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Today’s guest reviewer has pets — a cat and a gerbil to be exact.

So when she decided that another cat would be a good thing, others in our family were not convinced.

“You already have a cat,” said her dad.

“Another cat means more cat hair,” said her older sister.

But Sonia would not be dissuaded. She made a list of reasons another cat was a good idea. (See the photo in the lower right.) She shared the merits of cats. She drew pictures of cats. She dreamed about cats.

Eventually, her persistence won out, and Sunny joined our family.

Sonia’s story is remarkably similar to Prudence’s as described in Prudence Wants a Pet (Roaring Brook Press, 2011) by Cathleen Daly and Stephen Michael King.

Prudence desperately wants a pet. Her parents say no for all the usual reasons. Prudence decides to take matters into her own hands and tries out a branch, a twig, a shoe, a tire and her baby brother as possible pets.

Let’s just say none are ideal.

Things look hopeful when her parents say she can get a packet of sea buddies. But the buddies don’t move or even have faces.

It is the final straw. Prudence takes to her closet in despair.

Which leads to her parents having a whispered conversation.

I won’t share the ending, except to say everyone involved is happy. And that’s always a good thing.

As an aside, this is totally my kind of picture book. It has the sort of dry, understated humor that I like with a lot of heart just below its surface.

The writing is well done. And, I love how the illustrations only show the parents’ legs and arms.

Now, let’s see what animal-loving Sonia had to say.

—————–

Our reviewer: Sonia

Age: 10

Things I like to do: Play with my new cat, Sunny. Play with water. Make concoctions. Play with sidewalk chalk, draw, sleep and eat.

This book was about: A girl who wants a pet, but her parents don’t want one. They think it’s too much work.

My favorite part was: When Prudence got a pet that was a cat.

I was worried when: She lost Twig.

I was surprised when: She used her little brother as a pet.

My favorite words or phrase in the book was: “Dad broke the branch into little bits and put them on the woodpile.”

My favorite picture in the book is: When she’s hugging the kitten.

Three words that describe this book: “Pet.” “Meow.” “Branch.”

Other kids reading the book should watch for: Her begging for a pet. The small specks in the fish bowl. And, when her little brother turns green.

You should read this book because: If you want a pet, it shows you how to get one. (Sonia’s best tip from her own personal experience? “Say you’ll clean the cat litter.&rdq

I hope you have a happy, peaceful holiday season, no matter how you choose to celebrate.

Here is my contribution to the holiday cheer. This is my daughter, Sonia, playing piano at her school concert.

This was her first-ever “public” performance. Her piece? “Jolly Old St. Nicholas.”

I read a lot of children’s books.

And thanks to Twitter, my writing friends and the Internet, I have a pretty lengthy list of books that I’ve heard a good buzz about requested through interlibrary loan. And, I’m always happy when I sit down to read one of them.

But, I still love browsing through the children’s section of my local library and discovering a gem of a book I haven’t heard of before.

That’s what happened a few weeks ago when I found Earth to Clunk

It shares the story of a boy whose teacher tells him to write a letter to a pen pal named Clunk who lives on another planet. The boy doesn’t want a pen pal, so along with his letters he sends odd items from Earth that he hopes will scare Clunk away. But Clunk counters with some unlikely objects of his own, and an unusual friendship is formed.

Allow me to gush for just a moment. This book is hilarious. Hil-ar-i-ous. In a very dry, deadpan way. Pam Smallcomb’s text is funny by itself. My favorite line is, “I’m sending Clunk an electric toothbrush, a toilet plunger, and a string of Christmas lights. He will be so confused he’ll never send me another thing.”

But when illustrator Joe Berger adds in a lot of clever details in the artwork, the story just takes off. This is a picture book that merits multiple readings just to pick up on everything that’s going on.

But enough from me. Now, let’s hear from today’s guest reviewer.

——————–

Our reviewer: Sonia

Age: 9.

I like: Snuggling with my cat, playing with my gerbil and making art.

This book was about: Having a pen pal from another planet.

The best part was when: He sent his big sister to Quazar.

I smiled when: The zoid fell in love with his big sister.

I was worried when: He didn’t get a package from Clunk for a while.

I was surprised when: He didn’t want a pen pal at first and was mean to him.

This book taught me: If you ever send your big sister away, she’ll always come back.

My favorite line or phrase in the book is: “I’m sending Clunk my big sister. THAT will teach him to have a pen pal from Earth.”

My favorite picture was: When his sister comes back to earth with a disgusting glob of something on her head.

Three words that describe this book: “Clunk.” “Zoid.” “Forps.”

Other kids reading this book should watch for: All the packages that go back and forth between Quazar and Earth.

You should read this book because: It’s really funny.

——————–

Sonia has a pen pal in London, England who she’s just started writing to. She says if she had a pen pal on another planet, she’d send these items:

• An apple. “Because I like them.”
• A cat. “But not my cat — another cat — so my pen pal could see how affectionate kitties can be.”
• My big sister. (I guess no explanation is nee

Judith Viorst’s  classic children’s book describes a boy named Alexander who survives a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

Julie Sternberg’s debut book describes a girl named Eleanor who makes it through an awful month.

Alexander’s bad day is made up of a series of small slights and insults. He gets gum in his hair, he doesn’t get a seat by the window in the car, and the cat wants to sleep by his brother, and not him. There’s even kissing on TV, and he hates that.

Eleanor’s month is ruined by one momentous event. Bibi, the babysitter she’s had since she was — well — a baby, is moving far, far away.

And that’s so bad it’s Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie (Amulet, 2011).

As Eleanor’s world is turned upside down, she’s forced to cope the best she can.  And, she learns that life goes on, even when it’s not the way she always thought it would be.

Now, let’s hear from today’s guest reviewer. Her babysitter moved to Arizona several years ago, so she could relate to the story:

Our reviewer: Sonia

Age: 9

I like: Coloring, playing on the computer, playing with my DS, reading Highlights magazine, and snuggling with my blanket and my cat, Vince. 

This book was about: A girl named Eleanor. Her babysitter, Bibi, moves to Florida to help her Dad get better. They have a good-bye party, and all of Bibi’s friends cry. Then, they all go outside to get Bibi a taxi. Now, Eleanor doesn’t like taxis because they took Bibi away. Then, Eleanor gets a new babysitter, Natalie. Eleanor doesn’t like her like she liked Bibi, but then she gets used to her.

The best part of the book was: When Eleanor writes a note to Bibi while her dad is singing with Agnes, a neighbor. Once Agnes leaves, Eleanor wants to put the letter in the mailbox. So she gives it to the mail carrier, Val. Later, Val gives Eleanor a letter from Bibi.

I was surprised when: Bibi’s letter didn’t come sooner.

I was worried when: Eleanor had a big tantrum because she wanted her old babysitter back.

Three words that describe this book are: “Bibi.” “Eleanor.” “Natalie.”

This book taught me: You will always miss your first babysitter. But, you’ll probably get a new one that you like.

Other kids should read this book because: It’s a good book. I liked all the characters. I liked the picture where Val is waving the letter from Bibi.

Sonia has never put pickle juice on a cookie. But she concedes that it probably wouldn’t taste very good. She adds that the worst month she ever had was this very month because there was one day in it where she threw up five times. But she’s feeling much better now.

Thanks, Sonia!

To learn more about author Julie Sternberg, visit her website.

To learn more about illustrator Matthew Cordell, visit his website.

And, here’s a delightful interview with both of them at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast.

Would you like to

Today’s reviewer is a bit of a blanket expert, as you can see in the photo to the right and the one near the bottom of this post.

That makes her a good choice to review Mary Ann Rodman’s latest picture book Camp K-9 (Peachtree, 2011) about Roxie, a dog with a favorite blanket.

Roxie likes to sniff her blanket. And, sometimes, Sonia does the same thing. She says it makes her feel better.

So cuddle up with something cozy, and hear her take on this warm and fuzzy tale.

Our reviewer: Sonia

Age: 8

Things I like to do: Color, watch TV, listen to my iPod, read books and sleep.

This book was about: A doggy named Roxie. She goes to Camp K-9, and she has a secret in her backpack. She meets a new girl, Pearl, and thinks she would be a good friend. But then she thinks you have to tell friends secrets, and Roxie doesn’t want to tell her secret – that she has a blanket – because Pearl might laugh at her.

The best part was when: Roxie goes in the cabin and sees Lucy, and Lucy has a blanket. Roxie laughs at her, but then she shows Lucy her blanket. No one laughs and everyone pulls out their own blankets that they’ve hidden.

I smiled when: Pearl and Roxie held hands and went to the pool together.

I was worried when: Pearl’s favorite dessert got knocked to the floor. It was pork pudding and liver snacks.

I was surprised when: Lucy was being all mean.

This book taught me: To be nice to your friends and not to laugh at people.

Three words that best describe this book are: “Camp.” “K-9.” “Roxie.”

My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “‘Sorry,’ says Lucy. But I know she’s not.”

Other kids reading this book should watch for: All the different blankets. And when Lucy jumps out from behind a tree and scares the other dogs.

You should read this book because: It’s about cute dogs, and I like dogs.

Thanks, Sonia.

If you’d like to learn more about Mary Ann Rodman, visit her website. Or, read this interview at Becky’s Book Reviews.

Mary Ann also is one of six authors who blog about writing and teaching writing at Teaching Authors.

To learn more about illustrator Nancy Hayashi, read this biography.

Thanks to Peachtree Publishers for providing a copy of this book for Sonia’s review.

With lots of snow in the forecast — at least where I live — it seems like the ideal time to curl up with a bowl of perfect soup.

Not in the mood to cook? That’s OK. All you have to do is open the pages of Lisa Moser’s newest picture book Perfect Soup (Random House, 2010) and you’ll be warm and cozy before you know it.

The book features Murray, a kind little mouse, who wants to ease winter’s chill with his own, homemade perfect soup. There’s just one problem. He doesn’t have a carrot, and the recipe specifically calls for one.

Murray’s search for that elusive carrot involves a farmer, a horse, a snowman, a shopkeeper, a boy and a woman having a bad day. After they all work together, Murray gets his carrot, but how he uses it might surprise you. 

Let’s see what today’s reviewer, Sonia, has to say:

Name: Sonia

Age: 8

I like: Riding horses, collecting pigs, playing The Storybook Game with my babysitter, Maria, and reading Perfect Soup and James and the Giant Peach. 

This book was about: A mouse named Murray who thought it was a good day to make soup. He needed a carrot to make the soup perfect.

The best part was when: When everyone got what they wanted, but Murray didn’t want the carrot any more.

I laughed when: The horse said, “I’ll caarrry those logs if you give me jingle bells. I want to be faaancy like the town horses.” And, when I saw that Mrs. Wooley’s house looked like a teapot.

I was surprised when: He didn’t want the carrot for his perfect soup.

I was worried when: Murray didn’t notice the snowman when he said, “Hi.”

Three words that describe this book: “Perfect.” “Soup.” “Snowman.”

Other kids reading this book should look for: The message the snowman wrote for Murray in the snow. The house where Murray lives.

My favorite word or phrase in this book was: “Murray was in a hurry.”

This book taught me: To always say “hi” to people and to help people. That things don’t always have to be perfect.

Sonia says her favorite kind of soup is chicken noodle. She’d like to try Murray’s recipe for Perfect Soup.

Thanks, Sonia!

If you’d like to learn more about Lisa Moser, visit her website or read this interview.

If you’d like to learn more about Ben Mantle, visit his website or his blog.

And if you’re looking for other reviews, check out these:

• BookLoons
• Kiss the Book

Patricia Polacco’s The Junkyard Wonders (Philomel, 2010) shares a true incident from the author’s youth. And, it’s as compelling as any story she could have made up.

Polacco has previously written about her struggle learning to read. Here, she recounts her experiences in a classroom full of students with perceived physical, intellectual or emotional issues that made them not fit in anywhere else.

In fact, the class is so looked down upon by the rest of the school that it’s openly referred to as “The Junkyard.”

Fortunately, the teacher, Mrs. Peterson, doesn’t believe in labels. Instead, she sees every child as a genius waiting to be discovered. And she encourages her students to look for the potential in themselves and the world around them.

Still, it’s a tough year. One child with health issues dies. Others are bullied. And a close-minded principal almost cancels a rare opportunity for the students to shine. But the class perseveres, earning a well-deserved moment of triumph.

It’s a moving, well-told tale. But the author’s note at the end may be the most inspiring.

As she wrote the book, Patricia discovered what happened to many of her junkyard classmates. One becomes the artistic director of a major ballet company. Another works for the fashion industry in Paris. And one becomes an aeronautical engineer for NASA and designs lunar modules for the Apollo missions.

All credit their eventual success to that classroom and the teacher who saw greatness in them.

Now, let’s check in with today’s guest reviewer, who’s pretty great herself …

Our reviewer: Sonia

Age: 8

Things I like: Reading this book, eating mints, watching TV and playing with my D.S. Feeding my cat.

This book was about: A girl named Patricia Polacco and her friends. They made a plane that Gibbie is in charge of. He has a disease called Tourette’s and he says the plane will fly all the way to the moon. There’s another boy in Patricia’s tribe named Thom, and he can’t see well. He’s the first friend Patricia makes. And, there was a tall boy named Jody with a growing disease. And a girl named Ravanne who doesn’t speak much. And their classroom is called The Junkyard and their teacher’s name is Mrs. Peterson. She inspires them to be the best they can be and see the possibilities in things.

The best part was when: At the end of the book where there’s the photo of all the kids and it tells what they went on to do in life. I also liked it when the plane went all the way to the moon with the streamers behind it.

I laughed when: Gibbie says the plane needs a propulsion unit, but he means a motor.

I was worried when: A mean boy took Patricia’s pin off. When Jody looked pale and died. And when the principal took their plane away.

I was surprised when: A picture of the kids really went to the moon. And that the author saw Gibbie again in Houston when they were all grown up.

This book taught me: Be the best you can be. Try your hardest.

Three words that best describe this book are: “Junkyard.” “Wonder.” “Plane.”

My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “Like I said,” Gibbie whispered. “That baby is going straight to the moon.”

Other kids reading this book should wat