Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No good, Very Bad Day

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

APA Citation: Viorst, J. (1987). Alexander and the terrible, no good, very bad day. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks

Illustrator (if applicable): Ray Cruz

Pagination: 32 Pages

Recommended age/Reading level: Ages 4-8

Overview of book:

We’ve all had very bad days and of course children do too. Alexander is having one of those days where nothing seems to go right.  His day is just is one long string of ‘horribleness’ as he gets crunched into the middle seat, mom packs a lunch sack (without desert), a visit to the dentist gets him a cavity. Alexander is a cranky little boy who simply needs to go to Australia to make it all better.

Highly recommended/Recommended/Not Recommended:

Highly recommend. Very funny, great message and beautifully illustrated. A book that everyone will relate to.

Just A Dream

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

APA Citation: Van Allsburg, C. (1990). Just a dream. New York: Houghton Mifflin Books

Illustrator (if applicable): Chris Van Allsburg

Pagination: 48 Pages

Recommended age/Reading level: Ages 4-8

Overview of book:

This story is about a thoughtless boy who dreams of having ‘technological wonders’ (robots, tiny airplanes on each roof) in the future - but in the present he is unconcerned about the environment and fails to see the value in ‘natural’ things (trees). One night he embarks on an adventure (in his flying bed) to an environmentally decimated future. Here he becomes transformed as he experiences ‘lands’ where great smokestacks foul the air and the future leaves little to be desired.

Highly recommended/Recommended/Not Recommended:

Recommend: This generation is in need of clever books such as this one, that nurture environmental awareness.

The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

APA Citation: Trivizas, E. (1993). The three little wolves and the big bad pig. New York: Macmillian Publishing Company

Illustrator (if applicable): Helen Oxenbury

Pagination: 32 Pages

Recommended age/Reading level: Ages 4-8

Overview of book:

Another variation on a familiar tale. Three ‘very gentle’ wolf siblings do their best to save their homes from a mean old pig. The pig is deliberately set upon destroying every home they build. To no avail each home becomes more of a fortress then the last. After rebuilding countless of times the wolves make their final house of flowers. The mean pig approached the heavenly scented home and his heart was softened and they all “lived happily every after”.

Highly recommended/Recommended/Not Recommended:

Not recommended: The only aspect I favored were the water color illustrations. I found this tale to be cute, but sadly uninteresting.

Harvey Potter’s Balloon Farm

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

APA Citation: Nolen, J. (1998). Harvey potter’s balloon farm. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books

Illustrator (if applicable): Mark Buehner

Pagination: 32 Pages

Recommended age/Reading level: Ages 4-8

Overview of book:

Balloon Farm is one of the most imaginative books I have read in a long while. It is narrated by an African-American girl who discovers friendship and wonder. Farmer Harvey grows a variety of balloons on his farm with colors like “pleasin purple, grassy green and jelly-bean black”. They also come in many shapes such as clowns, animals and even monsters. This story uses a fun ‘down home’ language style and ends with the girl learning old Harvey’s “tricks of the trade”.

Highly recommended/Recommended/Not Recommended:

Highly recommend: I loved the language style, creative story and colorful illustrations.

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs!

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

APA Citation: Scieszka, J. (1996). The true story of the three little pigs! New York: Viking

Illustrator (if applicable): Lane Smith

Pagination: 32 Pages

Recommended age/Reading level: Ages 4-8

Overview of book:

Alexander T. Wolf explains the ‘real events’ of what happened on the day of the ‘three little pigs’ accidental demise. One day Wolf was making a cake for his grandma and ran out of sugar. Therefore he decided to go to his neighbors (pigs) to borrow a cup. Well one ‘little’ thing leads to another (an awful cold and sneezing fit blow down pigs house) and before you know it an innocent Wolf is unfairly incarcerated. It’s all a big misunderstanding mind you.

Highly recommended/Recommended/Not Recommended:

Highly recommend: This story is so well known to most kids, it lends itself to many wonderful discussions. A lesson plan idea - create a ‘trial’ scenario to see whether or not the "evidence" would rule in favor of Wolf.

Two Bad Ants

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

APA Citation:  Van Allsburg, C. (1988). Two bad ants. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company

Illustrator (if applicable): Chris Van Allsburg

Pagination: 32 Pages

Recommended age/Reading level: Ages 4-8

Overview of book:

A very sweet tale (pun intended) about doing the right thing. A ant ‘scout’ returns home with a lovely crystal and presents it to the queen. She decides that she wants more and so other ants embark on a journey to locate more. The ants must travel great distances through forests (of grass) and must climb a mountain (side of house) to arrive and find their treasure (sugar).  Two of the ant’s decide to have a bit of fun on their own. The story climaxes with a dangerous situation and resolves with the ants narrowly escaping and returning home.

Highly recommended/Recommended/Not Recommended:

Highly recommend: The story has a wonderful plot that allows for many discussions i.e., Why so the ants decide not to return home with the rest? Do you think the two ants regretted their decision? Finally I found the illustrations to be bold and fabulous.

Tops & Bottoms

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

APA Citation: Stevens, J. (1995). Tops & Bottoms. Orlando: Harcourt Brace & Company

Illustrator (if applicable): Janet Stevens

Pagination: 40 Pages

Recommended age/Reading level: Ages 4-8

Overview of book:

Tops and Bottoms is a wonderful adaptation of an old theme.  The characters are bear, who is lazy and not too bright and the Hare family, who are the lovable ‘tricksters’ in this timeless tale. The bear does nothing but sleep all day and makes no attempt to improve his life. On the other hand the Hare family are starving and come up with a scheme that basically tricks the bear out of his share of the crops every season. The Hare family become diligent planters and in the end bear receives his justifiable share. 

Highly recommended/Recommended/Not Recommended:

Recommend: This Caldecott honor book is timeless in its lesson on being industrious versus lazy and is humorous and artfully illustrated.