The Story Behind Toilets

I just discovered a wonderful series of non-fiction books that tackles all sorts of really interesting and diverse subjects. Kids who love learning facts about different topics (and being able to spew them out later) will love the True Stories series. It covers everything you might want to know about the fascinating history of everyday things. A quick look at their website, reveals twelve topics from The Story Behind Bread to The Story Behind Gravity. My local library had four of their books in their newly arrived section, and I just had to pull the one I thought kids would be the most drawn to.

The Story Behind Toilets (True Stories)
Written by: Elizabeth Raum
Recommended Ages: 8-12

While kids may initially be drawn to the potty humor of the title (and clever cover), this book is actually chock-full of fascinating facts about toilets. So let them snicker at first, you will soon find them learning lots of facts about toilets past, present and future.

The Story Behind Toilets starts off with a short history of toilets. Did you know that the palace of Knossos on the island of Crete had the first toilets that flushed (4000 years ago)? Or that chamber pots in the 1700's and 1800's often had the face of an unpopular leader painted on the bottom? During the American Revolution, Britain's King George III's face was used.

But the book goes on to deliver many more facts than just toilets. Kids will learn about how moats were often used as dumping grounds for sewage and hence smelled terrible. They'll also learn about early sewage and septic systems. One part I found particularly fascinating was how NASA scientists began using flowering water plants like hyacinths and lilies to clean wastewater. These flowering plants take in waste gases and give off clean air. Later on, the scientists would crush the plants and use them as fertilizer.

The use of toilet paper is also addressed. As early as 1400 CE, the Chinese were using soft toilet paper. Later on, in Europe in the 1500's, wealthy people ripped out pages of books to use for cleaning themselves. And in 2005, $5.7 billion worth of toilet paper was sold in the United States.

Toward the end of the book, toilets of tomorrow are addressed. In the "toilet-to-tap" system, wastewater is turned into drinking water. There are currently about 15 cities and towns in the U.S. using this system. The health dangers of not having toilets and sewer systems are also discussed, and a world map shows how many parts of the world do not have acceptable levels of sanitation. For kids in the U.S., this will be an eye-opening experience.

The True Stories series would be a wonderful addition to a third or fourth grade classroom. Whether a child needs to choose a topic to report on, or just wants to find out a little more information about something like salt, there is a lot of information packed into these slim volumes. Here's a list of the titles currently available:

The Story Behind Bread
The Story Behind Chocolate
The Story Behind Cotton
The Story Behind Diamonds
The Story Behind Electricity
The Story Behind Gold
The Story Behind Gravity
The Story Behind Oil
The Story Behind Salt
The Story Behind Skyscrapers
The Story Behind Time
The Story Behind Toilets

Two Early Reader Chapter Books

I've written before about the challenge of finding interesting early chapter books for the emerging reader. These are readers who are ready to move beyond picture books, but not ready for a full chapter book. So I'm always on the lookout for something new and interesting in this genre. Here are two early chapter books I've recently discovered to introduce to your kids during these waning days of summer.

The Cool Crazy Crickets

Written by: David Elliott
Illustrated by: Paul Meisel
Recommended Ages: 4-7

The Cool Crazy Crickets follows four friends as they go through the stages of forming a club, naming it, making a clubhouse and finding a mascot. It's a 48-page book divided into four chapters. The sentences are short and easy to read, and there's a lot of dialogue which makes reading it fun. I like it that the friends are two girls and two boys, and ethnically diverse. There's an everyday feeling to the book that young readers will relate to. It's just four kids hanging out on a hot summer day making their own fun. Readers may in fact be motivated to go and form a club and build their own clubhouse out of an old box.


Daisy Dawson Is on Her Way!

Written by: Steve Voake
Illustrated by: Jessica Meserve
Recommended Ages: 4-8

Daisy Dawson is on Her Way is a slightly more difficult early chapter book, but equally satisfying. It's a good choice for kids that are ready to move beyond the level of something like the Magic Treehouse series. Daisy Dawson is a dreamer and a dawdler. She is almost always late for school, but only because she finds so many interesting things to look at along the way. On this particular day, she rescues a butterfly from a spider web on her walk to school. After that, she discovers she has the ability to communicate with animals. What follows are all sorts of encounters with different animals.

Daisy is a spunky, independent little girl who has a lot of appeal. The book moves along at a quick pace, and before you know it you're wrapping it up on page 98. The talking animals give it a fun, whimsical quality, and the black and white illustrations lend an old fashioned air to it.

If you are looking for some good books for your emerging reader to read before school starts, either of these books would be a good choice. Both books have sequels, so if your kids like them there's more to choose from.

Fun Summer Reads for the Early Chapter Book Reader

Chapter books for the emerging reader can be challenging to find. A good early chapter book should have everything that a middle grade book has, but in an easier-to-read format (simpler sentence structure, shorter chapters, illustrations etc.). You want to make sure to provide kids who are at this developmental stage with great reading material over the summer, so that they continue to make progress. One of the best ways to ensure this is to find books that have sequels, so that they barely miss a beat as they pick up the next book. So here are a few suggestions to hook those emerging readers:
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters
AND
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Birthday Parties, Science Projects, and Other Man-made Catastrophes

Written by: Lenore Look
Illustrated by: LeUyen Pham
Recommended Ages: 6-10

I'm delighted to say that Alvin Ho is back. In the first book Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School and Other Scary Things we met Alvin and his family and immediately wanted more (see my previous blog post). Now Lenore Look has written two sequels in the same lively style that made kids fall in love with Alvin. He's a very appealing, funny, idiosyncratic child that new readers will relate to. Whatever he tackles, whether it's a camping trip or a science project, he does in his own, one-of-a-kind style. You really can't go wrong with Alvin Ho; he's the perfect summertime buddy.

Just Grace

Written By: Charise Mericle Harper
Recommended Ages: 6-9

Here is another endearing character that is sure to please the elementary-aged crowd. Grace is called Just Grace because she happens to be in a third grade class with three other Graces. When her teacher asks her to state her name as Grace with her middle initial, she tells the teacher she'd rather be called just Grace. And it sticks; from then on she's called Just Grace. She has a lot of personality with a mischievous side to her, that is enhanced by some very funny scenes.
Just Grace's voice is strong throughout the book, and young readers will want more. Luckily there are four other Grace books that will be sure to keep your child interested (and laughing at the same time).
Still Just Grace
Just Grace Goes Green
Just Grace and the Snack Attack
Just Grace Walks the Dog




Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle

Written by: Betty MacDonald
Illustrated by: Hilary Knight
Recommended Ages: 6-10

Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle was first published in 1957, and it still remains a favorite among children and parents alike. Kids like her because she understands them in a way that most other grownups don't. She lives in an upside down house and smells like freshly baked cookies. She has a knack for solving problems that parents aren't able to, like "Never Want to Go to Bedders," and "Answer Backers." Each chapter is a self-contained story, so kids can read them in small increments, if they like. Other titles in the series are:
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Magic

Hello, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
Happy Birthday, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle (Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle (HarperCollins))
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Farm
It's a delightful, somewhat old-fashioned, series that still resonates with children today.



Clementine's Letter

Written by: Sara Penny Packer
Illustrated by: Marla Frazee
Recommended Ages: 6-10

As I've written before, boys and girls love Clementine, and will be happy to hear that she's back in two new books. In Clementine's Letter, we find Clementine happily ensconced in third grade with the teacher of her dreams-Mr. D'Matz. Finally she has somehow who understands and accepts her for who she is. Life is good! Then she learns that he has been nominated for a huge Teacher award that will take him away for the rest of the year. She and all of the students have to write a letter of support for him, and you can imagine her dilemma. It's full of typical Clementine moments, complete with her interactions with a substitute teacher, that don't go very smoothly. Pennypacker has done it again and has another winner. There's also another Clementine book-The Talented Clementine, that is another crowd pleaser.

Summer can be the perfect time to introduce new books to kids. Making frequent trips to the library and/or bookstore will ensure that they have a variety of books to choose from so that they have lots of success with their reading. For after all, isn't our ultimate goal for them to become passionate, lifelong readers?

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!

Some Baseball Books for Young Readers

In honor of Opening Day, I decided to peruse my sons' old bookshelves in search of baseball books. My boys are 18 and 21 now, but there was a period when they were around 8 or 9, that these books were their books of choice. I've already written about Dan Gutman's wonderful series about Honus Wagner, Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson etc. If you haven't checked that out, here's the link. Here are a few more suggestions for the 7 to 12 year old sports lover.

Thank You, Jackie Robinson
Written By: Barbara Cohen
Recommended Ages: 9-12

Thank You, Jackie Robinson was first published in 1974, and in many ways it's much more than just a "sports book." It takes place in the 1950's and is the story of a young Jewish boy and an older African-American man who share a bond through their love of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Jackie Robinson. There are lots of references to the Dodgers of the era, Branch Rickey and Ebbets Field. It's an easy read, which kids will enjoy on their own, or as a read-aloud. It's a touching story, which very well may bring tears to your eyes. I highly recommend it.

The Kid Who Only Hit Homers (Matt Christopher Sports Classics)
Stealing Home (Matt Christopher Sports Fiction)
Baseball Pals (Matt Christopher Sports Classics)

Written by: Matt Christopher
Recommended Ages: 7-12

Matt Christopher wrote sports books for the emerging reader. The ones listed above are only some of his baseball books; he also wrote about football, skate boarding, and basketball. Some of the books may seem a bit dated, as if they came from another era (many were written in the 50's). And yet, that's part of their appeal. They are simple sports stories that will draw the reluctant reader in. If you have a child who loves sports, check out some of his books. You won't be disappointed.






T.J.'s Secret Pitch (AllStar SportStory Series)

Written by: Fred Bowen
Illustrated by: Jim Thorpe
Recommended Ages: 8-12

T.J. wants to pitch, but everyone tells him he's too small. He practices and practices, but due to his size, he can't get quite enough oomph behind his pitches. Then his Grandfather tells him about a famous pitcher-Pittsburgh Pirate Rip Sewell-who perfected a slow pitch called the "eephus pitch." T.J. learns that it's not all about brawn, and that brains play a big part in baseball. There are some nice historical references throughout the book, and a mini biography about Rip Sewell at the end. It's a sweet story with a nice message.

These books are good choices for the young, emerging (somewhat reluctant) reader. I also came across some other baseball books for slightly older readers which I'll save for another post. In the meantime, here's to a great 2010 season. Go Mariners!

National Ambassador for Young People's Literature

Did you know that we have a National Ambassador for Young People's Literature? You might not have known this since this venerable position was just created in 2008 by the Library of Congress, the Children's Book Council and the Library of Congress's Center for the Book. What exactly does an ambassador do? According to their website: "The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature raises national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature as it relates to lifelong literacy, education and the development and betterment of the lives of young people."

The first ambassador was Jon Scieszka. He did an admirable (and often hilarious) job traveling the country and talking about something near and dear to many of us--children's books. If you are familiar with Jon Scieszka (The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, Knights of the Kitchen Table (Time Warp Trio)and Robot Zot!) you know, that he is a funny guy. I had the opportunity to see him twice during his tenure, and he brought just the right amount of hilarity and gravitas to the position. His mission was (and still is) to get boys to love reading, and in fact, he created a whole website called Guys Read. Check it out. It's got some really wonderful book recommendations that are geared towards boys. This isn't to say that girls aren't going to love these books too, but research tells us that it's often harder to get boys to pick up books. Scieszka has done a good job compiling a list of books that are geared towards making life-long readers out of boys.

Scieszka's term was up at the end of 2009 and there was a lot of discussion about who the next ambassador would be. In January, Katherine Paterson was appointed as the second National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, and she is bringing her own style to the position. Her slogan for the program is "read for your life." She recently wrote an op-ed piece in the New York Daily News, which I think is worth reading. She talks about the role of technology, and gives us hope that books (especially children's books) will prevail. Here's the article.

Katherine Paterson is the author of Bridge to Terabithia (one of my favorites, which I will blog about soon), The Great Gilly Hopkins (a wonderful, difficult book about a child in the foster care system), Jacob Have I Loved and many, many others. Her newest book is called The Day of the Pelican and deals with a Muslim immigrant family in the aftermath of 9/11. Paterson's books don't shy away from difficult subjects, and are often read over and over again. I'm very excited to see what she brings to the most venerable position of children's lit ambassador. Here's a calendar of her speaking engagements in the coming year.

Redwoods

Redwoods

Written and illustrated by: Jason Chin
Recommended Ages: 6-10

This picture book is a clever blend of facts and fantasy. The facts are in the very readable text, where we learn a lot about those most magical of trees--the redwoods. The fantasy comes in the form of imaginative illustrations that guide us throughout the 32 page book.

While waiting for a train, a young boy picks up a copy of a book called Redwoods. As the boy starts to read about the trees, the background changes to fit the story. For instance, as he learns that the ancestors of the redwoods lived during the Jurassic period, dinosaurs appear outside the train window. Or when he reads that a tree can live more more than 2,000 years, he finds himself seated between two men from the Roman Empire. It's an imaginative and fun way to learn about the endangered redwood tree.

The watercolor illustrations do an amazing job of highlighting the facts. Perspective is shown when the boy reads that researchers discovered a tree in 2006 that was 379.1 feet tall. Turn the page and you read that that's "six stories taller than the Statue of Liberty." And the picture shows the Statue of Liberty against the backdrop of a redwood tree.

There's a lot contained in these pages. For example, here are some interesting facts about redwoods:

"When a redwood is injured, the tree will often sprout new trunks that look like miniature versions of the tree itself."

"...redwoods have an ingenious way of collecting water: They make their own rain! When the fog rolls in, it condenses on the redwood's needles, and whatever moisture isn't absorbed then falls to the ground to be soaked up by the tree's roots."

"Some animals, like red tree voles, live their whole lives in the treetops and never see the ground."

Elementary-aged kids will enjoy reading Redwoods. Nature and non-fiction buffs will automatically be drawn to this book. But I also think that reluctant readers will find themselves pulled in because it's just so interesting. The book succeeds by being both beautifully drawn and chock full of facts. If I were a first through fourth grade teacher, I'd want to make sure my classroom contained a copy of Redwoods.

BookNosher Activities: You might want to check out some of these websites on redwoods:

Save The Redwoods League: Lots of information about the endangered redwood. Includes a kids' pledge to help save them.

On the Redwood National Parks website, there's a section on how to become a Junior Ranger. Perfect for the budding naturalist.

Peace, Locomotion

Peace, Locomotion

Written by: Jacqueline Woodson
Recommended Ages: 9-12

This middle grade book is what I would term a "quiet" book. It's not a fast-paced, plot-driven story, but rather a story that gently unfolds as you turn each page. I think it will appeal to readers who don't mind a slower-paced character-driven book. Because of its epistolary format (with short chapters), it's not a difficult read, and may very well appeal to more reluctant readers. I enjoyed it very much, and have found that it has stayed with me long after I finished the book.

Peace, Locomotion is told in a series of letters that are written by twelve-year-old Lonnie (Locomotion to his friends) to his little sister Lili. We learn that they are living in different foster homes, although we don't immediately know why. From the first chapter, Lonnie's voice comes through loud and clear. You can't help but like this young boy, who is sensitive, artistic and has experienced some incredible losses in his young life. He lives with Miss Edna and her two sons, although one of them--Jenkins--is over fighting in an unnamed war. Miss Edna is kind and loving to Lonnie, and we watch over the course of 134 pages as his definition of family changes to be inclusive of her, as well as Lili and her foster family.

Not a lot happens in Peace, Locomotion and yet Lonnie experiences tremendous growth. He has a best friend Clyde, and their friendship is typical twelve-year-old boy stuff, and much more. On the one hand they play basketball and soccer, while on the other we learn that Clyde and his sister live with his aunt, and that his mom just drops in every now and then. Once again, pushing the definition of family to the edge.

When we learn that Jenkins has gone missing from the war, the fear and worry are palpable in the house. Lonnie starts to grapple with the idea of war and peace, and all that entails. When Jenkins is eventually found, he is injured. The story depicts his re-entry into the household, shell-shocked and in a wheel chair. Woodson doesn't shy away from anything, and the story is told in spare, beautiful prose, that is absolutely appropriate for the middle grade reader. She's a wonderful writer who manages to say a lot, without a lot of words. It's an art.

Peace, Locomotion is a sequel to the book Locomotion which dealt with Lonnie and Lili in the aftermath of a tragic fire that killed their parents. While I haven't read it, I certainly intend to. Instead of letters, Lonnie, who is a gifted writer, writes it in a series of poems. Peace, Locomotion has two of his poems about peace in the endnotes. Here's one of them which, I hope, will give you an idea of the voice and beauty of the book:

"Imagine Peace

I think it's blue because that's my favorite color.
I think it's soft like flannel sheets in the
wintertime.
I think Peace is full-
like a stomach after a real good dinner-
beef stew and corn bread or
shrimp fried rice and egg rolls.
Even better
Than some barbecue chicken.
I think Peace is pretty--like my sister Lili.
And I think it's nice--like my friend Clyde.
I think if you imagine it, like that
Beatles guy used to sing about?
Then it can happen.
Yeah, I think
Peace Can Happen"

BookNosher Tidbit: Peace, Locomotion was an Odyssey Honor Book for 2009. This annual award is given to the producer of the best audio book produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States. The selection committee also selects honor titles.

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

Never Smile at a Monkey

Never Smile at a Monkey: And 17 Other Important Things to Remember
Written and Illustrated by: Steve Jenkins
Recommended Ages: 4-9

This fascinating book is chock-full of interesting facts about some of the lesser known and somewhat unusual ways that animals protect themselves. But what makes this so appealing to younger readers is that each page comes with a warning directed to them (i.e. Never Smile at a Monkey), followed by facts explaining why (a rhesus monkey "may interpret your show of teeth as an aggressive gesture and respond violently").

There is a lot of information packed in this standard 32-page picture book. The reading level is perfect for the beginning reader, and along the way they will pick up some new words such as entangled, unpredictable, predator and venomous.

Here are some of the more interesting facts that I picked up:

"NEVER PET A PLATYPUS: ...The platypus is the only poisonous mammal. It has venomous spurs on its hind legs, and it can give you a very painful jab."

"NEVER CLUTCH A CANE TOAD: ...It's harmless except for two large sacs of venom on its neck. If pressed, these pouches squirt out a blinding, and sometimes deadly poison."

"NEVER CONFRONT A KANGAROO: A kangaroo can deliver a kick powerful enough to cave in a person's chest."

You can see why first, second and third graders will eat this up. Reluctant readers will love the somewhat gory facts, and be drawn in by the pictures. The pictures are paper cuts, and they're colorful and appealing. I think Never Smile at a Monkey is a must for teachers and school librarians to have on hand.

BookNosher Tidbit: It appears that Never Smile at a Monkey is Steve Jenkins' tenth book. For more information, visit his website at http://www.stevejenkinsbooks.com/books.html

BookNosher Activity: To me, his verb choices are really appealing and quite informative. Harass, jostle, clutch, poach, cuddle, caress, antagonize and badger are great words and not in your typical first to third grader's vocabulary. How fun to do more with these words, so that they too begin to use them in their written and spoken vocabulary.