Example #1

Relive the fun and wonderment of winter’s first snow with The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Children ages 3-8 will enjoy this simple, calm story that sparks imagination and love of discovery in nature. A young African American boy, Peter, ventures out alone after the first snowfall to explore and play. He recounts his exploits to his mother, dreams about snow, and tries to retrieve a snowball he saved in his pocket (it had vanished!)

The colorful mixed-media collage illustrations allow young readers to use their imaginations as they tag along with Peter through the snow. The large print text is written with short sentences as a third grade reading level, maintaining a slow and easy pace so readers have time to experience moments with Peter as he plays and learns about his environment.

The Snowy Day is perfect for lap reading with a preschooler or to transition a child to quiet time. Teachers can use the book as a writing or art activity starter, or as an introduction to a weather lesson. Purchase a library binding edition of this title, as it will prove very popular with patrons. The story is similar in tone to Jane Yolen’s Owl Moon, which is for older readers, and is not as visually busy as Lois Ehlert’s Snowballs. 

Example #2

Original Review

There Was an Old Sailor is a new tat on There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly – this time with sea creatures. The old sailor swallows first a krill, and moves down the line until he finally swallows a whale. Always a favorite “tell” or “sing” along with the required rhyme and repetition, this version does follow the food chain and at the end there isa double page of Fishy Facts. I enjoyed this book.

Improved Review

There Was an Old Sailor is a new and nautical take on the old classic There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly. The imagery is based on sea creatures that the old sailor swallows and the illustrations are whimsical, though accurately drawn. This old rhyming classic is always a good read aloud and the new nautical theme and rhyming work well to liven up and old standard. This would be a book an excellent book to use as a group read where the children can begin to repeat the list of animals – especially if they are studying sea creatures in kindergarten or preschool. The last page gives “Fishy Facts” about all of the creatures that were swallowed throughout the book.