Easy Readers
Selected by Janet Kreason, Head of Youth Services.
Scheduled to be published in the Times Union on 11/2007.
| Title: Ballet Sisters: The Duckling and the Swan Author: Ormerod, Jan For Ages 4-7. In three very brief episodes, a budding ballerina older sister chronicles the ups and downs of life with exuberant Sylvie. The two rummage through the dress-up box for costumes and dance together after school. As they prepare to head off to the narrator’s dance class, Sylvie decides to cut her own hair, and older sister devises a clever headwear solution which saves the day. |
| Title: I Am Invited to a Party!
Piggie is delighted but slightly apprehensive when invited to her first party. Her best friend, Gerald the elephant, agrees to accompany her and dispenses advice on how to dress. Very simple text and highly expressive illustrations convey the mounting anxiety and zaniness as the friends try to anticipate the perfect attire for the event. Author: Willems, Mo For Ages 4-7. Piggie is delighted but slightly apprehensive when invited to her first party. Her best friend, Gerald the elephant, agrees to accompany her and dispenses advice on how to dress. Very simple text and highly expressive illustrations convey the mounting anxiety and zaniness as the friends try to anticipate the perfect attire for the event. |
| Title: Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa: School Days Author: Silverman, Erica For Ages 4-7. When Kate returns to school, her horse Cocoa tries to follow her, and is a bit sulky when she spends time with a new friend from her class. He does help her with a report, though, and poses for the picture she is required to paint. Betsy Lewin’s watercolors perfectly capture the range of Cocoa’s moods and the warmth and humor of his solid friendship with Kate. |
| Title: Duck & Company Author: Caple, Kathy For Ages 5-8 Providing the right title or experience for each bookstore customer can be challenging even for experienced proprietors Rat and Duck. The versatile and persuasive duo always sends the other animals away happy, whether they are members of a lively story hour crowd, a badger who is far too serious about humor, or a difficult cat who wants to cook rats. After Duck and Rat stay up all night reading a new cliff-hanger book, some of their customers take good care of them in turn. |
| Title: The Monster in the Backpack Author: Moser, Lisa For Ages 6-8 Annie’s new floral backpack comes with an unexpected bonus: a monster that eats her lunch, leaves bubble gum in her boot, shreds her homework, and creates other assorted humorous havoc. Norah Z. Jones’s illustrations reflect Annie’s initial surprise and concern as well as her growing affection as she realizes the unpredictable monster is a friend after all. When a classmate offers to trade backpacks, Annie declines and resolutely declares that even though her backpack is “silly and messy and big trouble” she loves it—and everything therein. |