Once again our frequent library visits have supplied us with a number of excellent children's stories. Here are our favorite library finds this month.
Wolf's Coming! by Joe Kulka: A clever rhyming story about a scary but dapperly dressed wolf who is out for his evening stroll. All the innocent critters are fleeing before him. They hide in one animal's residence where they await wolf's arrival. He opens the door and SURPRISE! It's just a birthday party. Lee enjoyed this one over and over again. (Book Rating: 8)
20 Big Trucks in the Middle of the Street by Mark Lee: Beautifully illustrated truck book, and believe me, I've seen my share of truck books. Excellent rhyming poem about a traffic jam outside a boy's house. Lee thoroughly enjoyed. (Book Rating: 9)
Ooops by Authur Geisert: Another Geisert disaster book. Disaster meaning the book is about a family of pigs who accidentally cause their house to collapse by spilling some milk at the dinner table. A table saw cuts through a load post. A boulder takes off the roof. A water pump explodes. What boy would like this? Excellent illustrations once again. (Book Rating: 9) 
Chickens to the Rescue by John Himmelman: This is a book with illustrations to make parents laugh. Lee wasn't too interested in it unfortunately. It's about a family that has accidents and the chickens that rescue them. (Book Rating: 7) 
The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney: Wordless Aesop's fable with lovely illustrations. Excellent expressions portrayed on the animals. This could become somewhat tiresome on the reading parents because they must make up the script each read. Lee liked this one very much. (Book Rating: 8) 
Drummer Hoff by Barbara Emberley: This Seus-like rhyming book compelled Phil to beatbox in between each page. It also taught Lee to say, "Ready. Aim. FIRE!" A Newberry Book Award Winner about the firing of a cannon. It has unique bold illustrations. (Book Rating: 8) 
Over the Hills and Far Away: A Book of Nursery Rhymes by Marks Alan: A book of traditional nursery rhymes—some familiar, some not—with gorgeous watercolor pictures. Parts of the pictures are done with black and white silhouettes. (Book Rating 10)
Little Red Riding Hood by Gennady Spirin: There was nothing exceptionally special about the retelling of this tale except that it didn't try to be creative or modern or censored. People get eaten. The wolf gets cut open. No gore in the pictures though. Detailed and exquisite illustrations. Lee liked this. (Book Rating: 8) 
Where’s Walrus by Stephen Savage: This is a play off of Where's Waldo, but this is the ultra simplistic version for children under 2. Simple, clear, and bold illustrations. The wordless story is about a walrus that escapes from the zoo and is trying to hide from the zoo keeper. (Book Raing: 7)
The Diggers Are Coming by Susan Steggall: Yes, another truck book. But this one was worth mentioning. It had unique illustrations made through ripped up material, I believe. Unique rhymes about the demolition, excavation, and building needed to make a new community. Lee obviously liked it. (Book Rating: 7) 
Gobble it Up: A Fun Song About Eating by Jim Arnosky: Lee often requested this book and that wasn't exhausting to us because the book is a short song. Our book came with a CD of highly tolerable music. No annoying children singing. No high pitched lady either. I like the reality explained in this book. We have to kills things and eat them. The chorus goes, "That's the way we all survive. We gobble food to stay alive. We eat the food we have and then we have to hunt for food again." (Book Rating: 8) 
Those Building Men by Angela Johnson illustrated by Barry Moser: This poem-like story tells about the men who built America's structures. Striking watercolor illustration. (Book Rating: 8) 
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