Noisy Nora by Rosemary Wells

"So Nora had to wait!"
When I was little, my favorite part was Nora's explosive outburst of destruction! "CRASH went the lamp!" and my little heart thrilled from the messy chaos. 

Migrant by Maxine Trottier

I've never heard of the Mennonites from Mexico. That was an interesting bit of history. This book reminds me a lot of My Name Is Yoon.
The text is quiet and Anna's yearning is palpable. I give the author props for that. But the illustrations aren't my cup of tea.
The author's note at the end was also very interesting and political...
Not sure what to think.

Magic Trixie Vol.1 by Jill Thompson

As a long-time fan of and all things magical from a very young age, I would have flipped my lid had this series been around when I was in elementary school. As it is, I still might need to own them all...soon.
I love the hipster elements of Trixie's family: Dad has long black hair and a goatee, Grandma wears chic chunky black glasses and chunky green jewelry, and older cousin Tansy has hip purple pigtails. It's all very 1950's meets punk rock. Colorful! (I think Jill Thompson might secretly look at the dream world in my head...)
Anyway, Loved it!

Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge

This was a little self-absorbed-teen-angsty, but that is the age of the character and I remember those days too. (I hope I have mostly grown out of them... :/ )
That said, the pictures were very interesting and the author had a wonderful ability to show how she felt through the metaphor of the picture. The other nice thing about the story was how normal it showed her plight to be. It's hard to be the new kid and it's always hard to meet true friends and then keep them. I actually thought her transition into "take charge project planner" seemed too quick and easy. She had doubt and set-backs later, though.
We all worry about what others are "really" thinking of us and when we are young, it's even harder to handle. This book showed that problem clearly and sensitively. 

Don't Slam the Door! by Dori Chaconas

I'm tickled that there is so much knitting in this delightful book! Unfortunately, it's not being portrayed accurately but that's typical. The rhyme is bouncy and catchy and I love that it's the little girl who's trying to avert disaster instead of the mother for once. Despite her efforts, no one listens to her.
Great book for story time! Can't wait to try it!        

Mr. & Mrs. God in the Creation Kitchen by Nancy Wood

A very light-hearted look at creation for children. I especially like that there is a Mr. AND and Mrs. God working in the creation kitchen side by side. The illustrations are pitch perfect for the subject since the splatter watercolor technique makes the reader think of space. I also liked that the "people" created at the end were not the typical Homo Sapien Adam and Eve but Neanderthals! And as a final delight, the end pages look like blue prints for creature creation in a very strange laboratory!

Many Days, One Shabbat by Fran Manushkin

I liked this cozy book. I really like the illustrations, which show a modern Jewish family's daily life.

Looking for the Easy Life by Walter Dean Myers

I've been putting off writing this review because I'm still not exactly sure what to say. I hated this book. There are so many things wrong that I can't believe it was published. This seems to be yet another example of publishing based on name recognition instead of the merit of the manuscript.
First, there's the way the monkeys speak. Myers doesn't go far enough to make it an accent or a colloquial twist, instead it's just bad grammar. It reads very awkwardly.
My second gripe is that the two female monkeys are two dimensional idiots. Their only thoughts are about how cute the male monkeys are and which one can bankroll the best easy life. That is also the sum of their worth. There are also comments made about them that are just inappropriate. "She was Drusilla's best friend, even though she was known to have flirty eyes." Why is this even relevant??
The overall message of the book should be a good one, but I think he starts to mix his metaphors. Instead of "looking for the good life," the monkeys go on a quest to find greener pastures in anything. Since they have a laughably easy life to begin with ("I'm tired of having to stretch all out of shape just to get a banana.") this is an absurd comparison to make. The author missed the mark.
My biggest issue with this book is one particular line. The lion has treed the male monkeys and is standing guard with a bloody tail hanging out of his mouth. "The five monkey friends stayed there, shivering and shaking, until the moon came up and the lion went off to mess with his girlfriend." Excuse me?! If that doesn't mean sex then it alludes to violence, neither is appropriate for a preschool picture book. Dear god, what was the editor thinking?!
Walter Dean Myers might be a force to reckon with in young adult fiction, but he has no clue how to create a book for younger readers and someone in the publishing industry should have explained that Before this disaster was published. I hope it dies quietly before too many children read it. Yuck!

Everything on a Waffle by Polly Horvath

This was a clear case of the book not living up to the quality of the cover art.  I love the picture.  The hope and wonder on her face is sweet as pie or waffles.  The story though was meandering with random off-shoots which never ended up going anywhere: She was going to learn hockey...nothing.   The old lady was having false memories...nothing.  Her parents spent a LONG time lost at sea...AND nothing.  I think the author was confused about what the book was supposed to be about so she tried many different ideas out and then only wrapped up a couple of them. 

The Best Christmas Ever by Chih-Yuan Chen

I picked this book up when I saw it on display at my local library branch. The cover art is quiet, lonely and subdued in contrast to the title, so I was intrigued.
This book is deals with realistic and timely issues with grace, hope, and love.
"The year had been tough for Little Bear's father. His business had failed and he couldn't find work. There was just enough money left to feed the family."
Even though the words of the story sound SO SAD and heartbreaking, the reader can see that Little Bear is smiling and holding his daddy's hand. The next page shows that the two of them stopped to make smiling mud "snow-men" on their way home. The little snowman is looking up adoringly at his daddy snow-man. The book is filled with gentle touches to make a magical balance between story and illustrations. Masterful job.

Big, Bigger, Biggest by Nancy Coffelt

What amazing vocabulary words!

The Great Turkey Walk by Kathleen Karr

This was hilarious! Excellent as an audiobook.
After completing the third grade for the fourth time, fifteen year old Simon Green is summarily graduated by his teacher.  “Go out in the world and spread your wings, Simon,” she says.  She is sorry to see him go, Simon has always been her kindest and most helpful student.  (After all, he single-handedly cuts all the firewood in the winter.)  Once Simon finds that Missouri turkeys sell for twenty times the local price in the hungry boom town of Denver, he hatches his first business scheme. Even at fifteen, Simon towers over his uncle and cousins, but they tease him about being all brawn and no brains. No one thinks Simon has much chance of success except his teacher. She has such faith that she invests her entire life savings of $250 in a flock of 1,000 birds for Simon to herd by foot all the way to Denver.  Along the way Simon meets up with a host of colorful characters including a runaway slave, Indians, the U.S. Cavalry, lions, tigers, camels, and the father who abandoned him when his mother died 10 years ago.  Will Simple Simon fail miserably in the real world or surprise everyone?

Midnight Magic by Avi

The two main characters argued in aphorisms!!! Wow! Quite unique for a children's chapter book.

Best Books for Boys: A Resource for Educators (Children's and Young Adult Literature Reference) by Matthew D. Zbaracki

I'm amused to discover that I've read a fair amount of the titles he suggests. Apparently I have masculine reading habits!   :)

Rats!: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

This book has great pictures and interesting facts! I think it would be a hit with boys and girls who either like rodents or who like to be grossed out!

999 Tadpoles by Ken Kimura

The illustrations very closely resemble pictures I made in the third grade. I liked the oddly round birds and how expressive the hawk is, but the rest is pretty lame. Not a fan of this illustrator (who apparently has his own museum in Japan, so what do I know!).

Schooled by Gordon Korman

This reminded me of Surviving the Applewhites, but in reverse.  I liked how the two perspectives on a life of insular living, commune life, and homeschooling were portrayed.  Both sides felt their arguments were reasonable and explained them as such.  Pretty realistic portrayal of middle school and high school kids, too.

GUYKU: A Year of Haiku for Boys by Bob Raczka

Great book to keep in mind for future sons. Boys of all shapes and colors are represented in the delightful illustrations of this book. I loved all the simple enjoyment of being outside.

Troublemaker by Andrew Clements

This is pretty much a sixth grade version of American History X.

Oh No!: Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World by Mac Barnett

Elementary science genius is a GIRL!!! After unleashing her robot science project, which tries to destroy the world, she fixes it with yet more inventing and science!
Go smart girls!

Cat Secrets by Jef Czekaj

This would make an excellent book for storytime!
The book asks for children to respond to it in a funny way and would create excellent audience engagement!
Can't wait to try this one out on kids.

My Name is Elizabeth by Annika Dunklee

Names are important. I love that this little girl politely corrects everyone on her name. "But you may call me Elizabeth." Awesome!

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

This was surprisingly good! I found the Dwight character very interesting and appealing. I appreciated that he was his own man at the ripe old age of 6th grade.

Everlost by Neal Shusterman

This was Dark with a capital D. Although it was well written and engrossing, I don't think I'll read the second one. Just not my cup of tea.

Follow Me by Tricia Tusa

I'm always intrigued by this illustrator's covers and then disappointed by the stories. I like the wiggly, sketched nature of her artwork. The story seems like it's trying to be poetic but it fails. This is the kind of book you would read to a child once and they would never request again.

Moonpowder by John Rocco

Well, I love this man's illustrations so it's hard not to just love every book he's created. Wonderful main character is acting as man of the house for his mom by fixing her appliances as they breakdown while dad's away at war. Unfortunately, he's haunted by bad dreams. Lots of cogs, gears, and wrenches! Great for children who like to "help" with the fixing, especially.

Argus by Micelle Knudsen

"Don't be difficult!" Being different is okay, too.

I liked this book because it didn't whack you over the head with the message that being different is BETTER than being like everyone else. Being different is fine, it's great, it's not worse, but it's not better either. We don't always have to run from one end of the pendulum to the other!

Sniffles for Bear by Bonny Becker

For some reason I have a fondness for books about feeling under the weather. Friends bring soup, there are big red noses, funny accents due to congestion, and piles of quilts. There is something very cozy and reassuring about sickness books, probably because they alway end in recovery. The character is pampered by his friends and then wonder upon wonders, he feels SO much better in the morning. It's like magic.

The Surprise by Sylvia Van Ommen

This is one of my favorite books, but I must say, I'm not thrilled that the illustrator chose to show the sheep smoking to pass the time. Grrrrr. Bad decision Sylvia Van Ommen.

Here If You Need Me by Kate Braestrup

Wow. I loved this book. I might need to shell out the money and actually buy the audiobook of this just so I can listen to the author read it again later.
Despite chronicling the tragic loss of her husband, the book lifts you up with her calm clear message of love and hope.
Very highly recommend.

Yummy: Eight Favorite Fairy Tales by Lucy Cousins

Great First Fairy Tales book. Gives you the bare bones of eight common fairy tales with cartoony pictures very appropriate to the level of the text. Great for 3,4,and 5 year olds to get their toes wet in fairy tales.

Baby Read-Aloud Basics by Barbara Weston Ramirez and Caroline J. Blakemore

I can't say enough fabulous things about this book! They provide the research, the techniques, tips, actual booklists to use! If you are a parent, you should read this. If you are a librarian, you should read this. If you have seen a child within the last year, you should still read this!

Little Owl Lost by Chris Haughton

I liked the cute story. Helpful squirrel, much more practical and helpful frog, vaguely uncautious mother.
The colors of the illustrations are right out of the '70s. The cover is the color of vomit so very popular in that decade. I'm also not a huge fan of the digitally rendered illustrations. The illustrator manages to create characters with a lot of depth and personality but the crappy quality of the digital pictures is distracting from the story. Another medium would have been better, I think

Penny Loves Pink by Cori Doerrfeld

This was surprisingly delightful. I loved the subtle clues to the reader in the illustrations (but NOT in the text) that Penny is in for a big surprise. I appreciated that Penny looks realistically childlike and isn't another mini Barbie with pounds of blonde ringlets. The expressions on the bunnies when they turn blue and point to each other in horror are priceless!! Really loved the ending! Red-headed people after all, really are pink!

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

I quite liked it, but I'm very confused why Alice Hoffman hasn't sued this woman for intellectual property theft. Calling the books "similar" to Practical Magic doesn't convey just how many unusual similarities there were. I would like to try the author's other works, but I'm a little worried that it won't be as good without a crutch for the author to lean on for ideas.

Monkey Truck by Michael Slack

Great rythym and ryhme in the story. Excellent pictures show the energy of the characters. And the vocabulary is nice and juicy, and there's a great silliness about the whole thing, but the main character? A sentient truck which looks like a monkey? I just don't get it. Maybe that's because I'm not a four year old BOY? I think it would work well in storytime and it would be interesting to find out if little ones liked the idea of a monkey truck hero.

Young Fredle by Cynthia Voigt

An excellent cozy little mouse book. However, this surprising book also dealt with some hefty themes. Fredle discovers that mice fear everything they do not understand. He has grown up hearing horrible stories told about those vicious mice who live in the cellar or outside. When circumstance creates the opportunity for Fredle to visit these different places, he finds mice very much like him who also know only about their own environment and people and fear all else, including HIM, to his astonishment! I liked the message that people are people wherever you go. We all love and protect our families, try to find enough food, and need to have shelter. Our lives aren't that different after all.
Fredle also came to the realization that some "rules" or customs only exist out of momentum rather than logic, and there might be better ways to do things. All of the different groups he encountered had knowledge that was new to Fredle, but none of them knew everything about the world. None of us do, but it helps to be willing to learn from others as you share what you know.

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

Totally wonderful. LOVED IT.
That said... I wonder. Do kids get this when it's read aloud word for word? Have readers used different voices to distinguish the speakers?
Very Modern picture book. Both the pictures and the text is understated and sparse. Very deadpan, which makes me wonder, what age do you have to be to appreciate deadpan humor?
My husband thought it was pretty funny. :)