| By: Emilie Coulter Book Review: Betty Lou Blue by Nancy Crocker; Illustrated by Boris Kulikov Reading level: Preschool–Grade 2 Little Betty Lou Blue longs to be included by the other kids. But in the playground pecking order, a girl with giant feet usually does not come out on top. And Betty Lou's feet are rather big. If her shoes were boats, according to her would-be friends, she “could float for a year!” Poor Betty Lou Blue tries to ignore the…Read More
| By: Emilie Coulter Book Review: Death by Eggplant by Susan Heyboer O'Keef Reading level: Grades 5–8 As if it's not enough for Bert to keep mind, body, and culinary aspirations intact throughout his eighth-grade year, he now has baby Cleopatra to protect as well. Resentment turns to grudging big-brotherly concern for little Cleo as Bert gradually loses sight of the fact that “she” is in fact a five-pound sack of flour given to him as a school…Read More
| By: Emilie Coulter Book Review: Shrinking Violet by Cari Best; Illustrated by Giselle Potter Reading level: Kindergarten–Grade 2 Violet is allergic to attention. This fact has come to the attention of her classmate, Irwin, who takes every opportunity to torment her: “You have hairy arms,” he hisses from the bushes. And, “I will be watching your fat knees.” But there's something Irwin and the others don't know about Violet. Beneath…Read More
| By: Emilie Coulter Book Review: Soupy Saturdays with the Pain and the Great One by Judy Blume; Illustrated by James Stevenson Reading level: Grades 1–4 Ahh, sibling rivalry. Who among us has not stooped to such fine exchanges as this one, between first grader Jake and his older sister, Abigail: “You're a big bowl of spider soup!” “Mmm…sounds yummy!” “Spider poop soup! That's what you are.”Read More
| By: Emilie Coulter Book Review: The Misfits by James Howe Reading level: Grades 6–8 Lardo. Beanpole. Freak. Tinkerbell. Queer. Slimeball. Wop. Brains. Fairy. Fat Boy. Loser. Do these epithets define the people at whom they are aimed? Seventh grader Bobby Goodspeed and his group of “misfit” friends think not. In a bid for student council leadership, the friends underscore their broader platform for freedom and…Read More
| By: Emilie Coulter Book Review: Gooney the Fabulous by Lois Lowry; illustrated by Middy Thomas Reading level: Grades 1–3 Young readers who have been following the quirky, erudite adventures of Gooney Bird Greene will enjoy two-time Newbery medalist Lois Lowry's third installment in the series (Gooney Bird Greene, Gooney Bird and the Room Mother). Those who have not yet been introduced to the unique charms of this pajama-wearing, fun-loving,…Read More
| By: Emilie Coulter Book Review: The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! by Mo Willems Reading level: Preschool–Grade 2 Author/illustrator/animator Mo Willems is a master of brevity and humor. You won't find a more succinct book about feelings than Willems' The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too! Word for word, you won't find a more entertaining one either, considering the total word count is 85. The pigeon (who also stars in…Read More