Library Finds: Great Books for Children

I believe it's time for another listing of Library Finds. Some of my books included some historical fiction relating to the American Revolutionary War. I was doing some research earlier in the year and found a handful to well done children's books.

Again, my rating criteria is based on illustrations, parental appeal, storyline, and whether or not my children requested them again and again.


Colonial Voices, Hear them Speak by Kay Winter. This children's story was not for a 2 or 4 year old. Probably 6 or older. Excellent retelling of the Boston Tea Party from the perspective of a paper boy who's delivering newspapers to different people in town. The delivery boy then hears the opinions of everyone in town. Great illustrations. (Book Rating: 9)

Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen. Clever rhyming story about a circus ship that sinks off the coast of Maine and all the circus animals come live on the island. Based on some real life events, which is always interesting. Great pictures with plenty for the children to explore during multiple reads. (Book Rating: 9)

Subway Story by Julia Sarcone-Roach. I found this story really interested because it was based off of a time when New York sunk old Subway cars to make temporary reef-like homes for the ocean life. Fascinating. Both children liked this story. Unique style of pictures. Pastels, I think. (Book Rating: 7)

You Can Do Anything, Daddy! by Michael Rex. Very clever book about a boy asking his Daddy what he’d go through to save him from robot gorilla pirates from Mars. Very clever and laughable. Descent illustration, though nothing particularly fantastic. (Book Rating: 8)

Adele and Simon in America by Barbara McClintock. Beautiful pictures illustrating a journey two children take across America highlighting major locations. The text was somewhat unnecessary and repetitive. During the trip the children lose one of their possessions on each page. My children enjoyed finding each hidden item. (Book Rating: 7)

Where is the Cake Now? by T.T. Khing. Yes! If I were to make a wordless book, it would be like this. The pictures are so involved that you can read the book multiple times and be following a different character in each picture. Or you can follow the main storyline of discovering who stole the cake. Follow a vain poodle, a noncommittal cat, a lollipop eater, a thief & others. (Book Rating: 10)

Homespun Sarah by Verla Kay and Ted Rand. Another beautiful watercolored book about a a little girl's pioneer life. Simple two-word rhyming phrases that describe doing jobs and all the work that must take place to make a new dress. (Book Rating: 7)

My Lucky Day  by Keiko Kasza. Clever book about a pig that pretends to accidentally knock on predators’ doors to get a massage, a bath, and a good dinner. Simple illustrations. (Book Rating: 7)

Worst of Friends by Suzanne Tripp Jurmain. Another good story for older children. Maybe 6 or older. This book illustrated some concepts about friendship using the stories of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson's lives. Watercolored illustrations that I like to call sloppy in a sophisticated and lovely sort of way. (Book Rating: 7)

Stuck by Oliver Jeffers. A comical book about a boy trying to retrieve his kite from out of a tree. He throws increasingly more and more ridiculous items up into the tree to get down his kite. (Book Rating: 7)

Darcy and Gran Don’t Like Babies by Jan Cutler. Excellent sentiments about babies and what they can make a family feel. Excellent expressions on the little girl's face as she dialogues with her granny about why she doesn't like her baby brother. (Book Rating: 8)

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin. Oh, this one made me laugh out loud the first 4 or 5 times I read it. A Newberry book winner with that messy watercolor style that I find appealing. Yes, it's a story about cows who use a typewriter to get their demands met. Some new vocabulary in here for children too.  (Book Rating: 8)

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon. Excellent illustrations accompanied by little sketches above each section of text. A sweet story about a bat that loses her mother and is raised by birds. (Book Rating: 7)

Henry and the Cannons by Don Brown. One more historical book that Lee requested again and again. It's the tale of Henry Knox bringing cannons from fort Ticonderoga to General Washington in Boston. (Book Rating: 8)

Comments

Gretchen J. said…
Great list! I'm going to see which of these our local library has. =)