BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: SOME
Pascual is the patron saint of cooks and the kitchen. Pascual’s childhood was spent in the fields as he played with and sang to the sheep. In his young adulthood he decided to become a friar in order to help feel people who are hungry. Despite knowing nothing of cooking or kitchens, Pascual was assigned to cook for the friars at the monastery, and the legend of the kitchen angels was born.
I love de Paola's easily recognizable, timeless illustration style. I was unfamiliar with this particular legend but enjoyed the way it was told and illustrated. Like many of de Paolo's works, this story is filled with prayer, angels, religion, and God. As a lovely bonus, the book contains back matter with additional information about Pascual Bailón, the patron saint of cooks and kitchen.
Angie Campbell - EL Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
The evening before Wendy Darling is scheduled to leave home for boarding school, she begins to wish that did not have to grow. Later that evening Peter Pan shows up and whisks her and her brothers off to Neverland, promising they never have to grow up. While in Neverland Peter fights his old nemesis, Captain Hook. Wendy learns more about Peter's story and helps him understand the value of friendship and true leadership.
The book is an exact novelization of the recent Peter Pan and Wendy movie. It is a good story, with a fun adventure. However, it is a little boring if you have recently watched the movie and know how it all turns out. The book includes color photos from the movie.
Reviewer: A. Snow
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
This is a football-loving family story, written as if a parent is speaking to a child. The book chronicles "the day you joined our team" and "begin your rookie season" through the day "you may get drafted to a franchise of your own" (referring to when the child gets married) and bring "new teammates" to the family.
Holloway’s book is definitely an ode to football traditions as a family, and could be a sweet gift for a football-loving family. The rhyme is somewhat forced and includes all the possible football/sport/team terminology you can imagine. I appreciated the page that showed kids playing other sports and affirming that the family will "cheer you from the sidelines in whatever game you choose" since not everyone is quite as gung-ho about football as this particular family is. Jang's illustrations are colorful and detailed.
The family in the story is multiracial, and there are lots of additional characters represented as different races, religions and abilities.
Angie Campbell - EL Librarian
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
What would happen if you put a diaper on a bear? What about a diaper on a giraffe? This is a fun read aloud for your kids. It includes rhyming words and funny pictures. Why do the animals have to wear diapers? The little boy at the end of the story proudly explains why he doesn't need a diaper anymore.
My daughter and I enjoyed this book because it was so silly. The rhyming words helped engage us. She was able to make a connection with the little boy about potty training.
Reviewer: A. Criswell, English Language Arts teacher
