Dinosaurs in Space by Pranas T. Naujokaitis

Everyone thinks that dinosaurs became extinct...but they didn't. When the Big Bang happened, they just went into space and became dinosaurs in space! Some landed on Planet Lettuce, while others landed on Planet Meatball. While in outer space they have to deal with scary aliens and dangerous black holes, but if anyone's up for the challenge, it would be dinosaurs.

Dinosaurs and space: a perfect combination. They're both things that interest many kids, so putting them together in a book that's aimed at supporting young readers makes so much sense. The stories have really positive messages (don't judge things before you try them, accept people's differences and find your similarities, look before you leap) that adults (and probably some kids) will easily recognize, but they don't come across as too preachy. The darkness of space provides a great backdrop for the colourful dinosaurs, and the mixture of text in speech balloons and text boxes will encourage readers to play with words and explore where words are on the page. This book has "high interest" written all over it; libraries should definitely consider it for their graphic novels/early reader collections.

Check out the Tumblr of Pranas T. Naujokaitis.

I received a review copy from Edelweiss courtesy of Balloon Toons/Blue Apple Books.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Hiccup! by Mike Herrod
Dinosaurs?! by Lila Prap
Dinosaur Vs. Bedtime by Bob Shea
A Day in the Office of Doctor Bugspit by Elise Gravel
Prickles vs. the Dust Bunny by Daniel Cleary

Hiccup! by Mike Herrod

Jamie is already nervous for the big school play, but when he gets the hiccups, it's so much worse! The last time he had the hiccups it lasted all day. This could ruin the play! Can Jamie and his friend Jenna find a way to stop the hiccups before it's too late?

There's something naturally funny about hiccups. They're involuntary, make a funny sound, and usually aren't serious enough to cause a lot of physical pain. It's not a surprise when Jamie starts suffering from hiccups; the cover of the book makes it very clear that that's going to happen, so you can anticipate the big moment. Going from person to person collecting ridiculous suggestions for getting rid of the hiccups provides a lot of humour, including physical humour. As a Balloon Toons title, the story is told in a graphic novel format. The number of panels on each page varies, which keeps the appearance of the story interesting and unpredictable. The pages are colourfully vibrant and the text (shown in speech balloons) is easily readable. It's no secret that I'm a big fan of the Balloon Toons series of books, and with great titles like this I can't wait to see more.

Check out Mike Herrod's website for more of his work.

I received a review copy from Edelweiss courtesy of Balloon Toons/Blue Apple Books.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Skeleton Hiccups by Margery Cuyler
I Can't Stop Hiccuping! by Lauren Child
A Day in the Office of Doctor Bugspit by Elise Gravel
Prickles vs. the Dust Bunny by Daniel Cleary
Doggie Dreams by Mike Herrod

Big Girl Panties by Fran Manushkin illustrated by Valeria Petrone

This little girl is so excited - she's ready for big girl panties! Not diapers, but actual underwear. Fun underwear, stripped or dotted underwear, underwear for every day of the week. Animals don't wear panties, babies don't wear panties, only big girls like moms and sisters and aunties wear panties!

Underwear is often played for laughs in children's books, so it's great to see a book where underwear is shown as a triumphant achievement. This is a fun book; the big, bright illustrations and sense of humour can easily appeal to children. It's a great book to read with kids who have just moved out of diapers (or who need a bit of encouragement). A great book for libraries, public or at home, as well as a gift for young kids.

Check out Fran Manushkin's website and Valeria Petrone's website. 

I received a review copy from Edelweiss courtesy of Random House.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Bear in Underwear by Todd H. Doodler
Potty by Leslie Patricelli
Dinosaur Vs. The Potty by Bob Shea

Deep-Sea Duel by John Sazaklis and Art Baltazar

The Aquafamily is ready for an awesome under-sea family reunion - but the evil Ocean Master is determined to spoil the day. It's up to Aqualad and the Superpets to save everyone. It's going to be tough, but if they work together they just might be able to stop Ocean Master in his tracks.

Young fans of superheroes have a fun book to explore in Deep-Sea Duel. I don't know very much about Aquaman or the Aquafamily, but you don't need to have a lot of background knowledge to enjoy this book. Characters are explained at the beginning and end (names as well as where they fit into the Superhero/Superpet world). Illustrations are integrated well with the text, and the amount of white-space around the large words make this a solid choice for independent readers. I can see this being a hit with both young readers who like action and young readers who like animals; if you know a reader who likes both things, try to get this book into their hands.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Capstone Young Readers.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
The Cat Crime Club by Steve Korte
Midway Monkey Madness by Sarah Hines Stephens
The Fantastic Flexy Frog by Michael Dahl
The Fastest Pet on Earth by J.E. Bright

The Grunt and the Grouch: Big Splash! by Tracey Corderoy

 The Grunt and the Grouch are roommates and best friends. They both love all kinds of gross stuff, which makes sense, because they're trolls. In Big Splash! they have three adventures. In one, they decide to get some exercise by going to the local pool. In another, they babysit a couple of wild little trolls. And in the last one, they go camping...but not in the way they thought they would. With short chapters, large print, and lots of illustrations, this is a trollrific series aimed at young readers.

The cover of the book cautions "This book contains slime, snot, mud, and other trollrific treats." Readers would be wise to heed this caution, because it's a great indicator of who this book is for. If the idea of snot, slime, and more turns your stomach, you're not the intended audience. If, on the other hand, it only makes you want to read the book more, you're in for a treat. This book (and, I imagine, the rest of The Grunt and the Grouch books) practically screams "great for reluctant readers." If you know a newly independent reader who is frequently complaining about the lack of gross stuff in their books, keep this title in mind.

See more about Tracey Corderoy at her website.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Capstone.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Shrek! by William Steig
The Grunt and the Grouch by Tracey Corderoy
The Grunt and the Grouch: Beastly Fangs! by Tracey Corderoy
Treasure in the Graveyard by Roberto Pavanello

Katie Woo Rules the School by Fran Manushkin illustrated by Tammie Lyon

Katie Woo Rules the School combines four Katie Woo stories into one stylish package. In Katie and the Class Pet, Katie gets the thrill of taking care of the class guinea pig...and the scare of figuring out what to do once she loses him! No More Teasing has Katie trying to figure out how to deal with an annoying classmate, while The Big Lie shows Katie struggling to do what's right when it's not what she wants to do. In The Star of the Show, Katie deals with not getting the part in the school play that she wanted while still being supportive of her friend. No matter what's going on, Katie knows how important it is to be herself!


This was my first time reading a Katie Woo book, and I quite enjoyed it. Both she and the books have a Ramona Quimby vibe to them; Katie isn't perfect but she tries to do what's right, and the books look at tough issues (and real issues that kids face) without losing heart and warmth. The illustrations are gentle and colourful and it's great to see classes with children from so many different backgrounds. This looks like a great series for young readers and if, like me, you're new to the series, this collection of stories is a great way to get yourself introduced to Katie Woo's world.

Check out Fran Manushkin's website.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Capstone Kids.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Katie Woo and Friends by Fran Manushkin
Junie B. Jones, First Grader (at last!) by Barbara Park
Katie Woo: A Happy Day by Fran Manushkin
Kylie Jean, Blueberry Queen by Marci Peschke

Baxter the Tweeting Dog by Doreen Marts

Baxter is a very friendly dog who lives in the town of Wackaloon. He spends lots of time on Twoofer - it's a secret communication technology that only dogs know about. When his friend Lucy is missing, he's really worried about her. At first Baxter isn't sure what to do, but then he remembers about Twoofer! Before long dogs from all over town are looking for Lucy and sending updates on where she's been seen. Will Baxter be able to find her?

Books about technology - particularly books for kids - can be kind of hit or miss. It's tough to aim it for the right audience while still accurately using the technology; including technology also runs the risk of giving the book a short shelf life and making it seem dated in the near future. In this case, I don't think that the audience (young readers who are either reading on their own or about to start reading on their own) necessarily needs to have used Twitter in order to get the jokes. The "Twoofs" are really just a way to get Baxter running all over town. Animal lovers (and dog lovers in particular) will find lots of cute, cuddly canines in these pages (many of them looked like they'd stepped out of a TV cartoon about tech-savy dogs in a city). I also liked the endpapers of the book, featuring the different dogs along with their Twoofer handles. Will this be a book that stands the test of time? I can't say, but it definitely is a book that taps into the moment.

Check out Doreen Marts' website.

I received a review copy from Edelweiss courtesy of Blue Apple Books.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
A Day in the Office of Doctor Bugspit by Elise Gravel
Prickles vs. the Dust Bunny by Daniel Cleary
Doggie Dreams by Mike Herrod
It's a Book by Lane Smith

Listen to My Trumpet! by Mo Willems

Elephant and Piggie are best friends. Piggie can't wait to show Gerald her new trumpet! But when she starts playing, Gerald is speechless... and not in a good way. What is he going to say to her?

There are some very strong Elephant and Piggie books, and there are some that don't resonate with me as much. Listen to My Trumpet falls satisfyingly in the middle. I really like the books that explore the deep friendship between Piggie and Gerald. They don't always agree on things and sometimes they face difficult choices, but they care about each other and want to be good friends to each other. In this book, Gerald faces a tough decision: does he tell Piggie the truth and risk hurting her feelings, or does he lie to her and tell her how good she is? It might be a concept to explore with kids but in this book it comes across in a straightforward way. Elephant and Piggie fans have another book to enjoy and parents and caregivers looking for books about friendship and honesty have another book to explore.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
We Are in a Book! by Mo Willems
Happy Pig Day! by Mo Willems
Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems

The Best Mistake Ever! and Other Stories by Richard Scarry

New readers have three stories by Richard Scarry to explore on their own in The Best Mistake Ever! And Other Stories. In one, Huckle and Lowly mix up a grocery list but end up getting exactly what they need. In another, a bicycle bell and a cuckoo clock have a terrible accident that leads to a very surprising present. And in the third story, Huckle is sad when Lowly stops spending time with him at school...until he finds out what's really going on. Don't miss these familiar characters as they learn that sometimes mistakes have happy endings!

I grew up with Richard Scarry books, and I'm glad that they are still around and in print in different formats (like this Step Into Reading book that I read as an e-title). One of my favourite things about oversized books like What Do People Do All Day? was scouring the pages and picking out all of the details. That's not something you'll really find here, but what you will find is a book that's perfectly structured for kids to read on their own. The pages have classic Scarry illustrations but also large print, lots of white space, and visual cues to help with harder vocabulary words. The book has a copyright date of 1984, but instead of reading as dated, it appears as timeless (at least to me - I'd love to know what kids think of this or if they even notice). This is a great choice for young readers and a solid choice for schools and libraries to have in their collections.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Richard Scarry's What Do People Do All Day? by Richard Scarry
Little Witch Goes to School by Deborah Hautzig
The Worst Helper Ever by Richard Scarry

Bink and Gollie: Two for One by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee and illustrated by Tony Fucile

Best friends Bink and Gollie are back! This time they're exploring adventures at the State Fair. Will Bink win the world's largest donut? Will Gollie find fame, fortune, and prizes in the talent competiton? And what mysteries will the fortune teller share? All will be revealed in Bink and Gollie: Two for One.

I feel like I've barely stopped talking about Bink and Gollie since I first read it. It's a funny, smart book with great characters and beautiful illustrations that's such a great read for beginning readers. I was so excited to see that now there's a second Bink and Gollie book and not only do I love it just as much as the first, but (if I may admit this), I might even love it a tiny bit more. The first story, "Whack a Duck," features Bink's seemingly unending determination and Gollie's dry observations. "You're Special, Aren't You?" has an incredible series of spreads that manage to convey just what stage fright feels like (and is topped with a lovely demonstration of friendship). The third story concerns questions about the future, a natural curiosity for children and adults alike. Whatever you do, don't miss this book, and expect to find it on many Best of 2012 lists at the end of the year.

Learn more about Bink and Gollie at their website. 

Check out the websites of Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Candlewick Press. 

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo
Making a Friend by Alison McGhee
Let's Do Nothing! by Tony Fucile

Pretty Penny Comes Up Short by Devon Kinch

Penny really wants to donate money to help the animals at Doodle's Animal Farm. She loves animals! But she only has $5.50 saved to give to charity. It's a start, but she wants to do more. She comes up with the idea to raise money by having a drive-in movie fundraiser. It's a big success! But some of the money is missing. What could have happened to it?

This story is written with straightforward language, great for kids who are adjusting to reading on their own but aren't quite ready for longer chapter books. The illustrations match what's happening in the text and there's a fun sense of humour to the characters. I think that adults will respond well to its positive messages about saving money, helping others, and being honest. It's so important to start financial literacy lessons early with children, and the idea of saving money so that you can donate to a good cause is a great idea to adopt at an early age. Definitely check this one out for classroom, school, and public libraries.

I read a review copy at Edelweiss courtesy of Random House Young Readers.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Easy Money by Gail Vaz-Oxlade
Just Saving My Money by Mercer Mayer
Money: Make it, Spend it, Save it by Jo Ellen Bogart
Pretty Penny Sets Up Shop by Devon Kinch

Squish #3: The Power of the Parasite by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm

Squish is not looking forward to the summer. His mom made him choose between Ballet Class or Swim Class, and he chose the pool. (His friends chose ballet.) He's has some bad experiences in the water before, so he's not that keen on getting 'riding the waves.' He soon makes a new friend, a hydra named Basil. They get along great and Hydra loves to make jokes and play pranks...but Squish doesn't always think they're that funny. Is this summer going to be a big disaster?

If you're not reading the Squish series, you should definitely start now. It has a likeable everyman (or everyamoeba?) main character, lots of humour, and situations that will resonate with young readers. There are meta-fictional elements that will appeal to kids with a certain sense of humour. Squish himself is a reader and there's a story-within-a-story as his comic book parallels the main storyline. The short sentences and large amounts of space on the page (joined with the fun illustration styles) will make this a popular pick for new readers and kids who are transitioning out of reading picture books. You don't have to have read the first two books in the series to be able to follow along with this storyline, but when a series is as good as this one is, why wouldn't you read them?

 For more information about Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm, check out their websites.

I received a review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Random House Kids' Books.


Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Squish #1: Super Amoeba by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm
Squish #2: Brave New Pond by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm
Babymouse #1: Queen of the World! by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm
Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Sadie and Ratz by Sonya Hartnett illustrated by Ann James

Hannah never goes anywhere without Sadie and Ratz. That's what she calls her hands. They're not animals, exactly, but they can be quite wild...particularly when they get annoyed by Hannah's brother. Then they like to attack! But Baby Boy is up to something. He draws on the wall and blames it on Sadie and Ratz. Then he tries to blame more things on Sadie and Ratz! Hannah's parents aren't happy, and neither is Hannah. How is she going to prove that she - and they - are innocent?

There's something startling about being so deeply in the mind of a young character. The way Hannah talks about Sadie and Ratz (her hands) as independent things completely out of her control made me wonder if maybe some sort of therapy wouldn't help her. It's hard to remember what it was like to be so young and have the bounds of reality and imagination slipping and blurring so quickly. Hannah is a bright, creative child and her parents definitely see and encourage her imagination. The antagonistic relationship that's between Hannah and her brother comes from a place of love and frustration - something many siblings can relate to. The expressive illustrations (I particularly love the characters' faces) and large simple - but not boring - text make this a great book for new readers and a great one to hand to older sisters.

See more about Sonya Hartnett at her website.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Bink and Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee
Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Khan
The Boy and the Toy by Sonya Hartnett
Midnight Babies by Margaret Wild illustrated by Ann James

Penny and Her Song by Kevin Henkes

Penny wants to sing her song. She wants to share it with her parents! But her mom says not to wake the babies. Her dad tells her that she has to wait. She tries singing it to herself, but it's not the same. She just wants to sing! Will she ever be able to share her song?

Sometimes you have to wait. Sometimes you can't do what you want to do when you want to do it. Waiting can be hard, but sometimes, if you wait, something really great will happen. I love Kevin Henkes' writing and illustration. I'm a huge fan of his character Lilly, and there were elements of this story that reminded me of Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. This is a great book for parents/caregivers looking for books about emotions, frustration, waiting, or dealing with siblings, but it's also got a story that will be great for kids looking for a fun book. Whether you're a longtime fan of Kevin Henkes or are just discovering him, make sure to pick up this book.

Check out Kevin Henkes' website for more information about him and his books. 

Get a peek inside the book at HarperCollins.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
Cat the Cat, Who is That? by Mo Willems
Noisy Nora by Rosemary Wells

Bear's Underwear Mystery by Todd H. Doodler

Once there was a bear who liked to wear underwear. One day he gets a mysterious message in the mail: there are ten hidden pairs of underwear and if he finds them he will end up somewhere special. There are some clues to show him where to go, but he's going to need some help! Fans of the titular Bear in Underwear (or bears or underwear) will find more to like in this book. It has the bright colours, the fun expressions, and the underclothing of the other books, plus the added fun of counting. There's not really a mystery per se, and the book isn't interactive (at least that I could see) in letting readers discover the underwear. But I could see crafty teachers and librarians being able to adapt this into storytimes (maybe as a felt story). The board book style will be a good fit with young readers, so check it out for adding it to a board book or concept book collection.

I received a review copy from Edelweiss courtesy of Blue Apple Books.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Bear in Underwear by Todd H. Doodler
Bear in Pink Underwear by Todd H. Doodler
Do You Know Which Ones Will Grow? by Susan A. Shea

Gabby's Stick-To-It Day by Sheila Walsh

According to the Bible, children are watched over by angels. These angels help to keep them safe but also help them to live the best lives they can. Lately Gabby, one of God's little angels, has noticed something about Sophie, the little girl that she watches over. Sophie is a sweet girl, but she gives up on things too easily! Whenever something gets hard, Sophie just quits. Can Gabby do something to show Sophie how important perseverance is?It's not going to be easy, but Gabby isn't going to give up!

This book has the sweetness of the Precious Moments figurines that were so popular when I was growing up. Gabby is an engaging little angel, determined to take care of Sophie and help her to live a positive life. Sophie, too, is a likeable character. She seems goodhearted and genuine in wanting to help others; she just has a hard time following through when things get a bit tough or messy. It's hard to see this being a mainstream crossover success (in terms of being a bestseller), but I can easily see it resonating with parents looking for an explicitly Christian series to read together with their children.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Gabby, God's Little Angel by Sheila Walsh
The Donkey that No One Could Ride by Anthony DeStefano
Jesus: He Lived Among Us by R.F. Palavicini and Steve Cleary

Beep and Bah by James Burks

There always seems to be one sock without a partner, one sock left all alone. Most people just shrug and go about their day, but not Beep. He's determined to find the missing sock's owner (and the matching sock), so he sets off with his friend Bah on a journey across the country side. Maybe the sock belongs to the pig, or the chicken; maybe they'll find the owner just over that big hill...or down in that deep valley...or maybe even under water. No matter where they have to go or what they have to get through, Beep and Bah are on the case  and they won't quit until they reach the end of the road!

Is is an incredibly fun graphic novel for young readers. Beep, a take-charge robot, has personality to spare, while Bah, the monosyllabic mountain goat, is a perfect long-suffering sidekick. The animation world has provided some of today's most interesting illustrators and authors, including James Burks. I loved how vibrant the backgrounds were; they were so detailed and alive and almost seemed to have their own personalities. There's plenty of funny lines and visual jokes and it's easy to see this appealing to both girls and boys. This book is so strong that when I first read it on my Kobo, it was in black and white and still loved it. Definitely do not miss this book.

Don't miss James Burks' website.

I read an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Lerner.

Find it at Amazon.

Read it with:
Gabby and Gator by James Burks
Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox
Rosie's Walk by Pat Hutchins
The Boys by Jeff Newman

Spotty, Stripy, Swirly: What Are Patterns? by Jane Brocket

Patterns are everywhere! There are patterns in nature and patterns in clothing; there are patterns on buildings and patterns in gardens. Patterns can be made up of lines or colours or shapes. They can be spotty, stripy, or swirly; they can be simple or complicated. Sometimes several different patterns can be combined together. How many patterns can you find?

This is a great book for young readers. The photographic pictures very clearly show how different patterns are found in many different places. It also does a really good job of showing how patterns exist for different reasons: for decoration, for order, for sorting, from the natural world. In addition to helping them understand more about the world, a book like this can jump-start a child's imagination; it's not hard to see a child reading this and then going exploring for patterns or including patterns in their own art.

Check out Jane Brocket's website.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Lerner Publishing.

Find it at Amazon. 

Read it with:
Ruby, Violet, Lime: Looking for Color by Jane Brocket
Spiky, Slimy, Smooth: What is Texture? by Jane Brocket
Building Stories by Isabel Hill

A Day in the Office of Doctor Bugspit by Elise Gravel

Welcome to the office of Doctor Bugspit! Have a seat - the doctor will be right with you. He's a little busy at the moment, but don't worry - his super-secret Fix-It-Up syrup will have his patients cured in no time!

With a zany free-for-all quality to the writing and illustration, Doctor Bugspit is a wild look at a doctor's office you probably wouldn't want to visit in real life. Just as in Adopt a Glurb, Elise Gravel has taken something with roots in real life (there, a pet; here, a visit to the doctor) and has spun it into something completely imaginative. The graphic novel-style makes it perfect for kids transitioning out of picture books. I get so excited when I see new Balloon Toon titles, so I hope we see a lot more from Elise Gravel!

See more of Elise Gravel at her website. Learn more about Balloon Toons at Blue Apple Books.

Find it at IndieBound. 

Read it with:
Adopt a Glurb! by Elise Gravel
Zoe and Robot, Let's Pretend by Ryan Sias
Doggie Dreams by Mike Herrod

Little Wings #1: Willa Bean's Cloud Dreams by Cecilia Galante illustrated by Kristi Valiant

Willa Bean isn't like the other cupids! She has wild red hair, a lot of freckles, and bright purple wings. She also loves finding treasures, and has a really big collection of all of her great finds. There's only one thing that Willa Bean's nervous about: school is starting soon, and she doesn't know how to fly! Will she be the only one there who can't fly?

Have cupids ever been featured in a children's series before? Maybe it's time for cupids to have a moment. They're kind of like angels (living in clouds, having wings, flying), but you won't have to address any religion questions head on. Like many young heroines in children's books, Willa Bean is plucky and determined and just a little bit feisty. In this first title, she has to deal with something that many kids could relate to: starting school and worrying that everyone else can do things that you can't. The book nicely sets up what could be lots of future adventures for Willa Bean and her friends and family. I can see it working nicely for young readers, particularly girls, who are ready to explore a new series.

Find it at Amazon.

I read an advance review copy from NetGalley courtesy of Random House.

Read it with:
The Patron Saint of Butterflies by Cecilia Galante
Little Wings #2: Be Brave, Willa Bean by Cecilia Galante
Kylie Jean, Blueberry Queen by Marci Peschke