Giveaway: 8 Listen-Along Storybooks from Sterling Books
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: March 11, 2010
Listen-Along Storybooks is a fantastic new program offered by Sterling Books. It’s a website with a combination of audiobooks available as free downloads and/or podcasts that can be listened to as streaming audio, a jokecast, and a section dedicated to poetry. The mastermind behind this fab new feature is Robert Agis. His recordings are crystal clear and voiced with an effective energy that will have listeners of all ages enthralled. The first eight audiobooks available are some of Sterling Books most popular picture books; including Cesar Takes A Break, which we reviewed earlier.
With extreme generosity, Sterling Books has offered up all of the eight books (listed below) for three of our luckiest readers! Read more
Cesar Takes A Break: Susan Collins Thoms
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: March 11, 2010
by Susan Collins Thoms (Author), Roge (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Sterling (March 4, 2008)
Source: Publisher
What to expect: Iguanas, Pets, School, Vacation Read more
Spring 2010: Kids’ Book Picks
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: March 8, 2010
Spring is in the air. Familiar floral scents are beginning to drift with the breeze, stimulating thoughts of rebirth—from flowering blossoms to new-born chickens. Spring just may be my favorite season. The following books are a great representation of this sweet and thriving time of year.
Silly Little Goose!by Nancy Tafuri
Reading level: Ages 0-5
Board book: 26 pages
Publisher: Cartwheel Books; Brdbk edition (February 1, 2010)
Little Goose is looking for a quiet and comfortable place to lay her eggs—a classic spring activity. Simple text combined with animal sounds and winning illustrations make Silly Little Goose a great read-aloud book. This book was first released in 2001, but it has just been released as a sturdy board book—a great choice for the younger set.
Add this book to your collection: Silly Little Goose!
The Grasshopper Hopped!by Elizabeth Alexander (Author), Joung Un Kim (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 3-6
Hardcover: 14 pages
Publisher: Golden Books (January 12, 2010)
I’m not sure if Grasshoppers would be considered synonymous with spring, but, when I saw the cover for this book, my mind immediately thought of gardening and blossoms. As Grasshopper searches for his “perfect” spot, readers are taken on a journey similar to the one that Goldilocks takes in The Three Little Bears: The soup pot is too hot, the fridge too cold. Kim’s cut-paper illustrations and interactive pull-tabs add extra pizazz to the already engaging rhyme and sounds of Alexander’s charming little story.
Add this book to your collection: The Grasshopper Hopped!
Forever Friendsby Carin Berger
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Greenwillow Books (March 2, 2010)
From her collage artwork to her simple and reflective stories, Carin Berger is one of my favorites! Forever Friends, a companion book to The Little Yellow Leaf, is the story between two unlikely friends who must part because of the seasons. It is the season of spring that brings them back together. The cherry blossoms, mushrooms, and flower-chains, add extra panache to this heartfelt story of friendship.
Add this book to your collection: Forever Friends
You may also enjoy: The Little Yellow Leaf
Interview: Carin Berger
Mathilda and the Orange Balloon
by Randall de Seve (Author), Jen Corace (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (February 16, 2010)
Spring time begs for youngsters to return to the great outdoors. It also welcomes vivid imaginations that are rekindled by a change of scenery. Mathilda is an adorable little lamby—illustrated by Jen Corace: Little Pea, Little Oink, and Little Hoot—who clearly has a profound imagination that is stimulated easily by her surroundings. Mathilda also has a level of curiosity that, when combined with her imagination, allows her to become anything (an important message for anyone). Very sweet!
Add this book to your collection: Mathilda and the Orange Balloon
You may also enjoy: Little Pea, Little Oink, and Little Hoot
Paris in the Spring with Picasso
by Joan Yolleck (Author), Marjorie Priceman (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade (March 23, 2010)
This is a visual and intellectual, cultural treat. Marjorie Priceman, the illustrator of two Caldecott Honor books, has superbly conjured images of 20th century Paris; an era of great artists, such as: Pablo Picasso and Gertrude Stein. The artwork is reminiscent of Ludwig Bemelmans’ Madeline books, only the colors are more vibrant. Francophiles will delight in author Joan Yolleck’s imaginative telling of how these great artists may have spent one of their wonderful spring days in Paris. Conceptual meets factual, ending in a brilliant soiree.
Add this book to your collection: Paris in the Spring with Picasso
Francophiles may also enjoy: Everybody Bonjours! by Leslie Kimmelman
My Little Pony: The Greenest Day (I Can Read Book 1)
by Jennifer Christie
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 24 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (March 9, 2010)
The Greenest Day is a level 1 I Can Read book, which means that it has short sentences and familiar words. At the beginning of the book there are a few words that are matched with a picture. Throughout the story, these pictures replace the words in the sentences they appear—a fun concept to spice-up learning to read. With spring, friendship, and good listening as the key concepts for this story, it’s a great choice for a reluctant reader or My Little Pony fan.
Add this book to your collection: My Little Pony: The Greenest Day
Source of all books: Publishing Houses
Get Ready for Dinotrux
Add this book to your collection: Dinotrux by Chris Gall
Two Tutu Books for Little Ballerinas
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: February 23, 2010
I don’t know about you, but we certainly have a large collection of tutus at our house. Too too many tutus in too too many different colors. I can’t let my daughter hear me say that—she is of the belief that a girl can never have enough tutus (or books about tutus, for that matter). Read more
Back Home: Julia Keller
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: February 22, 2010
by Julia Keller
Reading level: Ages 10 and up
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: EgmontUSA (September 8, 2009)
Source of book: Publicist
What to expect: Family, Rehabilitation, War Read more
Stephanie Meyer Talks About Twilight
Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000
By Luisa LaFleur, The Children’s Book Review
Published: February 17, 2010
Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000
by Eric Wight (author and illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 7-10
Paperback: 86 pages
Publisher: Simon and Schuster (forthcoming)
Source of book: author
What to expect: Overcoming adversity, importance of teamwork Read more
The Trouble with Mark Hopper: Elissa Brent Weissman
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: February 17, 2010
The Trouble With Mark Hopperby Elissa Brent Weissman
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (July 9, 2009)
Source of book: Publisher
What to expect: Mistaken identity, Middle Grade, Family Read more
Giveaway: Personalized Signed Copy of Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: February 16, 2010
We first met Frankie Pickle in Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom, which Luisa LaFleur called “a rip-roaring good read!” This time, the imaginative character stars in Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000—an action-packed adventure that showcases the importance of teamwork. The author, Eric Wight, is a great guy—you can get to know him better, here. He has offered to give one of our readers a personalized signed copy of Frankie Pickle and the Pine Run 3000. Read more
