Amazing Animal Alphabet

Title: Brian Wildsmith's Amazing animal alphabet
Author:  Brian Wildsmith
Location:  JE Wildsmith
Level:

Amazing Animal Alphabet is one of the few alphabet books that shows both the upper case and lower case of each lettter, which is important for those beginning readers and early literacy.  Each page of this book shows both cases in the upper corner and the animal name in the bottom corner with a realistic and colorful depiction of the animal in the center.  The backgrounds are mostly one color to compliment the animal.  An additional bonus are the animal facts pages at the end.  This will be useful when your child asks about an animal you might not know anything about.  Don't worry, it's all very simple and on a young child's level, so if you read these pages before reading the book with your child he/she will be amazed by how much you know.

 

Bottom Line:  Amazing Animal Alphabet includes both upper and lower case letters with simple pages dipicting a wild animal both in picture and word.  Animal fact pages are a nice bonus.  I like this book because in addition to showing both cases it also enlarges a child's animal vocabulary with animals he/she might not have seen before.

1-2-3- Peas

Title: 1-2-3 Peas
Author: Keith Baker
Location: JE Baker
Level: 3-6 year olds

1-2-3 Peas by Keith Baker is a counting book with peas as the characters. It has rhyming words, for example- "One pea searching- look,look,look, Two peas fishing- hook,hook,hook" The next number starts a new rhyme sound. There are a couple of things I like about this book. First is shows both the word and the number in a large font. Secondly is goes past ten! So few books actually go further. This one goes to ten then covers 11-19 in one spread with just the numerals, after which it counts by tens up to one hundred using both the word and numeral again (and rhyme pairs).  All of the actions are things your child might actually do.  The illustrations are brightly colored and the peas are cute.

Bottom Line:  If you are looking for a counting book that goes past ten here is one.  1-2-3 Peas counts to 20 before starting to count by tens to 100.  The illustrations are cute and colorful.  Plus the text includes the word and numeral.

Read Next:    Keith Baker also has an alphabet book with the cute peas- LMNO Peas.

Memoirs of a Goldfish

Title:  Memoirs of a Goldfish
Author:  Devin Scillian
Location:  JE Scillian
Level: 2-8 years old

In memoirs of a goldfish the goldfish narrator tells us about his dull life.  Well, dull until others start getting added to the bowl.  Soon it is so crowded he wants his bowl back.  Will he miss the other occupants?  Will he ever see them again?  Read the book to find out.

This was my favorite picture book for the past year.  Every group I read it to loved it!  It's humorous, uses some possible new vocabulary, and the artwork enhances the story on each page.  The backgrounds are simple, usually white or light blue, making the main focus the fishbowl.  The narrator's face is quite expressive for a goldfish.  It even has a happy ending.

Bottom Line:  Memoirs of Goldfish by Devin Scillian is a great, humorous story with outstanding artwork.  I loved it and have told many many people about this book.  Find out what it's like to live in a fishbowl that keeps getting more crowded by the day.  I believe this book won a children's choice award.

Pete The Cat

Title:  Pete the Cat books

Author:  Eric Litwin

Location:  JE Litwin

Level:  3-6 years old

Pete the cat is one cool cat with a motto of , "It's all good.", how could he not be, he's soo cute.  Pete also likes to sing and you can download the songs to go with the books at the publisher's website.  Kids love Pete and his songs.  I do to.

In the first book Pete has new shoes that keep changing colors as he steps in different things.  But does Pete get mad- no way.  In Rockin his school shoes Pete learns about different areas of the school when he wears his new school shoes.  His four groovy buttons just don't want to stay on his shirt.  Of course, Pete doesn't get mad.  He just sings a song.  Just as Pete thinks he has lost his last button he finds one more.  This one has a cute ending.  Wouldn't the world be a better place if we all just sang a song instead of getting mad.

Bottom Line:  The Pete the Cat books by Eric Litwin feature Pete of course. He's one cool cat who likes to sing.  The illustrations are mostly bright primary colors.  The songs are catchy and sure to be sung again by your little ones.  I've found children 2-7 enjoy Pete books.

Read Next:  If you like Pete you might want to try Splat the Cat books by  Rob Scotton.