May 2007 – Reading Katie

Weekly Children’s Book Review

Zee is not Scared by Michel Gay – Favorite, my son has been acting like Zee ever since we read this…dressing up as a ghost saying, “I’m a real ghost!”

Ada’s Pal by George Ella Lyon – OK Favorite, we’re not a pet family…so sometimes stories about pets don’t mean much to us

When the Sun Rose by Barbara Berger – OK Favorite, beautiful illustrations by the artist, but her stories are a little strange sometimes

The Day it Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond – Almost Favorite, a fun book about making valentines

Yes, No, Maybe So by Charise Mericle Harper – Almost Favorite, great book for 2 brothers

Arthur Goes to Camp by Marc Tolon Brown – Almost Favorite, we usually like Arthur

It’s Snowing! by Olivier Dunrea – Almost Favorite, a fun book with snow and a baby

The Mixed-Up Chameleon by Eric Carle – OK Favorite, a little crazy

Curious George in the Big City by H.A. Rey – Almost Favorite, George is entertaining and always getting into mischief

Weekly Children’s Book Review

Picnic by Emily Arnold McCully – OK Favorite, not much of a story

Let’s Play Baseball! by Charles R. Smith – Favorite, my son is just starting to get interested in baseballs and gloves so he liked this one

The Puddle by David M. McPhail – Favorite, every child likes to jump in a puddle

Pig Pig Grows Up by David McPhail – Favorite, very entertaining book about a big “baby” pig

Pigs, Pigs, Pigs! by Leslea Newman – OK Favorite, good rhyming story but not a favorite with my son

Dogs don’t wear Sneakers by Laura Joffe Numeroff – OK Favorite, these books aren’t as good as some of her others, but still enjoyable pictures

What Grandmas do Best; What Grandpas do Best by Laura Joffe Numeroff – Favorite, my son loves all of these books by Numeroff

The Berenstain Bears Lend a Helping Hand by Stan and Jan Berenstain – OK Favorite, still too long for my 2 1/2 year old

Snip Snap! What’s that? by Mara Bergman – Almost Favorite – pretty funny

RecoMonday: Little Women and Good Wives by Louisa May Alcott

I just read Little Women for the first time. I know almost every girl my age has probably already read it because it’s one of those classic stories. It took me a little while to get into it at first, but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think most copies of the book nowadays have the sequel included, but the one I checked out from the library was the original book sold by Louisa May Alcott. Little Women was an instant success and Alcott then wrote the sequel called Good Wives. Today they are most often sold as one book under the title of Little Women. Good Wives picks up 3 years after Little Women ends. Meg gets engaged at the end of Little Women and waits three years for her fiance to provide a home for them. As the sequel hints, the other girls find their spouses and get married later on. I had never heard of Good Wives before, so I had to wait a week or so to get it at my library. I finished it quickly once I got it.

According to Wikipedia, Alcott later wrote Little Men and Jo’s Boys (which followed the lives of the girls’ children), and An Old Fashioned Girl, Rose in Bloom, and How They Turned Out. I might have to look at some of these as well.

I appreciated all the moral teachings in the book. You can tell that Alcott was very religious and her books are clean and safe for children to read. I definitely recommend these books.

Weekly Children’s Book Review

A Tree is Nice by Janice May Udry – OK Favorite, this was a nice book about trees but nothing special

Wings by Christopher A Myers – OK Favorite, a little long for my son but it had a good message

The House across the Street by Jules Feiffer – Favorite, my son loved this book for some reason…it’s about a child jealous of his rich neighbor

The Squiggle by Carole Lexa Schaefer – OK Favorite, imaginative…good for my son who is starting to use his own imagination

Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson – Favorite, very fun story with animals

Bear Dreams by Elisha Cooper – OK Favorite, a little boring but nice and short

The Great Pig Search by Eileen Christelow – OK Favorite, good pictures and fun idea but a little too long

Five Little Monkeys Play Hide and Seek by Eileen Christelow – Almost Favorite, we like these monkey books and my son loves to hear them say, “Ready or Not, Here I come!”

Corduroy’s Garden by Alison Inches – OK Favorite, I remember liking Corduroy when I was little but I don’t think my son really does

Weekly Children’s Book Review

Arthur in a Pickle by Marc Tolon Brown – Almost Favorite, one of the sillier Arthur books

Just Shopping with Mom by Mercer Mayer – Favorite, fun book for mom and son since it’s so true!

Tumble me Tumbily by Karen Baicker – Favorite, crazy rhymes that my son loved

Stella, Queen of the Snow by Marie-Louise Gay – Almost Favorite, fun to read about snow since we live in CA

A Mud Pie for Mother by Scott Beck – Favorite, cute story about a little pig finding a gift for his mother

Zee by Michel Gay – Almost Favorite, very cute little zebra bringing his parents breakfast in bed

Matthew’s Truck by Katherine Ayres – Almost Favorite, my son really liked this story about a truck