Baby Monkey, Private Eye

Baby Monkey, Private Eye by Brian Selznick and David Serlin is a mystery book for preschool age children on up.  The reason I checked it out was because it was thick but shelved as an early reader at the library.  I soon discovered it was because of the spare use of words.  Many pages have no words, the illustrations tell the story well.   Even though there are few words, the details in the pictures will engage readers beyond a first reading of the book.

The Read-Aloud Family

The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie is a book written for parents, but I found it interesting to read from a teacher's perspective.  Mackenzie encourages parents of all ages of children to read aloud to them.  She mentions that it will help them in school, but she also believes reading to your children will make your relationship with your children stronger.
If you want to improve your read aloud time with your children, she offers encouragement and ideas.  Another chapter gives suggestions on how to have good conversations with children about books.  The last chapters of the book are sorted into age groups (0-3, 4-7, 8-12, and the teen years) with book recommendations for good read aloud choices. 

Boom Bloom!

Just in time for spring, Bloom Boom! by April Pulley Sayre is a book for everyone, even though it is considered a children's book.  The vibrant photos and spare words showcase the wonder of springtime flowers.  Anyone who appreciates photography, flowers, or poetry will enjoy this book.