Red Sled is a picture book in the truest sense in that the story is told in pictures with very few words. The illustrations are fun, exciting, moving, and flat out joyful! I don’t have young children anymore, but I bought this book anyway. I look forward to sharing it with my future grandchildren. But, mostly, I had to have it for the child in me!
This retelling of Noah’s Ark doesn’t really stand out from the countless renditions of this Bible story. It is however appropriate for preschoolers. The illustrations are bold, bright, and cheery. The wall clings that come with the book are the one thing that set it apart. I can see young children enjoying playing with them on the wall. I tried them on a painted wall (flat paint) and some of the pieces kept falling off. So I peeled them all off (no paint damage) and stuck them to the wood paneling. They have remained there quite well for over a month. I didn’t try them on glossy paint (as I have none), so I can’t say how they would do. Perhaps it was the flat paint that they didn’t like. Overall, it is a lively little book with a fun addition with which children (over 3yrs) can play or parents can decorate. In compliance with FTC guidelines, please note that I received this book for free from Kregel Publications. For a full product description follow this link: http://www.kregel.com/Media/MediaManager/noahsarkwallclingsonesheet1.pdf
Do you have a Dog? is a lively book that makes for a great read-a-loud while also offering a bit of a history lesson about famous people and their dogs. I liked the rhyming text overall though some of the rhythm felt a bit off. The illustrations were fluid and cheerful with a constant sense of movement and activity. The only negative is that without the helpful text, it was very difficult to distinguish between any of the breeds. I would have liked the pug to look more like a pug and the boxer to look more like a boxer. As it was, they just looked like loveable mutts. Overall, I enjoyed the book, and I see it being popular with children and those that read to them.
In compliance with FTC guidelines, please note that I received this book for free through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
The Great Migration is a beautifully done book. The poems by award-winning poet Eloise Greenfield capture the emotions of each traveler on the journey. The illustrations by Jan Spivey Gilchrist are rich in texture and expression and Continue reading »
Tinseland shares a similar premise with How the Grinch Stole Christmas but it’s not nearly as clever. When I read the epilogue to Tinseland, I literally groaned. It restated the extremely obvious message of the book which is basically that everyone should love everyone and have Christmas joy and peace. The more subtle message of the book is Continue reading »
Happily residing in the children’s department of my library are several familiar characters and animals that welcome children each day. Barney is still a particular favorite as is evident in the number of times he is removed from his place on the shelf to keep a child company during his/her visit. One young lady asked if she could read a book to Barney. When I gave my enthusiastic consent, she then found Continue reading »
Having conversations with children is one of the best aspects of this job. The following conversation is a terrific example of why this is so. A child I recognized as one I had helped select picture books about police officers was back again, so I asked him how he liked the books. Referring to Sherman Crunchley
We’ve been saving egg-cartons for a few months now in preparation for the Summer Reading Program. As I was studying spray paint selections and pondering which colors would make the best egg-carton bugs, I thought Continue reading »
Recently, an adult came in to the children’s department and selected a number of juvenile non-fiction titles. Before she left, I asked her if she had found everything she needed. She replied that she had found what she was looking for and added, “I like to read about a lot of subjects, and I prefer to read the children’s books because they are Continue reading »
One of my assistants has spent the better part of a week digging around in her basement, rummaging through boxes of flotsam and jetsam in search of a missing set of dentures. Why? Because I mentioned that I was doing a story-time about teeth and would be reading a story about a grandfather who awakens one morning to discover Continue reading »
