Dav Pilkey is just doggone funny. Zuno loves his Big Dog, Little Dog series and Pilkey’s Hallo-wiener is a treat. The long and short of it is that Oscar doesn’t fit in. “Half a dog tall and one-and-a-half dogs long” doesn’t cut the mustard with the gang at obedience school. On Halloween night, Oscar is…

Knots on a Counting Rope tells a story of courage and hope in the face of darkness, in this case, a young boy’s blindness. Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault craft a Native American tale of facing challenges and overcoming them with faith and family.  Ted Rand’s illustrations make me long for Arizona. You can…

America a Patriotic Primer by Lynne Cheney inspires younger generations to stand with Americans of the past and to continue their tradition of greatness. America explores American ideals and the men and women who put them into action. Mrs. Cheney packs her primer with a wide range of historical data. Young readers will be hungry for…

“ ‘What is real?’ asked the Rabbit one day, …” and the magic of unconditional love unfolds in the story of The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. Life lessons abound in this little book as Williams teaches us about loving others (even when their outsides look shabby). Conversation starters spring from the pages: What makes…

Artist, sculptor, dinosaur builder, and host of unusual dinner parties. The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins enlightens readers regarding the life of Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins and his much loved dinosaur friends. In the 1800’s, people knew very little of dinosaurs. Hawkin’s work changed this forever, both in England and in America. Inspired by his story, author…

The Spanish Ambassador has moved to London and Pepito is missing the twelve little girls who lived next door. Join Ludwig Bemelmans for a trip through London as Madeline and friends visit Pepito. Look for famous spots you may have seen if you watched the royal wedding this year. Zuno says Madeline in London makes…

Zuno’s Pick is Chris Van Allsburg’s Mysteries of Harris Burdick. “Mysteries” because the story behind the book is intriguing. Van Allsburg relates the story: “Thirty years ago a man called at Peter Wenders’s office, introducing himself as Harris Burdick. Mr. Burdick explained that he had written fourteen stories and had drawn many pictures for each…

Lunchtime leaves Yoko with a knot in her tummy when classmates make fun of Mom’s sushi,her favorite lunch. Author Rosemary Wells shows young readers that new foods and new friends are great things to sample. Give Yoko a try. You’ll love all the different flavors of friendship and fun (and green tea ice cream).

Today is bath day and Zuno feels like Alexander in Judith Viorst’s Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Sympathize with Zuno and Alexander as they experience a tough day because, “some days are like that. Even in Australia.”

Zuno decided some poetry would be nice for a change. Lunch Money by Carol Diggory Shields is a collection of school themed poems. Chuckle together as you relish how little school has changed.