Review Round-Up: Books for Beginning Readers, July 2015

Each week, my fellow Cybils organizer, Charlotte, compiles a round-up of middle grade science fiction and fantasy reviews from around the blogs. As someone who reads primarily realistic fiction, I find this to be such a useful resource for learning about the latest and greatest books in the sci-fi/fantasy category, even if I don't often read them. I have decided to provide a similar monthly posting here at Story Time Secrets, but focusing on the books in my Cybils category: easy readers and beginning chapter books.

This list, for the month of July, is by no means exhaustive. If I've missed your review, or a review on a blog you love, please share and I will add it the round-up! Please note, however, that I am somewhat particular about my definition of a chapter book, and I reserve the right not to include something I don't think fits the category. Thanks!

(Note: if you think you might want to be a Cybils judge this year, now's the time to get familiar with the requirements. It won't be long before we start accepting applications!)

Easy Readers

It seems that the most popular book for beginning readers so far this summer is What This Story Needs is a Pig in a Wig by Emma Virjan. It was reviewed this month by Kid Lit Reviews, Waking Brain Cells, and Librarian's Quest.

Also popular this month is Mo Willems's latest installment in the Elephant and Piggie series, I Will Take a Nap, which was published in June. Both Jen Robinson's Book Page and Sal's Fiction Addiction recently featured this book.

Jean Little Library's Small Readers feature also covered a few easy reader titles during July: Brave Fire Truck by Melinda Melton Crow, Dino School: Meet Teddy Rex! by Bonnie Williams, Justin and the Bully by Tony and Lauren Dungy, and Welcome, Bao Bao by Gina Shaw.

In the 27th installment of the Seuss on Saturdays series, Becky's Book Reviews covered The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss. Becky also reviewed the latest from Pete the Cat, Pete the Cat's Train Trip by James Dean.

Books4YourKids.com reviewed two easy readers in graphic format from the Toon Books series: We Dig Worms by Kevin McCloskey and Benjamin Bear in Brain Storms by Philippe Coudray. 

Check out the links below for additional reviews of easy readers old and new:

• Budding Reader ebook series, reviewed by The Write Path
• Ling and Ting series, reviewed by House Full of Bookworms 
• Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea by Cynthia Rylant, reviewed by Literary Hoots 
• Peedie by Olivier Dunrea, reviewed by Provo Library Children's Book Reviews

Chapter Books

By far, the most popular chapter book in the blogosphere this month was the sequel to Dory Fantasmagory, entitled Dory and the Real True Friend. There were reviews here at Story Time Secrets, as well as by The Cath in the Hat, Sal's Fiction Addiction, There is a Book for That, Waking Brain Cells, and DIY Del Ray.

A close second in popularity is the beautiful new Toon book, Lost in NYC: A Subway Adventure by Nadia Spiegelman, which was reviewed by Kids Book a Day, Books4YourKids, Sonder Books, and It's All Comic To Me.

Also getting some attention are Piper Green and the Fairy Tree by Ellen Potter, which was reviewed at Waking Brain Cells (Book 1), Jen Robinson's Book Page (Books 1 and 2) and here at Story Time Secrets (Books 1 and 2), as well as Detective Gordon: The First Case, reviewed by Kids Book a Day and Anastasia Suen.

A good bunch of bloggers have also been reading various titles from the Scholastic branches line. Jean Little Library and Geo Librarian both reviewed books in the Dragon Masters series, while Ms. Yingling Reads and Story Time Secrets both focused on the Race the Wild series. Here at Story Time Secrets, I also reviewed the first book in the Silver Pony Ranch series.

Ms. Yingling Reads had two additional chapter book reviews: Backyard Witch: Sadie's Story by Christine Heppermann and Ron Koertge and Pool Party Puzzler by Carolyn Keene, while Jean Little Library had one (Best Friends Forever! and More True Stories of Animal Friendships by Amy Shields) and I had three (The Cabin Faced West by Jean Fritz, the Chime Travelers series by Lisa M. Hendey, and Sprout Street Neighbors: Five Stories by Anna Alter.)

Kids also got into the blogging fun this month! At Blooming Brilliant, Isabella gave a wonderful video review of Jessica Finch in Pig Trouble from the Judy Moody and Friends series, and on his own blog, A Boy's Books, nine-year-old Ben weighed in on Ellray Jakes is Magic! Kidliterati also interviewed nine-year-old Claire about Amelia Bedelia Road Trip by Herman Parish.

There were lots more chapter book reviews this month. Click the links below to see what everyone has been enjoying! 

• Bucky and Stu vs. The Mikanikal Man by Cornelius Van Wright, reviewed by Mundie Kids
• Cinderella Smith by Stephanie Barden, reviewed by Becky's Book Reviews 
• Heidi Hecklebeck Goes to Camp by Wanda Coven, reviewed by The Indianapolis Public Library Kids' Blog
• Judy Moody, Mood Martian by Megan McDonald, reviewed by Muddy Puddle Musings
• Magic Tree House: A Good Night for Ghosts by Mary Pope Osborne, reviewed by The O.W.L.
• Petlandia by Peter Hannan, reviewed by Kids Book a Day 
• The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, reviewed by Crafty Moms Share 
• Puppy Pirates: Stowaway! by Erin Soderberg, reviewed by A Year of Reading
• Ranger in Time: Danger in Ancient Rome by Kate Messner, reviewed by Geo Librarian
• The X'ed-Out X-Ray by Ron Roy, reviewed by Provo Library Children's Book Reviews

10 Picture Books About Ducks & Geese

Ducks and geese are popular characters in picture books. Here are ten titles starring these fluffy feathered friends.

• Duck and Goose by Tad Hills
  Duck and Goose become friends when they each fall in love with a polka dotted ball they believe to be an egg. 
• Gossie by Olivier Dunrea
  Gossie loves to wear red boots every day - a habit which leads her to make a like-minded friend.
• The Day the Goose Got Loose by Reeve Lindbergh, illustrated by Stephen Kellogg
  When the goose gets loose, utter chaos breaks out on the farm in this rhyming story. 
• A Splendid Friend, Indeed by Suzanne Bloom
  A very chatty goose and a quiet, thoughtful bear form an unlikely friendship. (This book was a 2006 Geisel Honor book, meaning it's a great choice for beginning readers!) 
• Petunia by Roger Duvoisin
  When Petunia finds a book, she assumes she has been given all the wisdom necessary to give advice to other farm animals, with silly and hilarious results. 
• Across the Stream by Mirra Ginsburg, illustrated by Nancy Tafuri
  When a mother hen and her chicks are threatened by the presence of a nightmarish fox, they escape across the stream on the backs of a mother duck and her ducklings. 
• Angus and the Ducks by Marjorie Flack
  When Angus the terrier goes out exploring, he has a surprise encounter with some neighborhood ducks, who scare the curiosity right out of him! 
• Little White Duck  illustrated by Joan Paley
  This picture book adaptation of a well-known folk song uses large, colorful images to portray the actions of a duck, frog, bug, and snake. 
• One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Jane Chapman
  This rhythmic counting book tells of the efforts of different animals to rescue the duck who is stuck in the muck down in the marsh. 
• The Fuzzy Duckling by Jane Werner Watson, illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen
  In this Golden Book, a fuzzy little duckling walks down the lane greeting other animals as he goes. 

5 Things I Love About Cotsen Children's Library

Last Monday, on our way home from visiting family in upstate New York, my husband and I stopped in Princeton, New Jersey and took Little Miss Muffet to the Cotsen Children's Library at Princeton University. Cotsen is a division of the university library's Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, and is home to a rare books collection, as well as the Bookscape reading space for families. We spent a little while exploring Bookscape and later, reading some of the online and print materials provided by Cotsen. Here are five things I loved about the experience. 

1. The bonsai tree.  The most appealing part of Bookscape is the two-story bonsai tree which kids can crawl inside to snuggle and read a story. The inside walls of the tree have been engraved with the names of various animals from children's literature, including Tom Sawyer, Eloise, the cast of the Winnie the Pooh series, Frog and Toad, and more. Big comfy pillows make the space inviting, and surely if Miss Muffet hadn't been wound up from not napping the day before, we would have sat down to have a story. As it was, though, she mostly wanted to climb the stairs to the second floor of the tree and look out the window, which was also a lot of fun.
    
2. Puppets. There is also a child-sized puppet theater in Bookscape, which is well-stocked with Folkmanis puppets in wonderful condition. Since this is not a public library per se, it seems that the puppets are not abused in the way puppets were always abused by the patrons at my last library. Miss Muffet enjoyed the bear puppet, which her daddy used to growl at her, and the alligator puppet, with which I snapped at her nose and nibbled her chin. (We also chanted Five Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree.) For kids who are verbal enough to tell their own stories, this section of Bookscape will be even more fun.
   
3. Programming space. Though we did not attend a program, we could see the tables and Narnia-esque supply closet in the space where programs are held. This area is bright and welcoming, and there is a well-stocked bookshelf nearby with all kinds of favorite picture books lined up along its rows. Knowing the kinds of programs that are offered, it seems like the ideal space, and I definitely think the program performers are very lucky! (Even Miss Muffet liked the furniture. She kept saying, "Chair! Chair!")
   
4. Outreach blog. Visiting Cotsen in person renewed my interest in its outreach blog, Pop Goes the Page, which is written by Education & Outreach Coordinator Dana Sheridan. The blog focuses on activities related to children's books, and often provides instructions for replicating the activity at home or in a classroom. We have yet to try any of the projects, but I have my eye on these fairy houses and this Cheshire cat grin for homeschool projects in a few years!
   
5. 350 for 50. We took a copy of each handout that was available in the gallery when we visited, including the summer 2015 edition of Picture Book Press, which happened to be the issue featuring the winners of the annual 350 for 50 contest. The contest challenges kids ages 9 to 14 to write a 350-word story using a specific sentence. Not only is this a great idea, but the winning stories are amazing, especially knowing the ages of the authors.

If you are ever passing through Princeton, definitely plan a visit to the Cotsen Children's Library. Directions and hours are available on the library's website. There are some rules (also listed on the hours page) - no playgroups, no food, no photography, etc. - so make sure you are aware of those before you go, but otherwise, this is the perfect place to let your little guys stretch their legs during a long car trip, or if you're local, to visit regularly for snuggles and stories.

Summer Camp Story Time, 7/10/15

When I was visiting my family recently, I volunteered to do a story time for my mom's summer camp kids. This audience included 20-25 "pee wees", all between the ages of 4 and 6, and my theme was nature. I haven't done a story time for this age group since I left the library, so this was a special treat, and the kids were one of the best groups I've ever had! Here is what I shared with them. 

Opening Song with Ukulele: Hello, how are you? 

I spent the morning before this performance playing every hello song I know on the ukulele and trying to choose one other than my usual. And then  I went with the usual. As basic as it is, it really works, and the kids happily participated.

Book: Who Was Here? by Mia Posada 

I received a digital ARC of this book when it came out last year, and it was the first book I chose for this story time. It is a guessing game which shows animal footprints, provides some rhyming clues, and then asks the reader, "Who was here?" The only issue I had was that some of the pages provided clues for two animals, and I had to manage guesses for both at the same time. (It helped that the kids just naturally raised their hands instead of just calling out, which is not something I usually enforce.) Otherwise, this book was a much better choice than either How to Be a Nature Detective or Around the Pond: Who's Been Here? which I used when I did this theme three years ago. 

Book: Birdsongs by Betsy Franco and Steve Jenkins 

I love this book, which focuses on birds and their calls. The text counts down from ten to one by asking the reader to make the sound of the first bird mentioned ten times, the next one nine times, and so on. It can sometimes be difficult to get the kids to count all the calls together, but this group was amazing. I think there was only one time where we had an extra "tweet" or "chirp" after the count was finished. Otherwise, they were perfect. (Incidentally, I read this book to Little Miss Muffet so many times in preparation for the story time, that any time we mention a chickadee now, she pretends to count six "dees" on her fingers.) 

Song: Visor, Tee Shirt, Shorts and Shoes 

This song (which is one of my favorite extension activities for school-age kids) continues to be my secret weapon. I used the summer version, since this is a summer camp, and the kids laughed on cue when I introduced each silly element. I could probably have done more verses, but kids were starting to call out suggestions and I didn't want us to run out of time, so we just did moose antlers, bat wings, squirrel tail, and tiger claws. 

Book with Ukulele: Over in the Ocean in a Coral Reef by Marianne Berkes 

I have never been able to do this book with the ukulele because I don't usually have help. This time, though, I enlisted my mom to do the hand motions, and a camp counselor to hold the book, and we turned it into a multimedia presentation. We were not that well-rehearsed, but the kids were into it anyway, and they enjoyed seeing some of their fish friends from Finding Nemo. 

Song: Taba Naba 

It has been a long time since I did this song with a group, and I had a harder time modeling the motions than I thought I would. The kids didn't mind at all, and seemed to enjoy the challenge, but I know I could have explained it a lot more clearly. I will work on the presentation if I ever have an opportunity like this again. 

Goodbye Song: We Wave Goodbye Like This
I didn't even bother trying to come up with a different goodbye song. This one worked fine, as always.