The Chocolate Touch

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"The Chocolate Touch," by Patrick Skene Catling.  This story is a funny twist on the legend of King Midas, a boy acquires a magical gift that turns everything his lips touch into chocolate.  Can you ever have too much of your favorite food?












Amazon Customer Review:

 Touch is a take-off of the King Midas story. But, instead of turning everything he touches to gold, John Midas finds that everything he touches with his lips turns to chocolate. Of course, at first, he thinks this is great. But as time passes, John finds life is getting difficult. When he forgets and kisses his mother, he really begins to panic. This is a classic, be careful what you wish for story one that all kids will love. Easy to read with funny story events that keep kids turning pages to the end. Highly recommended for 2nd - 4th graders. [by Roz Levine May 25, 2000]





A note about the Author:

Patrick Skene Catling (born 14 February 1925) is a British journalist, author, and book reviewer best-known for writing The Chocolate Touch in 1952. He has written 12 novels, 3 works of non-fiction and 9 books for children.

Who Ever You Are

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"Who Ever You Are," by Mem Fox, will teach children that even though other children may look different and live in different countries we have a lot in common; like smiling, laughing and crying.











Amazon Customer Review:

" Little one, whoever you are, wherever you are, there are little ones just like you all over the world." This very simple opening starts a paean to the universality of the human experience. As humans, we experience sadness and joy, tears and laughter, and it is these common experiences that unite all people for "their words may be very different from yours. But inside, their hearts are just like yours."
Staub's illustrations seem to underscore this message. Diverse people, lands, and languages are presented in a folk art style with surrealistic touches. Our guide through these pages is a man in a "cloud" suit who carries four children of different races as they view people all over the world. But what unifies the poem, besides the guide, is that each of the pictures is placed in a hand-carved frame with encased gems. It feels like we are looking at pictures of someone's family. That the human race is a family is also underscored with these framed pictures. This would be an excellent book for teaching tolerance and understanding of others. [Review by Valarie Rose Revels Oct. 25,2001]








Note about the Author:

Mem Fox was born in Australia, grew up in Africa, studied drama in England, and returned to Adelaide, Australia in 1970, where she has lived with her husband, Malcolm, and daughter Chloë, happily ever after. [goodreads.com]

Leo the Late Bloomer

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"Leo the Late Bloomer," by Robert Kraus, Leo isn't reading or writing, or drawing, or even speaking, and his father is concerned. But Leo's mother isn't.  She knows her son will do all of these things, and more when he's ready. This book is a wonderful tool to reassure you and your children about late bloomers.










Amazon Customer Review:

What better way to explain to a child that it's OK to be different? Leo the Late Bloomer is a classic of American children's stories with brilliant illustrations that bring the tale to life. Leo the young tiger doesn't lead a "normal" child's life and his Father is constantly worried that something is wrong with his son. Leo experiences many of the childhood frustrations that we are all too familiar with such as being unathletic, unartistic or ostracized by your peers. Over time, Leo absorbs what the others have been doing and eventually blossoms with a newfound love for life. This book brilliantly conveys the revelation of a child discovering his or her place in the giant world. Leo the Late Bloomer is a timeless classic with a relevant social message and is an enjoyable read for any age child. [Review Sept. 17,1997]






Note about the Author:

Robert Kraus, cartoonist turned author who wrote, illustrated and edited more than 100 children's books including "Leo the Late Bloomer," has died at 76.

Kraus, who also drew 21covers and 450 cartoons for the New Yorker magazine, died Aug. 7 of congestive heart failure in a nursing home in Kent, Conn.

His books, including the1970 favorite "Whose Mouse Are You?" earned American Library Assn., Horn Book and Children's Trade Book awards.


The charming, encouraging 1971 tale of little Leo, the underachieving lion who learns that simply trying is an achievement, was read on national television 10 years ago by then-First Lady Barbara Bush in her literacy campaign.  [Los Angeles Times]

Ian's Walk: A Story about Autism

"Ian's Walk: A Story about Autism," by Laurie Lears
Julie can’t wait to go to the park and feed the ducks with her big sister, Tara. There’s only one problem. Her little brother, Ian, who has autism, wants to go, too. Ian doesn’t have the same reactions to all the sights and sounds that his sisters have, and Julie thinks he looks silly. But when he wanders off on his own, she must try to see the world through his eyes in order to find him.




Amazon Customer Review:

Even though I have two autistic boys I read Ian's Walk to my older high-functioning son who is seven and he instantly noticed similarities to his five-year-old brother.
While looking through the pictures you cannot help but share the emotional journey his sister takes while on this walk to the park.
The illustrations are accurately defined and capture the real essence and beauty of Ian as he takes in his surroundings like no one else.
I shared this book with many families and suggested the teachers in both classrooms read Ian's Walk during library time, especially teaching awareness the month of April.
Ian's Walk will help others to identify some symptoms they might not of understood before reading the book. For any parent of an autistic child,you might want to read this alone the first time because it can be quite emotional.
You will become more aware of the day in the life of one who is autistic and never take a simple walk to the park for granted and see through the eyes of all those who resemble Ian. [Bonnie Sayers May 10, 2002]

Mickey the Cricket and Friends Take a Leap for Love

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"Mickey the Cricket and Friends Take a Leap for Love,"
 by K. Emma Green

In my opinion "Mickey the Cricket and Friends Take a Leap for Love," is one of the best books around to teach children about friendship. They will learn to never give up and how much God loves  us all.  I may be a little bit bias because I am the creator and author of this book, but once you read it to your children I know you will agree.










Amazon's Customer Review:

My daughter loved this book; she enjoyed the story and the characters. I would recommend this book to any parent who wants to educate their child about relationships with God and others.  Nicely put together.  I'm sure going to buy a copy of this book.  Can't wait for the next book to come out. [August 31, 2012]

A Chair for My Mother

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A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams is a story that will teach your children how important generosity is in hard times.



Simply put, which I feel is appropriate here; this is the story of a little girl and her family. Her mother is a hard working woman who is supporting the family. In the not so distant past, their apartment had burned down and the family lost everything. The entire neighborhood and the little girl's extended family pitched in and helped. Most things were eventually replaced...most thing with the exception of a nice comfortable chair that the mother could set in at night and rest her weary body. Over time the little girl and indeed, the entire family saved and saved their pennies until they were able to buy momma a new chair, or at least a very nice used one.

That's it! That is the story!  When we take this simple tale of love between family members, the neighbors and the relatives, and mix it with the wonderful whimsical art work, we have something very special in this book. Hard times are hard times but the message of everyone pulling together is strong here and is certainly applicable in the hard times many are facing today. [Review is by D. Blankenship on May 15,2010 ]








A note about the author:

Vera B. Williams began her career in children's books by illustrating Hooray for Me! Written by Remy Charlip with Lilian Moore.  Her beloved A Chair for My Mother won multiple awards, including a Caldecott Honor, and "More, More," Said the Baby also received a Caldecott Honor.  Vera B. Williams was the recipient of the Jane Addams Children's Book Award; she was awarded the 2009 NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature.  Vera B.Williams died on October 16, 2015. (Harper Collins Publishers)

It Could Always Be Worse

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It Could Always Be Worse by Margot Zemach, will teache your children when things look bad it might not be as bad as they think.


 a poor unfortunate man lived with his mother, his wife, and his six children in a little one-room hut." Everyone was crowded and the hut was full of quarreling or crying constantly. The poor unfortunate man was unhappy, and when he "couldn't stand it any more, he ran to the Rabbi for advice."
The Rabbi gives some rather interesting advice to say in the least. The wisdom of the Rabbi isn't apparent until the end of the story, yet in the meantime the story gets extremely entertaining and downright hilarious to the point of hysterics at times--well for my daughter and me! The illustrations are some of the best I have seen as far as going with the story's context.

I highly recommend this book because it has it all: a funny and entertaining story, hilarious illustrations, and a moral that I believe a child can understand well. I recommend this to young and old alike. If you enjoyed, IF YOU GIVE A PIG A PANCAKE and others like it, I know you will love to share this one too with your child.
Laugh together and Soar! [Amazon customer review by Soaring Heart Nov. 11, 2002]







A note about the author:

Margot Zemach was the award-winning children's book illustrator and author of more than 40 children's books, including "Duffy and the Devil, The Judge, To Hilda for Helping and It Could Always Be Worse." [New York Times]