2nd Grade Reading

Written by Jim Helmore
Illustrated by Richard Jones

Friends aren’t that easy to come by, especially when you’re shy and new in the neighborhood. Sometimes, it’s easier to hide inside your house, even if the walls are white and boring. But the white walls could be hiding a good new friend, like a white lion. Once you find that lion, it could probably play with you – climbing, racing, and playing hide-and-seek. At her mother’s and the lion’s urging, little Caro finally talks to a boy named Bobby. She finds out Bobby was not only fun, but he had other friends who could be hers. Mum invites the friends over, they paint the walls so that the lion disappears. But she finds she can still remember the lion and play with him occasionally.

Who can’t relate to being a bit reluctant to talk to someone you don’t know? Often, they’re not really so frightening after all. Often, they could end up being your best friend. And who won’t enjoy the beautiful illustrations that show how easily the lion can hide and how much he loves Caro?

This quiet story is best as a bedtime read aloud, when kids can hunt for the lion in the white walls and be satisfied that Caro will be okay.

• Title: Snow Lion
• Author: Jim Helmore
• Illustrator: Richard Jones
• Published: Peachtree Publishers, October 1, 2018
• Reviewer: Sue Poduska
• Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
• Grade Level: 1 to2
• Genre: Picture Book, Friendship
• ISBN: 978-1-68263-048-8

Written by Charline Profiri
Illustrated by Andrea Gabriel

With entertaining rhyme and beautiful and detailed illustrations, the reader learns a lot about the names of baby animals and what their fathers are called. There are a few surprises along the way, such as hatchlings growing up to be either a bird … or a dinosaur. But most are familiar, or at least expected. “If you were a sweet, adorable calf, your daddy might be a towering giraffe.”

In the Explore More sections, the author includes fun games for reinforcing what has been learned and for interaction with adults plus more facts about the animals featured. A chart even shows the many animals for which the same baby name is used. Even kitten has seven animals listed other than cat.

The best use for this cute book is as a read aloud, either at home or in a classroom, so adults can guide readers toward as much learning as possible and discuss what daddys mean to the readers.

• Title: He’s Your Daddy: Ducklings, Joeys, Kits, and More
• Author: Charline Profiri
• Illustrator: Andrea Gabriel
• Published: Dawn Publications, 2018
• Reviewer: Sue Poduska
• Format: Paperback, 32 pages
• Grade Level: 1 to2
• Genre: Picture Book, Nature, Baby Animals
• ISBN: 978-1-58469-626-1
• Extras: Explore More – For Kids, Explore More – For Teachers and Parents, More Nature Awareness Books from Dawn Publications

Written by Cathryn Sill
Illustrated by John Sill

Twelve species of woodpeckers, among the more than 200 known species, are highlighted in this very informative new book. The beautifully detailed illustrations are part of the educational theme. Beyond what the reader can learn by careful study of the paintings, they also learn a lot by what the author points out with each illustration and in the afterword.

Woodpeckers are pretty much built for what they do. They have strong, sharp bills and powerful necks and thick skulls. They have small feathers over their nostrils to filter out sawdust. Woodpeckers even communicate with their drumming. Most woodpeckers live amongst trees, but some live with cactus and bamboo to drill. They have strong feet and sharp claws plus stiff tail feathers to help hold them up on the sides of trees. Though they can be destructive, they help out by giving other animals holes to live in and by keeping destructive insects under control.

This is an important resource for kids learning about birds and about the environment we all live in. It’s simple and yet complete. It would be a great beginning point for more study.

• Title: About Woodpeckers: A Guide for Children
• Author: Cathryn Sill
• Illustrator: John Sill
• Published: Peachtree Publishers, 2018
• Reviewer: Sue Poduska
• Format: Hardcover, 48 pages
• Grade Level: 1 to2
• Genre: Picture Book, Nature, Birds
• ISBN: 978-1-68263-004-4
• Extras: Afterword, Glossary, Suggestions For Further Reading, Resources

Written by Chelsea H. Rowe
Illustrated by Frank Dormer

In her debut picture book, Rowe introduces us to a word collector. Ebenezer collected words the way some people collected stamps. He wrote them in his Word Book. He also loves letters, because they make up words, after all – junction, juggle, and jukebox. One day he meets Fitzgerald, who has ideas but not words to convey them. They write great stories together.

The illustrations are fun and demonstrate the words and how they are made.

The story shows how we sometimes need to collaborate with others who have different talents in order to achieve something worthwhile. Hopefully, the fascinating words Ebenezer collects will also show the reader how wonderful words are and spark their own love of words. How can you resist a swashbuckler that says blimey.

• Title: Ebenezer Has a Word for Everything
• Author: Chelsea H. Rowe
• Illustrator: Frank Dormer
• Published: Peachtree Publishers, October 1, 2018
• Reviewer: Sue Poduska
• Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
• Grade Level: 1 to2
• Genre: Picture Book, Words
• ISBN: 978-1-56145-848-6