The Dandelion Seed’s Big Dream
Written by Joseph Anthony
Illustrated by Cris Arbo
Age Level: 4 - 10                                                           
​Grade Level: 1 – 2

​The local garden club gave this book to the library. It’s the story of a little seed’s dream to become a flower, then grow new flowers. It reminds me of THE TINY SEED by Eric Carle, which is one of my favorite books.
 
It’s also got great end pages with a short encyclopedia article, a labeled diagram, and a debate about whether a dandelion’s a weed or a flower. You can decide  which for yourself. Then try out the DIY activities with a magnifying glass, a life cycle study, and an interview about the book.
 

                                       

Babies Ruin Everything
Written by Matthew Swanson
Illustrated by Robbi Behr
Age Level: 4 - 7                                                                    
Grade Level: 1 – 2

​What happens when your mom brings home a new baby? For one big sister, it ruins everything. Kids will giggle at the trouble one small baby can get into. They’ll be surprised how one red marker can change a story. This is a great gift for big brothers and sisters who are wondering about the changes a new baby will bring.  

​Ally-Saurus and the First Day of School
Written & Illustrated by Richard Terry
Age Level: 3 – 6                                                                   
​Grade Level: PS – 2

The pictures are OK, but the story’s great! Imagine your first day of school, and you wake-up as a dinosaur. You’re ready to make friends, but there’s not a dinosaur in sight. A trio of princesses turn their noses at you. What’s a dinosaur to do? Don’t worry! Ally-saurus is Ally-creative. Enjoy!

PS – if you liked this story, try out it’s sequel, ALLY-SAURUS & THE VERY BOSSY MONSTER.

Applesauce Day
Written by Lisa J. Amstutz
Illustrated by Talitha Shipman
Age Level: 4 - 8                                                             
​Grade Level: P – 3

​Come take a trip to an apple orchard and Grandma’s kitchen. Turn the pages and watch how a family makes homemade applesauce. I’ve never done it, but the author’s family has. It’s probably what inspired her to write this book.  
 
Don’t stop reading till you reach the very end! The author added in her own recipe for applesauce, and some amazing apple facts. Please take a picture walk through the book. For early readers it’s a great step towards literacy, and the illustrations are as cute as the front cover.

What if You had Animal Ears!?
Written by Sandra Markle
Illustrated by Howard McWilliam
Age Level: 4 - 8                                                                         
​Grade Level: PS – 3

Take a look at another in the What If series of nine books. This one lets you imagine having the ears of eleven different animals. Some I’d heard of. Some I hadn’t. With each animal you’ll discover a trick only their ears can do,  a fact about how they work, and a what if question to help you imagine what life would be like, with those ears.
 
Back matter includes what makes our own human ears special, how they work with your brain to help you hear, and how ears keep you balanced. Animal ears finishes with tips to keep your own ears healthy.                                       

​I Am Farmer: Growing an Environment
                               Movement in Cameroon
Written by Baptiste & Miranda Paul
Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
​Age Level: 7 - 11                                                                   
Grade Level: 2 – 5

​Farmer is fantastic! It's the true story of Tantoh, a young boy from Cameroon, who just wants to farm. His family discourages him, but Tantoh studies agriculture in college until he gets Typhoid from bad water. It takes seven years to recover, but Tantoh turns his problem into a solution by bringing food and water to his village. Take a trip to Cameroon, and read how one boy made a difference. Farmer is fantastic!

​Boxitects
Written & Illustrated by Kim Smith
Age Level: 4 - 7                                                
Grade Level: P – 3

​I’d love to be a boxitect! What’s that? An architect who uses boxes. Life is great until two girls both decide they should be in charge.  It gets worse when they’re forced to work together. What can they do? Work separately? Work together? You’ll have to read to find out how this one ends!
 
Bonus: the STEAM connection in this story and the back matter. It explains what’s so great about cardboard and offers a few suggestions for want-to-be boxitects like me!

​The Thank You Book
Written by Mary Lyn Ray
Illustrated by Stephanie Graegin
Age Level: 4 - 7                                                 
​Grade Level: PS – 3

​This book is as cute as the cover! But it’s about much more than just manners. It’s a call to the things inside you, the things that touch you, that make you feel grateful.
 
When you see the sun rise in the morning, are you thankful for a new day, for new opportunities? Try looking down at your toes in fresh green grass – it’s another moment to savour, another moment for gratitude.
 
This book gives you a wonderful opportunity to sit down with your favorite child. You can look at the little things, the ones around you,  that you never take time to be grateful for. Thank you to the author and illustrator for this wise, sweet book.

The Baby Tree
Written & Illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Age Level: 5 - 8                                                      
​Grade Level: K – 3
 
This was a surprising book! It answers the question where do babies come from, in an unusual way. A few characters answer, but mom and dad finally give the real one. I was surprised by how graphic it was, how true, and by how well done the book was. The back matter includes answers to other interesting questions kids might really ask. If you have a child with an inquiring mind, this is the book for both of you.

Don’t Eat That!
Written and Illustrated by Drew Sheneman
Age Level: 3 - 5                                                                    Grade Level: PS – K

​I loved this book! Have you ever been so hungry you could eat everything in sight in seconds? I have!
​
That’s exactly what this story is about. Poor Bear! He falls off the zoo truck and runs into a scout that wants to earn her merit badge. She tries to teach Bear what to eat/not eat, and she fails miserably. Bear is NOT a picky eater! He would have tried a bit of rock, skunk, rabbit, dirt, even a pine cone. But that darn scout! She wouldn’t let him. You’ll have to read for yourself to see if Bear finally gets fed. Enjoy! Plus this book is a little punny too!