2013, END OF SUMMER - BACK TO SCHOOL PICK, YOU'RE WEARING THAT TO SCHOOL?! by LYNN PLOURDE

    

   I say "Oh, yes, Yes!" along with Penelope in LYNN PLOURDE'S latest book, YOU'RE WEARING THAT TO SCHOOL?! 
     Penelope, the hippo knows exactly how she wants to approach her first day of school until her older, wiser friend, Tiny tells her the importance of blending in.  YOU'RE WEARING THAT TO SCHOOL?! boldly addresses embracing uniqueness and what might happen if you stand out from the crowd.  Will Penelope ignore or follow the advice given to her by her seasoned friend? Illustrator, SUE CORNELISON brings to life LYNN'S characters with playfulness and dynamic expression.  The juxtaposition of size, age, and personality make this book a stand-out just like Penelope!
   

 I give this book 5 apples, top of the barrel. LYNN's exuberance for word play and writing children's books along with her public school work as a speech and language pathologist makes this a must read for the start of the year, every year.


     YOU'RE WEARING THAT TO SCHOOL?! is a 32 page picture book perfect for the starting school for the first time or changing schools.  Ages 5 through 8 will enjoy this story, especially girls.  The themes are friendship, uniqueness, fitting-in, peer pressure, starting school or a new school, and being yourself. It will make a great book for your classroom or the library.


    

 If you want to find out more about author LYNN PLOURDE check out her website at:Lynn's Website.  YOU'RE NOT WEARING THAT TO SCHOOL?! is published by Disney/Hyperion and is available at Barnes and Noble, online and through your local independent bookseller as a hardback book.

    

2013, END OF THE SUMMER - START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR PICK, NUGGET & FANG by TAMMI SAUER

    

      A sink your teeth into the perfect picture book for back to school, NUGGET & FANG by award winning author, TAMMI SAUER.  NUGGET & FANG is a delightful story about best friends and their differences.  TAMMI tells the story of childhood innocence and the busting of innocence through the clever characters of a shark and a minnow, natural enemies.   The sweet humor woven into the story makes Fang a lovable, endearing hunk of a shark who tries time and time again to get his point across to Nugget and his school of fishy friends.  The illustrations by Michael Slack are colorful, whimsical, impactful and bring the under the sea adventure to life. The sense of place, characters, and emotions will please kids.  
    

 I give this book 5 apples, outstanding.TAMMI has the ability to create lovable, memorable  characters. A former teacher and librarian, TAMMI knows kids and they will relate.


     This 40 page picture book is for children pre-school through early elementary ages.  It has high appeal for boys and girls.  The themes in the book are friends, school, peer pressure, loss, stereotyping, prejudice. A wonderful addition to personal or professional libraries at home or school!


    

 

 If you want to find out more about author TAMMI SAUER check out her website at:Tammi's Website.  NUGGET & FANG is published by  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers and is available at Barnes and Noble, online and through your local independent bookseller as a hardback book & e-reader.

    

Book of the Month, April 1st 2013, EARTHLING

EARTHLING  BY Mark fearing

  

     Get ready to be launched into outer space with EARTHLING, the debut graphic novel by award winning illustrator, Mark Fearing. Thoughtfully capturing the struggle kids experience when moving to a new home and school, Mark places the reader on the bumpy bus of transition. He has elevated the experience to a new and unexpected place. Through his writing and illustration, Fearing transports the reader into the life of Bud, a dreaded alien invading the galaxy. EARTHLING is a dynamic, colorful, comic book style, graphic novel that is fast paced, full of twists and turns, and is
appropriately weighted down with one gigantic problem. No spoilers here.

     This graphic novel is solid in the development of varied and interesting characters who you love or hate and the perfect story pacing that culminates with an unexpected empathetic ending.  The use of color and line dominate the comic book style that holds the viewer/reader through a variety of scene settings so that you feel like you are on the page with Bud. What great fun! I can see a long list of boys and girls of multiple ages and reading abilities that will have a great time with EARTHLING.

I rate this book 4 apples, a great read.  EARTHLING takes the reader out of this world while experiencing typical childhood change and transition in a most unusual way. EARTHLING is a 245 page graphic novel for kids 8 and up.


     The themes in this story are change, transition, new school, friendship, fitting in, solving problems, seeing things from a different viewpoint. This book is in kid-friendly, highly readable and enjoyable format. 

EARTHLING is published by Chronicle Books and is available through your local independent bookseller, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon. If you would like more information on Mark Fearing, EARTHLING, or Mark's other books, it is available at Mark's Website.

EARTHLING is being given away this month to a lucky winner who posts a comment on this blog or signs up as a follower or likes the Book Wisdom by Diane Facebook page.  If you sign up as a follower please let me know you did, I do not have access to your name or use your information as I value your privacy. Drawing happens May 5th.