Dede Sophie

Creature ABC Ages 4-8, 120 p, Chronicle Books, Isbn-0811869784 An elegant addition to any library, this deluxe alphabet book features 120 pages of Andrew Zuckerman’s breathtaking wildlife photography. From alligator to zebra, each featured animal boasts two striking studio portraits against a clean white background, offering a unique up-close view of the animal kingdom. Readers can flip to a helpful glossary in the back for extra information. From the sleek beauty of a smiling hippo to the powerful majesty of a roaring lion, this gorgeous new book is both a stunning work of art and a ferociously fun way for young animal-lovers to learn their ABCs. The book is good. The glossy photos – the details in them as if the creatures were about to leap off the pages – were just perfect! I just wish all the letters were represented by the appropriate creature. Don’t get me wrong – most of them are, but some aren’t. Like N is for nocturnal creatures (which is mor...

CONGRATS TO LUCKY WINNER – WENDY! I love books that have the power to make me feel like a young girl again, while at the same time making the adult in me laugh and shake her head to read the antics of the characters. That’s exactly the case with Ivy and Bean : Doomed to Dance (book 6 of the series) in which author Annie Barrows shows young readers what happens when they get exactly what they ask for. After begging their parents for ballet lessons, Ivy and Bean finally get what they want…well, not exactly. Much to their surprise, it turns out ballet lessons do not include karate chops and roundhouse kicks to the villain’s heart. The girls have no interest in learning how to dance gracefully, but they promised their parents they would finish the entire ballet course! When it comes time for Ivy and Bean to participate in the ocean-themed class recital, the girls must figure out a way to get out of it without breaking their promises. The result is the brainchild of ...