Mother's Book Nook

Alligator Boy

2009-03-10T08:05:00.000-07:00

Aurthor: Cynthia Rylant and Diane Good

Summary: A boy puts on an alligator head and tail and is transformed into an alligator boy.

Reading level: Ages 4-8 (kindergarten to second grade)
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (June 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0152060928
ISBN-13: 978-0152060923

Mommallama: This was a cute little rhyming book. The illustrations were a lot of fun as well... the boys really enjoyed it.

The Chronicles of Narnia: LWW

2009-01-21T08:09:00.000-08:00

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
by: C. S. Lewis

Description:
Four English schoolchildren find their way through the back of a wardrobe into the magic land of Narnia and assist Aslan, the golden lion, to triumph over the White Witch, who has cursed the land with eternal winter.

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (May 24, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0060764899
ISBN-13: 978-0060764890

Llama Household: We are doing this as a read aloud.

Ma Dear's Apron

2009-01-21T07:36:00.000-08:00

Ma Dear's Apron
by: Patricia C. McKissack
ill: Floyd Cooper

Young David Earl always knows what day of the week it is, because his mother, Ma Dear, has a different apron for every day except Sunday.

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Aladdin (February 1, 2000)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0689832621
ISBN-13: 978-0689832628

Mommllama notes: I would say that the reading level is actually somewhere around 7 or 8. There are some difficult words and concepts that the slightly older ready will be able to understand. Lovely illustrations accompany this interesting story.

Harley

2009-01-20T10:46:00.000-08:00

by: Star Livingstone
ill: Molly Band

Summary:
Because Harley the llama does not get along with other llamas, he becomes a guard llama, protecting sheep from hungry coyotes and befriending a cantankerous ram.

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (March 1, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1587171503
ISBN-13: 978-1587171505

Mommallama review:
This is a great book. Bubba read this (age 7), and thought it was a great story. The other boys enjoyed sitting and listening to him read it.

I would say the reading level would be for a really good first grade reader, or an easy read for a second grader.

The Writing Road To Reading

2009-01-13T09:09:00.000-08:00

by: Spalding, Romalda Bishop

I'm using this for the book list in the back broken down by grade levels.

It was commended in Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum for it's list.

Farmer Boy

2009-01-13T09:01:00.000-08:00

by: Wilder, Laura Ingalls, 1867-1957

While Laura Ingalls grows up on the western prairie, a boy named Almanzo Wilder is living on a farm in New York State. Almanzo and his brothers and sisters work at their chores from dawn until supper most days, no matter what the weather. There is still time for fun, though, especially with the horses, which Almanzo loves more than anything.

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (May 11, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0060581824
ISBN-13: 978-0060581824

The Llama household is about to do a read aloud on this book!

Books Children Love

2009-01-13T08:52:00.000-08:00

Books Children Love: A Guid to the Best Children's Literature
by: Elizabeth Wilson

Elizabeth Wilson offers us a newly revised, comprehensive guide to the very best in children's literature. Just as in the original volume, she comments on the tone and content of excellently written, captivating books in over two dozen subject areas. Hundreds of new titles have been added while retaining timeless classics and modern favorites all of which respect traditional values. So that no matter what the children's ages are or whether they love fact or fiction, you can trust these books to share things that you can believe in and kids will delight in.

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Crossway Books; Revised edition (October 30, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1581341989
ISBN-13: 978-1581341980

The Tale of Despereaux

2009-01-09T14:51:00.000-08:00

by: DiCamillo, Kate.

Ill: Ering, Timothy B. ill.

Newberry Honor book

The adventures of Desperaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin.

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Candlewick (April 11, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0763625299
ISBN-13: 978-0763625290

A few topics discussed in this book are some what difficult for younger children to understand, or may find scary. These darker things would include, a child sold into servitude, child abuse, hate and revenge. Even at age 9, I think it should be a supervised read so that a parent can explain what is happening.

The Llama boys did enjoy this book as a read aloud, and I can easily see them picking it up later on their own for another read.

Movie review: Um, the title and a few of the characters share the same name, but the plot has very little to do with what is in the book. I was disappointed in the movie from that respect. Although, I would have found it very difficult to tackle some of the subject matter on the screen. I think that the movie lacked the over arching symbolism that permeated this books so well, and I feel that that is a real loss for the audience in the theater. The movie as a stand alone is fine, cute, and in some parts quite humorous. The boys thought that the movie was a completely different story line... a part 2 or something until we explained that it was supposed to be the same story.

Honey For A Child's Heart

2009-01-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

Everything you need from how to choose good books for your children to encouraging them to be avid readers, this fourth edition also includes an indexed and updated list of the best children’s classics ever.

This book is referenced in Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum by Laura M. Berquist.

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Zondervan; 4 edition (May 1, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310242460
ISBN-13: 978-0310242468

The Last Straw

2009-01-07T14:15:00.000-08:00

By: Fredrick H. Thury
Ill: Vlasta Van Kampen

A prideful camel named Hoshmakaka learns the value of humility as he bears more and more gifts to the baby Jesus at Bethlehem.

Feast: Epiphany

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (August 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0881061522
ISBN-13: 978-0881061529

I think that the reading level is a little higher than they have listed here. Bobcat (currently age 8) can manage it well, but Bubba (age 7) had some trouble with some of the words.