1000 Times No - Pearson Assessments

1000 Times No by Tom Warburton (2009)

Audience: Toddlers, Preschool Category: Humor, Read Aloud

What do you say to your Mom when she tells you it’s time to go and you don’t want to? Well, if you’re like Noah, you say “No!” But sometimes even that isn’t enough as this clever picture book proves. Not only does Noah tell his Mom “No” he also tells her “Nee”, “Bu”, “Naaga” and about 1,000 Times No in every language and way you can imagine. This hysterical book is filled with colorful illustrations and storyboard squares that help show which language each version of “No” comes from. A truly entertaining book to read aloud and share with the naysayer in your life.

Beehive Book Reviews http://www.plcmc.org/Bookhive/

Reviewed by: Tree / South County Regional Library

Betsy B. Little by Anne McEvoy (2009)

Audience: Preschool, Primary (K-3rd Grade) Category: Humor, Read Aloud

Betsy B. Little is a giraffe, and taller than most. She is taller than treetops and even her parents. Betsy’s height causes her some problems like fitting into her bed, riding on the school bus, and jumping rope. One of her dreams is to ballet dance, and her parents decide to enroll her at the Skoffington School of Ballet. Betsy's experience starts off great, but then things go wrong when she hits the ceiling while leaping. Her accident causes her to hurt herself and bothers the other dancers. What will Betsy do when she finds that the other students and many of their parents don’t want her in the class? Readers will enjoy the rhyming in the book, the detailed pictures, and especially Betsy’s “don’t give up” attitude.


Reviewed by: Jeanenne / Steele Creek Library

Crazy Hair by Neil Gaiman (2009)

Audience: Primary (K-3rd Grade), Intermediate (4th-6th Grade) Category: Fantasy, Humor, Poetry, Read Aloud

Did you ever have a bad hair day? This is a book about a man with the wildest, weirdest, craziest hair you'll ever see! Follow Bonnie as she investigates the strange sights and weird creatures deep within the crazy hair. This is a beautiful romp though nonsense poetry, and is funny, silly, wild, and just a little scary, all at the same time. The pictures are as strange and enchanting as the words, and take us on a fantastic, hairy, voyage.


Reviewed by: Ian / North County Regional Library

Dear Vampa by Ross Collins (2009)


Good neighbors are hard to find, especially if you’re a vampire. Bram Pire is so upset about his new neighbors, the Wolfsons, that he writes his grandfather to complain. He describes how weird the Wolfsons are--staying awake all day long, spending lots of time outdoors in the sun, and keeping a dog for a pet. But be careful how you judge someone, sometimes you have more in common with others than you think. Color illustrations contrasted with black and white drawings make the book a visual delight, while the antics of the two families make for laugh-out-loud moments on every page.


Reviewed by: Rene / Mountain Island Library

Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (2009)

Audience: Primary (K-3rd Grade) Category: Humor

It's a duck! No, it's a rabbit! Duck! Rabbit! Two characters you actually never see argue over a shape of a cloud. What is it really? Does it matter? Lie down in the grass, look at the clouds, and read this book with a friend. You decide. Is it a duck, or is it a rabbit?

Reviewed by: Gidget / South County Regional Library


Hello, My Name is Bob by Linas Alsenas (2009)

Audience: Preschool, Primary (K-3rd Grade) Category: Read Aloud

Bob considers himself very boring. His favorite activities are sitting, humming, knitting and dusting the plants. But his friend, Jack, is zany and crazy! He loves adventure and doing fun things like going to the amusement park or the ice cream shop. How can two such different bears be friends? This endearing story demonstrates that opposites attract and you do not have to be alike to be best of friends.

Reviewed by: Jana / Steele Creek Library


Little Mouse Gets Ready by Jeff Smith (2009)

Audience: Preschool, Primary (K-3rd Grade) Category: Beg. Chapter Books, Graphic Novels, Humor

Little Mouse is getting ready to go to the barn with his brothers and sisters. He runs around getting dressed, chatting about how much he loves going to the barn. He gets ready all by himself, but there's something he's forgotten! This funny book is a great way to introduce kids to getting dressed by themselves, and a great introduction to reading and comics. Jeff Smith's pictures are wonderful, and the story, while short, will delight kids and adults.

Reviewed by: Ian / North County Regional Library


Long Shot: Never Too Small to Dream Big by Chris Paul (2009)

Audience: Primary (K-3rd Grade) Category: African-American, Biographies, Non-Fiction, Read

Aloud, Realistic Fiction, Sports

Young Chris loves to play basketball. He wants to play for a team and his big shot comes with tryouts next week. But, he is worried. Basketball players are tall and Chris is short. It would make it much harder to make the team, so can he do it? The 8-year-old asks his family members and they have advice and tips. But is that enough? NBA All- star Chris Paul tells his encouraging story about his dreams and his helpful, supporting family. The story features Frank Morrison's art that is beautiful and bright with characters in graceful motion.


Reviewed by: Lawrence / South County Regional Library

Miss Smith and the Haunted Library by Michael Garland (2009)

Audience: Primary (K-3rd Grade), Intermediate (4th-6th Grade) Category: Adventure, Fantasy, Humor, Scary

Miss Smith is the coolest teacher in the world. She wears a Blondie button on her leather jacket, spiky orange hair, and takes her class on a field trip to the library. The students meet librarian Virginia Creeper, along with a huge cast of famous creepy characters from the Incredible Storybook. The Headless Horseman, Dracula, the Jabberwokky, Captain Hook, and other creatures jump out of the pages! How often does that happen at your library? Everyone has a great time, especially when Ms. Creeper serves cookies and apple cider. How do you think the creatures get back to their storybook home when it’s time to clean up? You'll scream with delight when you read this book. See if you can figure out what books the monsters are from, too.


Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy (2009)


What happens when Mabel blows a bubble that carries her baby brother up into the air? Bubble Trouble! Follow the baby in the bubble on his page-turning adventure. Filled with great rhythm and rhyme, this story will keep you laughing and guessing. Will the bubble pop? Will the baby ever come back down? Read this book to find out!

Reviewed by: Erin / Independence Regional Library


The Case of the Stinky Socks by Lewis B. Montgomery (2009)

Audience: Primary (K-3rd Grade) Category: Mystery

Milo and Jazz become fast friends when they learn about each other's interest in solving mysteries. Their first case includes finding out who stole the socks of Jazz's brother. These were not just any stolen socks but lucky unwashed socks that have helped lead to a winning baseball season. Will this new duo be able to find any witnesses at the scene of the crime? Pencil and pen illustrations add to the humor and increase the reader's interest in this mystery story. Included at the end of this title are puzzles and activities for budding detectives to solve.

Reviewed by: Emily / South County Regional Library


Ron's Big Mission by Rose Blue and Corianne J. Naden (2009)

Audience: Primary (K-3rd Grade), Intermediate (4th-6th Grade) Category: African-American, Historical, Multicultural, Read Aloud

This fictional story is based on a true event. Ron McNair is a 9 years old African-American boy who wants to become a pilot. On a summer day in 1959, he rushes out of the house on a mission. He doesn’t have time for his breakfast, a doughnut, or a basketball game. The library is his destination. After he finds books about airplanes, his stops at the checkout desk where he says,” I’d like to check these out, please.” He is ignored, so he tries something else. He stands on the top of the desk and says the same request!! But he is told he can’t because only “white people can check out books from the library”. Discover what happens as Ron takes a stand. Tate’s bright and expressive illustrations are a major plus in this tale about a boy who would one day become a famous astronaut.

Reviewed by: Jeanenne / Steele Creek Library


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1000 Times No - Pearson Assessments