books 45-54

*45- Barnyard Dance by: Sandra Boynton
Writing: A Illustrations: A

If you haven't read Sandra Boynton books, you are missing out! She has clever books with a nice rhythm to them. Barnyard Dance! is one of my favorites.

46- The Owl and The Pussy Cat and other silly-time tales by:Edward Lear
illustrated by: Chuck Reasoner
Writing: B Illustrations: A

Edward Lear lived quite a while ago (he died in 1888) and his stories are still nice to read. They do have a lot of nonsense, so maybe he is the inspiration for Dr. Suess! I enjoyed the first and last story in this book, but the middle one didn't float my boat.

47- My Backpack by: Eve Bunting illustrated by: Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Writing: A Illustrations: A

Eve Bunting almost always does a good job. She has a nice flow in this book about a little boy and his new backpack. He packs everything he can in it to keep it from getting lost including, his dad's glasses, his mom's keys and his brother's socks. You can bet they aren't happy about that and soon he is found and told that he can not do that with his backpack.

48- My Bag and Me! by: Karen Farmer illustrated by: Gary Currant
Writing: B Illustrations: A

This book is all about being green and not using plastic bags while shopping at the store. At least you get a mini bag that can hold one small toy in it for your kid to take to the store.

*49- Princess Mia and the Big Smile by:Rachel Elliot illustrated by: Jacqueline East
Writing: A- Illustrations: A

This is a good reminder for parents that it is important to have fun and not be serious all the time, but it is also a fun story to read. I don't like the page breaks and line breaks sometimes because it makes it tricky to read aloud the first time. Princess Mia teaches her family that you can have fun and be silly in any situation.

50- On Beyond Zebra! by: Dr. Seuss
Writing: B Illustrations: A

You know how I feel about Dr. Seuss, but I read this book because my daughter picked it. It is an alphabet book that goes on with the alphabet after the letter Z. The thing is that it uses the letters A-Z to write the book so when it asks questions like how could you write Humpf-Humpf-a-Dumpfer without the letter Humpf I thought, "The way you just did!". I did find about five of the pages charming though.

51-The Pudgy Book of Mother Goose illustrated by: Richard Walz
Illustrations: A

This book only does one verse of each rhyme which can be helpful for very small children.

52-Not Until Christmas, Walter! by: Eileen Christelow
writing: A- illustrations: A

This is a clever book about a girl and her dog Walter. Walter eats all of the Christmas presents before Christmas. The girl gets VERY mad at him. She later gets lost and then found by Walter. They are friends again. Santa comes and gives him a bone, but the girl doesn't see Santa.

*53-Just what Mama Needs by: Sharlee Glenn illustrated by: Amiko Hirao
writing: A- illustrations: A

I got to meet the author of this book at a workshop. She even signed the book for me! Anyway, the book follows Abby as she dresses up every day. When she becomes something, her mother finds a way that it is just what she needs (the pirate Abby can help swab the deck a.k.a. the kitchen floor). In the end Abby is just Abby which is what her mama wants most of all! Very sweet book. There are some sentences that maybe could have been improved.

54- The Baby's Book of Baby Animals by: Kay Chorao
illustrations: A

This is a compilation of poems about baby animals that Kay Chorao illustrated. Beautiful illustrations. It can be a little long if you are reading the whole book, especially to a baby. You could just read a few pages though because each page is complete.