BOOKS FOR CHILDREN: How do you know what's good?

While there are many places (especially on the internet) where you can read book reviews, how do you really know if it's a good book or not when a single book might receive anywhere from one to five stars?
The answer: read the reviews of a book-addicted teacher librarian.


NOTE:
** The age recommendations are guidelines only; whether or not a certain book is suitable for a particular child depends on multiple factors, including their maturity, reading level, interests, and in some cases their experiences.
** While the ratings are largely based on my own personal appreciation/enjoyment of the book, they are also influenced by my experiences as a teacher and the potential attraction for the target-aged child (acknowledging that what one child may love, another may find exceptionally boring). A rating of 5 indicates the book is likely to be popular with the majority.


Friday, October 18, 2013

Have You Seen Who's Just Moved In Next Door? (PB)

AUTHOR: Colin McNaughton
PUBLISHED: 2013, c1991

PLOT:
Meet the neighbours - Mister Thing and the Dumpty's (he's in bed; he cracked his head). There's a school for birds and a wig shop for pigs, King Kong lives at number 50, the churchyard is full of ghosts and ghoulies, and there's a houseful of pirates at number 94. But you'll never believe who's just moved in next door to us! The answer lies behind a gate-fold page, but can you guess before you get to the end?
REVIEW:
A fairly typical aliens-are-normal/humans-are-strange stories that kids love. The pictures are detailed, and would be a great "find the answer" book for a guided reading activity (i.e. create a list of questions that children need to use the book to answer: Who lives on the left of King Kong? Who lives at number 12? How many birds are in the school? etc). AGE: 4-8
RATING: 4 stars

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