John and El's Favorite Books

The bears' picks for best books: December 2001
These titles should be available at your local library.

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Mama Don't Go by Rosemary Wells

In her new easy-to-read series, Yoko & Friends School Days, Rosemary Wells examines the "real nitty-gritty of elementary school." See how Yoko, her mama, and the teacher, along with a little help from her new friend Timothy, quell Yoko's first day jitters.

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Widget by Lyn Rossiter McFarland

When Widget, a stray dog, finds a cozy spot in Mrs. Diggs warm home, he wants to fit in so badly that he adjusts to her "girls." It's only after Widget saves the day by barking, that they realize he isn't a cat.


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You Read to Me and I'll Read to You by Mary Ann Hoberman

It's fun to read aloud and here is the perfect book to read with someone young-a rhythmic, rhyming, repetitious potpourri of childlike themes to celebrate all the joy that reading brings.

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Parts by Shelley Rotner

What do you see when you look at a leaf, a petal, and a stem? To solve these puzzles you'll need to put together their parts. Look carefully at the striking close-up photos to guess what's on the next page.

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Miss Alaineus; a Vocabulary Disaster by Debra Frasier

It's time to study Mrs. Page's weekly vocabulary list, but Sage has misunderstood word #15. When she gives her unique interpretation of the meaning of the word in class, everyone laughs. A twist turns disaster to triumph in this well-defined tale.

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All of our book reviews are written by respected children's librarian
Barbara Lintner of the Urbana Free Library in Urbana, IL.  AKA, Natalie's Mom.


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