Bernice MyersCritiques

23 copies

I knew things were off to a bad start when the book began with the shocking reveal of Little Dog not knowing Big Dog was his friend, or even what a “friend” is at all. What was their relationship before this was explained to him??? I need more backstory.

Ex libris Rebecca Schaffner

I love this book and it's a funny read.

A twist on Cinderella, Sidney wants to be a football player like his brothers and a fairy grants his wish.

This story is about a young boy named Michael and a teacher named Mrs. Daniel and their first day of school. The story goes back and forth between the two of them, showing the similarities in their feelings even though they are in different situations. They both end up finally finding the classroom, coming to find out she will be his teacher for the year. A cute story to read on the first day of class to any grade, because it shows the normality of nerves and how everyone has them no matter who you are.

This has been one of my favorites stories because it is connected to the real world where there are a lot of parents unemployed in the community. Therefore, kids are looking for an opportunity to help them. In the story the little boy goes and pawn his most loved object, a watch! He gave the money to his dad and once his dad is able to find a job goes back to the pawnshop and get the watch for Joey (little boy). All family celebrates together at the end. This book can be a great resource to be used at home to increase attachment and exchange ideas (parent-child)

a dog is looking for the object that makes such a odd sound "ding a ling a ling"
1 large book

discusses how to get the house ready for when company comes
1 large book

Sidney Rella wants to try out for the football team, but he has too much to do. Fairy "godmother" gives him uniform, has until 6pm to nail the try outs. Sidney makes his team an important football game, fairy godfather comes back. Sidney star player scores final touchdown, won trophy for team.

Sidney Rella has a rough life, but he wants to play football, but his two older brothers mock him and tell him no one would want him on their team.

A modern day twist and gender flop of the classic Cinderella.

A group of chickens prepare a party in anticipation of the millionth egg being laid.

This is a simple story where good wins out over the bad guy. Even though I would describe it as good versus evil, the character of Cattails is too silly to cause any real fear. Dogma is sweet and innocent and succeeds on her journey more by luck than instinct. Most young children will love this book and illustrations.

This is a sweet little story. The chickens behave in the same way that a group of ladies would act. The different personalities will make anyone chuckle. It is written for young children while the adult reading it will also enjoy the story. The only thing that was odd to me was the chickens working in the restaurant serving egg dishes. The characters are human like in their personalities so it almost felt like a mother serving up her child. Not quite that intense, but a bit unsettling.

This is a male, modern day take on Cinderella. It made me chuckle to see the mustached fairy godfather. The difference is the ending. In Cinderella she goes off with the Prince to live happily ever after. In this story, the ending makes me think Sidney Rella was sitting in his office fantasizing about football.

This book is about a dog and her mother who are having a hard time making shoes for a living. One day, Dogma enters a contest to make the queen the most original wedding present. She decides to make her flying shoes. Along her way to deliver the present, Cattails, the thief tries to steal her gift. In the end the queen loves her shoes and they win the contest and Dogma and her mom become famous with lots of people buying their shoes.

Bundled in a fur coat and matching fur hat, Little Herman trudges off to see his Aunt Gert. Crossing the forest he is mistaken for a cousin by a bear and taken back to the cave where the other bears receive him like family. The boy does everything he can to convince the bears that he isn't a bear – he eats with a spoon, stands on his head, ties his shoelace – but nothing convinces the bears until the boy does the unthinkable: he refuses to hunker down for hibernation. Pulling off his coat and hat, the boy is revealed and finally convinces the bears he is not one of them. A hasty depature follows.

Myers art was the draw for me here, but I like some of the thornier aspects of the story as well. Her make crayon scribbles of brown to suggest fur with a few simple details added in ink give the illustration a very loose, kid-like feel. It's very gestural and expressionistic without being heavy. As for the story, there's a bit of that childlike fantasy to the idea of a boy being able to hang out with bears and not be in any sort of real danger. There's never the sense that he has to get away or run for his life, only that he really enjoys being a boy and not being a bear.

Of course this book couldn't be written today. The idea of a fur coat, or a boy wearing one, wouldn't fly. And putting a boy in peril with a wild animal, that sends the wrong message in a world were even safety warning tags have to have safety warnings.

Aside from the illustrations, the best thing about this book for me is how simple and entertaining it is, and well-written. I can't usually make this statement for contemporary picture books written by illustrators. So often new books seem to be overly complicated and written with no feel for story. I'll keep holding out hope for newer picture books, but in the meantime there are fine books from the past like this.

It Happens to Everyone is a cute book with wonderful pictures. This book is about a little boy and and a teacher who have a horrible morning. The little boy cant figure out what to wear and either can the teacher. They end up going to school and are in the same class and have a great day. This might be a good book to read when your class is having a rough morning or something. This book is on a 2nd or 3rd grade level. I enjoyed reading this book.

This book discusses the details of the first day of school for a young boy, and his teacher. Both go through many struggles the first day, such as spilling their breakfast, missing the bus, and more. Both are very nervous and hope that everyone will like them. They end up walking into the same classroom together and have a great day. This is good to read because it lets you know that bad days happen to everyone and sometimes we have to face small struggles, but there are always other people going through the same thing and things will all be ok. The illustrations in this book were very good, and funny.