Sophie’s Big Bed by Tina Burke.

This book in the Toddler Tales series is a warm look at a toddler moving into her own large bed.  Sophie loves her crib.  It has her banana blankie and stuffed star.  But now it is time for her to move to her big bed where she doesn’t feel cozy at all.  Sophie tries night after night but finds herself only able to sleep back in her crib.  It isn’t until all of her favorite items move to the big bed with her that she can fall asleep there.

This book is a winner with its bright illustrations that show Sophie’s worry and joy so clearly.  The text is perfect for toddlers.  It is clear and brief.  I enjoyed the fact that Sophie does not burst into tears about it and there are no parents forcing her to stay in a bed she doesn’t want to sleep in.  Instead it is a gentle tale of patient but unseen parents who work with Sophie so that she can be happy at night.  Lovely.

This is a lap book, which should be read curled together in either a big or small bed.

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen

Prepare yourself for a wild lawnmower ride!  Our 12-year-old protagonist is flat broke, until his grandmother gives him his grandfather’s old rider lawnmower.  He uses it to start a very small lawnmowing business, but demand is high and the business grows faster than anyone can understand.  Soon he finds himself with employees, a financial manager, and his summer has become far more busy and profitable than he could ever imagine. 

Paulsen does a wonderful job of fusing humor, great eccentric characters and finance into a perfectly short story.  The writing is tight, funny and a joy to read. 

This book is a quick and short 88 pages.  It is ideal for reluctant readers who will enjoy the pacing, the topic and the length.  Also recommended for willing readers who will enjoy it as well. 

Where Is the Cake? by T. T. Khing.

This very clever wordless book is fun from the cover pages filled with cake all the way to the end.  In the book, you follow several different story lines from page to page.  Each group of characters has its own story that impact each other in various ways throughout.  On the first page, the rats steal the cake from the dogs, a soccer ball bounces down the road, a weasel leaves its hole with a green bag, a slow turtle starts on his walk, and it goes on and on.  By the end of the book, each story has resolved itself in some way and all of the characters end up interacting together.

This is not a group book.  The highly detailed art will have children crowing with delight when they discover something and pages will have to be rapidly turned backwards to find out how this happened and where that character first appeared.  It is a book to pore over, explore and adore. 

Recommended for everyone from kindergarteners through about 4th grade.  There is a strong sense of adventure and discovery when reading this book.  Enjoy!

Billy Tartle in Say Cheese! by Michael Townsend.

Very modern, graphically interesting and lots of fun, this picture book offers a lot of humor in a slim volume.  Billy is going to have his picture taken at school, but worries that all of his pictures have been boring.  So he designs a hairstyle for himself based on Supermonkey.  He has lots of ideas about how this new hairstyle will make him impressive and give him powers.  But he turns out looking exactly the same as before.  When he is given a lollipop after his haircut, he gets an idea that is certain to make sure that this class picture is far, far from dull.

The text is lovely to read aloud to a small group of kids, but this is really a book for elementary kids to read on their own or for a very small group of children to enjoy together.  The illustrations are such a large part of the story, and they have to be seen closely to be enjoyed to the fullest. 

Highly recommended for all boys.  Boys who don’t enjoy traditional books will like the comic book feel of this one.  Boys who read often and will will love the humor of the story.  A wonderful look at how comics can be mashed up with picture books and be super!

The Three Cabritos by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Stephen Gilpin.

This version of The Three Billy Goats Gruff has touches of Texas throughout.  This combined with the fact that the goats are trying to get to a gig for their band at a fiesta adds a lot of flavor to the story.  Reynaldo the smallest goat, gets to the bridge first and children will be astounded to see the huge Chupacabra waiting there for him in all of its blue and prickly glory.  The Chupacabra only allows Reynaldo to pass after he plays some music.  The same pattern follows with each brother until Augustin, the biggest goat, who is able to control the Chupacabra with his catchy music.   The monster meets his end at the end of the story.

The illustrations are stylish and have a modern animated feel to them.  The Chupacabra alone is worth reading the book for!  The text is catchy, fun and has just the right amount of Spanish words incorporated in the text.  Nicely, there is a glossary and pronunciation guide at the end of the book. 

If you are looking for a fun and different version of the billy goats tale, this one will be a winner read aloud to children.  It has lots of funny touches throughout that children, especially those in elementary school, will enjoy. 

Heat Wave by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Betsy Lewin.

A heat wave hit Lumberville and day after day the town’s residents swelter, finding different ways to try to stay cool.  Set in a small town in the early to mid 20th century, no one huddles by their air conditioner.  Instead readers get to see more creative solutions like cooking in the basement, taking long cool baths, and not sleeping indoors.  I enjoyed how many of the solutions build community closeness rather than in today where we all go into our homes and shut ourselves in. 

This is a great summery book to share with kindergarteners and early elementary age children.  The illustrations are friendly and funny with small touches like the policeman bathing with his hat still on.  The text is wonderful, filled with everyone’s exact name, it is like visiting a small town in person.

So pour some cold lemonade, sit out on your porch, and share this.  It will be just as nice in an air conditioned school or library where you can talk about the differences between the way we stay cool today and how they do in the book.  In schools without air conditioned classrooms, this just may inspire some creative ways for the class to feel cooler.