Review: Frances Dances

The Basics

francesdances
Title: Frances Dances
Author: Mark Iacolina
ISBN: 9780448479309
Copyright Date: 2015
Publisher: Penguin
Reader Brand: Penguin Young Readers
Level: Level 2
Series: N/A

Thoughts

Frances loves to dance…that is until her class is going to put on a performance in front of everyone. Can Frances overcome her stage fright with the help of her family?

This is a sweet story about a little girl’s stage fright. I like that her family supports her and shows her that they don’t mind other people seeing them dance so she shouldn’t. And I’m very drawn personally to the stick-figure-esque drawings. The stick-figures make it instantly kid-friendly and approachable. While this is a good beginning reader, I think there’s also a lot to infer here. Kids have to be able to realize that Frances doesn’t want people to see her dance from these simple sentences: “But she does not dance out the door. And she never dances at school.” I’m not sure that the earliest beginning readers will be able to get that on their own. Hopefully, parents will be close by to help.

Recommended for most libraries, particularly if you have a large dance fan population.

On the Radar: Kirkus 8/15/15

“On the Radar” is a new feature when I plan to call attention to readers reviewed in major publications.

Kirkus (8/15/15)

kirkus8-15

Splash by Kallie George
Triple Pet Trouble by Megan McDonald
Pigsticks and Harold and the Tuptown Thief
Mr. Putter and Tabby Smell the Roses

None of these titles were reviewed but were mentioned in the continuing series section.

Review: 3, 2, 1, Go!

The Basics

321go
Title: 3, 2, 1, Go!
Author: Emily Arnold McCully
ISBN: 9780823432882
Copyright Date: 2015
Publisher: Holiday House
Reader Brand: I Like to Read
Level: N/A
Series:

Thoughts

Ann and Bess are playing school. Little Min wants to join in on the fun. When the big girls exclude her, Min develops a plan to meet them without crossing the line they have drawn.

A great example of a simple beginning reader that’s really well done. The text is fully supported by the illustrations, the story is clear for a young child to understand, and the vocabulary only has a few multiple syllable words. Bonus points for this book showing girls doing STEM activities instead of choosing to make the story about a little boy engineer.

Definitely recommended for most public libraries. Great for those looking to increase STEM offering featuring girls and for those looking for very early beginning readers (level 1).

Geisel 2009 Award & Honors

For more information about the Geisel Award, visit the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award homepage.

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Winner: Are You Ready to Play Outside? by Mo Willems

Gerald and Piggie have big plans to play outside. They are going to run and skip and jump and it will be wonderful. But when it starts to rain, Piggie is so upset. She hates the rain! How will they play outside in the rain? Luckily two little worms come out and show that the rain is not all that bad to play in.

This is a classic Elephant and Piggie story. A problem is presented and the two friends work it out by the end of the book. These books have simple vocabulary, make great use of white space, and the characters convey emotions remarkably. It’s no surprise to anyone that Mo Willems has collected as many Geisel Awards and Honors as he has.

“Are You Ready to Play Outside?” is an early core Elephant and Piggie book and no library should be without it. Great for beginning readers, read-alouds, and anyone who likes to laugh.

geiselhonors2009

Honor: Chicken Said, “Cluck!” by Judyann Ackerman Grant

Earl and Pearl are planting pumpkins and chicken is in the way. But when grasshoppers threaten Earl and Pearl’s pumpkins, who can help chase them away? A fantastic beginning reader book with lots of repetition and simple vocabulary. Most of the complex words (pumpkins, grasshoppers) are clearly supported by the text. Another of note: diverse characters in everyday situations!

Honor: One Boy by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

One boy counts his way through the paintings that are on his wall. What appears to be a simple counting book is made all the more complex by Vaccaro Seeger’s imaginative and delightful cut-outs. A great source of vocabulary and a chance for children to practice making predictions about what will happen after the page turn.

Honor: Stinky by Eleanor Davis

Stinky knows that all children love to take baths, eat cake and apples, and do not like mucky mud, slimy slugs, or smelly monsters like him. But when Nick — a child — wanders in Stinky’s swamp, Stinky has a plan to get him out! Nick and Stinky are clearly friends in the making and beginning readers will definitely follow their journey to the end. “Stinky” is told in a comic book style with panels and dialog bubbles. This will absolutely help beginning readers.

Honor: Wolfsnail: A Backyard Predator by Sarah C. Campbell

A non-fiction title honor book tells the tale of a wolfsnail (who eats other slugs and snails) as he searches for his prey. Simple sentences work well with the photographs to tell the story. Definitely a great beginning reader for those who are interested in non-fiction and science!

Review: The Tiny Seed

The Basics

thetinyseed
Title: The Tiny Seed
Author: Eric Carle
ISBN: 9781481435765
Copyright Date: 1987 (text), 2015
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Reader Brand: Ready to Read
Level: Level 2
Series: The World of Eric Carle

Thoughts

A tiny seed travels through the four seasons trying to grow into a plant. But animals want to eat him, another plant blocks him from the sun, and people can step on him or pick him — will he ever become a flower?

“The Tiny Seed” was originally published as a picture book in 1987. I was able to get a copy of both to compare as I read. The reader is trimmed down in length, but most notably possibly upsetting lines such as: “One seed falls into the water and drowns” was changed to “One seed falls into the water”. Additionally, the line “And the little plant dies” was also removed from the reader edition.

Overall, I think the large amount of text in the reader fills up too much of the page and there really isn’t enough white space to make this a successful beginning reader. It works much better as a picture book.

Review: Power Ponies to the Rescue!

The Basics

powerponiestotherescue
Title: Power Ponies to the Rescue!
Author: adapted by Magnolia Belle
ISBN: 9781480671959
Copyright Date: 2015
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Reader Brand: Passport to Reading
Level: Level 1
Series: My Little Pony (Heart and Hooves, Holly Jolly Harmony, Meet the Ponies of Ponyville, Meet the Princess of Friendship, Ponies Love Pets!, Ponyville Reading Adventures, We Like Spike!)

Thoughts

The ponies of Ponyville are zapped into Spike’s comic book. They must defeat the evil villain Mane-iac in order to return home. Luckily, the ponies all have superpowers…except Spike. Will they ever get home?

This is another media tie-in that’s based off a television episode. The plot and names will make sense to readers already familiar with the material. At the beginning of the book, readers are given four words to be on the look-out for. This is a great activity for kids who may be seeking a challenge in their reading but wanting familiar characters and stories.

As for the plot itself, it’s straightforward for the most part. At one point, I was unsure how the ponies were captured by Mane-iac because the previous page had just stated that she had stopped them, not capture them. (That being said, I was reading this while playing ball with two dogs so that might have been a me issue.)

I really enjoyed once the ponies were in the comic book that the beginning reader reflected that by switching to a comic book format with panels and graphic backgrounds.

My ultimate verdict is that libraries should purchase if they have My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic fans in their libraries.

Geisel 2010 Award & Honors

For more information about the Geisel Award, visit the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award homepage.

bennyandpennybignono
Winner: Benny and Penny in the Big No-No by Geoffrey Hayes

This is not the first graphic novel to garner the attention of the Geisel Award committee, but it is the first graphic novel to take home the gold medal!

Benny and Penny are playing outside when Benny discovers his pail is missing. He thinks the new neighbor might have taken it and travels into their yard — a big no-no — to try and find it.

This is an excellent beginning reader. The action of the story is familiar to most young children (playing, sharing, crying, etc.) and will be easily understood. I love the expressive pictures that will help struggling readers follow along. But my favorite part of the book is actually the back matter which explains to parents how the “Toon Into Reading” program can help young readers. These five tips are great to give to parents just starting to navigate the waters of beginning readers.

A fun and humorous story that children of all ages can relate to.

geiselhonors2010

Honor: I Spy Fly Guy! by Tedd Arnold

Another wonderful addition to this series. In this one, Buzz and Fly Guy and playing hide-and-seek. When Fly Guy flies into a garbage can and gets taken away by the garbageman, Buzz stops at nothing to find his friend. This story has lots of repetitive words and is clearly supported by the illustrations. A great beginning reader for kids looking for friendship stories.

Honor: Little Mouse Gets Ready by Jeff Smith

Little Mouse’s mama wants him to get ready so that they can go to the barn. Little Mouse spends all his time putting on his clothes piece by piece until mama reminds him that mice don’t wear clothes! Word bubbles help kids figure out who is doing the talking in this book and the illustrations are done in a cartoon style. Excellent punch line at the end.

Honor: Mouse and Mole: Fine Feathered Friends by Wong Herbert Yee

Mouse and Mole are two friends who both want to observe the birds to make bird books. But the birds are scared of them and their noises. But these fine feathered friends come up with a plan to see the birds and to make the best possible bird book. Told in four chapters, this is a beginning reader for older readers. Give it to kids who enjoyed Frog & Toad or any of the Rylant series.

Honor: Pearl and Wagner: One Funny Day by Kate McMullan

Wagner is being tricked left and right on April Fool’s Day. Everyone thinks the jokes are funny except for Wagner. That is until he comes up with his own joke! Told in three chapters, this beginning reader will have readers laughing along as poor Wagner navigates his funny day.

Review: Big Dog and Little Dog

The Basics

bigdogandlittledog
Title: Big Dog and Little Dog
Author: Dav Pilkey
ISBN: 9780544430709
Copyright Date: 1997 (Text), 2015
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Reader Brand: Green Light Readers
Level: Level 1
Series: Big Dog and Little Dog (Big Dog and Little Dog Going for a Walk, Big Dog and Little Dog Getting in Trouble (releases on 10/13/15), Big Dog and Little Dog Wearing Sweaters (releases on 10/13/15))

Thoughts

Big Dog and Little Dog are feeling hungry and tired — those are easy problems to fix. But what about when Big Dog starts to feel lonely? What will he do?

I love that these dogs are being reissued as readers. Originally released as picture books between 1997-2003, our library’s one remaining copy of “The Complete Adventures of Big Dog and Little Dog” is in sorry shape. This simple story and repetitive vocabulary have always been great choices for children learning to read and it makes sense to issue beginning reader editions. This release also includes supplemental material: matching game, dog facts, story sequencing, and noun/verb definitions.

As always, Green Light Readers makes it easy for parents to find books by providing information on the back of the book regarding level. This book is recommended for ages 4-6, grade K, guided reading level D, reading recovery level 5-6, and Lexile level 240L.

Highly recommended for libraries needing to build those low-level beginning readers, libraries who have large populations of dog-lovers, and libraries looking for a great beginning reader series.

[Bonus? My nephew LOVED when I read the book to him. He was enthralled and then immediately turned his head when I went to take this picture.]

Series to Know: George and Martha

Series Info

The first five George and Martha readers written by James Marshall.

The first five George and Martha readers written by James Marshall.

Books:

  1. George and Martha (2007)
  2. George and Martha: Two Great Friends (2007)
  3. George and Martha: Round and Round (2008)
  4. George and Martha: The Best of Friends (2008)
  5. George and Martha: One More Time (2009)
  6. George and Martha: Rise and Shine (2009)
  7. George and Martha: One Fine Day James Marshall (2010)
  8. George and Martha: Full of Surprises (2010)

Links: Houghton Mifflin Harcout || Green Light Readers

Reviews: Horn Book,

Difficulty

Each volume has two to three classic George and Martha stories reproduced with smaller illustrations and (from my examination) little to no text changes. The stories vary in length and difficulty — some are incredibly easy for beginning readers and others include words like “flabbergasted”.

Accelerated Reader average was 2.03 based on six of the readers. Lexile only had scores available for one reader and it was scored at 470L. I looked at three books and found the following unique word counts: Two Great Friends at 140, Round and Round at 195, and Best of Friends at 177.

Thoughts

I’m not sure that these work at the best beginning readers. The humor and laughter from the original stories is there, but the complexity of the words and lack of consistency in the length of the stories may frustrate beginning readers.

More George and Martha?

The original picture books, of course!

  1. George and Martha (1972)
  2. George and Martha Encore (1973)
  3. George and Martha Rise and Shine (1976)
  4. George and Martha Full of Surprises (1976)
  5. George and Martha One Fine Day (1978)
  6. George and Martha Tons of Fun (1980)
  7. George and Martha Back In Town (1984)
  8. George and Martha Round and Round (1988)

Dates to Remember

Doesn’t look like there will be any more George and Martha beginning readers, but that makes sense as author James Marshall passed away in 1992.

Review: In! Over! And On! (The Farm)

The Basics

inoverandonthefarm
Title: In! Over! And On! (The Farm)
Author: Ethan Long
ISBN: 9780399169076
Copyright Date: 2015
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers
Reader Brand: N/A
Level: N/A
Series: N/A

Thoughts

Chicken, Cow, Goat, and Pig are learning all about prepositions in this humorous book similar to the 2013 Geisel Award Winner “Up, Tall, and High” by Ethan Long.

This book has an incredible ease about it. There are three stories that concentrate on each preposition one at a time. The flaps make for great fun and also help to explain the differences between in/out, etc. The illustrations are expressive and fun and I think that the book will get lots of laughs from kids.

While this book is shelved in picture books in my library because of its trim size, I’m considering buy a second one to keep in the reader section so that this title can be found by both audiences. Great for a read-aloud and great for beginning readers. Recommended.