Author: TCBR Contributor

The Children’s Book Review, named one of the ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) Great Web Sites for Kids, is a resource devoted to children’s literacy. We publish reviews and book lists of the best books for kids of all ages. We also produce author and illustrator interviews and share literacy based articles that help parents, grandparents, teachers and librarians to grow readers. This article was written and provided by one of TCBR's regular contributors.

The Knot Fairy by Bobbie Hinman Reading level: Ages 3-7 Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Best Fairy Books (January 1, 2007) Did you ever wake up in the morning and wonder how your hair had become such a tangled mess of knots? Are you a mother or father that battles with your child every morning just to get the comb or brush through their hair? If so, this is a book that you will truly appreciate. The Knot Fairy, dressed in her pajamas and fuzzy slippers, and of course showcasing tangled hair, is always up to no good – her one…

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July is National Hot Dog Month, and July 19th is National Hot Dog Day. Here is a list of books that show appreciation for hot dogs, or at least have ‘Hot Dog’ in the title: Ages 0-3 Macaroni and Cheese, Hot Dogs and Peas: Christine Hickson Ages 4-8 The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!: Mo Willems The Burger and the Hot Dog: Jim Aylesworth Stan the Hot Dog Man: Ethel Kessler Hot Dog: Molly Coxe Ages 9-12 Two Hot Dogs With Everything: Paul Haven Hot Dog and Bob Series: L. Bob Rovetch Grk and the Hot Dog Trail: Joshua Doder…

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Animalia by Graeme Base Reading level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (September 15, 1986) … “Animalia came from a great love of animals and a desire to create a book with huge amounts of detail and things to discover. That was the sort of book I remember enjoying as a child,” says author Graeme Base. …

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Pinkalicious by Victoria Kann (Author), Elizabeth Kann (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 40 pages Publisher: HarperCollins (May 23, 2006) Most girls like pink, everyone loves a cupcake – Pinkalicious has something for everyone! “Pinkalicious is a New York Times best-selling book about dessert, desire and discipline.” Who can stop at just one pink cupcake? When Pinkalicious devours too many pink cupcakes, and her parents warn her she has had enough, she develops a very rare case of ‘pinkititis’. For a girl who likes pink this is not too much of a problem, until she becomes a ‘deeper shade of…

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This week’s selections follow: Welcome to Your World, Baby by Brooke Shields (Author), Cori Doerrfeld (Illustrator) Reading level: Ages 3-8 Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: HarperCollins (June 24, 2008) Synopsis: … Becoming a big sister is a big event! There’s so much to share—and do—and celebrate! Beloved actress, author, and mother Brooke Shields paints a warm and loving picture of the joys of sisterhood in this merry book with exuberant artwork by the talented Cori Doerrfeld. … Comments: A very encouraging book to any new big sister! I’m a fan of Brooke Shields and I am a fan of her first…

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In the event you are waiting for the third book in the very entertaining bestselling series Diary of a Wimpy Kid, titled The Last Straw, the release date is January 17, 2009. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney Ages: 9 – 12 Hardcover: 224 pages Publisher: Amulet Books; 1 edition (January 17, 2009) The Synopsis: … Let’s face it: Greg Heffley will never change his wimpy ways. Somebody just needs to explain that to Greg’s father. You see, Frank Heffley actually thinks he can get his son to toughen up, and he enlists Greg in…

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I just finished reading another well done article in the July 2008, issue of Parents Magazine, by Leslie Garisto Pfaff (see also, Summer Reading Tips). The title is I Love Story Time, The best way to read to your toddler. … Give your 1-year-old a book, and you never know what she’ll do with it: chew on it, bang it on the table, wear it on her head, or – surprise – sit down and start thumbing through it. … In the article there are many useful ideas to encourage reading with your toddler, along with a few interesting facts…

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Elizabeth Bird, from Fuse #8, has made her halfway mark predictions on the 2009 Newbery and Caldecott contenders. I have been told that her predictions are usually right on, and last year she picked both of the winners. One of Elizabeth Bird’s Caldecott picks is Wonder Bear, by Tao Nyeu, a book I plan to review very soon – the release date for Wonder Bear is September 2008.

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This week’s ‘very silly’ selections follow: The Pigeon Wants a Puppy by Mo Willems Reading level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 40 pages Publisher: Hyperion (April 1, 2008) Synopsis: … The Pigeon really, really, REALLY wants a Puppy. C’mon, he’ll take good care of it! He’ll play tennis with it, and water it at least once a month! Will you let Pigeon’s dream come true? … Comments: Full of raw emotion, and is absolutely hilarious. Who doesn’t really, really, REALLY want a puppy?! Links: The Pigeon Wants a Puppy – a post by Mo Willems at Mo Willems Stuff. Book Review: The…

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