Chloe and the Lion, by Mac Barnett & Adam Rex (ages 5 - 10)

I love stories that make children laugh AND know that kids are really smart. They don't just rely on slapstick humor or potty language (although those laughs are also fun). Some books make kids think to realize the full humor in a story, and the payoff is even bigger. Chloe and the Lion is a book that will bring lots of laughter, but also some interesting "a-ha" moments as kids think about cooperation and creativity, about pictures and words in the books they love. Best of all is the way that Mac Barnett and Adam Rex poke fun at themselves.

Chloe and the Lion
by Mac Barnett
illustrated by Adam Rex
NY: Disney / Hyperion, 2012
ages 5 - 10
available at your local library, favorite bookstore and on Amazon

Readers know from the very beginning that this picture book will be a bit different. "This is me, Mac. I'm the author of this book," waves a sweater-clad clay figure on the first page. Turn the page and you'll see Mac's friend Adam putting the finishing touches on Chloe, the main character of the book.

One day, Chloe ends up wandering through the dark forest, lost on her way home from the park. Just then, "a huge lion leapt out from behind an oak tree." But children will quickly see that the picture shows an enormous purple dragon, not a lion. Mac becomes very angry that Adam won't follow his directions:

"Well, look. The fact is I don't really care what YOU think. I'm the author of this book. You're the illustrator. That means I'm in charge of what happens, and you draw whatever I tell you."

Mac fires Adam, but runs into trouble finding the right person to illustrate his story. Children will laugh at Mac's attempts to draw his own pictures for the book, at little Chloe's attempt to talk some sense into Mac, and the many fractured fairy tale references. But most of all, kids will love the bickering and final resolution of these two friends as they create a truly funny story by working together.

Clay figures of Mac Barnett and Adam Rex

As in the best picture books, the words and the pictures work together in perfect harmony, building off of one another at each step. Rex combines clay figures, acrylic paintings, drawn sets, and photographs to create the artwork. Throughout, the artwork heightens the humor just perfectly, helping readers feel the separation between the artists and the story.

You'll definitely get a sense of how much fun Barnett and Rex had making this in their book trailer:



For other reviews, definitely check out Betsy Bird's review at Fuse #8. Also check out Teacher.Mother.Reader and MediaMacaroni. I especially love how MediaMacaroni talks about this as a perfect book for kids who think they may be too old for picture books.

The review copy was kindly sent by the publishers, Disney / Hyperion Books. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you!). Thank you for your support.

Review ©2012 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Exploring nonfiction book apps at Emerson School (ages 5 - 10)

My students have loved using iPads at Emerson School. Our library is open every morning recess and we have two iPads for small groups to use. Students read picture book apps, explore nonfiction book apps, and play math games to practice basic math facts. Today I shared some of our experiences with colleagues at our quarterly Bay Area Independent School Librarians meeting.

I've been particularly fascinated by non-fiction book apps. The best of these integrate well written nonfiction text, vibrant full-color photographs and videos, interactive features that help students experiment and engage with the topics, and narration that makes the content accessible for a wide range of children. Here are some of my favorites that I shared today:

Bats: Furry Fliers in the Night
by Mary Kay Carson
developed by Bookerella and StoryWorldwide, 2012
note: price drop right now to $0.99!!

This is an original book app written by Mary Kay Carson, a prolific nonfiction author who also wrote The Bat Scientists as part of the Scientists in the Field series. She layers clear text with interesting diagrams, photographs, and interactive features. The design elements are top-notch, providing just the right amount of zing to keep kids engaged without distracting them at all from the essence of the material. Listen to my podcast review from Katie Davis's Brain Burps About Books:

Bobo Explores Light
by Game Collage, 2011

Many of my 4th and 5th grade students have had so much fun reading this, coming back to it again and again. Bobo the robot guides readers through information on light, inviting interaction in both serious and silly ways. There are short videos embedded in the app that offer even more information. One of the strengths of this app is that it uses so many different formats to provide information on light. Watch the trailer to get a sense of Bobo's fun:

National Geographic Explorer
by National Geographic, 2012
currently 4 issues free

National Geographic has just released this app as a digital version of its classroom magazine National Geographic Explorer for grades 2-6. You buy the app (free) from the app store, and then you download issues from within the app. It is clearly set up for in-app purchases of individual magazine issues. What sets this apart is the way that the developers have layered in many different multimedia ways of exploring information, especially in the Young Explorer issues.

The article "Looking at Lemurs" by Mireya Mayor in the Young Explorers issue is an example of the best of nonfiction book apps for young readers. You listen to a scientist introducing us to the topic, you watch videos of scientists in the field studying lemurs, and you can have the text read aloud by a narrator. The issues for older readers are more text heavy - my students would certainly be drawn in by a greater variety of multimedia, whether it is narrated text, more embedded videos, or interactive features.

Finding book apps for kids

The biggest challenge in sharing book apps with students is finding high quality apps. In librarian terms, this is collection development or curation. The App Store is terrible; you can easily find the newest and the most popular apps, but it is very difficult to find more than that. I regularly turn to the following sources to read about book apps. All provide thoughtful, high quality reviews:

• Kirkus Reviews: iPad Book Apps
• School Library Journal: Touch and Go Blog
• Digital Storytime
• Children's Technology Review
• Cybils Book App Award
• The Horn Book
• AASL task force on the top 25 apps for curriculum (to come)

What nonfiction book apps have particularly stood out to you and engaged your children? One participant highly recommended the Barefoot World Atlas, saying that her kindergartners and 1st graders had found it fascinating and easy to use. I'll definitely be checking into this. Word of mouth is still the most reliable source of information.

Review ©2012 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Exploring Book Apps for Children at Emerson School

Today I'm excited to share our school's journey exploring book apps for children. I'll be presenting our favorites to the Bay Area Independent School Librarians (BAISL) at their quarterly meeting. You can find the handout here. Today and tomorrow, I'll share here at Great Kid Books some of my students' favorite book apps.

I’m fascinated by the question: how much does the medium shape our expectations? or are children really just interested in whether the story pulls them into the experience? When we read a book, we come to expect certain things. We turn the pages, we wait at each page and think a moment. Or we know we can flip the pages back and forth.

When we open a web page, we expect to be able to drag the scroll bar up and down, click our mouse on hyperlinks, and use the back button to take us back to where we started.

So what are children expecting as they turn on an iPad? How do these expectations - usually developed, quite honestly, with games like Angry Birds - shape their reaction to Book Apps? You expect to poke something and have it respond to your actions. You expect it to change and move.

Picture book apps (for ages 5-10)

The Monster at the End of This Book
Callaway Digital Arts, 2011

Lovable, furry Grover gets kids giggling every time the read this book app. Callaway Digital Arts and Sesame Street have teamed together to add just the perfect amount of animation and interaction, along with Grover's classic voice, to capture kids' attention from the get-go.

Listen to my review from Katie Davis's podcast: Brain Burps about Books:

Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss
Oceanhouse Media, 2010

Oceanhouse Media lead the way with book apps, adapting many Seuss classics to the iPad. These apps are developed with great thought and care of what will help new readers, often mimicking the way a parent or teacher would read with a child. You read a few lines and look at a portion of the original text. The text never overwhelms the image. If you tap on an image, the narrator names that image and the word pops up in bold letters. Kids come back to these stories because of they respect the heart and feel of Seuss's originals.

Leonard
Ink Robin, Inc., 2012

I love the way the story shines through in this original app. Leonard is a little kid who moves to a new home, a new town where he feels all alone. Leonard's imagination saves the day, as he soars into outer space, explores the jungle, squishes bugs through the house. The interactive features are just enough to surprise kids, but never overwhelm the story. The narration, sound effects and music add to the humor and tone. I agree with Kirkus Reviews: "Well told, cleverly illustrated and beautifully supported with interactive surprises that make sense and are great fun, this is a stellar example of iPad storytelling."

Other favorite picture book apps at our library:

• Cinderella, Nosy Crow
• Animalia, by Graeme Base & AppBooks
• The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, Moonbot Studios
• Hildegard Sings, One Hundred Robots

Do you have any favorite picture book apps for children ages 5 - 10? We'd love to hear about your favorites. Our biggest frustration is finding out about high quality apps that are worth purchasing. The App Store is filled with book apps, but many do not hold students' attention.

Tomorrow, I'll share some of our favorite nonfiction book apps.

Search other ebook app reviews at Great Kid Books.

Review ©2012 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Fake Mustache, by Tom Angleberger - goofy silliness perfect for kids who just want to have fun (ages 9 - 12)

Fourth, fifth and sixth graders often tell me they want a funny book. They love the Wimpy Kid books and have read all of them. They've read the Big Nate books. And they want more! If your kids gobble up funny books and are ready for something even wackier, look for Tom Angleberger's newest book Fake Mustache.

Fake Mustache:
or, How Jodie O'Rodeo and her wonder horse (and some nerdy kid) saved the U.S. Presidential election from a mad genius criminal mastermind
by Tom Angleberger
NY: Amulet / Abrams Books, 2012
ages 9 - 12
available from your local library, favorite bookstore and on Amazon
preview available on Google Books

Lenny Flem, Jr. is your average 7th grader. Nothing exciting happens in his life. That is until his best friend, Casper Bengue turns out to be an evil mad genius who tries to take over the ENTIRE COUNTRY! It's up to Lenny and Jodie O'Rodeo, a former TV child star, to save the day. It all starts when Lemmy lends Casper the money to buy a fake mustache. This isn't any old cheap fake mustache - it's the Heidelberg Handlebar #7, a mustache that's so powerful that Casper is able to convince anyone of anything when he puts it on!

With his fake mustache firmly in place, Casper takes over the local toy company, then the local town council. Now, as Fako Mustacho, Casper is able to amass great wealth stealing banks, hire a mob of strongmen to protect him, and set about to steal the US presidential election! Only Lenny knows the real truth and is immune to the mustache's evil power. With the help of Jodie O'Rodeo, the preteen cowgirl queen, Lenny is determined to stop Casper and thwart his evil plan. You'll get a sense of Angleberger's style from these opening pages:



For some extra fun, take a look at Tom Angleberger with his own fake mustache! He's definitely a guy who loves a good joke. Kids are definitely going to recognize his name as the author behind the popular Origami Yoda series.

Tom Angleberger sports a fake mustache!

Kids are going to love this over-the-top madcap adventure. Angleberger revels in goofy silliness without getting bogged down in too much detail. The plot is fast-moving with enough suspense to pull kids through from start to finish. They're going to love the twists and turns, the wacky characters and the dangerous situations that Lenny and Jodie O'Rodeo find themselves in.

You'll definitely need to suspend any sense of reality to enter Tom Angleberger's wacky world of Hairsprinkle, USA. Silliness overflows, and questions of "would this really happen" never enter the conversation. But our early readers have definitely given this a thumbs up, recommending it to their friends as funny and a bit unusual.

My one wish is that the book designers made Angleberger's chapter titles more prominent. They're great chapter titles and help keep the plot developments clear for the reader. Young readers definitely need these sign posts to guide their comprehension and understanding of a story. That's especially true for one that takes as many strange turns as Fake Mustache!

Finally, for a bit of extra over-the-top fun, take a look at me sporting Tom's amazing fake mustache! I think this will definitely give me some power over kids in my library.

Ms. Scheuer as Fako Mustacho!

For other reviews, definitely check out Betsy Bird's at Fuse #8 and Monica Edinger's at Educating Alice.

The review copy was kindly sent by the publishers, Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you!). Thank you for your support.

Review ©2012 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

Celebrating Earth Day with My Mama Earth, by Susan B. Katz - a beautifully, soothing picture book

Spring has certainly arrived and kids are so excited to play outside, run through water, pick flowers, examine bugs hiding underneath. All fitting activities for the annual Earth Day celebrations occurring today. A beautiful book to share with young children is My Mama Earth, by Susan B. Katz. I especially love the way the soothing text interweaves with the lovely illustrations.

My Mama Earth
by Susan B. Katz
illustrated by Melissa Launay
MA: Barefoot Books, 2012
ages 2 - 8
available at your local library, favorite bookstore and on Amazon
YouTube video trailer

A young child - it could be a girl or a boy - watches the rising sun, thinking of all the glory that its mother and mother Earth brings to our lives. The rhyming text is lyrical and soothing, as the young child thinks of all the places in the Earth that bring him a feeling of wonder and love.

"My mama wakes the Eastern sun,
And weaves her magic till day's done.
My mama paints the ocean creatures
Adorning them with brilliant features."

Melissa Launay's illustrations richly develop the themes and mood of the text. The settings bring to mind all that we love about spending time in nature. While they are not specific places, they draw children into imagining what it would be like to sit under a tree, watch lions roar, or swim with dolphins.

Launay's paintings interweave lush settings with a vision of mama Earth, with long flowing hair. Launay's Mama Earth will appeal to many young children, drawing on a sense of fairy tales and imagination.

Susan B. Katz is a National Board Certified, seasoned, bilingual educator with over 20 years teaching experience. She currently works as a literacy coach in Berkeley Unified School District. Her sense of what appeals to children is definitely evident in this lovely story. This is Launay's first picture book - hopefully she continues to apply her art more in this field. Read more about Launay's process developing the illustrations for My Mama Earth over at her blog.

The review copy was kindly sent by the author, Susan Katz, and her publishers, Barefoot Books. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you!). Thank you for your support.

Review ©2012 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books

E-mergency! by Tom Lichtenheld and Ezra Fields-Meyer (ages 6 - 10)

All month we're reading funny books at Emerson. The kids are loving it! Nothing motivates kids more than a joke, especially when they are "in the know". Today, we had such fun reading classic Amelia Bedelia and laughing at the word play. I can't wait to share a new favorite: E-mergency! by Tom Lichtenheld and Ezra Fields-Meyer. The word play and puns are hilarious, and will have kids coming back to this again and again.

E-mergency!
by Tom Lichtenheld and Ezra Fields-Meyer
CA: Chronicle Books, 2011
ages 6 - 10
available at your local library and on Amazon
ALA Notable Children's Book 2012

Eeeeks! The letter E is falling down the stairs! All the letters of the alphabet live in one big house, and so they all came running to see if E was hurt. Letters R and U asked, "E! Are you OK?" and the letters O and K said, "No, we are." The letter X helpfully marked the spot where E tripped.

Do you see where this is headed? Those are the puns from just one page! With E in the hospital, A took charge (always first, you see):

"Someone is going to have to take the place of E while she gets better. O, you're the obvious option because you're so well-rounded." (get it, well-rounded?! hee, hee, hee)

Kids will love seeing the havoc caused by this plan. There is a "Spocial Bullotin" on television, with Exclamation Mark giving the announcement: "Do! Not! Uso! E! until! Sho! Rocovors!" They'll laugh at the store signs: "Ico croam" "Jan's Shoo Shop" and "Targot".

Clearly, this book is meant for proficient readers who can figure out all the word puns. 2nd and 3rd graders have loved reading it again and again, looking for all the puns and jokes hidden within the busy pages. This is not your typical alphabet book for little kids, but rather one layered with all sorts of jokes that older kids will enjoy.

Watch this very funny book trailer to get a sense of Lichtenheld's comic art style, timing and sense of humor:



The story behind E-mergency! is fascinating. Amy Krouse Rosenthal sent Lichtenheld Alphabet House, a video by a Los Angeles high school student, Ezra Fields-Meyer. Fields-Meyer is an accomplished animator, and his video started Lichtenheld thinking about this story. Read more about the development of this story over at ReaderKidZ.

You can see more of the interior artwork over at Tom Lichtenheld's website. My students love, love, love his books. If you want more picture books that will make you laugh, check out two other favorites he illustrated: Shark vs. Train and Duck! Rabbit! I can't wait to see his most recent Zero the Hero and his upcoming Wumbers.

For other reviews, check out A Year of Reading, Bookends, ProseAndKahn, and Waking Brain Cells.

Teachers, you'll want to head over to Chronicle Books' site to see their great Teacher's Guide, along with an extensive activity kit and Reader's Theater script.

The review copy was kindly sent by the publishers, Chronicle Books. If you make a purchase using the Amazon links on this site, a small portion goes to Great Kid Books (at no cost to you!). Thank you for your support.

Review ©2012 Mary Ann Scheuer, Great Kid Books