All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Marla Frazee

A young family spend a day enjoying all of what the world has to offer...the beach, a farmer's market, hanging out in the beautiful outdoors, spending time with friends and family.

What I Thought:
This is a beautiful book. The simple, yet beautiful, text matched with the amazing illustrations by Marla Frazee make this book a pure joy.

This is definitely a book to not just read, but devour as so much of the story is told through the illustrations. A wonderful book to share with your family!

Recommended.

This book was awarded a 2010 Caldecott Honor. (Two in a row for Marla Frazee!)

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Marla Frazee.

Reviewed from a library copy.

Robot Zot by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by David Shannon

Robot Zot is ready to take over the world! "Robot Zot--never fall. Robot Zot--conquer all!"

He begins with kitchen appliances and after his victories in the kitchen, heads onward to the television.

There is nothing that Robot Zot cannot overcome! Even the dog!


What I Thought:
Wow, this is a book that young boy will love! Then I foresee there will be a lot of robots being portrayed after this book is read.

Robot Zot thinks he's going to overtake the world, but in reality he is a toy robot the size of a Hot Wheel car. But it doesn't matter...in his head he's the largest thing in the universe!

The illustrations are wonderful, and what you would expect from Lane Smith. He and Jon Scieszka make the most wonderful team!

A wonderful story, one that is full of imagination and fun! A wonderful book for the preschool and early elementary crowd.

Recommended.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Robot Zot by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by David Shannon.

Reviewed from a library copy.

I'm a Turkey by Jim Arnosky

In honor Thanksgiving...a book about turkeys!

Tom the Turkey introduces readers what it is like to be a turkey, from how they communicate, fly and look.

Book includes a link to download the text in song form.

What I Thought:
A fun book! We read this book during Preschool Storytime this week and the kids seemed to enjoy it. I wish I had the forethought to download the song so we could listen to it while working on our turkey craft.

I especially loved the illustrations, they were bright and colorful; the turkeys had animated facial expressions.

Tom the turkey speaks directly to the readers, and invites them to "gobble" at the next turkey they see...it may be him!

A fun book!

Recommended.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: I'm a Turkey by Jim Arnosky.

Reviewed from a library copy.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Gobble, gobble!

A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck

Grandma Dowdell is back!

It's 1958 and Joey is long grown and living on his own, as is Mary Alice.

This story is told from Bob, whose family moved to town when his father, Methodist preacher, was assigned to a church in town.

Bob nor either of his sisters is particularly excited about living in this small rural town. Mrs. Dowdell is their strange neighbor, and they don't know what to quite think of her.

But life in interesting in this small town, and Mrs. Dowdel is always involved! Whether she's catching the mean guys who bully Bob, helping his little sister adjust to the move by letting her follow her every move, or sending off trouble-maker Roscoe Burdick to the Army. We have stories of Princess Kickapoo, a ghost living in Mrs. Dowdell's garden, an exciting Thanksgiving where the family car is stolen...and Bob learns to drive at the ripe age of twelve!

With Mrs. Dowdell around, there is never a dull moment!


What I Thought:
I loved the other two books about Grandma Dowdell, and have been anxiously awaiting the release of this book ever since I learned of its existence!

At first, I was kind of disappointed that the story revolved around another family. I was worried that Grandma Dowdell wouldn't play as large of a part as she did in A Long Way from Chicago and A Year Down Yonder.

But thankfully, she did! It was in a slightly different format, since the story is told by Bob, Dowdell's next door neighbor. We don't get to see as much as the "inner workings" of Dowdell, but we still get to experience all of her quirky antics.

This is also the story of love as Bob's family, who doesn't have much as a struggling minister's family, but they always seem to have what they need. Whether it's some food on the doorstep, being rescued from a bully, being a friend to a little girl who needs some distractions, or just some plain excitement...Mrs. Dowdell seems to find a way to provide just about everything this family needs.

Overall, a wonderful read!

Highly recommended.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: A Season of Gifts by Richard Peck .

Reviewed from a library copy.

Song of Middle C by Alison McGhee, illustrated by Scott Menchin

A little girl is ready for her first piano recital. She's been practicing her piece called "Dance of the Wood Elves" for a long time, and she ready to show it off!

She's not even nervous, though her brother tries make her so. But she's okay, she has on her lucky hat, her lucky shoes, even her lucky underwear.

She's ready to go.

Performing last in a recital makes a recital seem quite long.

But, she's cool as a cucumber.

Or is she?

What I Thought:
If you know someone who performs recitals, this is a great book for them. I love how the girl (who never reveals her name) is so excited for the recital and has practiced and practiced and visualizes little wood elves dancing around and is ready to go..then freezes at the recital.

Who hasn't been in a situation like that?

But, in the horror of the moment, the girl composes and though cannot remember her piece instead creates a dramatic piece using only the middle C. I love how she improvised and overcame instead of running off the stage in tears.

Which is what I probably would have done. (Or, what I have done...which is not do it at all.) This girl has a much better solution!

Great illustrations, love the lucky underwear!

Recommended.

Want to see more? Check it out on Amazon: Song of Middle C by Alison McGhee, illustrated by Scott Menchin.

Reviewed from a library copy.