This Book Just Ate My Dog! by Richard Byrne (Grades PreK-2)
This book gives new meaning to pictures being lost in the gutter. Bella
takes her dog for a walk across the spread. She makes it to the next
page, but her pet doesn't—he begins to disappear into the middle of the
book. Bella tells her friend Ben what happened, and he tries to
investigate but gets lost himself. A dog rescue car, a fire truck, and a
police car all come to help but vanish into the middle as well, so the
child finally goes in to check it out herself. A note then appears from
Bella, telling readers to turn and shake the book. Everything and
everyone come out, and all is set right again—almost. Byrne's comical
play on the book's gutter will entertain kids and adults. The subtle
background is done in a muted palette so the focus remains on the action
and the vivid characters in the foreground. This book will make for a
good one-on-one reading, giving children an opportunity to save the day.
Pair it with Hervé Tullet's Press Here (Chronicle, 2011) to afford
children the chance to participate actively with the story.—Emily E.
Lazio, School Library Journal
I Wish You More by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld (Grades PreK-6)
The North Star by Peter Reynolds (Grades 1-4)
This well-meaning and thoughtful book showcases charming ink and watercolor illustrations; it is also somewhat derivative. The narrative opens, "A sweet breeze met the boy as he awoke to his journey. He traveled on all fours for quite some time…and he grew. And he paused." These lines are very soothing and accompanied by pictures that show a baby staring out from under a tree, crawling through some grass, and sitting cross-legged meditatively. Then the lengthy story meanders as the boy follows a rabbit down a path, wonders about a leaf and the stars, and meets a cat who advises him to start his journey so he won't "be left behind." The child replies, "Oh, but I have been on a journey…I've seen many wonderful things. Some I understand, and some I don't…like how that leaf floats on the water." The child continues his travels, meeting other animals who give advice and make pronouncements about the journey of life, a frog concluding that he is content to stay in his bog where he swam as a tadpole and grew into an adult. These philosophical musings, while simply stated, are unlikely to find a wide audience.—Kirsten Cutler, School Library Journal
Boris on the Move by Andrew Joyner (Grades 1-3)
Meet Boris, an anthropomorphized warthog who dreams of adventure. He longs to travel and perform acts of derring-do, just like Captain Clive, the hero of his favorite book. He lives in a bus with his parents in Greater Hogg Bay, but the bus never goes anywhere, and neither does Boris. Until one day, it does. Part of Scholastic’s new Branches line, this aims to fill the gap between leveled readers and chapter books by combining elements of the two formats, with heavily illustrated pages supporting a simple and direct plot. There is even a comic-book element, as all dialogue is presented in speech bubbles. Readers won’t be aware that they are being gently guided between reading levels, but they will certainly enjoy this tale of wanderlust. Boris is a relatable fellow, and the disconnect between his idea of adventure and his parents’ is amusingly communicated by the illustrations.-- Kara Jean, Booklist
AV2 State Books (Grades 2-6)
AV2 State Books (Grades 2-6)
Calling All Pets! (Pet Hotel Series) by Kate Finch (Grades 2-4)
Twins Meg and Charlie have moved with their parents into the Diamond Hotel, which is owned by their great-great-aunt. They are there to help run the business so their aunt does not need to sell the hotel and move into a retirement home. The family arrives to find a building, although architecturally interesting, in need of repair, and the business faltering. When a neighboring business owner is injured, the twins volunteer to take care of his puppy. That leads another neighbor to ask the twins to take care of her pet rabbit while she is away at a family function. Both pet-sitting jobs go well, and when another neighbor asks for them to take care of her pet, the idea comes to the family to convert the floundering Diamond Hotel into a pet hotel. Simple and engaging, this title and others in the series should appeal to most children, especially animal lovers. --Suanne Roush, Booklist
The Only Game by Mike Lupica (Grades 4-6)
On the official opening day of baseball in his small town, Jack Callahan, superlative seventh grade shortstop and arguably the best pitcher in town, surprisingly quits at the end of an outstanding first practice. Jack and his best friend Gus had expected to be strong contenders in the Atlantic League with aspirations of playing in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. Believing that an earlier tragedy involving his older brother Brad was all his fault, Jack takes a break from the only game he ever loved. This hiatus is short-lived, and he soon finds himself back at the diamond coaching girls softball. Slowly, he makes it back to his own team. Loyalty, friendship, courage, and teamwork are key components in the novel. Jack and his teammates have a falling out after Jack's decision to quit the team before the season even starts. This leads to new friendships with Cassie, a strong female character, and Teddy, an overweight, friendly guy whom Jack protects from bullying. Various acts of courage are displayed by Cassie, Teddy, and Jack. Lupica lays the foundation for a great sports series where friendship carries the characters through tribulations. Middle-grade readers will easily identify with the four friends. Although the story is sports related, this is more than a baseball book and will appeal to a wide variety of readers. —Glynis Jean Wray, School Library Journal
Angus and Sadie by Cynthia Voigt (Grades 4-6)
Mister and Missus go to the animal shelter to choose a dog and come home with two mixed-breed puppies (part border collie, part shepherd, part unknown) that they name Angus and Sadie. The pups explore Mister and Missus' farm in Maine and quickly settle into their routine. Larger than his sister and quick to learn, Angus becomes the leader; Sadie, the runt of the litter and burdened by a cast on her leg, is more timid than her brother. As they grow over the next year, Angus trains hard and participates in dog trials, while Sadie shows her mettle by saving a sheep and standing up to the cats. Children who love dogs may find it fascinating to read a novel that so vividly imagines their thoughts and their communications with each other. Innocent in spirit and illustrated with several small drawings per chapter, this book will also suit younger children who are reading beyond their grade level. Carolyn Phelan, Booklist
Serafina's Promise by Ann E. Burg (Grades 4-6)
Serafina is an 11-year-old Haitian struggling to keep her dream of becoming a doctor alive. Living in a desolate mountain village, Serafina toils at her daily chores while planning to attend school in the requisite uniform and shoes. Serafina has a warm family, a true friend in Julie Marie, and an encouraging woman doctor, who all come to support her vision. Then a flood washes away the family home, and the roaring stampede of an earthquake devastates the city of Port-au-Prince, where Serafina’s father works and Julie Marie lives. In this novel in verse, the author of the acclaimed All the Broken Pieces (2009) uses a lush narrative bouquet, filled with blooms of quiet verse, rhythmic Creole, and Haitian proverbs and sayings that capture life’s poignancy and hardships, including a message that Serafina has learned from an early age: “If you want your eggs to hatch, sit on them yourself.” In Burg’s lyrical tale, Serafina is a force of nature in her own right who carries her family, friends, and dreams to safe ground. --Gail Bush, Booklist
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