Book Review: 'Grumpy Groundhog' by Maureen Wright

✰✰✰½ It’s Groundhog Day, but the star of the show, the groundhog, is sleeping late! What’s a mayor to do? The mayor pleads, but to no avail. He must turn to the townspeople for help. Ideas pour in, and the groundhog is listening. Will the bribes work? Will the groundhog get up and do his job? It takes a lot to motivate this diva, and Groundhog Day is passing by. Only time will tell if our sleepy friend cooperates.

The Bottom Line: For a humorous take on the day we all anxiously wait for all winter long, check out this seasonal treat for storytime or bedtime reading with your preschooler. Whimsical watercolor illustrations in vibrant colors are engaging and funny. Don’t sleep late and miss out!

Details: Grumpy Groundhog written by Maureen Wright & illustrated by Amanda Haley. Picture book published by Two Lions in 2014. 32 p. ISBN: 978-1477847053

Book Review: 'Skeleton Bones & Goblin Groans: Poems for Halloween' by Amy E. Sklansky

✰✰✰½ This is a spooktacular collection of Halloween inspired poems that are guaranteed to make you laugh. These rhyming poems ranging in topic from a haunted house to Frankenstein to Halloween candy are quick and easy to read. 

The Bottom Line: Unique beaded creations on canvas were used to make the illustrations for this book. The delightful poems are perfect for little ones just learning to read. Recommended for ages 4 - 7. These poems will get you in the holiday spirit.

Details: Skeleton Bones & Goblin Groans: Poems for Halloween written by Amy E. Sklansky & illustrated by Karen Dismukes. Picture book published by Henry Hold and Company in 2004. 32 p. ISBN: 0-8050-7046-X

Book Review: 'The Secret of the First One Up' by Iris Hiskey Arno

✰✰✰✰ Little Lila is a groundhog with a problem. It's winter, but she's not sleepy. Everyone else has already gone to bed. Lila wonders about what happens all winter long. She also wants to know about the secret of the first one up.

Uncle Wilber isn't telling, but he challenges Lila to be up earlier than anyone else. When Lila finally wakes up, she races Above Ground and finds all of the neighbor animals waiting for her. They all want to know if she sees it. Sees what? Lila looks around. What's the secret? Check out this charming tale about weather folklore to find out.

The Bottom Line: With notes about the tradition of Groundhog Day, this picture book is a gentle and fun read for kids in preschool to grade 2. The tale is engaging, and the pages are filled with lovely, soft illustrations in acrylic, colored pencil, and gouache. Enthusiastically recommended for storytime or bedtime reading.

Details: The Secret of the First One Up written by Iris Hiskey Arno & illustrated by Renée Graef. Hardcover picture book published by NorthWord Press in 2003. 32 p. ISBN: 1-55971-867-6

Book Review: 'Trick or Treat?' by Bill Martin Jr. & Michael Sampson

✰✰✰✰ A little boy goes trick-or-treating in his apartment building. He goes from floor to floor and door to door, asking, “Trick or Treat?” Each person answers, “Treat!” and hands out candy. However, when the little boy reaches the tenth floor, Merlin answers, “Trick!” Magic Merlin waves his wand and suddenly everything is WackBards! On the way back down to his apartment, the little boy’s treat bag is filled with backwards treats. When he gets home, his daddy knows just the trick to undo Merlin’s spell.

The Bottom Line: This Halloween-themed counting book is recommended for kids in grades PreK – 1. Meisel’s whimsical drawings will make kids laugh. Also, recommended for story time.

Details: Trick or Treat? written by Bill Martin Jr. & Michael Sampson, & illustrated by Paul Meisel. Hardcover picture book published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers in 2002. 40 p. ISBN: 0-689-84968-0 

Book Review: 'Betty Bunny Loves Easter' by Michael B. Kaplan

✰✰✰✰ Betty Bunny is a handful. She loves Easter so much; she wants to be the Easter Bunny when she grows up. So when Easter rolls around, she's ready to collect lots of Easter eggs. When she realizes that her family is helping her, she puts her foot down. This year she is determined to find the eggs all by herself.  It's not easy, but Betty Bunny discovers how great it feels to accomplish something on your very own.

The Bottom Line: This adorable installment of the Betty Bunny series focuses on independence. Little ones in preschool and kindergarten will relate to this Easter tale about learning to do things on your own. The festive, colorful illustrations are engaging and hilarious. Highly recommended for story time and bedtime reading.

Details: Betty Bunny Loves Easter written by Michael B. Kaplan & illustrated by Stéphane Jorisch. Hardcover picture book published by Dial Books for Young Readers in 2015. 32 p. ISBN: 978-0-8037-4061-7

Book Review: 'What Am I? Christmas' by Anne Margaret Lewis

✰✰✰✰½ As part of the My Look and See Holiday Book series, What Am I? Christmas provides fun holiday reading for the little ones. There are 10 flaps for kids to look under; each featuring an item commonly found around Christmastime including an angel, a gingerbread man, a Christmas stocking, and many more. Each page also features a simple rhyme to help your child guess what the item is before looking. Additionally, the colorful illustrations are charming and help give visual hints as well. Kids will want to read this one again and again.


The Bottom Line: If you have a toddler in your life, this would be a great book to have in your collection. This lift-the-flap style hardcover picture book is engaging for the little ones and is highly recommended for toddlers. It's the perfect book for reading at bedtime or any time. It is also highly recommended for public libraries as it would be fun to feature in story time.

Details: What Am I? Christmas (My Look and See Holiday Book) written by Anne Margaret Lewis and illustrated by Tom Mills. Hardcover picture book published by Albert Whitman & Company in 2011. 24 p. ISBN: 978-0-8075-8958-8