Realistic Fiction

Now One Foot, Now the Other

By Tomie dePaola

ISBN: 9780142401040

This is a story is probably the cutest story I have ever read! In the story it shows a young boy growing up with his bestfriend, his grandfather. As he grows up they still remain super close, but one day the grandfather has a stroke and can't walk or remember his grandson. So, his grandson helps him learn how to eat again and also how to walk, just like he taught him when he was little. I give this book a 10 out of 5 stars! The illustrations were adorable and typical Tomie dePaola. Every page the grandfather got grayer hair and more wrinkles. It really was a great read and definitely a great book to read to a child coping with an older relative who just suffered a stroke. 

A Day's Work

By Eve Bunting 

ISBN: 9780395845189

This story is about a mexican american young boy help his grandfather, who doesn't speak any english, find work. They go to various jobs together and get picked up on street corners. His grandfather also does not really know how to garden so Francisco helps his grandfather. This is a great story showing how immigrants have to adapt to the culture and still provide for their families. This book will get a 5 out of 5 stars. 

When Sophie Gets Angry- Really, Really, Angry...

By Molly Bang

ISBN: 9780439598453

Sophie is a little girl that is fighting with her sister over her toy. Her parents tell her that it is Sophie's sister's turn to play with the time, which makes Sophie "really really" angry. This is one of those stories that has a hidden lesson inside of it for children and ways to combat their anger in situations they could get into in real life. This book gets a 5 out of 5 stars because the whole series is really cute and can help children feeling the way Sophie is feeling. 

Traditional Children's Books

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs 

By Jon Scieska 

ISBN: 978140544510

Published in 1996 by Puffin Books

This is a story in which the Wolf from the infamous tale of the three little pigs claims that he was framed and that he truly is a good person. He says that he was framed and he never meant the pigs any harm. The illustrations looked like they were cut and pasted from a newspaper. I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars because I thought that there wasn't a lot of color incorporated in the illustrations. I, of course, adored the story line so if I was only looking at the words I would give the book a 5 out of 5 stars.

Rapunzel

By Sarah Gibb

ISBN: 9780807568040

This children's book is base on The Brothers Grimm story of Rapunzel. This book was the typical story that has been told over a million times. She's locked away in a tower and the prince saves her. The only thing that made this book stand out was the illustrations. The pale pinks used really appealed to my girly nature, so I really enjoyed that and I'm sure little girls would love it, as well. I would give this book a 4 out of 5 just because it didn't have a twist it was just a typical story of Rapunzel.

The Gingerbread Girl

By Lisa Campbell Ernst

ISBN: 9780525476672

Again, another typical fable told with a twist, exactly how I like my Traditional Children's Literature. Instead of a gingerbread man Ernst makes the main character a gingerbread girl, thus appealing more towards girls. I really enjoyed the slight differences in this book than just the traditional retelling of the Gingerbread Man. This book gets a 5 out of 5 stars.

Picture Books

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type

By Doreen Cronin and Betsey Lewin

ISBN: 9780689632130

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type is an adorable children's picture book that I remember loving in elementary school. In the book the cows are on strike because of the conditions they are living in. They would leave typed notes on the barn door that there would not be milk today, or that they were closed.. ALL because they wanted electric blankets! I thought that it was an adorable story the illustrations were very cute and the way that the words stood out on the page made it easy for a child to read. I also think that kids would enjoy this story, as it is a funny story. The cows are on strike because they want electric blankets.

5 out of 5 stars!!

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie 

By Laura Numeroff

ISBN: 0060245867

This is another adorable children's book that I used to enjoy and happen to still love. This story is about a little boy who meets a mouse and gives him a cookie. The mouse then proceeds to ask the boy for different things like, a glass of milk, a nap, and even to draw a picture. I think it's a silly concept so kids really enjoy a mouse asking for all of these different things when they know that mice cannot talk. The illustrations were great and I loved the way that the story flowed from page to page. 

5 out of 5 stars

The Rainbow Fish

By Marcus Pfister

ISBN 9781558580091

Another one of my favorite children's book is Rainbow Fish. This a beautiful story about a fish with the most beautiful scales, but feels that no one loves him because he doesn't want to share his scales when people ask him. Finally, after speaking to The Wise Octopus he decides to share his scales in order to be happy. I think this is a wonderful story to read and the illustrations were phenomenal.

This book gets a 5 out of 5. It's a great story for teachers to read in a classroom, as well, to avoid bullying and encourage sharing.