Not So Fast, Max
Written by Annette Schottenfeld
Illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
Age Level: 4 – 7
Grade Level: 1 – 2
 
I liked this book a lot. It gave me a peak into what it’s like to be Jewish and to celebrate Rosh Hashana. I would have bought it when I was still teaching because it lets kids peek in . . .  using food, and traditions!

Savta, or Grandma, is visiting from Israel. She takes Max and his sister to the apple orchard. Max wants his apples now, but Savta persists in dragging her grandchildren through her favorite traditions. Max persists in trying to hurry things up. Don’t worry! There’s a happy ending, plus back matter! It includes how to celebrate Rosh Hashana and learn a little Hebrew, how to make apple cake and caramel apples. Sounds YUMMY to me!

​Daddy’s Back to School Shopping Adventure
Written by Alan Lawrence Sitomer
Illustrated by Abby Carter
Age Level: 3 – 5
Grade Level: PS – K

​I love funny stories, and this one is as wacky and fun as its cover! It’s back-to-school time, and Mommy has one small rule . . . You only buy what’s on her list, and that’s no fun! The kids are unhappy . . . until Daddy sees his old school lunchbox. When Mommy heads off for something, probably dull and boring, can the kids finally have some fun? Can Daddy? You’ll have to read to find out! PS – Have fun doing it!

 

​Bear Country
Written by Doreen Cronin
Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin
Age Level: 7 – 10
Grade Level: 2 – 5

Who doesn’t love a good mystery? The chicks from the  Chicken Squad sure do! This is the 6th book in their crime solving series. The day starts off with Anna McClanahanahan’s missing hamster. Things get worse when Barbara disappears before she feeds them breakfast. Then the unimaginable – a headless bear’s roaming the neighborhood. So many mysteries! Can the Chicken Squad  solve any of them, AND get fed? 
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​Just a Story
Written & Illustrated by Jeff Mack
Age Level: PS – 2
Grade Level: 3 – 7

​WOW! This book is as cute as the cover, and the story’s told in 158 words. Every word counts! The best part – you never know what you’ll discover on each page of this book. Kids will love the pictures, and a story that is short, to the point, with the tension rising every time you turn the page!

​Can I Be Your Dog?
​Written & Illustrated by Troy Cummings
Age Level: 3 – 7
Grade Level: P – 2

This book is brilliant - using letters to move the story along. Poor Arfy. He’s a mutt who just wants a home. He sends letter after letter to house after house, but each answer is no. For different reasons, but poor Arfy is still homeless. Will he ever find a home? Or people to love him? You’ll have to read to find out. 

​​Baby Loves Coding
Written by Ruth Spiro
Illustrated by Irene Chan
Age Level: 1 – 3 

​I love the way this board book takes something complicated and simplifies it for toddlers. They even make it fun! Baby has a problem – a red train car is missing. The pages show the steps Baby takes to find it. That’s a code. It’s also the beginning of logic, and the skills babies can learn as they grow. There are 17  books in this science series for babies and toddlers.

​Swashby and the Sea
Written by Beth Ferry
Illustrated by Juana Martinez Neal
Age Level: 4 – 7
Grade Level: P – 3

​If you like word play, you’ll love this book! I did! It’s so well written, AND, it’s fun! Life was good for Swashby . . . until he got next-door neighbors.  He tried writing notes in the sand to scare them  away, but the sea kept changing his words to make them feel welcome. Who’ll get their way – Swashby, his neighbors, or the sea? You’ll have to read to find out!

​Tea Rex
Written & Illustrated by Moly Idle
Age Level: 3 – 5
Grade Level: P – K

Imagine – sending out invitations for tea, and one of them is going to your dearest friend,  Tyrannosaurus Rex. The tea party pictures are as cute as the front cover, and they carry the story. It’s a perfect book for dinosaur-loving  Littles. Who wouldn’t love a tea party with your best friend, T Rex?

​Claws
Written by Mike and Rachel Grinti
Age Level: 10 and up
Grade Level: 5 – 9 

​This book was so clever I couldn’t put  it down. Emma’s sister is missing. It looks impossible . . . until a talking cat, Jack, tells Emma that her sister has been kidnapped by fairies. The kind who use human eyes to see. Follow Emma and Jack into a forest filled with harpies and hags, trolls and crags. Will Emma and Jack return with her sister, and their eyes intact? You’ll have to read to find out!
 
PS – My favorite part was the Crag fact that started each chapter. They led me deeper into the fantasy of this story. 

​Weekends with Max and His Dad
Written by Linda Urban
Illustrated by Katie Kath
Age Level: 7 – 9
Grade Level: P – 6  

​I loved this book! It’s a quiet chapter book for young readers, especially boys. It’s divided into 3 stories taking place over 3 weekends. Max is a 3rd grader whose parents aren’t together. When he visits his dad’s new apartment that 1st time, he becomes a detective so he can scope out the new neighborhood. The next weekend, Max has a bad case of the no-where to sit blues. They find the cure with a little furniture, and some good music. The final weekend Max needs to build a porcupine habitat, but he forgot his supplies at school, and dad is sick. Would you believe Max found 2 habitats, one for the porcupines? And one with his dad.
 
PS – I discovered Max has a 2nd book that I’d love to read – ROAD TRIP WITH MAX AND MOM.