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

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEWS
FIRST GRADE
NOTABLE BOOKS 2005

First Grade

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THE PEA BLOSSOM
retold & illus. by Amy Lowry Poole, (Holiday House, $16.95, ISBN 0-8234-1864-2), 32p, Ages 4-7.
Based on Hans Christian Andersen's story "Five Peas in a Pod", small peas, growing in a garden near Beijing, wait to discover what the future has for them. One pea wishes to fly to the sun, another to the moon, two more want to dine with the Emperor, but the smallest pea transforms the lives of a mother and daughter.

MISERY MOO
written by Jeanne Willis, illus. by Tony Ross, (Henry Holt & Co., $16.95, ISBN 0-8050- 7672-7), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Misery Moo is a pessimist, while her friend, Lamby Poo, is an optimist. When Lamby runs out of ways to cheer up his friend, he becomes miserable too. It is now up to Misery Moo to rectify the situation, and finally realizes the importance of friendship.

OUR TREE NAMED STEVE
written by Alan Zweibel, illus. by David Catrow, (G. P. Putnam's Sons, $14.99, ISBN 0-399- 23722-4), 32p, Ages 4+.
Through a letter written to his children, Dad recalls the many ways that Steve influenced their lives. Steve welcomed them into the neighborhood, held up the tire swing, endured bad weather, and became the center of their outdoor life until a storm does unrepairable damage.

BAD BEARS AND A BUNNY
written by Daniel Pinkwater, illus. by Jill Pinkwater, (Houghton Mifflin, $16.00, ISBN 0-618-33926-4), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Irving and Muktuk are polar bears who live at the zoo. They do not have good reputations due to some behavior problems. Invited to a hotel party, their behavior is tested when a bunny, which they teased in the past, shows up.

A FROGGY FABLE
written/illus. by John Lechner, (Candlewick Press, $14.99, ISBN 0-7636-2123-4), 32p, Ages 4+.
Froggy is content with his surroundings and routine, but when his privacy is invaded, things go from bad to worse. Captured by a boy, Froggy escapes and finds his way home, only to realize that home is special, even with the squawking birds and bothersome otters. Theme: coping with change.

MUD CITY: A FLAMINGO STORY
written/illus. by Brenda Z. Guiberson (Henry Holt Books, $16.95, ISBN 0-8050-7177-6), 32p, Ages 4-8.
From egg to chick to adult, the flamingo's life cycle is depicted in a salty lake of the Inagua National Park in the Bahamas. Information on diet, habits, hardship, and the flamingo's change from fluffy white to pink will be of interest to children as well as adults.

PAPA, DO YOU LOVE ME?
written by Barbara M. Joosse, illus. by Barbara Lavallee, (Chronicle Books, $15.95, ISBN 0-8118-4265-7), 36p, Ages 4-8.
A father, from the Massai culture in Africa, confirms the special bond between parent and child that transcends the boundaries of time and place. A boy asks questions and learns about unconditional love by the answers his father gives.

UNDER THE CHERRY BLOSSOM TREE: AN OLD JAPANESE TALE
retold/illus. by Allen Say, (Houghton Mifflin Co., Paper $5.95, ISBN 0-618-55615-X, 1997 HC, $15.00, ISBN 0-395-84546-7), 32p, Ages 4-8.
A sad, but funny tale about a miserly, unfriendly old man, who by accident swallows a cherry pit. When a cherry tree begins to sprout on his head, it is just the beginning of his misfortunes and a better life for the poor villagers.

PETE THE SHEEP-SHEEP
written by Jackie French, illus. by Bruce Whatley, (Clarion Books, $14.00, ISBN 0-618-56862-X), 32p, Ages 4-7.
Most of the sheep shearers in Shaggy Gully use well-trained dogs to round up the sheep, but newcomer Shaun uses a sheep named Pete. The sheep are delighted with Pete and Shaun and wait in line to be sheared. The other shearers, Ratso, Big Bob, and Bungo are not as happy. Nevertheless, all ends well with a successful new career for everyone.

SCRIBBLEVILLE
written/illus. by Peter Holwitz, (Philomel Books, $15.99, ISBN 0-399-24303-8), 40p, Ages 4+.
Straight lines are nowhere to be found in the town of Scribbleville, until one day a stranger arrives and begins to build a square house. Most townspeople think he does not belong. Only one child looks beyond and sees the beauty in every kind of line.

THERE ARE MONSTERS EVERYWHERE
written/illus. by Mercer Mayer, (Dial Books, $15.99, ISBN 0-8037-0621-9), 32p, Ages 4+.
For children who think that there are monsters behind shower curtains, under beds, and behind trashcans, they can now conquer their fear. The young boy in this story decides to change his circumstances when he enrolls in a karate class.

TOOT & PUDDLE: WISH YOU WERE HERE
written/illus. by Holly Hobbie, (Little, Brown & Co., $16.99, ISBN 0-316-36602-1), 32p, Ages 4-7.
Toot travels to Borneo in search of exotic plants, but returns with the Violet Virus. The only cure is to drink tea made from the purple Slimecat Stinkhorn. Wouldn't you know, it's only found in their own meadow.

A PIPKIN OF PEPPER
written/illus. by Helen Cooper, (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $16.00, ISBN 0-374-35953-9), 32p, Ages 4-8.
While making pumpkin soup, Duck, Cat and Squirrel discover they are missing the key ingredient - salt. On their shopping trip to the big city, Duck becomes lost when he stops at the Pepper Shop. All ends well with the help of six Police Dogs, four Fire Dogs, and two Foxes.

HURRY AND THE MONARCH
written by Antoine O Flatharta, illus. by Meilo So, (Alfred A. Knopf, $14.95, ISBN 0-375-83003-0), 40p, Ages 5-8.
Hurry is an old tortoise that lives in Wichita Falls, Texas. One day in fall, he makes friends with a Monarch butterfly when she stops in his garden to rest while migrating from Canada to Mexico. In spring, she again stops in Hurry's garden long enough to lay her eggs and flies off. The afterword includes facts about monarch butterflies. Beautiful illustrations also make this a winner.

THE UGLY PUMPKIN
written/illus. by Dave Horowitz, (G. P. Putnam's Sons, $15.99, ISBN 0-399-24267-8), 40p, Ages 4-6.
A lonely, funny-looking pumpkin feels rejected that no one chose him for Halloween. Searching for a place to fit in, he leaves the pumpkin patch. By Thanksgiving, lo and behold, he discovers that he is not a pumpkin at all, but a squash. A cute twist on The Ugly Duckling.

TURKEY SURPRISE
written by Peggy Archer, illus. by Thor Wickstron, (Dial Books, $10.99, ISBN 0-8037-2969-3), 32p, Ages 4+.
With the help of friends, a turkey hides from two pilgrim brothers who are looking for their Thanksgiving main course. When the brothers have doubts about plucking, stuffing, and cooking the bird, they find the perfect solution with something better to eat. This should be dedicated to all vegetarians.

THE SUBWAY MOUSE
written/illus. by Barbara Reid, (Scholastic Press, $15.95, ISBN 0-439-72827-4), 40p, Ages 4-8.
Legend states that Tunnel's End is a beautiful land where the air smells sweet and the sky is blue. Nib, who lives in a dirty, crowded subway station, decides to find this mythical land. On his journey, Nib meets a girl mouse and they discover a world beyond their wildest imagination.

SKIPPYJON JONES IN THE DOGHOUSE
written/illus. by Judy Schachner, (Dutton Children's Books, $16.99, ISBN 0-525-47297-5), 32p, Ages 4-8.
Skippyjon is a Siamese kitty who yearns to be a Chihuahua and rescue his Chihuahua friends from the Bad Bobble-ito who has taken over the doghouse. This endearing little rascal, first featured in Skippyjon Jones, will capture your heart.

HONEY…HONEY…LION!: A STORY FROM AFRICA
written/illus. by Jan Brett, (G. P. Putnam's Sons, $16.99, ISBN 0-399-24463-8), 32p, Ages 4+.
Two animals from the African plains work together to share their food. The honeyguide bird finds the honeycomb and the African honey badger breaks it open. One day, the badger becomes greedy and the honeyguide bird decides to teach him a lesson, one which will change badger's life forever.

PREHISTORIC ACTUAL SIZE
writtem, illus. by Steve Jenkins, (Houghton Mifflin, $16.00, ISBN 0-618-53578-0), 32p, Ages 4-10.
A very interesting presentation of prehistoric animals. From a single-celled Protozoa to a 45-foot Giganotosaurus, the animals are featured in their exact size. In some cases, children will only see a head, or teeth, but enough to give them an idea of proportions. End papers contain more information on each of the eighteen animals.

ELLA TAKES THE CAKE
written by Carmela D'Amico, illus. by Steven D' Amico, (Arthur A. Levine Books, $16.99, ISBN 0-439-62794-X), 48p, Ages 4-8.
Ella from Ella the Elegant Elephant is back in another adventure. She finally is allowed to deliver a cake from mom's bakery, but a few obstacles get in the way - that annoying Belinda and a runaway cart. On her trusty bicycle, Ella succeeds in successfully delivering the cake and proves to be a very responsible elephant.

LIGHTS OUT
written/illus. by Arthur Geisert, (Houghton Mifflin, $16.00, ISBN 0-618-47892-2), 32p, Ages 4-8.
In an almost wordless picture book, little piglet devises a way to prolong turning his light out at eight o'clock. Piglet invents a series of contraptions that run up to the roof, down the walls, through the yard, and into the basement, eventually turning his light off in the bedroom. Children as well as adults will love the detailed etchings of household items that are rigged to trigger reactions with other items before the room goes dark.

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