©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Add this book to your collection: Kindergarten Diary by Antoinette Portis.

Antoinette Portis is one of my all-time favorites. If you haven’t read Not a Box and Not a Stick, you are seriously missing out. They are both highly imaginative books that are executed in simple, concrete perfection.

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

A simple crowd pleaser: Superhero books!

Boys eat these books up. And, you may or may not be surprised, a lot of girls do, too.

I’ve only provided the publisher’s synopsis below, but mark my word, these books feature the classic characters and their usual good-guy-bad-guy  anecdotes. I love that Wonder Woman makes an appearance. Some of the books have been made into level 2 readers for the kids that are gaining confidence with independent reading (some help may be needed). Putting a superhero book into the hands of a beginner reader is a great way to nudge them into the early-fluent reading stage—especially when you build them their own personal bat cave to read in (bat cave à la pillows and blankets). Holy books, Batman!

Batman Classic: Meet the Super Heroes: With Superman and Wonder Woman (I Can Read Book 2)

by Michael Teitelbaum

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins (December 22, 2009)

Source: Publisher

Synopsis: When an evil dragon attacks Gotham City, Batman knows he can’t stop it by himself. With Superman and Wonder Woman fighting by his side, there is nothing these three Super Heroes can’t do!

Add this book to your collection: Batman Classic: Meet the Super Heroes: With Superman and Wonder Woman

Batman Classic: Gothams Villains Unleashed!

by John Sazaklis

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Paperback: 24 pages

Publisher: HarperFestival (December 22, 2009)

Source: Publisher

Synopsis: Gotham’s most dangerous criminals are on the loose! After the Joker breaks out the city’s nastiest villains from Arkham Asylum, Batman must act fast to locate the inmates and return them to custody. With Robin at his side, can Batman stop each and every one of these evildoers before it’s too late?

Add this book to your collection: Batman Classic: Gothams Villains Unleashed!

Batman Classic: The Batman Reusable Sticker Book

by John Sazaklis

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Paperback: 12 pages

Publisher: HarperFestival (May 25, 2010)

Source: Publisher

Synopsis: Help Batman fight crime in this fun, action-packed reusable sticker book. But beware! Gotham’s most dangerous villains are lurking around every corner . . . KAPOW!

Add this book to your collection: Batman Classic: The Batman Reusable Sticker Book

Superman Classic: I Am Superman (I Can Read Book 2)

by Michael Teitelbaum

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins (December 22, 2009)

Source: Publisher

Synopsis: Superman is in his Fortress of Solitude when Lex Luthor puts all of Metropolis in danger. Can Superman fly back to the city in time to stop Lex and save the day?

Add this book to your collection: Superman Classic: I Am Superman

Superman Classic: Superman versus Bizarro (I Can Read Book 2)

by Chris Strathearn

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins (May 25, 2010)

Source: Publisher

Synopsis: When Bizarro crashes into Metropolis, he does more harm than good. What will it take to show this backward hero the way home?

Add this book to your collection: Superman Classic: Superman versus Bizarro

Superman Classic: The Incredible Shrinking Superhero!

by Zachary Rau

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Paperback: 24 pages

Publisher: HarperFestival (December 22, 2009)

Source: Publisher

Synopsis: Superman, Wonder Woman, and the president have been captured by the evil alien Brainiac, who has shrunk Superman and the president to a super-small size. Trapped on the villain’s spaceship, the Super Heroes must combine their amazing powers to defeat their larger-than-life foe!

Add this book to your collection: Superman Classic: The Incredible Shrinking Superhero!

Spider-Man: Spider-Man versus the Lizard (I Can Read Book 2)

by Susan Hill

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins (December 29, 2009)

Source: Publisher

Synopsis: Spider-Man’s newest enemy is big, green, and mean. Spider-Man thinks he has him all figured out. But there may be more to the Lizard than Spidey can imagine!

Add this book to your collection: Spider-Man: Spider-Man versus the Lizard

Spider-Man: Spider-Man versus the Green Goblin (I Can Read Book 2)

by Susan Hill

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins (December 29, 2009)

Source: Publisher

Synopsis: Spider-Man is on the lookout for his friend Harry’s father when a new villain glides by. Can Spidey find Harry’s dad with the Green Goblin close behind?

Add this book to your collection: Spider-Man: Spider-Man versus the Green Goblin

Leave us a comment: If you could be any superhero, which one would you be? I aspire to be Wonder Woman—if only to wear that costume for a day!

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

So you think your child is emerging as a reader? Summer may just be the season to nurture your child’s desire to read, by reading books with him that are engaging and predictable and have pictures that clearly relate-to and illustrate the story line. If you’re not sure whether your child is an emerging reader, you may enjoy this article: How to Tell if Your Child is Ready to Read by Lynn Maslen Kertell, Bob Books Publications.

The following recommendations have been selected because of their large text, repetitive patterns, repeated vocabulary, wide spacing, limited text on pages, and familiar concepts. They have been listed from easiest to more difficult.

Dinosaur Hunt (Max Spaniel)

by David Catrow

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 40 pages

Publisher: Orchard Books (August 1, 2009)

Source: Publisher

What to expect: Spaniels, Dogs, Bones

There is so much to love about this book. Dinosaur Hunt has minimal, large, repetitive text with a touch of rhyme—perfect for emerging readers—and it still manages to pack a powerful punch of entertainment. Max Spaniel, who is not a dog but a great hunter, is off on a dinosaur hunt. He discovers many house and garden items which he mistakes for dinosaur parts—rightly so, when you see the final illustration. David Catrow is a master illustrator who also has a knack with words. Bravo!

Add this book to your collection: Dinosaur Hunt (Max Spaniel)

More “Max Spaniel” summer reading: Funny Lunch

Fly Guy Meets Fly Girl

by Tedd Arnold

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 32 pages

Publisher: Cartwheel Books (January 1, 2010)

Source: Publisher

What to expect: Flies, Friendship

Fly Guy is a great series for emerging readers due to the fact that it  has limited, large-sized text on each page—not to mention Tedd Arnold’s very funny illustrations. In this installment, Buzz and Fly Guy are bored and discover that new adventures can bring chance meetings with new friends. The latter makes a great topic for summer reading.

Add this book to your collection: Fly Guy Meets Fly Girl

More “Fly Guy” summer reading: I Spy Fly Guy

Gilbert, the Surfer Dude (I Can Read Book 2)

by Diane Degroat

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (May 25, 2010)

Source of book: Publisher

What to expect: Beach, Surfing, Opossums

This is a book for children that are strengthening their literacy skills but are still needing some help. It’s broken down into 3 short chapters with large text and wide spacing. The overall story of Gilbert’s family beach vacation is quite amusing—Gilbert forgets to pack his bathing suit, his mother purchases him some new “surfer dude” trunks that are a little too big, which he loses while learning to surf (he finds them, of course)! The illustrations are fun and relatable. Thumbs-up!

Add this book to your collection: Gilbert, the Surfer Dude (I Can Read Book 2)

You may also enjoy the following summer reading list: Kids’ Summer Reading Lists: Prereading / Ages 3-5

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Add this book to your collection: Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Add this book to your collection: Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer

John Grisham—the infamous, best-selling, thriller novelist— has a middle grade novel, THEODORE BOONE: KID LAWYER, which is on sale today!

Penguin Young Readers Group has created two websites dedicated to Theo:

www.theodoreboone.com is a website where kids can explore Theo’s office and the clues he’s gathered for his latest case, and a courtroom where they can learn about what goes on during a trial, funny laws, and send a Mad Libs-type “summons” to their friends!

www.whoistheoboone.com is an interactive and mysterious web page of evidence ready to be explored.

Ooh, this is going to be a good read—I can feel it!

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

The children have spoken! On May 11, 2010, The Children’s Book Council (CBC) in association with Every Child a Reader, Inc. (the CBC Foundation), announced the winners of the third annual Children’s Choice Book Awards.

The CBC created the awards program to allow young readers to voice their opinions about the books being written for them and to help develop a reading list that will motivate children to read more and cultivate a love of reading. The favorite book finalists for this year were determined by close to 15,000 children and teens from across the country. They voted for their favorite books, author, and illustrator at bookstores, school libraries, and at www.BookWeekOnline.com.

The Children’s Choice Book Award winners are as follows:

Author of the Year

James Patterson for MAX: A Maximum Ride Novel (Little, Brown)

Illustrator of the Year

Peter Brown for The Curious Garden (Little, Brown)

Kindergarten to Second Grade Book of the Year

Lulu the Big Little Chick

by Paulette Bogan

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

Synopsis: Lulu the chicken is little…but wants to be big. Paulette Bogan’s humor and timeless kid-friendly style are irresistible.

Lulu the little chicken is sick of being told she’s too little to do things…so she decides to run away where no one will tell her what to do. And when the horse, and sheep and cow and everyone seem to get in her way, it only makes her more determined. But when she finally gets far far away, what happens when a loud crow scares her? Next time, she’ll take her momma with her!

Third Grade to Fourth Grade Book of the Year

Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute

by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Publisher: Knopf/Random House

Synopsis: Serving justice . . . and lunch!

Hector, Terrence, and Dee have always wondered about their school lunch lady. What does she do when she isn’t dishing out the daily special? Where does she live? Does she have a lot of cats at home? Little do they know, Lunch Lady doesn’t just serve sloppy joes—she serves justice! Whatever danger lies ahead, it’s no match for LUNCH LADY!

Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade Book of the Year

Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life

by Rachel Renee Russell

Publisher: Aladdin/Simon & Schuster

Synopsis: New school. New mean girl. New crush.

New diary so Nikki can spill about all of it…

Teen Choice Book of the Year

Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games)

by Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Synopsis: Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge!

Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists!

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Add these books to your collection: A-Z Mysteries, Capital Mysteries, and Calendar Mysteries

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

There is no denying that very young children are tactile and kinesthetic learners. It’s important to provide them with an interactive reading experience that allows them to touch, feel, and move the book and its pages while you are reading the story or sounds involved. It’s often hard for a toddler to sit still during story time, however, being able to physically engage in the book makes it much easier for them to enjoy their reading experience.

The following list of books all have thick and sturdy, movable parts, combined with many great learning concepts:

Zoo (Little Scholastic)

by Salina Yoon

Reading level: Baby-Preschool

Hardcover: 10 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.; Brdbk edition (January 1, 2010)

What to expect: Book, Puzzle, Flash cards, Learning concepts, First words

Find My Feet!

by Salina Yoon

Reading level: Ages 0-5

Board book: 12 pages

Publisher: Robin Corey Books; Brdbk edition (September 8, 2009)

What to expect: Turn-the-wheel, Animal identification, Animal sounds, Colors

Wow, It’s A Cow!

by Trudy Harris (Author), Paige Keiser (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 0-5

Hardcover: 16 pages

Publisher: Cartwheel Books; 1 Brdbk edition (January 1, 2010)

What to expect: Lift-the-flaps, Animal sounds, Rhyme

My Pretty Pink Purse

by Tim Bugbird (Author), Jane Horne (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 0-5

Board book: 12 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.; Brdbk edition (December 1, 2009)

What to expect: Touch-and-feel, Tactile elements, Rhyme, Real objects

Fuzzytails 123: A Touch-and-Feel Counting Book

by Lisa McCue

Reading level: Ages 0-5

Hardcover: 14 pages

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers; Brdbk edition (January 26, 2010)

What to expect: Touch-and-Feel, Counting

Fuzzytails ABC: A Foldout Alphabet Book

by Lisa McCue

Reading level: Ages 0-5

Hardcover: 14 pages

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (January 26, 2010)

What to expect: Foldout pages, Alphabet

Fisher-Price: A Day on the Farm: Exploring Animals

by Jodi Huelin (Author), Tom Starace (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 0-5

Board book: 12 pages

Publisher: HarperFestival; Brdbk edition (December 22, 2009)

What to expect: Touch-and-Feel, Tactile elements, Animal sounds, First words

Fisher-Price: My First Memories: An Early Album

by Jodi Huelin

Reading level: Ages 0-4

Hardcover: 12 pages

Publisher: HarperFestival; Brdbk edition (December 22, 2009)

What to expect: Insert your own photographs

Rock & Roll: Shapes

by Salina Yoon

Reading level: Ages 0-5

Board book: 10 pages

Publisher: Cartwheel Books; Brdbk edition (January 1, 2010)

What to expect: Tactile elements, First words

Little Duck Says Quack! (The Phoebe Dunn Collection)

by Judy Dunn (Author), Phoebe Dunn (Photographer)

Reading level: Ages 0-5

Board book: 14 pages

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers; Brdbk edition (January 26, 2010)

What to expect: Sound button, Ducks, Friendship, Photographs

Leave us a comment: Tell us your favorite interactive book.

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Dr. Seuss’ Oh, the Places You’ll Go! has to be one of the most inspiring and encouraging pieces of literacy for children and adults, alike. From the words of wisdom to the nostalgic illustrations, this story is a gift-book favorite among many. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, a couple of new editions have been released. This awesome book now spins, sparkles, and pops.

The amazing Paper Engineer, David A. Carter (known for his artistic creations One Red Dot and Blue 2), has created a pop-up version that does not disappoint. Every page unfolds into an elaborate scene that truly deepens the original artwork. There is also a special collectible limited edition that boasts additional pop-ups and is lavishly packaged. And, just so the older kids don’t get all the interactive fun, a touch-and-feel-slide-the-tabs book has been created for babies and toddlers; it sparkles, moves and spins. The regular picture book has been revamped as a “Party Edition,” which means it now has an embossed jacket printed on shimmering foil.

The celebratory updates are all fabulous—Dr. Seuss would be proud…especially of the pop-up!

Add these books to your collection:

Oh, the Places You’ll Go Pop-Up by Dr. Seuss

Oh, Baby! Go, Baby! by Dr. Seuss

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.