Hugo and the Really, Really, Really Long String by Bob Boyle

One day Hugo, a cute little purple guy, finds a red string, a really, really, really long string. As he follows the string through town, he makes some interesting new friends like an alligator cop and convinces them to help him get to the end of the string where something wonderful must be waiting. 

Hugo and the Really, Really, Really Long String is one of those books that instantly draws a kid's attention. Why? Because what child WOULDN'T want to get to the end of a super long string? My daughter begs for me to read it to her over and over and over again. And no wonder...it was written and illustrated by Bob Boyle, creator of Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! among other animated kids' shows. Somehow, Bob Boyle knows just what appeals to kids, whether it's Wubbzy trying to stop a runaway train or a purple hippo-looking guy following a long string through town.

This book definitely warrants a look, but beware: only pick it up if you are willing to read it many many times.

Reading Level: Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (March 23, 2010) | Source: Review copy from publisher


The Amazon.com links in this post are affiliate links. With every purchase you make through clicking on these links, you are helping support The Well-Read Child.   

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

The Dead-Tossed Waves is a companion book to Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Gabrielle, or Gabry, has lived her entire life in a town in between a forest teeming with deadly zombies and the sea where the living dead wash in with the tide nearly every day. When Gabry and her friends cross over into unprotected territory one night, tragedy ensues and changes Gabry's life forever. Secrets are revealed, and soon Gabry is not only running for her life and the lives of her loved ones, but is also searching for answers to her and her mother's past.


The Dead-Tossed Waves is every bit as suspenseful as The Forest of Hands and Teeth. At first, I was a little disappointed to learn that it picked up years after The Forest of Hands and Teeth left off, but Carrie Ryan soon drew me in with a compelling story full of characters you want to learn more about.

Often companion books and sequels insult readers by spending a lot of time in the beginning telling the story of the previous book. Luckily, Carrie Ryan respects her readers enough not to waste their time doing this. Instead, she weaves important information about the past throughout the book. You don't have to read The Forest of Hands and Teeth first, but I'd recommend it so you can become familiar with the back story.

Not only is it a love story and a coming of age story, but there's plenty of zombie gore. Yay!

Reading Level: Young Adult | Publisher: Delacorte Press for Young Readers, March 2010 | Source: Review copy from publisher

The Amazon.com links in this post are affiliate links. With every purchase you make through clicking on these links, you are helping support The Well-Read Child.  

Girl in the Know by Anne Katz, illustrated by Monika Melnychuk

 Let's face it, talking to your daughter about puberty may not be the most comfortable conversation - for you OR your daughter. Luckily, there are a number of wonderful resources available to help ease the conversation and to help girls understand what's going on with their bodies and minds during puberty.  Girl in the Know: Your Inside-and-Out Guide to Growing Up by Anne Katz, illustrated by Monika Melnychuk is a brand new resource with great appeal.

Unlike a lot of dry, boring books out there on the subject, Girl in the Know is  conversational without being condescending. Not only does it cover what's going on with a girl's body during puberty, but it also covers mental changes like mood swings and other things like crushes. What's more, the book contains a section telling girls how they can take care of themselves during this mentally and physically-challenging time.  Being a book lover, I especially enjoyed the section that listed "coming-of-age" books featuring girl characters who may be experiencing some of the same changes, thoughts, and feelings as the girls reading Girl in the Know.

In a friendly tone, Girl in the Know sends an encouraging message that helps girls deal with and understand puberty in a positive and healthy manner. Highly recommended.

Learning Materials: Download a PDF with activities and learning materials from the publisher's website.
  
Reading level: Young Adult | Publisher: Kids Can Press, Ltd. (March 1, 2010) | ISBN-13: 978-1554533039 | Source: Review copy received

The Amazon.com links in this post are affiliate links. With every purchase you make through clicking on these links, you are helping support The Well-Read Child.  

Looking Closely Around the Pond by Frank Serafini

This week, I'll be featuring some great nonfiction books that would make excellent classroom resources. The first is nature photographer Frank Serafini's Looking Closely around the Pond. This is a great interactive choice for preschoolers and early elementary kids.

Readers see a close-up photograph of some sort of plant or animal found near ponds and asked to guess what it is. When they flip the page, they find out what is it as well as a couple of paragraphs about it. A box turtle, dragonfly, water lily, and green algae are just a few of the plants and animals featured.

Kids will enjoy trying to guess what's in each picture, and the facts presented are just enough for a young learner to get an overview of the featured plant or animal. Teachers, parents, and caregivers could present this before an excursion to a local pond, and young learners could try to find some of the plants and animals. Kids could even find different plants and animals and research information about them to create their own books with either hand-drawn pictures or photographs they or their teachers/parents take during the excursion to the pond.

This is a great book to introduce kids to the pond ecosystem as well as peak their curiosity and appreciation for nature. It would make an excellent resource for a home or classroom library.

Reading level: Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Kids Can Press, Ltd. (February 1, 2010) | ISBN-13: 978-1553373957 | Source: Review copy received

The Amazon.com links in this post are affiliate links. With every purchase you make through clicking on these links, you are helping support The Well-Read Child.