A Bug, a Bear, and a Boy

A Bug, a Bear, and a Boy by David McPhail

A boy partners with a bug and a bear to carry out his adventures of the day. The bug is small and the bear is big, allowing them each to do certain things. The book is simple and may be entertaining for early readers.

Og Finds the Cog: (Monster Og)

Og Finds the Cog: Ready-to-Read Pre-Level 1 (Monster Og) by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Elio

A monster (or is it a cat)? try to find a missing Cog. The book uses very simple language with some nice rhyming patterns. However, the simpleness is the downfall as the story is a bit too simple to maintain interest.

Should I Share My Ice Cream? An Elephant and Piggie Book

Should I Share My Ice Cream? An Elephant and Piggie Book by Mo Willems

Elephant spends so long debating how to share his ice cream that it melts away. Luckily Piggie comes to share her ice cream and they are both happy.

I Like Bugs

I Like Bugs by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by G. Brian Karas, afterward by Leonard S. Marcus

A kid mentions all the ways that he likes bugs. It is s simple story that enables fun illustrations.

PJMasks: Gekko Saves the City

PJMasks: Gekko Saves the City adapted by May Nakamura

The book is adapted from a TV show that was adapted from a French TV show. Maybe something was lost in translation? The PJ Mask dudes have a gecko that gets super big. They try to leash him and this makes him mad as he tries to destroy their headquarters. Then they befriend him with a game of fetch and he no longer wants to do the bad guy plan and becomes small again. The story is simple, and the setting is just a bit weird.

Can You Play? (I'm Going to Read Series)

Can You Play? (I'm Going to Read Series) by Harriet Ziefert, Inc., illustrated by Emily Bolam

A girl wants to play. Others are occupied and can't play with her. Finally at the end, they play. It is weird to see a little kid make calls on a phone. How many kids the age of this would have a phone? Even in 2005, would those be cordless home phones? How many kids would use those?

Arthur Breaks the Bank

Arthur Breaks the Bank (Step into Reading) by Marc Brown

Arthur is saving money for something. D.W. tries to guess what it is and assumes it is a big waste of money. When Arthur comes to open it, he can't find the bank. D.W. had hidden it because she didn't want him to waste money on something stupid. When she found out he was going to buy her a present, she changed her view. It is quick and easy to read.

Ranger Rick: I Wish I Was a Polar Bear

Ranger Rick: I Wish I Was a Polar Bear (I Can Read Level 1) by Jennifer Bové

How do polar bears live. How is their life different from our life? Polar bears tend to live a very isolated life in the cold north. This book has plenty of photographs showing the life of polar bears and their life, all from the perspective of a kid wishing they were a polar bear. 

The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto

The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto by Natalie Standiford, illustrated by Donald Cook

In the dead of winter, a Diptheria outbreak occurred in Nome Alaska. They did not have medicine there. They hoped to get it from Anchorage. However, the train it was sent on got stuck in the snow. The best solution was a dogsled relay. Balto was the lead dog in the second to last crew. He helped the team avoid falling through cracked ice and was able to guide them through whiteout conditions during a blizzard. He also continued to lead the dogs on, even when they were cold and tired. The last dog crew was nowhere to be found, so Balto's crew ended up doing two segments and helped get the medicine to Nome early. The book is an easy to read telling of the story of Balto that does just enough to bring out the drama.

Barn Storm

Barn Storm by Charles Ghigna and Debra Ghigna, illustrated by Diane Greenseid (Illustrator)

A big storm causes havoc on the farm, moving animals all over the place. After the storm is over, the animals are all in the wrong place. There is not much story, but there is some funny juxtaposition of animals and inappropriate places. 

We Are Family (L.O.L. Surprise)

We Are Family (L.O.L. Surprise) by B. B. Arthur

This "book" is more of an advertisement for LOL dolls. It describes the various "families" of LOL dolls. There is no story. Even my daughters who love LOL dolls were not interested in this book.

It's Not Easy Being a Bunny

It's Not Easy Being a Bunny by Marilyn Sadler, illustrated by Roger Bollen

A bunny is tired of being a rabbit. He decides to try out living with other animals. Alas, there are problems with each of these, such as the stink of the skunks. In the end, he realizes it is fine being a bunny. The grass is not always greener on the other side.

Fred and Ted Go Camping

Fred and Ted Go Camping by Peter Eastman

Fred and Ted go on a camping trip together. Everything easily works for one of them while the other has struggles. It feels like Life of Fred's camping trip. The book has some simple funniness with lively drawings.

Happy Pig Day!-An Elephant and Piggie Book

Happy Pig Day!-An Elephant and Piggie Book by Mo Willems

Piggie is excited about pig day. He talks pig talk, dances pig dance and does lots of fun things with other pigs. Elephant feels left out because he cannot be a pig. Then the other pigs take off their masks to show that they are not pigs either. Now Elephant realizes that he can enjoy pig day just like the others. It is a very piggie book.

Wacky Wednesday

Wacky Wednesday by Dr. Seuss (Theo LeSieg), illustrated by George Booth

A bunch of weird things happen on Wednesday. There is little in the area of plot and the wackiness is rather tame by Seuss standards. 

Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!

Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by Jennifer Dussling

This book has many sharp photos of bugs. The focus is on bugs that capture and eat other bugs. At the end there is some coverage of protections that some bugs have to keep from being attacked.

Space: Planets, Moons, Stars, and More!

Space: Planets, Moons, Stars, and More! (Step into Reading) by Joe Rhatigan, illustrated by Thomas Girard

Some kids are interested in space. Then we see descriptions of the planets and various space objects. The book is just the right length - not too verbose, but not too sparse. It also has an interesting mix of photos and drawings.

Are You Ready to Play Outside?

Are You Ready to Play Outside? by Mo Willems

Elephant and Piggie are excited to play outside. Then they are upset that it is raining. Elephant puts ear over piggie to let her be dry, but that is only a small scale reprieve. After they see some worms having fun, they realize it is possible to have fun in the rain. They have a ton of fun, then get upset that has stopped raining. Elephant sprays piggie to give her some "rain". It is relatable book dealing with the challenges of change.

The Emperor's New Poodle

The Emperor's New Poodle by Liza Charlesworth, illustrated by Kelly Kennedy

In this version of The Emperor's New Clothes, the emperor gets bilked into buying an invisible dogs. He is told that only fools cannot see it, so everyone tries to pretend they see it. Then in a parade, a poor girl is the only one to identify the dog as non-existent. The emperor likes her dog, and then learns he can get a dog he likes at the animal shelter. They live happily ever after. This ending is quite different than the real one. It is nicely told, but the changes to the original feel excessive.

Little Bear's Visit

Little Bear's Visit by Else Holmelund Minarik (Author), Maurice Sendak (Illustrator)

Little Bear goes to visit his grandparents. There is some dozing off on the part of grandpa and Little Bear. The book also includes a couple stories told by grandparents. There are some nice pictures with the simple story.