Submitted by Tess from Lexington Park!
Jellybeans by Sylvia van Ommen is strange and wonderful. It begins with a rabbit named George getting a text message. The message is from George’s friend, a cat name Oscar, who suggests they get together in the park to eat jellybeans and drink hot chocolate. When they’re sitting under a tree enjoying their snacks Oscar begins a philosophical discussion about what might happen when they die. Will they go to heaven? Can they meet up at the entrance? What if they don’t recognize each other? Is there going to be jellybeans in the afterlife? This book is a fantastic way to discuss the passing of a loved one in a kid-friendly style that is not scary, but hopeful.
Recommended for Kids
Stanza
Submitted by Amanda from Lexington Park!
Stanza byJill Esbaum. Stanza is a book written in rhyme about a dog that is a bully by day but who, in the middle of the night, snakes off and writes poetry. Stanza is afraid that his talent will be discovered by his brothers, as well as his victims, and they will see it as a weakness, so he keeps it a secret from everyone. But then one day he sees an ad for a competition to write a jingle for Snappers Treats. Stanza stays up all night writing a jingle, and then the next morning he turns it in. Stanza dreams of winning first prize and buying lots of chicken pot pies. Stanza is so nervous that he checks everyday to see if he won …will he win or lose? And either way what will his brothers say when they discover his softer side? This is a very cleverly written book that will engaged readers with its words and illustrations.
The Lion’s Share
Submitted by Amanda from Lexington Park!
The Lion’s Share: A Tale of Halving Cake and Eating It Too by Matthew McElligott. Lion is having a birthday party and invites all his friends from the jungle; everyone from an elephant to an ant is invited. They all eat dinner and then comes time for the cake. The elephant starts off and takes half of the cake and then the hippo takes half of what is left as do all the other guests, creating a interesting division lesson until it gets down to the ant who gets a piece that is too small to half only to discover the lion has not gotten any cake yet! To make up for “eating all the cake” as the other animals accuse, the ant offers to make the lion a new cake the next day. No animal wants to be outdone by the ant so in turn each animal doubles the offer before until the elephant is promising to make two hundred and fifty-six cakes, creating a multiplication lesson for the reader. This book provides a great way for kids to experience multiplication and division along with great pictures and a few plays on words.
Jethro Byrd Fairy Child
Submitted by Allana from Leonardtown!
Jethro Byrd Fairy Child by Bob Graham. Annabelle insisted on the existence of fairies and spent many hours scouting her yard for evidence. One Saturday, a tiny ice cream truck crash lands in the yard, and sure enough a family of fairies emerges. The first one she meets is Jethro Byrd, a boy the size of her finger. Soon after she meets his mother Lily, father Offin, baby sister Cecily, and Grandma. They’re on their way to the Fairy Traveler’s Picnic when they crash land in the garden. Annabelle invites them to tea, and although her Mom and Dad only pretend to see the tiny family, they play along. Everyone has a lovely time!
Minnow and Rose: An Oregon Trail Story
Submitted by Sue from Leonardtown!
Minnow and Rose: An Oregon Trail Story written by Judy Young and Illustrated by Bill Farnsworth. Rose, a young pioneer girl, was traveling across the western plains of the United States with her family in a wagon train in the mid 1800s on a path known as the Oregon Trail. It was a very long and tiresome journey, one without much adventure to break up the monotony of the tedious and dusty daily routine. Rose longs for something interesting to happen. Minnow, a little native girl, lives in one of the villages scattered across the plains. She is small, but spirited. She has earned the nickname Minnow because of her favorite activity–swimming in the nearby river. Minnow and Rose’s two different cultures come face to face when Minnow’s village helps the wagon train cross the rushing waters of the river, and Rose accidentally falls in. Curiosity and caution come together to forge an unusual friendship between the girls when a thrilling and scary circumstance happens.
The Mystery of Eatum Hall
Submitted by Amanda from Lexington Park!
The Mystery of Eatum Hall by John Kelly and Cathy Tincknell is an intriguing and funny mystery for kids. The rich vocabulary and stunning pictures cook up a filling tale for readers to devour. This mystery starts when Glenda (goose) and Horace (pig) Pork-Fowler receive an invitation to Eatum Hall by its new owner, Dr. Hunter, for a weekend of free gourmet food. When they arrive for their weekend at Eatum Hall they find a letter from their host inviting them to stay even though he is away on business. While Glenda and Horace enjoy their weekend of food and fun the reader can infer that Dr. Hunter is fattening them up to be made into pie. Finally, Glenda and Horace decide to leave early after having broken the bandstand, and thus foil Dr. Hunter’s plan to make them into pie. This story has a healthy vocabulary filled with words like “fiend,” “automated,” and “culinary.” It is truly told through the pictures. Each page is filled with illustrations to help the reader infer Dr. Hunter’s malicious plan. The illustrations provide a mysterious and chilling mood for the reader from the very beginning. The pictures are complementary to the story and make it a joy to read.