Author: Amanda Lynch

By Amanda Lynch, The Children’s Book Review Published: June 26, 2009 Lynn Hazen has had a busy year! With the release of Shifty, her first young adult book, and the fantastic early reader The Amazing Trail of Seymour Snail, we felt very fortunate that she took time out to do an interview with us about her books and what the future holds… Amanda:   I loved SHIFTY, and it seems like everyone else does too! Congratulations on your book being such a success. What inspired the story? Lynn:  Thanks so much. I had several sources of inspiration for SHIFTY. One was…

By Amanda Lynch, The Children’s Book Review Published: May 31, 2009 Don’t Lick the Dog: Making Friends With Dogs by  Wendy Wahman Reading Level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 32 Pages Publisher: Henry Holt and Co (April 28, 2009) What to Expect: Dogs, Rhyme, Onomatopoeia With summer fast upon us, more and more kids are out enjoying the sunshine–and so are pet owners. Dog lover and illustrator Wendy Wahman has produced a fantastic manual for young animal lovers on how to meet new dogs. Through humor and bright illustrations, the book provides excellent guidelines for children on how to interact with unfamiliar…

By Amanda Lynch, The Children’s Book Review Published:June 18, 2009 Machines Go to Work by William Low Reading Level: Baby-Preschool Hardcover: 42 pages Publisher: Henry Holt and Co (May 12, 2009) What to Expect: Trucks, Helicopters, Boats, Trains, Lift the Flap, Onomatopoeia When I first picked up Machines Go to Work, I didn’t realize what a cool lift the flap book it was! Every third page or so opens up into a beautiful illustration, depicting a different machine doing its job:  a fire truck being used to rescue a kitten, a backhoe digging a hole to plant a tree, a…

By Amanda Lynch, The Children’s Book Review Published: May 31, 2009 The Ghost at Old Oak Way: An Acorn Mystery by Laurie Cameron and Laura Meagher Reading Level: Ages 9-12 Paperback: 216 pages Publisher: UnTapped Talent LLC (June 1, 2009) What to Expect: Mystery, Civil War, Friendship, Suspense, Supernatural Experiences The Ghost at Old Oak Way, the debut novel by Laurie Cameron and Laura Meagher, is an exciting read that keeps you guessing until the very end. The follow-the-clues mystery is combined with an interweaving of Civil War History and elements of the supernatural which make it difficult to put…

Down by the Station, a noisy and fun read-aloud book that is perfect for babies, toddlers–and anyone who loves planes, trains, and automobiles!

By Amanda Lynch, The Children’s Book Review Published: May 12, 2009 The Amazing Trail of Seymour Snail by Lynn E. Hazen (Author) and Doug Cushman (Illustrator) Reading Level: Ages 4-8 (Early Reader) Hardcover: 64 Pages Publisher: Henry Holt and Co (May 12, 2009) What to expect: Snails, Humor, Art As I mentioned before , Lynn E. Hazen is an author to watch. Her latest effort, The Amazing Trail of Seymour Snail, is a fun and engaging story that will appeal to early readers on many levels. Seymour is an artist:  his happiest hours are spent painting, sculpting, and creating prints. Not…

By Amanda Lynch, The Children’s Book Review Published: May 8, 2009 Too Perfect by Trudy Ludwig (Author) and Lisa Fields (Illustrator) Reading Level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Tricycle Press (May 2009) What To Expect: Perfectionism, Self-Acceptance, Family, School Maisie works hard in school, but no matter how hard she tries, she only gets B’s and C’s. Despite the fact that her mother constantly reassures her, “Maisie, you are perfect just the way you are,” Maisie really wishes that she could be like Kayla. Kayla always gets straight A’s, she’s a star on the soccer team, and her hair is…

By Amanda Lynch, The Children’s Book Review Published: May 2, 2009 Cinco de Mayo is always a great day to acquaint young readers with the heritage of our neighbors south of the border! The day actually celebrates the Battle of Puebla, where the Mexican Army defeated the French–who outnumbered them two-to-one. I was pleased to find some exciting books from Mexican-American writer and poet Carmen Tafolla that celebrate Mexican culture: What Can You Do with a Paleta? by Carmen Tafolla (Author) and Magaly Morales (Illustrator) Reading Level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Tricycle Press (April 2009) What to Expect: Rhyme,…

By Amanda Lynch, The Children’s Book Review Published: April 27, 2009 Duck Tents by Lynne Berry (Author) and  Hiroe Nakata (Illustrator) Reading Level:  Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Henry Holt and Co (April 28, 2009) What To Expect: Ducks, Camping, Counting, Rhyme The Five Little Ducks, which were first introduced in Duck Dunks and Duck Skates, are back! This time they are going camping, and as usual, there are mishaps and mayhem along the way! Hiroe Nakata’s beautiful watercolor illustrations are particularly striking as they depict the ducks pitching their tents, on a fishing expedition, and toasting marshmallows (my favorite…

By Amanda Lynch, The Children’s Book Review Published: April 17, 2009 Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen (Author) and Kevin Hawkes (Illustrator) Reading Level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 48 pages Publisher: Candlewick Press (Jul 25, 2006) What to Expect: Libraries, Lions, Story time It’s National Library Week , and for me, that means a reread of Library Lion. This book is an excellent pre-requisite for taking a child to the library for the first time. Libraries can be wonderful, fun-filled places, with story hours, colorful children’s sections, and new friends. However, they can also be a bit imposing at times, and this book…