Book Thoughts: The Maggie B. (Haas)
Type: picture bookAges: 4-8Author/Illustrator: Irene Haas Everything in this story is positive and lovely. I’m sure many children can relate to such dreamy wishes.
Keenly Kept
Category Books
Book Thoughts: “Stand Back,” Said the Elephant, “I’m Going to Sneeze!” (Thomas)
Type: picture bookAges: 2-6Author: Patricia ThomasIllustrator: Wallace Tripp It appears that they have re-published this book since our copy was written (ours is 1971), but I think only the illustrations changed. This is a CLASSIC for the littles. Definitely see…
Book Thoughts: Jax’s Tail Twitches (Powlison)
Type: picture bookAges: 4-8Editor: David PowlisonIllustrator: Joe HoxStory Creator: Jocelyn Flenders *My only issue, albeit minor, is that one of the kids figured out the problem when, ideally, one of the parents would have first. But the father quickly “manned…
Book Thoughts: One Morning in Maine (McCloskey)
Type: picture bookAges: 3-7Author/Illustrator: Robert McCloskey Classic and charming, this one. It always makes me happy to read it!
Book Thoughts: Mule Train Mail (Brown)
Type: narrative non-fiction picture bookAges: 4-8Author: Craig Brown When you live in a big city area, it can be easy to forget that there are still places you can’t drive to! Even today, the only way to access this village…
Book Thoughts: Noah Webster & His Words (Ferris)
Type: biographical picture bookAges: 6-9Author: Jeri Chase FerrisIllustrator: Vincent X. Kirsch I love biographies and I love books about words. Winning combo! The artwork was my only issue. It was a little strange, but not overwhelmingly so. You can really…
Book Thoughts: Babe (King-Smith)
Type: chapter bookAges: 6-9Author: Dick King-Smith This is SUCH a fun read-aloud–especially when the farmer’s wife or sheep talk. Get your voices ready!
Book Thoughts: Mercy Watson series (DiCamillo)
Type: beginner chapter booksAges: 4-7Author: Kate DiCamilloIllustrator: Chris Van Dusen Summaries of each book: Book 1: Mercy helps her owners be rescuedBook 2: Mercy goes for a wild car rideBook 3: Mercy catches a thiefBook 4: Mercy has a lively…
Book Thoughts: Charlotte’s Web (White)
Type: chapter bookAges: 6-8Author: E.B. WhiteIllustrator: Garth Williams *Regarding the “romance,” there were a number of times the author had a strange need to mention that an 8-year-old girl was interested in a boy. It totally detracted from the story,…
Book Thoughts: The Adventures of a South Pole Pig (Kurtz)
Type: chapter bookAges: 6-10Author: Chris KurtzIllustrator: Jennifer Black Reinhardt It’s rare when we don’t have to gloss over occasional things or discuss a sinful component of a book. Flora the pig is is a happy, naive creature, and my children…