Suppose You Meet a Dinosaur: A First Book of Manners

By Judy Sierra, Illustrated by Tim Bowers
Alfred A. Knopf, $16.99, 32 pages

Would You Know What to Say to a Dinosaur?

Suppose You Meet a Dinosaur: A First Book of Manners  is a darling story to be read and read to someone young! Using dinosaurs as a means to teach young ones good manners is quite brilliant, not unique, but brilliant none-the-less. The entire story is set in a grocery store with various events going on to teach good manners. Such events as: the dinosaur knocking over a pile of apples, your cart accidentally hitting the dinosaur in the shin, sharing banana chips  and her glasses falling to the floor teaches the proper thing to say for each event such as: Thank you, I’m sorry  and Yes, please.

Colorful, almost life-like illustrations make the page-turning and story so much more exciting. The writing is sing-song rhymes and flows right along with the pictures. This is a wonderful book for any young reader, although some parents may find a potty word used in the book unacceptable for the age group. The rest of the book makes up for that one minor social faux pas.

Reviewed by M. Chris Johnson

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Emily and Carlo

By Marty Rhodes Figley, Illustrated by Catherine Stock
Charlesbridge, $15.95, 32 pages

Emily and her Shaggy Friend

Emily and Carlo  is a sweet and classically written children’s book about the relationship between the poet Emily Dickinson and her dog that is sure to warm the hearts of all who read it. Not only does author Marty Rhodes Figley spin a jovial tale in her third children’s book, she includes short excerpts of Dickinson’s letters and poetry that will introduce young readers to her personality and work as a writer. Figley’s story begins in 1849, just before Emily turns nineteen. Her brother Austin is at college, and her younger sister Vinnie is off at school. Emily is very lonely in the empty home, and her father buys her a puppy. Emily names him Carlo after the dog in Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, one of Dickinson’s favorite books.

With Carlo around, Emily is not so lonely. Over the years, the odd pair goes on many adventures together through gardens, woods and meadows. Emily teaches Carlo manners, hides poems in flowers, and feeds Carlo heart-shaped cookies. After many years together, Carlo grows old and passes away. Emily misses her old companion dearly, but carries his spirit with her. I highly recommend Emily and Carlo  for children and their parents. It is a lovely story, an accessible introduction to poetry and a moving tale of companionship and loss perfect for younger readers.

Reviewed by Emily Davis

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Lola Reads to Leo

By Anna McQuinn, Illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw
Charlesbridge, $6.95, 32 pages

Expressing Sibling Love Through Reading

It’s sort of nice to read a story about a sister helping her younger brother. Lola Reads to Leo  follows Lola as she reads to her baby brother Leo in almost every circumstance. She constantly reads to him, from when he wakes up to when he falls asleep, and to comfort him as well as teach him. Arguably the worst part of this book is its pro-reading message, which can get over-bearing, but the overall sweetness of the book makes up for it.

The illustrations are beautiful and warm, making for a very comfortable read; this is a book that will see numerous re-readings. For children that want something a little more complex, the pictures have the added bonus that a child can explore them, making them the possible starting point of stories themselves. That ability to scale with the child, going from mere story to the beginning of stories themselves, is probably the nicest feature of this book. For parents looking for a beautiful book with re-read value, this is an excellent first book.

Reviewed by Jamais Jochim

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Animal Tails

By Beth Fielding
EarlyLight Books, 36 pages, $14.95

A Tale of Tails

The tails of animals tell many tales. Why do animals have tails and how do they use them? Beth Fielding, in her book Animal Tails, explores the variety of tails found in nature and their uses. Scaly, skinny, busy, balancing, jumping, stinging, wagging, and curly…so many tails! From the cute and cuddly to the slithery and slippery, the book features an animal to interest anyone! The author brilliantly mixes together a balance of science and fun to create a book that kids will spend hours enjoying. Also, the photographs allow readers to get up close with the tails of many species.

Why do animals like elephants, giraffes and zebras have such large, skinny tails with a tuft of hair at the end? This type of design lets them hit the insects off their backs and necks that are biting them. For kangaroos, having a big tail helps them balance. Primates use long tails to anchor themselves in trees and to hold on to their babies. Each animal is profiled on two pages. Fielding fills the entry with fun facts and trivia. She even includes a section on how animals communicate with their tails!

Reviewed by Kathryn Franklin

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Pig Pig Meets the Lion

By David McPhail
Charlesbridge Publishing, $15.95, 32 pages

Where can a recently escaped lion go to play and hide out when zoo keepers are on the lookout?  Pig Pig’s house, of course! Pig Pig and the lion gallop downstairs, over chairs and even on top of the television set! Pig Pig’s mother doesn’t seem to mind. After all, friends come in many shapes and sizes, and surely the lion will go back to the zoo soon. Won’t he?

Pig Pig Meets the Lion, by David McPhail, is the newest addition to the Pig Pig story collection. It is a simple tale that puts as much emphasis on prepositions as it does on invading lions. Each page contains a featured preposition in large bold type and highlights the word’s importance in the sentence. Although younger readers might not grasp the grammar lesson, they will certainly be engaged by the bright colors and funny illustrations found in this lighthearted book.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Goss

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Dancing with the Dinosaurs

By Jane Clarke, Illustrated by Lee Wildish
Imagine Publishing, $12.95, 32 pages

What if dinosaurs replaced the famous actors and athletes on the hit reality television show “Dancing with the Stars”? Of course the Tyrannosaurus Rex would have to be the host. The judges, dancers and audience would be kept in line by the threat of becoming the host’s lunch. Jane Clarke’s Dancing with the Dinosaurs introduces prehistoric creatures to young children as if they were contestants on a highly popular game show. Each dinosaur has a cute outfit, a dance move and a name emblematic of either a famous musician or dinosaur species. While the book isn’t entirely educational, it does offer colorful, engaging pictures and cute, sometimes rhyming tag lines. The book is perfect for any toddler or early reader.

Reviewed by Rachelle Barrett

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Just Behave, Pablo Picasso!

By Jonah Winter, Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
Arthur A. Levine Books, $17.99, 48 pages

Jonah Winter, author of Frida, Dizzy, The Secret World of Hildegard, and The Fabulous Feud of Gilbert and Sullivan, has come out with his newest book. Just Behave, Pablo Picasso! has all the qualities of a top-notch children’s book – beautiful illustrations, a stimulating subject and an inspirational message. Kevin Hawkes’ acrylic illustrations are beautifully vivid and filled with enough detail to satisfy the most curious of children. Pablo Picasso literally bursts through the page as he creates new artistic styles. Emerging from the remnants of a landscape painting, the genius dons the crimson cape of a bullfighter in Spain or a Frenchman’s beret as he explores Paris.

Artistic terms such as “cubism,” “blue period” and “modern art” become accessible to very young learners. Most importantly, this book encourages children to pursue their passions, even if they, like Picasso, are ridiculed. The critics tell Picasso that his paintings are “terrible” because they don’t make sense. But Picasso argues that “the chief enemy of creativity is good sense!” I highly recommend this book to parents of young readers who also happen to be interested in art, or to small children who have strong wills and big dreams.

Reviewed by Emily Davis

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Buster Tells It All

By Carolyn Berry
Brown Books Publishing, $16.99, 22 pages

If you have never set foot on a Texas Ranch, don’t worry. Buster is the best tour guide you’ll find. And it just so happens that he is a dog. He is the head dog, official foreman and knowledgeable tour guide at Pony Creek Ranch. Children can read about Buster and other amazing animals in Carolyn Berry’s new book Buster Tells it All. The stories are creatively told from Buster’s point of view. Berry’s writing (using Buster’s voice) is engaging and welcoming. When young readers finish the book they will feel like they really were at the ranch. Pony Creek Ranch is a thousand acre ranch located in Texas. Carolyn Berry and husband Jim have created a home for rescued, orphaned, and abandoned animals from all over the world. Buster Tells it All is the story of Baby, a white-tail deer and April, a Nubian Ibex. Eric Cash’s illustrations make the ranch come alive. This book will inspire children to treat animals with respect and compassion. This is the first installment in a series of books that will focus on the wildlife at the ranch. So join Buster on another tour soon!

Reviewed by Elizabeth Franklin

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Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite

By Anna Harwell Celenza
Charlesbridge Press, 32 pages, $19.95

Tchaikovsky Transformed

Many children are familiar with Tchaikovsky’s music from the famous Nutcracker Suite. The holiday favorite stars Clara, the Sugar Plum Fairy, the brave Nutcracker King, and other fantastic characters. What would the story look like if jazz legend Duke Ellington had the chance to tinker with the ballet score? Is it possible for a romantic orchestral composition to transform into a cool-cat jazz number? Author Anna Harwell Celenza, in her book Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite tells the true story of how Duke and his friend Billy Strayhorn remade the classic into a jazz extravaganza. When asked to create something new, Duke wanted to challenge himself to make something that couldn’t be categorized. The Sugar Plum Fairy became the sultry Sugar Rum Cherry, the Dance of the Reed Pipes became Toot Toot Tootie Toot and the Waltz of the Flowers became the Dance of the Floreadores. Don Tate’s vibrant illustrations dance across the pages. The beautiful artwork is done in India ink, acrylic watercolor and chalk. This book helps instill in your child a love of music and an appreciation for the arts and introduces the younger members of your family to jazz and one of its greatest artists. Enjoy the included CD recording of the Ellington/Strayhorn composition.

Reviewed by Kathryn Franklin

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100 Cool Activities for Girls

Edited by Parragon
Parragon, $6.99, 44 pages

Are you looking for an activity book that will keep girls occupied for hours with fun projects and creative ideas? 100 Cool Activities for Girls, by Kristy Neale, is divided up into five tabbed sections: animals, dolls, dress-up, fairies, and flowers. Over 350 stickers are available to decorate the pages and other unique creations. 50 stencils, grouped into themes by section, help strengthen drawing skills and are used to spruce up the already colorful pages. Clare Phillips’ illustrations are zany and fun. In the Animal section, use number stickers to label farmyard friends and count them from smallest to biggest. Stencil in cute kittens on fluffy cushions and give each one a fancy collar. The Dolls section lets you create fancy hairstyles and add furniture to a doll house. Use stickers to fill the plates at a dolly tea party. The Dress-Up section features tiaras, a costume party, and masks to design for a ball. Under the Fairies section, color the stripes of a rainbow and a fairy house. In the Flower section, plant a sticker garden and pick out the flower that is different from the others. This book lets girls explore their creative side through artistic activities.

Reviewed by Kathryn Franklin

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