The Night Before the Tooth Fairy by Natasha Wing, Illustrated By Johansen Newman

Ricky has all his teeth and our next door neighbor (who is 6) just started losing his teeth and told Ricky about it. Ricky's a little freaked about losing his teeth but is intrigued by the Tooth Fairy thing so I decided to get him this book.

The book is written in the Night Before Christmas style and is very funny and cute. Here is the opening lines,

""Twas the night before the Tooth Fairy

would come take my tooth,

I'd been so excited

ever since it got looth."

This book does a great job addressing what happens when your tooth gets lose, when you lose it, and how cool it is when the Tooth Fairy comes. I think Ricky feels a lot better about the whole thing now, thanks to this cute book.

Scholastic, 2003

The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen

The author of this book also has a book called If I Built a Car - which we actually own. I can't believe I didn't review that book! It's on my list of books to review in the near future. He's also written and illustrated Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee - which is also quite good.

We got hammered with snow last night and Ricky didn't go to preschool today so I read this book to him. The story is about a circus ship that has an accident and all the animals swim to shore to a town in Maine. They all grow to love living in the town and want to stay. The circus owner comes to town, looking for his animals. The animals hide and blend into their surroundings so they cannot be found. The mean circus owner goes home empty-handed.

The book is written very well - in a rhyming fashion - and the illustrations are great. They made Ricky laugh at many points.

Chris Van Dusen's books are not your ordinary children's books and do not follow the usual cookie cutter formula. They are original stories that grasp your child's attention. I really enjoy his books and so does Ricky. Our book is overdue and he's asked me to keep it for another day - that's how much he likes it.

Candlewick Press, 2009.

Crow Call by Lois Lowry, Illustrated By Bagram Ibatoulline

I can't read the name Lois Lowry without thinking of Anastasia Krupnik - one of my favorite characters as a young adult. Lois Lowry wrote some great books for kids and is partially responsible for the book lover I have become as an adult. So when I saw this book at the library, I had to check it out - because I knew it was going to be good - and because I was curious.

Crow Call is based on a real life experience of Lois Lowry as a young girl. This book is about a young girl and her connection to her father, who has just returned from the war. She and her father set out on an autumn morning in Pennsylvania and share some cherry pie in town. Then they go out in hills and call the crows. Having lived in Chicago my whole life, I never heard of crow calling. So this was educational for me too.

Since Ricky is a soon-to-be 5 year old boy, he was a bit bored by this book. I think he might be too young for it and doesn't really appreciate the book's merits quite yet. He knows about war from Star Wars but we haven't told him about the actual world wars yet - and the killing, death, etc. He also has no concept of being apart from either of his parents for more than just a day while he sleeps at grandma's house. Living in Chicago, he has gone to the park several times, but has never been out in the woods or anything close to the beautiful Pennsylvania hills. Gosh, this book is pointing out so many things I have yet to show my son!

This book would be perfect for a girl who is ages 6 to 8. I will definitely read this book to my son when he is bit older and can appreciate it. As a young girl, I know I would have loved this book myself. The story is sweet and the illustrations are breathtaking.

Scholastic Press, 2009

The Elevator Man by Stanley Trachtenberg, Illustrated By Paul Cox

I got this book from the library for Ricky. I was attracted to it because of the illustration style. This book is about a little boy who is friends with the Elevator Man. The building's elevator is renovated and the Elevator Man gets a promotion to Doorman.

I was worried that Ricky would be bored during some parts, but he was at full attention the whole time. This book was good because it struck up a conversation about the whole elevator man thing. Riding an elevator is probably one of Ricky's favorite things to do when we go anywhere - specifically, pressing the button.

I explained to Ricky that old elevators needed an elevator man, and we talked about condos, and hotels and the number of floors on them, etc. etc. Actually there is one page where the illustrator shows several floors in a courtyard fashion - and all the people waiting for the elevator. In a nutshell, this book was a good tool for teaching Ricky about buildings and elevators. A Life Tool.

I appreciate this book because it gave us a topic that we wouldn't really talk about otherwise.

So in that sense, it's educational for little kids.

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2009

The Adventures of Harvey the Wonder Dog by Lise Dominique, Illustrated By Chrissie Vales

The author of this book, Lise Dominique, did a reading at my son's school yesterday. Since Ricky has dog allergies, he had to stand in the back of the room as far away from Harvey as possible. He liked the book and what he could see of Harvey the dog.

This is the first time I've blogged about a book I haven't read to Ricky but made an exception since the author read the book to his class. Ricky told me that he liked the book and would like me to find it for him at the library so he can hear the story again.

Hoping our library bought this book. Will blog again after we read it together at some point.

Star Wars Sticker and Activity Books

Sticker books are the best. And if your child loves Star Wars and Star Wars the Clone Wars, these books published by DK Books are a total must-have.

The book here on the left features the movies and the book is divided up in sections that coincide with scenes from the movie. There are names of all the characters, ships, and alien beings with definitions. Since Ricky can't read yet, I find myself reading the descriptions of the stickers he picks out. All very educational for the young Star Wars fan.

There is also a Star Wars the Clone Wars sticker book, and one that is a coloring book and sticker book. Ricky has all of these books and when he finishes them, I buy him a new one. He never gets tired of them. These books are great to travel with as well.