Oh, My...

I just have to make a quick post before adding more items to my Christmas wish list...The Pioneer Woman's new line has officially launched today on Walmart.com, and I can't believe she kept this one a secret for so long:

Yes, it's a Charlie shaped cookie jar.

(The link on "this one" will take you to a page to order it, and the link on "Charlie" will take you to my review of his first book - which is still on my first blog! Time to migrate some posts! After I finish shopping...)

Review: Three New Junior Readers

We have three new Junior Reader books hitting our library shelves this week:

 

9780062219152

 

We love Charlie at our house - both the real Charlie, found here, and the fictional character. My kids especially like finding the chipmunk on each page, so it will be interesting to see their reactions when I bring this home - while the chipmunk is present, he's not on every single spread, and I'm not sure what their reaction will be! What really gave me pause, though, was the author line: "Based on the..." Based on? Based on? As in, not actually written by?

 

The MARC record only lists Drummond and DeGroat, but they named Amanda Glickman and Rick Whipple are thanked for their "editorial and artistic contributions". Are we turning the series over to ghost writers? Or are these interns? Google searching leads my imagination in both directions...curiouser and curiouser...

At any rate, I didn't notice any differences (other than the missing chipmunk). Charlie tries to keep a carrot-stealing rabbit out of Mama's garden, and ends with a compromise. Bacon is mentioned, so S. will approve.


9780062110763

Not as bad as the previous junior readers - in fact, I kind of like this one, if I don't compare it to Eric Litwin's picture books of Pete the Cat. When Pete tries to take everyone else's advice on what to wear, he ends up looking rather silly. It might be fun to read this, then let everyone in the house pick out a piece of an outfit for everyone else - and wear the results for the day! Not to Walmart, though. Nobody would notice if you looked strange. (P.S. - Hey, HarperCollins - the title makes NO sense whatsoever.)


9780062083142

With a second grader at home, we are in the throes of believing everything we hear from our friends. (Moms, as we all know, don't know anything.) In this well-timed (for probably more than me) edition from Fancy Nancy, a classmate tells nancy all the things that are bad luck, and she works herself into a tizzy trying to avoid them all. Or, is Ms. Glass right when she says there is no such thing? (She is a grown-up, after all, so probably not all that bright!)

It's a Fancy Nancy, so it will be popular regardless, but a good early reader all on its own. After reading it together, see how many good and bad luck items/actions your class/family can think of. Maybe research what other cultures think of as lucky.

Thanks to HarperCollins for the review copies!

 



New Junior Readers, Part 2

9780062219091

 

I think Drummond's writing styles actually works better for junior readers than for picture books (of course, it works best of all for grown-ups, her blog being one of my first stops every morning!). Charlie is trying to be a good host to visitor Rowdy, but oh my goodness, he is a handful! Any child who has tried to entertain a friend who just didn't play the way he wanted him to will be sure to identify with Charlie here. And, don't forget to look for the chipmunk!

 

9780062233516

 

Before Fancy Nancy, there was...Lulu the witch? I did a double take when I read the author's name. I was unfamiliar with the original (published in 1990), but I'm glad to have made its acquaintance now. Lulu is NOT so happy to have made the acquaintance of Sandy Witch, a little girl in her class.

 

"Maybe you will like her better tomorrow," said Mama Witch.

 

Lulu Witch did not like Sandy Witch any better the next day.

 

This edition has adorable new illustrations by Bella Sinclair, and I officially want to snatch up the baby brother on page 23 and squish him!

 

9780062233516

 

Horse books are generally a sure thing, and there really aren't many junior readers or picture books about county fairs, so I think this will do well on our shelves. Kids (and parents) who are not familiar with some of the terminology will definitely need the glossary in the back, though.

 

All three of these are available on our library shelves or in book stores now. Thank-you to Harper Collins for the review copies!