Winnie the Pooh and Tigger too

Author: Walt Disney

Publishing:  E.P Dutton & Co., Inc.

Number of Pages: Hardcover—42 pages

Genre:  Picture Book

Reading Level:  Ages 4-8

Summary: This book starts with Pooh walking to Piglets house and he gets bounced upon by Tigger.  Then Tigger bounces into Piglet, and eventually he bounces onto Rabbit.  Tigger seems to be in a very bouncy mood and so Rabbit comes up with a plan to “unbounce” Tigger.  They decide to take him deep in to the forest, leave him there and then the next day when they go get him he will be all out of bounces.  As Tigger bounces ahead of them on their journey, Rabbit, Pooh, and Piglet hide inside a hollow log and Tigger can’t find them.  After Tigger leaves, they start heading back for home—but unfortunately they themselves get lost.  Rabbit decides to try to find the way while Pooh and Piglet wait for him.  Soon, though, Pooh gets hungry and his stomach leads the way for them home.  Right when Pooh and Piglet get out of the woods Tigger bounces on him and they find out he never was lost, but now Rabbit was.  Rabbit gets very scared in the woods being all by himself but luckily Tigger finds him and brings him back home safely.  The next day Tigger goes over to Roo’s and they decide to go climb trees.  After him ad Roo bounced really high in the tree, Tigger looked down and got really scared to be up so high.  Pooh and Piglet go get Christopher Robin to help; when he gets there he takes off his jacket and everyone holds a corner and Roo jumps into it.  Then when it is Tigger’s turn he is still really scared, he promises he won’t bounce anymore after he gets down.  He gets down to safety and is so happy that he starts bouncing, but Rabbit stops him and says he promised, so Tigger walks sadly away.  This makes everyone sad for Tigger, so they decide that he can bounce afterwards.  This makes Tigger so excited so he bounces off as his old bouncy self again.

My Reaction to the Book:  I have always loved Winnie the Pooh so of course I loved this book!  I remember watching the movie when I was younger and I think it is just as good if not better. 

Potential Problems:  There are not really any problems—maybe when Rabbit is lost and is scared, that could be a scary part for some. 

Recommendations:  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.  I think it is absolutely great and that the Winnie the Pooh books are great to learn from.

The Water Hole

Author: Graeme Base

Publishing:  Penguin Group

Number of Pages: Paperback—30 pages

Genre:  Picture Book

Reading Level:  Ages 4-8

Summary: This book is about a bunch of animals from all around the world coming to a water hole to drink.  It starts with 1 rhino drinking, then 2 tigers, then 3 toucans, and then 4 snow leopards.  Every time more animals drink from the watering hole the water gets less and less—the pool gets smaller.  It continues on with 5 moose, then 6 catfish, then 7 pandas, then 8 ladybugs, and then 9 tortoises.  By this time almost all of the water was gone, by the time 10 kangaroos arrive there is no water left, so all of the animals went away.  Luckily, then it starts to rain, and rain, and rain.  Then all of the animals come back.  In the end we learn where all of the animals are from: Africa, India, South America, Himalayas, North America, Rivers and Streams, China, Europe, Galapagos Islands, and Australia.  One of the greatest things about this book is the pictures that are shown in it.  There is a ton of detail; all the pictures are bright and colorful, and just absolutely beautiful.  We learn at the beginning of the book that the illustrations were done with watercolors, pencil, and gouache on hot-press illustration board.

My Reaction to the Book:  I thought that this was a great book.  My very favorite part was the pictures—they are absolutely gorgeous!!! Graeme Base does such an amazing job with his work. 

Potential Problems:  The water runs out for the animals so this could possibly scare someone and make them worry but other than that I did not see any problems. 

Recommendations:  I would definitely recommend this book to people mainly for the art that is in it because it is absolutely beautiful.  The story is good too though, and I think kids would enjoy the cut out of the pond.  It would also be a good book to help children learn how to count.

King Midas and the Golden Touch

Author: Al Perkins

Publishing: Random House Books

Number of Pages: Hardcover—62 pages

Genre:  Picture Book

Reading Level:  Ages 4-8

Summary: This book is about a King named King Midas.  It starts off telling about how King Midas absolutely loves gold:  he sleeps on gold, eats off of gold, and has goldsmiths to make him more things out of gold.  Everyday the King goes out and searches for gold and brings back whatever he can find.  Then he would take that gold into a room that was full of gold.  Everyday he would lock himself in with his gold and say how much he loves it.  Then one day he finds a little man in his room full of gold and the man tells him that he can grant him a wish.  The king wishes that everything he touches will turn to gold so the man grants him that wish.  He tested it out and his pet bird turned to gold—and then his clothes.  He runs around touching everything and making it turn to gold.  When he sits down to breakfast though everything he touches turns to gold so he cannot eat anything.  He found that he could not do anything because everything he touched turned to gold.  This made all of the servant’s run away because no one wanted to be in a palace like that.  His daughter tried to comfort him but when he touched her she too turned to gold.  The King sat in his palace for days, just looking at everything that had turned to gold—including his daughter.  Then the little man appeared back and granted him one more wish.  After this he was able to turn everything back from gold.  Then in the end the king and his daughter sit down to dinner and it is the happiest breakfast that they ever had.

My Reaction to the Book:  I thought that this was a super cute book.  I had never read it before but someone recommended it to me and I really liked it.  It has a great lesson in it of being happy with what you have and not being greedy. 

Potential Problems:  The king turns his own daughter into gold, which could be a problem for some.  Also the issue of the king being so greedy could be a problem. 

Recommendations:  I would recommend this book to kids because it is such a great story and it is just a lot of fun to read.  The pictures are not that great but they are decent and they get the story across nicely.

How you were Born

Author: Joanna Cole

Publishing:  Harper Collins

Number of Pages: Hardcover—48 pages

Genre:  Informational, Nonfiction

Reading Level:  Ages 9-12

Summary: This book is about how you were born.  It starts with saying how before we were born we were inside the uterus.  It says how half of the cell that started you came from your dad and half came from your mom.  It tells about eggs and sperm.  It then explains how you start to be created in the womb.  It tells about things that you were able to do and things that were growing on you.  It gives diagrams and pictures depending on what it’s talking about.  It has real life pictures of the baby inside the mother’s body.  It talks about how the mom can tell when you are growing and how it starts to show on her belly.  It then says how you are expected to be born about 9 months after conception, and that the parents start getting ready for your arrival.  The book goes on to talk about when you are actually being born and how you go from the uterus through the vagina.  Then it just tells about things that you can do, and how you eat when you’re hungry.  It goes on to talk about being a toddler and growing up, and that’s where it ends.

My Reaction to the Book:  I thought that this book was okay.  I thought it was a little odd—they could have done a better job, I think.  It just seemed weird to me, but it did give decent information I suppose. 

Potential Problems:  It talks a little about conception as well as being inside the body and being born.    It also has a side view picture of a woman giving birth—you can’t really see anything but it still could definitely be a problem.  There is also a picture of a baby nursing and you can see most of the mother’s breast.

Recommendations:  I don’t think I would recommend this book to anyone—I think there are better books out there for children about things like this.  

Love you Forever

Author: Robert Munsch

Publishing:  Firefly Books

Number of Pages: Paperback—32 pages

Genre:  Picture Book

Reading Level:  Ages 4-8

Summary: This book is about a little boy who goes starts out as a baby and goes through all the stages of life and eventually becomes a man.  Every night the mom holds him in her arms and sings him a song:  “I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, As long as I’m living my baby you’ll be.”  In the end of the book when the mother is very old in sick the son takes her in his arms and rocks her while he sings the song to her.  And then when the father gets home he goes to his own baby daughter, rocks her back and forth and sings the song to her.

My Reaction to the Book:  I absolutely love this book!  I remember it was my favorite when I was little and I still think that it is so great!  It’s a wonderful book for children to grow up on. 

Potential Problems:  There are not any problems with this book. 

Recommendations:  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone; I love this book!  It’s such a great story about the love that a mother has for her child.

The Giver

Author: Lois Lowry

Publishing:  Laurel Leaf

Number of Pages: Paperback—192 pages

Genre:  Science Fiction

Reading Level:  Young Adult

Summary: This book is about a boy named Jonas who lives in a very unusual society.  In his society people are assigned jobs according to an evaluation of their skill.  They are matched up as husbands and wives based on personality, and only one boy and one girl child per family is allowed.  Children are born to women that are designated “birthmothers” and then families have to apply for children.  Once the children become adults the family then does not exist—the new adults start their jobs and the parents go to a communal housing facility.  The community takes pills, which suppress emotions—mainly sexuality/love emotions.  All of the land around the Community is for agriculture and transportation, and there is also a salmon hatchery in the town (this is the only animals that are in existence for them).  We also learn that genetic engineering has been used to manipulate people so that they are colorblind—this is part of the people being the same.  There are few exceptions to this though—like Jonas, Gabriel, and the Giver.  A committee of Elders runs the community and they are the ones that assign everything.  Everyone that is the same age has the same birthday.  At every age there is some sort of ceremony.  We find out that if a person violates any on the rules three rimes then they are punished by “release.”  The boy Jonas lives in a regular family unit with his mother as a judge, his father as a nurturer, and his little sister named Lilly.  Right before Jonas attends his last ceremony (the ceremony of twelve) he has to tell his family about a dream that he had.  It’s a dream where he wants his friend Fiona to take off her clothes—his mother tells him that he needs to take some pills to suppress his “stirrings” (sexual desires).  When Jonas goes to the ceremony of twelve, he is supposed to be called up as number 19 but they skip him.  Jonas is called last and it is learned that he is to be Receiver of Memories.  He is picked for this job because of his ability to see color and hear music.  Jonas starts his training with the Giver who was the last Receiver of Memory.  He receives memories of many things like loss, violence, joy, family, etc.  Jonas wants to get these feelings to all the community and he talks of this with the Giver.  Jonas’s family has a baby named Gabriel stay with them because he is unable to sleep through the night.  Jonas finds that he can give his memories to Gabriel and he does this to calm him.  After a while Gabriel still can’t sleep through the night so they plan on “releasing” him (killing him).  But instead Jonas runs away with him.  Soon the food runs out and they grow cold and hungry.  They begin to lose hope but then they remember sunshine and this takes them to a snow-covered hill and they find a sled and then ride down on the sled where they seem to hear music coming from some houses.  This is where it ends—although there is a second book.

My Reaction to the Book:  I am very torn on this book.  This is the third time I’ve read it.  I read it in 5^th grade and in 8^th grade.  I remember being a little confused when I read it in fifth grade, and then I understood more in 8^th grade.  I remember liking it but not loving it.  This third time that I’ve read it I can’t decide if I love it yet.  I do think that it is a very interesting book but at the same time I think it is a little weird at times.

Potential Problems:  There is talk of a dream where Jonas wants a girl to take her clothes off so he could bathe her.  Also talk of a baby being killed because he was a twin.

Recommendations:  I don’t think I would recommend this book to anyone, but I also probably wouldn’t stop anyone from reading it.

A Single Shard

Author: Linda Sue Park

Publishing:  Yearling

Number of Pages: Paperback—148 pages

Genre:  Historical Fiction

Reading Level:  Ages 9-12

Summary: This book is about a homeless boy named Tree-Ear who lives under a bridge with a crippled old man named Crane-man.  Tree-ear is always trying to find food but Crane-man taught him to never steal from anyone—a lot of days the two of them go hungry.  One day, Tree-ear spies on the amazing potter of the town: Min.  Soon Tree-ear gets extra curious and goes into Min’s shop while he is gone.  He looks at a pot and drops it when Min gets mad at him for being there.  After he breaks the box he makes a deal with Min to work for him for 9 days to repay him for the box.  During this time Tree-ear collects wood for kiln.  When the days are up, Tree-ear offers to continue working for him in exchange for food.  He also hopes that Min will teach him how to make a pot.  Tree-ear’s dream is crushed when he learns of the tradition of a potter teaching his son, and Min’s son is dead so he said he will not teach him.  One day the imperial emissary comes to the village, they are looking for someone to be awarded with a royal commission.  Tree-ear faces an ethical dilemma and chooses the best choice.  Then, when Min has his work all done to present to the emissary, he asks Tree-ear to take it to them because he cannot complete the journey.  Tree-ear is nervous about the journey but goes anyway, on his way he is attacked by robbers and all the pots are smashed.  This leaves him with only a single shard to present to the emissary—luckily, the emissary are still able to see the great skill and he is awarded with the commission.  After Tree-ear returns home he learns of Crane-man’s death.  Min and his wife adopt Tree-ear, so he has a new home, family, and he is finally able to be taught the art of pottery.

My Reaction to the Book:  I really liked this book.  I thought that it was going to be really boring at first but I ended up really liking it.  It’s a great story of perseverance and love.  It has some great lessons for children to learn too.   

Potential Problems: At one point in the book, robbers attack Tree-Ear.  Also Crane-man dies.

Recommendations:  I think I would definitely recommend this book to anyone—it is a great story with great lessons, but it also teaches a little about some of the Korean ways and the art of celadon pottery.

I'll Teach My Dog 100 Words

            Author: Michael Firth

Publishing: Random House  

Number of Pages: Hardcover--36 pages

Genre:  Picture Book

Reading Level:  Ages 4-8

Summary: The book starts with a man sitting next to a tree with his dog, and he decides that he is going to teach his dog 100 words. So he starts to go over the words that he will teach his dog, mow the grass, paint the chair, and such. And soon his dog is a big hit with all the neighbors, and it keeps counting how many action words he can teach his dog. When we reach 100 words it goes back to the man at the tree and he says that he will start teaching his dog the words next year.  

My Reaction to the Book: This book is really great because it covers a lot of words and would be a great tool for teaching to read and for learning words. Also it has the Illustrations of the words being performed (They are all action words) and that helps with the remembrance of the words.

                                                                                

Potential Problems: One of the problems I can see with this book is promoting procrastination, but it is a subtle promotion.  

 Recommendations: I would recommend this book because it is a great learning tool for children who are reading, with all the words it would help with pronunciation and it would be a great read as well.

The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls

Author: Valorie Lee Schaefer

Publishing:  Pleasant Company Publications

Number of Pages: Hardcover—104 pages

Genre:  Reference Book—Nonfiction

Reading Level:  Ages 9-12

Summary: This book is about all sorts of things.  It is a great reference book for girls to use as they are just hitting puberty and starting to experience all these different changes.  It talks about everything from hygiene like hair care and skin and teeth care to things like feelings and growing up.  It includes stuff about growing bodies like growing breasts and all other parts of the body growing.  It also teaches and gives tips about eating and being nutritious.  Another thing that it focuses on are things like the pubic are and starting your period.  Last it talks about things like sports and sleep troubles.  This book covers almost anything that a girl hitting puberty would need to know about.  It would be a great reference book for girls because a lot of times they know stuff about one thing but then don’t know about another thing so this could easily help them find exactly what they need and they could learn about it.  It also does a great job at comforting a girl who is new to all of these changes.  I can see how this book would be greatly beneficial to many girls hitting puberty.

My Reaction to the Book:  I thought that this was a very interesting book.  I can see how it would be extremely helpful to a young girl who either does not have someone to talk to about these types of thing, or someone who is too shy, or if they just want a little more information on everything.  It was a good book though for referring to in times of questions and needs!

Potential Problems:  There are a couple problems with this book.  It talks about pubic hair and shows a picture of a cartoon girl who doesn’t have any pants or panties on but in the picture she is putting on her panties (it shows her pubic hair).  It also talks very blatantly about the vagina and discharge which I can see being a definite problem for girls especially younger ones that read it (I think 9 may be a little too young).  It talks about girls’ periods and what to use when that time comes, which also may be a little bit older material than would be appropriate for younger girls.  There is one page that I think is quite unnecessary but I suppose it could be helpful.  It shows a girl sitting on a toilet putting a tampon in (it is a cartoon girl).  It goes into great detail on what to do when doing this and I think that the pictures are a little unnecessary especially for girls that are younger—but I can see how it could be helpful for some.

Recommendations:  I think I would recommend this to girls that at the point of hitting puberty.  I think it definitely is a helpful book, but I don’t think it is appropriate for a 9 or 10 year old unless they have already hit puberty.

The King, The Mice, And the Cheese

            Author: Nancy and Eric Gurney

Publishing: Random House

Number of Pages: Hardcover--63 pages

Genre:  Picture Book

Reading Level:  Ages 4-8

Summary: There is a king and he lives in a wonderful place and is very happy. He loves cheese and he has the best cheese makers in all the land, but the smell of the cheese reaches to some mice and the mice from all over the country come and start to eat all of the king’s cheese. So the king calls his wise men to get rid of the mice, and so they bring in cats to chase the mice out. After the mice are all gone the Cats start to annoy the king and he is not happy, so he calls the wise men in again and the solution is dogs. The dogs chase out all the cats and then the king is still unhappy because he now has to live with all the dogs and he wants them gone. So the wise men are yet again called in and the solution this time is to bring in lions to chase the dogs out which they do, and they take over the king’s palace. So the king calls the wise men again and they bring in some elephants to chase the lions away, but then they start to destroy the palace, so the wise men bring in the mice again to chase away the elephants. So now the king is back where he started, and it takes the king three days to come up with a solution by himself. His solution is to share his cheese with the mice and he teaches them manners and they are all happy.    

My Reaction to the Book: I thought this book was very good, it shows the power of thinking through a problem instead of relying on others to solve all your problems. Also the illustrations are really good, it makes it fun to read, you find yourself lingering on each page looking at the illustrations.

Potential Problems: I didn’t see any problems with the book, other than sanitation problems with eating with the mice.  

 Recommendations: I would definitely recommend this book to others because it is a good learning tool for self reliance and perseverance; it is a great learning tool and an overall fun exciting experience.

The Foot Book

             Author: Dr. Seuss

Publishing: Random House

Number of Pages: Hardcover--24 pages

Genre:  Picture Book

Reading Level:  Ages 4-8

Summary: This book goes over all sorts of feet, big feet, small feet, hairy feet, clown feet and many more.  The book does very well with rhyming the words so it flows very nicely. Also it does counting feet, so it would be good to help with counting and also which foot is which.

My Reaction to the Book: This book is simple but good, the illustrations are great, they do really well to cover the feet and make it fun to read.

Potential Problems: No Problems

 Recommendations: I would recommend this book, it is very simple but it is fun. The flow of the book and the simple yet effective counting and reading techniques are very good for learning, it makes it fun and entertaining.   

Why do some kids have freckles?

Author: Mickey Wonders Why (No Author Stated)

Publishing:  Disney Books by Mail

Number of Pages: Paperback—26 pages

Genre:  Nonfiction, Reference

Reading Level:  Ages 4-8

Summary: This book is about the human body and how it works for children.  There are a bunch of questions in it, which are then answered.  On every page there are a couple fun, interesting facts about the topic that is being presented on the page.  There is a variety of questions like: “How many bones do we have,” “What happens to the food we eat,” What happens when we breathe,” and “What does blood do?”  There are fun facts like: “The average person will much their way through 50 tons of food in a lifetime.  That’s the same weight as three elephants—yikes!”  A great book with lots of information about the body.  It would be a good reference book for children that have only specific questions about the body but it would also be a great book to just read straight though because it has so much good information.

My Reaction to the Book:  I thought that this was a very good book that had a lot of good information in it about our bodies—just a lot of fun facts. 

Potential Problems:  There are not really any problems in this book because it just gives information about the human body and how it works.  It does refer to how food travels through the body so maybe this would be a problem for some kids because it kind of refers to pooping, but I really doubt this would be a problem.

Recommendations:  I would recommend this book to kids because it is a good, clean book that helps you understand more about your body and how it works.  It is a good learning book for children.

Hooper Humperdink?....Not Him!

            Author: Theo LeSieg

Publishing: Random House Books for Young Readers

Number of Pages: Hardcover--40 pages

Genre:  Picture Book

Reading Level:  Ages 4-8

Summary: An unnamed child is having a party, and he goes through all the names of the people he will invite, and the type of things they will do, and he keeps saying that he will NOT invite Hooper Humperdink…..Not him! In the end he decides that his party is too good for anyone to miss, so he decides that he will invite Hooper Humperdink.  

My Reaction to the Book: I thought that this book was quite the tongue twister, but it was a very good book, loved the illustrations.  It was fun, kind of sad for Hooper Humperdink but everything turned out great. 

Potential Problems: There is a reference to a fat girl that is kind of mean.  Also throughout the whole book the boy that is having the party is leaving Hooper Humperdink out for no reason which is not a good thing for children to learn at all, but in the end it is good.

 Recommendations: I think that it is a good book to read. I would recommend it.  It is really good for learning the alphabet because he names off a bunch of names and they are all in alphabetical order.

The BFG

Author: Roald Dahl

Publishing: Puffin

Number of Pages: Paperback--208 pages

Genre:  Fantasy

Reading Level:  Ages 9-12

Summary: This story is about a little girl named Sophie, who is a little orphan girl. One night she sees out her window a giant and he is doing something strange at the windows of the houses on the street. The Giant (Known as the Big Friendly Giant) sees her looking and in order to keep the secret of giants safe he kidnaps her and takes her back to the land of Giants. The BFG explains to Sophie that he is a nice giant, but the other giants are not nice, they eat people, but he does not eat people he survives on a nasty tasting vegetable called a Snozzcucumber. He also tells her that he collects and distributes good dreams, from dreamland, to the little children, and that is what he was doing the night he snatched her from her window. The BFG teaches Sophie how to catch dreams in bottles all the while hiding her behind his big ears from the other giants so they don’t eat her. Sophie convinces the BFG to go talk to the Queen of England and ask her for help. So he created a dream for the queen so she will believe in giants and they get her help. The BFG and Sophie lead the Army of the queen and they capture the bad giants and put them in a big pit and feed them only foul tasting Snozzcucumbers.    

My Reaction to the Book: I loved this book, it was a really good read and it was exciting and adventurous. The characters are easy to fall in love with and the creativity of the author is great. Loved it.

Potential Problems: The giant kidnaps the little girl, and the giants are violent and underdressed, they eat people.  

Recommendations: I would definitely recommend this book, it is an adventure all the way and it makes you smile.   

Why do Dogs do that?

Author: Nancy White

Publishing:  Scholastic Inc.

Number of Pages: Paperback—32 pages

Genre:  Nonfiction—Reference

Reading Level:  Ages 6-9

Summary: This book is all about dogs and why they act the way they do.  There are a bunch of questions in it that are then answered.  There a lot of fun illustrations throughout the book that would help with a children’s interest in what they are observing.  Since there are a bunch of questions it would be good for a child to be able to look up a certain question that they have about their dog and then they can get it answered.  There are questions like “Are dogs like wolves,” “Why do dogs wag their tales,” “Why do dogs pant,” and “Why do dogs prick up they ears sometimes?”  There are many more questions and the author does a great job at answering the questions in a way that a child could learn and understand.

My Reaction to the Book:  I thought this was a very good book for children that have dogs and are curious as to why they do the things they do.  There are two-dozen frequently asked questions about dogs in the book and then they are answered with fun pictures. 

Potential Problems:  There are not any problems with this book because it just gives information about dogs and why they do the things they do. 

Recommendations:  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that has a dog because it is a good book to learn a little bit more about they dog.

Country Explorers: Chile

Author: Jennifer Miller

Publishing:  Lerner Publications Company

Number of Pages: Hardcover—48 pages

Genre:  Nonfiction

Reading Level:  Ages 9-12

Summary: This book is about the country Chile.  It starts off with a map of Chile and talks a little the volcanoes that are located on Chile.  It tells a bit about mining and farming.  On every page there is a fun fact about Chile and the topic that it is presenting on that page.  It then goes on to talk about the main foods that the people of Chile eat.  Then it talks about the history of Chile and the people that live there today.  Next it talks about the family and Spanish, as that is their main language.  The book continues as it talks about Religion, Holidays, the cities, and homes that are in Chile.  It tells about the specifics of schooling and how each school has its own uniforms.  It tells about the games people like to play, wildlife, arts, and crafts.  The book ends with the Flag of Chile and a couple fast facts.

My Reaction to the Book:  I liked this book just like I liked the one about Cuba.  It has a lot of great information on the country and it has a lot of good pictures.

Potential Problems:  There are not any problems in this book as it is simply an information book about Chile.

Recommendations:  I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn a little more about Chile.

Put Me in the Zoo

Author: Robert Lopshire

Publishing: Random House Books for Young Readers

Number of Pages: Hardcover--61 pages

Genre:  Picture Book

Reading Level:  Ages 4-8

Summary: A leopard walks around the zoo and decides he wants to be part of the zoo, but the zoo does not want him. Outside the zoo the leopard meets a little boy and a little girl, they ask him what he can do that would make him be a good attraction in the zoo. He changes the colors of his spots, takes them off and puts them on other things, changes their sizes and shapes, and many other fun things. The children love what he does with all his spots but they tell him that he does not belong at the zoo, and they take him to the circus where he finds the home he desires entertaining people with his spots.

My Reaction to the Book: I liked the illustrations in this book, although it is suppose to be a leopard it doesn’t look like one. The story is good and it is fun to see the things that he can do with his spots.

Potential Problems: No potential problems found really--the little girl's skirt is kind of short but that is all.

Recommendations: I would recommend this book for small children because it is easy to read and fun.

There are Rocks in my Socks said the Ox to the Fox

Author: Patricia Thomas

Publishing:  William Morrow & Company Library

Number of Pages: Hardcover--37 pages

Genre:  Picture Book

Reading Level:  Ages 4-8

Summary: An Ox and his friend the Fox are trying to solve the problem the Ox has because he has rocks in his socks and he does not know how to get them out. Thinking he has all the answers the Fox gives him advice to roll over on his back and the rocks will just fall out, but the Ox ends up on his back with a tack stuck in his back, and the rocks still won’t come out. Because of the advice of the Fox, the Ox ends up upside-down with a tack in his back, his tail pinned under a rail a bee sting and he kicks himself in the nose and the rocks still in his socks. But along comes a wise Bird and helps the Ox off of the tack and helps him unpin his tail and gets the bee off his knee and finally helps him get the rocks out of his socks.  

My Reaction to the Book: I think that this book is great; it is fun to read because it rhymes and it has a fun storyline. 

Potential Problems: In the end of the book the ox blames the fox for his problems and he dumps rocks on his head.

Recommendations: I would recommend this to parents because it would be a great book for children to improve their reading skills on and it is fun to read.   

Country Explorers: Cuba

Author: Anna Cavallo

Publishing:  Lerner Publications Company

Number of Pages: Hardcover—48 pages

Genre:  Nonfiction

Reading Level:  Ages 9-12

Summary: This book is about the country Cuba.  It starts off with a map of Cuba and talks a little about its location and then it goes on to talk about the land and layout of the country.  Then, because Cuba is an island, it talks about the sea life that surrounds it.  It gives information about the seasons; also on every page it gives a fun fact about the topic being covered.  Then the book talks about a little history of Cuba, and then the current people and the background of them.  The book talks about the leaders of Cuba and the form of government.  It tells about the Holidays that are celebrated there and then the resources that are available there.  It continues talking about transportation, food, school, and health.  Then it talks about the family and it gives some Spanish words for family members as Spanish is the dominant language in Cuba.  The book tells of homes, religion, music and dance.  And it tells about how it is a great vacation spot for many people because of the warm weather.  It then ends with the flag of Cuba and some fast facts about Cuba.; very good book for great information.

My Reaction to the Book:  I thought that this was a very interesting book.  Not only did it give a lot of facts but it also laid out very nicely, and it is presented well with lots of pictures. 

Potential Problems:  There are not any problems in this book as it is an information book with things about a country, in this case Cuba.

Recommendations:  I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about Cuba and I would recommend the Country Explorers book to anyone that is studying a country because they are very well done.

Socks for Supper

Author: Jack Kent

Publishing:  Parents Magazine Press

Number of Pages: Hardcover--29 pages

Genre:  Picture Book

Reading Level:  Ages 4-8

Summary: An old man and his wife live in an old house in the country and are very poor, the only food that they have comes from their turnip garden. One day the old couple decides that they are sick of eating turnips. Close by live a couple who own a cow, and the old couple decide to trade something for some of the cow’s milk and some cheese. They search their house but they can’t find anything to trade with, so the old woman decides to make a pair of socks out of the old man’s sweater to trade for the milk and cheese. The old couple loves the milk and cheese so much that the old woman keeps making socks to trade with till one day there is only enough sweater left to make one sock. Now the old man has no sweater but they decide to trade the one sock for half a bucket of milk and half a small cheese. The couple with the cow decides to give them the whole bucket of milk and the whole small cheese for just the one sock because the wife of the man with the cow needs the sock because she is making a sweater for the man out of it. When Christmas comes she gives him the sweater but it is too big so they give it to the old man, and it fits just right.   

My Reaction to the Book:  I love this book! It is a book I grew up reading as a kid, but I always loved the pictures and the basic story line, it is fun and a great story to read.   

Potential Problems: Possibly that the old man ends up with no shirt on but other than that the book is great.

Recommendations:  I would definitely recommend this book to people because it is a fun read to have with children and it is just a really cute story.