The Very Quiet Cricket

Picture Books

This predictable, repeating book follows a little cricket through his day.  Many other insects say "Good Morning" to the cricket, however when he tries to say something back, his wings make no sound.  Each time the cricket tried to rub his wings together, nothing happened.  Until he meets a tiny cricket who was almost just as quiet.  This time, on his last try, the cricket rubbed his wings together and they "chirped the most beautiful sound that she had ever heard".



Title: The Very Quiet Cricket
Author: Eric Carle
Publisher/Date: Philomel Books/1990
ISBN: 0-399-21885-8
Rating: 5 out of 5

Caps For Sale

Picture Books

The peddler in this story walks through town every day trying to sell his caps.  He is not like any other peddler, because he carries his caps on his head.  When he decides to take a nap one hot day, a group of monkeys take all his caps!  How will he get them back?? This book has great illustrations, and a fun story for children and adults!

Title: Caps For Sale
Author: Esphyr Slobodkina
Publisher/Date: William R. Scott, Inc./1940
ISBN: 0-201-09147-X
Rating:  5 out of 5

What Do You Say, Dear?

Picture Books

What Do You Say, Dear? is a "book of manners for all occasions" that teaches children what to say in certain situations.  The author uses silly examples of situations you may find yourself in, but provides a proper way of responding.  On one page, a character is flying around in his airplane and decides to 'drop in' on one of his friends...only it makes a huge hole in her roof.  What does he say? Well, "Sorry", of course!

Title: What Do You Say, Dear?
Author: Sesyle Joslin
Illustrator: Maurice Sendak
Publisher/Date: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company/1958
ISBN: 0-06-023074-6
Rating: 5 out of 5

Bed Bugs

Decodable Texts

Bed Bugs is book 8 of set 3 in the Bob Books series.  Bed Bugs targets the short vowels such as "ten", "bed", and "end", along with the short /u/ sound as in "jump", "bump", and "fuss".  The downfall of this book, along with many other decodable texts, is that the illustrations are not at all appealing.  For this reason, I am rating the book 4 out of 5 stars.




Title: Bed Bugs
Author: Bobby Lynn Maslen
Illustrator: John R. Maslen
Publisher/Date: Scholastic Inc./1996
ISBN: 0-439-17567-4
Rating: 4 out of 5

Summer

Decodable Texts


Book 5 of set 3 in the Bob Books series, Summer, focuses on short vowels.  Words such as "hat", "sat", and "swam" are repeated in the book, along with "jumped", "ducks", and "sun".  This short decodable text follows Molly and her mom in their adventures on a hot summer day.  Unfortunately, these illustrations are less than impressive.




Title: Summer
Author: Bobby Lynn Maslen
Illustrator: John R. Maslen
Publisher/Date: Scholastic Inc./1996
ISBN: 0-439-17564-X
Rating: 4 out of 5

Frogs

Decodable Texts

This book is part of the Word Families, set 3, in the Bob Books series.  Frogs focuses on short vowel sounds, along with a few sight words.  I rated this book a 4 out of 5 stars because of the quality of illustrations.

Title: Frogs

Author: Bobby Lynn Maslen

Illustrator: John R. Maslen

Publisher/Date: Scholastic Inc./1996

ISBN: 0-439-17562-3

Rating: 4 out of 5

Good Dog, Carl

Wordless Picture Books

This classic board book, Good Dog, Carl, is also a wordless picture book about a Rottweiler and a baby.  The illustrations show Carl take the little girl on an adventure, right after her mother leaves the house for the day.  Wordless picture books are great for readers to use their imagination and make up their own personal story.

Title: Good Dog, Carl

Author: Alexandra Day

Publisher/Date: Little Simon/1985

ISBN: 0689807481

Rating: 5 out of 5

Pancakes For Breakfast

Wordless Picture Books

This book, Pancakes For Breakfast, is a great wordless picture book!  Pancakes For Breakfast follows a woman on a farm in her quest to make the perfect pancakes for her breakfast.  However, while preparing her ingredients, disaster strikes and she must now find a way to make the pancakes she has been dreaming of.  Great illustrations allow readers to develop a storyline of their own as they follow her in her baking.



Title: Pancakes For Breakfast
Author/Illustrator: Tomie DePaola
Publisher/Date: Harcourt Brace & Company/1978
ISBN: 0-15-670768-3
Rating: 5 out of 5

Good Night, Gorilla

Wordless Picture Books

Good Night, Gorilla is a book written and illustrated by Peggy Rathmann that lets you create your own story.  Although there are speech bubbles on some pages, this wordless picture book allows the reader to predict what will happen as the zookeeper is closing up the zoo for the night.  Readers can make up their own story as they watch this mischievous little monkey unlock the zoo animals.




Title: Good Night, Gorilla
Author/Illustrator: Peggy Rathmann
Publisher/Date: G. P. Putnam's Sons/1994
ISBN: 0-399-23003-3
Rating: 5 out of 5

Chicka Chicka abc

Board Books


Chicka Chicka abc is a shortened, board book form of the original Chicka Chicka Boom Boom written by Bill Martin Jr.  This version introduces children to lowercase letters with a fun, sing-song text.  Bright colors, rhymes, and letters climbing a coconut tree will be sure to captivate many readers.


Title: Chicka Chicka abc
Authors: Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault
Illustrator: Lois Ehlert
Publisher/Date: Little Simon/1989
ISBN: 978-0-671-87893-1
Rating: 5 out of 5

Duck and Goose, How Are You Feeling?

Board Books


Tad Hills writes numerous children's books that follow the adventures of Duck and Goose.  This particular book, Duck and Goose, How Are You Feeling? explores many different emotions children may have and situations that may make them feel that way.  This book is very relatable for all ages and has very bright and captivating illustrations.  I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars, because I did not like that there is only one word per page, and there doesn't seem to be a story line.  That being said, many children like to make up their own stories for what may have happened in the book to make Duck or Goose feel the way they do; this book would be perfect for them.

Title: Duck and Goose, How Are You Feeling?
Author: Tad Hills
Publisher/Date: Schwartz & Wade Books/2009
ISBN: 978-0-375-84629-8
Rating: 3 out of 5

Horns to Toes and In Between

Board Books



I recently read Horns to Toes and In Between by Sandra Boynton, because I am a big fan of her books.  This book in particular talks about the different body parts from your head to your toes.  Using large, fuzzy monsters in her pictures, Sandra Boynton makes this book fun for all ages.




Title: Horns to Toes and In Between
Author: Sandra Boynton
Publisher & Date: Little Simon Books/1984
ISBN Number: 0-671-49319-1
Rating: 5 out of 5; Fun illustrations and rhyming text captures children as they learn parts of the body