ReFoReMo 2018 Day 7 Book Reviews

HOW TO READ A STORY by Kate Messner

To read a story, you must first select one. That's Step 1. "Find a story. A good one. It can have princesses and castles, if you like that sort of thing, or witches and trolls. (As long as they're not too scary.)" Once you've finished with Step 1, you go to Step 2: "Find a reading buddy." You are advised to select a story you both agree on. "If you don't agree....go back to Step 1. Sometimes it takes a few tries to find just the right book." If you follow all 10 steps, you are sure of a satisfying read!

IF YOU PLANT A SEED by Kadir Nelson 

If you plant a tomato seed or a carrot seed or a cabbage seed, your garden will sprout tomatoes, carrots and cabbage. If you plant a seed of selfishness, you will soon have big problems. But, if you plant a seed of kindness, the kindness will grow and grow and grow.

The minimal text (I counted 80 words) and the glorious illustrations by author/illustrator Kadir Nelson create a sentiment that is so much bigger than the sum of its parts.

LOVE by Matt de la Pena

Like other books that have been highlighted in this year's edition of 2018, this is not a storybook. Rather, it is a celebration of the many ways we can experience love in our lives. The book starts with a baby experiencing the love from his parents and ends with telling the reader that when the time comes for them to leave home, they can take the love with them.

WHEN A DRAGON MOVES IN by Jodi Moore 

Imagination is a wonderful thing. A young boy builds a perfect sand castle on the beach. As soon as he's done, a dragon moves in. The two spend their afternoon playing on the shore, wading in the waves, flying a kite, and doing other wonderful things while both mom and dad are not paying much attention.

The boy wants to share his dragon adventures with his parents, but of course, neither one of them believe him. That's when trouble starts as the boy and his dragon vie for the parents' attention. Young children will love the naughty antics of the young boy and parents will identify with him, too.

YOUR ALIEN by Tammi Sauer

"You'll be looking out your window when something wonderful comes your way. You will want to keep him." So begins this story of a little boy who takes in an alien who has crash-landed in his back yard.

He tells his parents about his new friend, but they are too busy to notice what he is saying. He takes his alien to school; all his friends think the alien is great. His teacher thinks she needs new glasses.

Everything seems to be going well until it is time for bed. That's when the little boy realizes the alien misses his family, much the same way the little boy would miss his if the situation were reversed. Can the little boy help the alien find his way back home?