Beachy and Me, by Bob Staake, Random House, 2016.
My seven-year-old son LOVES Bob Staake's work, so whenever Mr. Staake has a new book out, I will, of course, buy it.
I also let my son review this book, so here it goes:
"I liked Beachy and Me because it was a good story. It was a story about being friends, even though you might be different like the little girl and the whale. The illustrations are beautiful because Bob Staake is an illustrator who makes beautiful illustrations."
The Story of Diva and Flea, written by Mo Willems, illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi, Disney-Hyperion, 2015.
I bought this book for my seven-year-old son, and took it with us on vacation, and every night I read a chapter or so to him. The next morning, he would re-read the same passages himself. He LOVED this book, so I'm letting him write the review:
"I liked this book because Flea is a beautiful black and white cat like our Buster. And Diva is a white dog that looks like Piper, but is white like Ellie. She was more like Piper than Ellie, though. My favorite part was when Flea and Diva became friends. And I really liked the cloud-cutter because Paris is my favorite city. And I liked the friendly feet at the end of the book. The drawings were SO good."
The Trojan Horse: How the Greeks Won the War, Emily Little, Random House, 1988.
This book simply, but thoroughly, tells the story of the Greek and Trojan War. Since I didn't learn about the Greek and Trojan War until I was twelve and was studying Latin, this book is MUCH easier for kids to read than what I read.
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, by William Steig, Simon & Schuster, 1969.
This book is so very nearly perfect. A little traumatizing for kids who can empathize, but, still, very nearly perfect.
Tut's Mummy, Lost... and Found, by Judy Donnelly, Random House, 1988.We used this book in my son's first grade History class -- obviously when we were studying Ancient Egyptians. This book, however, brings ancient history into modern history, which makes it very interesting for (sometimes morbid) seven-year-old boys.
Come Look With Me, World of Play, by Gladys Blizzard, Charlesbridge, 1993.This book is great for getting young children to look, really look, at famous works of art. The text is straightforward and comprehensible, and the art pieces were well chosen.
Bedtime for Frances, written by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Garth Williams, HarperCollins, 1960.
This is one of the books my son would have had to read for his first grade class if we had started schooling at home at the beginning of the year instead of after the first quarter. I'm rather glad he didn't read this book for a class.
Honestly, the book didn't bother me too much until the father threatened Frances, but then I had to look at the parents' past behavior to see the problem. The parents indulged her over and over and over again, and, when they had enough, the father threatens her. Not exactly great parenting.
So, even though we own this book right now, I will have no problem returning it to the online school.
(Great illustrations, though.)
Frog and Toad are Friends, by Arnold Lobel, HarperCollins, 1970.It it hard to imagine a better book for emergent readers than a Frog and Toad book. The stories are short. And funny. And quirky. And easy to read. And easy to understand. And all the stories fit together to form a larger story. And Frog and Toad both have such well-formed personalities. And the illustrations are perfection. And who wouldn't want to sleep until half past May?
Harry and the Lady Next Door, written by Gene Zion, illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham, HarperCollins, 1960.I think this Harry book is even more fun and funny than the original Harry, The Dirty Dog. Harry has a problem -- the lady next door fancies herself an opera singer. She has all of the volume, but she is short on talent. Harry tries to solve his problems, with rather hilarious results, but, in the end, everything works out. There are actually four very short stories in this book, that all fit together to form a larger story.
Mummies, by Joyce Milton, Penguin Young Readers, 1996.
My first grade son read this book for a part of his History lesson. He finds mummies to be a bit icky/scary and a bit intriguing/funny. And that is exactly how he found this book to be.
