Books We Read – April

April 2009 [Books received: 13; books read: 35]

Wow! This month just flew by. As I mentioned in a recent children’s literacy and reading news round-up and also at the Share a Story blog  I’m on a kick to start helping nonfiction titles stand out, so I’m making changes in our monthly reading list. Up to this point we have combined Fiction and Nonfiction titles in a single genre category. From now on, we’ll showcase nonfiction by adding a Nonfiction section within each group. AND, even though the alphabet would dictate otherwise, we’re going to let Nonfiction go first!

If you have reviewed any of these books, we invite you to click the “review” link and add your review via Mr. Linky. This makes it easy for our website visitors to see other reviews … and help you get more fans!

Picture Books – Nonfiction (all ages)

Bird, Butterfly, Eel by James Prosak – review

Gorillas by Seymour Simon – review

Picture Books – Fiction (all ages)

Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing written by Judi Barrett, illustrated by Ron Barrett

Blueberry Girl written by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Charles Vess – review

God’s Promise written by Maureen Moss, illustrated by Geral Purnell – review

I Heard the Willow Weep written by Toni Albert, illustrated by Margaret Brandt – review

Let’s Talk About Race written by Julius Lester, illustrated by Karen Barbout – review

The Little Pot by Dawn Stephens – review

Mozart the Wonder Child by Diane Stanley – review

Not All Animals are Blue by Beatrice Boutignon – review

Olga’s Cats: An ABC Book written by Colette Anjoy, illustrated by Olga Linville – review

The Plot Chickens by Mary Jane Auch – review

Quiet Bunny by Lisa McCue – review

The Secret  Science Project that Almost Ate The School written by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Stephen Gammell – review

She Talks Funny (Walk and Learn, book 1)  written by Sholeen Lou-Hsiao, illustrated by Mrinali Alvarez – review

Stuff! Reduce, Reuse, Recycle written by Steven Kroll, illustrated by Steve Cox – review

A Tale Worth Telling written by Linda Sky Grossman, illustrated by Petra Bockus – review

This is the Feast written by Diane Z. Shore, illustrated by Megan Lloyd – review

Tino Turtle Travels to London, England written by Carolyn L. Ahern, illustrated by Neallia Burt-Sullivan – review

The Thrift Store Bears written by Olive Evans, illustrated by Patricia Woolley – review

The Wheat Doll written by Allison L. Randall, illustrated by Bill Fransworth – review

Where Should Turtle Be written by Susan Ring, illustrated by Laurie Allen Klein – review

Easy Readers (Early, Emergent, Transitional) – Nonfiction

Amazing Rescues (Step Into Reading) written by George Shea, illustrated by Marshall H.I. Peck II

Dolphins (I Can Read) written by Robert Morris, illustrated by Mamory Funai

Easy Readers (Early, Emergent, Transitional) – Fiction

The Candy Corn Contest (Kids of the Polk Street School) by Patricia Reilly Giff and Blanche Sims

Horrid Henry and the Mega-Mean Time Machine by Francesca Simon illustrated by Tony Ross – review

Horrid Henry written by Francesca Simon, illustrated by Tony Ross – review

Milo and Jazz Mysteries: The Case of the Stinky Socks written by Lewis B. Montgomery, illustrated by Amy Wummer – review

Mr. Sunny is Funny (My Weird School Daze, 2) written by Dan Gutman, illustrated by Jim Paillot – review

A Pony to the Rescue (Charming Ponies series) by Lois Szymanski – review

Soccer Sam (Step Into Reading) written by Jean Marzollo and Blanche Sims

Three Smart Pals (Hello Reader!) written by Joanne Rocklin, illustrated by Denise Brunkus

Too Many Cats (Step Into Reading) written by Lori Haskins Houran, illustrated by Joe Mathieu – review

Middle Grade and Young Adult

Jessie’s Mountain (Maggie Valley Novels) by Kerry Madden – review

Mudd Saves the Earth: Booger Glue, Cow Diapers, and Other Good Ideas written by Linda Salisbury, illustrated by Joe Kohn – review

Planet of the Dogs by Robert McCarty – review

The Softwire: Wormhole Pirates on Orbis by PJ Haarsma – review