The Night the Iguana Left Home

By: Megan McDonald

Illustrated by: Ponder Goembel

Summary: Iguana has a very good life with her almost sister Allison. However, Iguana wants to go travel, so she goes to Florida. Everything is going well, until she starts to miss Allison, and has no more money. She finally makes it back to Allison through the mail!

Rating/Evaluation: I have to say that there were part of the story that confused me. I did not understand what the author was trying to say. In addition, I was confused with the iguana. She looked like a real iguana, and the only fantasy aspect of the  iguana came from the text. I feel that if she looked, more like a person with iguana like characteristics it would help the story. 

Published by: DK Publishing, Inc, 1999

ISBN: 0-7894-2581-5

3 stars 

Spring Cleaning

                (Featuring Jim Henson’s Sesame Street Muppets)

By: Pat Tornborg

Illustrated by: Nancy W. Stevenson

Summary: Bert and Ernie are spring cleaning! However, Ernie is trying to do the best he can, but somehow causes more damage than good. At the end of the day all the cleaning is done, and both friends take a nap.

Rating/ Evaluation: I like this book because it shows kids what it takes to be a good friend. In addition, the children may be gravitated toward this book because of the characters that they love. This is a perfect book for reading at home.

Published by: Western publishing Company, Inc, 1980

ISBN: 0-307-11601-8

5 stars!!!

More Spaghetti, I Say!

By: Rita Golden Gelman

Illustrated by: Mort Gerberg

Summary: Freddy wants Minnie to play with her, but Minnie is too busy eating spaghetti. Minnie tells Freddie that she loves spaghetti. When Minnie finally come to play, Freddie is eating the spaghetti.

Evaluation/ Rating: this is characterized as a level 2 easy reader. I feel that it does a good job at achieving this goal. As there is a rhyming pattern and repetition of words. However, I feel that there were a couple of words that were harder than others. The most obvious example I can think of this is the word spaghetti. Other than that I think that it is an appropriate book for the young reader.

Published by: Scholastic, 1992

ISBN:0-590-45783-7

5 stars!!

Steph Coccia- Realistic Fiction

Two Dog Biscuits

By: Beverly Cleary

Illustrated by: DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan

Summary: Jimmy and Janet are twins, and they receive two dog biscuits from their neighbor. They keep the dog biscuits at home until their mom suggest to give them to another dog in the neighborhood. They search and search for the perfect dog, only to give the biscuits to a cat!

Evaluation/Rating:  this is a really nice book that hits a lot of topics. It kind of reminds me of me and my sister. Even though we are not twins, we sort of act like each other! I feel that it can give children a new way of seeing a new perspective. Like the example, of giving a dog biscuit to a cat!

Published by: Mulberry, 1996

ISBN: 0-688-14735-6

5 stars!!

Steph Coccia- Realistic Fiction

Clean your room, Harvey Moon

Authored and Illustrated by: Pat Cummings

 Summary:It’s Saturday afternoon, and Harvey Moon has been given the task of cleaning his room. He wishes that he could watch TV instead. As he cleans his room he finds a lot of cool stuff. He tells his mom that he is done, but really everything is under his carpet!

Rating/Evaluation:

I really like this book! It makes a huge connection to the lives of the readers. Every child will have to clean their room someday! It gives the children a sense that they are not the only ones who have to do this chore! I also like that it is a rhyming book. I feel that this can help children with their pronunciation of the words!

ISBN: 0-689-71798-9

Published By: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1991

5 stars! 

Steph Coccia- Nothing

Nothing

Authored and Illustrated by: Jon Agee

Summary: Suzie Gump, the richest women in town goes into Otis’ antique shop. She ask what Otis has to sell, and he says nothing. She says that she will take the “nothing”. The townspeople see this, and start a crazy of buying nothing!

Rating/Evaluation:

I think that this book is very good at displaying what effect consumerism has on society. It shows children on how the world can be at times, and how they can better themselves. Looking through the book, kids could really think about the situation, and maybe offer solutions to the silliness. The pictures are also done well, as they are bright, colorful, and have a hand drawn touch.

5 stars!!

Published by: Hyperion Books, 2007

ISBN: 978-078683694-9