Author: TCBR Contributor

The Children’s Book Review, named one of the ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) Great Web Sites for Kids, is a resource devoted to children’s literacy. We publish reviews and book lists of the best books for kids of all ages. We also produce author and illustrator interviews and share literacy based articles that help parents, grandparents, teachers and librarians to grow readers. This article was written and provided by one of TCBR's regular contributors.

I Lost My Kisses by Trudie Trewin Reading level: Ages 2-8 Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Orchard Books; 1 edition (January 1, 2008) … Matilda Rose has lost her kisses. She is determined to find them before her dad comes home. But where do you find kisses? And what do kisses look like? … This is the very endearing story of Matilda, a sweet cow who loves to give real “smoocheroos”. One day she loses her kisses and has to look for them before she meets her dad at the airport, who is returning from a trip. We learn how kisses…

Read More

Here are a few book club links to share with you: I recently read an article by Anne Joseph for The Times Educational Supplement, which I thought would be of interest to some of you. It talks about how book clubs reinforce reading skills and encourage communication skills. The article was found via Jen Robinson’s Book Page, which is a good resource for kid’s literature. The Children’s Literature Book Club blog is another site worthy of taking a look at – it provides great children’s book lists, and questions to aid discussions in your book club.

Read More

Once Upon a Crime (The Sisters Grimm, Book 4) by Michael Buckley Reading level: Ages 9-12 Hardcover: 304 pages Publisher: Amulet (May 1, 2007) The Sisters Grimm series is wonderfully witty, full of adventure and mystery, and set in a fairy-tale community. The series is based on the idea that authors such as Hans Christian Anderson, William Shakespeare, and The Brothers Grimm, were not writing fiction – they were actually recording the history of real life magical happenings. Sabrina and Daphne Grimm (two sisters who are descendants of the Brothers Grimm) are fairy-tale detectives, and their most important case is…

Read More

Today is the first ever Poem In Your Pocket Day , where thousands of people will be carrying a poem in their pocket. I Have A Secret Dragon I have a secret dragon Who is living in the tub, It greets me when I take a bath, And gives my back a scrub. My parents cannot see it, They don’t suspect it’s there, They look in all directions, And all they see is air. My dragon’s very gentle, My dragon’s very kind, No matter how I pull its tail, My dragon doesn’t mind. We splash around together And play at…

Read More

Blizzard of the Blue Moon #36 by Mary Pope Osborne Reading level: Ages 4-8 Hardcover: 128 pages Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (September 26, 2006) The sparkling snow cover sucks you in, and once you start reading… it keeps you hooked until the end. The Magic Tree House series is an excellent choice for those who enjoy history and/or magic – it’s a fabulous tool to introduce new facets of learning. In #36 Jack and Annie (a brother and sister team) travel to New York City using their Magic Tree House. They arrive during the 1930s depression, in…

Read More

Alphabet by Matthew Van Fleet Reading level: Baby-Preschool Hardcover: 20 pages Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books (April 8, 2008) If you are familiar with Matthew Van Fleet’s New York Times Bestselling book Tails, and you love it, you will not be disappointed with his latest book, Alphabet. It is a sensory delight with its lift-the-flaps, touch-and-feels, and scratch-and-sniff pages. The book is so well made that you can let your toddler go to town pulling and pushing this alphabet masterpiece. From the bouncing kangaroos to the beautiful blue dragonflies, there’s something in this book for everyone. And those who…

Read More

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules by Jeff Kinney Reading level: Ages 9-12 Hardcover: 224 pages Publisher: Amulet (February 1, 2008) This sequel to the New York Times Best seller Diary of a wimpy kid, is such a fun and relatively easy read for a reluctant reader. It really captures the essence and shenanigans of a pre-teen. Gregory tells us his story through his diary – something embarrassing happened to him over summer vacation, and his older brother Rodrick (a lazy, band playing lout) is holding it over his head all year long. The diary feels so real that…

Read More

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review Published: April 3, 2008 Where’s My Mom? by Julia Donaldson Reading level: Ages 3-8 Hardcover: 32 pages Publisher: Dial (March 27, 2008) Julia Donaldson, an English writer and playwright, is one of my favorite children’s authors. Her latest book to be published in the US is Where’s My Mom? Initially released in the early 2000’s in the U.K., Donaldson’s rhythmic and engaging style combined with Axel Scheffler’s cartoon illustrations, make for a very charming addition to your child’s library.

Read More

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review Published: March 31, 2008 After participating in Earth Hour on March 29th, 2008, – the Children’s Book Review has been inspired to provide a head start on reviews of earth-conscious reads in the lead up to Earth Day, which will be on April 22, 2008. Earth Hour is an event created by the World Wildlife Fund where millions of people around the world turn off their lights between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. to help make a statement about climate change. Earth Hour was born in my home town, Sydney, Australia, in 2007,…

Read More