"The Carrot Seed" By: Ruth Krauss

This was a cute book. It's clearly for younger kids because it has a very simple story line, but it was still enjoyable. A little boy plants a carrot seed, and everyone tells him it's not going to grow into a carrot. The little boy is patient and he continues to pull the weeds and water the seed. Despite what everyone says the carrot finally sprouts. The size of the carrot is what makes the book. The author took a predictable story, and added a silly twist.
I also liked the message this book sends. It tells its readers that if you put your mind to something and keep working at it, you can accomplish anything you want. I would recommend this book to kindergarten and 1st graders.

“The Man Who Walked Between The Towers” By: Mordicai Gerstein

I really enjoyed this book. It has beautiful illustrations, which are set up in various ways throughout the story. Some pages have two or three pictures per page, while others have one large fold out page. I also liked one of the pages where there are three similar pictures, but the reader sees the changing colors from night to dawn.

This story is set in New York City, specifically around the twin towers. It tells the story of Philippe Petit. He was a performer who would tightrope walked between trees in the park. His dream was to one day walk between the two towers. He is an ambitious character with a neat story.

I really liked how this story ends. At the end of the book the towers are no longer standing, but the author ends the book on a sweet note by saying that these towers are still remembered. Along with this memory is that of Philippe’s spectacular show of walking between the towers. I also liked how this story was based off actual events.

"Sylvester and the Magic Pebble" By: William Steig

I really liked this book. It's very colorful, and it has an interesting story. I think this story is so interesting because Sylvester finds a magic red pebble. On his way home from finding the pebble he encounters a lion. In the fear of the moment he doesn't think and wishes himself into a rock. Rocks don't talk, move, or do anything so it's quite a mystery to the reader as to if and how Sylvester will get back to being a donkey.
I think this book has a wonderful plot. It also is fun to read because there are a lot of details. The reader not only knows what’s going on in the story, but they are aware of how Sylvester is feeling. The book also conveys its message well. It takes Sylvester being a rock to learn to be careful what you wish for. It's a really cute story because in the end Sylvester realizes that he doesn't need the pebble to enjoy what he already has.

"Something Good" By Robert Munsch

This book just makes me smile! It takes place in a grocery store. Three kids are shopping with their dad, and the little girl Tyya explains that her dad never buys good food. She thinks good food is ice cream and candy, and that's what she wants from the grocery store. She decides to fill carts with what she thinks is good food. I know that I, along with most kids, can definitely relate to wanting all the sweet sugary junk food from the grocery store. The two of them can't seem to understand each other's food preferences.
Her father get's so angry that Tyya has filled carts with sugary food that he tells her to stay where she is and not to move. She takes this literally, and people think she's a doll. This book is silly because the store keeper thinks she's a doll and puts a price tag on Tyya. She gets placed on a shelf and marked for $29.95. Eventually her dad finds her, and they go to leave. The cashier insists that he pay for Tyya because she is marked. Her dad argues that he shouldn't have to pay for his own daughter. In the midst of all this arguing Tyya asks her dad is he thinks she's worth $29.95, and at that he pays for her. This causes Tyya and her dad's argument to cease because she can now say that her dad bought something good from the grocery store.
This goofy little story is simple and sweet. The main character Tyya is quite the personality. She's a fun character to follow throughout this little grocery store trip. I think she is a fun character because she seems like she could be real. She makes real mistakes, gets mad, and is a sweet kid. Her attitude and funny little story is entertaining. The illustrations in this story are also lively and fun. I think this story is so cute because everyone knows what it's like to be a kid in a grocery store.

"The Gardener" By: Sarah Stewart

I really enjoyed this book! When I read children's books I like a lot of colorful illustrations because they keep me entertained and make the book more interesting. This book had beautiful illustrations! This book is also interesting because it takes place in an older setting. It is set during the Great Depression. I liked how the character's clothes in this book match the time period.
In addition to the great visuals in this book, it has a really sweet story. The entire story is told through letters written by the main character, Lydia Grace. Although her letters are short and written simply, her nervousness, excitement, stories, and goals are all communicated to the reader.
I thought this was a sweet book, and I enjoyed reading it.

"Cam Jansen and the Summer Camp Mysteries" By: David A. Adler

I remember loving the Cam Jansen series when I was younger. So I figured it would be a perfect way to start my reading adventures with a past favorite. These books were just as I remembered them. They're great beginner chapter books because they tell a cute story, but are also intriguing with a little mystery. This book specifically, was split into three different parts. The book was about Cam and her best friend, Eric's, adventures at overnight camp. It's split up into three different mysteries within their three week stay at the camp.
I think this is a great book because it is split up into three little stories that all relate. This is nice for readers who are new to chapter books because they get a little feeling of accomplishment after each section, while still working to finish the entire book. If I was a teacher I would definitely put some Cam Jansen books on my book cart because I think they're great for both boys and girls to read. The books also contain pictures on a few pages, which is a nice transition from picture books to full novels. I would definitely have this book in my library for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classes. I also think this book would be great for advanced readers in third grade.

"Cinder Edna" By: Ellen Jackson

This book is another one of my favorites! It puts a spin on the classic story, Cinderella. It is about two girls, Cinderella and Cinder Edna. They both work for their evil step-sisters, but they do things very differently. Cinderella does her chores and then sulks in the cinders, while Cinder Edna whistles while she works and cleans bird cages for some extra money. I like this book because it makes a very well known story seem very different.
It also has a great message about life. The two girls' stories show that there are two very different ways of looking at things. Cinderella looks at the glass half empty, and she depends on others to do things for her, like her fairy godmother. In comparison Cinder Edna chooses to look at the glass as half full. She manages to make her chores entertaining by whistling, and she has hobbies rather than sulking in the cinders. She chooses to spend her free time cleaning parrot cages for money, which she uses on a dress for the ball.
This book is also interesting because it makes the Disney fairytale we grew up with seem very superficial. In the fairytale and this book, Cinderella and the handsome prince meet each other at the ball and instantly fall in love. They fall in love, but the prince doesn't even know Cinderella's name. This story chooses to emphasize a somewhat more realistic sort of love story where Rupert and Cinder Edna's love is based on enjoying their time together and common interests.
I think that this story would be a great book for 2nd graders all the way to 6th graders.

"Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm" By: Jerdine Nolen and Mark Buehner

This book is one of my favorites from when I was a kid. I remember that I not only loved the story, but the illustrations were fun too! I think that this is a great story to read to students. It is a very original story, and would be a great book to read when talking about creative writing. It could be used as an opener to a creative writing unit because it would get the kids thinking out of the box.
This book is also a great book because the narrator has a very distinct voice. The book is told from the perspective of an older women who is looking back to when she was a kid. I think this book would be a great example to use for a writing lesson that discusses the voice of the narrator. In addition to the voice of the narrator this book could also be used to talk about perspective. The narrator tells the story from her perspective. It would make for a nice discussion starter or writing prompt. The students could talk or write about how the story would be different if it was told from Harvey Potter or Wheezle Mayfield's perspective.
I think this book has a great story line and would be a wonderful book for kindergarteners all the way to 6th graders.

"Trouble At The Dinosaur Cafe" By: Brian Moses

After reading this book I didn't think it was anything special. The book starts off by naming the various characters of the book, but it simply lists who they are rather than introducing them to the reader. In addition to the lack of character development in this book it also has a very weak plot. The Tyrannosaurus stomps into the cafe, and threatens to make the customers part of his meal. The author chose to solve this problem by having the customers of the cafe work together and beat up the T-Rex. While this story attempts to send positive messages to its readers they aren't sent in a positive way. The vegetarian dinosaurs work together, and beat up the T-Rex until he runs out of the cafe. While it is an important message to work together, beating up your own kind is not a positive message.
I don't think that this would be my first choice when choosing a book to read to my classroom. Although, the one good thing this book does is it rhymes. I think that if I was working with my students on a rhyming unit this book could be one of many on my book cart for the unit.

"Herb, The Vegetarian Dragon"

I thought this book was very cute! It is about a kingdom that is constantly fighting the carnivorous dragons. All, but one of the dragons eat the people and pillage the kingdom. The one peaceful dragon, Herb, likes to garden. Sometimes a little girl watches Herb while he tends to his vegetables.

Eventually the people decide to kill all the dragons in hopes of saving their kingdom. The carnivorous dragons, who are lead by Meathook, get wind of the plan and decide to hide. Since Herb is not a part of Meathook's group he is the only dragon that is found by the people.
This book has three main themes, and it talks about them in a really great way. The first theme it discusses is standing up for what you believe. The first time this is presented in the book is when Herb is awaiting his execution in jail, and Meathook offers to bail him out of jail if he promises to eat meat. Herb sticks to his beliefs and chooses to stay in jail rather than change his ways. The second time this theme is brought up is when Herb is about to be executed. The little girl, who watches Herb garden, runs up from the crowd and unties Herb's mouth. She knows that Herb is a gentle dragon, and she believes the people should know this too. She demonstrates this by sitting inside Herb's mouth. The gentle dragon doesn't react to the girl sitting in his mouth.
Another important theme in this book is compromise. After the people of the kingdom find out that not all dragons are mean, they give the carnivorous dragons the option to peacefully coexist or go to war. Meathook's dragons discuss this option. Although it seems difficult and un-dragonlike at first they decide that it is more important to not eat meat than go to war.
The final theme in this book is that different isn't necessarily bad. Herb was a different dragon, but his difference is what showed the King that a compromise with the dragons was possible. Meathook's dragons also realized that changing their ways wasn't a bad thing but something that would lead to a brighter future.
I liked the messages this book sends to kids. I think it's suitable for kindergarten to third grade classes. It addresses some important issues, and I think this book would be helpful when discussing themes of difference, change, and compromise.