Review Round-Up: Books for Beginning Readers, January 2016

Easy Readers

Both Jean Little Library and Kids Book a Day featured Cybils finalist In, Over, and On the Farm this month. Of the series, Jennifer of Jean Little Library says, " [It] is successful because it stands on its own and doesn't try to imitate other popular series." Janet from Kids Book a Day also compliments the book, pointing out that it "would be a fun read-aloud to young children as well as a good first book for emergent readers to try on their own."

Toon Books also received some attention this month. Jean Little Library reviewed 2016 Batchelder Honor book, Written and Drawn by Henrietta, calling it "a stunning work of graphic art" but questioning whether it works as an easy reader. Meanwhile, Sal's Fiction Addiction reviewed Flop to the Top, saying "The adults who read it to children will be as entertained as their children are ... the best kind of praise, for sure!"

Other reviews included Jean Little Library's posts on I Will Take a Nap and Katie Fry Private Eye: The Lost Kitten, Flying Off My Bookshelf's reviews of Sydney and Simon: Full STEAM Ahead and Come Back, Ben, Sal's Fiction Addiction's post on Ballet Cat: The Totally Secret Secret, and a post from Becky's Book Reviews on Best Friends Wear Pink Tutus.

Chapter Books

There were a few Cybils finalists represented among the chapter book reviews I read this month. Geo Librarian reviewed Big Bad Detective Agency, citing its silliness as one of its strengths, while Jean Little Library reviewed both The Case of the Snack Snatcher and Dory and the Real True Friend.

Jean Little Library had several other chapter book reviews as well: The Friendship Garden: Green Thumbs Up!, Tales from Maple Ridge: Logan Pryce Makes a Mess, Puppy Pirates: Stowaway and Puppy Pirates: X Marks the Spot, and a review on its sister blog, Flying Off My Bookshelf, of Little Rhino: My New Team.

There were also a few non-fiction chapter book reviews this month. Geo Librarian reviewed two from National Geographic: Hoops to Hippos and Hoot, Hoot, Hooray! Here at Story Time Secrets, I also reviewed a whole series of non-fiction chapter book titles: Tomie dePaola's memoir, 26 Fairmount Avenue, and two sets of its sequels.

Mom Read It reviewed books from three different series, all published by Scholastic. Eerie Elementary: Recess is a Jungle and Stella and the Night Sprites: Knit-Knotters are both new titles from the Branches imprint, and Paloma (which just came out on Tuesday!) is the third book in the Shelter Pet Squad series.

Other chapter book reviews from this month are below:

• Diva and Flea, reviewed by Kids Book a Day
• Lola Levine is Not Mean, reviewed by Kids Book a Day
• Mouse Scouts Books 1 and 2, reviewed by Jen Robinson's Book Page
• The Miniature World of Marvin and James and James to the Rescue, reviewed by Geo Librarian
• Rider Woofson: The Case of the Missing Tiger's Eye