Add this book to your collection: Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party by Melanie Watt
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By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: September 2, 2011
From Dictionaries to a grammar guide to a book of homographs, the following list of books features some of our favorite school tools and brain ticklers…
Scholastic Children’s Dictionary
by Scholastic
Reading level: Ages 8 and up
Hardcover: 800 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Reference; New edition (July 1, 2010)
Source: Publisher
Publisher’s synopsis: The bestselling Scholastic Children’s Dictionary is brand new for 2010! Some of the outstanding new features include: brand new cover and interior design, more than 1,000 all new photographs and illustrations, and double the current number of word histories and sample sentences. New entries and definitions have been written by prominent lexicographers and reviewed by an advisory board of educators and librarians. Bonus material includes a thesaurus and specially commissioned endpaper maps.
With exciting new features, accessible definitions, and helpful illustrations and photographs throughout, the new Scholastic Children’s Dictionary is an essential resource that belongs in every home, classroom, and library.
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Scholastic Guide to Grammar
by Marvin Terban
Reading level: Ages 8 and up
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Reference; Student edition (August 1, 2011)
Source: Publisher
Publisher’s synopsis: The ultimate resource for proper grammar.
The SCHOLASTIC GUIDE TO GRAMMAR is an easy-to-use, color-coded, tabbed guide packed full of information, examples, and tips for English language arts success. Write a paper, meet new people, apply for a job, and more, with perfect grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Join “Professor Grammar” on this guided journey through the intricacies of the English language.
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Clifford’s Big Dictionary
by Scholastic
Reading level: Ages 4 and up
Hardcover: 128 pages
Publisher: Cartwheel Books (July 1, 2011)
Source: Publisher
Publisher’s synopsis: The perfect back-to-school reference book for the early elementary set!
From Scholastic, the most trusted name in learning (R), comes this picture dictionary featuring America’s favorite big red dog, Clifford!
The 128-page dictionary
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By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: September 1, 2011
Here’s the scoop on the most popular destinations on The Children’s Book Review site, the most coveted new releases and bestsellers.
Back-to-School: Books About School
Best Halloween Books for Kids: Scary, Spooky, and Silly
20 Sites to Improve Your Child’s Literacy
Where to Find Free eBooks for Children Online
The most coveted books that release this month:
by Brian Selznick
(Ages 9-12)
LEGO Star Wars Character Encyclopedia
by DK Publishing
(Ages 12 and up)
by Shel Silverstein
(Ages 8-11)
You Have to Stop This (Secret)
by Pseudonymous Bosch
(Ages 9-12)
The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories
by Dr. Seuss
(Ages 6-9)
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By Nicki Richesin, The Children’s Book Review
Published: August 26, 2011
Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile
By Gloria Houston (Author), Susan Condie Lamb (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 6 and up
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (January 25, 2011)
Source: Publisher
Gloria Houston, author of the timeless classic THE YEAR OF THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREE, has created another winner with her latest MISS DOROTHY AND HER BOOKMOBILE. Based on the true story of Houston’s beloved childhood librarian Dorothy Thomas, this is a touching tribute to how generously Thomas shared her great love of books with generations of life-long readers. Miss Dorothy has high hopes of becoming a respected librarian in a red brick building in her town square. She works hard to realize her goal, but when she falls in love with a man who wants to move to a farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains, she must find a way to fashion a new dream for herself. In her trusty green bookmobile, Miss Dorothy travels over three countryside counties to deliver books to folks too far away to collect them including a wheelchair-bound child and a host of other grateful readers. In the end, a small white cottage is donated to house the many books Miss Dorothy has collected over the years. Susan Condie Lamb’s glowing pastel illustrations of the “land of high blue mountains, with deep green valleys, and cascading streams splashing silver” bring the story to life. The warm sense of community and the way in which Miss Dorothy’s dream turns into something richer than she imagined makes this a wonderfully instructive and heartfelt book for all ages.
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Nicki Richesin is the editor of four anthologies,What I Would Tell Her: 28 Devoted Dads on Bringing Up, Holding On To, and Letting Go of Their Daughters; Because I Love Her: 34 Women Writers Reflect on the Mother-Daughter Bond; the forthcoming Crush: 26 Real-Life Tales of First Love; and The May Queen: Women on Life, Work, and Pulling it all Together in your Thirties. Her anthologies have been excerpted and praised in The New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle,The Boston Globe, Redbook, Add a Comment
Add this book to your collection: Little Goose
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By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: August 10, 2011
It’s that time of the year again: school time! Whether it’s the first day of school or the first day of a new grade, there is always an adjustment period. Excited, nervous, or shy, reading books about school, or stories that revolve around the classroom, can be a great way to begin switching gears from the vacation mindset. In this book list, you’ll find picture books, chapter books for the early fluent and fluent readers, as well as a novel for young adults.
By Harry Bliss
Reading level: Ages 3-7
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press (August 1, 2011)
Source: Publisher
Add this book to your collection: Bailey
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By Kate Messner (Author), Andy Rash
(Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 36 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (June 22, 2011)
Add this book to your collection: Sea Monster’s First Day
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My Best Friend Is As Sharp As a Pencil: And Other Funny Classroom Portraits
By Hanoch Piven
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade; 1 edition (May 11, 2010)
Source: Publisher
Add this book to your collection: My Best Friend Is As Sharp As a Pencil: And Other Funny Classroom Portraits
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Add this book to your collection: A Tale of Two Castles
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Add this book to your collection: Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes by Eric Litwin
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By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: July 28, 2011
Rain, hail or shine, summer, winter, fall or spring, activity books are fantastic boredom busters. They also make wonderful birthday gifts that are budget savvy. From doodles to stickers to making your own animation movies, this list of activity books showcases some of our favorites. We’ve also included a great resource for parents that is all about building your child’s self-esteem through reading, crafting and cooking.
By Victoria Kann
Reading level: Ages 3-12
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: HarperFestival (May 31, 2011)
Source: Publisher
Publisher’s synopsis: Get Ready to Think Outside the Lines!
Drawing and coloring is doodlicious!
Over 100 pages of pinkatastic pictures for you to complete.
Add this book to your collection: Pinkalicious: Pinkadoodles
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By Scholastic
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (May 1, 2009)
Source: Publisher
Publisher’s synopsis: This is a doodle book, a journal, and a scrap book – the perfect buy for any child going away on summer vacation! Includes more than 50 vacation-themed doodles to complete, it doesn’t require any drawing skills, just a little bit of imagination!
More doodles and activities include:
* Design your own sandcastle.
* Draw your vacation home.
* How much money are you spending?
* Which was your favorite day on vacation?
* What is dad cooking on the campfire?
* Design a flag for your family.
* Fill the beach with seashells.
* Draw the twists and turns of a rollercoaster.
Add this book to your collection: Vacation Doodle Book
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By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: July 26, 2011
Whether you’re heading to the beach, park, lake, or hanging-out at home, we have some great summer-themed books picked out for kids of all ages—including a couple of Young Adult titles.
By Jodi Moore (Author), Howard McWilliam (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Flashlight Press (May 1, 2011)
Source: Publisher
Publisher’s synopsis: On a beautiful day at the beach, a young boy brings his bucket, shovel, and imagination, and builds a perfect sand castle. Right away, a dragon moves in. The boy decides to befriend his dragon and they spend time roaming the shore, flying a kite, braving the waves, defying bullies, and roasting marshmallows all while Dad is busy sunbathing and Mom is engrossed in her book. Unfortunately, no one believes the boy when he tries to share the news of this magnificent creature. That’s when the mischief begins, and the dragon becomes a force to be reckoned with. While adults will recognize the naughty antics as a ploy for attention, children will dissolve into giggles as the dragon devours every last sandwich, blows bubbles in the lemonade, and leaves claw prints in the brownies. Maybe the dragon really is running amok on the beach, or maybe it’s a little boy’s imagination that is running wild.
Add this book to your collection: When a Dragon Moves In
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By Janet Costa Bates (Author), Lambert Davis (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 6-10
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Lee & Low Books (September 30, 2010)
Source: Publisher
Publisher’s synopsis: As family and friends arrive from near and far for Grandma’s seventieth birthday, Cora is surrounded by excited shouts and laughter and the smells of favorite Cape Verdean dishes cooking. Everyone’s getting ready for the big beach party tomorrow, but Cora still doesn’t know what to give Grandma as a present. It has to be something special.
Grandma is overjoyed to see so many of the people she loves, but Cora knows she still misses family in Cape Verde whom she hasn’t seen in decades. Could Cora convince her to make the trip overseas for a visit? After a nighttime walk on the beach with Grandma, Cora has a dream that gives her an idea for the perfect birthday gift.
In her picture book debut, Janet Costa Bates invites readers into to a celebration of the s
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Add this book to your collection: Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
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Add this book to your collection: Llama Llama Misses Mama
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Add this book to your collection: A Cat Like That
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By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: June 14, 2010
Its time to celebrate dads! Here are four new books that we think daddies everywhere will find lots of fun …
By Beth Raisner Glass (Author), Margie Moore (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 3-7
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers (May 1, 2011)
Me and My Dad
By Alison Ritchie (Author), Alison Edgson (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 3-7
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Good Books (May 2011)
A Father’s Day Thank You
By Janet Nolan (Author), Kathi Ember (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 5-7
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (March 1, 2011)
Tyrannosaurus Dad
By Liz Rosenberg (Author), Matthew Myers (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-6
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (May 10, 2011)
©2011 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.
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By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 31, 2011
A few things to consider when choosing the perfect gift book…
And … if all else fails, there is always the trusty bookstore gift card!
By Mike Twohy
This is a great choice for any classroom and especially a reading teacher. It makes for a lovely reminder of how much the children grow emotionally and socially within one year and will also be a great read for the teacher’s new class next school year. Bonus if your teacher’s name happens to be Poindexter!
Publisher’s synopsis: Poindexter is a shy, friendly, and perfectly happy pig. There’s just one thing. How is a shy, nice, well balanced pig going to make friends? You never know who you will meet when you check out How to Make Friends at the library!
Add this book to your collection: Poindexter Makes a Friend
By Andrea Beaty (Author), David Roberts
(Illustrator)
Looking for a book for the art teacher? This is a very entertaining book about doing your own thing and remaining in touch with your creativity and passion. Imaginative and very clever!
Publisher’s synopsis: Meet Iggy Peck—creative, independent, and not afraid to express himself! In the spirit of David Shannon’s No, David and Rosemary Wells’s Noisy Nora, Iggy Peck will delight readers looking for irreverent, inspired fun.
Iggy has one passion: building. His parents are proud of his fabulous creations, though they’re sometimes surprised by his materials—who could forget the tower he built of dirty diapers? When his second-grade teacher declares her dislike of architecture, Iggy faces a challenge. He loves building too much to give it up! With Andrea Beaty’s irresistible rhyming text and David Roberts’s puckish illustrations, this book will charm creative kids everywhere, and amuse their sometimes bewildered parents.
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Add this book to your collection: Noah Barleywater Runs Away
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Add this book to your collection: Llama Llama Mad at Mama
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By Tina Vasquez, for The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 24, 2011
The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book
By Jeff Kinney
Reading level: Ages 8-12
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Amulet Books (May 2011)
Source: Publisher
Children’s author Jeff Kinney continues to pump out his Wimpy Kid—related books—and for good reason. To date, there are five books in the series with a sixth in the works and each installment is as charming, fun, and engaging as the last.
Kinney’s latest effort, The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book, isn’t really a continuation of the series. Rather, it’s an interesting take on a children’s journal with page after page of fun fill-in questions, comics, and drawing opportunities. Sure to tide enthusiastic Kinney fans over until the November release of Diary of a Wimpy Kid 6, The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book will also prove to be valuable keepsake for parents. This is because the series of prompts featured in the journal encourages kids to record information about who they are now, often cheekily referencing the fact that children will want to remember these things when they’re “old,” which is 30-years-old in Greg Heffley’s world.
The book opens up with a prompt about desert island picks, featuring spaces for children to write in their favorite video games, songs, books, and movies, but this is just the beginning. Though many of the journal’s 224 pages are left blank with the intention of being used for actual journaling, there are dozens of fun writing opportunities that will enable parents to get to know their kids better (if they’re allowed to read the journal), while also enabling kids to get to know themselves better. It’s rare that children are encouraged to write outside of school and chances are that they wouldn’t have the opportunity to illustrate what’s in their brain, record their finest moments, write five things nobody knows about them, or make their own comics if it weren’t for Kinney’s journal.
Though some prompts are framed in a way that seems sort of trivial, like having kids design their dream house, practice their autograph, or create a sandwich to be named after them—all for when they become “rich and famous” (which is referenced several times throughout the journal), it’s all in good fun and, if actually followed through with, children and parents alike will be happy to have this keepsake when the little ones aren’t so little anymore.
Add this book to your collection: The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book
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By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 23, 2011
As the school year ends, join Random House Children’s Books to
Because every beach bag should have sunscreen, a pair of shades, and a story…
By Lauren Kate
Before Luce and Daniel met at Sword & Cross—before they fought the Immortals—they had already lived many lives. Desperate to unlock the curse that condemns their love, Luce must revisit her past incarnations to understand her fate. Sweeping centuries and spanning the globe, PASSION is the third novel in the thrilling and romantic Fallen series by New York Times bestselling author Lauren Kate.
Delacorte Press | 978-0-385-73916-0 | June 14, 2011 | | $17.99 / $19.99 Can. | Ages 12+ | 432 pgs
THE WARLOCK: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
By Michael Scott
The fifth book in Michael Scott’s riveting six-part New York Times bestselling series, which has introduced readers to legendary historical and mythological figures—weaving history, mystery, and magic together seamlessly. Before penning the first novel, The Alchemyst (2007), Michael Scott devoted nearly a decade researching this series—and it shows. In THE WARLOCK, the twins of prophesy—Sophie and Josh—have been separated, and as the end of the series nears, the action-packed plot is more intense and absorbing than ever. With Scatty, Joan of Arc, Saint Germain, Palamedes, and Shakespeare all in Danu Talis, Sophie is on her own with the ever-weakening Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel. She must depend on Niten to help her find an immortal to teach her Earth Magic. Much to the surprise of readers, she will find her teacher in the most ordinary of places.
Delacorte Press | 978-0-385-73533-9 | May 24, 2011 | | $18.99 / $20.99 Can. | Ages 12+ | 400 pgs
By John Stephens
Fourteen-year-old Kate, 12-year-old Michael and 11-year-old Emma have moved from one orphanage to another over the last 10 years. Taken away from their parents as babies, and seemingly unwanted, these children are more remarkable than they possibly could imagine. They are being protected from a horrible evil about which they know nothing—that is, until they discover a magical prophecy that is tied to three books of magic, the first of which is The Emerald
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By Bethanie Deeney Murguia, for The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 18, 2011
When I was seven, I moved into a home that was over 150 years old. It was filled with trap doors, secret spaces and stairs that led nowhere. I had visions of days gone by—horse carriages, ball gowns and hidden treasure. For years, I tried to persuade my parents to pry up the wood floor where it had an obvious and suspicious hatch. (No luck.) Behind the house were woods that stretched across acres to an apple orchard. We had playhouses and treehouses and mountains of snow in the winter. I don’t know if the house and landscape created my imagination or just fueled it, but I vividly remember the joy of being lost in daydreams and creating imaginary worlds and stories at that age.
I still love to get lost in my imagination. I keep a “seed” notebook of things that strike my fancy: situations, words, phrases, quirky behaviors and so forth. Sometimes I do quick sketches. These days, most of my inspiration comes from adventures with my daughters and my dog. A few years ago, I wrote the phrase “messy sleeper” in my notebook after observing the very different sleeping habits in our house.
Some time later, I was struck by the contrast between my newborn who slept so peacefully and my 3-year-old who thrashed from one end of her bed to the other. I remembered the “messy sleeping” note. I decided that my 3-year-old must be having big dreams. I thought about dreams and the visual possibilities—what fun it would be to have the character’s sleeping position mimic the action in the dream. I could also use the dreams to give insight into the character’s personality.
I started to think about the protagonist. I had the image of a swaddled newborn in mind, but a human character felt too literal. The story required a certain amount of whimsy. My own little newborn—wrapped in a blanket and topped off with a hat—looked like a bug. I sketched some bugs and soon, the Buglette character came to life.
After many months of revising, sketching, painting and waiting (so much waiting!), my idea is finally a book. I have always been drawn to stories that celebrate unusual characters and imaginative inner worlds. I hope BUGLETTE fits that bill.
Add this book to your collection: Buglette, the Messy Sleeper by Bethanie Murguia
About the author: BETHANIE DEENEY MURGUIA graduated summa cum laude from the University of Rochester, where she studied psychology and fine art. She received an MFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York. While in New York, she was an art director for Hearst Magazines. Bethanie lives in Sausalito, California, with her husband and two little buglettes of her own.
Add this book to your collection: Encyclopedia Mythologica: Gods and Heroes
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Add this book to your collection: The Trouble with Chickens: A J.J. Tully Mystery
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Add this book to your collection: Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
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By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 5, 2011
Checkout three of our favorite picture books that celebrate moms beautifully!
Mad At Mommy
by Komako Sakai
My Mommy Hung the Moon: A Love Story
by Jamie Lee Curtis (Author), Laura Cornell (Illustrator)
Who Loves the Little Lamb
by Lezlie Evans (Author), David McPhail (Illustrator)
HE EMERALD ATLAS