DELIA'S DULL DAY: AN INCREDIBLY BORING STORY by Andy Myer

Lexile     Not Rated          Pages     32          Ages     4 - 8

Delia's life is boring.  Bor-r-r-r-ring!  Nothing exceptional ever  happens.  But is Delia paying attention?  When she is pouring milk on her breakfast cereal does she notice the mama and baby elephant walking through the room?  Or as she walks to school, busy on her video game, does she see all of the colorful hot air balloons in the sky?  No.  Delia always looks straight ahead, never looking at what is happening around her and failing to see all the exciting fun.

I think this is a great lesson for kids!  It is a good thing to be focused on your task-at-hand, but you need to be aware of what is happening around you at the same time.  By always focusing straight ahead Delia misses out on all of the magical and exciting things in her life.  From butterflies pouring out of her tuba, to the pirate riding the school bus, to the scuba diver coming up in the commode while she is brushing her teeth, Andy Myer's colorful, imaginative illustrations will teach children to open their eyes to the wonderful world around them.

Happy Reading!

Miss Laurie

Delia's Dull Day  can be checked out at any Lake County Public Library, or click here http://tinyurl.com/b6blzpn and with your library card number and PIN you can place a hold for easy pickup at your favorite branch.

NO DOGS ALLOWED! by Anne Davis

Lexile     Not Rated          Pages     32          Ages 4-7

Feline friends, Bud and Gabby, have been best friends for a long time.  They have their favorite things they like to do and Bud likes things just the way they are.  The main thing Bud doesn't like is DOGS.  Then one day Cookie shows up at the house and Bud is not at all happy.  Cookie sleeps in his favorite chair, she sniffs everything and she has this big old sloppy pink tongue - YUK!  But Gabby likes Cookie and plays with her and shares her toys and treats with her.  For Bud, this is the final insult and he kicks Cookie out and posts a sign, "NO DOGS!"  Things are back to normal until Gabby sees a big storm cloud headed their way.  She is worried and Bud knows why.  Bud gathers up an umbrella and rain coats and takes Gabby out in the storm to look for Cookie.  They find her and bring her home and Bud helps Gabby make Cookie warm and comfy, showing that he's just a big pussy cat after all.

Children who have had the experience of a new baby or a new kid on the block will quickly recognize Bud's feelings when Cookie comes on the scene.  They will enjoy Davis' colorful illustrations showing Bud and Gabby doing things just like they do - coloring, reading, and eating cheese and crackers.  Bud's change of heart will show little ones that change can be a good thing and friendships can be shared.

Give yourself a treat and pick up a copy of No Dogs Allowed.

Happy Reading!

Miss Laurie

No Dogs Allowed can be checked out at any Lake County Public Library, or click here http://tinyurl.com/ar9nwr3 and with your library card number and PIN you can place a hold for easy pickup at your favorite branch.



BEAR HAS A STORY TO TELL by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead

Lexile     540          Pages     32          Ages     5 - 7

"It was almost winter and Bear was getting sleepy."

Bear wants to tell his friends a story before he hibernates for the winter but they all are busy preparing for the cold weather.  Mouse has to collect food to last and Bear helps but then Mouse hurries into her hole.  Duck has to fly south and Bear helps determine which way the wind is blowing and then Duck takes off, telling Bear, "I will miss you, Bear!"  So it goes with Bear helping his friends but none of them taking time to hear his story.  Finally, Bear crawls in his den and goes to sleep.

When spring arrives, Bear makes sure all of his friends are okay and gathers them 'round to hear his story but it has been so long that he has forgotten it!  His friends try to help him remember and Bear starts his new story with, "It was almost winter and Bear was getting sleepy," which takes the story full circle.

This book by husband and wife team Philip and Erin Stead is about friendship.  In helping his friends prepare for the winter, Bear shows children what being a good friend is all about.  My opinion is that it shows what not being a good friend is too.  Bear helps all of his friends yet not one of them will take the time to hear his story. To me, that is not being a good friend.

Erin Stead's illustrations are just adorable!  You can really tell how sleepy Bear is as he helps his friends and you can feel his consternation as he tries to remember his story.  As an added bonus, Bear Has a Story To Tell teaches children about animals and how each one prepares differently for cold weather.

Bear Has a Story To Tell would be a great addition to your child's reading list.

Happy Reading!

Miss Laurie

Bear Has a Story To Tell can be checked out at any Lake County Public Library, or click here
http://tinyurl.com/awew4da and with your library card number and PIN you can place a hold for easy pickup at your favorite branch.

BUBBA THE COWBOY PRINCE by Helen Ketteman, illustrated by James Warhola

Lexile     620          Pages     32          Ages     4 - 8

Bubba lives on a ranch with his wicked stepdaddy and his lazy, no-good stepbrothers, Dwayne and Milton.  While Dwayne and Milton are spoiled rotten, Bubba has to work from sunup to sundown doing his chores as well as theirs, but he never complains because ranching is what he loves.

Miz Lurleen lives up the road on the biggest ranch west of the Brazos.  She is "purty," rich, and loves ranching - every cowboy's dream girl, and she has decided she wants to get married. She throws a ball and invites all the ranchers in Texas.

 

On the day of the ball, Milton and Dwayne and their daddy are beside themselves with excitement!  They run poor Bubba's legs off, fetching this and polishing that.  Finally, they are ready to leave and Bubba asks, "Can't you wait for me to get ready?"  The boys and their Daddy laugh and laugh.  "Are you kiddin' me?  You smell more like the cattle than the cattle do!"  They drive off in the wagon leaving Bubba alone.  He forlornly rides off on his horse to check the herd. 

Just as he sets foot in the pasture he is struck off his horse by a bolt of lightning and he hears a voice say, "Go to the ball, Bubba."  He looks around and sees nothing but cows.  He figures he's "bonked the bejeebers out of his bean" because the voice is coming from a cow.  She says, "I'm your fairy godcow," and sets him up with fancy duds and a white stallion and sends him off to the ball, warning him that the magic runs out at midnight.

Bubba has a grand time at the ball but loses track of the time.  The clock strikes twelve and he becomes dirty, smelly Bubba once more.  He runs off in embarrassment, leaving behind an old, dirty cowboy boot.

The next day, Miz Lurleen goes from ranch to ranch with the boot, looking for the cowboy who had stolen her heart.  To the shock and despair of Milton and Dwayne, she finally finds Bubba and they ride off into the sunset on their way to happily ever after.

Bubba is Cinderfella, Texas style.  With its western language and humor it will especially appeal to the boys, but it will certainly have everyone in stitches.  You can't help but read it in a "Texas twang" and the outstanding illustrations by James Warhola, nephew of artist Andy Warhol, are tons of fun.

Rope yourself a copy of Bubba the Cowboy Prince and you'll be sure to have a whoppin' good time!

Happy Reading!
Miss Laurie

Click here http://tinyurl.com/arrgdtp and order a copy of Bubba the Cowboy Prince for pick up at your favorite branch of the Lake County Public Library.

NORA THE MIND READER by Orit Gidal, illustrated by Aya Gordon-Noy

Lexile     Not Rated          Pages     32          Ages     4 - 8

Nora comes home from Kindergarten and tells her mother that a boy in her class had called her "flamingo legs." Although she wasn't quite sure what it meant she knew it was an insult.  Mommy gives her a big hug and then gives her something special - a magic wand!  When Nora looked through the wand (that has an amazing resemblance to a bubble wand) she could see what people were thinking as well as hear what they were saying.  And it was the oddest thing . . . . they weren't always the same!  The little boy who is saying, "I'm hungry," is really thinking, "I want some chocolate."  The child who says, "I don't feel like playing," is feeling insecure, thinking, "I don't feel like losing."  Looking through the wand, Nora begins to understand that people don't always say what they think or mean what they say, and being insulted doesn't make any sense. So she decides to do something about it.  The next day she goes to school and tells the boy who called her flamingo legs how nice his smile is and invites him to her house to play . . . . and he agrees!  Nora gives Mommy her magic wand and tells her she now knows how to make magic without it.

Nora the Mind Reader will help children understand the confusing idea that people don't always say what they mean, often because they are insecure.  The simple illustrations, done in crayon on a cream background, create a friendly ambiance in which to explore this paradox of human nature.

Happy Reading!

Miss Laurie

Nora the Mind Reader can be checked out at any Lake County Public Library, or click here

http://tinyurl.com/btwrpof and with your library card number and PIN you can place a hold for easy pickup at your favorite branch.

MOUSETRONAUT by Astronaut Mark Kelly, illustrated by C.F. Payne

Lexile     670          Pages     32          Ages     5-7

Final preparations are being made for the space shuttle mission and NASA is sending some mousey guests on this flight.  The mice are working hard at their training, hoping to be one of the ones chosen for this important mission.  The smallest mouse, Meteor, is training hardest of all and to the surprise of all the other mice he is chosen!  During take-off the bigger mice are afraid and when they reach outer space where there is no gravity they don't like that either.  But Meteor is unafraid and has all kinds of fun floating around the spacecraft.  During the flight the astronauts are very busy, taking spacewalks and doing experiments.  Meteor is disappointed because there is nothing he can do to help. But then, "Oh no!" The key for the control panel has fallen into a crack between two computers and none of the astronauts can reach it.  Meteor thinks, "Finally! Something I can do to be helpful!"  He squeezes into the crack and pulls with all of his mousey strength, the key comes loose and he takes it out to the astronauts.  Meteor has saved the mission!  When the flight returns to Earth, Meteor is declared a hero and given a brand new space suit and the official title of Mousetronaut!

The story of Meteor is partially true - he is based on a small mouse that accompanied Mark Kelly and his crew on their first mission on the space shuttle Endeavour.  While the real Meteor remained in the cage for the entire flight, he stirred Kelly's imagination and the outcome was this book.

Mousetronaut is a fun way to introduce space travel to young children. It also demonstrates how important team work can be and lets children know that being small can be just as important as being big - there is a niche in life for one and all.

Happy Reading!

Miss Laurie

Mousetronaut can be checked out at any Lake County Public Library, or click here
http://tinyurl.com/cq4ur5r and with your library card number and PIN you can place a hold for easy pickup at your favorite branch.

VELCOME by Kevin O'Malley

Lexile     370          Pages     36          Ages 6-9

This is a book of scary stories . . . . sort of.  There is the coffin that follows Freddie home, the Viper, mysterious rapping, and some VERY SCARY PICTURES (wink-wink.)   They build up to a highly suspenseful point and then you turn the page and each one has a "punny" (sorry!) ending. : )

Reading Velcome aloud is the best fun!  The narrator is a Peter Lorre-esque character sitting in his reading chair wearing a very suave robe complete with ascot, and a book open on his lap.  Reading the scary part of each story in a Vincent Price style, throwing in a Transylvanian accent will help build the suspense as well as upping the fun factor.  Children who are starting to get the idea of jokes, especially puns, will laugh right out loud but the younger crowd may not always make the connections.

While I'm always up for a good pun, the funniest part of the book for me was the narrator's dog who keeps popping up on a page, holding up a sign berating the intelligence of the story and warning readers that for their own good they should "just stop reading . . . . now!" His expressions are great, showing just how exasperated he is.  In the end he is storming out the front door with a sign declaring, "I'm outta this nut hut!" : )

As a really fun read, Kevin O'Malley's Velcome is right at the top of the list.

Happy Reading!

Miss Laurie

Velcome can be checked out at any Lake County Public Library, or click here http://tinyurl.com/c9snvhb
and with your library card number and PIN you can place a hold for easy pickup at your favorite branch.