​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!

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! 

 

​ What About Moose?
Written by Corey Rosen Schwartz
         And by Rebecca J. Gomez
Illustrated by Keika Yamaguchi
Age Level: 4 – 8
Grade Level: P – 3
 
I loved this story! Think Little Red Hen – with a twist. Moose gets his friends to build a tree house, but instead of asking for help, Moose bosses everyone around. The best part – the animals figure out how to work with a bully, and the bully - he learns to get along with others. TWO Very Good Things!

​ She Leads: The Elephant Matriarch
Written by June Smalls
Illustrated by Yumi Shimokawara
Age Level: 3 – 8
Grade Level: PS – 1
 
If you love animals, you’ll love this book! Each page begins with a simple fact for young children. For kids who want more, there’s a paragraph at the bottom. The full spread illustration connects them. SHE LEADS will let you peek into the daily lives of elephants. It also lets a child grow into a book, and that makes this book unique.

​Moon! Earth’s Best Friend
Written by Stacy McAnulty
Illustrated by Stevie Lewis
Age Level: 4 – 8
Grade Level: P – 3

​The best thing about this book – it’s nonfiction THAT’s not boring! It’s full of great facts that will connect with kids – like Moon was formed when Earth hit a space rock. The trash from that collision came together to make our moon. If you’re a teacher, and I was, it has a whole spread on the phases of the moon, plus much more! If you’re a kid and need a great resource, this is it!
 
The back matter is GREAT! It includes a note from the author, 2 truths and a myth, the moon by the numbers, and the names of the moons in our solar system. Moon is # 3 out of the 5 book series – Our Universe. PS – I’ve read 1 or 2 other books in this series. This one is just as good!