The Frustrating Book by Mo Willems

Unlimited Squirrels Book #5

Zoom Squirrel is ready for some new feelings but Zip and Zap may not be able to help. What's a squirrel to do? 

Thoughts: The squirrels are always entertaining, but I like how The Frustrating Book! deals with feelings that toddlers and preschoolers can relate to. (I can't wait to share the book with my four year old nephew.) I think older children will continue to enjoy the hilarity of the squirrels and the acorns and maybe learn that everyone has big feelings sometimes. 

Visit the author's website here for activities. 

Themes: Feelings, Emotions, Squirrels

Don't Miss the other books in this series! 

• I Lost My Tooth! 
• Who Is the Mystery Reader? 
• I Want to Sleep Under the Stars! 
• Guess What!?

(Hyperion Books for Children, 2022).

Ballet Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins

World of Reading Level 1

Bruce will apparently do anything for his geese especially make multiple trips to town to get all the paraphernalia they need to do ballet. 

Thoughts: Too funny! I love the sad geese eyes and how much grumpy old Bruce loves his geese. The story reminded me of Let's Go for a Drive! by Mo Willems. I love forward to having another Bruce book to add to my repertoire. 

Find all sorts of Bruce activities and printables on the publisher's website here. 

Themes: Ballet, Dance, Bears, Grumpy Animals

Checkout other books by Ryan T. Higgins: 

• Mother Bruce
• Hotel Bruce 
• Be Quiet! 
• Bruce's Big Move 
• Santa Bruce 
• 1 Grumpy Bruce 
• Bruce's Big Fun Day
• Bruce's Big Storm 
• Peek-a-Bruce
• The Bruce Swap
• Spring Stinks
• Thanks for Nothing
• We Don't Eat Our Classmates 
• We Will Rock Our Classmates 
• Norman Didn't Do It! 
• What About Worms!?

(Disney Hyperion, 2022.)

Guess What!? by Mo Willems

Unlimited Squirrels are back! This time Zoom Squirrel is going to the beach. He's counting the days. 

Thoughts: Too fun! I love that Mo has a new easy reader series now that the Elephant & Piggie series is complete. I also like that Guess What!? is more than just a story. It's got jokes, research, and a guessing game. This will be a fun book to share with kids of all ages. The illustrations are vibrant and expressive.

Get some activity sheets for the series here. 

Don't miss the other Unlimited Squirrels Books! 

• I Lost My Tooth!
• Who Is the Mystery Reader? 
• I Want to Sleep Under the Stars! 

Themes: Squirrels, Beach

(Hyperion, 2021.)

See the Dog: Three Stories About a Cat by David LaRochelle

Remember Dog from See the Cat: Three Stories about a Dog? Well, he's finally getting his own book. Wait a minute! That's a cat not a dog. Oh, I see. Cat's filling in for Dog. Sadly, the story was written for a dog not a cat. Will Cat survive all these doggish activities? 

Thoughts: Too funny! It was a joy to read the sequel to See the Cat. The text is short enough so I can use the book in storytime, but I'm also looking forward to sharing this See the Dog with first and second graders. The illustrations are bright and colorful. I like that several two-page spread illustrations are included to emphasize parts of the story. This is book two of a planned three book series. I can't wait to see what happens next. 

The author's website has a writing activity and a mixup activity to go along with the book. 

Themes: Dogs, Cats, Humorous Books, Elementary 

 (Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. Candlewick Press, 2021.)

I'm On It! By Andrea Tsurumi

An Elephant & Piggie Like Reading Book 

Goat and Frog are playing a game. As it gets more involved, Frog isn't so sure he wants to keep playing. Can they still be friends? 

Thoughts: Too fun! I would not recommend replicating Goat and Frog's game at home. The illustrations are colorful and I love the expressions. Speech bubbles for the win. I love books that promote tandem reading--parent with child, grandparent with child, or sibling with sibling. 

Themes: Frogs, Goats, Friends, Games 

(Disney, 2021.) 

See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle

What cat? There's only Max the Dog. You must have the wrong book. Wait a minute...there is a cat in this book! 

Thoughts: This book is hilarious! It's short enough to share in storytime, but I think first and second grade students will be equally entertained. I can hear kids asking me to read it again and again. The dog is suitably disgruntled throughout the book. Grumpy characters always appeal to me. Illustrations are colorful and detailed without being busy. I like that the illustration only occupies one page of each two-page spread. See the Cat won the 2021 Giesel Award and the 2020 Cybils Award for Easy Readers. The author's website has a creative drawing sheet, a mini book, and a See the Cat downloadable board game. See the Cat is the first book in a planned three book series. The second book is See the Dog: Three Stories About a Cat and will be published on September 14, 2021. Betsy Bird interviewed David and Mike and revealed the cover of the second book. Read that interview here. David LaRochelle and Mike Wohnoutka have also collaborated on Moo! and This Is Not a Cat!

Themes: Dogs, Cats, Humorous Books, Elementary 

(Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka. Candlewick Press, 2020.)

What About Worms!? by Ryan T. Higgins

Tiger is big and brave. He's not afraid of anything...except worms. 

Thoughts: Too funny! Tiger is just what I've come to expect from Ryan T. Higgins. Tiger isn't grumpy like Ryan's other character Bruce. Instead, he's a little bit of a mess especially when worms might be involved. I can't wait to share this book with kids. The illustrations are full of color, emotion, and movement. This book would pair well with Fear the Bunny by Richard T. Morris, The Secret Life of a Tiger by Przemysław Wechterowicz, and It's a Tiger! by David LaRochelle.  

Themes: Tigers, Worms, Fears 

Here are activity sheets from the publisher. 

Checkout the other Elephant & Piggie Like Reading Books:

• The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat
• We Are Growing! by Laurie Keller 
• The Good For Nothing Button! by Charise Mericle Harper 
• It's Shoe Time! by Bryan Collier 
• The Itchy Book! by LeUyen Pham 
• Harold & Hog Pretend for Real! by Dan Santat 

Checkout other books by Ryan T. Higgins: 

• Mother Bruce
• Hotel Bruce 
• Be Quiet! 
• Bruce's Big Move 
• Santa Bruce 
• 1 Grumpy Bruce 
• Bruce's Big Fun Day
• Bruce's Big Storm 
• Peek-a-Bruce
• We Don't Eat Our Classmates 
• We Will Rock Our Classmates 

Links are to my reviews. 

(An Elephant & Piggie Like Reading Book with Mo Willems. Disney, 2020.)

What Is Chasing Duck? by Jan Thomas

Something is chasing Duck. Before long he's involved his friends Sheep, Donkey, and Dog.

Thoughts: Not knowing what is chasing Duck until almost the end of the book is what makes this story work so well. What Is Chasing Duck? will be a great addition to any storytime. As always the illustrations are bright and colorful. I love the speech bubbles.

Themes: Author Storytime, Ducks, Animals

(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017.)

There's a Pest in the Garden! by Jan Thomas

Duck, Sheep, Dog, and Donkey are in despair. There's a pest in the garden and he's eating all the vegetables! What to do?

Thoughts: I love anything Jan Thomas writes. The first installment in her new easy reader series does no disappoint. The book is funny with bright, colorful illustrations and speech bubbles. I can't wait to share this book during storytime. This book would pair well with "A Gopher in the Garden" by Jack Prelutsky.

Themes: Gardens, Animals

(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017.)

The Good for Nothing Button by Charise Mericle Harper (& Mo Willems)

Yellow Bird has a button that does nothing, but when he shows it to Blue Bird and Red Bird, everyone is in for a treat.

Thoughts: A fun book. I would love to act this out. It would make an excellent reader's theater piece for my elementary school outreach. It reminds me so much of the Elephant & Piggie books. Isn't that strange? The beginning and end by Elephant & Piggie were perfect. I'm so glad they are still making guest appearances.

Themes: Birds, Emotions, Elementary

Elephant & Piggie Like Reading Book #3. Hyperion, 2017

The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat (& Mo Willems)

Elephant & Piggie may not have any new books, but that won't stop them from introducing readers to books they like.

In The Cookie Fiasco, Hippo, Croc, and the squirrels have a problem. There are four of them and only three cookies. What will they do?

Thoughts: Love, love, love! The concept of these books is fabulous. Dan Santat does not disappoint. The characters he introduces are funny and endearing. I love that he uses speech bubbles just like the original Elephant & Piggie books. Hippo is my favorite character. Note to self: keep cookies away from nervous hippos.

Themes: Easy Readers, Cookies, Friendship

An Elephant & Piggie Like Reading Book. Hyperion, 2016.

Is That Wise Pig? by Jan Thomas

Mouse, Cow, and Pig are all making soup. It's going well until Pig wants to add some unusual ingredients to the pot.

Thoughts: Too fun! This will be a great addition to my soup storytime. It would also pair well with 10 Hungry Rabbits by Anita Lobel and Ten Hungry Pigs by Derek Anderson. 

Themes: Pigs, Soup, Vegetables, Cooking

Beach Lane Books, 2016

I'm a Frog! by Mo Willems

Piggie has done it again. That is to say, she's upset Gerald yet again. This time by being a frog. What if he turns into a frog, too?

Thoughts: Too funny. I love Gerald's exaggerated reactions to Piggie's pretending. This would be a great book to add to my animal sounds storytime.

Themes: Elephants, Pigs, Animal Sounds, Imagination

(Hyperion, 2013)

Let's Go for a Drive! by Mo Willems

Gerald has a great idea. He and Piggie should go for a drive. After numerous preparations, they realize they have one important item--a car!

What I thought: Such fun! Let's Go for a Drive! might be my favorite Elephant & Piggie book. I may use this for my Mo Willems story time in the spring. I love how Gerald and Piggir adjust to not having a car...much like children would.

(Hyperion, 2012)

Happy Pig Day! by Mo Willems

An Elephant & Piggie Book

Piggie is so excited. it's Pig Day...that day set aside to celebrate pigs. Gerald gets quite upset. He's an elephant not a pig. But Piggie soon shows him that anyone can celebrate Pig Day.

What I thought: I've never read an Elephant & Piggie Book that I didn't like. This one was especially good. Gerald gets so sad. My favorite part and illustration was the reveal. (Read the book and you'll know what I'm talking about. I won't give it away!)

(Hyperion, 2011)

A Birthday for Bear by Bonny Becker

Remember Bear? He hated visitors until Mouse came along? Well, now he hates birthdays, but I think we can count on Mouse to change that.

What I thought: Hilarious! Bear and Mouse are such great characters. Bear's repeated insistence that he hates birthdays will draw giggles from all children. The illustrations are lovely as always. I think Kady is becoming one of my favorite illustrators. She used such soft color and the detail, oh my! My favorite illustrations are Bear sweeping Mouse out and party time (pp.48-50).

Story Time Themes: Birthdays, Friendship

(Illus. Kady MacDonald Denton. Candlewick, 2009)

Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems

(An Elephant & Piggie Book)

Gerald's elation at procuring some ice cream is short-lived as he debates the merits of sharing it with Piggie. Before he realizes it, his ice cream has melted! What's an elephant to do?

What I thought: A perfect book for summer in the Elephant & Piggie series. These two characters are quickly becoming one of my favorite sets of literary friends.

Story Time Themes: Friends, Ice Cream, Summer

(Hyperion, 2011)

Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo & Alison McGhee

Bink and Gollie...two friends, three adventures.

What I thought: I loved it! I can see why it won the Geisel Award this year. I like that both the girl express themselves uniquely. Their choice of words is great. My favorite words are baffled and implore. Bink & Gollie will make a great read aloud. The illustrations are great. I've liked Fucile's style ever since I read Let's Do Nothing. My favorite illustrations are Bink & Gollie eating pancakes after the sock incident and Bink & Gollie skating on the pond. Might I hope that Bink & Gollie's adventures will continue?

(Illus. Tony Fucile. Candlewick, 2010)