Friendship Day Books

I usually love Anne Rockwell, but this one disappointed me. The writing is dull and didn't hold my attention or my children's.

Okay, teachers, you know most Valentines Day books out there are pretty much all the same. This one is not your normal drivel. The children in this book are making valentines for Michiko, whom we infer has moved to Japan. Ms. Rockwell does not insult our intelligence by telling us this right out at the beginning; the reader picks up on this. The super illustrations, done by Lizzy Rockwell (what a talented family!), ingeniously portray each student's valentine on the left page, and on the facing page, shows the memory of Michiko that prompted the valentine's theme. For example, Pablo makes a fish for a Valentine. The text says,"Will you be mine?" You have to look at the facing page to understand that Pablo made a fish valentine because his memory of Michiko centers around the fun they had at a pet store, looking at the fish tank.

My kindergartners loved this book. It portrays a multiculturally diverse classroom with grace and warmth.

P.S. Another "Not your normal Valentines Day book" is "Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink". That one's entertaining and my students loved it but it centers around a trick played by the central character that causes conflict. Plus, my students surreptitiously start reciting "Your feet really stink" behind my back. Rockwell's book is more in line with the loving aspect of Valentines Day.

This book is what Valentine's Day is all about. I bought it for my adult sisters, adult sons, and preschool age grandchildren. I hear so often people complaining about what they didn't get on Valentine's Day. This book shows that Valentine's Day is about giving, not about getting. The little girl in the book makes special valentines for all of the people she loves and one by one gives the valentines to family members, friends, and even her dog. It is a joyful book that shows the true meaning of the day. It makes a wonderful valentine for adults too at a reasonable cost.

I read a book called " Valentines are for Saying I Love You". This book is perfect for Valentines Day and parents will want to read it to their kids again and again. I would say that this book would most likely be interesting to ages 4 and up.

I think this book is a good book to read, beacuse i think it's funny and how the characters are friendly to each other. Also how one of the character were trying to have fun even though the other one is having a bad day. And that just reminded me of one of my bad days.

I recommend this book to anyone who can't find a good book. It is not boring at all. It's very funny and easy to read. This book is about how Arnold had two dates at the same time on Valentine's Day and he doesn't know what to do. My favorite part was when Arnold kept running back and forth between the two restaurants. If you like the Hey Arnold cartoons, then you'll love this book.

A lonely bear lives in a cave and plays by the sea, "I walk by the sea. By the sea? By the sea! And I play in the waves all day. Splishy splash, splashy splash, splishy splashy splish"; then he hears a sound, "Vroomy Vroom" from a nearby city and he comes splashing out of the sea to follow this noise, "And I traveled to the city far away. Chuffy chuff, Chuffy chuff, Chuffy chuffity chuff." He travels with some very surprised passengers on a train, visits a thriving marketplace and enters a city park. As in his earlier classic, "We're going on a bear hunt" (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 1989), the story ends with a hurried retreat when Bear feels overwhelmed, "But people laughed at me. Hee hee hee ha ha ha Hee hee ha ha ha." The bear is rescued by some young children and they run back through the park and the market, ride on the train and splash in the sea; the final sweet illustration that is featured on the book cover shows the children in the bear's cave sleeping contentedly between his paws. Watercolor illustrations are filled with color and energy and contemporary multicultural details: a man on the train with his mouth wide open reads a newspaper, a market vendor sporting a bracelet around one wrist holds up a fish for sale and an older gentleman who is wearing a tie listens to an MP3 player. In one charming illustration, the large bear sits on a narrow swing with his big feet extended; his pinpoint blue eyes and tiny mouth suggest the appearance of a cuddly teddy bear. A lovely picture showing a day time view of a beach decorates the front inside cover while an evening view of the same beach appears all in blue on the back inside cover. There are many opportunities for audience participation; I just had great fun reading this book to a preschool group but it should also appeal to children in grades, k-2.

I realized when this arrived that it's really just a coloring book. There are two little stories and some educational content, but I think it would bore a child older than 4. It's good for my three year old nephew who is very proud of having just learned his colors, and the task of figuring out what colors the black and white images should be is a challenge for him, but I'm guessing he'll grow beyond it pretty quickly.

Mmm, I still remember this book from long ago in grade school. About a little girl (Polly? Penny?) living in old-time country Vermont with her grandmother, parents, and little brother. She has her own pony and pigs. Her best friend moves away, but a beautiful and distant Mexican girl takes up residents down the hills with her artist mother. The two get past differences to become fast friends. Not such an original story plot but a definate "feel-good" book. Rooms heated with wood burning stoves and watching snow flakes fall in the moonlight. I'm thinking I might be planning a move . . .

I thought this was a real exciting book to read. It taught a lesson and it was really easy to understand. There were funny parts in the book that made me think back to how close me and my friends are with one another. The illustrations were wonderful and had plenty of details in them. The author and illustrator make a good team together. This is one of the best children's books that I've read and I recommend it to everyone!!!

A timely novel for grandmothers raising grandchildren, but more than that, it's a great read. Day by Day is a heartwarming story of three women, dreaming of the day they retire and how they'll spend those years. But each of their lives gets interrupted and dreams are put aside.

Parr deals with the subject with honesty, not hiding the real emotions these women go through. A grandmother myself, I was able to relate to one or the other of these characters all the way through. And I love the characters she develops. They're all such different personalities if they hadn't the commonality of grandchildren, they would never have become friends. That's one of the things that makes this book work so well.

I'm not going to talk about the plot, but simply tell you to get the book. Parr writes wonderful stories that captivate and hold you spellbound until you turn the last page. She has jumped to my five favorite authors list. If you love Deborah Raney, Robin Lee Hatcher, Sally John or Roxanne Henke, you'll love Delia Parr. This reviewer gives Day by Day a high recommendation.

Reviewed by Ane Mulligan
[...].

This book tackles that tricky transitional time of leaving behind the familiar, cozy days at home to go to school. Enrico, a cat, sets off with his lunchpail, wearing funny-looking shorts. After being timid and out of the loop at school, Enrico first attempts to fit in before finally settling on just being himself. The actual plot is familiar and simple. What truly sets this book apart are the illustrations. Middleton cleverly works in collage with great precision, using actualy bread, wood, and other materials (many more subtle) to build entertaining spreads. The book maintains a nice rhythm by varying the lay-out and incorporating great little side notes.