»ÆÉ«app

Everybody’s busy: Lulu’s older brother won’t let her tag along because she is too “little,” and Mom and Dad don’t have time. What’s a girl to do? Enter Lulu’s alter ego: Ladybug Girl. Complete with wings and a ladybug polka-dot skirt, Lulu and her faithful sidekick, the family basset hound who is never too busy, go off on their own adventures saving the yard from danger. With wonderful illustrations accompanying the hilarious text, Ladybug Girl is one of my favorite picture books. It is a riotous read.

Perfect for: Kids who like humor stories.

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Hilarious Seussian text and zany pictures to match. A great pleasure to read aloud. Questions the wisdom of tampering with nature. May prompt discussion about weather. The merits of apologizing are pointed out through well-crafted writing.

Perfect for: Kids who like humor stories.

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There are many books about animals for children, but none that provide information about their relative sizes in such a meaningful way. Caldecott-winning author Jenkins uses his unique cut- and torn-paper illustrations to show readers the “actual size” of a collection of animals. Smaller creatures like the atlas moth fit comfortably on the page, but the head of the saltwater crocodile requires a fold-out, and the head of the Siberian tiger extends off of two large pages! Text is minimal, usually restricted to statistics about the size of each of the creatures illustrated, but there are additional notes about each of the animals at the end of the book.

Perfect for: Kids who like animals.

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“The Little House was curious about the city and wondered what it would be like to live there.” She just might find out… This classic book, by the author of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, asks the reader: What happens when the world around you changes? Seen by some as a commentary on urbanization, this beautifully and simply illustrated book won the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 1943.

Perfect for: Kids who like classics.

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In this first book in a series, the main character, Evangeline, has a pair of primatologist parents. When her parents are called away on a research trip to the Ikkinasti Jungle and mysteriously fail to return, it’s up to Evangeline to find them. With a wild, fast-paced adventure and illustrations that drive the narrative, this book about a plucky heroine will have your child asking for the next book in the series. Perfect for those “climb into a tree and read” summer days.

Perfect for: Kids who like adventure stories.

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The year is 1905 and young Clara would like nothing more than to go to »ÆÉ«app with the other kids. However, life on the farm takes a lot of work and she is needed to help out with chores and her younger siblings. The new town librarian has devised a way of using a wagon to bring books to the farmers and their families who can’t get to the library. Can Clara and the librarian persuade father to let her learn to read? Based on a true story.

Perfect for: Kids who like historical fiction.

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Doreen Cronin has done it again with this first person narrative told from the point of view of a boy worm. This book introduces the concept of a diary in a fun way. Young readers will identify with all the escapades of a worm, as he interacts with family members, goes to »ÆÉ«app and vacations at Compost Island. Children will laugh and learn facts in a fun way while learning to appreciate living creatures.

Want to see the movie? Check out the Scholastic video collection Diary of a Worm… And Four More Great Animal Tales, which also includes favorites like Anatole and Frog Goes to Dinner.

Perfect for: Kids who like humor stories.

Find at your local library.

When we meet plucky, savvy, list-making, 7-year-old Jules, she is determined not to mess up at her audition for a mouthwash commercial. She will not, for example, accidentally burp into the microphone when she’s singing. Jules’ flair for drama make this story, the first in a series, appeal to a wide age range.

Perfect for: Fans of Judy Moody and Clementine.

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