Children’s Books

All posts tagged Children’s Books

Duck, by Randy Cecil

Published May 18, 2013 by Dagmar

DuckI have to admit that I choke up whenever I read Duck by Randy Cecil.  This book tells the story of a carousel animal, a duck, that dreams of flying like other ducks.

One day, a small lost duckling walks up to Duck, thinking Duck is his mother.  Duck takes the duckling under her wing and raises her.  They laugh, plan and dream together.  Duckling is growing up, and soon, Duck realizes that she will have to teach Duckling to fly.  After trying everything she knows how to do, Duck finally straps Duckling to her back with her scarf.  When they see ducks flying by, they jump off a hill, and Duckling flaps his wings.  Duck realizes that she is weighing Duckling down.  She loosens her scarf and falls to the ground, watching Duckling fly away with the other ducks.

The winter passes sadly for Duck.  When spring comes, she no longer looks at the ducks flying, because flying took Duckling away from her.  Then, she spots Duckling out of the corner of her eye.  Duckling has returned.  They laugh and play until Duckling takes duck onto his back and helps her to fly.

This is honestly such a sweet and touching book.  Randy Cecil’s drawings are fantastic and my young audiences love it.

The Voyage of Turtle Rex, by Kurt Cyrus

Published May 12, 2013 by Dagmar

turtle rexThis book creates a wonderful bridge between modern day sea turtles and their much larger prehistoric ancestors, archelon.  Like sea turtles today, Archelon apparently returned to the same beaches where they were born just as sea turtles do today.

The rhymes in this book are soothing and the illustrations are really beautiful.  Dinosaur fans will particularly delight in the illustrations.  My students are always quiet and attentive while I read this book.  I love it so much that I read it to my classes each year. I particularly like reading this book to first and second graders.

Langston’s Train Ride, by Robert Burleigh

Published May 11, 2013 by Dagmar

S640SchLangstonjkt_0.tifThis is another wonderful book for African-American History month.  Langston’s Train Ride begins with Langston Hughes walking down a sidewalk celebrating the publishing of his first book of poems.  He then flashes back to the train ride he took to Mexico to see his father when he was 18 years old.  As the train travels, he reminisces about his childhood.  When the train crosses the Mississippi River, he thinks of what it means to his people, the slaves who were sent “down the river” and Abe Lincoln’s trip on the river “where he saw a slave auction and learned to hate slavery.”  His view of the Mississippi brings words to his head.  He thinks of other ancient rivers in Africa and begins to write down the words to his first poem: “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.”

This is a powerful book made more so by its incredible illustrations by Leonard Jenkins.  It is hard not to be moved by this book and the words of Langston Hughes’ first poem.

The Really, Really, Really Big Dinosaur, by Richard Byrne

Published May 9, 2013 by Dagmar

big dinosaurThis was a fun read.  Here’s your opportunity to use different voices, if you’re so inclined.  The illustrations are really cute and it was great watching my students smiling and then clapping at the end of the book.

Big dinosaur wants little dinosaur’s jelly beans.  Little dinosaur can’t give them away, because they belong to his friend.  Big dinosaur really wants those jelly beans… a lot.  The little dinosaur says his friend is really, really, really big. “Everyone knows I’m the biggest and strongest dinosaur around here!” Big dinosaur starts boasting about all the ways he is better than little dinosaur’s friend. Ooops. Big dinosaur gets his just desserts in a very funny way.

I Want My Hat Back, by Jon Klassen

Published May 5, 2013 by Dagmar

IwantmyhatbackI just love this book.  Jon Klassen is a fantastic illustrator.  His illustrations are quite distinctive.  While this book looks really simple, the humor is dry and there is just that touch of darkness that older readers love.

“My hat is gone.  I want it back.”  A big bear is looking for his pointy red hat.  He asks lots of animals if they’ve seen his hat.  A rabbit wearing a red, pointy hat suspiciously answers the bear’s query by saying that he did not steal a red hat.  The book goes on until the bear remembers where he saw his hat.  I won’t tell you what happens next, but let’s just say that the bear gets his hat back.

Such a great book.  Enjoy!

The Pencil, by Allan Ahlberg

Published May 5, 2013 by Dagmar

“Once there wThePencilas a pencil, a lonely little pencil, and nothing else.”  So begins the pencil’s drawing career.  First he draws a boy, named Banjo, then a dog, named Bruce.  When the boy asks the pencil to draw a cat, the pencil hesitates – and rightly so.  The dog chases the cat, named Mildred.  The cat asks for a mouse.  The Pencil says “no”.  The pencil draws a paintbrush, named Kitty, that colors everything in.  It’s not long before everyone the pencil draws needs something or complains about something.  So, the pencil cleverly draws… an eraser.  But then the eraser goes crazy and erases absolutely everything…until the pencil draws another eraser.  They were named Ronald and Rodney.

This very funny book was illustrated by Bruce Ingman.  Highly recommended for older readers.

Ranger’s Apprentice, by John Flanagan

Published January 15, 2013 by Dagmar

rangersapprenticeThe Ruins of Gorlan is the first book in a terrific series for late elementary and middle graders called Ranger’s Apprentice.  Will is left in a basket at Castle Redmond as a baby with only a note that says that his mother died and his father died a hero.  Will grows up as a ward of the Castle Arald.  The wards of the castle are assigned apprenticeships when they become teenagers.  Will hopes to become a warrior just as he imagines his father was.  To be a warrior, he must train at Battle School.  However, when the Choosing Day arrives, Will is apprenticed to a Ranger.  As Will learns his new trade, he also learns to appreciate the important role the Rangers hold in defending the kingdom.

Ranger’s Apprentice is an intelligent series, drawing readers in and keeping them engaged.  There are 10 books in the series and a book of Lost Stories.  Highly recommended for fourth grade through middle school.

The Garden of Abdul Gasazi, by Chris Van Allsburg

Published November 28, 2012 by Dagmar

This book combines wonderful black and white drawings with an element of magic that really works for older students, because there is just enough mystery to leave listeners wondering what really happened.  I love to read it to third graders.

Synopsis: Miss Hester owns a naughty dog named Fritz.  Alan is watching Fritz while Miss Hester is gone.  When Alan takes Fritz for a walk, Fritz tugs the leash and runs away – straight into the garden of Abdul Gasazi, a retired magician.  Unfortunately, Mr. Gasazi’s garden is clearly marked with a sign that says ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NO DOGS ALLOWED.  When Alan meets Mr. Gasazi, he politely asks for Fritz back but is dismayed to learn that Abdul Gasazi turns naughty, straying dogs into ducks.  Convinced that Fritz is now a duck, Alan returns to Miss Hester’s house, only to find Fritz safely at home.