Blueberries For Sal by Robert McCloskey

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Title: Blueberries for Sal

Author: Robert McCloskey

Length: 57 pages

Publisher: Scholastic

Classification: Children's Book Caldecott Honor

Release Date: March 1987 
(Original copyright 1948)

Source: Paperback (own)

GoodReads

What happens when Sal and her mother meet a mother bear and her cub? A beloved classic is born! Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk! Sal and her mother a picking blueberries to can for the winter. But when Sal wanders to the other side of Blueberry Hill, she discovers a mama bear preparing for her own long winter.  Meanwhile Sal's mother is being followed by a small bear with a big appetite for berries! Will each mother go home with the right little one? (From GoodReads)

Cutie Pie’s Rating:

What is this book about?

Little Bear and Little Sal getting mixed up with each of their mothers while eating and picking blueberries.

What was your favorite part of the story?

 I liked all of it.

Why did you like it?

 Because it was about them finding their mothers once they had switched.

Is there anything you didn't like about this book?

No.

Do you like the illustrations?

Yes. 

Who do you think will like this book?

Everyone that likes blueberries. 

My Rating:

I remember reading this story when I was a little girl. And when I found it at a book sale, I didn't hesitate to pick it up. I really enjoyed reading this with my two daughters. They both were captivated by the story and the illustrations.

This story focuses on a mother and daughter going to pick blueberries to can for winter. The mother is picking the blueberries and putting them in the pail to bring home. And little Sal is doing what most toddlers would do and picking the blueberries and eating them.
While they are picking blueberries, a mama bear and baby bear decide to go to eat blueberries to prepare for winter.
The mothers are busy picking/eating and the little ones end up getting separated and mixed up.

I liked that it had the views of both the humans and the bears. It shows that bears are a bit like us, they prepare for winter and are afraid of us.

But I also recognize that this could be a dangerous situation. I definitely wouldn't want to get mixed up with a bear.

Overall, it is a cute story and it ends well. I love the writing and the illustrations.

I really love the illustrations. They are simple but detailed.

I think that children of all ages could enjoy reading this book. And if you or they love blueberries, be prepared to want to eat some when you are finished reading this one!

Hondo & Fabian by Peter McCarty

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Title: Hondo & Fabian

Author: Peter McCarty

Length: 40 pages

Publisher: Square Fish

Classification: Children's Book, Caldecott Honor, Animals

Release Date: June 2007

Source: Paperback (own)

GoodReads

Hondo the dog has a fun day at the beach while Fabian the cat stays home. " Wake up, Hondo. Time to go!"Hondo will have an adventure.Fabian will stay home. A dog named Hondo and his friend Fred are going to the beach for a day of excitement. Fabian the cat is left behind at home to play with the baby. Who will cause more trouble? And who will have more fun?
 Peter McCarty's exquisite illustrations and understated wit turn an ordinary day in the lives of two pets into a rare delight. (From GoodReads)

Cutie Pie’s Rating:

What is this book about?

Hondo goes to the beach and Fabian stays home. Fabian plays with the baby and Hondo gets to play with his friend, Fred.

What was your favorite part of the story?

When they said "Goodnight Baby".

Why did you like it?

 Because I think they both said it at the same time. And it is cute. The dog and cat both saying goodnight to a baby.

Is there anything you didn't like about this book?

No.

Do you like the illustrations?

Yes. 

Who do you think will like this book?

Everyone that likes cats and dogs. 

My Rating:

A cute book. I like that even though Hondo and Fabian are not going to the same place, they are having similar adventures.
Hondo goes to the beach and plays with Fred. They dive in the water, have fun, and he wishes he could eat.
While Hondo is at the beach Fabian is at home. He plays with the baby, dives for the door, has his own fun, and wishes he could eat a turkey sandwich. Then Hondo comes home and they have dinner. They go to their favorite places near each other and go to sleep.
It is a cute way to show that even though they are different, they have similarities.

The illustrations are adorable.

Wonderful book for children that like cats and dogs. It is a very quick read. I think younger children will enjoy the story more. 

The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith

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Title: The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales
Author: Jon Scieszka
Illustrator: Lane Smith
Length: 54 pages
Publisher: Scholastic 
Classification: Children's Book, Caldecott Honor Book
Release Date: January 1992
Source: Paperback (own)
GoodReads

If geese had graves, Mother Goose would be rolling in hers. The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales retells--and wreaks havoc on--the allegories we all thought we knew by heart. In these irreverent variations on well-known themes, the ugly duckling grows up to be an ugly duck, and the princess who kisses the frog wins only a mouthful of amphibian slime. The Stinky Cheese Man deconstructs not only the tradition of the fairy tale but also the entire notion of a book. Our naughty narrator, Jack, makes a mockery of the title page, the table of contents, and even the endpaper by shuffling, scoffing, and generally paying no mind to structure. Characters slide in and out of tales; Cinderella rebuffs Rumpelstiltskin, and the Giant at the top of the beanstalk snacks on the Little Red Hen. There are no lessons to be learned or morals to take to heart--just good, sarcastic fun that smart-alecks of all ages will love. (From GoodReads)

Cutie Pie's Rating:

What is this book about?
The book is about a Stinky-Cheese Man and the Narrator Jack is very ridiculous. He wrote the stories wrong that are actually fairy-tales. He called them fairly-tales.

What was your favorite part of the story?
Well, I like the part where he was had big words on the top and when he went to the bottom the words were smaller. 
It was the Giant story. 

Why did you like it?
Because he kept saying the story over and over again and it was very long.

Is there anything you didn't like about this book?
I didn't like the part when the Hen kept interrupting the story wondering where her part was. She wasn't very patient. 

Do you like the illustrations?
Yes. I do. I like the pictures because I think he drew the Hen very nice.

Who do you think will like this book?
Everyone, who likes fairy-tales.

My Rating:

This is one of those books that I read when I was a kid. I remember my Mom reading it to my brother and me. So I was happy to read this book to my daughter.

It is a funny book. As I was reading it, I remembered all the parts that my brother and I would run around quoting over and over again. I even remembered The Giant's story. (Our favorite part.)

My daughter did point out (more than once) the word "stupid" and how it is not a nice word. I basically told her that in this case it meant that the stories were silly. "Stupid" is only in the title and in the book a couple of times, so I don't have a problem with it. And we discussed how it is not nice to call someone stupid.

But overall, this book was a big hit with her. She laughed a lot and enjoyed the different stories, most that she has heard the actual story for like Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Little Red Riding Hood.

I find the illustrations to be interesting and unique. I haven't seen many illustrations quite like them.

I would recommend reading this book with older children. I don't think my 3 year old appreciated (or really cared) about the book that much since she didn't understand the funny parts. So older elementary school kids may find it funny.