In honor of Bastille Day, the French national holiday which is celebrated in July 14—La Fête Nationale.

I wish I had time to give my own reviews of each of these books but I’m about to whip up a batch of crêpes for some hungry visitors. I’ve provided the synopsis of each of these French flavored favorites:

Everybody Bonjours!

by Leslie Kimmelman

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 40 pages

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (April 8, 2008)

Synopsis: Shop a fancy France-y store. Eat a pretty petit four. Discover! Sightsee! Explore! On this fun and friendly tour, everybody says “Bonjour!” Whether at a soccer stadium (“players scoring”), a crêpe stand (“batter pouring”), or strolling the Champs d’Elysee (where folks “bonjour” in every store), a little girl and her family are welcomed everywhere with the signature French greeting. Jump into these pages and enjoy the trip! Through lilting words and lively images, Everybody Bonjours welcomes young reader-travelers to a Paris that isn’t just for artists, grown-ups, and dreamers–it’s for kids!

Add this book to your collection: Everybody Bonjours!

Adele & Simon

by Barbara McClintock

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 40 pages

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st edition (September 5, 2006)

Synopsis: When Adele walks her little brother Simon home from school he loses one more thing at every stop: his drawing of a cat at the grocer’s shop, his books at the park, his crayons at the art museum, and more.

Note: This book is set in early 20th century Paris.

Add this book to your collection: Adele & Simon

This is Paris

by Miroslav Sasek

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 64 pages

Publisher: Universe (April 24, 2004)

Synopsis: This is Paris, first published in 1959, brings Paris, one of the most exciting cities in the world, to life. There are famous buildings, beautiful gardens, cafés, and the Parisians-artists, concierges, flower girls, and even thousands of cats. Take a tour along the banks of the Seine, through the galleries of the Louvre, and to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Add this book to your collection: This is Paris

Leave us a comment: Which books do you think best appease a true Francophile?

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

The 39 Clues Book 5: The Black Circle

by Patrick Carman

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Hardcover: 176 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Press (August 11, 2009)

Source of book: Publisher

What to expect: Mystery, Action, Suspense, Babysitter, Brothers and Sisters, Family, Orphans

Kids from all over the world—United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, and India—are reading this global series that offers a taste of historical fiction.

Book 5 is exciting from the very beginning. The opening chapter holds no recap—author Patrick Carman (an avid reader and thrill seeker) just gets right down to the nitty-gritty action. In the previous books you could jump in and work out, mostly, what the heck was going on and jostle your memory, if needed. However, now you’re up to book 5, you’re at the half-way mark for the series, you’re hooked … and you’re in it ’til the end.

This time, Amy and Dan are in Russia searching for clues—a country that is rich in history. Readers will learn more about Irina Spasky—whose character development has been building—and more about Amy and Dan’s parents. This installment keeps the story going at a strong pace and certainly has me even more curious for how this series will end; kind of like watching a great TV series and hoping that the time you’re investing is going to be worth it—I have my fingers crossed.

About the author: Patrick Carman is the author of  the New York Times bestselling The Land of Elyon series, as well as the Atherton and Elliot’s Park series. He lives in Walla Walla, Washington with his wife and daughters. For more information about Patrick Cartman, visit www.patrickcarman.com

Add this book to your collection: The 39 Clues Book 5: The Black Circle

Read our review of The 39 Clues: Book One: Maze of Bones

Read our review of The 39 Clues: Book Two: One False Note

Read our review of The 39 Clues: Book Three: The Sword Thief

Read our review of The 39 Clues Book 4: Beyond the Grave

Visit the 39 Clues website to win prizes: www.the39clues.com

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

From shamrocks to Leprechauns to fiddle music to the color green, these three books have St. Patrick’s Day (March, 17) covered. Oh, and in-case you’re wondering why people where shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day, it’s because regular rocks are too heavy. *drum roll—ba-DUM-ching*

St. Patrick’s Day

by Anne Rockwell (Author), Lizzy Rockwell (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 40 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (January 26, 2010)

This is a very kid-friendly explanation of what St. Patrick’s Day is all about. The story is told from a child’s perspective and is set within a school classroom (most likely a kindergarten class). The class is led in a discovery type learning experience and encouraged to make group presentations, which gives a very familiar feel to the readers. The illustrations are colorful and energetic—a good representation of this lively Irish holiday. A wonderful introduction to Irish traditions and culture!

Magic Tree House #43: Leprechaun in Late Winter

by Mary Pope Osborne

Reading level: Ages 6-9

Hardcover: 128 pages

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (January 12, 2010)

Magic Tree House is a favorite amongst early readers and fluent readers. This installment finds Jack and Annie on an Irish adventure that is fit for a St. Patrick’s Day read. The bother and sister duo have been sent on another mission by Merlin the magician. They have to find a girl named Augusta and inspire her to discover her hidden talents. On their quest to fulfill their mission, they encounter many a creature from Irish folklore. It’s a very entertaining read—Magic Treehouse fans will not be disappointed.

Magic Tree House Research Guide #21: Leprechauns and Irish Folklore: A Nonfiction Companion to Leprechaun in Late Winter

by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce

Reading level: Ages 6-9

Paperback: 128 pages

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (January 12, 2010)

A great companion to Leprechaun in Late Winter, but certainly a first-rate stand-alone non-fiction resource for learning about Leprechauns and Irish folklore. The combination of text, fun facts, photos, and illustrations make this an enjoyable way for children to gain knowledge.

Updated Post (March, 6) to include a 4th book:

Calendar Mysteries #3: March Mischief

by Ron Roy

Reading level: Ages 6-9

Paperback: 80 pages

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

A great choice for those looking for an introduction to an easy-to-read chapter book. The author, Ron Roy, is extremely popular with both kids and parents—especially the mystery book lovers. This particular installment is about the luck of the Irish. Thumbs-up!

Leave us a comment: Tell us about your favorite St. Patrick’s Day book or activity.

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Down by the Station

by Jennifer Riggs Vetter (Author) and Frank Remkiewicz (Illustrator)

Reading Level: Baby-Preschool

Hardcover: 32 pages

Publisher: Tricycle Press (April 14, 2009)

What to Expect: Trains, Animals, Noisy Read-Aloud, Repetition, Counting

Stories that contain repetition and onomatopoeia are often great for early literacy.  Such is the case with Down by the Station, a noisy and fun read-aloud book that is perfect for babies, toddlers–and anyone who loves planes, trains, and automobiles!

The lyrical text easily turns the book into a sing-along, and the bright colors of the illustrations make the book an easy and fun read.  Frank Remkiewicz’s images all feature animals, from the pilot duck and his son to the sea-faring turtle with his little one.  I also liked the fact that the illustrations will be appealing to both boys and girls–too many times stories involving transportation are geared more towards the boys, but this book is much more gender neutral.  The text is actually based off of a classic rhyme, but expanded to make it more modern for today’s young travelers.  I think it would be particularly sweet as a bed-time story, for it does remind us that “everybody’s sleepy at the end of the day.”

Add this book to your collection:  Down by the Station

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

“Barrington likes traveling around the world and seeing new places. He enjoys making new friends and trying new things.” If this sounds like you, then I think you will truly appreciate this series.

Take a look at the publisher’s synopsis of the first two books from the series:

Barrington Bear Visits the Emperor – The Emperor Penguin That is

by Keith Szafranski

Hardcover: 48 pages

Reading Level: Ages 4 – 8

Publisher: Small Bear Publishing; 1st edition (February 26, 2008)

Publisher’s Synopsis: Join Barrington Bear as he travels to Antarctica to visit and photograph the Emperor penguin, the largest penguin in the world. Barrington Bear has a real adventure learning about these magnificent birds. Join the fun as Barrington walks, talks and plays with the penguins. Learn how the Emperor lives in this frozen world and what it is like to be a young penguin in the land of ice and snow.

This is the first book in the Travels With Barrington Bear Series. Fun for all ages!

My notes: The text is educational, and includes a glossary page and an Emperor Penguin facts page. There is also a map to track the travel path that Barrington takes to get from Montana to Antarctica. The pictures of the baby penguins are adorable.

Barrington On Safari

Hardcover: 48 pages

Reading Level: Ages 4 – 8

Publisher: Small Bear Publishing; 1st edition (February 26, 2008)

Publisher’s Synopsis: Barrington Bear On Safari is the second book in the Travels With Barrington Bear series. Join Barrington Bear (a little stuffed teddy bear) on safari as he travels to Kenya in East Africa. Barrington makes a new friend and photographs many interesting animals. He even gets to visit a native village. Learn about life on the African Savannah. See lions, hippos, elephants and more. Lots of fun for young travelers of all ages. Illustrated by dozens of stunning photographs. Fun and adventure for everyone!

My notes: I love that words can be learned in the Swahili language. Jambo (jahm’-boh) is Swahili for hello. The attention to detail when it comes to photoshop work on the pictures is dynamite -  I loved seeing Sokwe the monkey’s reflection in the side mirror of their safari jeep, not to mention spotting the cheetah in the view finder of Barrington’s digital camera.

Links: www.TravelsWithBarringtonBear.com

Keith’s website: www.mostlywildlifephotos.com

A review by The Reading Tub.

©2010 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.