Short Hypnotic Bedtime Story Full of Love

By Eric Metaxas

Illustrated by Nancy Tillman

This book is perfect for those nights when it's late, you need a meaningful, yet short, story to help your child feel loved and ready for sleep.

The illustrations are dreamlike and fantastical.  They are like falling into the peaceful night of a familiar yet far away dream world.

The story itself is repetative and hypnotic until the end when the pace seems to quicken and felt a bit different than the rest of the story.


Although beautiful, not my favorite bedtime story.  However, if I were a parent, I'd keep this one handy for the nights when I need something loving, hypnotic, and short with mesmerizing pictures. A quick and happy read.

Link & Follie

Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee

Illustrated by Tony Fucile

In this Theodor Seuss Geisel Award winning book Bink & Gollie are linked by their friendship and folly.  These girls, despite their very different personalities, are typical best friends. They experience great fun together, yet must also deal with their differences. Bink & Gollie demonstrate how two very different personalities can work well together if they seek to understand each other.  

This book will work best for elementary students, however, it could also work for some middle school students. It also might be good for some grown folks I know! 

The authors use three short stories to help readers develop a better understanding of common relationship issues such as compromise, boundaries, and jealousy. The format is particularly enjoyable thanks to the fabulous illustrations.  Picture book meets graphic novel meets cartoon for elementary readers.

The vocabulary is fantastic. There are many ways this book could be used to introduce a variety of lessons related to writing and vocabulary.  

Lesson Plans

It'll Do

City Dog, Country Frog

Written by Mo Willems

Illustrated by Jon J Muth

The illustrations are very nice, however, the story left me wanting and wondering. I got the feeling that Mo's publishers created this book simply because Mo's name is on it.  

It's not a BAD story, it just didn't feel at all like Mo Willems to me. Friendship wasn't treated as he usually treats it. In this story, friendships don't last and aren't very meaningful. A line that is repeated throughout the story in regards to making new friends is "But you'll do." 

Perhaps the story was written to show that acquaintances come and go throughout our lives?

I was left wondering what happened to the frog.  The story just felt weak and incomplete to me.  Sadly, not Mo's best work, however, like I said, I have the feeling he was pressured to publish.  

Kids will like the illustrations, however, I wouldn't invest in this book for my personal or school library.

Stay tuned for my next Mo Willems review!  It's a good one :)  Despite this not so great book, I still adore Mo!

I Love Cloudette!

Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld

Lesson Plans

Cloudette is the kind of character I really love. She's friendly, extra cute, helpful, shy, brave, and introspective. Tom Lichtenheld gives us a story filled with cuteness, silly banter, and an important life lesson - make the most of what you have.

The illustrations are fabulous. I especially liked the beginning of the book that offers a size comparison of little Cloudette and an average cloud using a grid. 

Thanks to Cloudette and one of her nicknames - Shortcake - I was reminded of one of my favorite people in the world. Shortcake, you know who you are! Both are overflowing with super sweet cuteness. I wish I could have much more of both of them in my life!

Your elementary students will love Cloudette as much as I do.  They will appreciate the silly banter and the subtle bewilderment Cloudette feels about finding her place in the world.  I plan to share this beautiful book with my middle school students.

Helpful Links:

Activity Guides to Other Tom Licthenheld Books for Kids Sadly, there isn't a guide for Cloudette, but there are several quality guides for his other books. Maybe there will be one by the time you click the link!

Book Trailer at Macmillan Children's Check out this super cute trailer.  It will make you smile.


Tom Lichtenheld's Website

Lesson Plans

Peace and Understanding Thanks to The Black Panthers - From a Child's Perspective

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Click Here for Lesson Plans

Congratulations to Rita Williams-Garcia, winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, Coretta Scott King Award, Newbery Honor, and National Book Award Finalst.  As the awards indicate, this book is well worth your time. 

In this book Rita Williams-Garcia opens the door to 1968 and the unconventional family of Delphine, Vonnetta, and Fern, three young, yet powerful, sisters.  One Crazy Summer uses Delphine's point of view to tell the sisters' story of their summer in Oakland, California with their mother, who they haven't seen in seven years. Oakland is a far cry from Brooklyn, where they live with their protective Pa and Big Ma.  As the girls adjust to the intense and cold behavior of their mother, they discover their individual and relational strengths.  Not only does their relationship with each other and their mother grow, but they develop an entire new view of the world thanks to the people they meet in Oakland.

On a personal note, I'm guilty of trying to categorize characters as antagonists or protagonists with everything I read. I like things clear cut and simple. When this story began I quickly threw Cecile (aka Nzila), the girls' mother, into the antagonist category.  How could a mother abandon her three precious daughters?  However, along with Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern, I was reminded that no one is all good or bad.  We all have tough choices in our lives.  We all make mistakes.  


Rita Williams-Garcia uses this work of historical fiction to remind readers that finding peace in life is a matter of perspective and attempting to understand the opposing viewpoint.  As a friend of mine often says, "Seek first to understand, then to be understood".  I'm sure there is some famous person I should credit for that quote, but I'm giving the credit to my friend - she'll know who she is!  Thanks to these sisters, I was better able to understand Nzila's point of view and the bigger picture she saw for her daughters.

From a historical perspective, One Crazy Summer takes the reader into some of the inner workings of the Black Panther operations of 1968, a time of much turmoil in the United States.  The girls, having been thrown from the safeguarding of Big Ma to the streets of Oakland, find solace in the care of the Black Panthers. Thanks to their mother, the Black Panthers, and their own observations, the girls gain a new perspective on life.

No ifs, ands, or buts about it, One Crazy Summer is worth a read.  Surely is... as little Fern would say.

Click Here for Lesson Plans

A Sweet Helpful Book

Remembering Crystal by Sebastian Loth

Crystal is my favorite character. She's exactly the kind of turtle I want to grow up to be. She's patient, loving, a great listener, adventurous, dependable, and a great friend. Zelda, Crystal's young goose friend, loves her very much. Zelda is a pretty cool character too. I like that she is headstrong and seeks her own understanding of the situation.

Sadly, the premise of this book is Zelda coming to terms with Crystal's death.  It is gently written and delicately illustrated. The illustrations are my favorite part of this book. They are very neutral yet expressive as necessary. The overall tone works beautifully with the story.

There are no specific lesson ideas that come to mind for Remembering Crystal. However, it's a great book to keep handy for students to read on their own or for the student who experiences a serious loss. It can also serve as an opening read aloud to prompt discussion about friendship and/or loss.

Girls Want to Slay Dragons Too!

Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch

The description offered on the cover of the book says it all: 

"Yet Another Troll-Fighting 11-Year-Old Orthodox Jewish Girl"

This book was an eye-opener for me on many levels.  To start with, I've not read many graphic novels, especially those written for girls.  I'm also not a big reader of fantasy.  Deutsch offered me an inside view of the Orthodox Jewish lifestyle.  

One of my favorite things about this book is that it promoted old fashioned family values like being home in time for dinner, helping around the house, and learning crafts from elders.  

Mirka is a young lady who is often hindered in her pursuit of becoming a dragon slayer because she must deal with the loss of her mother, the acceptance of her stepmother, the strong views of her religion and siblings, as well as school and peer pressure.  As the story unfolds, she manages to come to terms with all she is facing thanks to her self confidence, the support of her family, her beliefs, and her ability to win an argument.

While I don't think this book will appeal to large masses of young readers, I do believe it will appeal to the insightful, analytical, adventure seeking young person who enjoys a peek into the life of another young person and culture.  

Hats off to Amulet Books (Publisher of Diary of a Wimpy Kid) for taking on a less popular type of diary for young people. 

As far as lesson ideas for this book goes, I say simply make it available for young people to enjoy.  On a more academic note, it serves as wonderful clear and humorous view of Orthodox Judaism if studying cultures or religions.  

Hereville is a fairly fun and easy read.  Check it out and keep an eye open for a young person who can appreciate all this book has to offer.  May it lead to an inspiring and quality discussion of life and dreams. 

History - Exactly How I Like It

Kubla Khan: The Emperor of Everything

Written by Kathleen Krull and Illustrated by Robert Byrd

Short and to the point with a little adventure and great illustrations. Exactly how I believe all history books should be written. For example, does it really take hundreds of pages to learn about a battle or war? For folks like me - heck no! I just want the facts so that I have a general idea of what happened and who the key people were. Pictures make it even better! All history books should be exactly like this one.  

Of course, this book is more of a biography than a history book, but I chose it in hopes of developing a better understanding of the Khan inspired Mongol Empire. I never really knew much about the Khan's other than they were a super scary force to be reckoned with.  

I now know that when they were attempting to conquer the world back in the day (1200's) it was a serious JOB to conquer the world. They did a right fine job of it.  

The author does an excellent job of focusing on the positive effects that Kubla Khan and his mother had on their empire.

Students of any age will enjoy the history/bibliography as well as the illustrations. The art is gorgeous and ties directly to the text.  

Kubla Khan The Emperor of Everything was a much better read than I expected. It's a great tool for history or biography lessons. I highly recommend it - give it a look.