The Stinky Chesse Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales

In my opinion this book is cleverly written. It is witty and unlike any other children's book that I read as a child. I enjoyed the idea of rewriting classic fairy tales and adding a creative edge to them. The title should give teachers and parents a warning that there is some vulgar language. In my opinion this book should be limited to library and not classroom usage because of the choice of language. I enjoyed the page layout because there were lots of pictures and other labels that were artistically placed. I found the interrupting of the narrator and quick endings of the stories humorous. If the students have not previously read the original fairly tales or are not old enough to understand the jokes, I do not think they will enjoy the book as much as someone who has. The Princess and The Bowling Ball taught the message of honesty. For example the princess who admitted the mattress was uncomfortable ended up happily ever after with the prince. Not every story has a happy ending, The Ugly Duckling stays ugly, which is the exact opposite of the original story. I think that children would greatly enjoy reading this story because it is a spin off of original stories that most children know of.

What Sisters Do Best / What Brothers Do Best

This book caught my attention because I have both a brother and a sister. This book was different from other books I have selected so far because it is two books in one. Half of the book is a story about brothers, while the other half is about sisters. I thought that the author did a really good job with matching up the words with the pictures. There were a variety of activities that each participated in. I liked how the author used animals instead of people in the illustrations. This is the second book that I have noticed animals representing people. I wonder if it is for ethnic, non racial reasons. The author made sure that she was not being sexist either and included both brothers and sisters. I noticed that the animals chosen represents the sexes very well. The females are represented as Kola bears, looking all soft and gentile and the males are illustrates as pigs, actively playing on a tire swing. I like how the author did not separate or categorize the activities. The one thing I would change about the book is the design of how the book comes together in the middle. I think that there is a good message and beginning readers would enjoy reading because the words are repetitive.

Alphab'art

Being an art major, I have appreciation for artists and works of art. The book Alphab'art introduces letters and artists to children of all ages. Adults and older children can appreciate learning the works of art, while younger children can search for the letter hidden in the work. This book reminds me of the "Where's Waldo" books except it is an art version. I found the works of art very beautiful, but I think I have a greater appreciation then what a ten year old would have. There are many other fun and brightly colored alphabet books that I do not think most children would select this book. I think that its is a creative idea and would interest adults while they are reading with their child. I did not like how there is an answer key in the back of the book that lists where the letters are hidden in each page. I was under the impression that there was more then one right answer. However, I did like that in the back of the book lists more information about the works of art and information about the artists. If I was an art teacher I would have this book in my collection, but for the standard classroom teacher I think there are better options.

Madeline's Rescue

Traveling to France and learning the French language while in school, I have grown to appreciate the French and their culture. I absolutely adored Madeline growing up and enjoyed reading it again as an adult. Unlike the other books I choose to read, the writing style was set up like a poem and rhymed. The illustrations are mainly colored with some pages only in yellow, black, and white. I liked how the pictures were realistic and showed the city scenes of Paris. The words are multisyllabic and I would recommend the book for an advanced reader. I liked how there were a limited number of sentences on each page, four at the most. This allows for the reader to appreciate the writing and the photos more then if there were long paragraphs on each page. Mrs. Clavel did not set a good example by not listening to Lord Cucuface. Lord Cucuface did not allow the dog to stay with the girls, but Mrs. Clavel did not listen to this rule. Following the rules is something Mrs. Clavel should have done to be a good role model. I thought the ending does not teach children that sharing is a good thing. The dog ended up having puppies so in the end, each girl got a puppy. Perhaps I am being too critical on this book, but overall I enjoyed reading it.

Judie B. Jones and The Mushy Gusy Valentine

While reading, I could not help but to visualize the series of events that took place in "Mrs's" classroom. Jodie B. Jones has an outgoing personality, making it very entertaining for readers of all ages to enjoy. Being a classroom teacher, it is very common to have students that have issues with each other. I did not agree with all the ways "Mrs" solved the issues, but I did feel her frustration as a teacher. The age of the students were realistically written. For example, I liked how the author, Barbara Park, spelled the word Valentine wrong like Valentime because that is how Judie B. pronounced it. I also enjoyed when Judie B. would say phrases that she had obviously heard from adult, but she repeated it as if it were her ideas. "Cause I was a treat for your eyes" was a saying that she had said about her Valentimes Day outfit! Reading this book as an adult reminds me about how differently kids view adults. Judie B. believed that "Mrs" did not understand her, however she was just doing her job and treating all the students fairly. I really liked the happy ending because Judie B. Jones and "Meanie Jim" become best of friends.

Arthur's Eyes

Growing up my siblings and I enjoyed watching the television show Arthur. The episodes were very similar to the book series. Arthur's Eyes had a very good message for children. The book starts off with Arthur having to ask his friend to read the chalkboard for him and Arthur not being able to make baskets in a game of basketball. Arthur then goes to the eye doctor with his parents to get glasses. However, the students made fun of Arthur at school the next day. I feel that there are many other young kids who have had a similar experience to Arthur's. Unfortunately, it took the embarrassing event of going into the girls bathroom to make Arthur realize that he needed to wear his glasses. I found it humorous and that Arthur started a trend because the next day his friend wore fake glasses to school too. In the end, this book sent a good message to children to something that many can relate to.

Timothy Goes To School

This book caught my eye because my boyfriends name is Tim. To my surprise, this book was nothing like I had expected. This book sends a terrible message for kids. I read this book to my boyfriend and my roommate, they both agreed. The moral of the story is that clothing is important and it is okay to laugh at people. The story is about Timothy having negative thoughts about a classmate named Claude. One day Timothy wishes that Claude will mess up and the next day he wants Claude to fall in a puddle. I believe that those are negative ideas to give a child. The illustrations are fine and I liked how the characters where animals. However, the after school snacks could have been healthier choices. Cupcakes and cookies were served to Timothy daily by his mom after school. In my opinion the ending of the story was random. Timothy meets a girl in the class and invites her over to his house. While at his house, they "laughed so much about Claude and Grace that they both got the hiccups"...really?