Saturday, December 5, 2009

Dear Zoo or Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

Dear Zoo: A Lift-the-Flap Book

Author: Rod Campbell

Dear Zoo is twenty-five

years old — and still as popular as ever!

And with an updated look, this children's classic

is sure to delight a new generation of readers!


Kathleen Karr - Children's Literature

Campbell's lift-the-flap book, imported from England two decades ago, now has a new, celebratory format as a board book. It's still the same story of a child writing to the zoo to request a pet. A series of animals are sent and rejected as too big, too tall, too fierceѕuntil at last the perfect pet arrives. It is necessary, of course, to lift the flaps to discover the animals rejected, and the one accepted. It makes for a nice little toddler-level guessing game. As there are new toddlers coming along every few years, Campbell's little book just might remain in print forever. 2002 (orig. 1982), Little Simon,

Children's Literature

For kids who enjoy repetition and are working on recognizing animals, this lift-the-flap board book will be well received. The young narrator has asked the zoo to send a pet (caregivers may need to explain that a zoo really would not do this). As each crate arrives, kids open the flap to reveal an animal. Then the narrator tells why the animal was sent back. It is interactive, amusing, and has a little surprise at the end. The simple, bright illustrations are set on sturdy white pages, and the shape of the crate and other hints in the picture will have kids quickly guessing which animal has arrived. This is the 25th anniversary edition.



Interesting book: Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques or 21 Things I Wish My Broker Had Told Me

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

Author: Judy Blum

Living with his little brother, Fudge, makes Peter Hatcher feel like a fourth grade nothing.

Whether Fudge is throwing a temper tantrum in a shoe store, smearing smashed potatoes on walls at Hamburger Heaven, or scribbling all over Peter's homework, he's never far from trouble. He's a two-year-old terror who gets away with everything—and Peter's had enough.

When Fudge walks off with Dribble, Peter's pet turtle, it's the last straw. Peter has put up with Fudge too long. How can he get his parents to pay attention to him for a change?


From the Trade Paperback edition.



Friday, December 4, 2009

Summer of the Sea Serpent or The Story of King Arthur and His Knights

Summer of the Sea Serpent (Magic Tree House Series #31)

Author: Mary Pope Osborn

Jack and Annie are off on another mythical mission at the request of Merlin the magician. Luckily, they have a young sorcerer, Teddy, to help them. From underwater caves to a Spider Queen, from mystical selkies to a magical sword, this is a Magic Tree House adventure kids won’t want to miss!


From the Hardcover edition.

Kathryn Erskine - Children's Literature

In the third "Merlin Mission" from the "Magic Tree House" series (#31), Jack and Annie travel to a misty seacoast, reminiscent of Ireland or Scotland, to retrieve the Sword of Light. To accomplish their task, they—along with the reader—must solve the clues in Merlin's riddle and face such frightening sounding creatures as the Spider Queen and the Old Gray Ghost. Once in the mystical land, they meet their friend, Teddy, from the second "Merlin Mission," Haunted Castle on Hallow's Eve ("Magic Tree House" series #30) and a selkie, a creature who is seal in the water and human on land. The Spider Queen turns out to be helpful and the Gray Ghost merely the fog, but the Sea Serpent itself, who guards the Sword of Light, is a foe until the children realize that the revered sword is special because its purpose is peace, not war. Returning the sword to Merlin, they save the future of Camelot. Although this story is not as compelling or informative as others in the "Magic Tree House" series, it provides the usual adventure and plot that fans are so fond of. 2004, Random House, Ages 7 to 10.



Table of Contents:

Go to: No Frills Vegetarian or Come Lo Que te Pida el Cuerpo

The Story of King Arthur and His Knights (Sterling Unabridged Classics Series)

Author: Howard Pyl

The legendary adventures of King Arthur, his Knights of the Table Round, and the court of Camelot come to life in a lively and accessible retelling by Howard Pyle.