Published by Chronicle Books

Summary:  In ten easy steps, the author covers how to read a story.  Some of the steps capture the fun of reading, like finding a reading buddy and a cozy reading spot.  Others cover strategies such as predicting and using the pictures to try to figure out words you don’t know.  Readers will enjoy the story the boy reads, called The Princess, The Dragon, and The Robot, which is used to give examples of the various steps.  From finding a story to reading “The End” (and going back to the beginning if you liked it), this is a celebration of the joy of reading.  Grades K-4.

Pros:  Keep this one in mind for the first week of school to introduce reading in the primary grades.  It’s also a perfect mentor text for procedural writing.  Kids will love the cheerful illustrations.

Cons:  All good stories must come to an end.

Published by Chronicle Books

Summary:  The story of Cinderella is given a few twists.  Cinderella is an expert rocket mechanic.  The family is invited to the Royal Space Parade; Evil Stepmother suggests Cinderella fix up an old spaceship and join them, but then takes off with Cinderella’s toolbox.  Luckily, the fairy godrobot saves the day, and Cinderella has a good time until she has to hastily depart, leaving behind her sprocket wrench.  The prince seeks her out and proposes marriage, but she thinks she’s too young and instead suggests that she become his chief mechanic.

Pros:  Really fun rhyming text, reminiscent of The Three Ninja Pigs and others by Corey Rosen Schwartz.  This just begs to be read aloud, and of course, fractured fairy tales are always a hit.

Cons:  It’s not exactly rocket science…or is it?

Published by Candlewick

Summary:  A boy imagines life with a triceratops, which resembles an oversize dog, complete with lolling tongue, leash, and doghouse.  Readers will enjoy illustrations of the boy trailing after his pet on a walk with a shovel and trash bag, and of two triceratops sniffing at each other’s tails when they first meet.  “If I had a triceratops,” concludes the narrator, “I would be the luckiest kid in the world.”

Pros:  This would be a good writing prompt for kids to write persuasively about why they should have a triceratops (or other animal) as a pet.  The information about the author mentions that there is an earlier book, If I Had a Raptor that is based on cat ownership.

Cons:  That whole shovel and bag thing.

Published by Viking Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Sophie has a new baby sister, and she’s decided to try out some different languages to communicate with her, like Jellyfish, Hyena, and Baboon.  Each time she makes the attempt, her parents urge her, “Use your words, Sophie.”  Meanwhile, Sophie’s mother and father are having trouble agreeing on what to name the baby.  To add to the chaos, the baby starts crying, and no one, not even Granny, can figure out how to make her stop.  Finally, Sophie uses her words.  “Give her to me, please.”  Then she uses them again to sing quietly to the baby.  Miraculously, the baby stops crying.  “Her name is Jane,” says Sophie.  “So I sang to her, Jane, Jane, don’t be a pain.  Now she’s happy.”  And so is everyone else.

Pros:  Rosemary Wells has created another memorable character for preschoolers.  This is Sophie the mouse’s third book.  It would make an excellent sibling gift when a new baby arrives.

Cons:  I was sorry that Jane was the final name choice for the new baby.  Just adding a “t” would have made it so much better.

Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Every night, Spencer hears a bedtime story, and every morning, the book is missing.  His parents don’t know where the books are (plus, they’re busy), and he gets in trouble when he accuses his little sister of stealing them.  Finally, he sets a trap by rigging up his stuffed narwhal to one of his books.  In the morning, he follows the narwhal to a clump of bushes where he discovers a squirrel reading the book to his friends and family.  Spencer gets his books back, but he invites the squirrels to come any time to borrow, and the final page shows him reading his favorite book, Night, Night, Narwhal to the squirrels and his sister.  Ages 4-8.

Pros:  Spencer is an ingenious boy who is able to figure out how to solve his own problems.  This would be a great introduction to the whole borrowing-books-from-the-library concept.

Cons:  Those squirrels are nuts.

Published by HMH Books for Young Readers

Summary:  Warty Warthog introduces himself and his friends at the zoo, explaining in rhyming text why each animal is perfect the way he/she is.  Rhino likes his wrinkly skin, Elephant knows his nose is supposed to be long, Chimp’s sticking-out ears are charming, etc.  Each animal gets a large illustration on a white background, every animal looking as happy as can be.  The final conclusion? “It would be such a shame if you came to the zoo and we all looked the same!” Ages 3-8.

Pros:  An upbeat message for kids to appreciate differences, joyfully illustrated by Caldecott Medal winner Janet Stevens.

Cons:  If you read this aloud, you will have to endure endless laughter about Hippo’s wiggly, jiggly behind.