The Children's Hour - Children's Book Reviews - First Grade

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEWS
FIRST GRADE
NOTABLE BOOKS 2004

First Grade

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A Pocketful of Cricket
written by Rebecca Caudill, illus. by Evaline Ness, (Henry Holt Books, $18.95), 48p, Ages 5-8.
One lazy August day a farm boy finds a cricket and they become best friends. When school begins, Cricket goes along, but his "Chee! Chee! Chee!" disturbs the class. Good thing it is show and tell. Originally published 40 years ago, this delightful tale will still charm children.

A Spree in Paree
written & illus. by Catherine Stock, (Holiday House, $16.95), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Farmer Monsieur Monmouton decides to visit Paris, but so do the farm animals that are packed and ready to go. They have a wonderful time visiting all the famous landmarks, but the farmer returns home exhausted, vowing never again to travel with animals. However, the animals are busy planning their next trip to America.

Actual Size
written & illus. by Steve Jenkins (Houghton Mifflin Co., $16.00), 32p, Ages 5-8.
On each page, animals in cut paper style are shown in their actual size. On some pages, only a hand or foot is depicted due to the largeness of the animal. In thumbnail images, the endpapers explain about habitat and behavior. This is a great book for teaching concepts.

Animals Asleep
written by Sneed B. Collard III, illus. by Anik McGrory, (Houghton Mifflin, $15.00), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Animals, like humans, have a biological need for sleep, but in many different ways. A Sooty Tern takes a nap in midair. A Bottlenose Dolphin puts half of its brain to sleep while swimming. These are only a few of the many unusual animals that have remarkable sleep habits.

The Best Pet of All
written by David La Rochelle, illus. by Hanako Wakiyama, (Dutton Children's Books, $15.99), 32p, Ages 5+.
Dogs are too messy and loud says Mom, but dragons are okay if her little son can find one. And find one he does - in the drugstore. Roasting hot dogs in the living room and eating spaghetti in the bathtub, Mom is upset, but the dragon will not leave. However, it seems that the dragon is afraid of dogs.

The Cabbage Soup Solution
written & illus. by Erika Oller, (Dutton Children's Books, $15.99), 32p, Ages 4-7.
Elsie, a cabbage farmer, discovers that half of her crop is missing. With the help of her two cats and some cabbage soup, the bunny culprits end up becoming part of the family and even keep her warm at night.

Ella the Elegant Elephant
written by Carmela D'Amico, illus. by Steven D'Amico, (Arthur A. Levine Books, $16.95), 56p, Ages 4-8.
Ella is the littlest elephant on Elephant Island and very nervous about her first day of school. Wearing her grandmother's red hat for good luck, Ella faces a lot of teasing until her hat saves the day.

Flusi, the Sock Monster
written & illus. by Bine Brandle, (Kane/Miller Publishers, $15.95), 32p, Ages 3-7.
Flusi is a small blue monster who hides in the laundry room and thinks that socks are "everything". Using socks to hide in, wear, or decorate his cave, Flusi is happy but lonely. One day he is rescued from the washing machine by a small girl, and they learn that compromises must be made in order to maintain a friendship.

Germs
written & illus. by Ross Collins, (Bloomsbury Books, $16.95), 32p, Ages 4-8.
A hilarious look at illness from the germ's viewpoint. Pox is a wash out at the Germ Academy and does not like making people ill. When he is sent to infect a little girl, he draws up a plan to help the immune system and fight off the other germs that are coming.

Gotta Go! Gotta Go!
written by Sam Swope, illus. by Sue Riddle, (Farrar Straus Giroux Sunburst, $5.95), 30p, Ages 3-7.
A small black and yellow caterpillar creeps across a meadow. When asked her destination, she replies, "I gotta go! I gotta go! I gotta go to Mexico!" On her journey, she meets a grasshopper, an ant, and takes a long rest to emerge as a Monarch butterfly and complete her journey to Mexico.

Guji Guji
written & illus. by Chih-Yuan Chen, (Kane/Miller Publishers, $15.95), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Raised with a duck family, Guji Guji knows that he is a bit different from his brothers, but he loves them anyway. When three bad crocodiles appear and threaten to eat the duck family, this small crocodile proves that family is more important and worth protecting.

The Hippo-NOT-amus
written by Tony & Jan Payne, illus. by Guy Parker-Rees, (Orchard Books, $15.95), 32p, Ages 4-8.
In this heartwarming story, a young hippo tries to become like other animals. With a silly text and bright illustrations, Hippo finally discovers that happiness is found in ones own backyard with Mom and Dad.

I Know a Shy Fellow Who Swallowed a Cello
written by Barbara S. Garriel, illus. by John O'Brien, (Boyds Mills Press, $15.95), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Based on an old folk rhyme, a shy young man decides, for unexplained reasons, to swallow many musical instruments. When he consumes a tiny bell, everything is belched up in reverse. It is very nonsensical but loads of fun for kids.

I Wanna Iguana
written by Karen Kaufman Orloff, illus. by David Catrow, (G.P. Putnam's Sons, $15.99) 32p, Ages 4-7.
Alex wants an Iguana, and in a series of notes to Mom, he pleads the benefits of owning one. Family debates have never been funnier.

Jingle the Brass
written by Patricia Newman, illus. by Michael Chesworth, (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $16.50), 32p, Ages 4-8.
For children who love trains, this book is a must. Set in the day of steam locomotion, an engineer teaches a young boy railroad language describing the cars, freight, and people.

Jungle Drums
written & illus. by Graeme Base, (Harry N. Abrams, $18.95), 40p, Ages 4-7.
Little Ngiri, the smallest warthog in Africa, is tired of being teased by the beautiful animals across the river. When Ngiri is given magic drums, his wish is granted in a very different way. As always, Base's illustrations are marvelous.

La La Rose
written & illus. by Satomi Ichikawa, (Philomel Books, $15.99), 40p, Ages 4-7.
A beloved stuffed rabbit accompanies Clementine and her family to the Luxembourg Gardens. When accidentally lost, La La Rose experiences many trials and tribulations before reunited with Clementine.

Make Way for McCloskey
written & illus. by Robert McCloskey, (Viking Children's Books, $25.00), 144p, Ages 4-8.
Generations of children were raised on the Robert McCloskey's stories, and eight are featured together for the first time in this marvelous collection. From his 1941 "Make Way for Ducklings" to his last, "One Morning in Maine", this is a fitting tribute to an unforgettable storyteller.

Manuelo the Playing Mantis
written & illus. by Don Freeman, (Viking Children's Books, $15.99), 32p, Ages 4-7.
Manuelo longs to join in the summer outdoor concerts with the other bugs, but has problems making an instrument. Nothing works until Debbie Webster, a clever spider, shows him a way to construct a cello. This opens up a whole new world to Manuelo.

Mary Was a Little Lamb
written by Gloria Rand, illus. by Ted Rand, (Henry Holt, $16.95), 32p, Ages 4-7.
Based on a true story, a forgotten and abandoned lamb is adopted by a caring lady on Cranberry Island, but Mary is too curious and becomes a nuisance to the island inhabitants. Mrs. Paradise comes up with a perfect solution and Mary goes to the mainland petting zoo where all can visit her.

Mrs. Murphy's Pumpkin
written by Rick Walton, illus. by Delana Bettoli, (HarperFestival, $8.99), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Four days before Halloween Mrs. Murphy finds a pumpkin by her front door. Threatening to eat her, Mrs. Murphy quietly places the pumpkin outside. Day by day, the pumpkin returns with a warning and the woman responds by sending it farther away. By Halloween Mrs. Murphy decides to make a lovely pie for trick-or-treaters.

The Nothing King
written by Elle van Lieshout & Erik van Os, illus. by Paula Gerritsen, (Front Street Books, $15.95), 32p, Ages 4-7.
King Bear decides to move from his castle to a third floor apartment and discovers that having nothing is more rewarding than have everything. He likes doing things for himself and taking care of the pansies. When the townspeople laugh at his poverty, he realizes that his simplistic lifestyle and happiness are more important.

One Snowy Night
written by M. Christina Butler, illus. by Tina Macnaughton, (Good Books, $16.00), 26p, Ages 3-8.
A cold wind at Christmas wakes little Hedgehog and he discovers a gift from Father Christmas - a red wooly hat. When the hat no longer fits, he gives it to Badger, who passes it on to Fox, who comes across Hedgehog unconscious in the snow and uses it as a blanket to warm him up.

Petunia's Christmas
written & illus. by Roger Duvoisin, (Knopf Books, $15.95), 40p, Ages 4-8.
First published in 1952, this irrepressible goose uses all her ingenuity to rescue a charming and handsome goose from becoming a Christmas dinner. Charles is being fattened up by the farmer next door and is just too hefty to run away, but Petunia is determined to rescue him even if it means dressing up as Santa Claus.

Pinkerton & Friends: A Steven Kellogg Treasury
written & illus. by Steven Kellogg, (Dial Books, $30.00) 336p, Ages 4-8.
Steven Kellogg has delighted children for years with his imagination and silliness. Many of his more famous books ("The Mysterious Tadpole" and "The Island of the Skog") as well as several little-knows books are included in this eleven-book anthology.

Priscilla and the Pink Planet
written by Nathaniel Hobbie, illus. by Jocelyn Hobbie, (Little, Brown & Co., $15.99), 32p, Ages 3-7.
Priscilla is tired of living on a planet where everything is pink and longs for other colors. By chance, she meets the Great Queen of Pink and convinces her that diversity and variety is better.

Santa's Stuck
written by Rhonda Gowler Greene, illus. by Henry Cole, (Dutton Children's Books, $16.99), 32p, Ages 3-7.
When Santa eats one too many sweets on Christmas Eve and ends up stuck in a chimney, the family pets come to the rescue. Nothing seems to work until a mouse with a toy bulldozer releases Santa with a huge push.

Showdown at the Food Pyramid
written & illus. by Rex Barron, (G. P. Putnam's Sons, $15.99), 32p, Ages 5+.
Will the healthy foods fight off King Candy Bar and his gang and rebuild the healthy pyramid? A clever introduction to the basics of healthy eating.

The Snail and the Whale
written by Julia Donaldson, illus. by Axel Scheffler, (Dial Books for Young Readers, $16.99), 32p, Ages 4-8.
A fun rhyming book in which a small sea snail hitches a ride on a humpback whale and visits far-off islands, icebergs, and underwater caves. When the whale loses his way, this very small and helpless snail comes to the rescue. A great story for teaching children about helping others.

Something to Tell the Grandcows
written by Eileen Spinelli, illus. by Bill Slavin, (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, $16.00), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Emmadine yeans to tell fascinating stories to her grandcows. Ond day she signs up with Admiral Byrd on his trip to the South Pole along with 2 other cows, 153 dogs and 56 explorers. Emmadine faces seasickness and cold, encounters seals and penguins, and teaches the other cows to dance. Although loosely based on a historical event, this story is a creative way to introduce history to children.

Storm Is Coming!
written by Heather Tekavec, illus. by Margaret Spengler, (Puffin Books, $5.99), 32p, Ages 4-8.
The animals misunderstand the farmer's "storm is coming" warning and expect a scary creature. When the sky grows darker, growls fiercely and flashes bright lights, the animals believe that the sky is protecting them by scaring away "Storm."

The Three Little Pigs
adapted/Illus. by Marie-Louise Gay, (Groundwood Books, $6.95), 32p, Ages 3-6.
Reissued in paperback, this classic fairy tale is faithful to the original theme of three small pigs and their comic and tragic adventures with the big bad wolf.

Tick-Tock, Drip-Drop!: A Bedtime Story
written by Nicola Moon, illus. by Eleanor Taylor, (Bloomsbury Children's Books, $16.95), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Sometimes friendships are strained, even between roommates. Rabbit is unable to sleep due to a ticking clock, a dripping faucet, and a purring cat. Mole offers to help so both can sleep, but Rabbit's snores now keep him awake. However, Mole finds a great solution and everyone is content for the night.

The Ugly Duckling/El patito feo: A Bilingual Book
adapted by Merce Escardo i Bas, illus. by Max, (Chronicle Books, $14.95), 32p, Ages 3-8.
An endearing story of a homely duckling who begins a long, friendless journey to find his place in life. In spite of hecklers, hunters, and harsh weather, he finally blooms into a graceful swan. Moral: Pain and patience are often necessary to discover true happiness.

The Umbrella
written & illus. by Jan Brett, (G. P. Putnam's Sons, $16.99), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Carlos takes his umbrella and walks into the cloud forest searching for animals. Little does he know that they are all around him, enjoying an adventure with his umbrella.

What's That Awful Smell?
written by Heather Tekavec, illus. by Margaret Spengler, (Dial Books for Young Readers, $15.99), 32p, Ages 4-7.
The barnyard animals try to find the source of a terrible smell in the barn. They determine that the odor comes from a small piglet, but after washing him in mud and rubbing him in strawberries, nothing works. It turns out that cat's few days old sandwich is the culprit, but piglet is happy to get rid of the problem.

Why Epossumondas Has No Hair on His Tail
written by Coleen Salley, illus. by Janet Stevens, (Harcourt Children's Books, $16.00), 40p, Ages 3-7.
When epossumondas inquires why his tail is missing hair, Mama tells him a tale about his great-great-grandpa who had a hair-raisin' adventure with a cranky bear, a wily hare, and a persimmon tree.

The Yellow Balloon
written & illus. by Charlotte Dematons, (Front Street Books, $15.95), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Originally published in the Netherlands, each page in this oversized wordless book shows a yellow balloon sailing in the world somewhere, followed by a small blue car. There is no story but the discovery of new and reappearing images from different time periods on each page may be very appealing to children.

The Egg
written & illus. by M. P. Robertson, (Puffin Books, $6.99), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Parenting is harder than it looks which George discovers when he tries to teach a baby dragon to fly, breathe fire, and defeat knights. But what does a parent do when his dragon is lonely for other dragons?

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