Ready to Read with Ms. Reynolds

Title: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Author: Mo Willems Published by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group   The bus driver needs a break, but his one request is not to let the pigeon drive the bus. Can you make it through this book without letting him? Be careful … the pigeon loves to beg!   This book was hilarious!!! Each page had me cracking up. I love how interactive this book is, I really felt like I was talking to the pigeon. This storyline is such a creative and engaging read for children.    Five out of five stars, of course! This might be my new favorite book by this author. Also, I love the illustrations!  

  Title: Knuffle Bunny Author: Mo Willems Published by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group   Trixie went with her father on an errand. They went down the block, through the park, past the school, and into the laundromat. Trixie was so excited to help her father put the laundry and the money into the machine. As they were walking back home, Trixie paused as she realized something. Trixie started bawling, her dad didn’t know what was wrong. When they got home Trixie’s mom realized what was wrong. The whole family ran down the block, through the park, past the school, and into the laundromat. After searching, they finally found the missing piece. The use of real pictures in this book with cartoon characters was very creative. You don’t see that much so it was interesting. I think the real pictures are a great visual for children as they really set the scene. I also think they would enjoy seeing the cartoon characters on the pictures. This book is also very relatab

  Title: There Is a Bird on Your Head! Author: Mo Willems Published by Hyperion Books for Children, an imprint of Disney Book Group   This elephant and piggie book goes through a series of unfortunate events. Gerald, the elephant, head seems to be a place for all sorts of animals to go to. Gerald feels each animal on his head, he asks piggie what it is. Piggie tells him and Gerald freaks out! After trying to figure out a way to keep the animals off his head, Gerald finally decides to ask them to get off his head.    This book was such a cute and fun read! This would be a perfect book for younger children as they can interact with the story. I love how it gives text boxes for each animal so that children or adults can read it like the actual conversation. It kept my attention as it was one animal after another that landed on his head. I also like the symbolism of friendship and how different two people can be. Like Gerald is careful and full of worries, but Piggie is relaxed and enjoys

  Title: The Little Red Hen -An Old Story- Author: Margot Zemach Published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (1993)   The little red hen lived with her chicks in a small cottage. She was very hardworking and kept her family well fed. Working in the evenings, she always sang. One day while little red hen was walking with her friends, the goose, the cat, and the pig, she asked them “Who will plant the wheat?” They all responded saying “Not I”. She insisted that she would do it herself. Each morning after when she would find something that needs done, she would ask who will do it, and all of the animals said, “Not I”. At least she makes a loaf of bread, but since she did all the work, she tells them that they will not eat it.  In my opinion, this book is a great example of hard work and good/bad consequences. One major theme I saw was that if you want something to get done the right way, you must do it yourself. This is a fun book to read to kids, or even have them read themselves. It also sh

          Title: I am Enough Author: Grace Byers Illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo Published by HarperCollins (2018)    Am Enough is a poetry book that inspires you to love who you are, respect others, and treat everyone with kindness. Another easy read! This is a great boost of encouragement for any reader. Each page is eye catching and the visuals are great.   I would rate this book a five out of five. The purpose of this book is everything, and I admire reading it to myself, even as an adult!    

  Title: Freedom in Congo Square Author: Carole Boston Weatherford   Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie Published by Little Bee Books (2016)   This book is about enslaved people in New Orleans, Louisiana. They go through the week with their tasks as they count down the days until Sunday. Sunday was their freedom at Congo Square where they could sing, dance, and play music.    This was a quick and easy poetic story. I love how this book expresses the human’s ability to overcome struggles and regain hope! I feel like this book gives out an important message to young children. It is important for children to know their capability in what they can do, even if they don’t think they can do it!   I would rate this book a four out of five stars. I would love to see a longer storyline, but I appreciate the poetic message this book gives out. Very powerful illustrations as well!    

  Title: Guess How Much I Love You Author: Sam McBratney Illustrated by Anita Jeram Published by Candlewick Press (2014)   Little Nutbrown Hare was going to bed but held onto Big Nutbrown Hare’s ears so he would listen. Little Nutbrown starts telling Big Nutbrown to guess how much he loves him. Holding his arms out, reaching up high, tumbling, hopping are all ways he was trying to express his love.   I absolutely LOVE this book! It is the perfect book to read to a little one. I had just recently bought it for my nephew who is due in June and cannot wait to read it to him while he grows up! This book is a great way to introduce ways that a child can express their love and for whoever is reading to them to remind them how much they love each other!   Five out of five stars, of course! A quick and easy read for the little lovebugs :)

  Title: Trombone Shorty Author: Troy Andrews Illustrated by Bryan Collier Published by Abrams Books for Young Readers   In this story we are introduced to a young boy named Troy. He grew up in a neighborhood in New Orleans, called Tremé where all you would hear is music. His big brother James played a trumpet and Troy would pretend to be in his band. Troy was surrounded by parades full of music and different sounds. Since he didn’t have his own instrument, him and his friends would make their own. After finding a beat-up trombone, Troy realized he was meant to play it. From that day on, everyone called him “Trombone Shorty”.    I loved this book! It was so fun, and I love reading about music. This book is a great example to show children that they can make their dreams come true. Even starting somewhere simple, like Troy when he made music out of random objects. The pictures in this book were creative and great visuals for the storyline. Being a true story, makes it all the better!  

Title: Goin’ Someplac e Special Author: Patricia C. McKissick Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney Published by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division   Growing up in the segregated 1950s part of Nashville, Tricia Ann goes through a series of obstacles to get to the one integrated place in town, which is the library. Mama Frances was scared to let her go anywhere by herself because she wasn’t ready to lose her in this world. Tricia faced a lot of signs that read “WHITES ONLY”, she saw this as unfair, and she didn’t understand why it had to be this way. As Tricia got caught up in the crowd she entered a hotel lobby, someone pointed at her asking what she was doing there. The manager shooed her out with his arms. Running away, she sobbed and decided that going to someplace special was no longer worth it. After words of encouragement from her older friend, Blooming Mary, she gained back her confidence. She finally made it to somewhere special.    This was a very powerful book, and it w

Title: Viva Frida Author: Yuyi Morales Photographed by Tim O’Meara Published by Roaring Brook Press   A woman searches, sees, plays, knows, dreams, and realizes that she can feel, understand, love, create, and live.   This book walks you through with pictures and words about a young woman finding herself. This book is good for younger children because it is a very quick read with a word or two on each page. The pictures are also very realistic and fun for children to look at.     I rate this book a three out of five stars. I wish there were more to this book, I read it very fast. It is more of a tell by picture story rather than the words. I’m not so sure that older children would be interested in this book, rather than younger children would look forward to the pictures.  

Title: Diego: Bigger Than Life Author: Carmen T. Bernier-Grand Illustrator: David Diaz Published by  New York : Marshall Cavendish, 2009.   In this story, we learn about Diego and his story. Diego has had a hard life since he lost his twin brother when he was one years old. Growing up, he thought of himself as an engineer, a devil, an artist. He fell in love and married a Russian artist named Angelina. The had a baby during World War 1, but sadly he became sick and died in his mother’s arms. After saying goodbye to Angelina, Diego left for Italy. He began painting poetry, on public walls, and murals all around Mexico. Diego remarried and had two daughters, and later divorced. He fell in love again and after a while she passed away. After Frida, he devoted his life to Frita.   Personally, I felt like this book was a lot to take in and understand. I think this is meant for older kids, due to the length of the book and the deep meanings within it. This book does introduce a lot of hardshi

Title: My Friend Rabbit Author: Eric Rohmann Publish by Roaring Book Press (2002)   In this story, we are introduced to a mouse and a rabbit who are friends. The rabbit seems to find trouble no matter what he does or where he may go. The two friends are playing with an airplane, when suddenly, it gets stuck in a tree. The rabbit is quick to figure out how to get it out. After finding other animals and stacking them on top of each other, the plane was still out of reach. While trying to reach for the airplane, they all fall! The animals were made at rabbit after. Rabbit and mouse end up taking off on the plane together.   This book was a fun and easy read! I really enjoyed all the illustrations. I think this book is a good read for younger children to introduce them to different animals and problem-solving skills. I really was intrigued by the pages with no words, just pictures, I think this is a good way for the children to start predicting what will happen again using some problem-sol

  Title: When You Reach Me Author: Rebecca Stand Published by Wendy Lamb Books an imprint of Random House Children’s Books a division of Random House Inc. New York   Miranda and her best friend Sal are in sixth grade. Together, they learn to navigate their ways through their New York City neighborhood as they walk home from school each day. One day, Sal was punched by a kid. After that, strange things kept happening. Miranda finds a mysterious note at her apartment, but the notes kept coming. Leading for her to believe she is missing something important.   Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book! Each chapter opened another mystery and kept me interested. I liked how it took us through Miranda and Sal’s friendship and adventures.    I would rate this book a five out of five stars! Since it is a bigger book, I would recommend it for older children. I will say, once you start reading this you won’t be able to stop!