Barking Spiders 2, Written and Illustrated by C.J. Heck

Barking Spiders 2

Written and Illustrated by C.J. Heck

Awards: Cybils Award Nominee for Poetry 2011

Barking Spiders 2 is a lot like the first one. It is a book filled with poems that children can relate to. It deals with everyday things and events. If you have the first Barking Spiders and Other Stuff, you need the second one too! They are both wonderful books by C.J. Heck!

Barking Spiders and Other Such Stuff, Written by C.J. Heck, Illustrated by Michelle Lenkner

Barking Spiders and Other Such Stuff

Written by C. J. Heck
Illustrated by Michelle Lenkner

Grades: PreK-4

This is a great book that is full of wonderful poems. The Toe Jam is really funny because that is what my husband tells my kids. I don't think that they would really wonder about eating it though. At least I hope not. These are poems about everything. They are really cute and kids can relate to them. My son is the Pockets poem. He puts some stuff in his and I do find all sorts of weird things when I do laundry. She also has a  follow up to this book. Called Barking Spiders 2.

Runny Babbit, Written and Illustrated by Shel Silverstein

Runny Babbit

Written and Illustrated by Shel Silverstein

Grades: 1-3

This book is written in spoonerism, the verbal game of transposing words' first consonants. Readers are introduced to Runny Babbit and his friends Toe Jurtle, Skertie Gunk, Goctor Doose, and Millie Woose, and are encouraged to plunge headlong into this phonemic flip-flop world of funny poems. Kids will love the poems and rhymes. My son made up his own words all day after reading the book!

Alligator Pie, Written by Dennis Lee Illustrated by Frank Newfield

Alligator Pie

Written by Dennis Lee

Illustrated by Dennis Newfield

Grades: Prk - 3

Awards: 

CLA Book of the Year for Children Award (1975)
IODE Jean Throop Award (1974)

This silly and funny book of rhymes about alligators, skyscrapers, and other fun things is also illustrated wonderfully. I love the opening poem about Alligator Pie. Of course being from Louisiana, we eat Alligator. So I would be  saying, "don't give away my Alligator pie!".  I also liked the poem,  Willoughby, Wallaby, Woo and the elephant but, I don't think I would want him to sit on me. This is a great book of poems.

A Giraffe and A Half, Written and Illustrated by Shel Silverstein

A Giraffe and A Half

Written and Illustrated by Shel Silverstein

Grades:K-3

This is a great book about my most favorite animal a Giraffe! This is a great rhyming book about all the things a giraffe has on him. He is looking cute in a suite, with a rose on his shoe, and a bee on his knee. I thought if they kept stacking stuff on poor giraffe he was going to break. Then Giraffe makes all the stuff get off and stuff leaves. Mr. Giraffe is back to just being a Giraffe and a half. 

The Swiss Family Robinson, Written by Johann David Wyss, Illustrated by Scott McKowen

The Swiss Family Robinson 

Written by Johann David Wyss

Illustrated by Scott McKowen

Grades: 5- up

The Robinson's ship went through a terrible storm. The family now finds themselves shipwrecked on a set of islands. The family has no idea how long they will be there so they decided to make things last as long as possible. They build a tree house high up in the trees. The take what ever they can from the boat. They have animals and food that they can grow. They days turn to years. They also find another person who has been on the island a year. A girl. Years later a boat finally comes to rescue them. The family decides to stay the island has become their home. Fritz ,the younger son, and the girl, Jenny, decide to leave. They make plans to come back with supplies and to check up on the family. 

Black Beauty, Written by Anna Sewell, Illustrated by Scott Mckowen

Black Beauty

Written by Anna Sewell

Illustrated by Scott Mckowen

Grades: 5- up

Black Beauty is set in Victorian England. It begins with the birth of Black Beauty. He is born into Farmer Grey's family. He is even raised by his mother. Black Beauty does know that other horses are not treated as well as he is and he is very grateful. Farmer Grey sells his horses to Squire Gordon. Here Beauty spends the happiest years of his life. He makes friends with two other horses Ginger and Merrylegs. One night beauty is called on to ride for the doctor for Squire Gordon's wife. It is this ride that will change Beauty's life. The doctor tells the Squire they will need to move for his wife's health to a warmer climate. The Squire sells his horses. From here Beauty's fate is moved from one owner to another and he suffers abuse after abuse. One night an owner causes him to fall and cause a mark on his beautiful skin. He can no longer be a carriage horse. He is now in the lower ranks of a horse-for-hire. His new owner is Jerry. Jerry is a wonderful owner. Again tragedy strikes and Jerry becomes sick and must move to a warmer area. By this time Beauty is almost half dead. A horse doctor recognizes Beauty's mark and thinks he can bring life to him again. The doctor brings him home and heals him. Beauty is then sold to a lovely farmer and his grandson who take the best care of Beauty for the rest of his days.