Read, Write, Repeat.

Lorelei might only be seven, but she knows gardens.

Her family has a big one, and Lorelei has planted carrots, picked pumpkins and helped weed lots of times.

So she was happy to read Mortimer’s First Garden (Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2009) written by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Dan Andreasen.

The book features Mortimer, a mouse who thinks seeds are just for eating, until he hears talk about a garden.

Mortimer isn’t sure his last seed will grow, and he really wants to eat it, but he plants it and then watches the ground hopefully. But nothing happens. Will a sunflower sprout? Or did Mortimer make a big mistake?

Let’s ask today’s guest reviewer, Lorelei.

Today’s reviewer: Lorelei

Age: 7

Things I like: Playing sports like soccer, running and eating French Fries.

This book was about: A mouse named Mortimer. He planted one of his sunflower seeds. It rained and rained for a few days and God said he should wait two times. He waited, and a sunflower grew.

I laughed when: Mortimer finally saw the yellow part of the flower.

I was worried when: I thought the flower wouldn’t grow.

This book taught me: You have to wait for your plant to grow.

Three words that best describe this book are: “Mortimer.” “Seeds.” “Flowers.”

My favorite line or phrase in this book is: The cover. Mortimer’s name is in yellow, and it stands out.

Other kids reading this book should watch for: When they see the big letters on “Green” and “Yellow” and when the spider sneaks in. I think he’s going to be Mortimer’s friend.

You should read this book because: It teaches you a lot.

If you’d like to read other reviews, check out these:

• Children’s Literature — Themed Reviews
• Christian Children’s Book Reviews

This is Wilson’s second book about Mortimer. Her first was Mortimer’s Christmas Manger.

You can learn more about Karma Wilson and her other books at her website. Or you can read this interview at The Writer’s [Inner] Journey.

You can learn more about Dan Andreasen and his work at his website. Or you can read this interview.

Let’s get one thing straight.

Today’s guest reviewer, Grace, isn’t particularly fond of eating beans. Her favorite food is raspberries from her grandma’s garden.

But Grace doesn’t mind reading about beans, so she quite liked Lucky Beans (Albert Whitman, 2010) by Becky Birtha.

The story takes place during the Great Depression. Marshall’s family is struggling just like everyone else and eating a lot of beans to get by.

Marshall doesn’t like beans either. Until he sees a huge jar of them in a shop window next to a sewing machine. Whoever can come the closest to guessing how many beans are in the jar will win the sewing maching. Marshall knows having that sewing machine would help his mother earn more money. But how will they guess the right amount?

Marshall’s family works together to estimate the number of beans in the jar, using skills Marshall learned in math class. The math is woven neatly into the story so kids understand the process without losing track of the story. (So is information about the Depression and race relations, giving this book several classroom applications.)

Was Marshall’s estimate close enough to win his mother the sewing maching? Let’s ask Grace.

Today’s reviewer: Grace

Age:  7

I like to: Do gymnastics, color, read and play with my friends.

This book was about: Marshall, who hates beans. But, he needs to know a lot about beans for a contest to win a sewing machine.

The best part was when: His mom won the contest. I thought she would, because the title of the book is LUCKY Beans.

I laughed when: His mom said, “Now you’re cooking with gas!”

This book taught me: How to count beans in a jar.

Three words that best describe this book: “Fun.” “Exciting.” “Lucky.”

My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “I need a little more time to chew it over.”

Author Becky Birtha’s grandmother lived during the Great Depression, and she really did win a sewing machine by guessing how many beans were in a jar. She also told Becky she cooked beans using a different recipe every night during the Depression.

If you’d like to find out more about Becky, visit her website. Or, read this interview.

If you’d like to find out more about illustrator Nicole Tadgell, read this interview. Or, check out her blog. It’s full of lovely artwork.

Leaves are falling off the trees, and it’s getting cold. That means it’s time for bears everywhere to settle down for a long winter’s nap.

But the bear in Maureen Wright and Will Hillenbrand’s Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep! (Marshall Cavendish, 2009) doesn’t realize it’s time for bed.

So Old Man Winter reminds him to, “Sleep, Big Bear, sleep!”

But, as the story notes, “Big Bear didn’t hear very well.” So he does what he thinks Old Man Winter said to do.

Soon he’s driving a jeep, learning to sweep and doing a wide variety of other things that get him more and more tired but keep him very much awake.

Fortunately, Old Man Winter doesn’t give up on his friend. He gets louder and louder until Big Bear can’t help but hear. All ends well, with Big Bear happily asleep in his cozy den.

Big Bear’s story was named the best bedtime book of 2009 by Nick Jr. It’s told in a reassuring rhyme, and readers may giggle as they see each more extreme thing Big Bear does because he thinks Old Man Winter told him to.

The illustrations are lovely, with the pages getting progessively darker and snowier as Big Bear stays up longer and longer.

Now, let’s turn things over to today’s guest reviewer.

Our reviewer: Anthony

Age: 7

Things I like to do: Read books and go to pbskids.org on the computer.

This book was about: Big Bear and Old Man Winter, who tells him to sleep.

The best part was when: It rhymes.

I laughed when: Old Man Winter says, “Hey there, Bear! Did you hear what I said? It’s wintertime, now GO TO BED!”

I was worried when: He didn’t go to bed. He kept doing other things instead.

I was surprised when: He finally learned it was bedtime.

This book taught me: Sometimes, you’ve just got to go to sleep.

Three words that describe this book: “Bear.” “Winter.” “Rabbit.” The word rabbit isn’t mentioned in the book, but there’s a picture of a rabbit on every page.

My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep.”

Other kids reading this book should watch for: When Big Bear is startled.

You should read this book because: “It’s a great book!”

Thanks, Anthony!

Want to learn more about author Maureen Wright? Visit her website. You also might want to learn more about her latest winter picture book Sneezy the Snowman. (Marshall Cavendish, 2010).

Want to learn more about illustrator Will Hillenbrand? Visit his website. Here’s a list of many of his titles.

Here’s a book for every child who’s ever been told to quiet down.

Holler Loudly (Dutton, 2010) is a rowdy, rollicking, kick-up-your-heels picture book written by Cynthia Leitich Smith and illustrated by Barry Gott.

 This tall tale features a baby who’s so consistently, amazingly, uncommonly loud that his parents name him Holler.

 Holler’s volume gets him noticed wherever he goes — usually in a bad way. Sometimes, it seems all he ever hears is, “Hush!”

 But one day, when a twister arrives, Holler discovers that being loud has its benefits. The rest of the town learns it too, and Holler becomes a hero.

 The book has a strong southwestern sound, engaging language and a likeable character. And Barry Gott’s illustrations are crisp, clean and colorful.

 Now, let’s hear from today’s guest reviewer, Jake. His mom says he’s been a big fan of tornadoes ever since he saw a picture of one in a book, so this story was right up his alley.

 Reviewer:  Jake

 Age: 6

 Things I like to do:  Build with Legos and construct things.

 This book was about: A boy who was too loud and he blew away a tornado with his loud voice.

The best part was when: He blew away the tornado and became a hero.

 I laughed when: I saw the tornado’s eyeballs flying away.

 I was worried when: The tornado came to town.

 I was surprised when: The tornado happened.

 This book taught me: To be nice to other people even if they’re too loud … and different.

 Some words that best describe this book are: Funny, interesting, and “a little cool.”

 My favorite line or phrase in this book are: “And you’d best skedaddle!”

 Other kids reading this book should watch for: The tornado. It’s mean at first

 You should read this book because: It’s a fun book.

 Thanks, Jake!

 If you want to learn more about Holler Loudly, check out:

• This wonderful author interview at Seven Impossible Things.
• An appetizing review by blogger Jama Rattigan.
• The book trailer. (It’s a hopping good time.)

And, you always can visit Cynthia Leitich Smith’s website or her rightfully famous children’s book blog Cynsations. Or explore Barry Gott’s website or his online portfolio.

So go ahead, stop by. They won’t even ask you to be quiet.

Oh, and if you’re looking for another book about a boy who’s pretty loud, check out Megan’s kid review of Frederick Finch, Loudmouth by Tess Weaver.

We held our holiday gift exchange early this year. And, of course, books were involved.

So here are a few photos of the bookish fun. First Rebekah displays three middle-grade favorites — The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z., Touch Blue and The Teashop Girls.

And here’s Daniel, who has a scientific bent, with National Geographic’s Satellite Atlas of the World.

Sonia and a friend are reading Wayside School is Falling Down by Louis Sachar. Or possibly Wayside School Stories. She got both books.

Even adults got into the fun. Pam showcases the long-lost last opus of Anne of Green Gables author L.M. Montgomery, The Blythes Quoted.

And it couldn’t be the holidays without Harry Potter.  Gwen saw the movie and then revisited the series. Here, she’s reading the second book.

And the best news is, the holidays aren’t even over yet. So more books could still appear.

Which books are you giving or hoping to get this year?

Pie is prevalent this time of year.

In fact, according to the American Pie Council — and it makes me happy just knowing such a council exists — the most popular holiday pies are:

• Pumpkin.
• Apple.
• Cherry.
• Lemon meringue.
• Pecan, chocolate cream and mincemeat (in a three-way tie).

So this seems the appropriate time to feature Cari Best’s latest picture book, Easy as Pie (Farrar Straus Giroux, 2010)

In this book, Jacob sets out to make a perfect peach pie for his parents’ anniversary.

And why wouldn’t it work out? He’s following the recipe from none other than the famous TV personality Chef Monty. But Jacob runs into a few pastry snags along the way that he solves with ingenuity and persistence.

Along with the story is a recipe for Happy Peach Pie, baking rules from Chef Monty and a few tips Jacob learned as he stirred.

Now, here’s today’s guest reviewer, Allison. And for the record? Her favorite kind of pie is pumpkin.

Today’s reviewer: Allison

Age: 7

I like: Ballet and soccer.

This book was about: Pie.

The best part was when: Jacob and his family finally ate the pie.

I was surprised that: The family ate dessert before dinner.

My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “A happy baker makes a happy pie.”

Thanks, Allison!

If you’d like to see other blog review of this book, check out:

• Librarian Tasha Saecker’s review at Kids Lit.
• Phoebe Vreeland’s The Pie List, a collection of picture books about pie.

If you want to learn more about illustrator Melissa Sweet (and you really should, she won a 2009 Caldecott Honor Medal for A River of Words by Jen Bryant), you can visit her website. You also can read this interview at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast or this one with Jama Rattigan.

If you’d like to learn more about author Cari Best and the wonderful other books she’s written, you can read this article at Answers.com or this one from the Educational Book & Media Association. (My personal favorites of her other books are Shrinking Violet and Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen.)

And, finally, if you’d like a few more pie-related facts, consider these from the American Pie Council:

• The average American eats six slices of pie per year.
• 76 percent of Americans prefer homemade pie over pie from a bakery or pastry shop, restaurant, diner or supermarket.
• National Pie Day is Jan. 23. So plan your celebration now!

With lots of snow in the forecast — at least where I live — it seems like the ideal time to curl up with a bowl of perfect soup.

Not in the mood to cook? That’s OK. All you have to do is open the pages of Lisa Moser’s newest picture book Perfect Soup (Random House, 2010) and you’ll be warm and cozy before you know it.

The book features Murray, a kind little mouse, who wants to ease winter’s chill with his own, homemade perfect soup. There’s just one problem. He doesn’t have a carrot, and the recipe specifically calls for one.

Murray’s search for that elusive carrot involves a farmer, a horse, a snowman, a shopkeeper, a boy and a woman having a bad day. After they all work together, Murray gets his carrot, but how he uses it might surprise you. 

Let’s see what today’s reviewer, Sonia, has to say:

Name: Sonia

Age: 8

I like: Riding horses, collecting pigs, playing The Storybook Game with my babysitter, Maria, and reading Perfect Soup and James and the Giant Peach. 

This book was about: A mouse named Murray who thought it was a good day to make soup. He needed a carrot to make the soup perfect.

The best part was when: When everyone got what they wanted, but Murray didn’t want the carrot any more.

I laughed when: The horse said, “I’ll caarrry those logs if you give me jingle bells. I want to be faaancy like the town horses.” And, when I saw that Mrs. Wooley’s house looked like a teapot.

I was surprised when: He didn’t want the carrot for his perfect soup.

I was worried when: Murray didn’t notice the snowman when he said, “Hi.”

Three words that describe this book: “Perfect.” “Soup.” “Snowman.”

Other kids reading this book should look for: The message the snowman wrote for Murray in the snow. The house where Murray lives.

My favorite word or phrase in this book was: “Murray was in a hurry.”

This book taught me: To always say “hi” to people and to help people. That things don’t always have to be perfect.

Sonia says her favorite kind of soup is chicken noodle. She’d like to try Murray’s recipe for Perfect Soup.

Thanks, Sonia!

If you’d like to learn more about Lisa Moser, visit her website or read this interview.

If you’d like to learn more about Ben Mantle, visit his website or his blog.

And if you’re looking for other reviews, check out these:

• BookLoons
• Kiss the Book