The Day the Crayons Quit

The Day the Crayons Quit

by Drew Dewitt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

ages: well, everyone. I laughed out loud and might have had to put the book down to regain my composure. Total picture book success in my opinion. 

All Duncan wants to do is color, but his crayons have gone on strike. A series of letters written by the crayons to Duncan let him know that things are not copasetic in his crayon box. Red crayon is feeling overused, yellow and orange crayon are not speaking, purple demands neatness, green is actually feeling jolly, but poor, poor peach crayon is-gasp-naked! What can Duncan do to make things right?

First time author Drew Dewitt has written a clever and fun book along with NY Times bestselling illustrator Oliver Jeffers. Witty and well illustrated, The Day the Crayons Quit shows that even crayons have feelings! 

A Best Book of 2013 at Barnes and Noble and Goodreads. 

Sloppy Joe

written by David Keane
illustrated by Denise Brunkus

Joe has always been good at being sloppy. His room is sloppy, his manners are sloppy, even his attempts at helping around the house are sloppy. When Joe decides to become Neat Joe, his attempts are fun and heartfelt. And he learns that being messy is just a wonderful part of who he is.

This is the perfect book for anyone in your life who is a little less than neat. Fun illustrations and charming situations make this book just plain fun. Try this book out with your own Sloppy Joe.

Big Little Brother

written by Kevin Kling
illustrated by Chris Monroe
ages: preschool through grade school

There's nothing quite like being an older brother. The advantages of being able to boss someone else around, to be in charge of the games and the toys-except for when your little brother grows bigger than you. Could there possibly be any advantages to having a little brother that is bigger than you?

This book is an utter delight from beginning to end. The illustrations are laugh out loud funny and it has the kind of humor that will make parents love reading this to their kids over and over. This book became an instant hit at our house because we have a big little brother under our very own roof! Give this a try for a quirky and touching brotherly read.

Goodnight Ipad

by Ann Droyd
All ages

A great parody book of our technology craze society.  I laughed so hard.  Everyone will enjoy this book if they loved "GOODNIGHT MOON."

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Happy birthday to Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss! Dr. Seuss was a man who wrote books filled with wonderful wordplay and jubilant silliness. Although he was a cartoonist and not a real doctor, we can thank him for some of the most memorable characters in children's literature: the Grinch, the Cat in the Hat, and Yertle the Turtle to name only a few.

To celebrate his birthday and National Read Across American Day, here are a few favorites to try with your family:

Here's an interesting fact: did you know that The Cat in the Hat was originally created as a reading primer for children? The Beginner Reader series includes other new reader favorites such as Hop on Pop and Green Eggs and Ham.

Whether you celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday with crazy socks or green eggs and ham, make sure that you include some quality reading time with your favorite kiddos. 

Pleasing the Ghost

by Sharon Creech

Ages: 8+

Award winning author Creech writes a light hearted book about ghosts.  Dennis's father recently passed away and since then he has been receiving a parade of ghosts through his bedroom window.  When the ghost of his uncle arrives, Dennis is not surprised his uncle needs something done for him.  Dennis would love to help Uncle Arvie, but he is difficult to understand.  Dennis has to figure out what his uncle is saying and please the ghost.

This book is great book about a young boy dealing with death of his father.  His able to deal with death by helping other ghosts.

Jack and the Beanstalk

retold by Ann Keay Beneduce and illustrated by Gennady Spirin

ages- K-5

This richly woven fairytale set in Elizabethan times finds Jack and his mother destitute. Jack

goes to market to sell the family cow 'Milky White.' When he brings home magic beans, his mother is deeply troubled and knows that they will soon meet with disaster. Jack plants the beans and in the morning bravely climbs up. It is on the beanstalk that Jack meets a beautiful fairy all dressed in white. She explains that it was she who enchanted the beans and that poor Jack was indeed tricked into trading his cow for worthless beans. Jack presses her for news of his father and she tells him the story of losing her powers and, although she ultimately gains them back, being unable to save his father who is killed by the evil and greedy giant. Upon hearing the story, Jack feels that he must avenge his father and secure his mother's happiness. The clever Jack enters the giants house and, aided by the giant's unknowing but kindhearted wife, is able to retrieve what is so rightfully his family's fortune.

I seem to be on a bit of a Jack and the Beanstalk kick these days; I can't help myself- I love a good fairytale! This tale has a very different feel to it as Jack understands that he has a duty to kill the giant rather than robbing him through trickery. This Jack has a moral compass and feels duty bound to honor his family and the memory of his father. The illustrations are bewitching and beautifully rendered. Don't be put off by the length of the story- children will stay riveted not only to the story but to the intricate illustrations. Share this enchanting version of Jack and the Beanstalk with your children or grandchildren.

Cinder Edna

Written by Ellen Jackson and illustrated by Kevin O'Malley
ages k-5

Cinder Edna and Cinder Ella live next door to one another. While both are forced to work long hours, toiling away while their stepmothers and stepsisters enjoy a leisurely existence, they have a very different way of viewing their circumstances. Cinder Ella spends her time pondering her existence and the troubles which have been heaped on her. Cinder Edna has a completely different attitude towards the work that she is forced to do; she improves herself, learning, and whistling while she works. While both girls end up going to the Royal ball, Cinder Ella is helpless without the help of a fairy godmother; Cinder Edna already has a dress on layaway just for this sort of occasion. Instead of a pumpkin coach, Cinder Edna goes by bus. Rather than wearing glass slippers (who can dance in glass slippers!) Edna wear sensible loafers. The girls meet two very different princes at the ball and marry- but only one will truly have her happily ever after. And although one girl ends up in the palace and the other in a small cottage with solar heating, it just proves that love and happiness come from embracing who you really are.

A twist on the traditional Cinderella story, Cinder Edna is clever and quirky. The book answers the age old questions: how did Cinderella really dance in those glass slippers and whose idea was it to try shoes on everyone's feet when the prince could have asked her name instead? The perfect book to cure the bedtime fairytale blues.

The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child: Volume 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor

written by Susan Wise Bauer, Joyce Crandell, Jeff West (illustrator)
appropriate for elementary grades k-5 (and their parents)

Formatted to be read aloud, The Story of the World is as engaging as it is fascinating. This is the first in a series of four books exploring the world's great civilizations. A workbook is also available with this series as well as cd's. Topics include: First Nomads, Egypt, the Jewish People, Abraham and Joseph, Hammurabi and the Babylonians, the Assyrians, Ancient China, Ancient Africa, Exodus, the Phoenicians, the Greeks and Rome. Here are some of the questions that are answered in The Story of the World:

What terrible secret was buried in Shi Huangdi's tomb? Did nomads like lizard stew and did they bathe? Who was Homer? And how did a six-year-old become the last emperor of Rome?

School days are fast approaching and there's nothing like spending some quality time with your kids reviewing and learning during the summer. Intelligently written and interesting, this is simply a great book.