​Picture Perfect
Written by Jenny Goebel
Age Level: 8 – 12
Grade Level: P – 3

​ LOVED this book! I couldn’t imagine a pig as a pet, let alone as a therapy animal, but now I can. And the characters in this story – they’re so well done! Grace is a 12-year-old girl whose mother just got married. There are so many kids who can identify with Grace and the adjustments she’s making to start this new family. This is her first Christmas to share her mom with anyone else. Poor Grace! She can’t even decide what to call her new stepfather.
 
It gets even worse when Mr. P, her stepdad, gives her a pig for Christmas. Grace was absolutely sure she was finally going to get that doodle dog she’d always wanted. NOT! This book is full of great themes for tweens and teens, stepfamilies, boys, friends, and even for understanding yourself. I hope teens and tweens will love it like I did.

​Dozens of Doughnuts
Written by Carrie Finson
Illustrated by Brianne Farley
Age Level: 3 – 7
Grade Level: P – 2
 
What do you do when you’ve made a dozen doughnuts, and a friend stops by? You share, of course! But what do you do when dozens of friends pop over, and they eat all your doughnuts without leaving you a single crumb? You ROAR with FRUSTRATION! You’re hungry, and you still need to eat enough food to get you through hibernation. What do you do when the author gives you and Bear, a satisfying ending? You read this story again and again – while you eat a dozen doughnuts.

The Vanishing Lake
Written and Illustrated by Paddy Donnelly
Age Level: 4 – 8
Grade Level: P – 3
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I loved everything about this book – the words, the illustrations, the back matter! Meara doesn’t understand why her lake is vanishing. Me neither! Her grandpa has some really creative ideas. The real explanation is nearly as creative. The back matter includes the authors note about where this story came from – his childhood in Ireland where his lake really did vanish! It ends with the scientific reason for this natural phenomenon. I was fascinated from the beginning to the end . . . LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!

​Buster the Little Garbage Truck
Written by Marcia Berneger
Illustrated by Kevin Zimmer
Age Level: 3 – 6
Grade Level: P – 1
 
If you love trucks, you’ll love this story. I did! Buster wants to be just like dad, but when he tries, he winds up disappointed and afraid. When a tower of cans crashes around him, Buster walks off his failure with Kitty till disaster strikes…Kitty lands in a garbage can that’s dumped into Dad’s truck. Can Buster face his fears and save Kitty before she lands in the dump? Read and find out how Buster gets his happy ending.

​Dear Earth, . . . From Your Friends in Room 5
Written by Erin Dealey
Illustrated by Luisa Uribe
Age Level: 4 – 8
Grade Level: P – 3

​I like this book, a lot! It’s written as a series of letters that go back and forth between Planet Earth and the Kids in Room 5. It all starts on New Year’s Day when the kids send Earth a thank you note, and they ask how to help. Earth answers, turn off the lights to save electricity. In February the kids write back to tell how they’re learning about plastic, and so it continues until December. That’s when the kids tell how they made presents and decorations out of recycled materials. Earth replies, the kids are heroes, and it’s their #1 fan.
 
The back matter is great! It starts with a letter to earth heroes about how they can help. The next page is full of great ideas using the 4R’s . . . REDUCE what you use, RECYCLE whenever you can, REUSE when possible, and RENEW by making things new again. Th is book is a great vehicle to help real kids become Earth Heroes. It suggests small practical ways that kids can do their part. Grown-ups too!

​​Don’t Check Out This Book!
Written by Kate Klise
Illustrated by M. Sarah Klise
Age Level: 8 – 12
Grade Level: 3 – 7

​Please check this one out! It’s so well done! The plot, the characters, especially their names! Rita B. Danjerous or May B. Danjerous – so clever! It’s also a graphic novel, done with text messages, emails, and newspaper articles. Warning – there’s so much to read that I needed reading glasses . . . I didn’t want to miss a detail, and I don’t think kids will either! This book is TOO much fun!

​Mrs. Noodlekugel
Written by Daniel Pinkwater
Illustrated by Adam Stower
Age Level: 5 – 9
Grade Level: K – 4

​Mrs. Noodlekugel was one of the first books I recorded in my reading journal back when it was a new book. It’s been a while!
 
I loved the story from cover to cover! The setting – a tiny house in the center of New York City. The characters – a little old lady, her pet mice, and a few gingerbread ones too. The genre – fantasy with a gingerbread man, a little magic, plus a modern twist. It’s an early reader that doesn’t talk down to its audience, and it’s also the first book in a series of three. It’s perfect for young readers who are looking for an adventure!

Robobaby
Written & Illustrated by David Wiesner
Age Level: 4 – 7
Grade Level: P – 3

I loved this story! When the Robo family orders a new baby kit, they have trouble putting it together. Who knew technology could change between baby #1 and #2? Or that a big sister could put her baby brother together? This is a fun story!

​Twenty-Steps
Written by Jeff Gottesfeld
Illustrated by Matt Tavares
Age Level: 7 – 10
Grade Level: 2 – 5
 
This is a beautiful book. It made me tear up because it’s so well done. It’s told in the voice of  that Unknown Soldier. Whoever he was; whatever his name; he was interred in the Tomb of the Unknown back on Veteran’s Day 1921, to commemorate all the Unknowns. It took place on the eleventh month, the eleventh day, and the eleventh hour, but those twenty-one steps didn’t start until midnight of July 2, 1937, and they haven’t stopped since.
 
I loved this book so much that I recorded a video of me reading it for my Facebook page. It’s coming out on Wednesday, October 10th, 2021. I’m timing it a day early so teachers and kids can use this recording on Veteran’s Day 2021 and every Veteran’s Day after.

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​Mr. Putter & Tabby: Smell the Roses
Written by Cynthia Rylant
Illustrated by Arthur Howard
Age Level: 6 – 9
Grade Level: 1 – 4

This is #11 from a super successful series for readers in grades  K-2. It’s a simple,  cute story that features Mr. Putter and his cat Tabby. They want to do something nice for their neighbors, Mrs. Teaberry and her dog Zeke. Mr. Putter decides a trip to the conservatory is the perfect thing to do for them. The plants, the trees, the flowers! Everything’s wonderful until Zeke discovers the banana tree. Then the fun really begins!