The story did a nice job problem solving Ernestine's worries with love and kindness.  The illustrations are cute and so fun to see the transition from beginning to end of the camping trip.  Ernestine learns that trying something new for the first time can be hard but if you give it a chance it just might turn out to be wonderful.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-7.~

Title:  The Camping Trip

Author:  Jennifer K. Mann 

Pub. date:  April 2020

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 56 pgs.

 

 

 

 

 

I am a Meadow Mermaid review

 

A farm girl with a big imagination turns her landlocked home into an ocean playground in this dreamy picture book for little mermaids everywhere.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

A short but beautiful picture book about a farm girl who dreams of being a mermaid. By using her imagination, it takes her on a mermaid adventure for a day even though she lives on a farm.  She hears the sea in the wind, blowing wheat becomes waves and notices seahorses in the distance.  When she stumbles upon another girl who has fallen on her bike, she makes a new friend who likes to play make believe just as much as she does.  The text is poetic and simple while the illustrations are even more dreamy.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-6.~

Title:  I am a Meadow Mermaid

Author:  Kallie Goerge, illustrated by: Elly MacKay

Pub. date: June 2023, Tundra Books

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

Over and Under the Waves review

 

Explore the wonders and beauties of the ocean's kelp forests in this latest addition to the acclaimed Over and Under series.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A family paddle their kayaks over the waves to explore the ocean as we learn about another one of our most diverse ecosystems.  This beautifully written story takes you along on the journey as they glide silently, discovering the ocean above and the hidden forest below them.  Over the waves they paddle through the wind, view pelicans soaring, hear the sea lions bark and watch an otter mom and her pup cuddle.  But under the waves, there are just as many diverse things.  It is a hidden home with sea kelp, various fish, squid, sea anemones and whales.  

 

I always love how each Over and Under series books express a feeling of calmness during reading.  The illustrations are peaceful and the text is gentle, flows easily and is always informative.  I found myself wanting to paddle along in the ocean or go exploring on the beach throughout.  Included at the end is a wonderful author's note about her kayaking trip in Monterey Bay and that experience led her to writing this book. There are also details about the animals you will find over and under the waves that just might open up more questions from little ones.  Sharing books like these with our children help teach about the importance and preservation of these amazing ecosystems for not only themselves but future generations as well.   I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4 and up.~ 

 

Title: Over and Under the Waves

Author: Kate Messner

Pub. date: September 2022, Chronicle Books

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 56 pgs.
 

A Pigeon in Paris review

 

When mother pigeon arrives in Paris she knows it's the perfect place to call home--for a while. She makes her nest and lays her eggs and, when her babies hatch, nurtures them until they're strong enough to take flight. But as little Petite watches her brother and sister take off, she determines she is too scared and simply will not fly.(goodreads summary)

 

 

I saw this lovely book cover and knew it was going to be a story I would like.  It is a sweet and gentle read for little ones offering encouragement for those fearful times.   Little Petite and her siblings, Bisou and Cherie, are adorable characters to fall in love with.  Petite is so scared to take her first flight that she tells herself  she will never fly and will never leave her nest.  Although, she needs to learn to fly on her own if she wants to fill her hungry tummy.  With the help and encouragement of her family, she finally leaps off and flies on her own.  Seeing Petite go from "I can't and I won't" to finally spreading her wings and soar shows bravery and if you try, you just might surprise yourself.  Even after she panics and falls, she gets herself back up again with determination, facing her fear. The soft colors of the illustrations add to the story giving the pages a beautiful Parisian feel.  This will be a great story for those who struggle with fears and know they can overcome them.  I hope there are more Petite stories to come. She makes a wonderful character kids can relate to! I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-6.~

Title:  A Pigeon in Paris - Petite Takes Flight

Author: Paige Howard, illustrated by Joanie Stone

Pub. date: April 2023 Sleeping Bear Press

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 32 pgs. 

It Began with Lemonade review

 

This imaginative, colorful tale of making (and selling!) lemonade from life's lemons is not too sour and not too sweet.(goodreads summary)
 

 

 

 

 

Summer is finally here and I am looking forward to a tall, cold glass of lemonade!  In this fun summertime story, a little girl wants to make and sell lemonade. After experimenting to find the perfect recipe, she heads out to the streets to sell her yummy drink.  But when she gets outside, there is no space for her because there are other kids who have the same idea.  Deciding to take her stand away from the city, the cart ends up rolling away and lands by the rivers edge.  Just when she feels discouraged and wants to give up, unusual and very thirsty customers start arriving. It turns her sour day into a good day which leads her to a bigger and better lemonade dream for the future. 

The whimsical illustrations are filled with imagination and humor.  The kids will giggle when they look closely and see all the funny details on each page. The little girls can do attitude and perseverance is a great message for kids. It would be a wonderful book to read for the start of summer. It may spark kids to design and build their own lemonade stand and try selling or fundraising for a good cause themselves. I always make a point of stopping  when I see a stand in my neighborhood. I know how excited kids will be when their work hard pays off and they sell a cup.  I think this is a "just right book" 5-7.~

Title: It Began with Lemonade

Author: Gideon Sterer, illustrated by Lian Cho

Pub. date: May 2021, Dial Books for Young Readers

Genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs.

The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish review

In this strikingly illustrated debut with a quirky, surreal sensibility, the tale of an Arctic expedition invites readers to discover an elusive creature.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

Is the giant Arctic jellyfish real or just a myth.  Dr. Morley is determined to set out with her crew on an Arctic expedition to find the answer.  Once there they find narwhals, beluga and orca whales, a polar bear and frozen landscapes; but no sign of the elusive giant creature.  Should they continue on exploring or consider it a failed adventure and return home?

I absolutely loved this debut story written and illustrated by Chloe Savage!  With determination and teamwork, Dr. Morely and her crew travel through the frozen Arctic as we experience their days on the research vessel through wonderful illustrations.  Throughout the book, there are pages with cutaways of the ship where we get to observe the crew going about their daily life.  Kids will enjoy hearing about the expedition and love looking at all the details. The jellyfish seems to be following along, staying just close enough to keep an eye on the crew but still hiding out of site. There is a bit of humor when you really pay notice to the different scenes. After all the hope and hard work of trying to find the giant and coming up with nothing, Dr. Morley is ready to leave for home. But not without a possible surprise at the end.  This was a fun read and afterwards I decided to look up if there was such a thing as the giant Arctic jellyfish. I learn so many new things everyday.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-7. 

Title: The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish

Author: Chloe Savage

Pub. date: June 2023, Candlewick Press

Genre: picture book, science

Hardcover, 32 pgs.

Home Away from Home review

From Newbery Honor Winner Cynthia Lord, a brilliant story about how to find home when everything around us is changing.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eleven year old Mia is going through too many changes all at once.  Her parents are divorced and her dad has a new wife and baby.  Besides that, her mom and boyfriend Scott want to move to a new home and she has a difficult time when they need to get the house ready to sell.  To help with all the mixed feelings, Mia will be staying with her Grandma in Stone Harbor, Maine for a month.  Grandma calls it "a home away from home" and Mia is looking forward to spending alone time with her.  But when she arrives, a new neighbor boy named Cayman seems to have made himself quite comfortable there. Mia now feels jealous and competitive for her attention.  Her Grandma encourages her to make friends with him and the two go in search of the eagle's nest down by the lake.  While there, an unexpected large white bird is seen fighting with the eagles.  Never having seen a bird like this, Mia decides to post a picture of it online for information about what type of bird it could be.  It is a rare bird sighting and she stirs up unwanted attention from several outsiders that she really didn't intend to. This ends up putting the bird in danger and her friendship with Cayman falling apart.

Here is a wonderful story from one of my many favorite middle grade authors, Cynthia Lord.   It is heart felt and makes a great summer vacation read.  It is fast paced and short enough to keep kids attention throughout. Readers will find themselves connecting with Mia's feelings easily about change, making mistakes and understanding she needs to find a way to fix them.   Knowing that her actions caused unwanted consequences is a great learning opportunity for kids of this age.  Mia's friendship with Cayman is tested numerous times and we also find out that his mom is battling substance abuse.  The care and concern her grandmother expresses for Cayman and his mom shows what being a good neighbor means.  There is plenty of information about birds throughout the story which is perfect for the bird enthusiast.  Kids may pay more attention to the bird songs in their area from Mia's knowledge she shares.  I found myself visualizing the small Maine town of Stone Harbor and the locals that lived there.  What a beautiful "home away from home" place to be.  This is a gentle story about accepting change, normal feelings kids feel, following rules, learning from our mistakes and correcting them, empathy and being part of a community.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 9-11.

 

Title:  Home away from Home

Author:  Cynthia Lord

Pub. date: April 2023, Scholastic Press

Genre: middle grade

Hardcover, 224 pgs.

Mermaid Moon review

 

In this magical picture book perfect for all young mermaid lovers, two best friends--one who lives on land, the other in the water--share an exciting adventure on the night of the Mermaid the one time each year mermaids can leave the sea.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

This is a tale about an unlikely friendship between a human girl named Molly and a mermaid girl named Merrin.  Once a year, there is a special night known as the Mermaid Moon Festival where all the sea creatures can swim through the air and explore the human world.  Merrin will finally be able to see Molly's house on land and the harbor town she lives in.  But there is one word of caution from her mother.  She must return back home before the moon's reflection disappears from the sea.

I wish this beautiful story was around when my daughter was at the age of her mermaid enchantment.  She absolutely loved the idea of magical mermaids and this is the perfect book for any young girl who is captured by the same feelings.  It makes a great bedtime read as the illustrations are peaceful and in calming hues of greens and blues.  Molly's seaside hometown has such a charm and the girls expression of wonderment as they move around the village exploring was so sweet.  They end up having a bit of excitement towards the end that needs problem solving in order for Merrin to return to the sea in time.  But with true friendship on your side, things will always work out.  This is a wonderful fantasy picture book about friendships, magic and mermaids that will be a nice addition to any mermaid lovers bookshelf.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-6.~

Title:  The Mermaid Moon

Author: Briony May Smith

Pub. date: October 2022, Anne Swartz Books

Genre: picture book, fantasy

Hardcover, 40 pgs.

The Nature Journal - A Backyard Adventure review

 

A charming and nature-filled picture book about a young boy who connects with his busy dad over their love of nature.(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

Tim and his dad share the love of nature and exploring in their own backyard.  On a day when Tim's dad is busy with work and chores, he goes to the attic and discovers his father's old journals and some pictures.  Reading after reading all the things he has found, Tim gently drifts off to sleep and dreams of his own adventures. After he wakes up, he does not want to forget them so he draws everything out so he can share it with his dad.

What better way to connect with each other than though nature. This is a charming and sweet book about togetherness, imagination, and the love of exploring all the things nature has to offer.  Whether in the backyard or out on an adventure elsewhere, nature is an important thing we can share with children.  They learn so much by just observing and exploring but it is up to us adults to pass on that love.  Tim and his dad have a special bond that is heartwarming through their own love of nature.  It has bold pictures and simple text.   This would be a wonderful book to read on Father's Day and then take in a nature activity and journal together.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-7.~

Title:  The Nature Journal-A Backyard Adventure

Author:  Savannah Allen

Pub. date:  May 2023, Viking Books for Young Readers

genre: picture book

Hardcover, 40 pgs.

 

 

Astrid the Astronaut - The Astronomically Grand Plan review

 

In this first book of a brand new-chapter book series, a young girl is determined to be the first astronaut with hearing aids in space!(goodreads summary)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Third grader Astrid can't wait for the after school program to begin!  Shooting Stars is a super cool Space Club and she is excited to attend with her best friend Hallie.  Astrid also dreams of being an Astronaut one day and will not let her hearing aids stop her from having that dream. There is also a space camp the two friends can attend at the end!  All these things are part of Astrid's astronomically grand plan she has taped above her desk at home.  But her grand plans fall apart when Hallie wants to join Art Club instead of the Shooting Stars.  At her first club meeting, Astrid is not sure how she will be able to stick to her plan without Hallie by her side.  

 

This is a wonderful new chapter book series for the second and third grade reader.  It flows easily and will keep kids interest to the end.  The chapters are short and includes illustrations throughout adding good imagery to the story.  Astrid is devastated when Hallie chooses Art Club over the Space Club.  She doesn't understand why she wants to switch and this makes Astrid feel alone.  When it comes to this age group, this is a realistic scenario about friendships and the story does well handling changes among friends.  It also has problem solving skills, finding and making new friends, teamwork, accepting that others have different interests and not letting anything stand in the way of your dreams.   Astrid's determination through the many ups and downs of third grade to still reach her plan shows resilience.  There are many character developments for her and messages throughout.  This would be a great series for the summer reading list and for kids who have an interest in space.   I am looking forward to reading the other books soon.  I think this is a "just right book" for ages 7-8.~

Title:  Astrid the Astronaut

Author: Rie Neal, illustrated by Talitha Shipman

Pub. date: July 2022, Aladdin Books

Genre: middle grade

Hardcover, 97 pgs.