Review: You Look Yummy!

You Look Yummy! by Tatsuya Miyanishi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A young dinosaur named Yummy was born and cannot find his family, fortunately Tyrannosaurus is around just in time for Yummy to name him as his chosen father. This humorous book will make children laugh as well as learn how one can begin to care for something so easily. A great read for students in grades K-2.

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Review: A Tale of Two Daddies

A Tale of Two Daddies by Vanita Oelschlager
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

An excellent book which shows what it is like to have two daddies. A fun and innocent conversation between two children about family life. This book is a great way to help answer questions a child may come home with, and help parents have a conversation about how we all do similar things no matter what our family looks like.

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Review: Ballet Cat: Dance! Dance! Underpants!

Ballet Cat: Dance! Dance! Underpants! by Bob Shea
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bob Shea does it again! I'm a hug fan of this author and he is engaging to see him talk about his books so I may be biased, but come on, his books are hilarious and connect to kids instantly! Ballet Cat has her own series and the fun, lovable girl who just wants to dance! This second book in the series makes you smile and embrace Ballet Cat's enthusiasm and positive attitude.

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Review: Snap!

Snap! by Hazel Hutchins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An engaging book with many teachable moments throughout. Author hazel Hutchins, takes the frustration a child may have over a snapped crayon, and turn it into a world of possibilities. Snap! will make you chuckle as well as relate to Evan's frustration and later creations. Excellent read aloud with beautiful & laugh out loud illustrations for K-2 readers!

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The Martian by Andy Weir

I really enjoyed this book, and will definitely watch the movie.  I would love to have this in my library, but the amount of language throughout makes it impossible to put on the shelves.  Main character, Mark Watney, is stranded on Mars.  I actually laughed out loud in some parts of the book and enjoyed the amount of sarcasm used throughout.  I was constantly cheering Mark on in the hope he would make it back to Earth.  I'm not a big fan of Sci-fi, but author Andy Weir makes NASA language understandable through Mark's witty accounts of day to day life on Mars.  This book will not disappoint!

Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by Neri G.

Excellent graphic novel based on the 1994 Chicago murder of an innocent girl due to gang violence. Author G. Neri tells the true story in an expanded version using a fictional narrator named Roger. His perspective brings to light the difference between good & evil and what can happen when youth has everything working against them.  Junior high students won't be bored reading this fast paced and intriguing story.  This book could be an excellent companion to the novel Monster  Walter Dean Meyers.  As well as connecting to research in the classroom.  Yummy and his story ended up on the Time cover in 1994 as well.