Non-fiction Beginning Reader Book Review: Gross Out! Animals That Do Disgusting Things

Gross Out!  Animals That Do Disgusting Things
Written by:  Ginger L. Clarke
Illustrated by:  Pete Mueller
Published by: Grosset & Dunlap, 2006

* My daughter got her own library card during a Kindergarten field trip to the library last year. I usually make a weekly trip to the library with my 4 1/2 year old son after preschool.  My husband will usually take my daughter on the weekend.  My daughter has a lot of reading interests and would probably spend all day perusing the books if my husband let her!  On her last trip to the library she picked out this book.  Normally, she'll read her books and put them in the "to return" bag when she's ready.  The other night I was getting ready to blow-dry her hair after her shower when she went running to get this book.  She excitedly told me, "I have a book that I want to read to you!"  While I was blow-drying her hair she very loudly read this book to me. 

This book is part of the All Aboard Science Reader Series and is a Station Stop Level 2 book.  Level 2 books are geared towards children who are reading with help.  They contain short sentences and simple plots and dialogue. 

This book is broken up into five short chapters.  Each chapter focuses on a different set of creatures (Underwater, Creepy Crawlies, etc.).  Each set of pages describes a creature and the disgusting things it does.  As much as I was grossed out by the facts my daughter was really into this book.  I think this book would be great for reluctant readers who like gross things!  It's non-fiction, so there's learning going on.  But the book is fun and the reader will learn a bunch of interesting facts.  The book contains illustrations, but I think it would be even more interesting and fun if there were actual photographs of the creatures described.

This book was borrowed from the library.

Family Rating: 1 1/2 thumbs up.
 

Beginning Reader Book Review: Poppleton Has Fun

Poppleton Has Fun
Written by:  Cynthia Rylant
Illustrated by:  Mark Teague
Published by:  Scholastic Inc., 2000
Grade Level Equivalent:  2.2
DRA: 18-20
Guided Reading: J

* Although this was my son's first Poppleton the Pig book, Poppleton has starred in several books written by Cynthia Rylant.  Poppleton Has Fun is number 7 in the series.  As the title of this book suggests, in each of the three stories Poppleton has some kind of fun.  His friends Cherry Sue (a llama), Hudson (a mouse), and Fillmore (a goat) also make appearances in the various stories.  In the first story Poppleton goes to the movies alone...which doesn't sound like much fun!  In the second story Poppleton makes a quilt with his friends and in the third story he enjoys taking a bath. 

We are fans of Cynthia Rylant's Henry and Mudge series and weren't disappointed with this book.  The series doesn't have to be read in order, as we discovered, reading book number 7!  The stories are fun and  focus on friendship.  My son was able to read these on his own to me....which surprised me to discover he's reading at a second grade reading level!  We will definitely be reading more Poppleton books!

We own this book.

Family Rating: 1 1/2 thumbs up.

Beginning Reader Book Review: Arthur's Great Big Valentine

Arthur's Great Big Valentine
Written and illustrated by:  Lillian Hoban
Published by: HarperCollins, 1989

* Although Lillian Hoban's Arthur series has been around for awhile this was the first Arthur book that my son and I read together.  It's a Level 2 (Grades 1-3) in the I Can Read Book series.  While he had no real difficulty reading this book it was a bit lengthier than most books we have read together.  There are no chapters so we ended up breaking this up into two days of reading, taking turns reading. 

It's Valentine's Day and Arthur is getting ready to go out ot play in the snow while his sister, Violet, is making valentines.  When asked why he's not making any valentines, Arthur tells his sister that he has no friends because he got in a fight with his best friend Norman.  While playing a stick accidentally ripped Norman's jacket.  Norman got mad and made a secret club with their other friends, and Arthur wasn't included.  Their friend Wilma comes with invitations to her Valentine's party.  But when Arthur discovers that Norman will be there he doesn't want to go.  Eventually, Arthur discovers that Norman is bringing him a secret valentine, so he makes a valentine for Norman.  The two have missed each other and want to be friends again. 

This was a sweet Valentine's Day story about friendship that is appropriate for the beginning reader.  My son and I enjoyed this and will continue to read some of the other Arthur books in the series. 

This book was borrowed from the library.

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Family Rating: 1 thumb up.

Beginning Reader Book Review: Henry and Mudge and the Snowman Plan

Henry and Mudge and the Snowman Plan
Written by:  Cynthia Rylant
Illustrated by:  Sucie Stevenson
Published by: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1999

* My daughter and I have read several books in Cynthia Rylant's Henry and Mudge series.  However, this was the first Henry and Mudge book that my son has read.  I had wrongly thought that he was familiar with the series so I had to give him a little background on the characters.  I told him that Henry was an only child and asked his parents for a dog.  That's pretty much all he had to know before beginning!

My son is a beginning reader.  This book is broken up into three titled sections. So, he ended up reading one section a day, over three days.  In this book, when Henry sees a poster advertising a snowman contest, he gets really excited and runs home to tell his dad.  His dad is in the midst of painting a chair but ends up with more paint on him than on the chair.  The day of the contest Henry and his dad already have their snowman plan ready.  When the judging begins there are all kinds of snow sculptures including snow aliens and a snow Abraham Lincoln.  Henry and his dad are happy with the way things turn out and their prizes. 

This book is actually #19 in the series.  Luckily, I don't think the books have to be read in any special order to understand them.  Henry and Mudge is a good beginning chapter series, with short chapters.  My son had very little difficulty reading this book to me.  He enjoyed it enough that he's interested in reading more of the series. 

We own this book.

Family Rating: 1 thumb up. 

Beginning Reader Book Review: Minnie and Moo The Night Before Christmas

Minnie and Moo The Night Before Christmas
Written and illustrated by:  Denys Cazet
Published by: Scholastic Inc., 2002

* I Can Read Books are recognized as one of the first beginning reader series and Minnie and Moo are characters in several different books.  Although my daughter's read some of the Minnie and Moo books this was the first book that my son and I read together.  This book is broken up into eight small chapters.  However, as for beginning reader books this one is on the more difficult side.  It's not numbered to let you know the level of beginning reader difficulty.  So we ended up taking turns reading pages.  In case you didn't know, Minnie and Moo are cows.  In this story they dress up as Santa and Mrs. Claus to deliver the toys to the farmer's grandchildren.  Every  year he forgets where he's hidden the toys and Moo feels bad for the kids.  So Moo wants to change that this year.  They don't have a sled so a wheelbarrow will have to do.  And instead of reindeer they have eight chickens.  And then there's rooster who definitely adds humor to the book.  Of course there's some mishaps on their journey to deliver the toys but in the end it all works out. 

My son didn't enjoy the book but couldn't explain to me what about it he didn't like.  I enjoyed this book though and found it humorous.

I purchased this book.

Family Rating: 1 thumb up.

Beginning Reader Book Review: Secret Santa

Secret Santa
Written by:  Margaret McNamara
Illustrated by:  Mike Gordon
Published by: Simon Spotlight, 2012

* The Robin Hill School is a series written by Margaret McNamara that follows a class of first graders.  It's great for beginning readers and geared towards children ages 4-6.  My four year old son has really taken off with his reading and this series is perfect for him.  Secret Santa was our first read of the series together.

 In this story Katie wears a Christmas sweater to school and her classmate Andrew makes fun of it, calling her "Rudolph Raccoon."  Later, when the students pick names out of the hat for their Secret Santas, of course she picks Andrew.  She doesn't want to give him a present though because he was mean to her.  Eventually she has a change of heart.....but is it too late? 

The story line isn't new.  We've read a children's book in the past along the same lines where one classmate is mean to another and the classmate doesn't want to give the mean classmate a Valentine.  However, for first graders, this is something that they can relate to (oh....to be young again!). 

My son, named Connor, was embarrassed to read the teacher's name, Mrs. Connor.  He didn't explain why he wouldn't read it, he just got shy and told me to read her name.  I'm not sure if it's because the teacher is a woman and he didn't realize Connor was her last name. 

We will definitely be reading more of the Robin Hill School series.  This was an enjoyable holiday related book that my 4 year old son could read to me.

This book was borrowed from the library.

Family Rating: 1 1/2 thumbs up.

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Beginning Reader Book Review: The Gingerbread Man

The Gingerbread Man
Written by:  Timothy S. Donehoo
Illustrated by:  Marcelo Elizalde
Published by: Meredith Books, 2006

My kids are very familiar with the classic story The Gingerbread Man and have heard different versions of it over the years.  We found this book at the library on the beginning reader shelf and I thought it was a seasonally appropriate pick for my son to read.  This was the first time that we have read a Parents Magazine "My Turn, Your Turn" book.  On the left side is smaller, longer text that the parent reads and on the right is larger, simpler text for the child to read.  Since my son was already familiar with this story he was able to read his parts fluently and with expression.  The child's parts in this book are repetitive and this book was actually too easy for him.  However, for very beginning readers this book would be a great pick to share reading time with your child.  There are other classic tales written in this format including "The Little Red Hen", "Goldilocks and the Three Bears", and "The Three Little Pigs."  All stories that children are familiar with which helps as they learn to read and gain confidence in their ability.

This book was borrowed from the library.

Family Rating: 1 1/2 thumbs up.
 
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