Miss Prim Goes Wild by Katy Rose illustrated by Thai My Phuong*

 Miss Prim is an organized, serious, predictable --well. ..  a prim lady. She especially looks for problems in nature and properly trims or disposes of them. When she hurts her back, she gains perspective on life and changes her opinion about nature.

I loved witnessing the character transformation as the book progressed. Alliteration and excellent word choice abound. The illustrations tell just as much of Miss Prim's story as the words. 

Pair with A Little More Beautiful by Sarah Mackenzie & Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Warbler Wave by April Pulley Sayre with Jeff Sayre*

My youngest son loves birds and tries to photograph them.  This spring we enjoyed seeing warblers migrate through our area so this book was extra fun to read together!
This over-sized book displays the beautiful warblers well.  Ms. Sayre and her husband photographed the warblers for this book.  The text is simple but poetic.  Four pages in the back offer a ton of information about these amazing birds and their migrating habits.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Marathon Mouse by Amy Dixon illustrated by Sam Denlinger

Preston, a mouse who lives under the Brooklyn bridge, is anticipating the New York City Marathon.  Without his family knowledge he trains for the marathon.  Will he survive the 26.2 miles?
Cute!
A perfect book for a marathon running parent to share with his/her child.
*Borrowed from the library.

This Place in the Snow by Rebecca Bond

Children anticipate the snow plow after a winter storm.  Why?  The snowplow creates a huge mound in which they design and build a massive fortress.
A book that celebrates imagination and play!
I liked Ms. Bond's word choice-"lay like lace along the trees", "hatted houses", "capsuled cars", "lumbering plow".
Borrowed from the library.

Counting Lions by Katie Cotton illustrated by Stephen Walton*

*Highly recommend this book because of the incredible illustrations!! At first I thought the illustrations were photographs!!  You can view the individual hairs in the lion's mane.
This over-sized book displays the animals in their majestic forms and shares interesting facts about each one.
I liked the word choice too-"surveys the golden savanna", "pluck leaves", "peaceful patterned giants", "a flash of fire and night that brings oblivion to her prey" and many more phrases!
In the back are more facts and their protection status for each animal.
*Highly recommend.
Borrowed from the library.

Ava and Pip by Carol Weston

Fifth grader Ava is extroverted and loves to write.  Her older sister, Pip,  is in seventh grade so shy people think she is stuck up and often make fun of her.  When a new seventh grade girl Bea hosts a party on the same evening of Pip's birthday party (no one comes to Pip's birthday party), Ava decides to use this awful situation as an inspiration for a story which she enters in a contest.  She wins the contest but Bea figures out she is the villain in the story  . . . through a series of interesting and humorous events, new friendships are formed, lessons are learned and characters are transformed.
Ava is an admirable character.
The entire story is told via journal entries so perfect for older reluctant readers.
The Wren family loves words-especially palindromes.  Other word play is sprinkled throughout the book.

Points to discuss/warnings:  The "d" word is used twice in the book-one time as part of a palindrome and another time as part of a punch line of a joke -referring to the ones the beavers make but the punch line had double meaning.  Why do authors include swearing?  If these references would not be in the story, I would have highly recommended the book.  The slang for the word chest was mentioned a couple of times.

A second book featuring Ava was just published-Ava and Taco but the libraries where I live have not purchased it yet.

Mesmerized by Mara Rockliff illustrated by Iacopo Bruno**

"How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France"
Ben Franklin travels to France to convince them to offer financial support to the Colonies during the Revolutionary War.  Ben finds France. . .entranced. . .mesmerized by Dr. Mesmer.  Dr. Mesmer can make any ailing person feel better by waving his wand.
Ben utilizes the scientific method to test Dr. Mesmer and his "amazing" wand.
The perfect book to tie history and science together!
Lots of French words throughout the book (I would have liked a translation page for all of the French words.)
Readers learn about the scientific method, the placebo effect and the origin of the word "mesmerize".
In the back the author goes into more detail about Ben Franklin, Dr. Franz Mesmer, science and the state of the world during this time period.
Well researched but presented in an interesting, fun manner.
Love the end papers-optical illusions!
**Highly, highly recommend this book.
Pair with: Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot Air Balloon Ride by Marjorie Priceman, The Case of the Missing Moonstone-The Wallstonecraft Detective Agency Book 1 by Jordan Stratford

A Meal of Stars Poems Up and Down by Dana Jensen illustrated by Tricia Tusa*

All of these poems are vertical in format.  The reader must decide if the poem starts at the bottom and travels up, or if it starts at the top and travels down.
Clever, fun and creative!
*Highly recommend.
Strategies: inferring, figurative language (personification, alliteration), check for understanding
Delightful, happy illustrations (whimsical)

Six Snowy Sheep by Judith Ross Enderle and Stephanie Gordon Tessler illustrated by John O'Brien

Six sheep receive a perfect Christmas gift to play in the snow.
Repetitive text make for an opportunity for listeners to join in the reading or great for beginning readers.
Lots of Alliteration!
Guided Reading Level: I
Grade Level Equivalency: 1.7

Ben Franklin's Big Splash The Mostly True Story of His First Invention by Barb Rosenstock illustrated by S.D. Schindler*

This story focuses on Ben Franklin's desire to swim faster and more efficiently.  On a two page spread the author/illustrator share his other contributions later in life.
I like how it focuses on his childhood perseverance and work ethic.
Lots of alliteration -"s" words.
So fun to read aloud!
The design and layout is clever and fun.
Author's note and timeline offer more information about Ben and American history.
*Highly recommend.

Go! Go! Go! Stop! by Charise Mericle Harper*

Little Green helps a construction crew build  a bridge but is too eager shouting "go"!
Fortunately Little Stop rolls into town to slow down the pace.
What about little yellow is the question we kept asking and had our answer by the end of the book.
Very cute!
Alliteration is on one page (great opportunity to introduce the concept to younger learners).
*Highly recommend.
Strategy: asking questions

Big Chickens Fly the Coop by Leslie Helakoski illustrated by Henry Cole

Another one in the "Big Chicken" series.  The chickens long to see the farmhouse but a few scary obstacles are in their way.  Funny ending.

Big Chickens Go To Town by Leslie Helakoski illustrated by Henry Cole

The same Big Chickens have an adventure in town!
Funny!
Same great word choice and alliteration.

Big Chickens by Leslie Helakoski illustrated by Henry Cole

These chickens are afraid of everything and squawk their way on an adventure in the countryside.  Because of their adventure, they become quite daring chickens with a strut!
Funny!
Great word choice plus alliteration and word families.

When Rain Falls by Melissa Stewart illustrated by Constance R. Bergum

The author describes what various animals do when it rains.
Great alliteration and word choice.
I love this author!

Superhero ABC by Bob McLeod*

A created superhero for each letter of the alphabet.  Most words describing the superhero and other people talking in the picture begin with that letter.  Very bold, colorful illustrations-very appealing.
Both my boys love it.
Skill:  Alliteration, word choice
*Highly recommend

Some Smug Slug by Pamela Duncan Edwards illustrated by Henry Cole

A slug sets off to saunter up a slope.  A surprise and funny ending!
Full of alliteration!
Readers can find "s" creatures hidden throughout the book and the letter "s" hidden on each page.