Cesaria Feels the Beat by Denise Rosario Adusei

Cesaria Feels the Beat - 40 pages

Denise Rosario Adusei, Priscila Soares (Illustrator)

Summary (From Goodreads)

Cesaria is going to perform for the seaside Carnival. She skips past the beach barefoot, dressed in her favorite peacock leotard.

But when her dance director tells her she must put on her shoes to go on stage, Cesaria signs, “Peacocks don’t wear shoes!”

You see, Cesaria hears the music through the soles of her feet, but no one seems to understand…

…That is, until all the dancers take off their shoes, and learn to feel the music, just like Cesaria.

Review

A nice story about experiencing the world through another point of view.  The author includes a story in the back about her deaf cousin that inspired her to write this book.  

The Scooter Twins by Dorothy Ellen Palmer

The Scooter Twins - 32 pages

Dorothy Ellen Palmer, Maria Sweeney (Illustrator)

Summary (From Goodreads)

Melanie and Melvin may be twins, but they couldn’t be more different. Melanie is LOUD and Melvin is quiet. Melvin likes frogs and Melanie loves MOTORCYCLES! When the twins learn that they will get their very own mobility scooters, Melanie is excited to race to school, but Melvin is worried he’ll fall ― and that people will stare. And there’s a Grandma can’t afford the scooters without selling one of Mom’s treasured paintings, one of the only things the twins have left to remember their parents. In the process of getting their scooters, Melanie and Melvin have to navigate challenges that people with disabilities face on a daily rudeness from a store clerk and products that aren’t made with kids in mind. But in the end, Melanie and Melvin choose scooters that are just right for them and make moving through their neighborhood a new adventure. 

Review

This one was as informative as it was bittersweet.  To my knowledge, the author is herself a mobility scooter user.  

Craft Roach by Rachel Burke

Craft Roach - 34 pages

Rachel Burke, Daniel Gray-Barnett (Illustrator)

Summary (From Goodreads)

Craft Roach makes the other bugs 
feel very tense and stressed.
Standing out? Being seen? 
They do not think it best.
 
But Craft Roach sees things differently,
has more than just an inkling –
that crawlies wouldn’t be so feared,
if all of them were twinkling …

Review

An adorable story about being yourself, with a cute craft at the end!  

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs by Mo Willems

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs - 40 pages

Mo Willems

Summary (From Goodreads)

Once upon a time, there were three hungry Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur . . . and a Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway.

One day--for no particular reason--they decided to tidy up their house, make the beds, and prepare pudding of varying temperatures. And then--for no particular reason--they decided to go...someplace else. They were definitely NOT setting a trap for some succulent, unsupervised little girl.

Definitely not!

Review

This was a delightful and funny retelling of a classic fairy tale!  I'd recommend this to anyone who likes humorous, subversive takes on old favorites.  

The Great Art Caper (Pets on the Loose! #2) by Victoria Jamieson

The Great Art Caper by Victoria Jamieson

Pets on the Loose #2, 64 pages

⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

When the school art show is announced, GW learns of a dastardly plot -- Harriet and her many minions are planning to ruin it! Once again, it's up to GW, Sunflower, and Barry to stop to Harriet's mousey madness.

Little Robot by Ben Hatke

Little Robot by Ben Hatke

135 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Life outside the robot factory is confusing.

Little Robot has a lot to learn...

And that's what friends are for.

But with danger in the way, will friendship be enough to save them?

The Way Home (Owly #1) by Andy Runton

The Way Home by Andy Runton

Owly #1, 160 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Owly is a good-natured little owl, and he's always helping those around him. But despite his kindness, he seems to frighten would-be friends away before they even give him a chance, just because he's an owl. That all changes, though, once Owly meets Wormy. Like Owly, Wormy is in need of a good friend, too -- someone who can be counted on for a helping hand, a good laugh, and a great adventure!

The Kissing Hand, A Pocket Full of Kisses, & Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully

The Kissing Hand - 30 pages

A Pocket Full of Kisses - 32 pages

Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully - 32 pages

Audrey Penn, Ruth E. Harper (Illustrator), Nancy M. Leak (Illustrator), Barbara Gibson (Illustrator)

Summary for The Kissing Hand (From Goodreads)

Chester Raccoon doesn't want to go to school--he wants to stay home with his mother. She assures him that he'll love school--with its promise of new friends, new toys, and new books. Even better, she has a special secret that's been in the family for years--the Kissing Hand. This secret, she tells him, will make school seem as cozy as home. She takes her son's hand, spreads his tiny fingers into a fan and kisses his palm--smack dab in the middle: "Chester felt his mother's kiss rush from his hand, up his arm, and into his heart." Whenever he feels lonely at school, all he has to do is press his hand to his cheek to feel the warmth of his mother's kiss. Chester is so pleased with his Kissing Hand that he--in a genuinely touching moment--gives his mom a Kissing Hand, too, to comfort her when he is away. 

Summary for A Pocket Full of Kisses (From Goodreads)

In this tender sequel to the New York Times bestseller and children's classic The Kissing Hand, Audrey Penn provides parents with another tale of love and reassurance to share with their children. Chester Raccoon has a baby brother—and the baby brother is taking over his territory. When Chester sees his mother give his baby brother a Kissing Hand—his Kissing Hand—he is overcome with sadness, but Mrs. Raccoon soothes his fears with her own special brand of wisdom, finding just the right way to let Chester know he is deeply loved. 

Summary for Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully (From Goodreads)

When Mrs. Raccoon learns that there is a bully problem at school, she decides to investigate the situation. But after seeing the bully for herself, she shares a story about a forest that was full of smooth yellow stones, and how the animals living there changed a pointy stone they found into a smooth stone so that it wouldn't hurt any tender paws. Chester, Ronny, and Cassy follow the spirit of Mrs. Raccoon's story when they next encounter the Bully. Approaching him as a group, they invite him to play, proving that the best way to get rid of an enemy is to make him or her a friend. 

Review

I remembered loving the story of the kissing hand when I was little, so I decided to go back and read it again as an adult.  This led to me discovering it was the first of a series, so I decided to check those out, too.  They are all so sweet!  I'd recommend these in a heartbeat to any parent with a child starting school!  

The Chinese New Year Helper

The Chinese New Year Helper - 40 pages

Ying Chang Compestine, Ginnie Hsu (Illustrator)

Summary (From Goodreads)

A young girl finds an exciting role for herself at the Chinese New Year celebration in her family’s restaurant. At last, she isn’t being told that she’s too young to help! Jia’s family is busy preparing for the Chinese New Year feast at their restaurant in Chinatown, and Jia wants to take part. But each time she tries to help she’s told that she’s too too young to be in the kitchen, too young to light the lanterns, too young to carry the plates. And then the feast begins, and something wonderful happens. When Jia is scolded for getting too close to the exciting lion dance, one of the dancers swoops her up and into the costume, and suddenly she’s a part of the performance—a crucial part that saves the show. Never again does her family tell her that she’s too young to help!

Review

Reading about a holiday tradition as told through the eyes of a child really got me thinking about experiencing some of my own holiday traditions when I was a child!  

Mungo on His Own

Mungo on His Own - 48 pages

Matthew Burgess, Julie Benbassat (Illustrator)

Summary (From Goodreads)

One evening, young Mungo ventures into the forest to find the sweet, red berries he’s been dreaming about. But he soon finds that foraging alone can be hard for a kit like him, and Mungo gets lost. Very lost! Will he find the berries—and his way back home—all on his own?

Review

I picked this one up for the adorable fox, and I stayed for the equally cute story!  

Wink: Surviving Middle School with One Eye Open by Rob Harrell

Wink: Surviving Middle School with One Eye Open by Rob Harrell 315 Pages Ross Maloy just wants to be a normal seventh grader. He doesn't want to lose his hair, or wear a weird hat, or deal with the disappearing friends who don't know what to say to "the cancer kid." But with his recent diagnosis of a rare eye cancer, blending in is off the table. Based on Rob Harrell's real life experience, and packed with comic panels and spot art, this incredibly personal and poignant novel is an unforgettable, heartbreaking, hilarious, and uplifting story of survival and finding the music, magic, and laughter in life's weirdness.' What a great story! I was impressed by how Rob Harrell told his own story, yet made it appeal to the middle school age group. He even included comics that he drew, through out the book. I think some of the details of the cancer and radiation treatments may be too much for elementary students, I know middle school students would understand it. I also liked the way he tied in a freindship between a boy and girl that was totally platonic and how some of his friends couldn't "handle" his sickness and didn't know how to act. All very real synerios. He even learns a new skill while facing this life changing illness. A very well written realistic fiction book.