Lyle, Lyle Crocodile

Author: Bernard Waber
Lexile measure: 760
Bottom line:   The civilized crocodile.
Language: No issues.
Violence:  None.
Big Kid Mature Topics:   The friendly crocodile ends up being put in the zoo, where he is rejected by the other crocodiles.  He is let out of the zoo by a friend in disguise.  There is a house fire.
Illustrations:  This is a picture book.
Plot:  complex.

Both of my children enjoyed this book.  I did as well, which makes this our first 3 thumbs up book on the blog!  It is about 45 pages, so it is good for a bedtime story.  The main character is very sweet, for a crocodile.  This was a good one for teaching vocabulary related to emotions.  It is also a member of a series of books on Lyle, though the reading level on the others is a little lower, with Lexiles in the mid-500s.

An apology

For a variety of reasons, I have decided to scale back on my blog for a short while.  I have returned to work and want to concentrate on finishing my novel (a children's novel, but probably not for very young readers).  Dear daughter has really graduated to more mature fiction.  But, I will probably still write a review occasionally.  Dear son is 2 1/2 and starting to show interest in reading, though, so I predict there will be more soon!

The Newbery Medal

And the Medalist for 2013 is The One and Only Ivan, by Kathleen Applegate!

Now, what is the Newbery Medal?  The Newbery Medal is the oldest and most prestigious award in children's literature and is given to the author/book with the "most distinguished contribution to children's literature".  As my children's librarian explained it, the Newbery is for writing, the Caldecott is for illustration.   The Newbery Honor is given to noteworthy runners up to the Medal.

Newbery Medal/Honor books are usually pretty interesting and always well written, but not always guaranteed to be appropriate for young children nor necessarily enjoyable reading for everyone.   And sometimes the books (like all books) get dated after a while, using vocabulary and expressing viewpoints that you may not want your child to repeat in an undiscriminating fashion.  If you're looking for a little light reading to relax the brain or you're trying to catch the interest of a reluctant reader, it might not be the best place to start.  If you're looking for a challenge or a new author, the Newbery list is a worthwhile place to check. 

Newbery Medal/Honor Books Featured in the Young Precocious Reader
Abel's Island

Doctor Doolittle

Multiple books in the Little House series

Mr. Popper's Penguins

The Twenty One Balloons

My Father's Dragon

Charlotte's Web

The Cricket in Times Square

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankwiler

The Tale of Despereaux

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Abel's Island

Author: William Steig
Lexile measure: 920
Bottom line:   Mouse Robinson Crusoe.
Language: One incident of pseudoswearing "Gosh Almighty" by a supporting character.
Violence:  None.
Big Kid Mature Topics:   The main character is marooned on an island by a bad storm.  There is a lot about how he loves his wife and misses her that might be lost on a younger child.  One character is a very old frog with a sleepy memory/dementia.
Illustrations: frequent blank and white drawings every 2-3 pages.  William Steig has also won the Caldecott Medal.
Plot: moderately complex.

DD and I enjoyed this one.   It reminds me of Stuart Little, but with a more coherent plot focused on how Abel, the mouse, uses his wits and survives while marooned on an island.

Beezus and Ramona

Author: Beverly Cleary
Lexile measure: 780
Bottom line:   A realistic and timeless story about sisters aged 4 and 8.
Language: No swearing, no potty language.
Violence:  None.
Big Kid Mature Topics:   Ramona is often very naughty, but not disobedient so much as mischievous.  Also addresses feelings of ambivalence that siblings often have toward each other--might be more than a small child can really comprehend.
Illustrations: blank and white line drawings every several pages.
Plot: moderately complex.

DD and I liked this book and didn't like this book at the same time.  What we liked was the warm relationship Beezus and Ramona have as sisters.  What we didn't like was that Ramona was always into mischief and often throwing tantrums.  DD felt that she related more with Beezus than Ramona.  I actually think that some gifted readers might feel this book is somewhat patronizing, depending on where they are developmentally.  The good news is, Beverly Cleary is a prolific writer and so if you liked this one, you have many more Ramona (and Henry Huggins) stories available for your reading pleasure.  A word of caution, though.  Beverly Cleary writes for a wide range of juvenile audiences including teens, so not all of her books have material appropriate for the youngest readers.

Homer Price

Author: Robert McCloskey
Lexile measure: 1000
Bottom line:   Collection of short stories set in a small town.  All charming, but not all suitable for very young readers.
Language:  One incident of 1950's swearing "Gol durned", no potty language.
Violence:  In the first story, the main character helps nab some robbers, at one point wielding a gun.  No shooting.
Big Kid Mature Topics:  Robbery, some talk about "politics", one character has a speech impediment, reference to "The Pied Piper of Hamlin" with children following a similar character in the story
Illustrations: blank and white line drawings every several pages.
Plot: collection of moderately complex short stories, easily read separately.

"One Morning in Maine" this is not, though it has all the same charm of the small town setting and the same beautiful illustrations.  Thankfully, most of the problem with this book and small children is in the first two chapters, which you can skip and still understand the rest of the book.  Unfortunately, its not one for unsupervised reading, but you can still read 4 out of 6 short stories, including the famous donut machine story, at bedtime, but then again, if you want short stories, you might be better off with "Blueberries for Sal", "One Morning in Maine", and "Make Way for Ducklings".  This book is best for grade school boys.

Update:  DD intercepted this on the way back to the library and said that she really enjoyed it (especially the donut story) and didn't find it at all scary.

Updated booklist

This is an updated list of books that met with both parent and child stamp of approval for independent reading.  I recommend you read the reviews first, especially if your child is sensitive or has any quirkly likes or dislikes.

2nd-3rd grade level
Babe
Beezus and Ramona
Betsy Tacy and Betsy Tacy and Tib
Duck for a Day
Flat Stanley
Judy Moody and Stink:  The Mad, Mad Pirate Adventure
Many Moons
Meg Mackintosh series
My Father's Dragon
Nate the Great
Roxie and the Hooligans
Winnie the Pooh
The Magic Schoolbus series
Little House series to Plum Creek, excluding Farmer Boy

4th grade-6th grade level
All of a Kind Family
Alvin Ho series
Charlotte's Web
Cricket in Times Square
Dr. Dolittle
Mr. Popper's Penguins
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
Ruby Lu series

beyond 6th grade
21 Balloons
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankwiler
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon