A Pirate's Guide to First Grade

This weeks' library favorite is, hands down, A Pirate's Guide to First Grade by Greg Preller, illustrated by Greg Ruth. It seemed like a winner. Pirates, school . . . I mean, where can you go wrong with such a winning combination? And then I got it home and began to read.

This book is incredible! I read it to my boys the day before my oldest started kindergarten. Immediately the language of the book sucks you in and begs to be voiced by a thick accented buccaneer. We got to the end and went straight back to the beginning to read it again! This time we spent more time looking at the pictures. The illustrations in this book are pure genius! They bring a young boy's imagination to life -- a clear and perfect companion to the text.
Of course my favorite part was last night when I tossed the book to my husband, who is usually reluctant to read to the boys (because I'm so good at it?). He consented before knowing he was being asked to perform, but to my amazement took out his best deep, gravely pirate voice and put on a show for a captivated audience. He outdid my pirate rendition considerably! It was amazing! What a wonderful book and a wonderful memory! This one is definitely going on my list for the book shelf!

My Friend Rabbit

My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann
This one has very few words but much room for a small child to discover his comprehension skills through visual images. I didn't understand the hype for this book at first, until my 3-year-old kept bringing it to me from the library bag night after night. My son isn't one of many words, but he quickly memorized and began to recite every word in this book and explained what was happening in each picture night after night. This particular work was renewed from the library the maximum amount of times, returned, and checked out again the next day, after real tears for the night we spent without it! The poor library was without their copy for over two months until my son received his very own copy for Christmas!

The Dinosaur Tamer

The Dinosaur Tamer by Carol Greathouse, Illustrated by John Shroades
You have to read this one with a thick old west accent. Luckily it was written so well the drawl just falls out of your mouth unintentionally! When I finished reading this one the kids immediately asked me to start over and read it again! This one is definitely on our purchase wish list.

No rhyming necessary!

Bone Soup

Bone Soup by Cambria Evans
We picked this book up from the library this week. It is an adorable spin-off of the classic Stone Soup tale done up right to include all that gross stuff my boys love to squeal about right now! Good lesson, fun artwork and even a little rhyming! This book was great!

Roar of a Snore

Roar of a Snore by Marsha Diane Arnold

Our family received this book as a gift.  I have never experienced any children's book quite like it. When I opened it and began reading to my boys the first time, I, the adult, was truly excited about turning the page, and surprised by what came around the corner! Brilliantly written, fun book with a surprising, humorous ending. Love, love, love this book!

And yes, it rhymes!