Childrens Mini-Reviews: Little Dog, Lost, The Adventures of South Pole Pig, and The 13 Story Treehouse
I always appreciate all the hard work librarians, teachers, and students put into the reading lists for Illinois. I always find new authors and books to read and enjoy. Below are some books that I enjoyed in the last few months and would make a great book recommendation for younger readers.
Description: Mark is a boy who needs a dog. But he can't get his mom on board with his plan.Buddy is a dog who needs a boy. Buddy has an owner already, but not one who understands the kind of love and care -the 'something more' a dog needs.
Mr. LaRue is a neighbor who needs a community. He's alone all the time in his huge old house and everyone needs more than that.
Over the course of a summer thunderstorm and one chaotic town council meeting, these three characters cross paths and come together in a timeless tale ripe with emotions and told in verse that resolves with love, understanding, and a sense of belonging - plus a place to play a game of fetch!
Review: Buddy has a great life for a dog. She has a family who loves her, a nice home, and a warm bed, but that all changes when her family moves away and has to leave her with a friend. Unfortunately her owner's friend has no clue how to take care of Buddy and Buddy decides to run away to look for her old family, but she gets lost in the town of Erthly. In the same town a boy named Mark wants a dog of his own, but his mom says no. When Buddy gets lost (and then found), she is able to help Mark, his mother, an old man Charles Larue, and the rest of the residents in Erthly find what they have been looking for. This book is actually written a free verse form. Though the story starts out sad and the reader is worried about Buddy becoming happy again, it does end on a happy note. This book would be great for pet lovers and younger readers who like a little mystery in their book. Due to the writing style and great pictures, this would also be a good choice for a read-aloud or a book for younger readers who are venturing out to reading independently.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 2 and up.
If you like this book try: A Dog's Life by Ann M. Martin, Everything for a Dog by Ann M. Martin
Description: Flora the pig was born for adventure: “If it’s unexplored and needs to get dug up, call me. I’m your pig,” she says. The day Flora spots a team of sled dogs is the day she sets her heart on becoming a sled pig. Before she knows it, she’s on board a ship to Antarctica for the most exhilarating—and dangerous—adventure of her life. This poignant novel of a purposeful pig is sure to become a favorite with any young readers who have ever dreamed of exploring the great beyond.
Review: Flora is a pig, but she is no ordinary pig. She's curious and longs to explore beyond the perimeters of the pigpen. She dreams of going to Antarctica with the sled dogs on the farm and becoming a sled pig. Her family and other animals at the farm think she is crazy. When she is put in a crate onboard a ship, she sees the expedition as an opportunity while the crew views her as potential dinner. When the explorers are shipwrecked, Flora discovers her own bravery along with her talents and skills. Simple black-line drawings add a welcoming charm to an enjoyable story. Flora's persistence and optimism will encourage every dreamer to being their best self and following his or her own dreams.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 2 and up.
If you like this book try: Nuts to You by Lynn Rae Perkins, The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail by Richard Peck
Description: Andy and Terry live in a treehouse. But it’s not just any old treehouse, it’s the most amazing treehouse in the world! This treehouse has thirteen stories, a bowling alley, a see-through swimming pool, a secret underground laboratory, and a marshmallow machine that follows you around and automatically shoots marshmallows into your mouth whenever you are hungry.
Life would be perfect for Andy and Terry if it wasn’t for the fact that they have to write their next book, which is almost impossible because there are just so many distractions, including thirteen flying cats, giant bananas, mermaids, a sea monsters pretending to be mermaids, enormous gorillas, and dangerous burp gas-bubblegum bubbles!
Review: Andy and Terry live in a treehouse that any child would envy because this tree house has a theater, library, a bowling alley, and even a game room. I actually wanted to live in this treehouse! The boys write and illustrate books, and are far behind on their deadline for their publisher, Mr. Big Nose. They bicker and procrastinate and experience many humorous adventures and misadventures. Fun cartoons on every page will engage young readers, especially reluctant ones, and inspire giggles. The authors do a great job in their descriptions of the wacky situations they find themselves in, both in words and in illustrations, that makes it easy to image what is happening in the book. I would definitely recommend this series to readers who may be a little too young to read the Diary of a a Wimpy Kid series.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 2 and up.
If you like this book try: Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney, Big Nate series by Pierce Lincoln
Mr. LaRue is a neighbor who needs a community. He's alone all the time in his huge old house and everyone needs more than that.
Over the course of a summer thunderstorm and one chaotic town council meeting, these three characters cross paths and come together in a timeless tale ripe with emotions and told in verse that resolves with love, understanding, and a sense of belonging - plus a place to play a game of fetch!
Review: Buddy has a great life for a dog. She has a family who loves her, a nice home, and a warm bed, but that all changes when her family moves away and has to leave her with a friend. Unfortunately her owner's friend has no clue how to take care of Buddy and Buddy decides to run away to look for her old family, but she gets lost in the town of Erthly. In the same town a boy named Mark wants a dog of his own, but his mom says no. When Buddy gets lost (and then found), she is able to help Mark, his mother, an old man Charles Larue, and the rest of the residents in Erthly find what they have been looking for. This book is actually written a free verse form. Though the story starts out sad and the reader is worried about Buddy becoming happy again, it does end on a happy note. This book would be great for pet lovers and younger readers who like a little mystery in their book. Due to the writing style and great pictures, this would also be a good choice for a read-aloud or a book for younger readers who are venturing out to reading independently.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 2 and up.
If you like this book try: A Dog's Life by Ann M. Martin, Everything for a Dog by Ann M. Martin
Review: Flora is a pig, but she is no ordinary pig. She's curious and longs to explore beyond the perimeters of the pigpen. She dreams of going to Antarctica with the sled dogs on the farm and becoming a sled pig. Her family and other animals at the farm think she is crazy. When she is put in a crate onboard a ship, she sees the expedition as an opportunity while the crew views her as potential dinner. When the explorers are shipwrecked, Flora discovers her own bravery along with her talents and skills. Simple black-line drawings add a welcoming charm to an enjoyable story. Flora's persistence and optimism will encourage every dreamer to being their best self and following his or her own dreams.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 2 and up.
If you like this book try: Nuts to You by Lynn Rae Perkins, The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail by Richard Peck
Life would be perfect for Andy and Terry if it wasn’t for the fact that they have to write their next book, which is almost impossible because there are just so many distractions, including thirteen flying cats, giant bananas, mermaids, a sea monsters pretending to be mermaids, enormous gorillas, and dangerous burp gas-bubblegum bubbles!
Review: Andy and Terry live in a treehouse that any child would envy because this tree house has a theater, library, a bowling alley, and even a game room. I actually wanted to live in this treehouse! The boys write and illustrate books, and are far behind on their deadline for their publisher, Mr. Big Nose. They bicker and procrastinate and experience many humorous adventures and misadventures. Fun cartoons on every page will engage young readers, especially reluctant ones, and inspire giggles. The authors do a great job in their descriptions of the wacky situations they find themselves in, both in words and in illustrations, that makes it easy to image what is happening in the book. I would definitely recommend this series to readers who may be a little too young to read the Diary of a a Wimpy Kid series.
Rating: 4 stars
Words of Caution: None. Recommended for Grades 2 and up.
If you like this book try: Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney, Big Nate series by Pierce Lincoln
Labels:
2015 YRHMB Reading Challenge,
4 stars,
Bluestem Award,
Childrens,
Family,
Humor,
Novel in Verse,
Pets
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Okay all three of these sound adorable, I love it! Great reviews. I think I have a little one that would really love these as well.
As long as no animals are harmed... I'm totally on board! :D These look cute and where can I get my own treehouse. It doesn't have to be 13 stories. :)