When their mother fails to return one night, three Tasmanian Devil cubs venture out of their den in search of food and, by doing what Tasmanian Devils are supposed to do, manage to save their mother from a trap.
Rating: 5 *****
A really sweet story about three cubs who learn quickly about growing up and life in the wild.
Petunia finds a book–and, deciding that if she owns a book she must be wise, dispenses hilariously mistaken advice to the other animals in the farmyard.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Reviewed by Children’s Book List
This book enables the teacher to raise the language awareness of the whole class as they follow the evolution of the caterpillar in days, foods and numbers.
Rating: 5 *****
Your child will love counting the holes in all of the eaten food.
Little Peter is fascinated by pigeons–the sounds of their cooing and their flapping wings, the feel of their pecking beaks, the soft colors of their feathers. His father, not unreasonably, believes that Peter will enjoy exotic animals even more. But after visiting zebras, polar bears, hippos, and other denizens of the city zoo, the youngster concludes that pigeons are still his favorites, precisely because of their familiarity.
Rating: *****
A nice reminder that kids see more innocence in the world.
Tired of their usual routine, the farm animals insist on moving into the house, so the family decides to move into the barn, but eventually everyone tires of this new arrangement.
Rating: ***
I really don’t like books that do not have consequences, but this one even goes a step further, there’s not even any discipline. The animals get to do what they want and the people just agree.
A boy sets out to sail his boat in a puddle and is joined by a frog, a turtle, an alligator, a pig, and an elephant.
Rating: ****
This is a great book for inspiring a child’s imagination. The protagonist is told not to get wet but the animals make sure he does. It also shows time and effect as the puddle changes with each animal encounter.
Caitlin and her parents rescue a hen from a lake, name her, and take her home with them, but even after they return her to the farm where she lives, her presence is still felt in Caitlin’s family.
Rating: ****
A month later my preschooler is still talking about Queenie. She definitely made an impact.
“Bark, George,” says George’s mother, and George goes: “Meow,” which definitely isn’t right, because George is a dog. And so is his mother, who repeats, “Bark, George.” And George goes, “Quack, quack.” What’s going on with George?
Rating: ****
A nice spin on the traditional “what does a dog say…” kind of books. Also has a great surprise ending.
