Book Reviews

Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly, by Jane O'Connor
Genre: Picture Book

My daughter absolutely LOVED this book. She is into just about anything to do with butterflies. If any of you are already familiar with Fancy Nancy, you know that this character loves to use big words. If any of you are not familiar with Fancy Nancy, and you would like to find a series of books for your little girl that helps expand her vocabulary, you don't need look any further than the Fancy Nancy books.
In Bonjour, Butterfly, Fancy Nancy's friend is going to have a birthday soon. She is getting ready to have her birthday party, and Fancy Nancy is helping her prepare by making invitations with her. But then something happens to keep Fancy Nancy from being able to go to her best friend's party. What happens? Does Fancy Nancy have fun wherever she has to go, anyway? Find out by reading this delightful book.

It Could Have Been Worse, by A. H. Benjamin
Genre: Picture Book

Things can always be worse, can't they? It Could Have Been Worse is about a little mouse who feels sorry for himself, but, as the old saying goes "it could have been worse". Mouse loses his balance and falls to the ground, while he is headed home, but what did he escape from that he didn't notice? He picks himself up and continues on his way when he crashes into a dark hole, but what was looming over head? What could have been worse? Find out how this story ends by buying or checking out It Could Have Been Worse," by A.H. Benjamin. By the way, if you are working with a young child on making predictions in reading, this is a great book to exercise that skill!

Magic Tree House Book #10: Ghost Town at Sundown, by Mary Pope Osborne
Genre: Fiction

Looking for a great children's book set in the time of Westward Expansion? Try Magic Treehouse Book #10: Ghost Town at Sundown, by Mary Pope Osborne. Annie and Jack are sitting on their front porch, in Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, when Annie sees a rabbit hopping by. Annie, being an avid animal lover, thinks they need to follow that rabbit. She sees something peculiar about this one. And when Annie sees something unusual, she and Jack usually see it through to find out the mystery behind it all. So where does the rabbit take them to (other than to the tree house, where all of their magical time travel occurs?) It takes them to the Wild West!

Tell Me Some More, by Crosby Newell Bonsall
Genre: Picture Book

Where might you be able to hold an elephant in your arm, trunk and all? Or a camel in your hand? Or even TWO camels? Where might you be able to pat a lion on the nose, without him biting you? Where can you tickle a seal? Where can you be taller than a tree, bigger than a ship, wider than a whale and fatter than a moose? There IS a place where you can do all this and more, according to a little boy named Andrew. It's a magical place that DOES exist! Here, you can pick up rivers and never get wet at all! Can you figure out where this magical place is that exists in OUR world? To solve the riddle, think hard...or go pick up this book: Tell Me Some More..., by Crosby Newell Bonsall.

Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren, by Barbara Park
Genre: Fiction

Doesn't every parent wish for their child to fall in love with a book series? I know I do. My children have already fallen deeply in love with the Magic Tree House Books. Close to follow are Rainbow Magic Weather Fairies, and Junie B. Jones. Why do we love series books? Or, should I say, why SHOULD we love series books? Because they get children involved in reading. Once they fall in love with one of the books, they want to read them all. They also help kids learn several things: characterization, author style, and general themes, among others.
"Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren" shows little girls how ridiculous some can look when they are trying to impress a boy, why it's ridiculous to even be THINKING about boys at this age, and how to THINK FOR THEMSELVES AND BE THEMSELVES. Junie B. Jones' main mission, in this book, is to impress Handsome Warren, and have him fall head over heels in love with her. Does she succeed? Find out by checking out this book, and embarking on the adventure of a solid self esteem along WITH your daughter (or son, if he's into Junie B. Jones - - You never know).

Junie B. Jones Is a Party Animal, by Barbara Park
Genre: Fiction

Junie B. Jones has always been fascinated with her friend Lucille's lifestyle, a life style of the rich (though not very famous, except as a character in the Junie B. Jones books). Lucille can be somewhat of a snob at times, knowing full well how wealthy she is (or how wealthy her Nana is, that is). She isn't the type to just come out and invite her friends to stay over with her, either...unless there's something in it for her. So what does it take for Junie B. and her friend Grace to convince Lucille to invite them for a sleepover? Find out by reading Junie B. Jones is a Party Animal, by Barbara Park.
Note to parents: This is a great book for teaching children that money is not everything, and to value a person for who they are rather than what they have. If you are having issues with your child wanting to keep up with the Joneses this is a great book to read with your child!

Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentine, by Barbara Park
Genre: Fiction

Junie B. Jones is at it again! This time, she is getting ready for Valentine's Day, or as she puts it - - Valentime's day. (She knows how it's SUPPOSED to be pronounced, but she refuses to say it correctly). Her class in Kindergarten is decorating a BIG box to put all the kids' valentines in. From there, they are going to be handed out on Valentine's Day. She has fun helping cut out hearts, and paste them to the BIG class box. Then the BIG DAY arrives.
By the way, parents, this is a great one to read WITH your daughter, to explore relationships between boys and girls. It's not the most inviting subject, but they do sometimes have those relationship questions. This book is a great book to explore that topic with your daughter.

Junie B. Jones, First Grader: Toothless Wonder, by Barbara Park
Genre: Fiction

Junie B. Jones is something else! You never know what she'll be thinking about next, what kind of conclusions she'll make, or how she'll arrive at those conclusions. This book was especially entertaining at this particular time in our family, because our oldest daughter, who is fast approaching six, has just recently lost her second tooth. At the beginning of the book, Junie B. has a wiggly tooth. She becomes the center of attention in her first grade class, who are all wondering when she'll lose it, and what she'll look like. All kinds of predictions are made by her classmates. Then there is the whole visit from the tooth fairy. Read Junie B. Jones, First Grader: Toothless Wonder, by Barbara Park, to embark on a great adventure about losing teeth (and all that goes along with it).

Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake, by Barbara Park
Genre: Fiction

Junie B. Jones might like a lot of different types of sweets - especially cakes, but her favorite turns out to be the fruitcake. You can't tell, judging by the title, but it's true. It wasn't always that way. In fact, before this adventure, she never even knew a fruitcake existed, or even what it was, or what it was about. So what makes her decide to like fruitcake so much? Or maybe it's a PARTICULAR fruit cake, from a PARTICULAR place. Find out by reading "Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake, by Barbara Park. You might just say that nothing "tastes" as sweet as this fruitcake for her (even though what little bit of fruit cake she tasted seemed to disgust her). It's kind of like working hard toward something, and finally getting rewarded. But I don't know if I can really explain it as much as Junie can. In fact, I know I can't. So go ahead and get the book!

Mama Outside, Mama Inside, by Diana Hutts Aston
Genre: Picture Book

Want a book that touches the heart? Want a book that unites us with nature? Look no further than "Mama Outside, Mama Inside". What a novel way to teach your children about birds, while showing them how they are so similar (and yet different) to us as humans. This is a cute little book about two mamas. Mama inside is a human mama, preparing a nursery and life for a baby in a few months. Mama outside is a sweet little bird, preparing a nest for her babies soon to come. See the similarities and differences between mama outside and mama inside, and see how they interact. My children loved the pictures of the babies, both the birds and the human child. This is wonderfully written by Dianna Hutts Aston, with beautiful illustrations by Susan Gaber.