FOUR FUN PICTURE BOOK REVIEWS!


ABOUT THE BOOK

A very little bulldozer learns that taking care of kittens is a very big job in this follow-up to Bulldozer’s Big Day .

The construction site bustled.
Cement Truck was stirring…stirring…stirring.
Digger Truck was scooping…scooping…scooping.
Crane Truck was lifting…lifting…lifting.
And Bulldozer was—watching…watching…watching.

Little Bulldozer wants to help, but all the bigger trucks say he is too small. So when Crane Truck says he can clear a bit of debris out of the way, Little Bulldozer is eager for the job. He can do it, yes he can. What he doesn’t expect is to find a family of newborn kittens living in the pile of debris! Can he take care of babies? Now that’s a tough job. A job that happens to be just the right size for Little Bulldozer.

REVIEW

I figured this book would be cute.  After all it's by Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann.  And that smiling little bulldozer on the cover is pretty irresistible.  I thought going in that this was going to be a story about someone little being perfectly capable of helping out the bigger machines.  That isn't a particularly new story line for the preschool crowd.  But I was delightfully surprised to discover that this book took the little helping big storyline to a different place.  After little Bulldozer manages to convince the big construction machines that he can help out, he gets to work.  But the big machines are shocked when they discover that he hasn't done what they asked.  Did Bulldozer not follow through or did he find something more important?  Fleming and Rohmann have created a delightful book with gorgeous illustrations and a sweet story about priorities.  This is one I plan to use for story time.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Laurie Berkner, “the queen of children’s music,” (People) pairs the lyrics of her beloved hit with Ben Clanton’s whimsical illustrations in this winning, adorable picture book—a must-have for fans of Laurie, dinosaurs, and all things cute.

We are the dinosaurs
Marching, marching
We are the dinosaurs

Laurie Berkner’s chart-topping, beloved hit “We Are the Dinosaurs” is now a picture book! Featuring an adorable cast of characters and vibrant, playful art by Ben Clanton, We Are the Dinosaurs transports readers back in time to when the dinosaurs roamed the earth.

WHADDAYA THINK OF THAT?

REVIEW

This book is bound to be a favorite for all dinosaur loving preschoolers.  The illustrations are bright, colorful, and very engaging.  The adventure that the dinosaur friends go on is fun and exciting (picnic on a mountain--volcano).  The main text is made up of the words to Laurie Berkner's song, "We Are the Dinosaurs".  For a story time, it would work well to teach the students the words to the song by reading through the book first, then having the students chant (or sing with the recording) as you repeat the book a second time.  The commentary included with the art adds further opportunities to interact.  I could even see myself having the students (or children in the case of a public library) getting up and marching behind you as you lead them on an adventure.  Loads of fun to be had with this book.


ABOUT THE BOOK

After a trip to the museum, Max writes a letter to his favorite dinosaur, the mighty T. Rex - and the T. Rex writes back! As Max and T. Rex learn about each other's lives, a very unusual friendship develops in this funny and touching story from an award-winning duo. Dinosaur fans will love this interactive picture book with letters and cards to open, and dinosaur facts to discover along the way.

REVIEW

I found this to be a delightfully fun book.  Not only are the illustrations colorful and fun, but there are actual letters (and a postcard) for the reader to open and read (glued to the page).  I read this with my young nephew and he enjoyed it, in addition, his older brother came over and had a peak as we read (not to mention taking the book to read on his own afterwards).  Max is thrilled when he gets the chance to visit the dinosaur room at a museum, but is frustrated when there isn't time to ask as many questions as he wants. Dinosaur Dora, the museum guide, tells him to write letters to T. Rex, because she's sure that T. Rex will write back.  And so begins an amusing correspondence.  Not only is the book fun in and of itself but there are many opportunities here for extension activities (writing a letter, anyone?).


ABOUT THE BOOK

Enchanted prince or just a plain old frog? Pucker up, princesses! Theres only one way to find out.

Fairy tales are just stories, or so Princess Martha believes. But when her sisters meet a talking frog, they're convinced that giving him the royal treatment will turn him into Prince Charming. After all, that's what happens in their story books. Martha isn't so sure. The more she sees of Prince Ribbit, the more suspicious she becomes. Armed with the facts, Martha sets out to expose Prince Ribbit and prove to her sisters that just because it's in a book doesn't mean it's true. But before The End, Princess Martha might just learn that lesson for herself!

REVIEW

I've become a big fan of fractured fairy tales.  There seem to be more and more of them, which is not a bad thing, after all, fairy tales have been around for a long, long time.  But as with most things, some fractured fairy tales are better than others.  And I love this one.  Not only have Emmett and Bernatene created a delightful story in and of itself, the book also points out that 'just because it's in a book doesn't mean it's true" which is something that I struggle to help the children I teach understand (especially when it comes to the Internet).  In this story, a clever frog steps up and tricks Princess Martha's sisters into believing that he is a prince who's been cursed.  But as the two older princesses spoil the frog rotten, Princess Martha becomes suspicious.  She sets out to prove to her sisters that the frog is nothing more than a frog, but they refuse to believe the facts she presents them from her factual books.  But when she turns to fairy tales (which she has never read before) she finds enjoyment as well as the answer to her conundrum.  And the ending?  Well, I don't want to give it away, but it did make me laugh out loud. ;)

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