This imaginative story is told in couplet form. A dad and little girl bring their friend dragon to a picnic at the bay. On the beach they see pirates sailing by, but before they can join the fun, they review water safety rules. Dad looks for glass in the sand, checks if the water is calm, and makes sure a lifeguard is on duty. Dragon needs to be rescued, because he doesn't use the buddy system. In the end, they find a treasure map that leads them to crackers, cheese, cold meat, and lemonade for all to enjoy. Safety topics for discussion are listed on the last page. This book presents information to children in a fun and easy format.

Similar books: Other books in the series include No Dragons for Tea: Fire Safety for Kids (and Dragons) and Once Upon a Dragon: Stranger Safety for Kids (and Dragons)

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/28/2009

ISBN-10: 1553377214

ISBN-13: 9781553377214

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The engineer rings the bell and calls 'Alllllllll aboooooard!' He then starts the train, hoping not to run into trouble. It turns out that 'trouble' is spelled with a capital T and has big orange eyes and quick black paws. Two year olds will delight in the train lingo and sounds, and they will love the surprise ending. Talk your child through the reading to help them make the connection to their own toy trains and mischievous pets.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/28/2009

ISBN-10: 0802787711

ISBN-13: 9780802787712

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In this tale, a man sacrifices all his wealth in an unexpected way to save the people of his village when a monster wave threatens their lives and destroys their village. With a swirling intensity of color, the illustrations capture the power of the storm. Filled with action and emotion, this picture book is a compelling read that could offer a starting point for a discussion on selflessness.

Awards nominated: Monarch Award Nominee 2011

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 4/9/2010

ISBN-10: 0399250069

ISBN-13: 9780399250064

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Imagine Mr. and Mrs. Haktak's surprise when they discovered that the pot that Mr. Haktak found while digging in the field was a magic pot. It seemed that everything that went into the pot came out double. For Mr. and Mrs. Haktak who lived in a humble little hut and were very old and poor, this could be the answer to all their problems. Or does the pot bring with it a double set of problems as well. Enjoy reading 'Two of Everything' by Lily Toy Hong to find out what happens when Mrs. Haktak takes a tumble into this amazing pot.

Similar authors: Hans Crhistian Andersen, Amy Lowry Poole; Yeh-Shen; Ai-Ling Louie; Ed Young; Eric A. Kimmel

Similar books: Little Sima and the Giant Bowl: A Chinese Folktale by Zhi Qu; The Dragon Emperor: A Chinese Folktale by Ping Wang; The Lost Horse: A Chinese folktake by Ed Young; Ling-Li and the Phoenix Fairy: A Chinese Folktale by Ellen Greene

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 7/29/2011

ISBN-10: 0807581577

ISBN-13: 9780807581575

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A beautiful introduction to the wide world of vegetables for children, this picture book features an incredible variety of vegetables and provides simple facts about them. With brightly colored illustrations and informative text, the author introduces the eight different parts of a plant from which we harvest vegetables and provides examples of each. For instance, in the section on root vegetables, the author tells us, 'The roots of these vegetables are eaten. They grow beneath the ground.' On the two-page spread, multiple varieties of beets are pictured along with parsnips, carrots, radishes, a turnip and a rutabaga. The book also includes segments on planting and harvest of vegetables.

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 10/28/2010

ISBN-10: 0823420019

ISBN-13: 9780823420018

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