Halloween Books and a Whole Lot More

What makes a good Halloween book?  You want scary, but not too scary, colorful fall pictures and a good story. Here are a few for Halloween, a few for early childhood and just a couple more. What was your favorite Halloween story? One memorable one from a few years ago is The Monsterator by Keith Graves. Check it out. 

Little Boo by Stephen Wunderli, Illustrated by Tim Zeltner

A story of a seed that turns into a seedling, then a plant with a flower and finally a pumpkin that itself turns into. All through each stage, the seed/plant/pumpkin wants to scare others by crying “Boo!” And he finally gets to be scary as a jack-o-lantern. Great story to share in the fall, especially for Halloween. While the story is well told and you can anticipate the connection to Halloween, there is plenty of real learning to be done here on the growth and development of a plant.

Peep and Egg: I’m not Trick-or-Treating by Laura Gehl, pictures by Joyce Wan

Peep is dressed and ready to go trick or treating but Egg is scared to go. While Peep tries to be encouraging there is nothing that will convince little Egg that they should go. Until, finally they do and then both are glad they went. Several nice Halloween jokes for those who are into silly words!

Nobody Likes a Goblin by Ben Hatke

Nobody draws strange creatures better than Ben Hatke. Little goblin lives in a deserted castle with his friend Skeleton. Until one day when a band of adventurers storms the castle and takes away everything including his one and only friend. As Goblin goes in search of Skeleton, he discovers that nobody likes him. Medieval people and mythical creatures, caves and castles and amazing drawings, what more could you ask of a story about friendship?

Cricket in the Thicket: Poems About Bugs by Carol Murray, illustrated by Melissa Sweet

Poems about a variety of insects are accompanied by collages showing the insects in various activities and short factual information about the insects. For example, on the page with Go, Ants, Go! Is this poem: Working, while the world is sleeping, / tugging, lugging, running, creeping, /three small letters, that is all. / A-N-T, together, crawl! And the picture made from cut out newspaper, ink-blots and some drawings show the ants crawling all over many objects while the world is asleep. Great for sharing a poem or two each day during down times in the classroom. This might also be a good text to use for choral reading, poetry times.While the cover looks more like spring than fall, this is a great book to use around Halloween. What would Halloween be without a few bugs!

Books for Kindergarten and Pre-School

This Bear’s Birthday by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, Illustrated by Lorna Hussey

Do you have a little bear at your house who wants to do everything himself/herself? This might be the book for you. As Bear finds out, some things he can do all by himself, some things he can do with the help of his mom or dad and some things, no bear can do, like putting the leaves back on the tree. A great read for that five or six year old who wants so much to do things on his own.

Little Plane Learns to Write by Stephen Savage

Another great book for those early years in elementary school. Sometimes learning new things is hard, but if you keep trying, it finally comes together. Written in a way that encourages children to look at the letters and read on their own.

Bunny Bus by Ammi-Joan Paquette, pictures by Lesley Breen Withrow

A fine story for Easter time about a Bunny Bus that gets overloaded. Told in short, easy to read rhymes, there is not much point to this book, but it is colorful and fun.

Blue Ethel by Jennifer Black Reinhardt

An old black and white cat named Ethel. Not too interesting until she rolls around on the sidewalk that has been decorated and comes back home blue. Her neighbor cat also becomes colorful and thus begins a new chapter in their lives. While the story is fanciful and a bit weird, Reinhardt writes in a way that will expand young one’s vocabulary including exploring the multiple meanings of blue. Have fun with Ethel as she goes from white to blue, azure, cerulean, cobalt!

What Are You Waiting For? By Scott Menchin, pictures by Matt Phelan

A raccoon spies a bunny waiting for something. A series of questions follow as the raccoon tries to determine what the bunny is waiting for. Hints are given in a riddle like fashion. And while the raccoon does not try to guess what the bunny is waiting for, children may want to guess. In the end, the bunny and the raccoon both see what the bunny was waiting for and then they go home to their beds. Any ideas?

Books for babies, toddlers and emergent readers

Have a new baby? Here are a few books good for the baby, the toddler and the emergent readers in your family.

Babies Ruin Everything by Matthew Swanson, Illustrated by Robbi Behr

Big Sister is not ready for her new baby brother, “Why am I the only one who sees the truth?  WEE NEED A BETTER BABY!!” But she eventually comes around and decides to be a better sister. As a result, she says, “This baby is pretty darn smart. It’s clear he knows that I’m the greatest sister in the world.” For any new big sibling who might have a hard time accepting the new baby, this is a sweet take on a hard topic. (Baby with a toddler sibling)

The Mixed-Up Truck by Stephen Savage

Sharply drawn primary colors display a number of trucks and building equipment. The cement mixer does not know what cement looks like, so begins with flour, then sugar and makes a cake and frosting. Finally, finding the cement, the truck helps to build a building and everyone is happy. Simple text, simple pictures, perfect for a new baby of either gender. (Baby)

How to Find a Fox by Nilah Magruder

A little brown girl sets out to find a fox; she travels with her camera ever at the ready and a backpack full of supplies. The fox is predictably sneaky, staying one step ahead of the girl, and sometimes one step behind. But, the fox-hunter will not give up and eventually succeeds in getting her wish, a fox sighting worthy of a fox hunter! (Toddler)

If I Could Drive, Mama by Cari Best, Pictures by Simone Shin

A large dose of imagination goes into Charlie’s day in his cardboard car with his Mama. They visit the nail shop, the dress shop, go to lunch, the park and the pool. Charlie is tireless, but Mama needs a nap at the end of the day. The language is exuberant and the pictures are appealing, but at times there are too many words on each page for a toddler read. (Toddler)

Old Dog Baby Baby by Julie Fogliano, art by Chris Raschka

Unpretentious poetry and simple watercolor drawings combine to make a sweet book about the baby and an old dog on the kitchen floor. Perfect for any family where the dog is an important part of the family, not to be excluded when a new baby comes along. (Baby)

Daddy Depot by Chana Stiefel, illustrated by Andy Snair

Lizzie is tired of her dad’s tired jokes and football watching. When she sees an advertisement for the Daddy Depot, she thinks this is the perfect solution, a way to find the perfect dad. But, each dad she examines has some large flaw and predictably she ends up with her own dad who turns out to be perfect for her. (Emergent Reader)

Everywhere Wonder by Matthew Swanson, illustrated by Robbi Behr

Do you know a child who questions everything with wonder? Or a child who needs to learn how to question? This is a perfect book for either of these children. A young boy rides his bike everywhere and sees the wonder of the world all around him. There is so much you can talk about on each page, you might want to read just a page or two at a time and let the wondering begin! (Toddler and Emergent Reader)

Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell

A wonderful wordless picture book that can be used to start story telling in a myriad of ways. A young person leaves school and finds a young wolf who is separated from its pack. The child carries the wolf to its family and then the wolves protect the child who is now lost in a snowy world. Themes of friendship, caring for nature, reciprocal favors, family love are all evident and ones that fit into many classroom units. (All ages, no words, so you get to make up your own!)

Spring Hare by Eugen Yelchin

A delightful wordless picture book that explores imagination, bright skies and the meaning of the word “spring.” The intertwining of experiences for a young girl and a flying rabbit make this a fun book to explore with early story tellers. (All ages, no words, so you get to make up your own!)

Pigloo by Anne Mare Pace, illustrated by Lorna Hussey

Pigloo is the baby of the family and he dreams of being an explorer. While the reader is first led to believe that older sister, Paisley, will not go exploring with Pigloo, or even support his endeavors, it turns out that Paisley is a great older sister. Once the snow starts to fall, Pigloo is ready and the adventure begins. A great story for young ones who like to pretend. What could be better on a cold, wintry day? (Toddler and Emergent Reader)

Pablo in the Snow by Teri Sloat, illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet

Little lamb, Pablo, adventures out into the snow, sledding, throwing snowballs and building snowmen. But, when it is time to go home, his footprints are gone, he is not able to find his way! Of course all ends well for the little lamb as his family finds him in the snow and leads him back to the warm barn. (Baby and Toddler: This one will be saved for a toddler who knows a lot about little lambs!)

The Storm Whale in Winter by Benji Davies

Recalling the story of how Noi and his father rescued a whale, Davies returns to the small island lighthouse to tell how Noi goes on another adventure. e Noi is a loveable character who conquers his own fears to help others.  When he gets in trouble on the snowy sea,  trying to find his father who has already been rescued, the whale rescues Noi. So the story that started in the first book has come full circle. (Emergent Reader)

Biographies

 Biography

There are many ways to tell the story of a real person. Picture books generally tell of one eventful time in a person’s life, as Olshan does in A voyage in the Clouds. Because they are usually designed for children, some picture books tell more about the person in question, including background on the childhood. Barnum’s Bones by Tracey Fern does a particularly good job of this. Many picture books use a small amount of text but others use a great deal of text and are really written for older readers, even though there are pictures to go with the story. Some picture book biographies embellish the story to make it interesting and engaging for young readers. Olshan gets away with this because he gives more faculty information in his notes section and he makes clear which parts are conjecture on his part. Others use only the known facts, but still tell the story in a way that is engaging and keeps the attention of young readers. Whether you like a wordy, informative book, or a more low-key book that gives just enough information to whet your appetite for more, you will find something to like in this latest collection from MacMillan. I would just remind the publisher and editors at MacMillan: there are historical figures that are not white and male. Let’s have a few of their stories next time.

Listen: How Pete Seeger Got America Singing by Leda Schubert, Pictures by Raul Colon

Schubert gives some important information about Pete Seeger and his life as a singer and activist. But, the information is scattered and interspersed with song titles, making the narrative somewhat choppy. The timeline at the end of the book gives a more linear and easy to understand glimpse at Seeger’s life.

Newton’s Rainbow: The Revolutionary Discoveries of a Young Scientist by Kathryn Lasky, 

Pictures by Kevin Hawkes

Chock full of ideas, anecdotes and stories about Newton’s life, especially his years as a child and adolescent. Both his great cleverness of mind and serendipity played a role in his becoming a world renown scholar and scientist. Lasky is wordy and gives example after example of how Newton made his discoveries and why these discoveries are important to the world of science and technology. While presented in a picture book with lavish drawings on every page, this is not for the younger readers, but rather a super resource for intermediate readers who yearn to learn more about science and the greats within the field.

Barnum’s Bones: How Barnum Brown Discovered the Most Famous Dinosaur in the World

by Tracey Fern, Pictures by Boris Kulikov

From the first page with a description of how Barnum Brown got his name, Fern has captured my attention and I am sure she will capture the attention of child readers, especially those who are interested in paleontology. Barnum Brown is a fascinating character and both the words and pictures work seamlessly together to tell his story in an engaging way. Imagine the two page spread where Fern describes searching for dinosaur bones in the badlands of Montana. It is October and growing cold. Barnum packs up his bones on a wagon to be carted 130 miles to a train. “Along the way, Barnum couldn’t resist collecting some interesting leaves and what he thought might be four ancient crocodile skeletons, too.” And the illustration shows him striding behind a wagon piled high with bones, cloaked in a full length fur coat, with the skeletons of several crocodiles tucked under his arm. What a picture for the imagination to run with!

Vivaldi and the Invisible Orchestra by Stephen Costanza

Given the title, I imagined that this book would be a partial biography telling about an event in the life of Vivaldi, the composer. Had I paid more attention to the cover illustration, I might have had a better idea of how this story would go. Basing the book on some true events, the author has improvised a tale that tells of the possible author of four sonnets that go with Vivaldi’s renown piece of music, “The Four Seasons.” While the story is somewhat fanciful, it is also full of facts about Vivaldi and his practice of writing music for a group of female orphans who performed his music hidden behind a curtain. There is also information here about the practice of copying musical scores by hand.

John Deere, That’s Who! By Tracy Nelson Maurer, Illustrated by Tim Zeltner

Who hasn’t heard of John Deere? While many of us have heard of the company and know what a John Deere tractor is, few know the story of the original John Deere or how he invented a plow that would work well in mid-western farmland. The story of a resourceful man who used his observation of the world and his knowledge of blacksmithing to invent a tool to make farmers’ lives better. What could be better than that!

John Ronald’s Dragons: The Story of J. R. R. Tolkien by Caroline McAlister, 

Illustrated by Eliza Wheeler

As a young orphaned boy, living with an unfriendly aunt, John Ronald dreamed of dragons. Years later, as a professor at Oxford, his mind once again turned to dragons and he began writing stories, including The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The Author’s Note adds more details about Tolkien’s early life as well as details about his writing of his most famous works. Wheeler has given us realistic drawings of Tolkien as a boy, which alternate with the fanciful pictures of the dragons in his imagination. Throughout, the use of lush colors adds to the appeal of this book.

A Voyage in the Clouds: The (Mostly) True Story of the First International Flight by Balloon in 1785 by Matthew Olshan, Illustrated by Sophie Blackall 

In 1875, Dr. John Jeffries and Jean Pierre Blanchard successfully crossed the English Channel in a hot air balloon. As Olshan tells the story, there was disagreement from in incept and they barely made it across the channel with their two dogs, Henry and Henri. The Author’s Note gives insight into which parts are factual and which are things that he has surmised from reading the accounts of the day. Blackall uses cartoonish faces and dark colors to represent the two men on their eventful voyage. 

Thanks to MacMillan for providing these books. 

Summer's almost over, Keep reading!

More non-fiction

If Sharks Disappeared by Lily Williams

What is an eco-system? How do animals and plants interact with one another within an ecosystem? Using scientific vocabulary in a way that is engaging for children, Williams paints a dire picture if sharks were to disappear. Most two-page spreads include semi-realistic pictures of animal and plant life and one little girl with noticeably brown skin. Yes! The book includes a glossary, author’s note on where to get more information and a list of ways the reader can help save sharks. The endpapers include illustrations of several different sharks. Studying ocean life? This is a must have!

Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines, Designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial by Jeanne Walker Harvey, illustrated by Dow Phymiruk

If you are looking for a story of strong woman who succeeds in a field traditionally dominated by men, you have found it in this short biography of Maya Lin. Harvey has done her research and tells the story of Maya Lin’s winning entry into the Vietnam Memorial Design Contest with grace and care. While I have been to the memorial and knew that it was designed by a very young woman, I didn’t know anything else about Lin. This gives me some context and insight into her life and her reasons for the design. It is even more beautiful to me after reading this book and I am anxious to go back to see it again.

Poetry About Daddy and Mommy

My Daddy Rules: Poems about Dads by Hope Anita Smith

Lovely poems by an award-winning poet combined with simple illustrations of fathers and their children. While the cover shows an African America boy and his dad, inside you will see brown, white and black dads and both sons and daughters. Looking for a book with positive images about dads of any color? This one is perfect!

Mommies are Amazing by Meredith Costain, illustrated by Polona Lovsin

The title says it all, Mommies ARE amazing! Costain uses Lovsin's illustrations of cat mommies and their kittens as a jumping off place to tell all the ways mommies are  amazing! With short rhyming couplets, and simple language for the littlest readers, Costain describes all the ways that mommies come to our rescue, love us and help us when we are happy and sad. I thought of my mommy and you will too!

Early Concept Books

Billions of Bricks by Kurt Cyrus

A rhyming book and a counting book with a twist. Throughout the book about building with bricks, the author counts by twos, fives, tens and twenties. For those young children that are ready to move beyond counting by ones, this is perfect. And the illustrations, of both bricks on pallets and trucks and bricks in gorgeous buildings are perfecting done. Count away!

May I Have a Word? By Caron Levis; Pictures by Andy Rash

Another alphabet book? But, wait, this one does not go through the alphabet letter by letter. These letters have personalities, giving the author a clever way to teach the concepts of C and K making the same sound and the K being silent when combined with N (KN). Kindergarten teachers: anyone want this book?

Walter’s Wonderful Web by Tim Hopgood

Walter cannot make a perfect web, but he can make webs of many different shapes. A cute story that helps very young children to learn about shapes. And a certain young boy named Walter was always one of my favorite children. He is all grown up now, but maybe he would enjoy sharing this book with his younger cousin!

A Small Thing…But Big by Tony Johnston, Pictures by Hadley Hooper

Lizzie goes to the park with her mother and meets an old man and a dog. No, that is not the beginning of a joke. Lizzie wants to approach the dog, but she is a little afraid, or to use another word: timid. Do you need to teach adverbs? Here’s the book for you: carefully, quietly, springingly, and magnificently are just a few of the great adverbs in this book. Have fun!

Sing with Me! Action songs Every Child Should Know  Illustrated by Naoko Stoop

A series of baby’s first songs including Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush and Polly Put the Kettle On. All are illustrated with cute children and cartoon animals. Each song includes brief instructions for movements to try when singing the song.

And One More Shark Book, or maybe it's a friendship book, check it out and let me know what you think!

Shawn Loves Sharks by Curtis Manley, pictures by Tracy Subisak

 

When Shawn's teacher announces that each student will do a report on a predator, Shawn is sure that he will do sharks. But, Stacy draws the shark from the bowl of options and Shawn draws the Leopard Seal. He is crushed and Stacy won't trade. What's a boy to do? Let's say the ending involves friendship, sharing information and falling in love with Leopard Seals.  Plenty of information here for those who are researching predators, and Manley throws in a few laughs just for fun.

Summer Beach Reading

The books I either started or finished while at the beach last week. Believe it or not, I did do a few others things, but mostly I read! It was great!

The Sunshine Sisters by Jane Green

Jane Green has been one of my favorites for several years, but this just seemed too formulaic. A rotten mother, three daughters, all affected in one way or another by her bad mothering. But, when the mother is dying of ALS, she wants her daughters to gather around, forgive her and form relationships with each other. So, they do. Ho hum!

Same Beach Next Year by Dorothea Benton Frank

A new author to me and again, just a little too predictable. Two couples meet at the beach every year. One husband had a relationship with the other wife when they were young and so there is residual sexual tension that one day erupts, yada yada yada. The best part of the book was when the spurned (or not so spurned) wife heads out to Greece on her own to discover her long lost relatives and herself. Loved the descriptions of Greece and it made me want to go there.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Kip recommended this to me and I finally got to read it. The writing style was sometimes like reading a stand-up comedy routine, but at least it was funny! Another way to view the racist attitudes perpetrated here and in South Africa. Thanks for sharing your story, Mr. Noah.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

I had read The Marriage Plot last year and did not enjoy it so was hesitant to read Middlesex, but I kept hearing about this from so many sources, I finally broke down. It was long, but was very good. I liked this so much more than The Marriage Plot. Cal was born with recessed male sex organs and looked like a female baby. He was raised as a female and discovered at 14 that he had the male chromosome. While fictional, the story is told in first person and was very believable. Enlightening and entertaining.

Rich and Pretty by Rumaan Alam

Two young women who have known each other since they were eleven, now living in New York City. And it doesn’t get any more exciting than that. Told through present day events as well as flashbacks, we sometimes get the viewpoint of Sarah and sometimes know what Lauren is thinking. As a former middle school classmate so knowingly delineated: Sarah is rich, but Lauren is pretty. And Alam is able to show how being rich or pretty affects your life in so many ways, even Sarah and Lauren cannot quite understand it. While nothing much happens in this story, it is one that will stick with me as I think about these characters.

Mrs. Saint and the Defectives by Julie Lawson Timmer

A sweet novel about a woman and her teen-aged son, recovering from a divorce. Markie and her son Trevor and suffering in silence and trying to figure out their own way back to the lives they want to lead when their interfering neighbor enters their lives. Mrs. Saint pushes her way into their lives and maybe the most annoying thing was that she was almost always right! While the writing was not great, I loved the story and enjoyed the premise.

Broken Harbor by Tana French

This is the fourth book in a series by French. They are police procedurals set in Dublin. One difference between this series and others I have read is that French focuses on a different detective in each book, usually one that was in a previous book, but not the main character. She also manages to set up the story so by the end (in three out of four of the books), the officer decides to leave the force. As the others were, this was a complicated story, with several clues that come at different times as well as foreshadowing that did not help me solve the crime. I like the story, but the pace is a little slow and maybe she could tell it in half the space!

The Ophelia Cut by John Lescroart

This is about the 15^th book in the series about a lawyer in San Francisco. I have not read any of the others and from reviews online, this was not the best of the series, so I may read some of the earlier ones since I liked the characters and the courtroom scenes were well done. I have heard a lot about this author and am willing to give him another shot.

A Distant View of Everything by Alexander McCall Smith

I will read anything by Smith and almost always love it. This is no exception. Another in the series about Isabel Dalhousie, the Scottish philosopher and now mother of two boys. Besides the great philosophical debates that Isabel has with herself, I love the love story that is portrayed between Isabel and her younger husband who adores her and both their sons. A feel good read that I looked forward to!

The Late Show by Michael Connelly

Another of my favorite authors, Connelly is starting fresh with a new character, still an LAPD officer, but this time a young woman. She has a lot in common with Bosch (his main character in several novels): she won’t give up, she works when she doesn’t have to, she doesn’t seem to need sleep and she is concerned about the victims at all times! I haven’t finished this one yet, but I am already hooked on Renee Ballard.

Summer Fiction and Fantasy or Beach Reading for Kids

Who Wants to Be a Princess? By Bridget Heos, Illustrated by Migy

 

A fictional princess from the middle ages shows and tells the differences between fairy tale princesses like Cinderella and Snow White and a real medieval princess. Some of the dialogue is tongue in cheek, like when she describes the mess made in the dining hall by the bones, grease and crumbs that fall on the floor and are not cleaned up. “Rats are everywhere. We’d prefer they leave, but what can we do? (Other than tidy up, I mean.)” Each two page spread shows what it’s like in modern fairy tales for princesses and contrasts that with how a princess in the middle ages actually lived. Colorful, entertaining and informative.

Princessland by Emily Jenkins, Pictures by Yoko Tanaka

 

This is a perfect companion book for Who Wants to Be a Princess? (See above) Romy wants to visit princessland and as she describes what it is like in Princessland, her Lady Cat goes along with her turning her imagination into reality. Only Romy’s idea of what it is like in Princessland is just like the fantasy that is debunked by Heos! Read them together to discuss the similarities and differences or read this one alone for a little bit of pure fantasy time!

Princess Tales Around the World Adapted by Grace Maccarone, Illustrated by Gail de Marcken

 

Maccarone has taken ten stories of princesses from various places in the world and retold them in rhyme. de Marcken adds to the charm with colorful, intricate illustrations retelling each story again with art. On each page, there is a list of objects to find that may or may not be important to the story. Adults and children alike will be enchanted with these stories that originate in Persia, India China, England and other parts of Europe. This book is worth it just for the illustrations!

DC Super Friends: Girl Power

 

 A simple book to advertise the women in DC Comics may help to counteract all the princess books!

Go Big or Go Gnome by Kirsten Mayer, illustrated by Laura K. Horton

 

The pun in the title gives a premonition about how this story will progress: it begins with a silly premise and gets sillier as the story progresses. But, Mayer and Horton make a great team and the silliness is fun the gnomes are all so nice to one another, it makes me want to live in gnome-land. Poor Al does not have a beard like all the other gnomes, and wants to participate in the B. I. G.: Beards International Gnome-athon. Read to find out how he gets to not only participate, but win a trophy. For once, I was not concerned that all the characters were male!

Two from the Adventures in Cartooning

Hocus Focus by James Sturm, Andrew Arnold and Alexis Frederick-Frost

 

Ogres Awake! By James Sturm, Andrew Arnold and Alexis Frederick-Frost

 

The continuing saga of the Little Knight and Edward his horse. In Hocus Focus, the Little Knight cannot wait to learn magic and messes up a potion, turning Edward into a monster worm. In Ogres Awake! Little Knight is excited and scared about the ogres sleeping on the castle lawn. Every step of the way, he misinterprets the reason for the making of potato stew. In reality, the King and his minions have decided to feed the ogres when they awake to prevent damage to the kingdom. Each story is told with cartoon panels moving the story forward and the end papers give drawing lessons for drawing Little Knight, Edward and other characters from the stories.

The Cow Said “Meow” by John Himmelman

 

Using cartoonish drawings and a few simple words in word balloons, Himmelman tells a story with humor and irony. This would be a perfect picture book to use when teaching inference! And the teacher could ask: what were the animals thinking? Loveit!

Mac and Cheese by James Proimos

 

This falls under the category of: What? You published a book about what? Here goes: Mac and Cheese are characters who meet others throughout their day like P. B and Jay, and Oil and Water. They go through a day having an inane conversation about a myriad of things; in fact, they sound like two grade schoolers jumping from topic to topic. You may love this book and it’s mindless chatter, or you may feel like I did: What?

Ned the Knitting Pirate by Diana Murray, illustrated by Leslie Lammle

 

No two ways about it, Ned likes to knit and the captain hates a knitting pirate. Murray uses rhyme to tell this story that includes a captain with a wooden leg and a hook, tough as grit pirates, a Rusty Heap for a boat, and a sea monster that “cannonballs bounced off his sides as if his skin was Jell-O.” In other words: all the ingredients for a story about pirates, including the ubiquitous, “Yarrrrh!”

A Unicorn Named Sparkle by Amy Young

 

A mail order unicorn for 25 cents? A fantasy of a unicorn is contrasted with the mail order animal that looks and acts like a goat! Lucy is expecting one thing and gets another. While she initially wants to send back the ornery unicorn, she eventually sees that the unicorn she got is the one that is perfect for her. Is this a metaphor for life?