Recently Reviewed Books
Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss and Read Across America
Today, March 2, is the anniversary of the birth of Theodor Seuss Geisel – Dr. Seuss. Today also is Read Across America (http://www.seussville.com/Educators/educatorReadAcrossAmerica.php). Folks in my town organized a day (they are guessing it may take 8 hours to read all the books) of reading books by Dr. Seuss. The local event was the result…
Orange Pear Apple Bear
Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett This is a sweet, simple picture book for the youngest audience, or for beginning readers. The story is presented through just five words: apple, pear, orange, bear, and there. This book explores the concepts of color, food, and shape. The lively illustrations convey much about the bear’s playful…
What To Do About Alice?
What To Do About Alice? by Barbara Kerley, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham “Theodore Roosevelt had a small problem.” Like many a fairy tale king, a politically-powerful father expected a daughter born in 1884 to behave in certain ways – ways that involved things like obedience, ladylike interests, calm and proper daily activities. Alice Roosevelt had…
The Dot
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds This is a wonderful story about a girl named Vashti and how she learns about her creative spirit. Vashti sits angrily in her art classroom after class staring at her blank piece of paper. She thinks she is bad at art, that she can’t draw — so she hasn’t…
Back on Track
After a month of almost everyone in this family coming down with a nasty case of the flu, Bookworm Bear is getting back on track. I apologize for the gap in postings. Thank you for reading Bookworm Bear!
Snowflake Bentley
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Mary Azarian No two snowflakes are exactly alike. We’ve all heard that. But, how do we know? We know this about snowflakes because of the curiosity, patience, and work of Wilson Bentley – a man who loved snow. Bentley was born on a farm in Vermont in…
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by Erica Silverman, illustrated by Betsy Lewin Cowgirl Kate and her horse, Cocoa, are good friends who spend time riding, and counting and herding cows. Like most friends, they disagree sometimes – for instance: is it time to eat, or time to count cows? When Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa ride…
ish
ish by Peter H. Reynolds A single mocking comment can change the way we see things – about the world, about ourselves, or about things we love doing. Ramon is a boy who loves to draw. He draws all the time, and is happy when he is drawing. One day his older brother makes fun…
Snow
Snow by Uri Shulevitz A snowflake falls onto a gray city. “It’s snowing,” said boy with dog. “It’s only a snowflake,” said grandfather with beard. The boy and his dog are excited and go out to see the snow. Other voices – a man, a woman, the radio, the TV – say no snow. The…
Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time
Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time by James Howe, illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay Houndsley and his friend, Catina, find themselves snowed-in for a day (with the first snow of winter). Catina worries at first – she has things to do before the concert that evening. Houndsley loves the quiet and isn’t worried at all.…
Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole
Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole by Wong Herbert Yee Mouse and Mole are neighbors, sharing the same tree. They are friends, and they have their differences. But, as friends, they try to work out any conflicts with some creative problem solving. Mole sweeps his hole every morning to keep it tidy. Mouse sweeps her house every…
Sector 7
Sector 7 by David Wiesner This is a wonderful picture book celebrating creativity and friendship. It is a story told solely in illustrations, with no text (a few words appear in the illustrations). A small cloud and a boy become friends on the observatory of the Empire State Building. The cloud takes the boy flying…