Book Reviews by Genre & Topic

The book reviews are separated by picture book, chapter book, and general adult books. The children’s books are categorized alphabetically by topic. A general age frame and additional information is provided. For more book information, click on the highlighted title. Please leave a comment for suggestions to make this page even more helpful.

Picture Books

ABCs:

Al Pha’s Bet by Amy Krouse Rosenthal Ages4+, Humorous as the alphabet letters have personalities.

Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert -Ages 1+ Learn the alphabet and healthy fruits & vegetables

LMNO Peas by Keith Baker – Ages 3+

Back to School:

Butterflies in My Stomach by Serge Bloch – A nervous child is confused with daily idioms on the first day. – Ages 4-8.

Biography:

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin -Ages 8+

The Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Seuss by Kathleen Krull – Ages 8+

Pop the Invention of Bubble Gum by Meghan McCarthy – Ages 6+, True story about Walter Diemer who helped create bubble gum. – Ages 6+

Eva and Little Kitty on the Titanic by Sidsel Carnahan – Ages 6+, Story about one of the last surviving Titanic survivors as a young girl on the ship. There is a fictional element too.

Birthday:

Cupcake by Charise Mericle Harper – Ages 5+ A cute story about a plain cupcake who wants to be special.

Every Year On Your Birthday by Rose Lewis – Ages 6+

Happy Birthday Monster by Scott Beck – Ages 6+

Happy Birthday to You! by Dr. Seuss – Ages 6+

On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman – Ages 3+

Scaredy Squirrel Has a Birthday Party by Mélanie Watt – Ages 6+

The Best Birthday Party Ever by Jennifer LaRue Huget – Ages 6-8

The Secret Birthday Message by Eric Carle – Ages 3-5

Bullying & Teasing:

Just Kidding by Trudy Ludwig – Ages 6-8

King of the playground by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor – Ages 5-7

Say Something by Peggy Moss – Ages 6-8

Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell – Ages 5-7

The Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neil – Ages 5-7

Yoon and the Jade Bracelet by Helen Recorvits – Ages 6-9

Chinese New Year:

Runaway Wok: A Chinese New Year by Ying Chang Compestine – Ages 6-8, Humorous

Christmas:

A Bellbird in a Flame Tree by Kilmeny Niland – Australian version of The Twelve Days of Christmas – Ages 4-6

A Wish to be a Christmas Tree by Colleen Monroe – Ages 6-8

Christmas Cookies Bite Size Holiday Lessons by Amy Krouse Rosenthal -Ages 4-6

Feliz Navidad by David Diaz – Ages 5-8

How Santa Got His Job by Stephen Krensky – Ages 6-8

How Santa Lost His Job by Stephen Krensky – Ages 6-8

Light the Lights a Story About Celebrating Hanukkah Christmas by Margaret Moorman – Ages 6-8

Milly and the Macy’s Parade by Shana Corey – Ages 8-10

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry -Ages 6-8

The Baker’s Dozen a Saint Nicholas Tale by Aaron Shepard – Ages 8-10

Three French Hens by Margie Palatini – Ages 7-9

Cinco de Mayo:

Cinco de Mouse-o! by Judy Cox – A humorous story about a mouse on Cinco de Mayo. – Ages 5-8

Colors:

Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger Ages 2+

Cultural:

Uncle Peter’s Amazing Chinese Wedding – Ages 6-9

My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits – Girl tries to fit into class with her name. – Ages 6-9

Yoon and the Jade Bracelet by Helen Recorvits – Bullying & Friendship – Ages 6-9

Environment:

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown Ages 6+, A garden changes a city to make it beautiful.

The Earth Book by Todd Parr – Helpful hints to take care of the Earth. – Ages 4-6

Friendship:

Chopsticks by Amy Krouse Rosenthal – Chopsticks learn to work together and apart. – Ages 4-7

Enemy Pie by Derek Munson – Ages 5-7

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett – Ages 5+

How Orples Came to Be by Marcy Cockerille King – Fantasy story about oranges that become alive. – Ages 6-8

Tara & Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends by Carol Buckley – Ages 6+

Hanukkah:

A Chanukah Noel by Sharon Jennings -Ages 8-10

Hanukkah Moon by Deborah da Costa -Ages 7-9

Mrs Greenberg’s Messy Hanukkah by Linda Glaser -Ages 6-8

The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming by Lemony Snicket -Ages 6-10

Historic Events:

Eva and Little Kitty on the Titanic by Sidsel Carnahan – Ages 6+, Somewhat true story about a girl on the Titanic.

Humorous:

Amelia Bedelia, Bookworm by Herman Parish -Ages 5-7

Doug Unplugged by Dan Yaccarino Ages 5+

Open Very Carefully by Nick Bromley – Ages 5+, A crocodile is loose in the pages.

Rain! by Linda Ashman

There was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow by Lucille Colandro -Ages 5-7

The Teacher from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thale -Ages 5-7

The Frog Prince Continued by Jon Scieszka – Ages 6+

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! by Jon Scieszka – Ages 6+

The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins Ages 3+

Math:

The Greedy Triangle by Marilyn Burns -Ages 5-7

Mother’s Day:

A Present for Mom by Vivian French – Ages 4-6

T-Rex and the Mother’s Day Hug by Lois G. Grambling – Ages 5-7

Morals & Lessons:

My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook -Take Turns Talking – Ages 5-7

The Honest-to-Goodness Truth by Patricia C. McKissack -Ages 6-9

Spork by Kyo Maclear – A table spork feels different and wants to be included at the table. -Ages 4-6

Nonfiction:

An Orange in January by Dianna Hutts Aston -Explains how oranges arrive to the store in January. -Ages 4-6

Pig on the Titanic by Gary Crew – True story about woman’s musical box shaped like a pig on the Titanic. – Ages 7+

Polar the Titanic Bear by Daisy Corning Stone Spedden – True story told from the bear’s perspective with real photographs. – Ages 7+

Pop the Invention of Bubble Gum by Meghan McCarthy – Ages 6+, True story about how bubble gum was made.

Safari Book/ Ages 2+, Awesome Photicular Book where the pictures came ‘alive’. by Dan Kainen and Carol Kaufmann

Patriotic:

Apple Pie 4th of July by Janet S. Wong Ages 5+, Chinese American girl conflicted how to celebrate 4th of July.

I Pledge Allegiance by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson 5+, Brief information about the Pledge of Allegiance.

Poetry:

I Haiku You by Betsy Snyder, Ages 6+ An introduction to haiku poems for children.

Please Bury Me in the Library by J. Patrick Lewis – Ages 6+

Wonderful Words: Poems About Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins -Ages 6+

Reading/Books/Library:

Calico Cat Meets Bookworm by Donald Charles – Ages 4-6

Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates – A dog opens a bookstore. -Ages 4-6

I Don’t Like to Read! by Nancy Carlson -Ages 4-6

Library Lil by Suzanne Williams -Ages 6-8

Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen – Realistic elements about a friendly lion who enjoys the library. -Ages 5-7

Lola at the Library by Anna McQuinn – Ages 2-4 – Young girl enjoys the library.

Miss Brooks Loves Books (and I don’t) by Barbara Bottner – Ages 5+, A stubborn reader can’t find a book to enjoy.

Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile by Gloria Houston – Ages 6+

My Librarian is a Camel by Margriet Ruurs – Nonfiction about different book programs around the world. – Ages 8+

Reading Makes You Feel Good by Todd Parr – Ages 4+

Tomás and the Library Lady by Pat Mora – Migrant workers, Nonfiction, Library – Ages 6+

Wild About Books by Judy Sierra – Zoo animals love reading. – Ages 6+

Science:

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder by Mark Cassino -Ages 8+

Seasons:

Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson – Ages 4-6

In November by Cynthia Rylant -Ages 5-7

It’s Spring! by Linda Glaser Ages 4+

Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert – Ages 3-6

Snow by by Cynthia Rylant – Ages 5-7

Snow by by Uri Shulevitz – A young boy believes that it will snow, but the town doubts him. – Ages 5-7

Winter is the Warmest Season by Lauren Stringer – Ages 5-7

September 11th books:

Dog Heroes of September 11th: A Tribute to America’s Search and Rescue Dogs by Nona Kilgore Bauer

Fireboat: The Heroic Adventures of the John J. Harvey by Maira Kalman – Ages 7+

September 12th: We Knew Everything Would Be All Right by Materson Elementary Students in Kennett, Missouri – 5+

September Roses by Jeanette Winter – Ages 5 +

The Little Chapel that Stood by A.B. Curtiss – Ages 8+

Thanksgiving:

A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman -Ages 6-8

Gracias the Thanksgiving Turkey by Joy Cowley – Ages 5-7

I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson -Ages 5-7

The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson – Nonfiction book about Sarah Hale who wrote to presidents to promote Thanksgiving as a national holiday during the 1800s. -Ages 8+

Thanksgiving Rules by Laurie Friedman – Ages 6-8

Turk and Runt: A Thanksgiving Comedy by Lisa Wheeler -Ages 5-7

Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey -Ages 5-7

Valentine’s Day:

If You’ll Be My Valentine by Cynthia Rylant – Ages 4-6

Love, Ruby Valentine by Laurie Friedman – Ages 6+

Love, Splat by Rob Scotton – Ages 6+

Mouse’s First Valentine by Lauren Thompson – Ages 3-5

Rhyme Time Valentine by Nancy Poydar – Ages 6-8

Vocabulary/Word Fun:

Butterflies in My Stomach by Serge Bloch – A child is confused with daily idioms. – Ages 4-8.

Fancy Nancy’s Favorite Fancy Words by Jane O’Connor – Ages 5-7