Big Ones, Little Ones- Concept Book

"Big Ones Little Ones" by Tana Hoban is a no word book, that shows children the difference in sizes of baby animals, and adult animals. There is a variety of animals. The opening cover has a big and little hippopotamus. There are farm animals, like pigs and cows, and there are water animals like ducks. All of the pictures are real photographs, and all in black and white. Most of the pictures also show a loving relationship between the baby and adult animal. My favorite part of this book, however, is the last page. The last page shows a smaller version of the photographs, and has the name of the animal, and the baby animal. For example, they explain Elk and Fawn, Sheep and Lamb, and then there are baby animals without baby names, which then is explained as Elephant and baby Elephant, for example. I really do enjoy this book, and feel it is interesting and informative.

Bow-Wow Bugs a Bug- Wordless

Bow-Wow Bugs a Bug by Mark Newgarden and Megan Montague Cash is a no word, all picture book. It is about a dog that bothers a bug around the whole neighborhood. I had to read it three times before I understood what was going on. The no word books are apparently hard for me to understand! It starts with Bow-Wow going through his normal day. He wakes up, yawns, walks half-asleep to his food, and while he is eating out of his bowl, he sees a bug. This whole beginning part is told in two pages, with four pictures on each page. It reminded me of a comic book. However, all of the pages are different. The next page is Bow-Wow following the bug outside, and it is one huge picture for the whole page. But then the next page is three different long pictures, showing Bow-Wow following the bug on the side walk. There are pages with nine pictures, and pages with two pictures. There is a variety. Bow-Wow meets up with another dog that looks just like him, who is also following a bug. He then runs into many other dogs following bugs. However, in the end, the dogs learn a lesson for following and bothering these bugs!
For young children, I really think this book should be read along with them, so it can be explained along the way. Like I said, I had to read it three times before I totally understood it. I do love the variety in number of pictures per page, and the picture are bright, colorful, and real, for the most part. I also love how the dogs learn a lesson in the end!

The Green Glass Sea-2009 Rebecca Caudill Nominee

The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages was not my first choice of a Rebecca Caudill book. In fact, it was not my second, nor third. I felt as though I got stuck with it. It was thicker than a lot of them, and that turned me off right away. However, I am glad that I 'got stuck with it.'
I surprisingly really enjoyed The Green Glass Sea. Dewey is the young girl in the book, who basically has to grow up fast, and be independent. She does not remember her mother, and he father was always working around the country, due to the war. She was forced to live with her grandmother. After her grandma has a stroke, she has to go live with her father in New Mexico. She was a very smart young lady. It was hard for her to make friends because she was so smart. She ends up getting moved yet again to live with another family, and luckily gets to live with a young girl her own age. Though it seemed lucky at first. They did not get along at all. The young girl would bother her all of the time. However, they finally find something good with each other, and help each other get through the hard, and terrible time.
This historical fiction book is an easy way for older children to try and relate to what was going on during the war. It would definately fit well in a Junior High classroom, and has many lessons to be taught along with it. For example, the troubles of war, family in the war, making friends, settling differences, and helping each other are all themes of this book. There is even a sequel coming out!

ABC I Like Me!- ABC Book

"ABC I Like Me!" by Nancy Carlson is a book to help children learn their ABCs. Every page represents a different letter, and has amazing large, and colorful illustrations. Though the great illustrations, I don't feel like this is the best ABC book. There is no repetition, or any way to recognize or predict what word on the page is going to be starting with the letter studied. Yes, the letter that is being focused on is a different color and bigger, however, it can get confusing. For example, it would be easier to understand if the beginning of every sentence was the word with the letter being focused on. Or even the second word in every sentence. But with it changing every page, I feel that it could be confusing, and inconsistent.

Officer Buckle and Gloria- Caldecott

"Officer Buckle and Gloria" by Peggy Rathmann is an entertaining and fun book. The illustrations are amazing. They are big pictures, and very colorful. Officer Buckle always lists off safety tips, and none of the students listen to him. When he gets a police dog named Gloria, everything seems to change. While he is presenting the tips to the children with Gloria on his side, they are all excited about the presentation. Every time he looks at Gloria, she is sitting quiet, content, and also into the presentation. But really, whatever safety tip the officer says, Gloria does a funny gesture or a charade about the tip behind Officer Buckle, and keeps the students laughing and interested.
In the end, the story has a great message. The officer feels like he has been making a fool of himself, and refuses to do more safety speeches. However, when Gloria does the show alone, it does not work out. Disasters happen without the officer. The officer feels needed, and finally realize they make a great team!
This has many good messages in it! First off, we need to listen to safety tips!!! Also, working together and making a good team is always important!