Strange Creatures, The Story of Walter Rothschild and His Museum by Lita Jude

today’s children storybook summary is

Strange Creatures, The Story of Walter Rothschild and His Museum

By Lita Jude

Strange Creatures, The Story of Walter Rothschild and His Museum By Lita Jude
Strange Creatures, By Lita Jude

Theme: Love and care for animals, the environment, and nature

Plot: Walter, a shy boy, has spent most of his time alone, scouring the family’s enormous garden. His father wants him to take over the family banking business, but the boy loves animals and being in nature. This is a true story about the life and work of Walter Rothschild.

Storyline

Walter Rothschild grew up in England in a wealthy family, being almost the richest boy in the world. But what made him special was his interest and love for all creatures and plants. Continue reading Strange Creatures, The Story of Walter Rothschild and His Museum by Lita Jude

Never Ever Talk to Strangers! by Anne Marie Pace

today’s children storybook summary is

Never Ever Talk to Strangers!

By Anne Marie Pace

Illustrated by Guy Francis

Never Ever Talk to Strangers
Never Ever Talk to Strangers

 

Theme: Jamie had just learned what to do if a stranger approached him, but when it came to applying his learning, things turned out to be more complicated the Jamie thought.

 

Plot: A short while after receiving his Super Safety Expert Badge from officer Crane for learning stranger safety, Jamie comes face to face with a stranger. Would he remember the rules, uphold his badge and stay safe?

Continue reading Never Ever Talk to Strangers! by Anne Marie Pace

Dog Breath: The Horrible Trouble with Hally Tosis

Dog Breath by Dav Pilkey
Dog Breath by Dav Pilkey

today’s children storybook summary is

Dog Breath: The Horrible Trouble with Hally Tosis

By Dav Pilkey

Theme: This is a story of redemption, acceptance, and finding the bright side in a difficult situation

Plot: The Tosis family wants to get rid of their dog, Hally, because it has bad breath.

Talking points: Acceptance. Are we judging others based on who we are? Are we accepting others as who they are? Continue reading Dog Breath: The Horrible Trouble with Hally Tosis

Patrick Gets Hearing Aids by Maureen Cassidy Riski and Nicolas Klakow

Patrick Gets Hearing Aids by Maureen Cassidy Riski and Nicolas Klakow

today’s children storybook summary is

Patrick Gets Hearing Aids

By Maureen Cassidy Riski and Nikolas Klakow

Illustrations by Kim Klakow

Theme: Helping children understand hearing loss.

Plot: A school age rabbit does not hear well, causing him a lot of problems. He must get checked.

Talking points: Often time children with hearing loss are isolated by their peers. This book is not only for the kids with hearing impairment, but for their classmates as well. Some questions to ask are: What happens when you cannot hear? What can we do about it? How do you get your ears checked? How can we help our friends with hearing loss? Continue reading Patrick Gets Hearing Aids by Maureen Cassidy Riski and Nicolas Klakow

Meg and Mog by Helen Nicoll

Meg and Mog by Helen Nicoll

today’s children storybook summary is

Meg and Mog

By Helen Nicoll

Illustration by Jan Pienkowski

Continue reading Meg and Mog by Helen Nicoll

Hug Me, Please! by Przemyslaw Wechterowicz

today’s children storybook summary is

Hug Me, Please!

By Przemyslaw Wechterowicz

Illustrated by Emilia Dziubak

Theme: Shared love, kindness towards others;

Plot: Father and son bear go on hugging the animals in the forest.

Moral: Love and kindness brings people together. Continue reading Hug Me, Please! by Przemyslaw Wechterowicz

Yes I Can! A Girl and Her Wheelchair by Barrett, Toner and Freeland

Book cover
Yes I can, a girl and her wheelchair

today’s children storybook summary is

Yes, I Can! A Girl and Her Wheelchair

By Kendra J. Barrett, Jacqueline B. Toner, and Claire A.B. Freeland

Illustrated by Violet Lemay

Theme: Overcoming disability; school inclusion;

Plot: How a happy first grader, in a wheelchair, can make friends and enjoy her days at school and participate in ordinary school activities;

Moral: This story teaches us to have a positive attitude towards the people with special needs; instead of excluding them from daily activities, we should find activities suited for their condition; instead of turning a blind eye and pretending they aren’t there, we should see them for who they are and help them with their goals.

Continue reading Yes I Can! A Girl and Her Wheelchair by Barrett, Toner and Freeland

Whiffy Wilson the wolf who wouldn't go to bed by Caryl Hart

Whiffy Wilson, the wolf who wouldn’t go to bed by Caryl Hart

Whiffy Wilson the wolf who wouldn't go to bed by Caryl Hart
Whiffy Wilson the wolf who wouldn’t go to bed by Caryl Hart

today’s children storybook summary is

Whiffy Wilson, the wolf who wouldn’t go to bed

By Caryl Hart

Illustration by Leonie Lord

The takeaway:  Here is how to make bedtime more attractive for children that don’t want to go to sleep. This book is as much for grown ups as it is for kids. Continue reading Whiffy Wilson, the wolf who wouldn’t go to bed by Caryl Hart

I am Peace by Susan Verde

 

I Am Peace by Susan Verde
I Am Peace by Susan Verde

today’s children storybook summary is

I Am Peace

By Susan Verde

Art by Peter H. Reynolds

The takeaway

Mindfulness exercises can help children manage their feeling, relax and get rid of anxiety. Continue reading I am Peace by Susan Verde

Stephen and the Beetle by Jorge Lujan

Stephen and the Beetle by Jorge Lujan
Stephen and the Beetle by Jorge Lujan

today’s children storybook summary is

Stephen and the Beetle

By Jorge Lujan

Illustration by Chiara Carrer

The takeaway

Life is made up of small things, grace is universal, and empathy is better learned through play and observation.    Continue reading Stephen and the Beetle by Jorge Lujan

Barnaby Never Forgets by Pierre Collet-Derby

Barnaby Never Forgets by Pierre Collet-Derby
Barnaby Never Forgets by Pierre Collet-Derby

today’s children storybook summary is

Barnaby Never Forgets

By Pierre Collet-Derby

Storyline: Barnaby is a school age rabbit (yes, rabbits go to school too) that has a problem: he is, sometimes, forgetful. But who isn’t, you’d say and you’d be right. Barnaby, for example, forgot where he put his glasses (yes, yes, rabbits can wear glasses too, can’t they?). Continue reading Barnaby Never Forgets by Pierre Collet-Derby

The Big Little Book of Happy Sadness by Colin Thompson

the big little book of happy sadness by colin thompson
The Big Little Book of Happy Sadness by Colin Thompson

today’s children storybook summary is

The Big Little Book of Happy Sadness

By Colin Thompson

Storyline: There’s not much happening in George’s life. His days are the same: school and back home, at his grandmother’s, a sad place and an empty one for the boy. We don’t know what happened to his parents but they are absent from his life hence the emptiness he feels. His grandma is a kind lady but they are not too close and George feels they are on different planets. Continue reading The Big Little Book of Happy Sadness by Colin Thompson

The Birthday Party by Ronald and Juanita Destra

The Birthday Party by Ronald and Juanita Destra
The Birthday Party by Ronald and Juanita Destra

today’s children storybook summary is

The Birthday Party

By Ronald & Juanita Destra

Storyline: Children love birthday parties. There’s balloons, presents, cake, and all their friends together. And they are promised few hours, the least, of full of fun. All day long they are waiting for the party, building up excitement and anticipation.   Continue reading The Birthday Party by Ronald and Juanita Destra

What to Do When You Are Sent to Your Room by Ann Stott

what to do when you are sent to your room by ann stott
what to do when you are sent to your room by ann stott

today’s children storybook summary is

What to Do When You Are Sent to Your Room

By Ann Stott

Illustration by Stephen Gilpin

Storyline: Ben has enough experience to write a self-help book about what to do when you are sent to your room. He has it mastered, a sign that he has done it a lot. He says that he gets sent to his room for feeding the dog his dinner but, from what we read, we pick at other reasons as well. Continue reading What to Do When You Are Sent to Your Room by Ann Stott

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, Not Good, Very Bad Day By Judith Viorst
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, Not Good, Very Bad Day
By Judith Viorst

today’s children storybook summary is

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, Not Good, Very Bad Day

By Judith Viorst

Illustration by Ray Cruz

Storyline: Alexander is having a very bad day. In fact, it is a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, as he says. It starts early in the morning when he noticed gum in his hair because he had gone to sleep with gum in his mouse (a very bad idea, I should say). Continue reading Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

Sector 7 by David Wiesner

Sector 7 by David Wiesner

today’s children storybook summary is

Sector 7

By David Wiesner

Storyline: The kids are out on a school trip. Today, they are going to the Observatory on the Empire State building. The place is huge; from the ground you cannot see its end. The kids climb the stairs all the way up and the building is so tall that its tower is surrounded by clouds. Up at the top visibility is very low. It looks like the for is dense. As you go further, Continue reading Sector 7 by David Wiesner

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña

The Last Stop on Market Street By Matt de la Peña
The Last Stop on Market Street By Matt de la Peña

today’s children storybook summary is

The Last Stop on Market Street

By Matt de la Peña

Illustration by Christian Robinson

Storyline: This is a book about a journey through a diverse and sophisticated city and the way to see it and understand it.

CJ and his grandma, here called Nana, have a Sunday routine: they go to the church first, then they take the bus along the Market Street. Continue reading Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña

The Almost Fearless Hamilton SquidLegger by Timothy Basil Ering

The Almost Fearless Hamilton SquidLegger by Timothy Basil Eringtoday’s children storybook summary is

The Almost Fearless Hamilton SquidLegger

By Timothy Basil Ering

Storyline: This is a story for kids that cannot sleep in their own bed…

By day, Hamilton SquidLegger, a creature of the swamp and forest, is a “do-er and a dream-come-truer.” But by night, when the sun disappears behind the “scrintelberry trees” and is time to go to bed, Hamilton gets scared. Because each noise in the swamp … Continue reading The Almost Fearless Hamilton SquidLegger by Timothy Basil Ering

Blackout by John Rocco

Blackout by John Rocco
Blackout by John Rocco

today’s children storybook summary is

Blackout

By John Rocco

Storyline: It was a normal evening in a normal loud and busy city. Inside their apartments, people were doing their normal things. Our story’s family was no different. Dad was cooking dinner, mom was working on a computer, an older girl was talking on her phone while a younger one was unsuccessfully trying to get someone’s attention. And as they were going about this mundane businesses, suddenly the lights went out. Continue reading Blackout by John Rocco

Chicken Little by Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley

Chicken Little by Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley

today’s children storybook summary is

Chicken Little

By Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley

Storyline: We all know the story of Chicken Little…how a chick thought that it got hit by a piece of falling sky and, gathering a crowd of creature on its way, runs to tell the news to the king. The story is so popular (and funny) that many children’s book authors wrote and illustrated their own version of Chicken Little. So is the case with this book, which is Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley version of the narrative. Continue reading Chicken Little by Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley

Dog vs. Cat by Chris Gall

Dog vs. Cat by Chris Gall
Dog vs. Cat by Chris Gall

today’s children storybook summary is

Dog vs. Cat

By Chris Gall

Storyline: A teaching tool with a very funny touch, this is a story about a dog and a cat trying to live in peace despite the differences between them. A good read for parents, too.

The Button family decides to have pets. One day they go shopping and Mrs. Button buys a smart looking black cat while Mr. Button comes home with a friendly dog. Continue reading Dog vs. Cat by Chris Gall

How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans by David LaRochelle

How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans
How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans by David LaRochelle

today’s children storybook summary is

How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans

by David LaRochelle

Illustration by Mark Fearing

Storyline: Tuesdays, Martha’s family used to have  green beans for dinner. Martha, a girl about 5 years or older, didn’t like green beans and never ate them in spite the fact of being left alone at the table. She did not believe that green beans are good for you, as her mother said, or that they make you strong, as her father put it. Continue reading How Martha Saved Her Parents from Green Beans by David LaRochelle

A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon

A Bad_Case_of_Stripes by David Shannon
A Bad Case of Stripe by David Shannon book cover

today’s storybook summary is

A Bad Case of Stripes

by David Shannon

Storyline: Camilla Cream is a school age girl that loves lima beans and wants to please everybody. But she cannot admit to other kids that she likes the beans because nobody like them and she is afraid they might laugh at her. Also she cannot decide what to wear to school because she cannot find an outfit that may please everybody. Continue reading A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon

My Mom is a Foreigner, But Not to Me by Julianne Moore

My Mom is a Foreigner by Julianne Moore
My Mom is a Foreigner, But Not to Me by Julianne Moore

today’s children storybook summary is

My Mom is a Foreigner, But Not to Me

by Julianne Moore

Illustration by Meilo So

Storyline: This book doesn’t have a particular storyline but more of an idea, a perspective, that the author wants to clearly share with her readers:a mother’s love is above race, nationality or place of origin. Continue reading My Mom is a Foreigner, But Not to Me by Julianne Moore

Marshmallow by Clare Turlay Newberry

Marshmallow by Clare Turlay Newberry
Marshmallow by Clare Turlay Newberry

today’s children storybook summary is

Marshmallow

by Clare Turlay Newberry

Storyline: One day, Miss Tilly – the owner of a cat called Oliver – brings home a baby bunny which she names Marshmallow. When she shows Oliver the new pet, the cat, who had never seen another animal except for one stuffed rabbit, steps back frightened. Continue reading Marshmallow by Clare Turlay Newberry

Dear Mrs. LaRue – Letters from Obedience School by Mark Teague

Dear Mrs. LaRue Letters from Obedience School Mark Teague
Dear Mrs. LaRue Letters from Obedience School Mark Teague – Cover

today’s children storybook summary is

Dear Mrs. LaRue 

Letters from Obedience School

by Mark Teague

Storyline : Ike LaRue, a wire fox terrier dog, was enrolled to Brotweiller Obedience School. His Master, Mrs. Gertrude LaRue, was hoping to fix some behavioral problems like chasing the neighbors’ cats, stealing food, pulling on leash, and so on. But the dog feels that he has been wrongfully punished Continue reading Dear Mrs. LaRue – Letters from Obedience School by Mark Teague

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble

The Girl that Loved Wild Horse by Paul Globe

today’s storybook summary is

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses

by Paul Goble

Storyline: This is the story of a Native-American girl and her devotion to horses. She lived in a village that had a herd of horses. She would lead the horses to drink and graze, because she knew what they enjoyed. People said that she understood them in a special way.

Continue reading The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses by Paul Goble

Feathers for Lunch by Lois Ehlert

Feathers for lunch by Lois Ehlert
Feathers for Lunch by Lois Ehlert

today’s children storybook is

Feathers for Lunch

by Lois Ehlert
Storyline: This is a story about a cat that sneaks out through a crack in the door. The animal is not named, but is identified by onomatopoeia, Jingle-Jingle. The narrator tells us that the cat went out to find a “a spicy treat for today’s menu” aka to hunt a bird. But the cat has a bell at his collar and the birds get the warnings and fly away at the sound, leaving the cat with only feathers for his menu.

Continue reading Feathers for Lunch by Lois Ehlert

Archie the Daredevil Penguin by Andy Rash

Archie the Daredevil penguin by Andy Rash
Archie the Daredevil Penguin by Andy Rash

today’s children storybook is

Archie the Daredevil Penguin

by Andy Rash

Storyline: Archie is a penguin known by his brave approach to challenges. He has won many competition and impresses his friends many times. His nickname is the Daredevil. But he has one secret: he cannot swim because he is afraid of the briny deep and the creatures that lurk there.

Continue reading Archie the Daredevil Penguin by Andy Rash

Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin

Diary of a worm bt Doreen Cronin
Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin, pictures by Harry Bliss

today’s children storybook is

Diary of a Worm

by Doreen Cronin,

pictures by Harry Bliss

Storyline: This book is a diary from the perspective of a worm. The main character is a boy worm that writes about his daily life. Nothing spectacular, but rather common events in one’s life if we disregard the species of the writer. Continue reading Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin