Maple

Maple by Lori Nichols

Summary - A nature-loving little girl's favorite playmate is her maple tree, until the day she's surprised with a baby sister.

My Thoughts - This is a story that may me say "Awww! How sweet!" after reading the last page.  The story is about names, a maple tree, and a baby sister. It makes me wish I had two little girls with the same names as the characters in this story. The pictures are beautifully done and very unique.

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker

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Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker by Christianne Jones

Summary: Lacey Walker loves to talk. She talks all day and she talks all night.  But when Lacey loses her voice, she learns the importance of listening.

My Thoughts: Many of us have known a Lacey Walker, either a child or grown up.  Maybe we've even been Lacey Walker, the nonstop talker!  With a story that can be a bit predictable, readers will still enjoy a great lesson in friendship and give and take.  This book can also be used as a great conversation starter about the importance of listening to relationships. A funny, quick read that anyone can relate to!


Book Love

Book Love: Help Your Child Grow from Reluctant to Enthusiastic Reader by Melissa Taylor

This is a quick read for parents with lots of tips and suggestions for helping children become enthusiastic readers. An easy and quick read, this includes sections based on why children might be reluctant readers - because books are "too boring", "too sitty", "too blurry", or "too tricky".  There are lots of tips on how help children overcome all of those issues and lists of books to read and activities to help encourage reading. I think this is a quick and easy read for any busy parent that will leave them with fresh information about how they can encourage their child to be a reader for life!

Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy

Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy by Jan Thomas

Summary: Brave Cowboy tries to sing his young calf pals to sleep on a dark, dark night with humorous results.

My Thoughts: Jan Thomas writes funny and short stories and this is one! As you read, you can decide if the cowboy lives up to his billing as brave. You might decide that the cows are braver! There is a little twist at the end to keep the fun going!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Lemonade in Winter

Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money by Emily Jenkins

Summary: Pauline and her brother John-John set up a stand to sell lemonade, limeade, and lemon-limeade one cold, wintry day, then try to attract customers as Pauline adds up their earnings.

My Thoughts: This is a story that defies predictions. Could a lemonade stand really make it in the cold and snow of winter? Read and see! The use of money in the story will give readers some good practice of their own with counting!

*Summary taken from CIP data.

Frog and Fly

Frog and Fly: Six Slurpy Stories by Jeff Mack

Summary: Through a series of easy-to-read scenes, Frog always gets the better of Fly, but in the end Fly has the last word.

My Thoughts: This is a funny story that is set in a series of short stories or chapters.  Frog and Fly are always sparring verbally and Frog usually has the last word -- Slurp!  In the end, the funny end, Fly does have the last word.  This is a good book for beginning readers to use speech bubbles to read the conversations.  Readers can also practice reading with meaning by following the punctuation marks.

*Summary taken from CIP data.

The Secret of Saying Thanks

The Secret of Saying Thanks by Douglas Wood

Summary: While learning the secret to a good life, a child says thank you for the natural world and for being loved, because a grateful heart is always happy.

My Thoughts: The pictures are beautiful! This isn't exactly a story but more of a series of descriptions of things in nature and life to be thankful. The words help the reader to realize the benefit of being thankful and that is that a thankful heart is happy. This would be an interesting book to share with a young person as a point of discussion about gratitude and the importance of being thankful.

*Summary taken from CIP data.