Annie and Helen, by Deborah Hopkinson, and beautifully painted with watercolor by Raul Colon, is a fresh and insightful look into the relationship of Helen Keller and her amazingly patient and determined teacher, Annie Sullivan.  Annie, who eventually lost her sight due to a disease, came to teach Helen who was both deaf and blind. This picture book beautifully demonstrates Annie’s strong perseverance and belief that there was intelligence deep within young Helen. “Helen was like a small, wild bird, throwing herself against the bars of a dark and silent cage.” Annie realized what Helen needed was consistent discipline and to not give in to her tantrums. When Helen finally understood words, the incident of splashing water from the outside water-pump and writing the word “water” on Helen’s hand, finally brought a connection to Helen’s mind. It’s moments like this that makes this book an inspiration. There are amazing photos on the end pages of both women as well as an actual raised braille alphabet found on the back. “I Am Helen Keller” by Grace Norwich, is a chapter book that goes into more detail about the amazing accomplishments of Ms. Keller.

Gandhi: A March to the Sea, by Alice B. McGinty, and painted with gorgeous hues of watercolor, pastels, color pencils and ink by Thomas Gonzalez, is a book demonstrating through full-page color, and powerful words, that Mohanda Gandhi could lead his people through the vast countryside and all the way to the sea.  He made this march, picking up people of all faiths, to show his country and the British rulers that India could be unified without violence. This powerful picture book teaches a lesson that countries at war could learn.

21 Principles: Divine Truths to Help You Live by the Spirit, by Richard G. Scott, is a wonderful guide to help you discern heavenly messages as you navigate through life. “Principles are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances” advises Elder Scott. One of these principals instructs how to communicate with our Heavenly Father. Another principal showcases the importance of being aware of others who are set in our path to help us and guide us. Elder Scott takes you through each of these principals one chapter at a time so that by the book’s end, you will become edified and understand the divine truths so needed to live by the Spirit!

The Mark of a Giant: 7 People Who Changed the World, by Ted Stewart, follows the concept that these 7 amazing people featured in this inspiring book will motivate the reader to make their own mark on the world in a positive and influential way.  The traits that flow from one great person to the next seem motivated to improve conditions of life at the time. There’s Pericles who wanted to give the Athenians fairness and democracy. Madame Marie Curie wanted to discover ways to help the human body become less sickly and not spread disease. The last chapter leaves the reader questioning if they might be a giant waiting to become aware of their own capabilities. I love that the book ends with each of us pondering what unique qualities and talents we have waiting to be discovered!

Girls Who Rocked the World: Heroines From Joan of Arc to Mother Teresa, by Michelle Roehm McCann and Amelie Welden and Boys Who Rocked the World: Heroes From King Tut to Bruce Lee, by Michelle Roehm McCann, are both chapter books that feature young women and men that made an impact on the world before they turned twenty. The chapters are short, kid-friendly, interesting, and have highlights featuring devises and activities that helped each reach their goals at their young ages. The outstanding young women include the ballerina Anna Pavlova, Mary Anning who was a famous fossil hunter and Laura Bassi, the physicist. The amazing young men featured include Jesse Owens – a Native American Olympian, President, politician and abolitionist John Quincy Adams and Thomas Alva Edison – inventor.

Desmond and the Very Mean Word, by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams, and illustrated with vibrant oil by A. G. Ford, is based on an experience when Archbishop Tutu was young.  He was the only one with a bicycle in the entire township. But when he rides it through town with much pride, he hears boys yelling a very unkind word. He raced away but could not get that awful word out of his head. It hurt his soul but it also made him mad. He learns a very important lesson in life: to forgive is more important than to get even! This lesson is well exhibited in this beautiful picture book.

One Drop at a Time: A Message for Women, by M. Russell Ballard, is a smallish sized book that exhibits the industrious and important honeybee.  Even the cover displays a hive, bees and a honeycomb.  Elder Ballard equates this tiny insect, and the morsel of honey it makes, to the sisters of the Church.  Each bee works very hard and flies to many, many flowers to retrieve about 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey. The time spent to produce this slight morsel takes the bee up to four months. The comparison drawn is that a sister might think that her small contribution of help and support won’t help or matter much. But, as with the bees, the effort, no matter how small, can mean a great deal to someone. “There is power in our love for God and for His children, and when that love is tangibly manifest in millions of acts of Christian kindness, it will sweeten and nourish the world with the life-sustaining nectar of faith, hope and charity.” And I can testify that these simple acts of daily service will bring about purpose and happiness to those that give!

Hero Mom, by Melinda Hardin, and painted with watercolor by Bryan Langdo, begins with “Our moms are superheroes”. From there the depiction of moms that are serving in the military demonstrates the vastness and importance of those services such as military architects, search & rescue and doctors. The story is encouraging and informative and even showcases how kids can communicate, through devices such as Skype, with their moms who are far away while serving their country.

I Will Keep You Safe and Sound, by Lori Haskins Houran, and beautifully painted with watercolor, gouache and brown pencil by Petra Brown, reassures little ones that their parents are always there protecting them. The sparse, rhyming text gives a lilting sense that almost sings a lifting lullaby. “Brown bears in the den / While the first buds peep / Rabbits in the field / While crickets cheep / Robins in the nest / While the rain pours down / I will keep you safe and sound.” The sense of comfort and love is found, and profound, throughout.

Lullaby (For a Black Mother), a poem by Langston Hughes, and illustrated with acrylic, pencil and collage by Sean Qualls, is a beautiful poetic lullaby from one of last century’s best poets. The expressive words seemingly rock back and forth over the pages as the evening dark portrays a shifting moon, billowy clouds and stars that shine throughout the night.  Be sure to check out a rare picture of this famous poet as a baby in the arms of his mother

The King of Space, by Jonny Duddle, is a hilarious futuristic story that showcases the most extraordinary life of an average six-year-old boy, Rex, who lives with his parents on a moog farm and goes to mini intergalactic citizen school.  However, he has the most distinctive feeling that he is about to become the King of Space!  He ends up achieving even more than he bargained for when he uses his giant robot to dig a deep hole to create a place to begin his master-plan: conquering the universe. But things get out of control when Emperor Bog and his Galactic Alliance prepare to begin to go up against Rex. And guess who saves the day?  Mom!  You’ll likely pour over the full-page illustrations, especially Rex’s unique-looking alien friends!

What Not to Give Your Mom on Mother’s Day, by Martha Simpson, and brightly illustrated by Jana Christy, is a clever story about all of the items not to give your mom unless she’s a particular type of animal.  There’s a picture of mom in bed and a boy (who is featured throughout the book) who has a bucket of earth and worms placed on top of the bed sheet. “Do Not give her a bucket of big fat worms…unless she is a bird”. Another picture shows her standing just inside the kitchen and this little boy has just dumped mud on the floor. “Do Not give her a mud puddle…unless she is a pig”. This delightful story ends with a hug and kiss and mom proclaiming “I love you, too, honey!” Kids will enjoy reading and re-reading this again and again and perhaps come up with their own gifts not to give mom.

Creepy-Crawlies: A 3D Pocket Pop-Up Guide, engineered by Gus Clarke, is a clever smallish sized book that expands into 5 feet of pop-up pictures featuring some of the world’s most amazing arthropods. There’s even a glossary on the last page of this ingenious display of spiders, butterflies, grasshoppers and more!

When We Go Walking, by Cari Best, and painted with oil and using collage by Kyrsten Brooker, is a celebration of seasons as young Wendy walks along her “Rambling Road” with her family. The observations made by family members, and Wendy’s collections of roadside artifacts, continue through the seasons.  When it becomes too cold in winter for their stroll along the lane, Wendy reconstructs those memorable walks by placing the found objects around her room. This lovely story invokes appreciating all the beauty that surrounds us in the outside world.

Rain!, by Linda Ashman, and illustrated by Christian Robinson, is a simple story with limited text about how attitude can change one’s perspective on life. A youngster is thrilled for the rain as he splashes through puddles in his rain gear. A grouchy man is irritated with the rain and his grumpy face exudes his distain. But the happy boy intervenes and exhibits a cheerful, happy attitude and it rubs off onto the adult.  This clever story showcases the importance of enjoying life even when it rains!

Nibbles’ Garden: Another Green Tale, by Charlotte Middleton, is a colorful story about Nibbles, a guinea pig, and his friend and the garden he is growing. But when he discovers his garden is being devoured by enterprising caterpillars, he captures them. But being the nice guinea pig that he is, he decides to make them pets and place them in nice jars with food and water. However, they suddenly go missing and Nibbles is about to find a surprise. And so will you!  Every page in this book is gloriously colorful from top to bottom and is delightful to read.

The Apple and the Butterfly, by Lela and Enzo Mari, is a wordless book with a story to tell. A caterpillar crawls out of an apple and soon is spinning its cocoon. Upon turning the pages, you find the seasons are changing through fall and winter.  Spring brings abut the transformation of a butterfly from that caterpillar. The backdrop is completely white so the eye is easily drawn to the miraculous events of this insect. This book was originally published back in 1969 but still has the same impact today.

Look Up!  Bird-Watching in Your Own Backyard, by Annette LeBlanc Cate, is a directory of sorts to bird-watching. Kids and adults of all ages just need to do one thing in order to achieve bird watching: just look up! This invitational book explores all types of birds with many of these birds bantering back and forth. This feathered-creature is on display in a cartoon fashion with many of them discussing their idiosyncrasies with each other through balloon-type talking. The book is full of interesting information and is laid-out in a kid-friendly fashion from the inside covers to the very end and you’ll be enriched with mounds of interesting information in a most entertaining way.

Farmer John’s Tractor, by Sally Sutton, and beautifully painted in hues of brown and yellow with watercolor by Robyn Belton, hails back to the classic stories of “Mike Mulligan Steam Shovel” and “Katy and the Big Snow” both by Virginia Lee Burton.  Farmer John’s tractor has become dormant and locked away due to its old rusty age. But when it begins to rain and the rain doesn’t let up, a car, jeep and even a tow truck gets stuck. Can Farmer John’s old tractor do the job? This rhyming and fun read-aloud story will engage all!

Lucky Ducklings: A True Rescue Story, by Eva Moore, and painted with charcoal and digital media by Nancy Carpenter, depicts an event in 2000 in a town in New York when 5 baby ducklings fell between the slats of a storm drain. People near-by could hear the quacks of the babies and three firefighters and a pickup truck rush to their aid. The warm hues of the illustrations, along with the storyline, will have youngsters begging to have this read to them again and again!

Miss Maple’s Seeds, by Eliza Wheeler, is a story that celebrates the planting and growth of seeds. Miss Maple is a tiny fairy-like lady who begins the story by flying to her home on the back of a bird. It’s late summer and she has traveled all season searching for orphan seeds that “got lost during the spring planting.” Her desire is to grow them in her house (a maple tree) so they’ll be ready for next year’s planting. The beautifully detailed pictures illuminate the beauty of nature. There’s even a labeled seed chart covering one of the pages. The text and pictures are enter-twined and seemingly grow, like seeds, together.

It’s Our Garden: From Seeds to Harvest in a School Garden, by George Ancona, is a documentary of sorts about a school garden and students preparing, planting and reaping the rewards of their garden. The photos, found throughout, are large, bright and inviting as the reader will begin to appreciate the work and benefits of growing a garden.

I Spy On The Farm, by Edward Gibbs, features a die-cut hole throughout as the reader attempts to guess what animal they are spying on before they turn the page. There are clues along the way to help the young listener discover which animal it could be. The pages are completely full of color and showcase each animal in a large picture. This book is great fun for toddlers up to age 5.

The Princess and the Peas, by Caryl Hart, and illustrated with mixed media by Sarah Warburton, is an adorable tale told completely in rhyme about young Lily-Rose who strongly dislikes peas. When her father attempts to give her peas, she instantly rejects them. He “blended up peas / into smoothies and shakes. / He baked them in cookies / and put them in cakes.” He even takes her to the doctor who tells him she must actually be a princess and so he sends her to the palace. But things don’t quite turn out like Lily-Rose supposed. The colorful pictures are a perfect match with this delightful and somewhat humorous story. This is a perfect story for all of those picky youngsters out there!

Make Magic Do Good, by Dallas Clayton, has 50 poems that fill the pages with incredible imagination. There’s the “Rainbow”: “She made a rainbow out of thread / and hung it up above her bed / and she found inside the blanket fold / a little threaded pot of gold”. Other poems are titled: “Amanda The Panda”, “Real Live Dragon” and “Try!”. I love this last poem as it’s all about trying different things even if you fail. The colorful pictures, drawn by the author, are reminiscent of Shel Silverstein.

The Pet Project: Cute and Cuddly Vicious Verses, by Lisa Wheeler, and painted with acrylic that perfectly aligns with the poems by Zachariah O’Hora, is a delightful assortment of animal poems befitting those looking for a pet.  A be-speckled youngster approaches her search for a pet in a scientific mode. Every poem is set-up to end in humor and kids will love them all! The shortest poem, titled “Hippopotamus”, reflects the great fun awaiting for all: “Chances of getting a hippo: / zippo.”

Spike & Ike Take a Hike, by S. D. Schindler, at first sight, looks like an emergent reader.  And it is a perfect beginning reader. But there are more layers intertwined throughout. The cumulative text rhymes and audacious alliteration with animals are illustrated to perfectly match the rhyme. Nice nuances are neatly narrowed down!

Bananas in My Ears, by Michael Rosen, and humorously illustrated with ink and watercolor by Quentin Blake, is a collection of enjoyable poems and free verse stories.  Some of the stories are told in comic-strip fashion with each picture telling a complete funny story with one recognizable look. The contents are divided into “The Breakfast Book”, “The Seaside Book”, “The Doctor Book” and “The Bedtime Book”.

Wee Rhymes: Baby’s First Poetry Book, by Jane Yolen, and beautifully painted with watercolor by Jane Dyer, is the perfect book to read-out-loud to babies and toddlers. There are more than 50 poems written by Yolen and each poem is short and written about subjects youngsters can relate to. The poems take you through the day of young children beginning with the new day with “Tickle Song” and “The Rose is Red.” As the day progresses, there are poems about “Walking”, “Special Blanket”, “Building Blocks”, “Nap Time” and “Time for a Bath.” Young children will love these poems and so will their parents!

World Rat Day:  Poems about Real Holidays You’ve Never Heard Of, by J. Patrick Lewis, and painted from ink washes and drawings and then assembled digitally, is a compilation of poems about actual holidays celebrated around the world. We just missed “World Rat Day” celebrated on April 4th. But you can catch Frog Jumping Day on May 13 with the clever poem “Said the Frog”. It begins “I was really in a muddle / looking over a mud puddle / ’cause I didn’t have a paddle / or  a twig to ride the reef”. This is just the poetry book to entice your kids to truly enjoy rhyming! I only wished he’d included the locations of where these unusual holidays are celebrated!

Piggies in Pajamas, by Michelle Meadows, and painted in watercolor by Ard Hoyt, is sure to bring smiles to youngsters as they’re getting reading for bed.  Mama has just put her little piggies to bed and now she’s making phone calls.  But she is continually interrupted by noises but every time she looks in at her children, they seem to be fast asleep. The pictures of these rambunctious piggies, who look to be having such fun, have smiling faces throughout.

A Gold Star for Zog, by Julia Donaldson, and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, is a very colorful adventure all told in rhyme.  A dragon goes to Madam Dragon’s school to learn how to fly and breathe fire. But Zog, who is trying so hard to earn that gold star, is having all kinds of trouble until someone comes to help.  Kids will beg to have this book read and reread!

The New Kid on the Block, by a favorite kid’s poet of mine, Jack Prelutsky, and illustrated with great wit that matches Prelutsky from James Stevenson.  This book was originally published in 1984. Prelutsky is one of the best kid’s poets because of his uncanny ability to rhyme about subject matter that kids can relate with, laugh at and reread again and again.  This is one of Prelutsky’s strong points: kids actually end up memorizing some of his poems unintentionally! Some of the over 100 poems in the book include “I’d Never Eat a Beet” and “Ma, Don’t Throw That Shirt Out”. Here’s one of my favorites: “My Baby Brother”. “My Baby brother is so small, / he hasn’t even learned to crawl. / He’s only been around a week, / and all he seems to do is bawl / and wiggle, sleep…and leak”. Also reissued by Prelutsky and Stevenson is the poetry book “A Pizza the Size of the Sun”. This book was first published in 1994 and is packaged similarly to his other book with close to 100 poems bursting off the pages.

Eek! There’s a Mouse in the House, by Wong Herbert Yee, is another reissue that was first published back in 1992. This repackaged book includes a read-along CD along with music and sound effects.  But what I love the most about this delightful book is the fun rhyming ways a young girl attempts to rid her home of this little pest by inviting silly animals to help her. “The Dog has broken a dish. / And now the Cat is after the fish. / Send in the Hog / to Shoo that Dog!”

Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind, by Gary Ross, and beautifully painted with oil by Matthew Myers, is an exciting, long tale told completely in rhyme about a boy who experiences three amazing adventures. This story reminds me of Mark Twain’s “Huck Finn” and “Tom Sawyer” because of the story settings and the way Bartholomew becomes embroiled in each of his adventures. His adventures begin when he’s taken across the windy sky with only his bed sheet as a parachute substitute: “he felt this old wind / was nothing to fear / with a bedsheet to sail / and an instinct to steer.” He’s about to encounter pirates, friendship and more. Here is a 92-page story that begs for a nighttime read-aloud! It’s just too bad that the author had to use the Lord’s name in vain once unnecessarily.

Pirateria:  The Wonderful Plunderful Pirate Emporium, by another favorite kid’s poet: Calef Brown, is actually a rhyming book describing pirate life (unlike his other books which are usually a compilation of different and humorous poems). “Pirates love surprises. / They often need disguises / for ambushes and sneak attacks. / We have stacks and stacks / of fake mustaches and beards / in many eccentric hues- / ruby reds and electric blues, / as well as the classic / Blackbeard black. / Does it look weird? / Take it back!” The acrylic illustrations invoke Brown’s typical iconic, cheeky flair.  All you landlubbers out there: beware!  This book could just bring out the peg-leg and eye-patch deep within you!

What can a Crane Pick Up?, by Rebecca Kai Dotlich, and illustrated using pencil, silkscreen and digital media by Mike Lowery, isn’t about picking up, it’s actually a pick-me-up!  The rhyming text discusses many different sizes, amounts and shapes of things that cranes can pick up. But what the fun-filled pages actually show are happy smiling faces throughout. “How about poles and pipes and bricks? To a crane, it’s a game of pick-up sticks.” All of the inanimate trucks and cranes, along with the builders, are smiling.  Between the rhymes and the pictures, you’ll find your face lifting to a cheery degree!

The Superheroes Employment Agency, by Marilyn Singer, and comically illustrated by Noah Z. Jones, is a delightful collection of humorous poems about not-so-well-known superheroes and how they help the world. Actually, they help with an underlying theme of do-gooders with a positive attitude to help others. Some of the poems include “Blunder Woman: C.E.O. of the Superheroes Employment Agency”, “The Verminator” and “Muffy the Vampire Sprayer”. Part of this last poem goes like this: “Call on Muffy the Vampire Sprayer / For the best pest control in town. / Call on Muffy the Vampire Sprayer, / ‘Cause Muffy Brings ‘em down.”

Forest Has a Song, by Amy Ludwig Vanderwater, and beautifully painted with watercolor by Robbin Gourley, emulates the seasons as they burst forth in their natural habitat. Each poem surrounds images that translate to forests natives.  Beginning with early spring, poetry navigates the reader/observer through summer, fall and ending with winter. “April Waking” begins, “Ferny frondy fiddleheads / unfurl curls from dirty beds. / Stretching stems they sweetly sing / greenest greetings sent to Spring.” Some poems are longer and some are shorter. “Spider” is the shortest, but begs to be unfurled out loud: “A never-tangling dangling spinner / knitting angles, trapping dinner.” This book is a masterpiece of conveying nature in a natural way that praises God’s beautiful earth!

Dirt on my Shirt, by Jeff Foxworthy, and comically painted by Steve Bjorkman, has over 30 poems that kids can relate with and all are enjoyable to read out loud. Some of the poems are funny and all are fun. Here’s a poem kids and parents will relate to: “Are We There Yet? The Jenkins went out for a ride / ‘How much longer?’ the children cried / ‘A while! their dad said with regret / ‘We haven’t left the driveway yet!” What this poetry book does is help children of all ages enjoy poems. Most are short and easy to remember. In fact, that’s another great element for poetry: helping strengthen one’s memory!  Here’s another enjoyable poem entitled “Snakes Alive!” - “I looked out the window and saw a snake / crawling around in the yard / My dad tried to find it, but it got away / I don’t think he looked very hard”.

Stardines Swim High Across the Sky and Other poems, by Jack Prelutsky, and ingeniously illustrated with 3-dimensional collages, dioramas and shadow boxes by Carin Berber, encompasses 16 amazingly unique poems on display in word and picture!  The title poem ingratiates the sky with “STARDINES swim high across the sky, / And righty shine as they glide by. / In giant schools, their brilliant lights / illuminate the darkest nights. When other creatures are in bed, / STARDINES still twinkle overhead. / In silence, these nocturnal fish / Are set to grant the slightest wish.” The illustrations of each stardine are made with what could be broom-ends with tails seemingly shifting in the nautical sky. Between Prelutsky and Berber, by book’s end, you’re sure there are some unusual animals recently discovered and with hopefully more to come.

I like Old Clothes, by Mary Ann Hoberman, and painted with mixed media by Patrice Barton, was actually written back in 1976 but is now updated with new pictures by Barton. I love picture books that rhyme because they make reading-out-loud delectably delightful. A child loves to wear “old clothes, / Hand-me-down clothes, / Worn outgrown clothes, / Not-my-own clothes.” The expressions on this youngster, along with the frolicking rhymes, will bring smiles miles long!

Follow Follow: a Book of Reverso Poems, by Marilyn Singer, and painted with the brightest Liquitex Acrylic paint by Josee Masse, displays poems from two different points of view on familiar childhood stories.  But, Ms. Singer took this newly made-up poetry form that she invented a step further. You can also read each poem placed on the page from the bottom up and find a different point-of-view than reading it top to bottom. This truly makes reading poetry great fun as you read downwards then upwards to discover what is being said! The messages become imbedded inwards, downwards, then finally upwards! There’s the tale about the rabbit and the hare titled “Ready, Steady, Go!” But beware.  The underlying message in this old storied story will have you up on your feet ready to go yourself!  The two mirrored poems, titled “Your Wish is My Command”, about the genie in the bottle, will practically jump out of the bottle when you reverse the poems and discover something altogether different than imagined!  It is books like this one that teaches how wondrous and inventive our language truly is!

Choose Higher Ground, by Henry B. Eyring, is his first book in nearly 12 years and the wait is definitely worth it!  This outstanding book showcases how, and what, we need to do in order to rise above the fray and lift ourselves closer to the reaches of heaven.  President Eyring said that his mother would tell him when he complained about difficulties:  ”If you are on the right path, it will always be uphill.” So, we must always choose higher ground to choose what the Lord would have us choose. The book is broken into five sections: A Strong Foundation, Personal Growth Through Helping Others, Strength in Adversity, Power to Live a Consecrated Life and Help for the Last Days. Each of these five sections has several chapters that help you step through the process to reach your higher ground. In the chapter, “In the Strength of the Lord”, President Eyring states “the restored gospel makes plain the simple things we need to do”. And this book helps facilitate what we must do to choose and reach that higher ground!

The Continuous Conversion, by Brad Wilcox, contains life’s lessons that we can learn as we grow in our continuous conversion to once again live with our Heavenly Father.  The ten chapters include many personal stories from the author and are uplifting and directly relate to the theme of this book.  Each chapter has a prized quote from the author that quickly summarizes the important message of that chapter. Underneath the heading in the chapter, “Why Do We Believe in Christ?” the author states: “Who is to say Jesus lived at all?  Who is to say He was more than an ordinary man?  Who is to say He knelt in a garden and bled from every pore and allowed himself to be nailed on a cross?  Who is to say He was resurrected, lives today, and is coming again?  We can and we do!”

An Uncommon Life:  Years of Preparation, by L. Tom Perry, is a beautifully written autobiography that takes this great apostle’s life from birth to the passing of his first wife, Virginia. The interesting facets and accomplishments of Brother Perry become apparent as you learn about all that he has done throughout this part of this life. It’s evident that the Lord was preparing him his entire youth and young life to fulfill his duty as an inspiring apostle!  It’s interesting that as I was reading about his move to Bountiful, I remembered that he moved to a house near my house and I knew people mentioned in the book that helped when his wife was ill.  I’m grateful that there will be another book to continue learning about and from a man of great influence that has helped move the gospel forward.

Drawing Out the Dragons: A Meditation on Art, Destiny and the Power of Choice, by James A. Owen, is a book of inspiration, motivation and destination. It’s about making good choices that will help you achieve with the talents that were given you and not to ever give up and become discouraged.  Each of Mr. Owen’s chapter headings has encouraging quotes from famous people and each section contains a quote from the author that parallels the famous quote.  For example, in section 1 the author states, “If you really want to do something, no one can stop you. But if you really don’t want to do something, no one can help you.” On the following page Goethe says, “What you can do, dream you can do, begin it; Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”

All that was Promised: The St. George Temple and the Unfolding of the Restoration, by Blaine M. Yorgason, Richard A. Schmutz and Douglas D. Alder, is an historical account of the tremendous sacrifices and hard work of the saints as they labored to build this magnificent edifice, the St. George Temple. The St. George area back in the 1800’s was an isolated desert with only a few dwellers living in the area. The building of the temple and the account of the Lord revealing all that was promised through the coming of Elijah, as well as temple worship first practiced there, is documented. There are historical photographs sprinkled throughout.

Eliza: The Life and Faith of Eliza R. Snow, by Karen Lynn Davidson and Jill Mulvay Derr, showcases this revered sister and her talent as one of the most revered poets in the church. Here are just a few of this tremendous sister’s accomplishments found in this beautifully packaged book: she wrote “O My Father”, organized the Young Ladies Retrenchment Society and assembled the Children’s Primary Hymn Book and Children’s Primary Tune Book.

I’m saving the last for the yummiest in the group of books. Six Sisters’ Stuff: Family Recipes, Fun Crafts, and So Much More!, by six biological sisters: Camille, Kristen, Elyse, Stephanie, Lauren and Kendra.  This book includes some of the most delectable dishes this side of the Rockies.  But here’s the best thing about each of these recipes:  they’re easy to follow and easy to make. The categories include slow cooker menus, main and side dishes, and breads. This book is actually more than just a cookbook. There are crafts to make and cleaning ideas, healthy snack ideas and instructions of how to build your own 72-hour kit. There are even forty great and fun ideas to do on a road trip with kids. What’s not to love about this book?

I am continually reading through dozens and dozens of children’s books sent to me from all of the major publishers.  I am ensuring that the literature I recommend to children and families is appropriate and that it contains good and decent stories. It’s both interesting and sad how these various publishers have changed over the years. I’ve been reviewing books from these publishers for over 14 years and I’ve witnessed the slow integration of inappropriate language, situations, story-lines and violence. Prior to my reviewing job, I taught for 25 years in just about every grade level in elementary school.  At that time I was constantly looking for good books to read out loud to my students. But it seems that over the last dozen years [that I've been reviewing books] the amount of bad language, sexual situations, same-partner parents and violence has escalated considerably.

I know that I can pick up any book in the Deseret Book store and be confident that I won’t find anything but quality and content appropriate material inside the book. There is not another publisher of this size, or larger, that has these high moral standards. It’s quite a relief, and most encouraging, to know that I can always count on Deseret Book. It’s even an uplifting experience to go inside a store.  Not only are there wonderfully packaged books with beautiful covers, but the stores have inspirational paintings and messages on boards throughout.

Some of the authors that have gone on to publish with larger publishers have begun at Deseret Book. One of my favorite authors is Brandon Mull who wrote the “Fablehaven” series. Mr. Mull was discovered by Deseret Book.  Now, I’ve just read a new book that is published by Deseret Book and it may become a favorite of mine. The Inventor’s Secret, by Chad Morris, is the first book in the planned “Cragbridge Hall” series. The book is a sci-fi mystery where the year is 2074 and the school where twins Abby and Derick are entering is built with the capabilities of allowing students to learn about history in a 3-D experience. They can also learn about animals by becoming one through an avatar. But things go horribly wrong when their parents and grandfather suddenly vanish and now the twins must learn some deep secrets within Cragbridge Hall in order to locate their family. This book will grab you on the very first page and keep you reading until the last page.

Follow the Prophets: 52 FHE Lessons From Latter-Day Prophets, by Rebecca K. Irvine, is new from Covenant, which is an imprint of Deseret Book. This book is a great example of another aspect of this outstanding publishing company. This book helps families by laying out lesson plans to teach important truths. The first chapter begins with Joseph Smith and lays out five important lessons that families can learn from, such as: the First Vision and revelations that happened in the Kirkland Temple. The last chapter is about President Monson and the four lessons outlined include developing talents and giving to charity. Each chapter includes the prophet’s testimony, important dates of their lives, scriptural references, gospel principles and hymns.  There are many fun activities included for families to enjoy together such as making finger puppets, games and word searches. There is also a CD-Rom included to help create the best family home evening possible!

Captain Awesome, and the Ultimate Spelling Bee, by Stan Kirby, and illustrated by George O’Connor, is the latest book in this fun and interesting series geared mostly for boys.  Eugene is a quiet 2nd grader who takes on the superhero alter ego when he must help keep his town safe. But now Eugene is representing the grade in the spelling bee and so is his nemesis.

Ricky Vargas:  Born to be Funny!, by Alan Katz, and illustrated by Stacy Curtis, is the second book in this series that features young Ricky who thinks of himself as the funniest kid ever. But then he finds his first un-funny day is frustrating and he must get his humor back.

Monstrous Stories: Night of the Zombie Gold Fish, by Dr. Roach, is one of several stories in the Monstrous Stories series and they are all humorous and light-hearted reads. This story involves a science experiment that gets into the fish food of two friends and the trouble begins.

Monkey & Robot, by Peter Catalanotto, has four delightful stories that are all about sweet friendship even though both main characters are so different from each other. Each story can stand alone and all are short.

Scholastic has a new line of transitional early chapter books, Branches, that will go on sale in May. These new books have all the elements that new readers will thoroughly enjoy. They include: Missy’s Super Duper Roal Deluxe Picture Day, by Susan Nees, Boris on the Move, by Andrew Joyner, Looniverse Stranger Things, by David Lubar, The Notebook of Doom and Lotus Lane, by Kyla May.

The next books are longer and have less pictures and a smaller font.

The Adventures of Jo Schmo, by Greg Trine, and illustrated by Frank W. Dormer, continues the series about superhero Jo, and her sidekick doggy.  The only problem is she can’t find crimes to fight so she goes back in time to locate the outlaw Wyatt and bring him to justice.

Martha Speaks:  Detective Dog, based on the Susan Meddaugh characters, is a great book to introduce mysteries to new chapter readers. Martha is a very brilliant dog (who can also talk) and she sets out to solve mysteries in two different stories in this book.  The pictures in the book are all colorful. “Martha Speaks” is an outstanding series kids love.

Scream Team: The Zombie at the Finish Line, by Bill Doyle, and illustrated by Jared Lee, is number four in this funny series. It’s time for the Junior Monster Leagues track-and-field competition and Patsy the Zombie has trained for the Die-athalon, but can she finish? Number 3 in the series is another funny story: “The Bigfoot in the End Zone”.

This last group of books has fewer pictures and much more complex story-lines than the previous books mentioned.

Heroes in Training: Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Doom, by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams, and  illustrated by Craig Phillips, is the first book in this exciting series that features mythological figures in adventures that will have your youngster turning pages until reaching the end. Ten-year-old Zeus keeps getting struck by lightening until he finally discovers why. “Poseidon and the Sea of Fury” is book two and book three will be published in April. “Goddess Girls: Pandora the Curious” is by the same authors and a similar storyline but features female heroes.

Phineas and Ferb: Agent P’s Guide to Fighting Evil, by Scott Peterson, is one in a series and this book is full of secret spy tips, jokes, fill-in activities and more.

Agatha Girl of Mystery:  The Curse of the Pharaoh, by Sir Steve Stevenson, and illustrated by Stefano Turconi, is a new series that features a smart girl detective who ends up in Egypt to discover a secret about the ancient Pharaoh.  Number two book is “The Pearl of Bengal”.

Ballpark Mysteries:  The Wrigley Riddle, by David A. Kelly, and illustrated by Mark Meyers, is #6 that takes place in different pro-league stadiums. This great mystery takes place in Chicago.

Nancy Clancy: Secret Admirer, by Jane O’Connor, and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser, features Nancy and her best friend, Bess, as they learn all about the human heart in their science class. They attempt to lineup their babysitter and music teacher, but interesting events await them.

The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True and The Adventures of Sir Balin thee Ill-Fated, both by Gerald Morris, are two books in this excellent series that takes readers back to the Arthurian legend.  What I love about these books is they teach honor, trust and honesty, along with other great character traits.

Look for the following in beginning level books: short simple sentences, repetition and fun interesting stories children can enjoy.  As the level goes higher in number, so does the difficulty. Be careful not to push your child ahead too fast as they might become frustrated and possibly lose the enjoyment of reading.

Sesame Street:  Brand New Readers is a boxed set of 10 smallish-sized books that have to do with Sesame Street characters that new readers will immediately recognize and enjoy reading about. There’s also an incentive chart and stickers for children to keep track of what they’ve read. The tips and strategies for parents are excellent and easy to follow.

Curious George Learning Library, by Margret and H. A. Rey, is a boxed set that includes alphabet cards with letters on one side and a picture and word representing that letter on the other side. There are also five books inside that feature Curious George. One of the books teaches numbers, but my favorite two books are “Little Book of Curiosity All Around You” and Little Book of Curiosity People and Places”. Both books take a tour of familiar places and items and labels each with the word that describes what it is. This is an excellent tool for beginning readers. (This boxed set isn’t available until May.)

Let’s Go For a Drive! (An Elephant & Piggie Book), by Mo Willems, is one in a series about Elephant and Piggie. These books are fun and funny and easy to read.  Kids love to read and reread these books as the story-line is humorous and kids can easily identify with the story – and the pictures are hilarious!

Pete the Cat: Play Ball! and Pete the Cat: Pete’s Big Lunch, by James Dean, are the two newest books in this series about the coolest cat around!  Both books have Pete attempting to come up with solutions to problems that kids will really enjoy!

Katy Duck and the Tip-Top Tap Shoes and Katy Duck Meets the Babysitter, by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, and illustrated by Henry Cole, are the newest books in this delightful series that involves friendship and adjusting to new experiences.

The I Spy series is another wonderful way to introduce youngsters to words, spaces and picture clues. I Spy School, I Spy Letters, I Spy A Funny Frog, I Spy Numbers and I Spy Animals are the newest editions.

Level 2 books include more words, new vocabulary and a more involved plot, but still simple.  There’s a Fly Guy In My Soup, by Tedd Arnold, is a kid’s favorite in this series because of all the crazy antics Fly Guy gets himself into. Fly Guy Presents: Sharks is the newest book in this popular series.

Martha Speaks:  Funny Bone Jokes and Riddles, based on Susan Meddaugh’s creation, are just what kids love to tell each other.  And to read jokes in a book?  They will be anxious to share with any and all who will listen to them read each joke!  Martha Go, Go Goes Green! is the newest publication.

The Talent Show and Fishing, both by Keith Baker, are the newest in the “A Mr. and Mrs. Green Adventure” series featuring this alligator couple as they experience fun and interesting adventures.

Justin and the Bully, by Tony and Lauren Dungy, and illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton, is a great little book that showcases how to deal with kids that tease.  Justin wants to play soccer but another teammate teases him. This book will open discussions. The authors both like writing books that teach good character traits. The Missing Cupcake Mystery deals with honesty.

A Pet Named Sneaker, by Joan Heilbroner, and illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre, is about a very unusual pet snake. When he’s finally adopted from the pet store by Pete, Sneaker proves to be quite amazing!  Kids will love this book and reread it over and over!

Level 3 books involve a more complex story-line, vocabulary and sentence structure.   The Big Something, by Patricia Reilly Giff, and illustrated by Diane Palmisciano, involves two kids and Fiercely, the dog.  This book is a good introduction to mysteries as the children try to discover what is being built next door.

Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover, by Cece Bell, has two very unusual friends: Rabbit and Robot. Rabbit isn’t prepared for what Robot wants for dinner: nuts and bolts. Kids will enjoy this funny story.

Fox and Crow Are Not Friends, by Melissa Wiley, and illustrated by Sebastien Braun, is a story about fighting over a piece of cheese.  But this Aesop fable-type story has much to teach.

I want to end this review with a few unusual books, along with a great read-out-loud book (which is an excellent way to teach youngsters many reading elements which include direction of words, increasing vocabulary and attention span). What Happens Next? and Who Lives Here?, both by Nicola Davies, and illustrated by Marc Boutavant, are easy to read books filled with flaps to discover the answer to each question posed.

Goldilocks Variations by Allan Ahlberg, and illustrated by Jessica Ahlberg, has not 3 bears, but 33 bears.  And Goldilocks must make the bed she slept in along with washing the bowls that she ate out of. This clever book even has a tiny book inside which is actually a play and there are also pull-tabs throughout. This book is a delight!

Don’t Let the Pigeon Finish This Activity Book!, by Mo Willems, is actually an activity book that is easy to read as youngsters follow directions to make, create or complete mazes. This would be a terrific traveling companion.