This Little Explorer

This Little Explorer

Written by: Joan Holub
Illustrated by: Daniel Roode

Copyright: 2016
Genre: Nonfiction
Theme: influential explorers 
Appropriate for Ages: 3-5 years

Summary:
There is not really a plot in this book. Each page tells about the adventures of a different explorer and what they discovered. Some page tells a little about the explorer, like things they did, what they were looking for, or just something random about them. 

Illustrations:
The illustrations are very bright and take up the whole page. He uses a lot of bright and happy colors throughout the whole book. The characters in the book look kind of like cartoon characters. It makes the book a little more fun. 

My thoughts: 
This is a great educational book. It is a fun way to teach children about the people that discovered all different things on earth. It may even inspire them to become some kind of explorer and find or try something new. 

Links:
Explorer activities 
More about the author

Review: 
It is a fun book. It is short and to the point. It tells kids the one major discovery of the explorers. It doesn't give a lot of information on them. So they should not get too bored reading this book because each page is something different. 

Corduroy's Christmas Surprise

Corduroy's Christmas Surprise 

Written by: Don Freeman
Illustrated by: Lisa McCue

Copyright: 2000
Genre: Modern fantasy 
Theme: The true meaning of  Christmas 
Appropriate for Ages:  4-8 years

Summary:
Corduroy writes a letter to Santa asking for all kinds of gifts. Then later when he was with his friends he heard they wanted all the same things he did. He did not want to tell them he asked for all the same things. He goes home and writes a new letter for Santa asking for him to give his friends what they want and says he doesn't really need anything. He realizes that the most important part about Christmas is not the gifts, but spending time with his friends.
 

Illustrations:
The illustrations are very bright and take up both sides of the page. He uses a lot of bright and happy colors throughout the whole book. The pages are filled with even more color when Christmas morning comes. The colors give the book a very warm and exciting feeling. 

My thoughts: 
This is such a cute story to use to explain the true meaning of Christmas. It is so sweet how Corduroy wants all of his friends to get what they want and he is not worried about what he gets. Even though in the end he ends up getting the gifts he wanted.

Links:
Christmas craft ideas
More about the author

Review: 
This is a great book to read around Christmas time. It helps kids realize that Christmas is not just about the presents that you get. You need to focus on spending time with your family, celebrating Christmas. 

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Written by: Mara Alperin
Illustrated by: Kate Daubney

Copyright: 2014
Genre: Traditional Literature 
Theme: The effect your actions can have on other people
Appropriate for Ages: 3-6 years

Summary: 
A little girl, Goldilocks, goes into a house. Three bears live there: momma bear, daddy bear, and baby bear. They were gone on a walk, while they let their breakfast cool. Goldilocks eats there breakfast, sits in their chairs, and sleeps in their beds. What happens when the bears find her in baby bears bed? 



Illustrations:
The illustrations are very bright and take up the whole page and sometimes both sides of the page. She uses a lot of bright and happy colors throughout the whole book. 

My thoughts: 
This is just a fun book to read to children. A lot of kids will already know this story so they would really like it if they could "help you" read it. They could predict what is going to happen next. It is just a cute and fun story to read to kids because it is not anything that would actually happen in real life. 

Links:
Similar books by the same author 
Classroom activities 

Review: 
This would be a great bedtime story. It is a classic fairytale that children love. It is just another retelling of the original story and it is very fun with all the illustrations. 

The Day You Begin

The Day You Begin

Written by: Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrated by: Rafael Lopez

Copyright: 2018
Genre: contemporary realistic fiction 
Theme: being yourself
Appropriate for Ages: 5-8 years

Summary:
A little boy and girl are at school and they feel left out and alone because they aren't like everyone else. They were from Venezuela. They are afraid to speak up and tell people about themselves and the things they do. Finally, one day the little girl tells people her name and how she spent her summer. She makes a new friend and realizes she is not alone. 



Illustrations:
The illustrations are very bright and take up both sides of the page. He uses a lot of bright and happy colors throughout the whole book. They give the book a very warm feeling. 

My thoughts: 
I really like this book and what it is teaching. It's a fun book that shows students that everyone comes from a different place, but we need to be accepting of other people and if you are different don't be afraid to tell people about yourself. You just might find someone that's just like you. Children who are afraid to speak up about who they are or feel out of place in the classroom could really connect to this book. It might encourage them to speak up about who they are. 

Awards:
#1 New York Times bestseller 

Links:
Discussion ideas
More about the author

Review: 
It is a very encouraging story. It urges kids to speak up about who they are. This is a great book to use to teach about diversity. It shows kids that not everyone is from the same place and some people might do things a little differently, but that's okay.