Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman

Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My grandson loves dinosaurs and this book is one of his favorites! How a Tiny T. Rex figures out how to hug his sad best friend is the BEST! We will be reading the other books in this series too!

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Destiny Finds Here Way: How a Rescued Baby Sloth Learned to Be Wild (Baby Animal Tales) National Geographic Kids by Margarita Engle Photos by Sam Trull

Destiny Finds Her Way: How a Rescued Baby Sloth Learned to Be Wild by Margarita Engle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Margarita Engles' books so much, especially her novels in verse! When I saw she published a children's picture book on a sloth---my granddaughter's obsession---I had to get it for her & me!!! This story, a true story with totally awesome photographs by Sam Trull! What I learned about sloths (2 main types The two-fingered & the three-fingered) was mesmerizing. Along with Destiny's riveting story, the photographs also demonstrate immensely how sloths' are losing their habitat. Children, teens and adults all have so much to learn from this book. I loved Destiny's story but I also enjoyed how Engle showed the reader the important animals, plants & vegetation. The end notes, the map, and important information are a must read as well. Highly recommended for all readers!

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Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved Marlene and her aunt Tia and friend Camila; together they all help Marlene break the news to her mother that she detests going to the hair salon and having her her straightened (and everything else involved in the hours she spends there 1 day a week). This graphic novel will surely inspire girls that have problems expressing to their parents their misery over "hair" which is either good or bad and must be conquered! I cheered for Marlene and you will too!

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Bear Has a Belly by Jane Whittingham

Bear Has a Belly by Jane Whittingham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

From a blog post, this Jane Whittingham book is perfect for my animal loving grandson, and the pictures, photographs of the many different animals AND children each with a different body part highlighted. With activities detailed at the end, this book is perfect for little minds, hands and eyes, the pages are heavy but not board book material, they will stand up to the sometimes rough little hands turning those pages! Highly recommended!

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Animals Move by Jane Whittingham

Animals Move by Jane Whittingham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Including all kinds of animals - pets, farm animals and wild animals, Jane Whittingham gives beautiful photographs on heavy sturdy pages with the many things kids do and animals do such as a little girl is swimming underwater with a corresponding photograph on the right with a baby whale---CALVES SWIM, Children and adults will learn the FUN Baby animal names from the familiar to the strange (echnidas are spiny anteaters, did you know that? their babies are PUGGLES). So take your time and enjoy the many different animal babies rhyming with the way children MOVE. Highly recommended!


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a bear, a bee, and a honey tree

A Bear, a Bee, and a Honey Tree by Daniel Bernstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

From a blog post I can't remember this book struck me as a book my K granddaughter would love with all the word, word play, and antics of the bee and bear trying for the honey high up in a tree. I am also going to enjoy this with my grandson who will be 2 years old. With great illustrations by Brandon James Scott, Daniel Bernstrom deliver s a delightful book of the bear and bee fighting over the honey, who will be the winner? Excellent picture book will appeal to all younger children and their parents!

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A Letter From Your Teacher On the Last Day of School by Shannon Olsen & illustrated by Sandie Sonke

A Letter From Your Teacher: On the Last Day of School by Shannon Olsen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such a great read and this will be a present my K granddaughter and her mom, a K teacher will love celebrating a wonderful school year on the last day of school. With beautiful illustrations (by Sandie Sonke) the rhyming text by Shannon Olsen had me turning the pages, enjoying each and every high and low of the students as they become very special students and friends, ready for the next year of a new teacher and making new memories. Excellent for students, teachers & parents!

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Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

this is the gut wrenching story of a time in history when an evil woman, Georgia Tann stole children from struggling parents, put them in locations until they were adopted ---while there life was a nightmare as the Foss children realize their beloved life on the Arcadia boat on the Mississippi River, is forever changed. Told in two voices, the present day is Avery---a county prosecutor who works with her politically appointed father and is very close to her grandmother who has dementia. When an older woman at a nursing home, stares her down and "takes" her dragonfly bracelet---life changing events begin as Avery and a young man whose grandfather used to "find" people. All of this mystery throws light onto the abuses of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage and Avery's life and future is about to change! Based on the true story of Georgia Tann's iron hold on stealing children in the 1930s from poor parents with lies, this story is riveting and heart breaking, a must read!

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The Vanderbeekers Make a Wish (The Vanderbeekers, #5) by Karina Yan Glaser

The Vanderbeekers Make A Wish by Karina Yan Glaser
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Vanderbeekers are getting ready to surprise their Dad for his birthday when he is called away to a funeral. A big surprise is their mother's parents arriving on their steps! Their grandmother is mean, nasty and constantly criticizing everyone, so the kids stay away from home and try to unravel a mystery letter from their deceased grandfather to his son about his graduation gift. The kids decide to remake this gift for their father but first they have much research to do. Heartwarming, funny, and the best family hijinks continue!

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I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes

I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This gorgeous picture book has positive self images throughout, an upbeat narrator with hopes and dreams and reality. With beautiful illustrations, this book could be read, enjoyed and learn more about social justice appealing to all ages children through adults; a must read!

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Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just love the simplicity of Katherine Applegate's writing but the deep abiding love she nurtures with her characters, words, and Red's world and his animal friends. Red's simple view of life is also rich, ancient, and sometimes weary. When a Muslim girl moves into the neighborhood, Red does not see any difference, just a shy, wonderful little girl who visits each night, curls under her and befriends all the animals (loved every one of them!!!). The slur that undermines Red's world also horrifies the human world. I laughed and loved how Bongo and Red hatch their plans, will they be successful? Such a wonderful read!

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The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial by Susan E. Goodman

The First Step: How One Girl Put Segregation on Trial by Susan E. Goodman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this as part of the twitter chat for #YearofYA for January's topic, STEM and women in history taking place Thursday 1/26 at 8PM EST, join us! The story of African American youngster, Sarah Roberts in history begins with the day she was told she could not attend her school anymore; it was now only for white children. The story of Sara, her life, the court case arguing for equal education, begins a long struggle in history for children like Sarah. Author Susan Goodman's research and EB Lewis's paintings create a compelling picture of segregation and it's effects in history. This is a picture book all children, teens, and adults would enjoy because of its many messages-integration was a must, segregation was wrong and even losing can be a victory if people stand together for equality.

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Wild Things by Clay Carmichael

Wild Things by Clay Carmichael
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a truly wonderful book! I am an animal lover and once again, Clay Carmichael has written a novel with a cat as one of the main characters. Zoe is an amazing, intelligent, sharp-witted, child who suddenly finds she is to be living with an Uncle Henry she has never seen or met. Raising herself since she was young (her mother was crazy and drug addicted), Zoe has learned to survive on her own and not to get attached to the many men in and out of her mother's lives. What I liked about Zoe is that she did credit those men friends with her ability to drive, pace bets, count; street smarts that help her in life. But when she meets her Uncle Henry who is very angry, Zoe sees herself in him- especially the red hair, thorny personality, and the split in their front teeth. I loved the way Carmichael uses the cat to tell us about the area around Uncle Henry's house with the woods and fields- great for exploring. The cat has lived and seen much and it is this history that provides suspense and understanding for the reader. I loved so many of the characters- the Sheriff, Bessie, Wil, Sister, Fred and Maud- it was just as easy to dislike others like Ray and the Mayor. A wonderful tale of what it means to become a family, to be an animal lover and live life like Wild Things:) I loved this very appropriate title as I read more and more of the book - highly recommended! Teens and adults will enjoy Zoe's journey!!!

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El Deafo by Cece Bell

El Deafo by Cece Bell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read El Deafo because my elementary librarian friends highly recommended I and it won the 3rd round of SLJ's Battle of the Books! Cece Bell's memoir in graphic novel form about her young life, becoming ill and losing her hearing is gripping, funny, and poignant. Cece's illustrations are always bright even when Cece is not happy with her life. She has a phonic ear that helps her hear; sometimes more than she would like- but this aid also make her feel conspicuous too. The reader really learns what it is like to be severely deaf and the many childhood stories El Deafo shares about growing up (sleep overs, friends, being a super hero, and crushes) will stay with me. Highly recommended. This is a book that children, teens and adults should read.

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The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale

The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVED this book! Shannon and Dean Hale have crafted a Princess story kids will love! Who can resist a perfect princess who is also The Princess in Black guarding her kingdom from monsters and any kind of bad guys? With humor in both words and illustrations (LeUYEN Pham)the Hales have crafted a laugh out loud book kids will relate to (and read ove and over again)- this could be a play they act out when they are with their friends- right down to the toenail clippings!!!Very enjoyable and highly recommended! I know I am going to be reading this to my granddaughter and giving it to my daughter to read to her students.

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