Cook-a-Doodle-Doo! by Susan Stevens Crummel and Janet Stevens

Big Brown Rooster was tired of eating chicken feed, he decides that he will have no more of that, determined to change his meal, he looks for his great-grandmother's, Little Red Hen, cookbook. After looking through the book, Big Brown Rooster decides to make the strawberry shortcake. Turtle, Iguana, and Pig join Big Brown Rooster in his quest for a good meal, each one contributes to the making of the delicious strawberry shortcake in their own funny way. When the cake is done, Iguana accidentally drops the cake to the floor and Pig eats the whole thing! What a disaster! Big Brown Rooster tells his friends that they can make another cake and so they make another magnificent strawberry shortcake.

As I read and enjoyed this book, I thought of the many times I've cooked with my friends or my daughter, the book depicts the way things happen when three or more "cooks" are putting together the same meal so accurately!! It's disastrous and funny!

The pictures in this book are colorful and give support and more details to the story. An additional feature of this book is a sidebar explanation of the ingredients, kitchenware and safety. And the best part is at the end of the book where the reader can find the strawberry shortcake recipe, yum!!

 

 

Help Me, Mr. Mutt! Expert Answers for Dogs with People Problems by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel

Various dogs write their woes to expert Mr. Mutt, looking for helpful adivce, the issues normally involve the unfair treatment of the dogs by the owners, compared to the way a cat is treated. Mr. Mutt responds kindly and tries to get the dogs to turn it around for their cat counterpart. The Queen, a cat that believes that cats are untouchable, gets upset, kidnaps Mr. Mutt and publishes an ad for all dogs to know that cats rule and Mr. Mutt is no longer available. All the dogs go looking for Mr. Mutt and teach The Queen a lesson!

This story is great for teaching how to write letters and how to respond appropriately. We could also use the plot to find similarities and differences between the way people treat different pets. I'd love to use this book when teaching point of view to elementary upper grades, the dogs, the people and the cats have completely different perspectives regarding their roles.

The Big Fuzz Frenzy by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel

A group of prairie dogs finds a strange and interesting object, it is round and fuzzy! All of the sudden the prairie dogs are fighting for the fuzz! Big Bark, the "loud mouth" dog takes the fuzz and the frenzy ends but he is taken by an eagle. After helping Big Bark get himself free from the eagle, he becomes a hero to his fellow prairie dogs. Another object might fall in their tunnel system and it will all start over again.

I enjoyed this story because it represents how young kids (and sometimes adults) constantly fight for the something without thinking about sharing. The story also shows how an unwanted character can save the day. Great illustrations and message for early readers.

Here Lies the Librarian by Richard Peck

This is the story of a small town’s pair of siblings, older brother Jake, who takes care of his younger sister, Peewee. Jake has an honest automobile service business in a shack just by the home he shares with Peewee. Peewee helps in the garage, too and she has very peculiar ideas of how she wants to live her life. Jake's and Pewee's neighbors "take care of the two "kids" in a very quiet way. After a real hurricane hits the small town in Indiana, many things begin to change. The town needs a new librarian to replace their departed former one. Four young city girls take up the librarian's position, their arrival changes some of the people in this small town. The other big event that happens is that the town is to hold the area’s first automobile race. Jake wants to enter with his homemade vehicle, he and Peewee have much to deal with, business competitors who service cars in a very tricky way and an injury!

I enjoyed the humor that Richard Peck  brings into the story, the characters grow on you and the events keep you going to find out who and how the race was won!

Secrets at Sea : The Story of a Voyage by Richard Peck

A family of mice must go on a ship across the ocean to follow their human family. Despite their fear of water, the three female mice (Helena, Beatrice and Louise) and their brother, Lamont, find many different kinds of mice that are traveling in the ship as well. As the Helena, Louise and Beatrice try to find a way to marry dull Olive Cranston, they find friendship and love themselves. At the end of the voyage, the (human) Cranston girls are engaged and so is Beatrice. Helena - the oldest mouse, finds peace and knows that she doesn't have to worry about her sisters and brother any longer, every member of this mice family has found their destiny.

This is a cute story for 3rd - 5th grade kids, a mice family that goes on an adventure and finds a destiny that they would have never imagined! I love the humor that Richard Peck uses in his stories and this story is no exception, the mice family structure is an interesting concept and yes, I agree that some humans do have their heads on the clouds :)

All in One Hour by Susan Stevens Crummel

All in One Hour is a story about a chase that happened all in one hour! The pictures are of paper collages that show a lot of details of the chase. The story is told in short sentences for early readers, it's very easy and coloful.

I enjoyed reading this book in my classroom - I'm a bilingual 1st grade teacher. A few days later when we went to the library, one of my students checked it out and showed it to me, she liked the book so much that she wanted to read it and have it with her!