Mod 15: And Tango Makes Three Review

What's It All About?

Tango's family isn't the typical setup you'd see in the zoo. Tango has two parents, both are male. This picture book is an illustrated version of the true tale of Tango and his papas.

What'd I Think?

I loved it. It's a sweet tale of two penguins who are in love and longing for a child. When they substituted a rock for an egg, it melted my heart. Tango is so lucky to have been raised by his adoptive family. This would even be a great story to read just regarding adoption and showing that you don't have to be the birth parents to show love to your child.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars!

What'd They Think?

Horn Book Guide

(October 01, 2005; 9780689878459)

Two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo court, build a nest, and raise their (adopted) daughter Tango. Highly anthropomorphized to maximize the sentimental but noteworthy lesson on family diversity, the story gains depth from the biological reality of same-sex penguin partnering. Gentle illustrations of the smiling penguin family add appeal, if not scientific accuracy, to this book based on a true story. (c) Copyright 2010.

Publishers Weekly

(May 16, 2005; 9780689878459)

Tango has two daddies in this heartwarming tale, inspired by actual events in New York's Central Park Zoo. Two male penguins, Roy and Silo, "did everything together. They bowed to each other.... They sang to each other. And swam together. Wherever Roy went, Silo went too.... Their keeper... thought to himself, `They must be in love.' " Cole's (The Sissy Duckling) endearing watercolors follow the twosome as they frolic affectionately in several vignettes and then try tirelessly to start a family-first they build a stone nest and then they comically attempt to hatch a rock. Their expressive eyes capture a range of moods within uncluttered, pastel-hued scenes dominated by pale blue. When the keeper discovers an egg that needs tending, he gives it to Roy and Silo, who hatch and raise the female. The keeper says, "We'll call her Tango,... because it takes two to make a Tango." Older readers will most appreciate the humor inherent in her name plus the larger theme of tolerance at work in this touching tale. Richardson and Parnell, making their children's book debut, ease into the theme from the start, mentioning that "families of all kinds" visit the zoo. This tender story can also serve as a gentle jumping-off point for discussions about same-sex partnerships in human society. Ages 4-8. (June)

What Do I Do With It?

Students can draw their own depiction of the penguin family based on real photos and the illustrations.

Mod 12: Odd Boy Out Review

What's It All About?

Brown has created a picture book focused on young Albert Einstein. Children can see that he wasn't always this old man sticking his tongue out. He was ornery, and strange but brilliant. Brown's book does a fine job of illustrating the fact that we all start somewhere.

What'd I Think?

While the story about Einstein's young life was enlightening, he comes out looking worse in my mind than he did going in. Who knew he was such a jerk in his younger years? It's not the authors fault as they didn't commit the bad behaviors listed but it just put a sour taste in my mouth. THe illustrations were fantastic.

I give it 3 out of 5 stars!

What'd They Think?

Booklist

(September 01, 2004; 9780618492985)

Gr. 3-5. Young readers won't come away from Brown's newest picture-book biography understanding the theory of relativity, but they will be heartened by the parallels between their own experiences and those of an iconic science guy. The author-illustrator of Mack Made Movies 0 (2003) and other books presents the future Nobel Prize winner as a sallow, sunken-eyed little boy who lingers on the sidelines as other boys roughhouse, spends hours building a house of cards "fourteen stories high," and vexes his teachers (one tells him that "he would never get anywhere in life"). Brown's language dips into vagueness when it's time to describe the mature scientist's contributions, and the accompanying artwork is often disappointingly generic, awkwardly incorporating computer-generated elements that overwhelm the delicate ink-and-watercolor style used elsewhere. Still, this joins Frida Wishinsky's What's the Matter with Albert? 0 (2002) as one of the very few picture-book biographies of Einstein available. Try giving it to older elementary students, who will get the most out of the detailed author's note and bibliography featuring many books for adults. --Jennifer Mattson Copyright 2004 Booklist

Publishers Weekly

(October 18, 2004; 9780618492985)

Brown (Mack Made Movies) shapes an impressionistic portrait of Einstein in his early years, opening with comments of family members gazing upon the newborn (his grandmother says he is "much too fat" and "his mother fears his head is too big"). Writing in the present tense, the author shares anecdotes that reveal young Einstein's character: his temper tantrums scare away his tutor; he brings "a single-minded attention" to such pastimes as building elaborate houses of cards; his parents so encourage his independence that they allow him to wander the streets of Munich alone at the age of four; and the boy early on displays an extraordinary skill at and fascination with mathematics (though other schoolwork bores him). True to the book's title, Brown emphasizes ways in which Einstein fails to fit in with his peers. He dislikes sports, is disturbed rather than excited at the sight of soldiers parading in the street and, as the only Jewish student in school, is taunted by his classmates. The writing occasionally becomes muddy when discussing Einstein's scientific thinking and discoveries ("He says that everything is in motion and when something moves very fast, as fast as light, strange things happen, like clocks running slower and objects becoming shorter"), targeting the book more to kids who identify with the hero's personality traits than to those interested in the man's ideas. But Brown's narrative and appealingly quirky pen-and-ink and watercolor art effectively illuminate the eccentricities and intelligence of Einstein the boy and the man. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

What Do I Do With It?

Students will create a timeline of Albert Einstein's life. They can add enhancements such as pictures or drawings of him at varying ages, his discoveries, etc.

Mod 11: Dogs on Duty Review

What's It All About?

Patent shows how man's best friend becomes a soldier's best friend on the battlefield. She elaborates on the history of service dogs, what they can contribute, and what kind of life they lead once their duties are finished. Dogs on Duty is an excellent sampling of brave K-9 heroes in the United States Military.

What'd I Think?

I've never really been one for non-fiction books but this one captured my attention from the start. The story was fast-paced and filled with interesting tidbits. The full-color photos were a lovely addition to the timeline of America's service dogs. I found the book riveting and enlightening!

I give it 4 out of 5 stars!

What'd They Think?

School Library Journal

(September 01, 2012; 9780802728456)

Gr 3-6-The invaluable contributions of Military Working Dogs are well documented in this book. Patent discusses their special attributes such as the night vision and sense of smell that help MWDs to keep their human partners safe. The roles they have played in World Wars I and II, in Vietnam, and in Iraq and Afghanistan are highlighted. Brief histories of individual dogs such as Stubby from World War I and Eli in Afghanistan are touchingly told. Present-day training and equipment are also explained. The excellently selected, full-color photos constantly capture these devoted canines selflessly performing their duties and sometimes just offering comfort and affection to their human counterparts. The author points out that the military continues to classify these dogs as equipment in spite of their unique service, and many were abandoned in Vietnam when the U.S. left the country. Today, more are returning home and being adopted or continuing to serve in other capacities. Their story is impressive and the author has told it well.-Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MA (c) Copyright 2012.

Publishers Weekly

(August 06, 2012; 9780802728456)

In informed prose and photographs of conflicts past and present, Patent explores the timely topic of dogs trained to assist soldiers. Images from contemporary wars depict such breeds as the Belgian Malinois (the breed of the dog that famously assisted with the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound) being trained by handlers and at work in the field, while vintage photographs of soldiers and their dogs from WWII and other past wars reveal how dogs have been involved in combat for generations. Profiles of "Hero Hounds" appear throughout, offering specific accounts of dogs at war. A moving portrayal of the powerful human-canine partnership. Ages 4-up. (Sept.) 

What Do I Do With It?

Students can write a poem about what makes military dogs heroes in their eyes.

Mod 6: Cowpoke Clyde and Dirty Dawg Review

What's It All About?

Cowpoke Clyde has spent all day long making sure everything was completely clean. Just as he’s about to relax he realizes he’s forgotten one very important, very dirty thing – Dawg. When he tries to get man’s best friend all cleaned up hijinks ensue. 

What'd I Think?

It's not often that I come across a cowboy themed picture book that can hold my attention span but this one did just that! It had a great rhythm to the story and the illustrations were a perfect match. I could even share this with the preschool age kids at storytime without fear that they would be bored before I could finish a page.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars!

What'd They Think?

School Library Journal -

(April 01, 2013; 9780547239934)

K-Gr 1-At the end of a satisfying day, Cowpoke Clyde decides that the only thing he'd forgotten to clean was his "ol' Dawg, his faithful, snorin' friend, /all caked with mud from end to end." However, corralling Dawg is definitely not a snap, and Clyde's continued efforts result in a cumulative disaster of frantic chickens, flying feathers, spilled soup, biting fleas, a slippery hog, hissing cats, and a braying mule, all "gettin' soaked" instead of Dawg. Even the hog gets a wide-eyed close-up here. Finely crafted acrylic scenes contain a wide range of angled perspectives and shadows within Clyde's tiny shack and outside on the ranch. Cartoon figures cavort across the spreads and escape their frames. Rhyming couplets reveal a cowboy twang of missing final "g's." A first purchase for most libraries.-Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX (c) Copyright 2013.

Booklist -

(June 01, 2013; 9780547239934)

Neatnik Cowpoke Clyde savors his tidy house until he notices Dawg, caked with mud. Determined to rectify this oversight, he attempts to bathe his pooch but Dawg has other ideas. In the ensuing chase, feathers fly, fleas jump, hogs skitter, cats topple soapy pails, and mules kick, leaving poor Clyde no choice but to bathe by himself in the moonlight. The author of Cindy Moo (2012) offers here another humorous, rhyming picture book, this one filled with clever language and anticipatory page turns that will delight young listeners: But Dawg ignored his mighty pleas. / Instead Dawg left a trail of . . . / FLEAS. Austin's vibrant acrylic-and-pencil illustrations exaggerate the tall-tale humor. In one spread, both Clyde and Dawg appear to run across the hog's enormous back; in another, airborne Clyde tumbles helplessly after being kicked by the mule. This makes a good choice for story hours or one-on-one sharing. Pair with Jeanne Willis' I Want to Be a Cowgirl (2002) or Amy Timberlake's The Dirty Cowboy (2003).--Weisman, Kay Copyright 2010 Booklist.

What Do I Do With It?

Rodeo is a very popular theme in the Houston area in March as that's when the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo always gets underway. It is attended by people from all over the United States and is a source of great fun for schools when they choose it as a field trip destination. Pairing this book with other fun cowboy tales is a sure way to add to the hype. Songs sung could include "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain" and "Giddy-Up" (the last being a favorite in our Lapsit and Toddler storytimes.) After the stories have been read and the songs sung, a cowboy themed craft such as a paper cowboy hat or horse made using a paper bag could be made.

Mod 5: Talkin' About Bessie Review

What's It All About?

Bessie's tale is a truly inspirational tale of a woman who wouldn't take no for an answer when it came to her dreams. Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman vowed to become the first African-American female pilot after hearing about the Wright brothers taking flight. She was a mere 11 years old at the time. Through determination and will she proved that no matter obstacles stand in your way, you can overcome them.

What'd I Think?

This is a powerful tale about a very strong woman. I'd never heard of her through all my history classes and travels. Her story is one that I think could start a spark in any young girl's heart to believe in their selves. 

I give it 3 out of 5 stars!

What'd They Think?

Horn Book Guide - 
( April 01, 2003; 9780439352437 )

At Coleman's death, Grimes invites twenty individuals to a fictional wake and, in first-person testimonial verse, has each remember Bessie and the forces that shaped her life. Small sepia-toned portraits personalize the tributes. Watercolors on facing pages evoke each incident and often soften the harshness in Coleman's life. Grimes separates fact from fiction in an introduction and an endnote. Like Bessie, this tribute to her life soars. Bib. (c) Copyright 2010.

School Library Journal -
( October 01, 2002; 9780439352437 )

Gr 3-8-This fresh contribution to the spate of relatively recent titles about Coleman has a decidedly unique tone. Talkin' is a well-conceived, well-executed, handsomely illustrated, fictionalized account of the life of the first black female licensed pilot in the world (CIP places the book in the 600s). An introductory note puts the aviatrix in historical context, but neglects to explain some references (e.g., Jim Crow laws). The text consists of 21 poetic vignettes of Coleman delivered by "speakers" at a funeral parlor, all of whom have come to mourn the pilot who died at age 34 in a plane accident. Their reminiscences on stark white pages are illustrated with miniature portraits bordered in sepia, each one facing a full-page watercolor capturing a moment in the woman's life. Skillfully drawn and occasionally photographic in their realism, the pictures perfectly match each speaker's recollections. A concluding note states rather definitively in regard to her death: "The cause of the crash remains a mystery" despite some evidence to the contrary. No sources are listed. While fictional, this is a fine piece to use to set a tone or inspire more research into Coleman's life. It could also serve as an exceptional writing model for students. The concept, much like Marilyn Nelson's Carver: A Life in Poems (Front Street, 2001), is noteworthy.-Harriett Fargnoli, Great Neck Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010.

What Do I Do With It?

This story would be great either during Women's History month or Black History month as a means of introducing students to someone they may not have heard about. After doing so they could research another unsung hero in whichever category they choose. They would then share the story with the class in the form of a picture book of their own creation showing highlights in that person's life. 

Mod 3: Officer Buckle and Gloria Review

What's It All About?

Officer Buckle is VERY safety conscious. In fact, he knows more safety tips than anyone else in his town of Napville. He loves sharing them with the local schoolchildren. While normally the kids tend to fall asleep during his dull presentations until Gloria the police dog is thrown in the mix. They can’t help cheering and laughing at all of his presentations. Officer buckle is thrilled that they are finally beginning to appreciate safety until he learns that his dog Gloria has been up to some slapstick nonsense behind his back – literally!

What'd I Think?

I enjoyed finding all the funny extras going on in the illustrations such as the many rules Officer Buckle posted. The partnership between the dog and his handler is a warm one that I think will resonate well with children as well as show the power of teamwork. It can't be all work or all play, you need a good mix of both to provide the best experience.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars!

What'd They Think?

School Library Journal -

(September 01, 1995; 9780399226168)

K-Gr 3‘A fresh, funny story about the wonders of teamwork. Officer Buckle is a safety-conscious policeman who spends his time devising tips for avoiding accidents. Unfortunately, the children of Napville School are an ungrateful audience, snoring through his lectures and ignoring his advice. Enter Gloria, Napville's new police dog and Officer Buckle's new partner. She accompanies him when he gives his lecture and performs her duties with aplomb. Buckle is surprised to see the children so attentive, but each time he checks on Gloria, she is sitting at attention. Thanks to the humorous illustrations, readers know what Buckle does not Gloria is performing to beat the band, acting out the various accidents behind his back. Things are swell until a news team videotapes Buckle and his amazing sidekick and he learns that the reason for his newfound popularity is really Gloria's comedy routine. This sends the officer into quite a slump. Her act is a complete flop without him, however, and Napville School has its biggest accident ever after her solo performance. In the end, Buckle realizes that they're only successful as a team, and he is jolted out of his self-pitying funk. The vibrant palette of the cartoon art, as well as the amusing story, make this title an appealing read-aloud choice. Older children will enjoy poring over the many safety tips presented on the endpapers, all illustrated by Gloria's antics. A five-star performance. Lisa S. Murphy, formerly at Dauphin County Library System, Harrisburg, PA (c) Copyright 2010.

Booklist -

(November 01, 1995; 9780399226168)

Ages 4-7. When rotund, good-natured Officer Buckle visits school assemblies to read off his sensible safety tips, the children listen, bored and polite, dozing off one by one. But when the new police dog, Gloria, stands behind him, secretly miming the dire consequences of acting imprudently, the children suddenly become attentive, laughing uproariously and applauding loudly. The good policeman is first gratified with the response, then deflated to learn that Gloria was stealing the show. Finally, he realizes that he and Gloria make a great team, and they take their show on the road again, adding a new message, "ALWAYS STICK WITH YOUR BUDDY!" Like Officer Buckle and Gloria, the deadpan humor of the text and slapstick wit of the illustrations make a terrific combination. Large, expressive line drawings illustrate the characters with finesse, and the Kool-Aid-bright washes add energy and pizzazz. Children will enjoy the many safety-tip notes tacked up on the endpapers and around the borders of the jacket front. Somehow, the familiar advice (like "Never leave a bar of soap where someone might step on it" or "Never tilt your chair back on two legs”) is more entertaining accompanied by little drawings of Gloria hamming it up. --Carolyn Phelan

What Do I Do With It?

During a special safety week, students can come up with their own set of tips for safety in the classroom, at home, and in the community!

Mod 3: The Hello, Good-Bye Window Review

What's It All About?

A young girl visits her grandparents and talks about their magical window. They can see so many things outside the window (and IN!) She tells of all their adventures and encounters centered around the window.

What'd I Think?

While the story was okay, the drawings were just too abstract for my taste. The colors are bright which adds to the warmth of the story but some of the proportions lean towards the scary side.

I give it 2 out of 5 stars!

What'd They Think?

School Library Journal -

(March 01, 2005; 9780786809141)

PreS-Gr 1-The window in Nanna and Poppy's kitchen is no ordinary window-it is the place where love and magic happens. It's where the girl and her doting grandparents watch stars, play games, and, most importantly, say hello and goodbye. The first-person text is both simple and sophisticated, conjuring a perfectly child-centered world. Sentences such as "When I get tired I come in and take my nap and nothing happens until I get up" typify the girl's happy, imaginative world. While the language is bouncy and fun, it is the visual interpretation of this sweet story that sings. Using a bright rainbow palette of saturated color, Raschka's impressionistic, mixed-media illustrations portray a loving, mixed-race family. The artwork is at once lively and energetic, without crowding the story or the words on the page; the simple lines and squiggles of color suggest a child's own drawings, but this is the art of a masterful hand. Perfect for lap-sharing, this book will find favor with children and adults alike.-Angela J. Reynolds, Washington County Cooperative Library Services, Hillsboro, OR (c) Copyright 2010.

Publishers Weekly -
(February 21, 2005; 9780786809141)

Juster (The Phantom Tollbooth) crafts a cozy portrait of a grandchild and her grandparents in this endearing book, illustrated in paint box colors by Raschka (Be Boy Buzz). A curly haired girl-who dances with wiggly energy in Raschka's lush paintings-describes playful visits to her Nanna and Poppy, whose kitchen window provides the perfect venue to say hello and goodbye. "You can climb up on the flower barrel and tap," she says, "then duck down and they won't know who did it." Her grandparents welcome her into a sunlit, spacious kitchen filled with plants, where she doodles and listens to Poppy play "Oh, Susannah" on the harmonica. At night, the "Hello, Goodbye Window" functions as a mirror, and the girl jokes about being outside looking in: "Poppy says, `What are you doing out there? You come right in and have your dinner.' And I say, `But I'm here with you, Poppy,' and then he looks at me in his funny way." Juster departs from the over-the-top punning of his earlier works to create a gently humorous account of a family's conversations and games, all centered on the special window. Raschka warms the pages with glowing yellow, emerald, sapphire and golden brown, and he pictures the garden and trees in emphatic midsummer greens. The characters smile at one another with a doting twinkle in their eyes, and grandparents especially will be charmed by this relaxed account of how a child's visit occasions everyday magic. Ages 2-up. (Apr.) 

What Do I Do With It?

This book allows for the beginning of a great dialogue with younger children. Questions such as what traditions they have with their grandparents, what do they call their grandparents (Nana, Granny, Nanny, Meemaw, etc.), and what new traditions they'd like to start with their grandparents.

Mod 2: The Story of Ferdinand Review

What's It All About?

Ferdinand isn't like all the other bulls. When other bulls wanted to run and jump, he just wanted to sit and smell the flowers. So he does until one day a bumblebee swoops in and changes his plans. He goes from sniffing the flowers to becoming the most feared bull in the Madrid bullfights.

What'd I Think?

I thoroughly enjoyed The Story of Ferdinand. Ferdinand is a sweet, misunderstood bull. all he wants is to be able to enjoy the flowers instead of going out facing down the Matador like all the other bulls. In the end, even though he ends up where he thought he never would, he stays true to himself and continues doing what he has always wanted. It has a very positive message for those who may already feel like an outsider. 

I give it 4 out of 5 stars!

What'd They Think?

 Booklist -

Ages 5-8. In this classic and well-loved tale the bull, Ferdinand, would rather smell the flowers than fight in the bullring.

Staff. (1987). The Story of Ferdinand. Booklist, 83(15). Retrieved from http://booksinprint.com/DetailedView.aspx?hreciid=|290679|32582301&mc=USA#

School Library Journal -

Top 100 Picture Books #17: The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson! 

"In any case, this is a lovely banned book to place on the list. Banned by whom? Oh, nobody much. Just a fellow by the name of Adolf Hitler. You see it was published during the Spanish civil war, Franco banned it in Spain, and then Hitler goes and calls it “degenerate democratic propaganda.” 100 Best Books for Children does say that it had its admirers as well, though. “Thomas Mann, H.G. Wells, Gandhi, and Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.” So, to sum up. Hitler hated it and Gandhi loved it. That’s a fine pedigree for this list, I should think."

Bird, E. (2012, June 14). Top 100 Picture Books #17: The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson. Retrieved January 31, 2015, from http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2012/06/14/top-100-picture-books-17-the-story-of-ferdinand-by-munro-leaf-illustrated-by-robert-lawson/#_

What Do I Do With It?

Students can celebrate the culture of Spain with a day of traditional Spanish games, foods, and traditions. They can talk about the differences between the Spanish culture and their own. This will help teach them to appreciate and celebrate things that may be different than what they are used to.

Mod 1: Miss Brooks Loves Books! (and I Don't) Review

What's It All About?

First grader Missy is not all enthused about books like her school librarian, Miss Brooks. None of them are “right” for her and she continues to find this to be “vexing.” Miss Brooks, being the great librarian that she is, does not give up on Missy though. She tries over and over to find the right fit until one day Missy finds the PERFECT book for her! Not everyone wants trains, flowers, and puppies. Sometimes it takes a repulsive ogre to win over a little girl’s heart and show her that there is indeed something for everyone!

What'd I Think?

Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I Don’t) by Barbara Bottner hit me right in the feels as soon as I started it. We didn't have a physical copy available but I was able to download an e-book. I read it on the children’s desk and as the pages turned and I watched Miss Brooks I kept saying out loud, “OH MY GOD! IT’S ME!” The costumes, the enthusiasm, and the persistence that she shows in her effort to help the little girl find THAT book just fit. I made my co-workers come and read it. Not long after, I ordered a copy for myself and our Children’s Librarian ordered them for our branch.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars!

What'd They Think?

Horn Book Magazine -

A first grader finds her school librarian's passion for books "vexing," to say the least. The free-spirited Miss Brooks communicates her love for books by dressing up in costumes ranging from a Wild Thing to Abe Lincoln, but while the rest of the class participates enthusiastically, the little girl remains unmoved. She also dismisses her classmates' book choices: "Too flowery"; "Too clickety." But when her mother brings out a book about an ogre with warts -- William Steig's Shrek! -- she finally meets a book she can love. In Emberley's ebullient pencil and watercolor pictures, Miss Brooks's engaging personality shines through in her colorful clothes and her wild hair, while the little girl's stubbornness is reflected in her wearing the same outfit day after day. This celebration of books and the need for kids to find the right book will make a great story to read during Children's Book Week -- and every week. 

Lempke, S. D. (2010). Miss brooks loves books! (and I don't). The Horn Book Magazine, 86(3), 62-63. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/199415068?accountid=7113

Publishers Weekly - 

Book Week is looming, and the young narrator of this biblio comedy couldn't be less enthusiastic-every book in the library strikes her as mild-mannered mush. Her opinion of the titular librarian is even less charitable: a hippie dippie-looking literary cheerleader, Miss Brooks has no compunction about donning ridiculous costumes (including a hilarious Very Hungry Caterpillar) to whip kids into a reading frenzy. "I'll never love a book the way you do," the girl tells Miss Brooks. But that's before she discovers a modern classic that tickles her gothic tastes-Shrek-confirming Miss Brooks's belief that everyone "can find something funny and fantastic and appalling in the library." The heroine makes an indelible presence: Bottner (Raymond and Nelda) endows her with a voice that drips weltschmerz and recalls a younger version of MTV's deadpan Daria Morgendorffer. Emberley's (Mail Harry to the Moon!) slice-of-life cartooning is funny, empathetic, and of-the-moment. This story should persuade hard-to-please children that the perfect book for them is out there. Ages 5-8. 

Children's book reviews. (2010). Publishers Weekly, 257(6), 47-n/a. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/197099430?accountid=7113

What Do I Do With It?

Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I Don't) would be a great book to read in a school library at the beginning of the school year. It could be used as a means of introducing the student to the library and can show them that even if they don't find something they like right away, the librarian is there to help. We've all had "new school year jitters" and this is a way to help alleviate them by giving the librarian a jumping off point without seeming awkward.