Last year I picked up pictures books and I've gotten to appreciate them much more than I did as a child. I hope to continue read and review them in the future. If you have any recommendations for me, please list them in the comments and I'll check them out!
Description: An account of Amelia Earhart's dangerous 1932 flight across the Atlantic Ocean from Newfoundland to Ireland, in which she survived bad weather and a malfunctioning airplane. Includes a brief biography of the aviator.
Review: On a May evening in 1932, Amelia Earhart climbed into her single-engine, red Lockheed Vega and flew across the ocean, departing from Newfoundland and landing on a farm in Northern Ireland. Burleigh's suspenseful text and Minor's shifting perspectives work together to pull readers into the drama and action as they experience the anxiety and exhilaration that accompanied this historic flight. Earhart's skill, stamina, and courage are put to the test when a thunderstorm erupts, her altimeter breaks, and icy wings cause the plane to plummet. You could feel yourself become frighten for Amelia and for a brief moment wonder what terror she must have felt being in that plane alone. The third-person narrative is arranged in two-line stanzas of free verse; the language is fresh and evocative, morphing to match Amelia's tenacity. I loved the illustrations in this book which brings the text to life. You can picture yourself flying next to Amelia and have a panoramic view of the sea and sky. I think this book would incite curiosity about flying and all the various requirements that pilots have to go through in order to fly. The book also includes a technical note, bibliography, and inspirational quotes from Earhart's writings. This a great picture book biography that I think both girls and boys would enjoy.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 2-4.
If you like this book try: Talkin' About Bessie by Nikki Grimes, Bravest Woman in America by Marissa Moss
Description: Full of fun historical facts, this book is the true story of how bubble gum was invented.
Review: This was a fun nonfiction read. It's got some amusing illustrations, easy text to read, and fun history facts behind the invention of bubble gum. The story also touches briefly on the origin of gum, and the back matter a short biography of Diemer, a fact list about gum, and a bibliography to make this book a more thorough package. I wouldn't necessarily pick this one up from the shelves, but I think with a pitch about candy (always a kid's favorite) it might get its readership. Overall, a pretty entertaining story.
Rating: 3 stars
Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 2-4
If you like this book try: Apples by Gail Gibbons
Description: Pete the cat wears his school shoes when visiting the library, the lunchroom, the playground, and more while singing his special song.
Review: The first day of school can cause lots of anxiety for the little ones. Blue cat Pete is here to help make his readers a little less nervous with his proved his ability to roll with the punches when his white sneakers were accidentally stained red. Sporting the red treads for the first day of school, Pete is unflappable. He smoothly goes with the flow throughout the day. School setting is nicely drawn with appealing eye-catching colors. There's humor to be found in the deadpan expressions of Pete and his fellow cats as he sits with friends in the lunchroom, plays at recess, and solves math problems on the board. There is also a free song that you can listen to while you're reading the book that might increase the reader's enjoyment of the story.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades PreK-2
If you like this book try: Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel, Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton
Review: On a May evening in 1932, Amelia Earhart climbed into her single-engine, red Lockheed Vega and flew across the ocean, departing from Newfoundland and landing on a farm in Northern Ireland. Burleigh's suspenseful text and Minor's shifting perspectives work together to pull readers into the drama and action as they experience the anxiety and exhilaration that accompanied this historic flight. Earhart's skill, stamina, and courage are put to the test when a thunderstorm erupts, her altimeter breaks, and icy wings cause the plane to plummet. You could feel yourself become frighten for Amelia and for a brief moment wonder what terror she must have felt being in that plane alone. The third-person narrative is arranged in two-line stanzas of free verse; the language is fresh and evocative, morphing to match Amelia's tenacity. I loved the illustrations in this book which brings the text to life. You can picture yourself flying next to Amelia and have a panoramic view of the sea and sky. I think this book would incite curiosity about flying and all the various requirements that pilots have to go through in order to fly. The book also includes a technical note, bibliography, and inspirational quotes from Earhart's writings. This a great picture book biography that I think both girls and boys would enjoy.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 2-4.
If you like this book try: Talkin' About Bessie by Nikki Grimes, Bravest Woman in America by Marissa Moss
Description: Full of fun historical facts, this book is the true story of how bubble gum was invented.Review: This was a fun nonfiction read. It's got some amusing illustrations, easy text to read, and fun history facts behind the invention of bubble gum. The story also touches briefly on the origin of gum, and the back matter a short biography of Diemer, a fact list about gum, and a bibliography to make this book a more thorough package. I wouldn't necessarily pick this one up from the shelves, but I think with a pitch about candy (always a kid's favorite) it might get its readership. Overall, a pretty entertaining story.
Rating: 3 stars
Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 2-4
If you like this book try: Apples by Gail Gibbons
Description: Pete the cat wears his school shoes when visiting the library, the lunchroom, the playground, and more while singing his special song.Review: The first day of school can cause lots of anxiety for the little ones. Blue cat Pete is here to help make his readers a little less nervous with his proved his ability to roll with the punches when his white sneakers were accidentally stained red. Sporting the red treads for the first day of school, Pete is unflappable. He smoothly goes with the flow throughout the day. School setting is nicely drawn with appealing eye-catching colors. There's humor to be found in the deadpan expressions of Pete and his fellow cats as he sits with friends in the lunchroom, plays at recess, and solves math problems on the board. There is also a free song that you can listen to while you're reading the book that might increase the reader's enjoyment of the story.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades PreK-2
If you like this book try: Bad Kitty by Nick Bruel, Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton
Labels:
2012 100+ Reading Challenge,
3 stars,
4 stars,
Biography,
Childrens,
Humor,
Nonfiction,
Picture Book
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What a great list. I should so forward this post to a couple of cousins.
I love picture books! Maybe it's because I love kids that age and what they come up with when you read to them. I miss reading to that age group. But I can't get enough of picture books. I have a huge collection but it still keeps growing even though my kids are way past the age. I really like the Amelia Earhart book and the one on Bubble Gum. I like those kind that are funny but pique a child's curiousity.
Heather
I might need to get Pete the Cat for my 4 year old. I think it'll be hard for him to start school. Hes painfully shy. He wont even play at parks or anything.
The Amelia Earhart book just sounds really interesting!
Great post. I just located your blog and wished to let you know that I have certainly loved reading your blogs. At any rate I’m going to be subscribing to your feed and I really hope you are writing again soon.