Picture Book for Older Kids: Max’s Words

“Max’s Words,” by Kate Banks. Pictures by Boris Kulikov. Picture book for older kids-age five to ten. Top notch picture book! I love the pictures and they match the great story perfectly. I recommend grandparents giving this book to their grandkids. The story is about a boy, Max, who wants to collect things like his brothers. Max starts collecting words. He cuts them out of newspapers and magazines. His brothers might collect stamps and coins, but they can’t do what Max’s words can do, create sentences and stories.
Here is a book you can learn from. Have your own child cut out words from magazines and make funny sentences with them.

Book Review, A True Picture Book: Naughty Nancy

“Naughty Nancy,” by John S. Goodall. A true picture book. Using only illustrations this book tells the amusing tale of a little mouse who is a flower girl. Mr. Goodall does something unusual. He uses a small picture after a larger picture thus enlarging what you see. Don’t get this? Then pick up the book and see for yourself what I mean. It’s worth it. It’s a really cute book.

Book Review: Alfred’s Nose

“Alfred’s Nose,” by Vivienne Flesher. If your child likes dogs check out this book. The pictures in this book are photographs of a real dog. Alfred the dog doesn’t like his nose so he tries to disguise it. The photos of Alfred with nose masks should make your child giggle. It’s a cute, easy to read book.

Book Review: There’s Nothing to do on Mars

“There’s Nothing to do on Mars,” by Chris Gall. If your little boy, or girl, likes things about outer space they might like this book. This picture book is about a boy named Davey who moves to Mars with his family. At first he’s bored with life there. But he goes out exploring with his robot dog and finds there are some very interesting things happening on Mars. The pictures are not your average cutesy type. They are a sort-of comic book style.

Picture book for early readers.

"A Sick Day for Amos McGee," by Philip C. Stead. Illustrated by Erin E. Stead. The story is simple and so are the illustrations. And this works. This is a brilliant picture book. Check out the facial expressions on Amos and the animals. They are terrific! Story line: Old Amos McGee works at the zoo. While there he makes time to visit his animal friends. One day he wakes up with a bad cold so doesn't go to work. Worried he's not at work his animal friends take a bus to visit him at his house. I won't divulge the picture on the last page, but it's very cute.

Book Review: The Nutcracker

Picture book with story. Some third graders can read it by themselves. "The Nutcracker," from the story by E.T.A. Hoffman. Retold by Jean Richardson. Pictures by Francesca Crespi. A classic Christmas book. The story line is unique. Young Clara's parents are having a Christmas party. Her father's mysterious friend brings Cara a gift. It's a nutcracker in the shape of a soldier. Clara's brother takes it from her, breaking its arm. Her father's friend fixes it with his handkerchief. That night Clara has a strange dream about the nutcracker. In this book the story isn't as good as other books. The pictures are good enough, but not fabulous. My advice, look at several different versions of this story and pick out the one you like best.

Book Review- Charlie Brown Holiday Book

Picture book with story. Depending on their reading level third graders can read it. "A Charlie Brown Christmas," by Charles M. Schulz. Who doesn't like Snoopy the All American beagle? In this story Snoopy's owner Charlie Brown is miserable. Its Christmas time and he feels let down by the season. He doesn't like the commercialism and the selfishness. His friend Lucy tries to help him overcome his depression by telling him to get involved. She tells him he should direct the kids Christmas play. While directing the play Charlie Brown learns the true meaning of the festive season. Which is caring. This is a good lesson for kids to learn.

Book Review- Useful Picture Book for Family Coping with Cancer

Book for parents to read with their kids. "The Hope Tree, Kids Talk about Breast Cancer," by Laura Numeroff and Wendy S. Harpham. Illustrated by David McPhail. Quality illustration. Pictures don't have to pop out at you to be appealing, but they have to be inviting to the reader. They should invoke a reaction. Elicit an emotion: Joy. Sadness. A chuckle. Or just an admiration that the pictures are so exceptionally well drawn. If the pictures are lifeless the reader (or young listener) might not want to keep turning the page. This picture book left a lasting impression on me. It has pages of real kids (with name and age) sharing their feelings about, and reactions to, their mom's breast cancer. A few kids also disclose what they have done to make things easier for their mom. Knowing other kids feel the same way as them can help a scared or worried child. If you know a family with a mom with breast cancer I recommend this book. The pictures are priceless.

Book Review- Picture Book

"The Biggest Halo," by Antonio Jocson and J.E. Christian. Illustrated by Robert Enright. One of the Muddy Tom's Wacky Adventures which is about a boy who gets himself into trouble. This time Tom and his dog Max have a weird Halloween adventure. The book starts out with Tom getting his Halloween costume with Max in tow. Then his mom tells him she has to go inside a store. However, no dog's are allowed in so she tells Tom to stay outside with Max. She makes sure she tells Tom he's not to talk to any strangers. Tom does not heed this sage advice and gets in a cool car driven by a pumpkin head man. True to Muddy Tom's Wacky Adventures Tom has a wacky adventure. In this case it's a bold step for a writer to write about an adventure which involves a child getting in car with a stranger. Our society frowns on any fun or exciting escapades which involves a child getting in a car with an unknown person. So while I think it's great these two authors wrote such a wacky book, I'm not big on Tom having any sort of interesting adventure during or after he gets in a car with a stranger. I should point out I really liked the pictures. They alone make the book. I should add, I read the book to my nephew to hear what he thought about it. He liked the book. I asked him if the book made getting in a car with a stranger more attractive. He said no, saying he knew it was dangerous. Besides, he never would get in a car with a pumpkin head driver. It would be too scary.

Book Review- Picture Book

A Flip-The-Flap Book. "Corduroy's Halloween." Based on the Corduroy bear character by Don Freeman. Story by B.G. Hennessy. Pictures by Lisa McCue. For those of you parents who have two to five year olds this is a fun book. As a kid I always liked books where you could flip up a flap and there would be something underneath. Unlike some other books this book isn't stingy about the amount of flaps they use. The story is cute and bold colors are used throughout the pictures. The story features a little toy bear named Corduroy who wears corduroy overalls. In this book Corduroy and his stuffed animal friends celebrate Halloween. They pick pumpkins from a pumpkin patch, partake in a window-painting contest, go Trick-or-Treating, and have a Halloween party.

Picture Book Review

"My Food Pyramid," by Alisha Niehaus. Illustrations by Dave Williams.
It's important to teach children to make the right eating choices. This book not only gives the USDA food pyramid, but it tells children how many serving they should have of the six food groups. Grains. Vegetables. Fruits. Milk. Meat and Beans. Oils. It gives little interesting facts like, though beans are a vegetable they have lots of protein, therefore they count as a meat. It's not an exciting book, but do remember since it's a book about grains and vegetables you should cut it some slack. It does its main job well. To inform kids on what to eat and how much.

Picture Book Review

For Parents to read with their kids. "First Day," story and pictures by Joan Rankin. With a main character named Haybillybun you know this book will be fun. It's a quirky story about a pup's first day at school. It has corresponding pictures. Kids will laugh at the odd names given to the puppies. Story Line: Haybillybun is nervous about going to Puppy school. The pup is worried because he has a long name and he thinks he has scary eyes. But when he gets to school other pups have just as long, and even stranger, names. Things work out and he likes school. Great book for kids who are just entering school.

Book Review- Picture Book

For parents to read with their kids. "Franklin Goes to the Hospital," by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark. Illustrated by Brenda Clark. For children age four to eight. Young Franklin the Turtle has hurt himself playing soccer. He has to go to the hospital for surgery. This book covers his overnight hospital stay. You can read this book to your child to help them cope with any anxiety they might have about having surgery. The book covers such topics as, what it's like getting an x-ray, how does a doctor make you sleepy before surgery, and it's okay to feel scared before surgery. The pictures are cute. They directly relate to what's happening to Franklin.

Book Review- Useful Picture Book for Parents

This book a parent can read to thier small chid.
"Dog Heaven," written and illustrated by Cynthia Rylant. A very cute, moving book. I actually got misty eyed at certain parts. Of course I had a dog that passed on so I identified with the message in the book. The book is about what dogs do in heaven. They run in fields, have lots of angel kids to play with, they get fed fun shaped dog biscuits, and have fluffy clouds to lie on. The pictures are simple yet they fit the written words well. It's a nice book for a child who's just lost their best canine friend. Hope keeps the heart happy. It's nice thinking your dog is in a wonderful place.

Picture book to read with your kids

"What to Expect When the New Baby Comes Home." Part of the What to Expect kids book series. Heidi Murkoff is the author. Pictures by Laura Rader. This is an excellent series. Ms. Murrkoff does a great job explaining situations to kids. Bold typed questions are asked every couple of pages. The answers are given below it. The Word to Parents in the beginning of the book gives helpful suggestions for making older siblings feel less isolated when new baby comes home. Angus the dog is also in this book, giving familiarity to children who have read Ms. Murkoff's other books. If you have a family member or friend who is having a baby I suggest putting this book on the list of presents to buy for them if they are having a second baby shower.

Book Review- Picture Book

For Parents to read with their (approximately) almost two-year-olds: From the What to Expect Kids series. "What to Expect When You use the Potty", by Heidi Murkoff (co-author of What to Expect when your Expecting). Illustrated by Laura Rader. The What to Expect books has Angus the dog as a transitional character throughout the series. So your child can look forward to seeing him again and again, guiding them as a trusted friend.

"What to Expect When You use the Potty," is just about that. Every couple of pages there is a bold faced question a child might ask about the potty. The answer given is explained in an appropriate manner. Hints are given about potty practice which is great. The beginning of the book has a word to the parents about potty education which is nice. The pictures throughout the book do a fine job explaining what's going on. This is a good book to buy or check out of the library. If your library does not have it, ask if another city library has it. Then have it sent to your library branch. This should cost nothing (at least in the U.S.)

Book Review- Picture Book

Book for Parents to read with their kids. "Do Little Mermaids Wet their Beds?" by Jeanne Willis. Pictures by Penelope Jossen. The book is an easy reading, rhyming book. It's about a four-year-old girl who does lots of things well, but she also wets her bed. One night she has dream about a mermaid who wants her to come and play. So the little girl goes off with the mermaid. By morning, after a whole night of romping around in the sea she curiously has a dry bed. At the end of the book, in fine print, there is a page about bed wetting with advice, which is nice to have. The book helps little kids realize that at some point they will not always have a wet bed.

Book Review- Picture Book

For Parents to read with their kids. "My Adopted Child, There's No One Like You." By Dr. Kevin Leman and Kevin Leman II. Illustrated by Kevin Leman II. In the beginning of the book there is a small printed letter to the parents written to Mama and Papa Bear. Read it, it gives excellent advice about telling your child about being adopted. The pictures in the book are simple, yet they still successfully explain what's going on. Story line in book: Panda bear is given a school assignment. He has to make a family tree. He is bothered by this because he is adopted. His mama puts him at ease.

Book Review- For Parents and their Kids

"The Bully Blockers Club," by Teresa Bateman. Illustrated by Jackie Urbanovic. Picture book with sentences. Do you have a child who is upset because they are being bullied at school? Have them read this inspirational book. It shows ways to overcome it. The best idea is the buddy system, which I've always supported. Five friends who stick together against one bully really helps. The book's story revolves around Lotty, a raccoon who is being pestered by a school bully. Each day of the week she tries different ways to cope with the situation. This book is for first graders (if you read it to them) to forth graders (because I like the sensible ideas in the book).

Book Review- Picture Book for both Young and Older Kids

Childrens book useful for Parents to read as well as their child.
"Manners," by Aliki. This picture book is a groovy way of teaching kids manners. Using comic strips and humorous examples of what NOT to do, and what they should do instead, your child will find learning about manners can be fun, and funny. This book is for second graders to fifth graders. But you can always read this book to your kindergartner and first grader, for it's never too early to learn about manners.