Say Please, Louise!

by Phil Roxabee Cox
Illustrated by Jan McCafferty

A cautionary tale for children to warn them about the perils of behaving badly. Louise can't remember to say please and demands everything. Her parents pleaded to "Say Please" because that was all that was needed. Louise would not listen and when she demanded a new pet, she learns her lesson.

My sister recommended this book to me because it helps her with her 3 year old. When her daughter forgets to use kind words, she asked her what happen to Louise. It is a cute and fun story with great illustrations.

How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon?

written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Mark Teague
ages: 2-6 years

What happens when a dinosaur gets sick? Does he whimper and whine in between each atchoo? What if a dinosaur goes to the doc? Does he drag all his feet till his mom is in shock? No, a dinosaur rests, takes all of his medicine, and gets well soon!

The How Do Dinosaurs... books are such a wonderful treat for parents and their children to read together. The rhyming text is fun and easy for even the youngest child to understand. Mark Teague’s illustrations are whimsical and delightful. Young readers will love seeing parents with giant dinosaur children. This book proves that silly is indeed wonderful!

Something Upstairs

by Avi
Ages 10+

Kenny moves with his family to Providence, Rhode Island. He finds himself intrigued by a 100 year old murder of a teenager slave, Caleb, who used to live in the house he moved into. Kenny is haunted by Caleb and the injustice of his murder and finds himself back in time trying to solve the murder or stop it. Kenny finds himself making difficult choices whether to return to his time or save Caleb.

I really enjoy reading this book. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. You think you have it figured out, but Avi changes the pace on you. This book will spark discussion of slavery and violence of the past.

Touching Spirt Bear

by Ben Mikaelsen
ages 12+

Cole has no other options left. The Circle Justice was the only way of avoiding jail time, after he beat up a fellow classmate brutally. He didn't care or understand why they decided to send him to an island on Alaska by himself for year. Who cared? Garvey, his parole officer, was the one who suggested it. Once banished to find himself and prove his is sorry for his actions, he allows his arrogance to set him directly in the path of a mysterious, legendary white bear. Mauled almost to death, Cole awaits his fate and begins the transition from anger to humility.

I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. It is not a typical story. I thought he would just go to the island and find himself in nature and learn his lesson. Oh, no, Cole makes some decisions that cause the story to have many twists and turns that happened in real life.

The Trumpeter of Krakow

by Eric P. Kelly
Ages 12+

A fictional story based on the history of Krakow. Joseph and his family are forced from Ukraine to Krakow, Poland in 1461 after their home is burned to the ground by Cossack-Tarters. His family tries to hide in the city but they are hunted by the infamous "Peter the Button Face" (for a birthmark on his cheek). Peter knows Joseph's father is hiding the "Great Tarnov Crystal" and has been asked to obtain it by any means. Joseph settles into his new identity making friends with his neighbors, Elizabeth and her uncle, an alchemist. Joseph's father takes the job of the trumpeter in the evenings to keep his face hidden. The book shares the many attempts by Peter to steal the crystal.

This book won the Newbery Medal in 1929. I was easily confused by this book. It is a great story, but times have changed. I had a hard time keeping focused on what was happening in the story and had to reread many parts again to understand the plot. I think children who have heritage from this part of Europe or interest in Polish history may enjoy this book, not my favorite.