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Title: Olive, the Other Reindeer Deluxe Edition

Written by: Vivian Walsh and J.otto Seibold

Illustrated by: J.otto Seibold

Hardback: 40 pages
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Ages: 3 and up

Publisher: Chronicle Books

ISBN: 978-0-8118-5719-2

Publication: September 2007 (original publication 1997)

Olive, the Other Reindeer was originally published in 1997, and this new Deluxe Edition marks the tenth anniversary of this Christmas favorite.

As Olive the dog was listening to the radio, she heard a song about “Olive, the other reindeer” and realized that she must be a reindeer after all. She immediately headed to the North Pole. Even though she was a dog, Santa gave Olive a chance, and she joined the other reindeer in pulling the sleigh. At the end of their long night, Olive used her keen sense of smell to help guide Santa’s sleigh back home. To her surprise, Santa’s Christmas gift to Olive was her very own set of antlers.

This new edition is loaded with tons flaps to lift, tabs to pull, and fragrant scratch and sniff panels. There is an amazing pop-up “grand finale” at the end of the book, too! Children will fall in love with this new version of Olive, the Other Reindeer, just as they did the original.

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Reviewed by Amy Seim, Picture Book Reviewer for the National Writing for Children Center

Title: Previously
Written by: Allan Ahlberg
Illustrated by: Bruce Ingram
Hardback: 32 pages
Ages: 4-8
Publisher: Candlewick Press
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3542-8
Publication: August 2007

Have you ever wondered what your favorite fairy-tale characters were doing before you met them in their story? Well, now you know! Allan Ahlberg’s new book, Previously, gives us the story before the story.

Did you know that before Goldilocks ate all of the Three Bears’ porridge, she had bumped into Jack (of Jack and the Beanstalk fame)? And before Jack climbed the beanstalk, he had an argument with Jill over who should carry the bucket up the hill. This charming book also reveals the former lives of the Prince that was turned into a frog, and Cinderella:

“Cinderella was running like mad away from the ball.

Previously she had been dancing her socks off with the Prince.

Previously a good fairy had put a spell on her.

Previously she had been dressed in rags and slaving away for the Ugly Sisters.

Previously, on her afternoon off and out for a stroll in the dark woods, she had been bumped into by The Gingerbread Boy…..”

The full-page illustrations are bright and cheerful. I just love how illustrator Bruce Ingram depicts what these children’s favorites were doing previously. The combination of a great story and wonderful illustrations will make this book a welcomed addition to your fairy-tale collection.

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Reviewed by Amy Seim, Picture Book Reviewer for the National Writing for Children Center

Title: Bedtime for Little Bears!

Written by: David Bedford

Illustrated by: Caroline Pedler

Hardback: 28 pages

Ages: 3-7

Publisher: Good Books

ISBN: 978-1-56148-587-1

Publication: October 2007

I always love a good bedtime story, and this one surely takes the cake!

“Little Bear and his mother had spent a long, sunny day exploring the snow. ‘It’s getting late,’ said Mother Bear. ‘It will soon be bedtime. Let’s go home, Little Bear.”

But Little Bear just isn’t ready for bed yet. So he and Mother Bear set off on one last walk to see who else is getting ready for bed. To Little Bear’s surprise, he sees that other animals go to bed, too! Little owls, baby hares, foxes, and whales…. all getting ready for bed. Mother Bear carries Little Bear home on her back, and he watches the night sky above as she sings him a song.

“And now,’ said Mother Bear very softly, ‘it’s time for little bears to go to sleep.’ Little Bear nestled into his mother’s soft fur, and when she gave him a gentle kiss goodnight… Little Bear was already fast asleep.”

This is such a touching story. The illustrations by Caroline Pedler are tender and playful, and the soft colors are perfect for bedtime. Children will love falling asleep to this sweet story for years to come.

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Reviewed by Amy Seim, Children’s Picture Book Reviewer for the National Writing for Children Center

Title: Puff, the Magic Dragon

Written by: Peter Yarrow and Lenny Lipton

Illustrated by: Eric Puybaret

Hardback: 24 pages

Ages: 4 to 8

Publisher: Sterling Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-4027-4782-3

Publication: July 2007

“Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea, and frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honalee.” From the very first line of the book, I was taken back to my childhood days. I was thrilled to see this title on the shelf in the bookstore, written by Peter Yarrow, of the folk group Peter, Paul & Mary, and co-authored by Lenny Lipton.

The book follows the amazing tale of friendship between little Jackie Paper and his childhood friend, Puff, the magic dragon. Whether they are sailing on a boat or meeting kings and princes, the two are inseparable. The time when Jackie has grown and no longer returns to Honalee is bittersweet. But, it is not long before a new friend comes to play with Puff and there is happiness in Honalee once again.

Illustrator Eric Puybaret brings this timeless and endearing song to life through his vivid paintings. The full-page illustrations are remarkable, thoughtful, and expertly portray the love between little Jackie Paper and that rascal Puff.

From the first word of the book, adults and children everywhere will fall in love with little Jackie Paper and his magical dragon friend all over again. The song Puff, the Magic Dragon has been a favorite for generations, and now this wonderful book has become
part of it’s tradition.

Also included with the book is a CD with two versions of Puff, the Magic Dragon along with two bonus songs.

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Reviewed by Amy Seim, Picture Book Reviewer for the NWFCC

Title: I Saw an Ant in a Parking Lot

Written by: Joshua Prince

Illustrated by: Macky Pamintuan

Hardback: 24 pages
Ages: 4-8

Publisher: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.

ISBN: 978-1-4027-3823-4

Publication: March 2007

On a hot August morning, Dot, armed with a doughnut and coffee, is ready for another day
at the parking lot.

“When in came rolling to my lot

a mom, two kids,

and tiny tot,

all safety-belted in a squat

red minivan, prepared to shop.”

When the mom doesn’t see the ant, and the ant doesn’t see the minivan, whatever will Dot
do to prevent a horrible accident?

The doughnut, of course! What ant can resist a tasty treat?

In a gallant throw, she hurls the doughnut towards the minivan and ant and prevents a disaster:

“The ant gave chase! The van did not!

Braking fast,

it came to stop

with screeching tires, squeals from tot,

just inches from ant’s breakfast spot.”

The playful singsong rhymes in this book make it a great read-aloud story. The full-page
illustrations are bright and colorful, and I find the blending of caricature and cartoon drawings to be a real delight. I look forward to another book by this duo.

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Reviewed by the NWFCC’s Children’s Picture Book Reviewer, Amy Seim,/font>

Title: Bad Dog, Marley!

Written by: John Grogan

Illustrated by: Richard Cowdrey

Hardback: 40 pages

Ages: 3-8

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

ISBN: 978-0-06-117114-7

Publication: May 2007

If you have ever adopted a puppy, you will quickly relate to this cute story!

When Daddy came home with a cardboard box, Cassie and Baby Louie could not wait to see what was inside.

“In the box was a squiggly yellow furball with a wet black nose and ears so big and floppy, they look like he’d borrowed them from an elephant.”

Marley was the perfect addition to their happy family…. or so they though!

They soon learned that as Marley grew and grew, so did the size of the trouble he got into. No matter what Marley did, it always ended in “Bad dog, Marley!”

Marley eats what he shouldn’t eat, drinks what he shouldn’t drink, and chews what he shouldn’t chew. Marley even came home one day with a giant pair of underwear, to which Daddy replied, “I don’t even want to know.”

It was not until Marley came to Baby Louie’s rescue that the family realized that Marley was right where he belonged, and that bad, bad dog suddenly became “Good dog, Marley!”

Illustrator Richard Cowdrey’s realistic style is perfect for this book. You can actually feel the happiness, frustration and love the family has for Marley. The pictures are big and colorful and really bring this story to life.

Children will love to read this book over and over again!

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Reviewed by Amy Seim

Amy Seim is an aspiring children’s writer who already has several papers and abstracts published in the field of biology. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, she received a BS in Biology and a MS in Environmental Science and taught science courses at a local community college and university. Amy hopes to use this knowledge to write exciting and educational science-based children’s books.

reviewed by Amy Seim

Title: The First Bear

Written by: Felicity Hansen

Hardback: 32 pages

Publisher: Barefoot Books, Inc.

ISBN: 1-84148-012-6

Publication: 2000

Have you ever wondered where the first teddy bear came from? This brilliantly written
and illustrated book tells a heartwarming story of the wonderful gift that the Great Bear
in the sky gave to all of the lonely children in the world.

Great Bear always wished he could help comfort the sad children on the earth below. The
idea came to him one night while watching a crying boy who had no mother or father. “I
wonder if I could send him someone to stop him from feeling so lonely?”

Great Bear finds a small cloud and, magically, the first bear is born:

“He took it gently in his starry paws and made it into the shape of a bear. It was a
soft, golden color, with warm, brown eyes.”

The first bear is sent to live with the boy on earth. From here, the story follows an
amazing life of friendship between the boy and his bear. The full-page illustrations by
Anthony Carnabuci are simply amazing and really capture the compassion and mood of the
book.

I recommend this book for the young and young at heart. The author truly grasps the
intimate bond between a child and his bear… I should know, I still have my first bear!