First Day, Hooray! by: Nancy Poydar

Ages: 4-8

It is the day before the first day of school. Young Ivy Green, the bus driver, the school janitor, the principal, and Ivy’s teacher each have a lot to do. There are new shoes to buy, bus routes to memorize, floors to be polished, notes to go over, and name tags to be made. Each person has night-before jitters and nerve-induced dreams. Will the first day of school turn out just right? Read First Day, Hooray! to find out!

First Day, Hooray! is an exploration of the anxiety and joy experienced before and during the first day of school. Many people can relate to this book, including students, parents, teachers, principals, janitors, and bus drivers. The brightly colored illustrations are simple and dominate the pages. They capture the anxiety and excitement of the characters in the story. The illustrations flow well with the text. The text in this book is different and neat. It flows from child to adult experiences, from morning to night and back to morning, and from excitement and nerves to reflection. This book shows that a lot of time, work, and thinking go into the first day of school. This book shows the reader that the first day of school will end up being just fine. First Day, Hooray! is a cute book that anybody who experiences a first day of school should read!

A to Z Mysteries: The Jaguar’s Jewel by: Ron Roy

Dink, Josh, and Ruth Roe visit Dink’s uncle in New York City. Dink’s uncle is he owner of a museum. He receives a stunning new treasure to add to his collection – a gold statue of a jaguar cradling an emerald between its front paws. It is discovered that the emerald is a fake, and Dink’s uncle is one of the suspects. It is up to Dink, Josh, and Ruth Roe to discover the real thief. Will it be Dink’s uncle or someone else? Read The Jaguar’s Jewel to find out!

The Jaguar’s Jewel is a great beginning chapter book for children. This book is in the A to Z Mysteries series. I like this series, because you do not have to read the books in order. Each book provides a new and exciting mystery. The three main characters, Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose, are introduced in the first book, however they are reintroduced in each book. I found this book an exciting mystery book, and I am sure many children will too! The book keeps you guessing until the very end. The story flows well, and it is a pretty fast read. Children will want to keep reading to find out the solution to the mystery. I like that this book uses many good describing words. This helps the reader paint a picture in their head. I also enjoyed the simple pictures throughout the book, because they went well with the story. There weren’t too many pictures, but just enough to catch a glimpse of the story through the author’s eyes. Children enjoy having pictures throughout books to have a visual interpretation of the story. I also liked that the author included a lot of information and facts throughout the book. For example, he gave some facts about the Incas and New York City. This is great, because kids will possibly learn some new information from reading. One part of the book that I did not like was the fact that the three young children travel to New York City on a train by themselves. New York City can be a dangerous city, especially for three children. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It teaches children teamwork and hard work. Together, the three children were able to solve the mystery of the missing emerald. I would recommend The Jaguar’s Jewel for any young reader who enjoys mysteries!

My Shadow by: Susan Winter

Rosie spends a fun filled day playing with her shadow. Rosie and her shadow jump and tell secrets. She is surprised the next morning when she wakes up and cannot find her shadow. Rosie went searching for her shadow, asking several animals if they have seen her shadow. Will Rosie find her shadow again? Read this book to find out!

My Shadow is a cute book. I think any young child would like this book. Many children have played with and chased his/her shadow. I remember I used to chase mine when I was a child. The illustrations are beautiful, taking up the majority of the pages. They depict the young girl’s emotions from happy to upset. The story is simple and flows well. This book allows children to use their imagination and guess where the girl’s shadow went. I like the fact that there are several animals introduced in the story. It is a great way to help young children learn different animals. My Shadow is a book that young children will enjoy being read to or reading on their own.

Belinda Begins Ballet by: Amy Young

Belinda is a small girl with two very big feet. There are times when having big feet is useful, but also times when it is not fun. Belinda’s teacher chooses Belinda to play the clown in a skit for the school talent show. Belinda does not want to be the clown, but her teacher gives her no choice. After seeing an older girl soar across the stage as a ballerina, Belinda has other plans. Find out Belinda’s plans in Belinda Begins Ballet.

Belinda Begins Ballet is a very cute book. This book is geared toward girls since it is about a girl who wants to become a ballerina. The watercolor illustrations are simple, but lovely. They show emotion, and express how Belinda’s big feet transform from a problem into powerful, beautiful tools of art. I like that the illustrations take up the majority of the page, and they compliment the story well. The story is cute and flows well. One thing that I did not like about the book is the fact that Belinda’s teacher calls her a clown. I do not think it is appropriate for children to see an adult, especially a teacher, treating a child that way. The story does present a positive message about underdogs and self-confidence. It teaches children to go for their dreams, and not let others push you away from those dreams. Belinda Begins Ballet is a beautiful book with a great message that children will enjoy!

Queen of the World by: Thomas F. Yezerski

Three sisters have nothing in common, except the room they share. They are bound to argue about who is the smartest, prettiest, or the best. To settle once and for all who is the best, the three sisters have a contest. Whoever makes the best birthday present for their mother is the Queen of the World. After working in secret all day, the sisters are ready to give their presents to their mother. But things don’t work out as they had planned, and they end up making their mom cry on her birthday. The girls are sent to bed. They figure out how to make things right. Find out what this is and who ends up being Queen of the World.

I like this book because it is something that children who have siblings can relate to. Even children whose siblings are boys will be able to relate to this book. It may be reassuring to some children that they are not the only one who fights and argues with his/her sibling(s). All siblings disagree and don’t get along at some point during their childhood. The watercolor illustrations are beautiful, cozy, and detailed. The illustrations show sibling rivalry in action, showing dirty looks, moody moments, and family friendliness. They compliment the story very well. I like that the story is told from the middle child’s perspective. From this point of view, the family dynamics and the sisters’ feuding are realistic. The children’s actions seem real, and the parents’ reactions are what I would expect. The conflicts in this book are conveyed with warmth and humor, making Queen of the World a good choice for discussing sibling rivalry. A great lesson can be found in this book. This lesson is to think about others before yourself. This is a great message for children to learn, because it teaches them to be caring and considerate of others and their needs. Overall, Queen of the World will appeal to children who have shared some of these same sibling rivalry experiences.

Curious George by: H.A. Rey

What happens when a man in a yellow hat takes a curious monkey out of the jungle in Africa? What happens when the man lets the monkey run free on a ship and in a city in America? The answer is chaos and a lot of fun! There is one adventure after another until Curious George arrives at his final destination…the zoo.

George’s curiosity in Curious George makes this book a fun read for children and adults alike. The reader will get many laughs out of the human activities the monkey participates in, such as eating at the table, sleeping in a bed, and making a telephone call. The writing is simple and direct. Children will want to keep turning the pages as one adventure unfolds after another. The author fills every other page with colorful cartoonlike drawings. The illustrations are great, and help tell the story. Illustrations are great, because they often help children understand what is going on in the book better. This book may be a little long for younger children. There was one part of the book that I find inappropriate for a children’s picture book. The part that bothers me is the fact that George smokes a pipe before going to bed. A theme I found in this book is that there are consequences for your actions. Children may or may not pick up on this, depending on their age. Overall, Curious George is a fun book that both girls and boys will enjoy!

Green Eggs and Ham by: Dr. Seuss

Green Eggs and Ham is about someone who doe not like green eggs and ham. However, Sam I Am keeps pestering his friend to try them. However, because of the way they look, his friend will not eat green eggs and ham anywhere or with anything. Find out if Sam I Am convinces his friend to try green eggs and ham.

Green Eggs and Ham is a popular favorite of many children and adults. The words rhyme and the language flows in it’s own rhythm. I like the fact that there are repetitive passages. This helps beginning readers figure out words that are new to them. The book is filled with simple, fun phrases that children will enjoy. The illustrations are crazy and cartoon like. They go along well with the action that is taking place in the story. The colorful illustrations and creative cast of characters combine to make an unforgettable story. Many children can relate to the character who has never tried green eggs and ham. Several children are picky eaters, and are convinced that they do not like something even though they have never tried it before. This book portrays a message about trying new things and keeping an open mind. Trying new things can be a good thing. In addition, some things are not always what they seem to be. Green Eggs and Ham is a humorous book that both children and adults will enjoy reading over and over!