I Love You Dude

by V. Radunsky Published by Gulliver Books/Hartcourt 2005 46 Pages Genre: Modern Fantasy Summary: Dude was born, right on a wall of fresh paint. A little girl had drawn him there. Dude was a thin elephant with shoes. Dude realizes that he doesn't belong on the wall, so he jumps off and looks for a new home. He finds himself a home on a mug, with others like him. I love NY, and I love Lucy. His mug is bought and he goes to live with a little girl who drinks milk out of the mug every day. Until her aunt was horrible to Dude and called him names. So he ran away, and tried living a few other places, but was sadly disappointed. Soon, Dude finds himself laying on the sidewalk wishing to just be washed away. An artist sees him and takes him to a museum. He loves his new home. People come to see him and say how much they love him. My Reaction: This book was quite inspiring. How fun to have a sidewalk drawing have such an adventure. I really enjoyed the genius of the mug he lived on. I thought the illustrations were so fun. He was a skinny little elephant, with big brown shoes. I think I would read this book to my kids for sure. Potential Problems: He is looking for someone to love him, so a little depression. Recommendations: I think this is a wonderful book for kids that are trying to start reading chapter books. It's a great switch over book. Lots of words, but still pictures.

The Mighty Asparagus

by v. Radunsky Published by Harcourt books 2004 28 Pages Genre: Humor!!! Picture Book Summary: There once was a king, who lived in a palace. He got very upset when he woke up to find a might asparagus had grown in his court yard. He hated it! But everyone else loved it. His wife wanted to bring it home. But no matter what they did they could not get it to move. So the king cried until his mom gave him some advice to get a little bird to help. And they did as she said and the asparagus fell easily. Then everyone was glad and the court jesters wrote a song about it that everyone loved! My reaction: This was probably the second funniest picture book I have ever read. There tends to be a lot of unexpected things in it. Such as at one point the writer says oh yes I forgot he has a daughter, right as he started talking about her. Or the fact that some of the print was so small, you really had to check the page before you turned the page or you would miss something very important. Potential Problems: Children that don't like Veggies! Recommendations: Parents who like to laugh with their children. Anyone who has a good sense of humor will love this book.

Little Monkey Says Good Night

by Ann Whitford Paul Published by Melanie Kroupa Books 2003 30 pages Genre: Picture Books Summary: Little Monkey is called to bed, but he decides he wants to say good night to the whole circus first. He causes quite the ruckus. He bumps things over and get thrown all over the place. As he travels through the air all through the circus the bright colors swirl around him. Red, Blues, and bright yellows. Finally his mother catches him from her perch on a high swinging bar. He says good night and she tosses him down to his dad. He says good night, and slips into bed. This book as a fun way of showing movement through it's wording. It curls all over and the little monkey flies of the big angled words at every corner. My Reaction: What a fun bed time story. I really love the movement it brought throughout the whole book. So many colors and lots to talk about with a child. Potential Problems: None Recommendations: I think this is a wonderful bed time story. Then you can take turns saying good night to things in your life. And end with You.

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed

by Mo Willems Published by Hyperion Books for Children 2009 34 Pages Genre:Picture Book Summary: Wilbur is a naked mole rat... well he is a mole and a rat. He actually likes to wear clothes. All the other naked mole rats try to get him to be normal and be naked with them, but he will not! They tell him that if he is not going to be naked he needs to just open a clothes store, being sarcastic of course. But he does, but he has no customers. So they decide he is now a problem. So they take Wilbur to see Grand-pah. They tell him that Wilbur said why not wear clothes? So Grand-pah brings everyone together to make an announcement. When everyone comes in they see that Grand-pah is wearing a suit. He says why not wear clothes? So Wilbur reopens his shop and does quite well. My Reaction: How stinkin funny is that! I think this book is a very funny way to get around saying, don't be like everyone else! It's okay! Just put some clothes on!!! Potential Problems: Everyone is naked! recommendations: This is a great book for a laugh. I would almost want to use this as an after bath-time story.

Moses

by Carole Boston Weatherford Published by Jump at the Sun 2006 38 Pages Genre: Historical picture book Summary: This is the story of Harriet Tubman's spiritual journey to lead her people to freedom. Through the most beautiful pictures, we see that Harriet is lead by the Lord to safety out of the south. The picture portray the mood as Harriet moves through the night. The world seems very dark around her. Like a shield. It's a beautiful color choice to go with such dark colors, and as the day comes and her next gift, the sun and the amazing blue sky light up the book. As Harriet makes it to safety the book gets brighter and brighter. Even when she goes back for her family and many others, it's not so dark, because she has the light with her, and she has no fear, because the Lord is with her. My Reaction: This was the most beautiful book i have ever laid eyes on. The illustrations were breath taking. I found such hope and piece in it's pages. What a miraculous thing. Potential Problems: Slaves are what this whole book is based on, and the underground railroad. Recommendations: I think this is a wonderful for teaching about the underground railroad and slavery. I think that is fifth grade. But any time you want to teach about the Lords hand in our lives, this is a magnificent book to illustrate that concept.

Shelly

by Margie Palatini Published by the Penguin group 2006 30 Pages Genre: Picture Book Summary: Shelly has three sisters. They all came out of their shells right away, and worked hard, and were very good at their talents. His sisters began when he was going to be ready. He didn't know. They tried to teach them all of their talents, but he didn't like any of them. He just stayed in his shell. One day, as they all decided to go out, he stayed in and enjoyed himself. He really came out of his shell. And then they came back. The Shell went back on. They asked again when he was ever going to come out of his shell. He said Wednesday! so they circled the date and danced around happy as can be. But then he tells us, he never said which Wednesday! My Reaction: What beautiful illustrations. They have lots of bright yellows, blues and pinks making the fun just pop off the page. The characters where very fun and quite hilarious. I loved this book because Shelly represents us all. We all hide before we come out with our talents and such. We all have been a Shelly. So we can't help but laugh as we watch his reactions. Potential Problems: None Recommendations: I think this is a wonderful book for all elementary students. They all can relate, and it is an easy read for learners.

You Are Special

by Max Lucado Published by Crossway Books 1997 32 Pages Genre: Picture Book Summary: We come into a small town made of wood people made by the great wood carver Eli. They were called Wemmicks. The wemmicks did the same thing all day every day. They gave each other stickers which were told to determine their worth. So once they were put on, they didn't come off. Those who were beautiful received stars and those who were not and made mistakes, got dots. Punchinello received only dots. He have never received a star. One day he was so upset with himself and his dots. He ran into a Wemmick like he had never seen before. She didn't have any stickers! They wouldn't stick! So Punchinello wanted to know how she was able to do this. With her chearful smile, she explained she went to see Eli every day. So Punchinello after a long night of self doubt, wondering if the creater would really want to see him, he climbed the hill to meet Eli. Eli welcomes him in an teaches him self worth. Once it doesn't matter what others think of you, what the creater thinks becomes most important. My Reaction: What a wonderful book. How up lifting and inspiring. I think this book will become a personal favorite that will go into my stach of special books. This is a fantastic book for all. Potential Problems: None Recommendations: I think everyone should read this book at least once. It can be realated to anyone's life. Whether they believe in a suprime being or not. Someone's opinion is most important, whether it is God's, your parents, or your spouses. There is always someone who will be our Eli, but must importantly Heavenly Father is our Eli.