The Only Child by Guojing

The Only Child 
by Guojing
Published 2015
Schwartz and Wade
Wordless Picture Book
Hardcover
112 Pages
Review copy obtained from public library

Goodreads Summary
Like Shaun Tan's The Arrival and Raymond Briggs's The Snowman, this gorgeous and imaginative 100-page graphic picture book is utterly transporting and original.
A little girl—lost and alone—follows a mysterious stag deep into the woods, and, like Alice down the rabbit hole, she finds herself in a strange and wondrous world. But... home and family are very far away. How will she get back there?
In this magnificently illustrated—and wordless—masterpiece, debut artist Guojing brilliantly captures the rich and deeply-felt emotional life of a child, filled with loneliness and longing as well as love and joy.

My Thoughts
I am not sure that I have the words to convey how beautiful, sweet and sad this book is. My reading of it was changed by the author's note at the beginning describing her loneliness as a child born under China's "one child" law. I feel that it is a hopeful story that shows the power of imagination and how children can create imaginary worlds to help them cope with feelings of loneliness and sadness. I loved it and will surely share it with my 4th graders. I am interested in hearing their thoughts about The Only Child. 

Image from author's website: http://jingguoart.weebly.com/

Read what others have to say about this book.
Kirkus
Publishers Weekly 

Visit Guojing's Website 

Rascally Rabbits! And More True Stories of Animals behaving Badly!

Rascally Rabbits! And More True Stories of Animals behaving Badly! 
by Aline Alexander Newman
Published February 2016
National Geographic Children's Books
112 Pages 
Nonfiction 
Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary
These bunnies may look adorable, but there's more than meets the eye! In Rascally Rabbits, meet some rabbits that cause nothing but trouble, a rescue pup who will eat ANYTHING, and a sneaky bear with a taste for treats. Readers won't stop laughing as they read these hilarious--and completely true!--stories. Filled with engaging photos, fast facts, and fascinating sidebars, readers won't want to put this book down.

My Thoughts

This installment in the National Geographic "True Stories of..." chapter book series is sure to be a hit with readers in middle grades. There are three sections in the book with stories about rabbits, a bear and a dog doing naughty things. Readers will be amazed, and maybe grossed out, by what one dog eats and how his owners discover it. They will be delighted by an unexpected friendship between a bunny and a goat and entertained by an uncooperative bear who keeps scientists hopping. 

This short book contains 9 chapters, a table of contents, and an index. Of course, since it is published by National Geographic, the photographs are outstanding! Throughout the book, there are "Did You Know?" pop up facts and colored pages with animal facts to accompany the stories. 

I have several students in my fourth grade class that loved the first book I read in this series, Hoops to Hippos. These books appeal to students who enjoy reading nonfiction, but might shy away from longer novels. This gives them a bit of both in one manageable and engaging book. 

I would highly recommend this book (and series) for students in grades 3-5. 

It's Monday, What Are You Reading-April 25, 2016

Please visit the amazing blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers who host this terrific meme each week.

This blog is very dusty. I have not been able to post regularly for over a month and probably won't be able to until late spring or even early summer. However, I have been reading and since it is the end of vacation week, I have time to post some of the books I have read over the last few weeks. 
Click on the book covers to learn more about them. 

Really fun book about an unusual inheritance. 

Great story of the importance of friendship. 

Funny book of sibling revenge to the extreme.

Love Kwame!

Excellent mildly dystopian novel for upper elementary and middle school. 

Wish I had read it sooner! Edge-of-your-seat historical fiction!

Currently Reading

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What Are You Reading Friends?

Monster Needs To Go To School by Paul Czajak-Blog Tour

Monster Needs to Go to School 

by Paul Czajak

Illustrated by Wendy Grieb

Expected Publication June 28, 2016

Mighty Media Kids

32 Pages

Advanced copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary

Monster is dreading his first day of school. But his classroom is full of new friends and so many fun things to learn that Monster forgets his fears in no time...until he catches his friends bullying. What will Monster do?

Another exuberant addition to the award-winning Monster & Me™ series, addressing back-to-school jitters and the difficulty of dealing with bullies—especially when they're friends.

My Thoughts

Monster is a big, adorable lug who will capture the heart of children. I like how Monster is nervous and apprehensive to go to school. I think many new kindergarteners will be able to relate to his feelings. Then as the day goes on, Monster starts to realize that school is not so scary and can even be fun! Paul Czajak tells Monster's story in rhyme and does not shy away from using sophisticated vocabulary. Readers will have the opportunity to discuss the meaning of words like: motivation, pursue, succeed, peak, impress, despise, ridicule, and compromise. 

The illustrations in the book by Wendy Grieb feel like looking into a Pixar movie. Monster is not scary and reminds me of a monster from my son's favorite movie, Monsters Inc.  The children appear to come from a wide variety of backgrounds with various skin tones and hair color. Every young reader is certain to see themselves in this book. 

         Photo taken of uncorrected galley.

I also love this dedication from the uncorrected galley!

If you have a child entering school for the first time, I would add this book to your collection of "starting school" books. 

See what others have to say about Monster Needs to Go To School:

Unleashing Readers

The Simple Moms

Be sure to visit other stops along the tour. They are all listed in the image at the beginning of this post.

Pipsie Nature Detective: The Lunchnapper by Rick DeDonato

Pipsie Nature Detective: The Lunchnapper 
by Rick DeDonato
Illustrated by Tracy Bishop
Published April, 2016
by Two Lions
Review copy provided by Blueslip Media


Goodreads Summary

Pipsie and her turtle friend, Alfred, are on the best school tripever—a nature scavenger hunt! The team who finds “Seven Wonders of Nature” first wins. But that isn’t all Pipsie and Alfred have to find. Someone has stolen their PB&Js!

The search is on for the lunch that left, and soon Pipsie and Alfred are following animal tracks and discovering deer, birds, and even some beavers. Can Pipsie make this mystery historyand finish the scavenger hunt? And hopefully before lunchtime, because Alfred is one hungry turtle!

My Thoughts

I read the first Pipsie book last April and was thrilled to be asked to read the second. Pipsie is a smart, resourceful nature detective who works to solve mysteries, with her sidekick turtle Alfred, while gently teaching the reader about nature. In this book Pipsie and Alfred use deer and beaver tracks, and their nature knowledge to solve the mystery of who has pilfered their lunch. Young readers will be happy to tag along as they also try to figure out who took the lunch. I hope there are many more Pipsie books to come. 

The illustrations are very sweet and the animals are adorable! Each page has colorful illustrations. Illustrator Tracy Bishop uses different perspectives and shapes to add variety and interest to her illustrations. 

Kids will be begging to have their own nature scavenger hunt after reading Pipsie, Nature Detective: The Lunchnapper! I would recommend it for ages 3-7! 

Rick DeDonato started writing and drawing storybooks for his two kids, Alexis and Matt, when they were little. They’re grown now, but Rick is still creating stories. He is the author of Pipsie, Nature Detective: The Disappearing Caterpillar, illustrated by Tracy Bishop. When he’s not dreaming up new adventures for Pipsie, he’s an award-winning creative director in advertising. Born in New Jersey, he now lives in Wilmington, Delaware, with Nancy McAleer; their two dogs, Tugger and Nacho; and their turtle, Alfred E. Turtle.

Tracy Bishop won an art contest in kindergarten, and she’s been creating art ever since. A graduate of San Jose State University, she is also the illustrator of Not the Quitting Kind by Sarra J. Roth and Pipsie, Nature Detective: The Disappearing Caterpillar by Rick DeDonato. She lives in San Jose, California, where she is inspired on a daily basis by her son, husband, and a hairy dog named Harry.

Visit other stops on the blog tour!

Mon, Apr 11	Geo Librarian
Tues, Apr 12	The Children's Book Review
Wed, Apr 13	Kid Lit Frenzy
Thurs, Apr 14	Sincerely Stacie
Fri, Apr 15	Where Imagination Grows
Mon, Apr 18	A Rup Life
Tues, Apr 19	Inspired by Savannah
Wed, Apr 20	Picture Book Palooza
Thurs, Apr 21	The Late Bloomer's Book Blog
Fri, Apr 22	Mile High Books