​Why the Turtle Walks So Slowly
Written by Sandra Martin Denis
Illustrated by Arístides Hernández
Age Level: 5 - 10
Grade Level: K - 3

​A cover is a promise, and this story delivers. It’s the perfect pourquoi story that explains why the turtle is so slow. Who knew that he was once fast, when he didn’t have a shell? The people of Cuba did, and they shared that story by word of mouth until the author and illustrator retold it in this book. Their words and illustrations, beautiful!  If you’ve ever wanted to take a trip to Cuba, you can do it from the pages of this book.

​The Elephants Come Home: The True Story of Seven Elephants, Two People, and One Extraordinary Friendship
Written by Kim Tomsic
Illustrated by Hadley Hooper
Age Level: 5 - 10
Grade Level: K - 5

WOW, what an incredible story! Seven elephants need sanctuary. Lawrence and Francois Malby immediately offer them a place at Thula Thula. The Malbys welcome them, but the elephants are still nervous. Read how Lawrence offers them something more. A friendship, that’s returned in an extraordinary way after his death. Read the author’s note, acknowledgement, and sources to discover more about this incredible story. 

​Whale in a Fishbowl
Written by Troy Howell
Illustrated by Richard Jones
Age Level: Baby - 5

This cover caught me—I had to read it!  A whale in a fishbowl, that’s impossible, except in a picture book. Wednesday has the best name. Like the weekday, she lives in the middle of everything. If she wants to see beyond it, she must leap high into the air. That’s when she discovers a bit of blue. What is it? Does Wednesday ever make it out of the bowl? You’ll have to read the book to find out, but be warned—Wednesday stuck the ending, and so did the author!

​365: How to Count a Year
Written by Miranda Paul
Illustrated by Julien Chung
Age Level: 4 - 8
Grade Level: PS - 3

This book is an incredible way to help a kid imagine and understand a year. From 365 days to 52 weeks to 12 months and 1 birthday. Then the numbers grow again from hours to minutes  and finallly seconds. Things I never connected to the concept, Year.
 
Then take those numbers and make them concrete for a child. From 365 good morning and good nights, from 52 sleep-in-Sundays to Friday-night-movie nights, it’s all here, and it’s fun. Don’t forget to check the back matter. It explains the calendar and so much more. This is a really great book…Fun AND Informative!

​Take a Shot, Kipp (Ellie & Co.)
Written by Lee Y. Miao
Age Level: 8 - 12

​I’ve read and reviewed the other two books in the Ellie & Co series. They’re good, but this is my favorite. The author has a great middle grade voice, but Kipp is her best character, so far. His voice is spot on. He’s a kid who is SO into lacrosse. I’m not, but I learned a lot about the game. My favorite scenes, the ones where Kipp interacts with his parents and sister. They are SO good! Kipp even checks out one of those Dummy books; this one is for kids who want to understand their dads. What a great plot idea! Kipp’s big problem, he wants to join a lacrosse travel team. Will he or won’t he make it? You’ll have to read to find out!

​Those Darn Squirrels Fly South
Written by Adam Rubin
Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
Age Level: 3 - 6
Grade Level: PS – 3

​A cover is a promise, and this one delivered! Imagine—squirrels flying south. Funny! The problems start when the birds leave for the winter. Nothing unusual about that, until the squirrels get curious and decide to check on the birds. They build their own flying machine. Yes, a plane! Add in Mr. Fookwire. What a great name! He loves birds and hates squirrels. You’ll have to read to find out what the squirrels, birds, and Mr. Fookwire do when they’re all reunited at the beach!

PS—these characters are so much fun they’re part of a series of three books. This was the final one. Pity!

​Rebellion 1776
Written by Laurie Halse Anderson
Age Level: 10 - 14
Grade Level: 5 –9

I was expecting a book about the Revolution, but not one starring a 13 year old main character, Elsbeth. I didn’t expect that smallpox would have a starring role in this story either.
 
It begins as the Siege of Boston ends. General Knox dragged in cannons and begins firing on the British. Within days they leave, and so does Elsbeth’s father. He fixes the sails on ships, and his daughter doesn’t know what happened to him. As for the rest of her family, they all died from the smallpox. Elsbeth is the only survivor. Her father already had it so he has immunity.
 
Elsbeth is working as a maid-of-all-work for a Loyalist, then a jailed Patriot. She survives at age 13 by working hard and making good decisions. As the story develops, she finds herself working for a large family of Patriots. Smallpox epidemics raged in those days, but Boston invites doctors in to inoculate anyone who wants it done.
 
The How—Doctors  used something like a knife, a thread, a bandage, and fresh pus from a wound. (I know, gross, but this was 1776.) Then you waited for the infection to take hold. That’s where Elsbeth comes in again. With immunity, she can care for the whole family without fearing for her own health. If you’d like to know how this story turns out, you’ll have to read it for yourself.

​The Beach Day: Three-and-a-Half Stories (Bat, Cat, & Rat)
Written by Amy Dyckman
Illustrated by Mark Teague
Age Level: 4 - 8
Grade Level: PS - 3

If you’ve got a kiddo who’s learning to read and wants a fun, easy book to try, this is it. The illustrations are as fun as the cover! Bat, Cat, & Rat’s adventures rule the page! My kindergarten grandchild loved them so much I had to read them over and over again. If you’re a fan of Frog and Toad or George and Martha, you’ll love this series too!

      Plus great news…Book 4, A Great Fall, just came out!

​Attack of the Underwear Dragon
Written by Scott Rothman
Illustrated by Pete Oswald
Age Level: 3 - 6
Grade Level: PS – 2

Oh my, a story starring an underwear dragon! When I saw the cover, I knew I had to read it, and kids would too. Underwear is always funny!
 
The dragon is the story villain, and its unlikely hero, Cole. His dream, to become the assistant knight to Sir Percival. Cole gets the job and learns all the skills he needs to someday become a knight at King Arthur’s court. Life is wonderful until the Underwear Dragon strikes. He defeats every knight at court, and Cole is the only one left. Can an assistant knight save the day? If you want an answer, you’ll have to read this story.
 
PS-This book is so good it has a sequel…The Return of the Underwear Monster. I hope it’s at my local library.

Z is for Moose
Written by Kelly Bingham
Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky
Age Level: 2 - 7
Grade Level: PS - 2

This is the most unusual ABC book I’ve ever seen…It’s so fun! Zebra directs the story,and his friend Moose has to get a letter. But when Moose sees M given away, that’s when the story hits the fan; I mean the fun. Follow Zebra and Moose through this story to see if they can find a happy ending. Note—as the antics increase, so does the fun!