Snake and Lizard, by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Gavin Bishop, ages 4-8
This wonderful book is a collection of stories about good friends Snake and Lizard, an unlikely pairing at best! Snake is a quiet, cautious creature who likes his comforts, while Lizard is an adventurous, impetuous beast who thrives on excitement.
As in all good “buddy” books, their differences are the glue of their relationship. Lizard keeps trying to do good things for her friend that end in disaster, e.g., leaving a rattlesnake egg on Snake’s bed, thinking it’s a tasty treat for her friend; or slapping Snake on the back to rid him of a (literal) frog in his throat, thus allowing Snake’s supper to escape. But they always forgive each other in the end, and learn a little something about tolerance in the process.
Gavin Bishop’s illustrations complement the text beautifully. This is a great read-aloud choice for a range of ages and carries a great message about friendship.
Snake and Lizard, by Joy Cowley, Kane/Miller Book Publishers, $14.95
To help you get in the mood, I highly recommend More Pocket Poems, selected by Bobbi Katz and illustrated by Deborah Zemke. This collection of short poems (most are no longer than 8 lines) is sure to delight anyone who has a pocket. My favorite is the “August Ice Cream Cone Poem” by Paul B. Janeczko (p. 11) – like its subject, it’s short and sweet!
I also enjoy tongue twisters, and Jon Agee’s Orangutan Tongs is guaranteed to “tangle your tongue.” These poems are not difficult if read slowly, but they sure are tricky! Agee’s illustrations simply add to the book’s appeal.
Good Egg, by Barney Saltzberg (ages 2-5)
Ozzy wakes up one morning and can’t find his mommy anywhere! He races off on a frantic search. Is she behind the fence? In the flowers? Up in the tree? Swimming in the lake? No, no, no! Ozzy works himself into a wild tizzy only to discover Mommy in the most obvious of places.
Funny Farm, by Mark Teague
Pandora Gets Jealous is set in ancient Greece. In this book, Pandora had a school assignment. Usually she brought in her father’s liver (he is immortal). The problem is that her teacher told her that if she used the liver again she would fail. When she got home from school, she was playing with her brother in their parents’ room when she found a box and another part to her father’s amazing story.
Ant is stopped short when he encounters a huge ball of string. As he started to unravel the ball of string, he asks his friend Bird, “Just how long can a long string be?” Wise Bird says “it depends,” and proceeds to show Ant many ways to use the string, including wrapping a birthday gift, flying a kite, supporting pea plants in the garden, playing jump rope, and helping to build a nest.
Francesca Simon, the only American author (so far) to win the Galaxy British Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year (past winners include JK Rowling, Philip Pullman, and Eoin Colfer) has created a fabulous chapter book series for boys and girls ages 6 to 10. Each Horrid Henry book contains four easy-to-read stories featuring naughty Horrid Henry and his younger brother, Perfect Peter. These lovable, laughable – and, yes, wholesome – characters will delight even the most reluctant readers.
I’ve read four of the books – 16 stories, in all – and they’re consistently humorous and fun to read. Best yet, you don’t have to read the books in any particular order. The illustrations by Tony Ross are great, too!
Oh, and they’re great read-aloud books for the entire family!
Are you looking for the right book for summer reading? You can stop searching, because Sarah Dessen mixes the right amount of friendship, drama, and light-heartedness in this novel, making it the book to pick up for the summer.
If you already love reading Sarah Dessen, remember to pick up Along for the Ride which will be published in June 2009, just in time for the summer!
Scaredy Squirrel, by Melanie Watt (Ages 3-6)
