Corduroy

Corduroy
Don Freeman
Viking Juvenile, 1968
Pages: 28
Reading Level: 2-5
Genre: Picture Book

Corduroy is a little teddy bear in a store. He wants very much to be bought and taken home. One day a little girl sees him and wants to have him, but her mother says she isn't going to spend any more money, and that she doesn't want to buy a little bear missing a button. Corduroy didn't know he was missing a button until then, so that night he starts exploring the store to find a button. He tries to take the ones that are on the mattresses, but they won't come off, and he ends up knocking over a lamp. The next morning, the little girl comes back with the money from her piggy bank and buys him and takes him home, where she replaces his button. Corduroy is very happy, because he has always wanted a home.

I would reccommend this book to young children who are just learning to read.

I can't see this book causing any problems

My reaction: I liked this book. It teaches that the home is a happy, safe place.

My rating: ****

Animorphs: The Encounter

Animorphs: The Encounter
K.A. Applegate
Scholastic Inc, 1996
Pages: 157
Reading level: 9-12
Genre: Science Fiction

Each of the Animorph books is narrated by one of the five children who are the animorphs. In this book, it is Tobias. Tobais is a Hawk, because in one of the previous books he didn't morph back to human in time and now is a hawk forever. While he is flying one day, he sees a shimmer in the air, and discovers that it is a huge yeerk ship. This ship is in a forest in the mountains sucking up water and oxygen to take up to it's main ship in space. The children decide that if they can get inside the ship and take out its cloaking device, that the world would see it and become aware of what was going on. They decide to go up the mountain as wolves, and nearly all get stuck in that form. They barely make it out in time. Then they morph into fish and let themselves get sucked up into the ship. They end up getting trapped inside! The Yeerks discover that Tobias is an animorph, and to keep from getting shot by a dracon beam, which would disinegrate him, he lands on the ship because he knows they wouldn't dare shoot and miss and hit the ship. Then he steals a gun and shoots a hole in the ship and takes out a helicopter and frees his friends. They all escape, and the Yeerks see a hawk who looks similar and they kill it, thinking it was Tobias. The animorphs are once again safe.

I would recommend this book to children who feel lonely. It proves that even if you are alone, you can be great.

This book could condone shooting.

My reaction: I liked this book. It is very creative

My rating: ****

The Foot Book

The Foot Book
Dr. Suess
Random House, 1968
Pages: 26
Reading level: 4-8
Genre: Picture book

This book is about all kinds of feet. Although it is about feet, it mainly teaches about opposites. It shows us wet feet, dry feet, low feet, high feet. Also slow, fast, trick, and sick. It rhymes very well and has a great beat.

I would reccomend this book to young children. It says ages 4-8, but I would read it to even younger children, even 1-3 year-olds.

I can't think of any problems this book might cause.

My reaction: I liked this book. I read it to a little boy I work with everyday, and it seemed to be calming to him.

My rating: ****

Bright Shadow

Bright Shadow
Avi
Scholastic Inc, 1985
Pages: 167
Reading Level: 6-8
Genre: Fantasy

Morwenna is a young girl who cleans the Kings Castle. One day she happens upon an old, dying man. She asks if there is anything she can do to help him. Instead of answering, he grabs her hand. He starts chanting. He gives her five wishes. There used to be a thousand wishes, but now there are only five. These wishes are more a curse than a blessing. She can't tell anyone about them, she can't use them on herself, and when she uses the last one, she will die. Well, she doesn't really understand what just happened, so she just goes on with her life. The King, who is very evil, decides he needs to find the wizard (old man) and kill him so that he doesn't help the people overthrow the King. He can't find the old man, since he is dead. Instead, the King blames Morwenna's best friend, Swen. The King tries to kill Swen twice, but Morwenna saves him with the wishes. Swen, who also wished he wasn't dying, believed that he really was the wizard! The two children run away, and run into a group of people trying to overthrow the King. They all believe that Swen in the wizard, come to save them from the King, but one man discovers that it is really Morwenna. He keeps her prisoner until they overthrow the King. In the process, she uses all here wishes but one, and Swen dies because Morwenna decides that she wants to live more than she wants Swen to live, so Swen dies. Then Morwenna goes to live alone until she dies.

I would not recommend this book to anyone

This book could make children think it is okay to not cherish their friends

My reaction: I did not like this book at all. In the end, the Heroine proves to be selfish and save herself.

My rating: *

Animorphs: The Visitor

Animorphs: The Visitor
K.A. Applegate
Scholastic INC, 1996
Pages: 175
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Science Fiction

Rachel and her friends were all given the amazing ability to morph into any animal. But they promised to use their powers to help save the earth from the Yeerks, and alien race that looks like a little bugs that gets into the minds of people and takes control of their brain. They had previously discovered that their assistant principle, Mr. Chapman, was a Human-Contoller, meaning a human with a Yeerk in their head. The children are looking for a way to destroy the Yeerks, so they decide to spy on Mr. Chapman. Rachel volunteers to become the Chapman's cat and go into their home. She finds out many secrets about the Yeerks, but this she is caught! She is saved because one of her friends, Jake, was morphed into a flea riding in her fur. He morphs into a tiger and helps her fight her way out. For the time being, all the animorphs, as they call themselves, are safe.

I would recommend this book to most middle-schoolers.

I can't see this book causing any problems

My Reaction: These books were a childhood favorite. I have always enjoyed them

My rating: ****

The Houndini Box

The Houdini Box
Brian Selznick
Aladdin Paperbacks, 1991
Pages: 64
Reading Level: 6-10
Genre: Picture Book, Historical Fiction

The Houdini Box is about a little boy named Victor. He loves Houdini, and wants very much to be just like him when he grows up. Victor is constantly trying to get himself out of locked boxes, just like Houdini, but ends up just getting locked in. He tries to hold his breath for a long time, and pushing through walls, but was never successful. His mother is worried about him so she sends him to stay with his aunt in the country for a little while, to clear his head. While waiting for his train at the train station, Victor spots Houdini! He runs up to him and starts asking question after question. Houdini tells him to give him his address, and he will write him a letter. Victor is so excited when he gets the letter, but he is even more excited when he reads it. Houdini invited him over to his house! Victor runs over and knocks on Houdini's door and his wife answers. Victor shows her the note, and she walks away. She comes back with a box and tears in her eyes and tells Victor that Houdini died that day. Victor is very sad. When he gets home he tries to open the box, but it is locked. He notices on the bottom that it says E.W. Victor was crushed because he thinks it's not even Houdini's box. He is so sad that he vows to never do magic again. Victor grows up and gets married, and one day while he is playing baseball with his son, the ball lands on Houdini's grave. He realizes Houdini's real name was Enrich Weiss...E.W! He goes home and finds the box and gets it open...that night he locked himself in the trunk...and got out.

I would recommend this book to children who have lost someone important in their lives.

I don't see this book causing any problems

My reaction: This book is okay. It's good, but not great

My rating:***

The Eleventh Hour

The Eleventh Hour
Graeme Base
Harry N. Abrams, 1989
Pages: 32
Reading level: 4-8
Genre: Mystery

The Eleventh Hour is about an elephant named Horace. It is Horace's 11th birthday, and so he decides to have a party. He invites many friends, and makes a big feast. His friends are astounded by the feast, but Horace doesn't let them eat just yet...he wants to play some games first! So they play tennis and chess and many others. Finally, it is time to eat. But when they get to the kitchen all of the food is gone! The reader finds out that it is THEIR job to go back through the book and figure out who did it. There are clues on every page, some easy, some difficult, and it is a long adventure to figure out the mystery. In the end, you find out that it was the mouse, and 111 friends.

I think anyone of any age would benefit from this book. The actual story-line is simple enough for even young children to understand, but the clues are challenging enough for adults and older children. It is fun for all.

The only problem I see this book causing is children never wanting to put it down because it is so good!

I loved this book, and spent hours trying to figure out the clues.

My rating: *****