The Pea Blossom, retold and illustrated by Amy Lowry Poole

The Pea Blossom, retold and illustrated by Amy Lowry Poole
This retelling of a Hans Christian Anderson tale, sets the story in China. The author studied scroll-making in Beijing for four years, and her watercolor on rice paper illustrations are lovely. They are the perfect soft accompaniment to this sweet story about a little pea with big dreams. The Girl loved this book: "What if something as tiny as a pea plant could make a sick girl healthy? Isn't that wonderful?"
Target ages: 4-8 years

Connections:
How the Rooster Got His Crown, by Amy Lowry Poole
The Ant and the Grasshopper, by Amy Lowry Poole
The Apple Pip Princess, by Jane Ray

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little by Peggy Gifford
We picked this book up because The Girl hates Stuart Little. To be fair to Stuart Little, she hates all mice in children's fiction. We don't know why this is so, but it is. "Why, Mommy? Why mice? I just don't get it and I don't want to read about mice that talk and do people stuff." As you can may know, this automatically disqualifies some pretty terrific fiction.
It turns out that Moxy does not hate Stuart Little as much as my daughter does. But Moxy does have a procrastination problem. This hilariously funny book is a must read for procrastinators. The author uses chapter titles and chapter length to great comic effect. It is a very fun (and speedy) read aloud for you and your 3rd or 4th grader.
Target Age: 7-12 years

Connections:
Moxy Maxwell does not love writing thank-you notes, by Peggy Gifford
Sophie Hartley on Strike, by Stephanie Greene
Honest Ashley, by Virginia L. Kroll

Step Fourth, Mallory! by Laurie Friedman

Step Fourth, Mallory! by Laurie Friedman
The Girl and I took turns reading this book to one another. We both enjoyed it. Mallory reminds me of what Junie B. Jones might be like in fourth grade: a little calmer, but still letting her enthusiasm get in the way of clear thinking and good decision-making. Mallory's emotions are very real and fully expressed. The conflicts she has with her friends are also believable. Selected passages from the friends' e-mail exchanges place the narrative firmly in the present day.
Target age: 8-10 years.

Connections:
Clementine, by Sara Pennypacker
This is the 10th in a series of books about Mallory McDonald.

How It All Got Started

I am a library sciences student, taking a children's literature course. Our final project requires us to spend time reading with children and writing about the experience. I have a nine year old daughter (The Girl) and a five year old son (The Boy). So what better way to spend a summer class than taking my kids to the library?

This weekend, we hit one of the larger local libraries and came home with a giant canvas bag full of books. We will share our favorites here.