Storie Italiane-Italian Stories: A parallel text easy reader (volume 1)
by Jessica Kosinski, illustrated by Julie Leiman Weaver and translated by Claudia Cerulli is a great book to help teach not only the Italian language but about Italy as well. The book has five stories that take place in five different Italian cities. I am especially partial to this volume because one of the stories takes place in Palermo, Sicily which is where my grandmother grew up. I like how each story has the Italian version on top of the page and the translation just below it. The stories are fun and interesting and really capture the Italian culture and lifestyle. This is great for a classroom or for a child who is interested in learning Italian as well as any adult who wants to learn this beautiful language. I took Italian in school so this would be a nice refresher book for me. I am very rusty but this book reminded me how much I enjoyed learning Italian. So Joe do you like today's book? Enjoy
by Paul Fleischman and illustrated by Ken Nutt is a wonderful book of bird poems. I have always liked the idea of books being written to be read aloud by two people (or more). I think by making these poems interactive they become more accessible to children. This book is a great companion book to Mr Fleischman's Newbery winning title 
. I think Mr Nutt's illustrations are a perfect complement to these simple bird poems.
by Aileen Fisher and illustrated by Stefano Vitale is a great book to share with children about this important Christian holiday. Aileen Fisher not only describes what Easter Sunday is all about but she delves into the symbols of the holiday, such as Easter Bunnies, Easter Eggs as well as talking about Passover. She explains how different cultures celebrate this important Christian holiday and it's significance in the world. I am also partial to the illustrations which Mr Vitale does beautifully. This is a must have book for a child who celebrates this wonderful holiday. 
by Fran Munushkin and illustrated beautifully by Bob Dacey tells the story of the first Passover from Moses' sister Miriam's point of view. I think it is a wonderful way to really explain what Passover is all about. I was always intrigued by Miriam, ever since I saw the Ten Commandments on TV as a child. I thought she was very brave to follow her brother in the river to make sure he was safe. This is a lovely book to add to your holiday bookshelf. A must have title for all to enjoy. Happy Passover!
masterminded by Daniel Pinkwater (his word) and illustrated by the talented artist and author Calef Brown is the kind of book we all need in our life. I wished I had this book when I was a child, maybe then I would have understood fun for the fun of it sooner rather than later. Mr Pinkwater has picked some great examples of Edward Lear's poems to share with children. I love Calef Brown's illustrations because they are the perfect accompaniment to these fantastical poems. This is a must have book for a child's (or adult's) library. A perfect book for Poetry Month!
by James McPherson is a wonderful and concise book that explains the whys and the wherefores of this major event in American history. I loved this book when I first saw it because I felt that it made this conflict totally accessible to children. The Civil War has always been a complicated story to tell. I find it amazing that even today people argue as to what the real causes were for this war. This book, while written for children, is actually good for older people too. I loved the artwork and the photographs which really bring this historical moment to life. I think it is a must have on anyone's shelf....not just children. 
by Phyllis Root and illustrated by David Walker is a sweet book about baby animals. It is new in board book form which is the perfect format as it lends itself better to little hands. It is has a soothing and lilting text that can be read over and over again without getting tired. I love the soft illustrations and cute expressions on all the animals. A wonderful addition to a toddler's library of books.
by Chris Butterworth and illustrated by Lucia Gaggiotti is a wonderful new book that explains to children where their food comes from. I love the retro feeling of the illustrations. I liked the way it reads too....it never talks down to the reader but doesn't confuse them either. It is a great little book to help explain that food doesn't just appear in the grocery store, that it needs to be grown and prepared. It would be great book to read in the classroom without seeming too educational. I would have loved to do an event around this book because the hands on activities would have been fun to do.
by Andrew Clements and illustrated by Tim Bowers is a sweet story of a homeless dog looking for a family. It is written in Haiku style which makes it a perfect book to read during Poetry Month. There is such a warmth to the illustrations that I dare anyone not to fall in love with "Mooch" at first sight. This is also a perfect book for all the dog lover's in your life. A timeless tale that will be read again and again. 