Suppose You Met a Dinosaur: A First Book of Manners by Judy Sierra-ADVISABLE

Sierra, Judy.  Bowers, Tim.  Suppose You Meet a Dinosaur:  A First Book of Manners, Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2012.  $16.99.  Inside cover: “In this fantasy, a well-mannered little girl and an equally well-mannered dinosaur know all the right words, like “please” and “thank you” and “excuse me.”  With its humorous text that’s ideal for reading aloud, the incomparable Judy Sierra’s rhyming romp will make any young child enjoy learning- and using- his or her manners.”  This is one of the best rhyming books I have read.  The author nailed it perfectly.  The story is a perfect read-aloud and would be great for any unit on manners.  One warning: There is mention of the little girl needing to use the bathroom and the text says, “You have to pee!”  This might cause some raised eyes in adults or giggles in your students.  The illustrations are bold and bright.  We enjoyed this picture book!  Pre-K.  EL (K-3).  ADVISABLE.  Reviewer: SL. 

Wild About you by Judy Sierra –ADVISABLE

Sierra, Judy and Illustrated by Brown, Marc Wild About You! 40 pgs. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2012. $10.79  (Rating: G)

All the animals and creatures at the zoo are having babies. But not the tree kangaroo or the pandas, so they are sad. But when a new egg arrives, none of the animals know what kind of baby is inside. But the kangaroo doesn’t care and is even when it turns out to be a penguin, which wasn’t what she was hoping for, she loves it even more. Every animal at the zoo helps to take care of it. Next its the Pandas turn.

With some great themes about community, adoption, and unconditional love –well you can’t go wrong. Not to mention the great art by Marc Brown. Its slightly lyrical, very colorful, and sweet as can be.

EL –ADVISABLE Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian 

Make Way for Readers by Judy Sierra -OPTIONAL

Sierra, Judy Make Way for Readers Paula Wiseman Books (Simon), 2016 $17.99.  PICTURE BOOK

This is  the story of some animals kids enjoying a storytime with Miss Bingo, the story reading flamingo. She read them nursery rhymes and they do stretches. They have so much fun. Features light colored pencil illustrations.

This is a sweet book for young readers. It could be used to introduce students to the concept of storytime, which is fun because you would be reading it for a storytime! The illustrations would be challenging to share with a group because they are so light and washed out.

PRE-K  –OPTIONAL Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

ZooZical by Judy Sierra - ESSENTIAL

Sierra, Judy. ZooZical, illustrated by Marc Brown. Alfred A. Knopf (Random House), 2011. $17.99. PICTURE BOOK. The animals at the zoo are a bit down because of the winter weather, when a small hippo and a kangaroo start hopping around the zoo. They decide to put on a zoo musical and soon every animal is excited to share their talents. People flock to the zoo to see the show. Fans of the Arthur series will recognize the illustrator Marc Brown’s colorful and creative touch. The illustrations practically leap off the page with vibrant color and motion. Pre-K, EL – ESSENTIAL. Samantha, Public Librarian.

We Love Our School! by Judy Sierra- ADVISABLE

Sierra, Judy.  Davick, Linda.  We Love Our School!  (A Read Together Rebus Story), 24 pgs.  Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2011.  $7.99.  Inside cover:  “Today is the first day of school for frog and three of his friends- a duck and a mouse and a polka-dot snail.  After a day of fun with their teachers, a turkey and a rabbit, everyone feels like a star.  This read-together-story- (you read the words, your child “reads” the rebus pictures)- is just right for the child who is one small step away from being able to read words.”  This is a fun, well written rhyming rebus story.  We loved the pictures and the ease at reading in rhythm.  Great book for early readers!  Pre-K.  El (K-3).  ADVISABLE.  Reviewer:  SL.

Imagine That! by Judy Sierra - ESSENTIAL

Sierra, Judy Imagine That! How Dr. Seuss Wrote The Cat inthe Hat Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes PICTURE BOOK Random House, 2017. $18. Content: G.  

In the mid-50’s young readers were having a hard time transitioning from reading a few words to being able to read a whole book.  Dr. Seuss, known by his friends as Ted, was called on to solve the problem.  Ted was issued a challenge to include a list of non-nonsense words that new readers needed to know.  Ted brainstormed and came up with the idea of one his most popular books, The Cat in the Hat.  It was met with great success and Ted went on to write other beginning books for young readers.  

Who doesn’t love Dr. Seuss?  This is a fun look at one of the ways that children’s books took a turn for the better.  The illustrations are fantastic because there is a mix of realistic drawings with cartoon-ish illustrations that replicate Dr. Seuss’s own work.  My two sons love this book and like to re-read it.  

EL (K-3) – ESSENTIAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Tell the Truth, B.B. Wolf

Sierra, Judy Tell the Truth, B.B. Wolf, illustrated by Jotto Siebold.  Knopf Books for Young Readers (Random), 2010. PICTURE BOOK. Content-G.  The beloved Big Bad Wolf from our childhood memories appears again in Sierra’s tale of the wolf’s rendition of how he met the three little pigs.  BB Wolf is invited to the local library for story time and recounts how the story went according to his recollection.  According to BB Wolf, the simple act of blowing on a dandelion caused the first little pigs house to fall down.  He was trying to teach the little piggie not to play with matches with the second house blew over.  And so the story goes.  All fairytale characters in the library audience hackle and call out to BB Wolf’s and his version of his story. In the end, BB Wolf tells the truth, and makes recompense for his earlier destruction of the three little pigs houses.  We loved this book!  The illustrations are eye-catching and detailed.  EL- ESSENTIAL.  Reviewer:  SL

E.I.E.I.O. How Old MacDonald Got His Farm - ADVISABLE

Sierra, Judy E.I.E.I.O. How Old MacDonald Got His Farm, illustrated by Matthew Myers.  PICTURE BOOK.  Candlewick, 2014.  $17.  Content: G.  

While billed as a history of that famous farm, instead this is a impetus for urban gardeners for all sorts.  The author gives up on the traditional rhyme scheme after a couple pages, which makes it awkward, because you really want to sing along.  Kids will have fun shouting out E-I-E-I-O when it comes up, though.  The illustrations are bright and eye-catching.  Any school that has a garden will also want this.  

Pre-K, EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE.  Cindy, Library Teacher