The Quicksand Book

For some reason, my son had developed a fascination with quicksand and would always ask me questions about it that I didn't know the answer to. Well I found this book at the library and it was great. Simple explanations and pictures for your little scientist. (Caution- There's also a quicksand recipe at the end!)

AR level 2.8

points 0.5

The New Year's Eve Sleepover From the Black Lagoon

This is one in a series of early chapterbooks. I was pleasantly surprised. There are still plenty of pictures and comics to keep kids interested, and the're funny. This particular one is about a boy trying to get through his first time sleepover.

AR level 2.6

pts 0.5

Franklin in the Dark

Ther are many Franklin books available. Kids love them and they're great books for readers who aren't quite to chapter books. I like this one because Franklin is afraid of the dark so he doesn't want to go into his shell. He just ties it to a rope and drags it behind him. It's cute.

AR level 2.5

pts o.5

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Both a classic and an all time favorite. The tree loves a little boy who climbs her branches, eats her apples, and makes crowns from her leaves. As he grows, she sees less and less of him. Throughout his life, he occasionally comes back to the tree who gives hime everything she has (apples to sell for money, wood to build a house, etc.) until she has nothing left, or so she thinks. Very touching.
AR level 2.6
pts o.5

Good Thing You're Not an Octopus!

Do you have a stubborn preschooler who doesn't want to get dressed, take a nap or bath, eat lunch or brush teeth? This book reminds them to look on the bright side, if you were an octopus, you would have to put pants on eight legs. If you were a shark, you would have to brush 200 teeth.
AR level 2.2
pts 0.5

I Just Forgot by Mercer Mayer

These "Little Critters" books are cute and funny. In this one he just can't remember to do his chores. He says things like "I remembered to put my dishes in the sink, but I forgot to put the milk away... I took a bath and I remembered to wash behind my ears. I didn't use soap but I didn't forget to, I just don't like soap." He has a little spider friend that is somewhere in each illustration, which was another bonus for my kids- trying to find him.

AR level 2.0

pts 0.5

Dr. Seuss

There are so many to choose from, but some are better than others. I feel like some just rhyme for the sake of rhyming but overall aren't as entertaining.
My favorite is The Sneetches. In this story the Sneetches who have stars on their bellies are not very nice to the ones with no stars. They are never invited to beach parties and hot dog roasts. Clever Sylvester McMonkey McBean sees a great business opportunity in offering those poor, left out Sneetches a walk through his machine that will put stars on THEIR bellies.
AR level 3.4
pts 0.5

Cat in the Hat is probably the most well known of all of his books. Two siblings are home while mom runs errands. It's a rainy day and they're bored, until the Cat in the Hat visits!

AR level 3.0

pts 0.5

How the Grinch Stole Christmas is probably a close second to the Cat in the Hat's popularity. The Grinch can't stand all those Whos in Whoville and overwhelming Christmas spirit. But this year he has a plan to put an end to it all.

AR level 3.0

pts 0.5

Worth mentioning are There's a Wocket in my Pocket and The First of Octember. I thought they were cuter than some of the other more generic Dr. Seuss books. In There's a Wocket in My Pocket, a boy finds lots of strange little creatures that live all over his house.

Do any of your kids ask for toys, video games, and treats on a regular basis? We'll now you can tell them that everything will be theirs on the First of Octember!

AR level 2.1

pts 0.5

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

This is a series of picture boooks by Laura Numeroff starting with If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Giving him a cookie will prompt him to ask for a glass of milk, then he'll need to look in the mirror to make sure he doesn't have a milk mustache... Each page is a new consequence for giving him the cookie. These books are great fun, we have many of the series.
AR 2.7
pts 0.5
If You Give a Moose a Muffin
AR 2.1
pts 0.5
If You Give a Pig a Party
AR 2.2
pts o.5
If Take a Mouse to the Movies (Christmas Story)
AR 2.1
pts 0.5
If You Take a Mouse to School
AR 2.4
pts 0.5

Bunnicula by James Howe

There's something strange about the family's new pet buuny. His markings make him look as though he's wearing a cape, and all the vegetables in the house are turning up white, as if all the juice has been drained from them. The family dog Harold, and cat Chester must discover the bunny's secret.
Cute story, short and easy. There is a series and a spin off series (It Came From Beneath the Bed). The cover has changed, my picture is our old copy from a library sale.
AR gade level 2.6
points 0.5

The Frances Collection

"Bedtime for Frances"- It's bedtime, so Frances needs one more kiss, one more hug, etc. But, oh no!, there are quite a few noises and shadows that are so scary Frances can't sleep.
AR level 2.7
pts 0.5
"Baby Sister for Frances"- Baby sister Gloria is born and Frances is feeling neglected- her mom didn't have time to iron Frances' favorite dress for school or buy raisins for the oatmeal. Things are not so good with the new baby taking up mom's time- Frances decides to run away!
AR level 3.4
pts 0.5
"A Birthday for Frances"- It's Gloria's birthday, and Frances feels a little jealous. Frances' birthday is ALWAYS the birthday that is not now. Should she get Gloria a present even though Gloria hid her pail and shovel last year?
AR level 3.6
pts 0.5

These books are great fun to read and to listen to on tape. We have the books but also rented the audios. The narrator for the tape is the mom in the Mary Poppins movie and she does a good job with all Frances' made up songs.