Bad to the Bone

Bad to the Bone (Down Girl and Sit)

Written by: Lucy Nolan
Illustrated by: Mike Reed
Recommended Ages: 5-8

Here's an early reader book that is laugh out loud funny. Bad to the Bone is the perfect book for the emerging reader who is ready to move beyond the 32-page picture book format. It has short, easy-to-read chapters, illustrations on every page and a snappy dialogue which makes reading it a breeze.

Bad to the Bone is written in first person from the viewpoint of a dog named Down Girl. (She thinks Down Girl is her name because that is what she hears her owner saying to her all the time.) Down Girl is a self-proclaimed cat hater who is always trying to train her human Rruff. When he doesn't give her the attention she thinks she deserves, she and her friend Sit decide to be "bad to the bone." Unfortunately, this only gets them into more trouble, resulting in the two dogs going to a dog training class. Only in Down Girl's mind, it's a class to teach their masters how to behave. What follows is a hilarious scene with the owners shouting out orders to the dogs, which makes the dogs think they've forgotten their actual names. As Down Girl notes at one point "Sit was a very popular name that day." Kids will find this scene of confused identity very funny, and may want to read it over and over again.

Young readers are naturally drawn to books about animals, and will enjoy reading a story told from a dog's point of view. Bad to the Bone is the third book in the "Down Girl and Sit" series, and even the most reluctant reader will have a hard to resisting the sly humor. By the way, if your child enjoys Bad to the Bone, you might want to check out the Bad Kitty series, which I wrote about here.

My Weird School Daze-A Series by Dan Gutman

My Weird School Daze #4: Coach Hyatt Is a Riot!

Written by: Dan Gutman
Illustrated by: Jim Paillot
Recommended Ages: 7-10

Over the years, parents have often asked me for good book recommendations for reluctant readers. Typically they are looking for books for kids (it's usually boys) in the second, third or fourth grades. When my kids were young it was the Magic Treehouse series that ultimately turned the reading light on for my two sons. I think if Dan Gutman's My Weird School Daze series had been around 15 years ago, we would have owned every copy.

There are a total of 32 books in the series. The first eleven books are when the kids are in second grade. Then they move up to third grade, and there are an additional 21 books (so far). Each book features AJ (a boy who's not wild about school) and Andrea, his nemesis, who loves school. They also introduce a new, fairly wacky adult into their lives.

Last night I read Coach Hyatt is a Riot, and actually found myself giggling in a few different places. It begins with AJ talking about how much he dislikes school and Andrea, an annoying girl with curly brown hair. He goes on to say how much he loves PeeWee football, even though his team never wins. We then meet his new football coach--Coach Hyatt, who also happens to be a woman (!). Coach Hyatt is hilarious. She calls them ragamuffins and teaches them important football skills such as learning to do an end zone dance. She builds teamwork by having them surround her mini-Cooper and pick it up. When they actually do it she says to them: "Look at that. You ragamuffins picked up a car. That's teamwork! My motto is if you can pick up a car, you'll go far."

Yes, it is silly. And yes there are places in the book that made me cringe as a mom. (In the beginning of the book, there are third grade girls coming out as cheerleaders to cheer the peewee football players on, which really pushed my buttons. But the good news is that Andrea ends up being recruited to play on the football team and is the star.) Gutman knows his audience, and his audience loves this kind of book.

So if you have a child who doesn't naturally gravitate towards books, try picking up one of Dan Gutman's Weird School Series books. The reading level is appropriate for emerging readers, the stories are funny and the characters are believable, in a quirky kind of way.

Here's a list of the books (taken straight from Dan Gutman's website):

1. Miss Daisy is Crazy!
2. Mr. Klutz is Nuts!
3. Mrs. Roopy is Loopy!
4. Ms. Hannah is Bananas!
5. Miss Small is Off the Wall!
6. Mr. Hynde is Out of His Mind!
7. Mrs. Cooney is Loony!
8. Ms. LaGrange is Strange!
9. Miss Lazar is Bizarre!
10. Mr. Docker is Off His Rocker!
11. Mrs. Kormel is Not Normal!
12. Ms. Todd is Odd!
13. Mrs. Patty is Batty!
14. Miss Holly is Too Jolly!
15. Mr. Macky is Wacky!
16. Ms. Coco is Loco!
17. Miss Suki is Kooky!
18. Mrs. Yonkers is Bonkers!
19. Dr. Carbles is Losing His Marbles!
20. Mr. Louie is Screwy!
21. Ms. Krup Cracks Me Up!
22. Mrs. Dole is Out of Control!
23. Mr. Sunny is Funny!
24. Mr. Granite is from Another Planet!
25. Coach Hyatt is a Riot!
26. Officer Spence Makes No Sense!
27. Mrs. Jafee is Daffy!
28. Dr. Brad Has Gone Mad!
29. Miss Laney is Zany!
30. Mrs. Lizzy is Dizzy!
31. Miss Mary is Scary!
32. Mr. Tony is Full of Baloney!

The Retired Kid

The Retired Kid

Written and Illustrated by: Jon Agee
Recommended Ages: 6-10

I love funny children's books. In fact, I like them so much I have a section on this blog just for humorous books. So when I happened upon this hilarious book by Jon Agee, (a new author to me), I immediately placed holds on as many of his books as possible. So while I wait for his other books to come in, I thought I'd share this gem of a story with you.

Brian is an 8-year-old kid who is beginning to think that being a kid is hard work. Between school, soccer practice, violin practice and all the other trappings that third grade brings, Brian decides he's had enough of being a kid and that it's time to retire. So off he goes to Happy Sunset Retirement Center in Florida. There he meets his new friends Ethel, Wally, Myrtle, Tex, Phyllis and Harvey, a retired plumber. At first, he has great time playing cards, golfing and lounging in the pool. But then reality sinks in, and he finds that listening to stories about hip replacements and watching long documentaries are not all they're cracked up to be. When Harvey tells him it helps to think about the good old days, Brian realizes that maybe being a kid is not so bad.

Agee has a great way of telling a story that is both straightforward and amusing. His pastel watercolor illustrations add a huge element of fun to each page. The scenes where he is participating in the retirement activities such as Friday-night swing dancing and knitting classes are priceless. While it would appear that this would be a book for the pre-school set, I think that it's elementary kids that will appreciate it more. They'll have a better understanding as to why Brian is feeling overloaded, and will find the folks at the retirement village hilarious. This would be a great book for a grandkid to share with a grandparent. The tongue-in-cheek humor and cartoon-like illustrations are sure to be a hit with young and old.

BookNosher Tidbit: Like many authors, Jon Agee has a website. On it, he has a section where he answers questions from kids (or at least they sound like kid questions). I think most kids would find this interesting.

Clementine!!

Clementine
Written by: Sara Pennypacker
Illustrated by: Marla Frazee
Recommended Ages: 5-9

I've written before that one of the things I like most about writing The Book Nosher is discovering all the new children's books that have come out since my kids were at the read-aloud stage (they are teenagers now). Yesterday I discovered and devoured Clementine by Sara Pennypacker. She's a great companion for the emerging reader.

Clementine is in the third grade and has a penchant for getting into trouble. She doesn't mean to misbehave; in fact in most instances it's quite the opposite. She tries to be helpful and kind, but somehow her actions always backfire on her. For instance, she finds her friend Margaret in the school bathroom with a pair of scissors trying to cut some glue out of her hair. The only thing is, she is doing a horrible job. So naturally Clementine offers to help and ends up cutting off all of her hair. She then tries to make things better by coloring red curls all over Margaret's head (in Flaming Sunset permanent markers). You can see that she has good intentions, but somehow they manage to go awry.

Clementine lives with her very understanding parents and little brother in an apartment building. Her dad manages the building, and her mom is an artist who dresses in overalls, instead of dresses like the other mothers. Her parents understand and accept her for who she is, despite the fact that she always seems to be doing the wrong thing. We never find out what her little brother's name is, for she calls him Spinach, Pea Pod or Rutabaga to get back at the fact that he wasn't named for a fruit (like she was).

I think that one of the most endearing parts of the book is the way that Pennypacker shows us the world through Clementine's eyes. It is told in the first person, and through skillful writing, we get a sense of who Clementine is, and what makes her tick. For instance, she is constantly being told to pay attention and to sit still. Here's an exchange between Clementine and Mrs. Rice on one of her many visits to the principal's office:

"I'm allergic to sitting still."
"Nobody is allergic to sitting still, Clementine," she said.
"I am," I said. "My brother is allergic to peanuts. If he eats one he gets all itchy and swelled up and he can't breathe right. If I try to sit still I get all itchy and swelled up and I can't breathe right. So that means I'm allergic to sitting still." . . . "Plus," I explained, "if my brother eats even one tiny peanut he might have to go to the hospital with the ambulance and sirens and everything! So if I sit still for even one minute...Uh oh." I gave my body an extra little jiggle just to stay safe.
"Phew!" I said. "That was close!"

You see what an original little girl Clementine is. Her voice is loud and clear. Your child will be enthralled with the various scrapes she gets herself into, and the humor with which she handles everything that comes her way. The illustrations by Marlee Frazee add the perfect touch to an already pretty perfect story. I highly recommend Clementine to the first through third grade crowd. And when they are done with it, they'll be happy to hear that there are two sequels: Talented Clementine and Clementine's Letter.


BookNosher Tidbit: Clementine was a 2007 Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor Book;
Winner of the 2007 Bank Street/Josette Frank Award
A Child Magazine Best Book of the Year

Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything!!!!

Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything

Written by: Lenore Look
Illustrated by: Anne Wilsdorf

Lenore Look has created a memorable character with a lot of moxie in Ruby Lu. Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything is the second book in what I hope will be a long-running series. It's an early chapter book, perfect for emerging readers in first through fourth grade. Like another of Lenore Look's chapter books--Alvin Ho--it's a good read-aloud book for these ages too.

Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything begins in the spring of Ruby's second grade year. Her cousin Flying Duck has just immigrated to the United States with her family, and is living with Ruby's family. Ruby could not be more excited, for she gets the role of tour guide to Flying Duck. She's the one who gets to show her all the ordinary things of her city.

Another thing about Flying Duck that's fascinating to Ruby Lu is that she reads lips. After an accident at age four where she burst her eardrums, she was deaf. So while she is able to talk, she also reads lips and signs in Cantonese. Ruby thinks that "Lip-reading is a very useful skill. It comes in handy when you want to watch TV, but the TV is supposed to be turned off. And it comes in handy if you are outside looking in and your parents are inside talking about you."

Most importantly, Ruby gets appointed as Smile Buddy at school. This is the person who helps a new child feel welcome and shows them around. It's a job she's coveted since kindergarten, and comes complete with a big badge that she proudly wears pinned to her shirt.

As you might imagine, the newness of having a cousin living with your family, soon begins to fade. Suddenly, only Cantonese is spoken at home. Chopsticks replace the silverware. And Oscar, Ruby's baby brother, is able to sign more than he can speak. Ruby is ready to send Flying Duck back to China.

What makes Ruby so endearing is the earnestness with which she tackles everything that comes her way. For instance, more than anything she wants glasses. So much so, that she tapes an eye chart above her bed at night, memorizing it, so that she'll pass and get glasses (it's a great twist on how kids might perceive the purpose of eye exams).

There's a pivotal playground scene, where Ruby's on-again/off-again friend Emma calls Flying Duck an alien and start saying that "she's come to snatch us all away and use us in medical experiments! And she's already got you in her clutches!" Needless to say, Ruby defends her cousin and a scuffle ensues. Parents are called into the principal's office and the recommendation is made that both Ruby and Flying Duck attend summer school to help ease the transition they are going through.

So second grade ends on a less than stellar note for Ruby, and she begins the summer with a to-do list:

"My 12-Step Summer Plans:
1. Hold breth in swiming skool.
2. Put face in water.*
3. Blo bubels.*
4. Be frends again with Emma.*
5. Play with Flying Duck
6. Play with Oscar

Reluctantly she added:

7. Go to summer skool.*

*maybe"

There are lots of fun incidents throughout the summer that will further endear Ruby to her readers. She faces her biggest fear-the water-and ultimately, though not easily, emerges as a swimmer. It's an important lesson for all kids, because it's clear that up until that point, she had not been successful in the pool, and dreaded it. As the summer passes by, she is able to cross things off of her "12-Step Summer Plans" list. Her friendships with both Flying Duck and Emma go through rough patches, but ultimately survive and thrive.

Lenore Look has created a winner with Ruby Lu. The breezy writing makes each chapter fly by, leaving the reader craving for more. The book ends with just enough of a teaser to make you think (hope!) that a book about Ruby's experiences in third grade will soon be on its way.

There's a glossary at the end of the book that is funny and educational: "Ruby's Amazing Glossary and Guide to Important Words." Here are a few terms:

"Cantonese-Language needed to order yummy Chinese Food. But also shouted by parents when you are busted. Also used in Chinese school."

"goose bumps-A radar system for detecting anything scary or dangerous or wonderful or breathtakingly beautiful."

"Poh~Poh-(sounds like "paw paw") Grandma on your mother's side."

My Rotten Life: Nathan Abercrombie Accidental Zombie

My Rotten Life (Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie)
Written by: David Lubar
Recommended Ages: 8-12

If you like books that make you laugh out loud AND feel empathy for what the main character is going through, then look no further than My Rotten Life: Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie. Kids will identify with Nathan's plight from the first page until the last, as they devour the book to see what happens next.

Nathan is a fifth-grader who is having a bad day. Actually, it starts out as a bad day and only gets worse. First, the girl of his dreams--Shawna Lanchester--humiliates him in front of the entire cafeteria by publicly announcing that she's not inviting him to her annual Halloween party. Later on in gym class, he is the last person to be picked for a team. To add insult to injury, he comes in dead last in the mile run. Finally, he publicly humiliates himself at a video game so that all the kids start calling him a "vidiot." All of these things sound about as bad as it can get for a ten-year-old who is more than aware of where he falls in the social hierarchy of fifth grade.

After school, a new girl in town-Abigail-tells him that her uncle (a mad scientist) is working on a cure to get rid of bad feelings. She thinks that after Nathan's rotten day he would be the perfect subject. So off they go to the lab, only to have the serum mistakenly spilled all over him. And wouldn't you know it, Nathan begins to turn into a zombie.

The book continues with some amusing stories of what happens while one is slowly turning into a half-dead zombie. And quite honestly, life is somewhat better for Nathan. He can't feel pain, so he excels at sports because his asthma doesn't kick in. He doesn't need sleep, so he stays up all night secretly playing video games (and gets good at them). Nonetheless, he knows he doesn't want to live his life as a zombie, so he and his friends, Abigail and Mookie, go in search for a cure.

Along the way, you are drawn into the life of fifth-graders, complete with the popular group, the skaters, the nerds and the jocks. Kids will identify (and laugh) as these hierarchies are exposed and poked fun of. The true meaning of friendship is also explored in a totally convincing, yet fun, fifth-grade way. Finally, Nathan's home life is portrayed realistically: Mom is loving, if not a little neurotic, and video games are not allowed: "Mom thought games were too violent. Dad thought they were a bad investment."

My Rotten Life is written in a lively, very readable style. From the first sentence to the last, readers will be drawn in. Here's the first paragraph:

"It's no fun having your heart ripped from your body, slammed to the floor, and stomped into a puddle of quivering red mush. It's even less fun when it happens three times in one afternoon."

If you have a child for whom reading is not their first choice for an activity, try My Rotten Life. The slightly gross humor and easy-to-read text are sure to reel them in. On the other hand, if you have a child who loves to read, they'll probably read My Rotten Life in an afternoon (laughing all the while). Plus, the last paragraph hints that there's more to come:

"Other than that, things are pretty much normal for the only zombie in Belgosi Upper Elementary. Or, at least, they were normal until the secret agent from BUM showed up. But that's another story."

BookNosher Activity: There's a Reader's Guide at the end of the book to enhance My Rotten Life. Check it out! There are some really interesting individual and classroom activities for teachers and parents to turn this fun read, into something educational.

Leo Lionni's An Extraordinary Egg

An Extraordinary Egg
Written and Illustrated by Leo Lionni
Recommended Ages: 4-8

My sixteen-year old daughter was straightening up her bookcase this morning and came across An Extraordinary Egg. She asked me if I had blogged about it yet. She remembers that it was one of her favorites. I re-read the story with a smile on my face, as I revisited this lovely tale.

In An Extraordinary Egg we are introduced to three frogs, Marilyn, August and Jessica. As you might expect, one of the frogs (Jessica) is a little different from the other two. She's a wanderer, always exploring and finding treasures that she declares are "extraordinary." Unfortunately, Marilyn and August are never too impressed with her findings.

However, one day she brings home a beautiful, white stone almost as big as she is. This time Marilyn and August are impressed. Marilyn ("who knew everything about everything") declares it is a chicken egg. Jessica, who has never even heard of chickens, asks her how she knew. Marilyn replies, "There are some things you just know."

A few days later, the frogs hear a noise coming out of the egg and out walks a long, scaly, green creature. Marilyn proclaims, "See! I was right it is a chicken."

The beautiful thing about the book at this point is that your child will see that this creature is no chicken, but is in fact an alligator. But Lionni does a delightful job as he continues on with the story, calling the alligator "chicken." The "chicken" and the frogs become fast friends and there's a sweet reunion at the end between the baby alligator and her mama, where the mama greets her baby by calling her "my sweet little alligator." The three frogs think that is quite a funny thing to call the chicken an alligator.

An Extraordinary Egg is great fun to read aloud. It's humorous and kids get a kick out of the mistaken identities. They love it that THEY know what's going on, even if the frogs don't. Ultimately, it's a story about friendship between likely and unlikely sources.

I also want to say a word about the illustrations. They are a combination of watercolors, crayons and collage, and quite extraordinary in their own right. Lionni has a definite signature-style that's imaginative and eye-pleasing, which is evident in his many books (over 40).

BookNosher Tidbit: Leo Lionni was a four-time Caldecott Medal winner for Alexander and the Wind-up Mouse, Frederick, Swimmy and Inch by Inch. All four are wonderful books and definitely worth checking out.

BookNosher Activity: Kids will be impressed that both chickens and alligators come from eggs, and will likely want to know about other egg-layers. Here are a few other picture books that you could have on hand for a fun lesson about oviparous animals: Chickens Aren't The Only Ones by Ruth Heller; Guess What is Growing Inside This Egg by Mia Posada and An Egg is Quiet by Diana Hutts Aston.

Woolbur, A Free-Spirited Sheep

Woolbur
Written by Leslie Helakoski
Illustrated by Lee Harper
Recommended Ages: 4-8

I love picture books. I think it's sad that some kids leave picture books behind in their elementary years just because they CAN read a chapter book. As I've pointed out in previous posts, authors like Bill Peet and Tim Egan cover topics that preschoolers will enjoy on one level, and 4th and 5th graders on a totally different one. So I'm always on the lookout for a new picture book that will appeal to both preschoolers and the elementary crowd.

Enter Woolbur, a sheep with his own mind. The story begins when Maa tells Paa that Woolbur decided to run with the dogs, instead of standing still with the sheep. When Maa and Paa express their concern that those dogs will run circles around him. Woolbur replies, "I know, isn't it great!"

Then Woolbur has a little trouble in the shearing barn, when he decides not to be sheared like the other sheep. Once again, Maa and Paa tell him that it's springtime and that his wool is so long. And again Woolbur replies, "I know, isn't it great!"

The story continues with Woolbur doing things his own way when it comes time for the sheep to card their wool, spin it and weave it. In one of his bolder moves, he weaves his forelock in the loom. All the while, loving every minute of it. Finally Maa and Paa sit him down and tell him that he must follow the flock, because it's what sheep do. They tell him he has to shear, card, spin, dye and weave wool like everyone else.

So Woolbur thinks about this all night long, and comes up with a plan.

His solution is to teach all the other sheep to run with the dogs, to let their wool grow, to card their own wool, to spin crazy yarn, to experiment with color and to weave their own forelocks. Soon all of the other sheep are acting just like Woolbur. Although even as the other sheep follow him, he still manages to be one of a kind. Woolbur is a great book for kids who march to their own beat (and for those who tend to stay with the flock).

The illustrations in Woolbur are accessible, funny and sure to draw kids in. These sheep are not just ordinary sheep; they have personalities. Even the ones in the flock, who tend to stay in the background, have lots of detail. Maa and Paa are worrywarts and their expressions are priceless, as they rack their brains on how to deal with Woolbur. But it's Woolbur who is the star, and he has pzazz. He is an original with an optimistic go get 'em attitude. Kids will giggle as you read through all of his antics. There are a lot of little details that you catch on the second or third read. You see that Woolbur has "Go Dog Go," in his room, along with a copy of "Zen Knitting." Woolbur is a wonderful story about being a non-conformist and following your dreams.

BookNosher Tidbit: Woolbur has won the following awards:

• 2008 Book Sense Hot Pick

• Great Lakes Book Award finalist

• Gift of Literacy Oregon Book Choice

Nominated for following state book awards:

• Vermont

• North Dakota

• Nevada

• Florida (Honor Book)

• South Carolina

• North Carolina

BookNosher Activities: After reading Woolbur, kids may be very interested in learning how to knit. There's a really great book called Kids Knitting: Projects for Kids of all Ages. It's illustrated and the projects are arranged in order of difficulty. Color photographs show both boys (!) and girls knitting. In fact, you could give a child a copy of Woolbur, Kids Knitting and some needles and yarn and you've got a great gift.

The Trouble With Mark Hopper

The Trouble With Mark Hopper
Written by Elissa Brent Weissman
Recommended Ages: 9-12

The Trouble With Mark Hopper is about two (very different) boys named Mark Geoffrey Hopper, and the intersection of their lives at the beginning of sixth grade. It's a middle grade novel with all the elements of a good story--mistaken identity, lots of comic twists and turns, great characters (who change and grow), strong tension and some underlying poignant moments.

The story takes place in a town called Greenburgh, where Mark Hopper has lived all of his life. He is the smartest kid entering the sixth grade, and he knows it. In fact, he's developed quite a reputation in the years leading up to middle school, arguing constantly with teachers about his grades (he believes he deserves 100% on everything) and talking incessantly about how smart he is to his peers. Understandably, he is not at all well liked by kids or adults. He lives with his mom and his equally obnoxious older sister Beth. His dad has just moved out.

Enter the new Mark Hopper who has just moved to Greenburgh with his mom, his older sister Beth, and his grandfather (his father has had to stay behind in their old town while he tries to sell their house and get a new job in Greenburgh). This Mark Hopper is pretty much the exact opposite of the other Mark Hopper: He's friendly, easygoing, a fairly average student and a fantastic artist.

The first few chapters are quite funny as they detail the chaos involved with registering the new Mark at his new school, which includes a mix-up with their schedules (honors classes vs. regular classes, band vs. art), and a fairly inept administration and computer system. Weissman does a very nice job developing each of the Mark's personalities. What is remarkable is that she never tells you which Mark she is talking about, it's always just "Mark," and yet you quickly figure out which one it is. It's very tightly written.

While The Trouble With Mark Hopper can best be described as a "school story," along the lines of Andrew Clements' stories, it has some really great moments in each of the boys' homes. In fact, it's through their home situations that you begin to understand why one Mark is so disagreeable and the other so wonderful. Smart Mark's father is really distant and unpleasant, while the other Mark's Grandpa Murray is a warm and memorable character. His relationship with his grandson is a pleasure to observe. In fact, it's the boys' relationships with their families where the story dips a little deeper; making each one a more fully developed three-dimensional character.

However, what makes this a page-turner for kids is what happens at school. The differences between the two Marks become evident right away. Artistic Mark goes about those first few weeks of school making friends, working hard in his classes and showing what a great artist he is. He decides to enter an art contest and paints a loving portrait of his Grandpa Murray, as a surprise for his birthday. The other Mark continues to be obnoxious, humiliating the new Mark in Honors Math by announcing his poor grade to the class. The teacher then assigns him to be Mark's tutor. It is during these tutoring sessions that they begin to get to know one another. Mark lets the other Mark know that he is aiming to win the Mastermind Tournament, something his father won three years in a row when he was in middle school. When he discovers that there is a newly added teamwork portion to the Tournament, he realizes that Mark might be able to help him out because he has done a lot of team building in his other school. Their math tutoring sessions turn into something more mutual. A twist to the story occurs when Smart Mark finds out that there’s an artistic element to the Tournament, and he decides to steal the Grandpa Murray painting and claim it as his.

You begin to see that there are a lot of things going on to hold a reader's interest. I think that 4th, 5th and 6th graders will be riveted as the story unfolds. It's a very good read with characters that kids will recognize from their daily lives. There are a lot of things to discuss, making this a good classroom read. Questions like "what makes a good friend?" or "what kind of role models do each of the boys have at home?" will generate lots of discussion. Weissman has created a story where the characters come alive, so that you genuinely care about them after you've read the last page. I would love to read a book about the Mark Hoppers in seventh grade!

BookNosher Tidbit: Scholastic Magazine recommended The Trouble With Mark Hopper as a best summer pick for new middle schoolers.

Funny Farm Picture Books (Old and New)

Chicken Soup
Written by Jean Van Leeuwen
Illustrated by David Gavril
Recommended Ages 3-6

I came across a new picture book by the mother/son team of Jean Van Leeuwen and David Gavril that will appeal to the preschool crowd. Chicken Soup is a cute story that is sure to please 4 and 5 year olds, especially when read aloud.

The story begins with a rumor flying around the barnyard that Mrs. Farmer has taken out the big pot, and she's going to be making chicken soup! While all the animals are in a dither about the news, the chickens, in particular, need to try and skedaddle out of there. And skedaddle they do, except for Little Chickie, who it appears has a cold in her beak. Chaos ensues while the chickens run away from Mr. Farmer all over the farm, with Little Chickie sniffing and sneezing her way at the rear. Of course, this has a happy ending, and all their worries are for naught. For as it turns out, Mrs. Farmer is making vegetable soup for poor, sick, Little Chickie.

What makes this a fun read aloud is all the sniffing, clomping and sneezing that goes on throughout the book. Young kids will have fun helping the reader with the sound effects. The watercolor illustrations are colorful and lively. Little Chickie, in particular, has a lot of personality and is quite endearing.


Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
Written by Doreen Cronin
Illustrated by Betsy Lewin
Recommended Ages 3-8

After reading Chicken Soup, I just had to go and find my copy of another farm favorite Click Clack Moo: Cows that Type. If you haven't already read this, then run to the nearest bookstore or library and find it. If you have, well you might want to revisit it.

The story begins when Farmer Brown's cows discover a typewriter, and begin to use it to broadcast their needs:

"Dear Farmer Brown,
The barn is very cold at night. We'd like some electric blankets.
Sincerely,
The Cows"

A strike begins as the farmer refuses to give in to the cows' demands, and the sound of click, clack, moo haunts him at every turn. It's a hilarious premise, made even funnier when a duck is brought in to mediate. The duck helps the farmer and the cows come to an agreement by exchanging the typewriter for the blankets, only to have a surprise twist at the end. The duck goes missing with the typewriter, and Farmer Brown gets a note demanding a diving board for the pond! This is one of those books that just seem to get better each time you read it. Be prepared to have to explain to your child what a typewriter is.

If you are looking for some other "farm animal" books, try these:
Chickens to the Rescue by John Himmelman
Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotten
Dumpy La Rue by Elizabeth Winthrop

BookNosher Tidbits: Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type won a Caldecott medal in 2000. It was also recently made into a musical, and played off-Broadway this past summer. Here's a link to a review.

BookNosher Activities: You can have some great discussions with kids about how animals communicate their needs to the people around them (whining, barking, meowing, scratching at the door). Afterwards, have them write letters from a pet to an owner. Or if they are too young to write, have them dictate a letter to you. Kids enjoy hearing their words read back to them, and love to handle the finished result.

Some More Zany Jan Thomas books

Rhyming Dust Bunnies and Can You Make A Scary Face by Jan Thomas
Recommended Ages 2-6

At the beginning of the summer, I wrote about a couple of Jan Thomas's picture books for young children. What I found so refreshing about them was their humor (stated in very few words) and their colorful, cartoon-like pictures. At the time, I placed a hold on another of her books- Rhyming Dust Bunnies-, which finally came in today. Plus, I discovered that she has a brand new book-Can You Make a Scary Face? Both were worth the wait.

Rhyming Dust Bunnies is about, well, four dust bunnies that love to rhyme. Well, at least three of them do. Bob, the more observant dust bunny, is always on the lookout for danger. So while Ed, Ned and Ted rhyme bug with rug, hug and mug, Bob shouts out "Look Out."
"No Bob, look out doesn't rhyme with rug," shout the other dust bunnies.
Anyway, the story progresses and, as you probably guessed, comes complete with a broom, and ...a vacuum cleaner. Thomas has a great gift for story telling, and preschoolers will want to hear this over and over.

With Can You Make A Scary Face, Thomas sticks with the same brightly colored illustrations and silly humor, but now offers a more interactive book. This book begs to be read aloud, preferably to a gaggle of kids.

It starts off with a ladybug shouting to the reader "Hey, you! Yes, I'm talking to you! Stand up!"
Turn the page and the ladybug says: "No, I changed my mind...sit down!"
And so it goes. The commands come faster and faster and soon the ladybug is ordering the kids to wiggle their noses, laugh, dance the chicken dance and blow tiny, tickly bugs out of their mouths. It's contagious and sure to be a hit in every preschool classroom.

I guess you can see that I'm a big fan of Jan Thomas. I think she understands kids and writes her books for them. They are paced just right for preschoolers, and her humor is spot on. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

Help Me, Mr. Mutt! A Must Read Picturebook for Dog Lovers

Help Me, Mr. Mutt! is a must read for dog lovers (and cat lovers too). It's a hilarious book that kids and adults will want to read over and over again. The full title is: Help Me, Mr. Mutt!: Expert Answers for Dogs with People Problems and it's by the indomitable sister-team of Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel.

Mr. Mutt is the Dear Abby to the dog world. He is there to offer his sage advice to dogs everywhere. The book is written in a letter format. Dogs write Mr. Mutt with their problem(s), and he writes back with his answer(s). There are a lot of digs at cats, and The Queen (who happens to share an office with Mr. Mutt) has the final say in her letters back to Mr. Mutt, on pink stationery.

Here's a sample:

"Dear Mr. Mutt,
I'm a barker. Hear me bark!
Doorbell. BARK!
Mailman. BARK!
Thunder. BARK!
Telephone. BARK!
My people yell, "Don't Bark!"
Then they tell me, "Do a trick! Speak! Speak!
For a treat! Doesn't speak mean bark?
What do I do? To bark or not to bark?
That is the question.
Help me, Mr. Mutt!

-Confused in Connecticut

P.S. The loudmouth cat gets to meow constantly. Why isn't THAT a problem?"

Mr. Mutt writes back in full agreement with "Confused" pointing out that it's the way we communicate. Would people tell a duck not to quack? A cow not to moo?

He continues on by explaining that it's a brain thing. The dog brain is enormous. The people brain is the size of a pea (there are illustrations to prove it). People are just confused. He then advises the letter writer to have some fun with his/her people. The next time they ask Confused in Connecticut to "Speak!" look them in the eye and let out a big Moooo. They'll be so surprised, they'll drop the bag of treats (it's all yours).

The Queen responds to Confused in Connecticut by pointing out "A meow is like music to the ears. A lullaby. A symphony."

See, it's funny! Other "problems" that the dogs write about include being put on diets of dry kibble while the cat gets moist food out of the can, being dressed up for holiday pictures (and the cat is never dressed up) and being given too many baths (and of course, no one would dare give the cat a bath).

It's witty and there's also a grain of truth to each and every one of the dog's laments. I have two much-loved dogs and both of them could have written a letter to Mr. Mutt (Edgar's would be about being put on a diet, Sierra's would be about barking). The illustrations are fun and quite realistic. You will recognize these dogs.

BookNosher Activity: Teachers (or parents) can use Help Me Mr. Mutt for a lesson on letter writing. Mr. Mutt writes proper letters which include his address, the recipient's address, date, body and signature. Have your child write a letter from a pet to a pet owner. They can be as wild and imaginative as...well..as Help Me Mr. Mutt!

Gooney Bird: A Fun Summer Read

Lois Lowry has created a memorable character in second-grader Gooney Bird. Gooney Bird Is So Absurd is the fourth book in the series (it came out in Spring of 2009), and kids will find her addicting. She IS absurd, and lovable and smart and odd and utterly charming.

Gooney Bird is a second-grader at Watertower Elementary School, and her teacher is Mrs. Pidgeon. It's January and threatening to snow, and Mrs. Pidgeon is ready to embark on the poetry unit. The atmosphere in the classroom is warm and supportive under her delightful guidance. She's the kind of teacher we all hope our kids will have; she has an innate understanding of what makes each kid tick.

Lowry does an admirable job in making all of the students in the class come to life. There's Tyrone who often speaks in rap, Felicia Ann who is missing her front teeth and so speaks with a lisp, Malcolm who laments the day his mother had triplets and Keiko who is sensitive to everything. The kids seem to genuinely care for each other, idiosyncrasies and all.

But it is Gooney Bird who steals the show. She is unique in a class full of unique personalities. Her outfits lean towards thrift store chic, and she's proud of her good buys. Since it's January and it's cold, Gooney Bird decides that she needs a brain-warming hat. So she puts a pair of frilly underpants on her head, pulls her pigtails through the leg holes, and voila she's instantly smarter. At first the kids think it's a little strange, but the idea spreads across the classroom and soon all of them are wearing their panties atop their noggins. The book is primarily centered around the poetry unit, and the little things that happen in the classroom during this time period. When something sad happens to Mrs. Pidgeon, it's Gooney Bird who rallies the class together for the perfect gift (and a perfect ending to the poetry unit).

The reading level is listed at 9 to 12 year olds, but I think younger children will enjoy hearing it read aloud. One of the bi-products of Gooney Bird is Absurd is that poetry is sprinkled throughout the book. Along the way readers will learn about haiku, couplets and limericks and not even realize that they're learning.

There are three other Gooney Bird books: Gooney Bird Greene, Gooney Bird and the Room Mother and Gooney the Fabulous. Make it a summer challenge to read all four. You won't regret it.

BookNosher Activity: You may discover your child has a new-found love of poetry after reading Looney Bird is So Absurd. The Reading is Fundamental (RIF) website has a fun poetry page that will have your kids creating poems on the computer. It's called Poetry Splatter, and is a good way to let kids explore their inner poet. My guess is that after creating poems on Poetry Splatter, they'll put the computer aside and want to create their own poems from scratch.

Amelia Rules

Kids love comic books, and summer is a great time to let them loose on this genre. There's a relatively new series that your 3rd to 5th grader will want to check out. The Whole World's Crazy (Amelia Rules) by Jimmy Gownley is hilarious, fun to read and offers up quite a cast of characters.

Amelia is a sassy fourth grader who has moved with her mom from New York City to a town in Pennsylvania because of divorce. Together they live with her mom's young, hip, rock n' roll sister Aunt Tanner. Although she's the new kid in town, she manages to put together a ragtag, yet endearing, group of friends (the G.A.S.P.'s--the Gathering of Awesome Superpals). These friends-Reggie, Rhonda, Pajamaman and Amelia-get into all sorts of scrapes and trouble, which will have you and your kids reeling.

Gownley manages to take on familiar things that make up childhood, like freeze tag, P.E. and trick or treating, adds some manic twists and crazy characters, and the results are freewheeling situations you never want to end. But, there's also a softer side to Amelia Rules, which Gownley handles deftly. For instance, Amelia thinks she's the reason for her parent's divorce, and it's dealt with in a way that kids will understand and relate to. And in one of the more poignant stories in the book, Amelia discovers that Pajamaman comes from a family that has little money, and she ends up doing something very generous for him (and it doesn't seem out of character).

A lot goes on in Amelia Rules. By that, I mean that there are a lot of words and subplots going on in this comic book format. It will keep your kids entertained for hours. It also has much to say about heavier subjects such as divorce, broken promises by parents and poverty. But it does it in a way that kids will understand, and it won't be the last thing they remember about the book. What they will remember are the weird kids and funny situations they manage to get themselves into. They'll want to read more, so be prepared to buy the next installment of Amelia Rules, which comes out at the end of August.

BookNosher Tidbit: There's a non-profit organization called Kids Love Comics! that is "dedicated to increasing awareness and interest in kids' comics through innovative marketing and promotional techniques, and to increasing the comic book medium's sales potential by making kids' comics readily available to the general public through both new and traditional venues." Check it out.

BookNosher Activity: There is a website devoted to Amelia called "Ameliarules", which includes an interview with Jimmy Gownley, information about the characters as well as some activities for kids to do. It also promises that Curriculum Guides for parents and teachers will be available soon.

Who Needs Donuts When You've Got Love!

Here's an oldie, but goodie that may be familiar to some parents out there. Who Needs Donuts? was written and illustrated by Mark Alan Stamaty, and originally published in 1973. It has a cult-like following among children's book aficionados, and you'll immediately see why.

Sam is a little boy who lives in the suburbs with his mom and dad. He has a nice, rather typical life but wants more. Actually, what he wants are donuts, lots and lots of donuts. So off he goes to the city on his tricycle in his quest for donuts. There he meets Mr. Bikferd, a collector of donuts who needs a helper. On their way to find even more donuts, they pass a Sad Old Woman who shouts out to them "Who needs donuts when you've got love?" What follows is a madcap story of Sam, Mr. Bikferd and donuts in the big city. By the end of the book, Sam too realizes "who needs donuts when you've got love?"

What makes this book so amazing are the pen and ink illustrations. You and your child will spend hours looking at the incredible (and humorous) details on each page. In fact, with each reading you see something new. I can't begin to explain how captivating each page is. This is one book you'll want to own. It's a keeper!

BookNosher Tidbit: Here's an interesting interview with Mark Stamatsky where you'll learn how the book was initially received, and the cult following it ultimately gained. He also talks about the drawing process and his actual encounter in a coffee shop with an old woman who provided the initial inspiration for the book when she shouted "who needs donuts when you've got love?"

BookNosher Activity: After pouring over Who Needs Donuts, you may find yourself with a hankering for them. I discovered a wonderful site for parents-The Artful Parent: The Intersection of Art and Parenting- that has a donut recipe designed for kids (and it's relatively healthy). Bon Apetit!

Great Middle Grade Read Alouds for the Summer

Does your summer vacation include a long car trip with the kids, with possibly a dog thrown in for good measure? Are you dreading the inevitable whining? Well, with the right "book on tape," six- hour car trips can actually be manageable, (and a lot of fun). One year, when my kids were around 8, 10 and 12 we had a long drive up to Canada. Luckily we had the great fortune of having two of Christopher Paul Curtis's books on tape with us, and because of that, the time flew by.

Christopher Paul Curtis writes books for the middle grade reader (ages 9-12 ). In Bud, Not Buddy, the story is set in the Depression. Ten-year-old Bud is fed up with the abusive foster homes he keeps getting placed in. Convinced that his mother left him a clue of who his father is before she died (a flyer of Herman E. Calloway and his famous band, the Dusky Devastators), Bud runs away to find his "father" Herman E. Calloway. Armed with the flyer, a beat-up suitcase and the maxims he lives by ("Bud Caldwell's Rules and Things for Having a Funner Life and Making a Better Liar Out of Yourself,"), Bud makes his way through the shanty-towns of the 1930's. Along the way he encounters others like him who have little in the way of material goods. Told with a lot humor, you'll find yourself rooting for Bud on his journey. His "rules" are funny, with a touch of truth in them: "Rules and Things Number 87: When a Adult Tells You They Need Your Help with a Problem Get Ready to Be Tricked-Most Times This Means They Just Want You To Go Fetch Something For Them," and "Rules and Things Number 39-The Older You Get, The Worse Something Has to Be to Make You Cry."

Bud, Not Buddy is a remarkable book. It's a great way to learn about the Depression, and Bud is a character that stays with you long after you've turned the last page. He is tough, smart, and persistent. His views on life are humorous and spot on, and kids will identify with him. When he finally meets up with Herman Calloway and his band, jazz permeates the story and the itinerant musicians start to provide the stability Bud is seeking. Although it's geared for middle grade readers, younger children (3rd and 4th graders) will enjoy Bud, Not Buddy too.

In The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963, the story shifts to a different era--the 1960's. Here, in a fast-paced and well-told story, readers learn about the civil rights movement. Told from fourth grader Kenny's point of view, the "Weird Watsons" decide to leave Flint, Michigan and travel south. Kenny's older brother Byron is on the verge of becoming a juvenile delinquent, and his parents think that spending time in the south with grandma (a disciplinarian) will be just what's needed.

The family immediately notices that there's a difference between Michigan and Alabama in 1963, with racism and the civil rights movement hovering in the background. The climax of the book is the burning of the 16th Avenue Baptist Church with four little girls inside. The Watsons think that the little sister, Joetta, is there. Once they realize, she is safe, they decide to return to Flint. The Watsons Go To Birmingham is a humorously told, yet deeply moving book, that all the while stresses positive family relationships.

A heads-up for younger readers: There are a fair amount of swear words laced throughout The Watsons Go to Birmingham.


Finally, although my family listened to both books on tape, all of my children went back and read the books on their own. Both of these books are sure bets for good summer reads, whether hearing it via tape, from a parent, or reading it directly from the book.

BookNosher Tidbits: Bud, Not Buddy was a Newbery winner in 2000, and a Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner.
The Watsons Go to Birmingham was a Newbery honor book in 1996 and a Coretta Scott King honor book.

BookNosher Activities: A word about books on tape (or rather books on cd). Besides the aforementioned activity of enduring long car trips by listening to books on tape, they can also be a wonderful way for the reluctant or struggling reader to follow along. By tracking the words with their eyes as they listen to the tape, readers feel a strong sense of accomplishment as they tackle books they normally wouldn't try. Summer is a perfect time to introduce books on tape to your readers.

Most libraries carry many books on tapes. My local library carries multiple copies of both Bud, Not Buddy and The Watsons Go to Birmingham. They each run about five hours long.

Ira Sleeps Over: A Great Read-Aloud Book

Sleeping over at a friend's house for the first time is a major milestone in childhood that is often marked by a little anxiety. In Ira Sleeps Over, Bernard Waber manages to capture that anxiety with a lot of humor and very real family interactions (supportive mom and dad, not so supportive older sister).

The book opens when Ira is invited to his best friend Reggie's house for a sleepover. It's the first time he's slept away from his parents, and he's thrilled. That is until his sister asks him if he will be bringing his teddy bear with him. At first he says no, of course not. Then his sister reminds him that he's never slept without him. That's when the worrying begins. Ira goes back and forth as to whether or not he should bring his teddy bear. Then just when he decides he should, his sister asks him if he's going to let Reggie know that his teddy bear's name is Tah Tah. That does it. No way will he bring his teddy bear to Reggie's house.

So off he goes to Reggie's for his first sleepover. The boys have a great time in the beginning, complete with wrestling matches and pillow fights. Finally, it's bedtime, and as they are lying down in the dark, Reggie starts to tell a ghost story. Just as it begins to get scary, Reggie stops the story in mid sentence, walks over to his dresser and pulls out...his teddy bear. Ira prods him about the bear and finds out that the bear's name is Foo Foo. With that, he gets out of bed and tells Reggie he has to get something (they live next door to each other), and goes to retrieve his beloved Tah Tah.

Kids will identify with Ira and his confusing array of emotions. They will understand his desire to show his sister he doesn't need his teddy bear, while at the same time understand that he still needs to have his teddy bear when he goes to sleep.

Bernard Waber has managed to capture each and every character's voice perfectly, which makes for a fun read aloud. It's actually hard NOT to sound like an unsure seven-year-old kid or his somewhat bratty older sister. Waber's ear for spoken language is that good.

If you like Ira Sleeps Over, then you are sure to like Ira Says Goodbye. This time it deals with what happens when your best friend (Reggie) moves away. Once again, Waber captures the voice and emotions of an elementary school aged child.

BookNosher Activities: There are a surprising number of school related activities on the web for Ira Sleeps Over. Here's a link to one that is geared more towards parents. They have some good discussion questions, as well as some fun activities to do.

Alvin Ho

In the early chapter book genre, there appears to be a dearth of boys at center stage, since so many books feature a girl as the protagonist. Now along comes Alvin Ho, one of the most memorable characters to show up in a long time.

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things is sure to be a hit with the 6 to 9 year old crowd. Written by Lenore Look and illustrated by LeUyen Pham, Alvin tells his story in a frank, funny and appealing way. While third and fourth graders will be able to read the book on their own, I think that many younger kids will need it to be read to them. Luckily, the breezy writing makes it a perfect read-aloud book.

Second grader Alvin has some idiosyncrasies that kids will relate to, or at the very least laugh about. First of all, he is afraid of pretty much everything (trains, bridges, substitute teachers, girls, school, heights, the dark, the list goes on and on). So he arms himself with a PDK-a Personal Disaster Kit, which as he explains, is absolutely necessary when you're afraid of everything. His PDK includes things like a whistle, garlic and a bandana, and has to be updated each year because you never know what you'll need when you're in the next grade.

One of the consequences of being afraid of school is that Alvin won't talk at school. Ever. He'll talk on the bus going to school, on the bus leaving school, but not at school. As he explains to his older brother Calvin, he has "so-so performance anxiety disorder." (He's in therapy for this, which is one of many amusing scenes). He sits next to a girl at school named Flea who happens to have an eye patch and one leg longer than the other. Since she's a girl, he's naturally afraid of her, but also somewhat drawn to her because she reminds him of a pirate. Flea prides herself on being the only one at school who understands Alvin by watching his eye movements.

Alvin is the quintessential middle child. Squeezed between his perfect (in his mind) older brother Calvin, and his annoying little sister Anibelly, he has definitely forged his own identity within the family. He's also Chinese-American. The book offers wonderful glimpses into Chinese-American family life, and is filled with references to Chinese culture (he calls his grandfather GungGung, he loves dragon's beard candy, he's afraid of kimchi and wasabi, and he talks about being descended from "a long line of farmer-warriors who haven't a scaredy bone in their bodies since 714 AD").

Pham's black ink illustrations are the perfect complement to the book. There's a drawing on every page, which helps move the story along, especially for the more reluctant reader. Each character's face and body language is filled with individuality.

I like Alvin Ho and look forward to more installments about this idiosyncratic and totally original little boy. The next Alvin Ho book is due out in June 2009.

BookNosher Tidbit: I found myself quite intrigued by LeUyan Pham's illustrations and discovered her website: http://www.leuyenpham.com. It's worth checking out. You'll see that she's illustrated many children's books (around 30). She also has very different drawing styles, which are showcased on the website.

Monster Picture Books

If your kids like monsters (or even if they are afraid of them), here's a book that should make them laugh. Jumpy Jack & Googily by Meg Rosoff and illustrated by Sophie Blackall, has a fresh take on the whole monster thing.

Jumpy Jack is a timid snail with a big fear of monsters. He thinks they're everywhere, and turns to his best friend Googily to check out various situations. He asks Googily to check behind the door, under the table, in the pool. The thing that neither of them seems to realize is that Googily is a monster. Kids will quickly see what the joke is, and will love being in the know as they're laughing at the pair's antics.

Googily is an endearing monster with his pointed fangs, wispy eyebrows and bug eyes. He's also quite dapper in his bowler hat, yellow plaid pants and pointy red shoes, which makes him not very scary. I think one of the best messages in the book comes at the end, when Googily (the monster) admits what he's really afraid of... socks. It just goes to show that everybody has some fears, and what's scary to one person seems downright silly to another.

Here are a couple of other fun monster books to check out: Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberly and The Monster at the End of this Book (Starring Lovable, Furry, Old Grover) by Jon Stone.

BookNosher Activity: How about making monster cookies for a special treat? Here's an easy way to go about it:

1. First make some sugar cookies, cutting them into fairly large circles.
2. Then put out a plastic knife, a small cup of white frosting, a popsicle stick, a cup of M&Ms, red licorice (cut in short strips), candy corn, gum drops and food coloring.
3. Have the child choose the color to put in the frosting-this will be the monster's skin.
4. Drop a few drops of food coloring into the frosting.
5. Have the child mix the frosting and coloring up with a popsicle stick.
6. Spread the frosting onto the cookie.
7. Decorate with the rest of the ingredients; soon you'll have a scary monster to eat!

A Hilarious Early Chapter Book

I remember when my kids were at that in-between stage of learning to read. They had more or less mastered the early reader books and were ready to try chapter books. But so many chapter books were just too difficult (and too long). It was hard to find fun and interesting books at their reading level. If only Bad Kitty Gets a Bath had been around 14 years ago.

Bad Kitty Gets a Bath, by Nick Bruel, is a hilarious early chapter book. The language is fairly simple, it has terrific black and white graphics, and did I mention it's laugh out loud funny? The story shows the trials and tribulations of giving Bad Kitty a bath, which is no easy feat. For example, it lists the items you will need before getting Kitty to the bath such as: washcloth, soap, dry towel, a suit of armor, and lots and lots of bandages. Anyone who has a cat will relate.

There are interesting facts from "Uncle Murray" sprinkled throughout the book, so you end up learning a fair amount about cats (especially their bathing habits). Readers who are transitioning from picture books to chapter books will be thrilled to discover Bad Kitty. Plus, since the book is 125 pages long, kids will feel a real sense of accomplishment when they get to the end.

Bad Kitty Gets a Bath is also a good book for the reluctant, slightly older reader. Its humor will appeal to even the most jaded 5th grader. In fact, in Kirkus Starred reviews they put the age range for the book from 5-12. I highly recommend it!

Booknosher Tidbit: Bad Kitty Gets a Bath has been awarded a 2009 Gryphon Honor for transitional reading by The Center for Children's Books at the University of Illinois.

If you want to read other Bad Kitty books, check out the picture books: Bad Kitty and Bad Kitty Cat-Nipped Edition. Perfect for younger kids (equally as funny).