Animal Soup by Todd H. Doodler

What do you get when you mix a bird and a turtle? A birdle of course! What about a gorilla and a pelican? A gorillican?

In Todd H. Doodler's Animal Soup, kids can see the funny results of combining two animals that have very few similarities. Animals are presented on a two-page spread, and when you lift a flap on the right-hand side of the spread, you see the mixed-up animal.




My three-year-old's response to the "squale" (squirrel + whale)? "Oh dear, that's a silly animal."

The sturdy cardboard pages makes this a fun choice for young children.

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Hardcover: 14 pages
• Publisher: Golden Books (May 11, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375858083
• ISBN-13: 978-03758
• Source: Review copy from publisher 

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Gracias/Thanks by Pat Mora, illustrations by Jon Parra

Hoo-boy, the books in my TBR pile have been stacking up since "Junior" was born, but a sprained ankle forced me to take a break this weekend, enabling me to put a dent (a small one) in the pile. Many book lovers can relate to the feeling you get when you pick up a book that's remained un-read for whatever reasons and falling in love with it. It's like finding $10 in the laundry (heck, I'm excited when I find $1.)

Anyway, Pat Mora's Gracias / Thanks has been hiding in the middle of my TBR pile for months, and the minute I read the first page, I felt like I'd hit the jackpot. In the book, a young boy thanks the big and small things in his life. For example, "For the ladybug that landed on my finger, a little red flying surprise, thanks," or "For my family, who clapped and clapped even when I tripped on the stage in my school play, thanks." The book is written in both Spanish and English, making it perfect for a bilingual family or children learning either English or Spanish.

To say it's heartwarming and inspiring is an understatement. I've seen similar books that are very cheesy (trust me...I abhor "cheesy"), but the language, the things and people the little boy thanks, and Jon Parra's warm illustrations make it very "uncheesy." You don't feel like you're being taught a lesson or talked down to.

As I was reading it, I found myself smiling and thinking about things I was grateful for like my daughter who drew me a picture to make me feel better when I hurt my ankle. Books like these can lead to wonderful discussions with your kids (or students if you're a teacher) and help everyone take a step back from the daily grind to think about what they're grateful for in their lives. 

Project Idea: Have children make their own "Gracias/Thanks" books. If your students or their family members speak another language at home, have them write in both their home language and English if they are able to.

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Lee & Low Books; Bilingual edition (October 20, 2009)
• Language: English, Spanish
• ISBN-10: 1600602584
• ISBN-13: 978-1600602580
• Source: Review copy from publisher

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Nic Bishop Frogs

I never thought I'd ever look at a photograph and say, "What a beautiful frog!" But these words indeed came out of my mouth more than once after flipping through Nic Bishop Frogs. Author and photographer, Nic Bishop has won multiple awards for this book, and it's easy to see why. He takes readers on a photographic journey around the world, introducing different kinds of frogs through absolutely gorgeous close-up photographs and interesting facts.

I jump for joy when I find great nonfiction for kids, and I would have totally turned a cartwheel if I could have after picking up this book at the library. What makes it so great is the fine balance of photography with facts. Kids at different age and reading levels can enjoy this book and have the choice of reading from cover to cover or flipping through the pictures. The blue poison dart frog is a favorite in our house, and I've received strict orders from a certain three-year-old to take a trip to the National Aquarium in Baltimore to see one up-close. Great for home, classroom, and school libraries, I highly recommend it.

Now, if I exclaim "What a beautiful spider!" after reading, Nic Bishop Spiders, Mr. Bishop will be a true magician.

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Nonfiction (January 1, 2008)
• ISBN-13: 978-0439877558
• Source: Local Library

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Press Release: Essay Contest

Some of your young readers and aspiring writers may be interested in this contest.



NEW YORK, NY – April 26, 2010 - Random House Children’s Books and Kids Crooked House are kicking off an essay contest for kids to promote adventure, imagination, and creativity: themes that are all reflected in Mary Pope Osborne’s bestselling Magic Tree House series. The grand-prize winner will be awarded their own Magic Tree House: a custom designed playhouse by Kids Crooked House, creators of the most whimsical playhouses for children. Ten runner-up winners will receive a Magic Tree House book autographed by Mary Pope Osborne, beloved author of the wildly popular New York Times bestselling series that has now sold nearly 70 million copies.


The Magic Tree House series, first published in 1992, follows brother and sister duo Jack and Annie as they journey back in time via a magic tree house, traveling to exotic places and meeting famous historical figures. Children interested in entering the essay contest must submit a response to this question: Write about an adventure you would like to have in the Magic Tree House. Where would you go and what would you do? Mary Pope Osborne will review the submissions and choose the winner.


Essay entry forms are available for download at MagicTreeHouse.com and must be mailed to Random House offices at 1745 Broadway New York, NY 10019. Entries will be accepted from April 27 through October 31, 2010. The winners will be announced in mid December 2010.


“There is nothing more exciting than a child using their imagination and this essay contest is a great outlet. No one knows boundless imagination better than Mary Pope Osborne, a truly creative and artistic author. Kids Crooked House is honored to work with Ms. Osborne and a partner like Random House to help make this an exciting endeavor for many children,” said Glen Halliday, creative director and CEO for Kids Crooked House.


Kids Crooked House is inspired by, and infused with, Maine and its natural wonders. Glen and his cousin, Jeff Leighton, built their first crooked house because they loved being outside and wanted their kids to love it, too. Glen and Jeff’s goal is to encourage children to use their imaginations as wildly as possible, and with the diverse range of playhouses Kids Crooked House offers, it isn’t very hard to do.


“I’m so excited about this contest, knowing it will inspire an adventure and allow children to be as creative as they dare. I can’t wait to read their ideas, and learn about where they would like to go! This essay contest touches on my main goal in writing the Magic Tree House books: to encourage children to go on adventures using their own imaginations,” said Mary Pope Osborne.

Prowling the Seas: Exploring the Hidden World of Ocean Predators by Pamela S. Turner

When asked to list predators, most people begin with predators that roam the land, like lions and tigers. But there is an entire world of predators and prey off land in the ocean. Pamela S. Turner explores these predators in Prowling the Seas: Exploring the Hidden World of Ocean Predators. The book follows the scientists of the Tagging of Pacific Predators (TOPP) project as they tag and study ocean predators.

Readers meet Genevieve, a leatherback sea turtle and her turtle friends in the Great Turtle Race as they swim to the Galapagos Islands after nesting; a bluefin tuna preying in the California Current; a white shark that swims from Northern California to Hawaii; and seabirds in New Zealand. Readers also meet the scientists who work with the animals.

Along the way, readers learn interesting facts about the predators and the areas in which they live. Full color photographs show TOPP scientists working with the predators and the predators swimming in their natural habitat. Maps of the paths the tagged animals took are sprinkled throughout the book.

In her true style, Pamela S. Turner makes nonfiction come alive with conversational and engaging copy. Not only is this a great resource for science classes, but it is a great choice for little explorers interested in ocean life.

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (October 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802797482
• ISBN-13: 978-0802797483
• Source: Review copy from publisher

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Mirror by Suzy Lee

Simple. Stunning. Fun. Those words describe Mirror, Suzy Lee's newest picture book. In this wordless picture book, a young girl playfully plays with her own reflection in a mirror. She dances and makes funny faces until she gets a little too excited and...

I'm not going to spoil the ending for you, but it has the same surprise effect as the wave that washes over the little girl in her other book, Wave.

I love both of these books because they're not overdone as you see in a lot of children's books. The images speak for themselves without needing words, and both effectively present the playfulness of childhood.You can imagine any child playing with a wave or playing with a mirror, and kids will want to keep turning the page to see what happens next.

The illustrations in Mirror are simple, yet full of life and expression in the little girl's body language. The black and white drawings are brightened up with the splash of yellow that's the little girl's dress, and the placement of the mirror on one side of the fold and the girl on the other creates the perfect format for flipping through this book.

I love wordless picture books because they're appropriate for kids with different reading abilities, they can be enjoyed by families who speak different languages, and they can help develop a child's imagination.

I can't recommend this book enough.

Watch a slideshow for a sneak peek.

Publisher: Seven Footer Press (May 1, 2010) | ISBN: 978-1934734391 | Source: Review copy from publisher 

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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


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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

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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

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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

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When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

I am not ashamed to admit that I'm an awards hound. Give me a list of books that have either been shortlisted for or won an award, and I'll immediately go online and request copies from my local library. I am, however, ashamed to admit that I waited until Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me won the Newbery Medal to check it out even after Betsy Bird said way back in April, " ...this book is, pretty much, one of the best children's books I have ever read."

After FINALLY reading it, I have to agree with Ms. Bird and so many others around the blogosphere who love this book.

It's the late 70's, and sixth-grader Miranda spends much of her time helping her mother practice for The 25,000 Pyramid game show. Her best friend, Sal, has suddenly stopped talking to her, and to make her "normal" life even more complicated, she's started receiving mysterious messages that not only seem to predict the future but convince her that she must help prevent the deaths of her friend and the letter writer. But who are the letters coming from and can Miranda do what is asked of her?

To wrap this book up in a neat little bow is difficult because there is so much going on. Not only is it a mystery, but it's a coming of age novel where Miranda is forced to make new friends and step outside of her comfort zone for the first time in her life. It's not until the very end that you realize what exactly is going on, and you're tempted to read the book over again to look for the clues that are scattered throughout.

What is most impressive is that Rebecca Stead is able to weave the complex storyline together in a fairly short novel with beautifully-written prose. Miranda is a truly believable character who many kids will identify with. And the references to A Wrinkle in Time, the book Miranda has read over and over again, were delightful. Those familiar with A Wrinkle in Time will have fun finding the similarities between the book and what is going on in Miranda's life.

This is a book, I'd give to any tween who likes both realistic fiction and a bit of sci-fi and mystery. For the perfect gift for a young book lover, pair When You Reach Me with A Wrinkle in Time. 

Reading level: 9-12 | Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books (2009) | ISBN: 978-0385737425 | Source: Purchased e-book

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North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

Terra Cooper was born with a port wine stain that covers one cheek and has dealt with numerous surgeries and treatments to try to at least make it fade a bit her entire life. She's also dealt with numerous taunts from her peers and has resorted to wearing thick pancake makeup to cover it. Her verbally abusive and degrading father has managed to destroy anything that was left of her self-esteem. She doesn't think she's good enough to have a boyfriend that truly cares for her, so she settles for a self-absorbed jock who only really cares about his muscles. Then one day, by chance, Terra meets Jacob, somewhat of an outsider himself, and through him, she is finally able to accept herself and learn to heal.

To sum up this book in a short paragraph is so hard to do.  North of Beautiful is more than just about self-acceptance. It's a book about growth, healing, family, and self-discovery. Justina Chen Headley has done an amazing job with creating characters you love and characters you hate, but above all, creating characters who are real. Through Terra's journey, the reader is forced to think about what true beauty is and the power of thinking positively about yourself. Terra turns from someone who hides her true self into a courageous young woman who learns to love herself and accept who she is, flaws and all.

North of Beautiful is a beautifully-written and inspiring book that will appeal to many teens. I highly recommend it.

Reading Level: Young Adult | ISBN: 978-0316025065 | Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | Source: Purchased copy

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Review Policy

Updated:09/04/2012


What types of books do you review?
I review books for children and young adults, an am especially interested in:

• High-interest nonfiction for kids of all ages
• Books, both fiction and nonfiction, featuring multicultural characters
• Books geared specifically toward toddlers and babies 
• Dystopian fiction, science-fiction, paranormal fiction for middle grade or young adults
• Realistic/issue-based young adult fiction

I also review educational books and workbooks. 

If you have a book that fits within these categories, please e-mail me at thewellreadchild AT gmail DOT com.


Do you review PDFs or e-books?
I will accept e-books of Middle Grade and Young Adult books that are compatible with a Kindle e-reader. I do not accept e-book versions of picture books. Part of the magic of reading is being able to flip through books and devour the material, especially if it's a book with illustrations.

Do you review self-published books? 
I accept self-published books for review on a case-by-case basis. If you have a self-published children's book, please e-mail me with a detailed description of your book and why you'd like me to consider it for review.  

Can you guarantee a review?
No. Acceptance of a book does not guarantee a review. Sometimes I choose not to review a book because it does not fit within The Well-Read Child's mission. I only spend time reviewing books that I feel children, young adults, and adults will find appealing or books about which I have something to say. I'm always honest in my reviews, so you may expect to see negative reviews from time to time.

Do you review book aps? 
Yes! I will review book aps that are downloadable on an iPhone or iPod touch. 

Questions? 
E-mail me at thewellreadchild AT gmail DOT com.

Andy and Sam: Hide-and-Seek by Liesbet Slegers

First published in the Netherlands in 2009, Andy and Sam: Hide-and-Seek is a super cute interactive book featuring a little boy named Andy and his "sometimes naughty" orange cat, Sam.

Composed of two-page spreads featuring different locations like Andy's bedroom and backyard and the zoo, readers are asked if they can find Sam who is always hiding somewhere. Once they find Sam, the book asks them to find other animals and objects in the spread. While there is no real story line, this book is a great way to introduce toddlers and preschoolers to new vocabulary words and to sharpen their visual skills and question/answer skills. 

My almost three-year-old can't get enough of the book and truly enjoys trying to find Sam. Sometimes you can only see his tail poking out from a hiding place, and other times, he's out in open but doing something funny like riding a polar bear's back at the zoo. Each time we read it, it seems like we discover something new in each spread.

Using this book is a great way to get your child to interact with books and a fun way to teach them new concepts.

Reading Level: Baby-Preschool | ISBN: 978-1-935279-35-8 | Publisher:  Kane/Miller, January 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. All proceeds are used to buy brand new books for a local women and children's shelter.  

Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach by Dianne de Las Casas, illustrated by Marita Gentry

Growing up in the rich storytelling country of the Appalachians, I latched on to stories and folktales when I was very young. There's something quite magical about listening to someone tell you a story, and I especially love to hear retellings of old classics I heard when I was a child. That's why when Pelican Publishing sent a copy of Dianne de Las Casas's The Cajun Cornbread Boy, a retelling of the Gingerbread Boy, it became a fast favorite in our house. In fact, my daughter asks me to read it to her often and even makes me chase her while she says, "Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me. I'm full of cayenne."

So, when Pelican sent a copy of Dianne de Las Casas's newest book, Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach, we were eager to crack it open. Set in New Orleans back in the day when chickens and roaches were friends, Madame Poulet (a chicken) and Monsieur Roach (a roach of course) were best friends. They live together and are supposed to forage for food together, but lazy Monsieur Roach decides to pretend to be sick and invites all of his roach friends over for a marvelous fête while Madame Poulet is out looking for food. When Madame Poulet catches on, she gets a bit of revenge, and it's the end of friendships between chickens and roaches forever.

This is the kind of story that is meant to be read and acted out loud. You absolutely have to sing the song that the roaches sing while Madame Poulet is out (set to the tune of "La Cucharacha"). While the story is mostly set inside the New Orleans house of Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach, Marita Gentry's illustrations give you colorful glimpses of New Orleans as Madame Poulet goes about her day foraging for food. With words and phrases like fête, madame, monsieur, and "Laissez les bons temps roule!" seamlessly sprinkled throughout, you get a sense of the city's Cajun culture. A glossary in the back defines all of the French words that are in the book.

This is the type of story you can really have fun with. Kids will laugh, especially at the stomach-turning ending.

Reading Level: Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Pelican Publishing (September 8, 2009) |

ISBN-13: 978-1589806863 | 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. All proceeds are used to buy brand new books for a local women and children's shelter.

Before Columbus: The Americas of 1491 by Charles C. Mann

"In Fourteen-Hundred Ninety Two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue." And he found a "new world" and "new people." But was this world and its people really new? Of course not! And chances are that unless your history books in school were written by anthropologists, you most likely were taught incorrect or incomplete information about the Americas before Columbus arrived. In fact, that may have been glossed over completely, and Columbus's "discovery" of America may have been the starting point of American history for you.

In Before Columbus: The Americas of 1491, Charles C. Mann sets the record straight with a compelling look at the peoples of ancient America. Based on findings presented his book 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, Before Columbus answers three questions:

• How old was the "New World?"
• Why did Europe succeed?
• Were the Americas really a wilderness?

In answering these questions, readers are taken on amazing journey and learn some surprising facts. Stunning photographs, paintings, maps, and call-out boxes supplement the narrative and bring Native Americans and their stories to life.

This would make a perfect addition to a history class or home library. Highly recommended.

ISBN: 978-1416949008 | Reading Level: Young Adult | Publisher: Atheneum, 2009 |

Source: Cybils review copy from publisher

This book was nominated for a Cybils awards in the YA/MG Nonfiction category.

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. All proceeds are used to buy brand new books for a local women and children's shelter.

Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland by Sally M. Walker

Holding a lifelong infatuation with archeology, I'm always watching shows or reading books about digs and discoveries. The quality of writing varies among the different books and programs. Sometimes it's way too technical. Other times it's boring and just presents fact after fact.

When Sally M. Walker's Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland was nominated for a Cybils award, I was eager to check it out, and I was delighted to see that it was well-written, engaging, and full of interesting information.

Written In Bone takes readers along the journey as scientists uncover skeletons and other artifacts from Colonial Jamestown, VA and Colonial Maryland. What makes this book exceptional are the stories it tells along the way. Not only do we learn more about the actual skeletons that were uncovered, but we learn about the way of life that was often brutal and even deadly during this period. For example, indentured servants were often abused as the bones of a young boy found hastily buried in a cellar revealed. Babies were often swaddled so much that they didn't receive important vitamins from sunlight and died in early infancy as revealed from the bones of an infant discovered in a lead coffin under a Maryland church.

The book takes readers through the excavation of the different skeletons and the process involved in determining key information about who they were, where they lived, and how they died. It never gets too technical and makes for a fascinating read.

If you get a chance to visit the DC area, a visit to the American Museum of Natural History to "meet" some of the skeletons and artifacts featured in the book. I got a chance to see it before I read the book and was pleasantly surprised to read more about some of them.

I highly recommend this book and think it may even inspire some readers to explore careers in forensic anthropology.

ISBN: 978-0-8225-7135-3 | Carolrhoda Books, 2009 | Source: Review Copy from Publisher

What My Children Are Reading 11/12/09

 Head on over to Chronicle of an Infant Bibliophile to leave your links and comments for this week's What My Children Are Reading.



Also, I've decided to take a brief hiatus from blogging as I prepare for the holidays, read Cybils nominees, and get ready for a new baby. I'll be on sporadically to talk about the Cybils and other Kid Lit news. Cheers!

What My Children Are Reading, November 5, 2009

I'm catching up on Cybils reading and hope to have new reviews to you soon. In the meantime, be sure to stop by Mouse Grows, Mouse Learns and let everyone know what your kids are reading this week!

What My Children Are Reading, October 29, 2009

This week's reading has been severely limited due to the flu, but please be sure to visit Amy at The Art of Irreverence who is hosting this week's round up.