Graphic Novel - The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse

This incredible story by Charlie Mackesy is filled with friendship and kindness. This is told through the unlikely friendship found between a boy, a mole, a fox, and a horse. For children, this novel can show them the friendships available to them, even if there are differences between them and someone else.

I really enjoyed reading this book - it simply filled me with joy! The simple illustrations were beautiful and went along with the truly simplistic message of this book. However, I did struggle with reading this book at points because of the style of font the author chose, and I can imagine that children who are beginning to read novels would struggle with this as well. I rate this book three out of four stars.

Title: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse

Author: Charlie Mackesy

Publisher: HarperCollins US

Publication Date: 2019

ISBN: 9780062976581

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Poem - Honey, I Love

This book is told from a child's perspective as she shares everything that she loves, which is a lot! The language and illustrations throughout this book are beautifully detailed. This is a wonderful book that would be enjoyable for children to read or to be read aloud. 

This is an amazing book filled with enchanting poetry. It is very engaging as one's imagination flourishes with the language used. This book is a great way to introduce children to poetry, I rate this book four out of four stars!

Title: Honey, I Love

Author: Eloise Greenfield

Publisher: HarperCollins US

Publication Date: 1900

ISBN: 9780064430975

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Poem - From the Bellybutton of the Moon and Other Summer Poems

This book contains a collection of incredible poems, highlighting the author's childhood growing up in Mexico. The illustrations that go along with the poems are enchanting and vividly colored. All of the poems are written both in English and Spanish, with the two translations next to each other. 

Children from anywhere in the world can certainly enjoy these poems! All of the poems in this book are relatively short, but they are very descriptive with that limited language. This is a great way to expose children to what life is like in Mexico and also to the Spanish language. However, throughout the book, the poems varied a lot in length and difficulty of language. Because of this, I rate this book and the poems three stars out of four. 

Title: From the Bellybutton of the Moon

Author: Francisco X. Alarcon

Publisher: Lee & Low Books, Inc.

Publication Date: 2013

ISBN: 9780892392018

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Historical Fiction - Behind the Bedroom Wall

Laura Williams' Behind the Bedroom Wall is an incredible story highlighting various viewpoints and experiences had within Nazi Germany. This fictional story follows a young girl, Korinna, who is apart of a Nazi youth group. Her family, however, is working to actively help their Jewish neighbors, and even go as far as to hide a family behind Korinna's bedroom wall. Korinna then struggles with finding what is right as her family's ideals are radically different from what the Nazi regime is teaching her. 

This story was very engaging to read as it is told through a point of view not always read. It highlights how every individual was affected at this point in history and how much people risked in order to stand up for what they believed was right. The Holocaust is a topic that is intriguing to a lot of people, and this story is completely appropriate and educational for children. I rate this book four out of four stars!

Title: Behind the Bedroom Wall

Author: Laura E. Williams

Publisher: Milkweed Editions

Publication Date: 2005

ISBN: 9781571316585

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Informational Text - What Was the Age of the Dinosaurs?

This informational text introduces children to the realm of the dinosaurs. They learn about who, when, and where dinosaur bones were first discovered as well as some of the major dinosaurs that we know about. They are also transported into the time periods in which these beasts lived as they learn about what the earth was like back then. 

This book is a great way to introduce children to the topic of dinosaurs or further their knowledge on them! This can be a confusing subject as there is so much science within it, but this book did an amazing job of simplifying the language and ideas to an understandable level for any child. Words that would be difficult for children to read, including the names of dinosaurs was written out phonetically so readers can know how to pronounce these words. However, I thought that there could have been more colorful illustrations, as all of them were mostly in black and white. I also thought that some of the topics could have been more thoroughly discussed, including the different dinosaur species. This would definitely be a great book to have in a classroom or at home. I rate this book three out of four stars!

Title: What Was the Age of the Dinosaurs?

Author: Megan Stine

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group

Publication Date: 2017

ISBN: 9780451532640

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Informational Text - Malala

Malala's story of her fighting to receive education has been adapted for younger readers. Her courageous story is told alongside of simple illustrations. All children can be inspired by this story as they also learn about what life is like in other countries. 

I have read Malala's original book, and I was so happy to see that it has been adapted for younger readers to also enjoy this incredible story. This text was perfectly adapted to remain informative of the issues she faced and the climate of her home country of Pakistan without becoming too boring. There is also a pronunciation guide, timeline of Malala's life, and glossary which can help clarify various elements of this story for readers. I rate this book four out of four stars!

Title: Malala: My Story of Standing Up for Girl's Rights

Author: Malala Yousafzai and Sarah J. Robbins

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: 2018

ISBN: 9780316527149

⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fantasy - The Adventures of Robin Hood

The Adventures of Robin Hood is a fantastical story filled with adventure, mischief, and so much more. Readers will also be faced with the main issue of this story - stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Throughout this story, readers will wrestle with this issue of what is right and what is wrong. 

This version of this classic story was incredible. There were simple black and white photos throughout it, illustrating the woodsy setting of this story. This version itself is also fast-moving, which will definitely hold children's attention. I rate this story four out of four stars. 

Title: The Adventures of Robin Hood 

Author: Howard Pyle

Publisher: Sterling Children's Books

Publication Date: 2019

ISBN: 9781402794568

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Realistic Fiction - Little Women

This story is set in post-Civil War Massachusetts. Readers follow along with sisters Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy as they adjust to this new era in their lives and the country. Readers are introduced to what life was like for young women at this time American history as they walk through the lives of these sisters'. 

This story is a classic that has been enjoyed by so many for years. Louisa May Alcott does an incredible job of telling this fictional story while also staying true to that time period and what was happening. Readers can not compare it to the movie version that just came out, as well! I rate this book four out of four stars for older readers. 

Title: Little Women

Author: Louisa May Alcott

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Publication Date: 2015

ISBN: 978-1514640807

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