Read, Write, Repeat.

Flora isn’t having the best day.

In Flora’s Very Windy Day (Clarion, 2011) her little brother, Crispin, spills her paints, so their mother sends them outside to play while she cleans up even though Flora tries and tries to tell her the wind will blow them away.

Sure enough, once they’re outside, the wind lifts Crispin away and Flora has no choice except to soar up after him. He might be annoying, but he is her brother after all.

Once they’re in the air, Flora is amazed at how popular Crispin is. A dragonfly wants him to polish its wings. A sparrow wants him to sit on her eggs, a rainbow wants him to guard its gold and a cloud wants him to squeeze out its raindrops. And, the man in the moon just wants him to be his friend.

Flora is slightly tempted, of course, but she knows how disappointed her mother would be if she came home without Crispin. But to get them home, she has to convince the wind to help them out.

Is she successful? Let’s see what today’s guest reviewer has to say:

Our reviewer: Kelsie

Age: 7

I like: Playing four-square, jumping rope, playing kickball and drawing.

This book was about: A girl named Flora who didn’t like her baby brother at first. But after they get blown away by the wind, and the moon and the rainbow asked if they could have him, she decieded she liked her brother after all.

The best part was when: When Flora and her brother got back home.

I smiled when: At the end, when she asked the wind if she could go home with her brother.

I was worried when: Her brother got blown up in the air.

I was surprised when: She decided she wanted to keep her brother.

My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “If the wind lets you.” And, “super-special, heavy-duty red boots.”

This book taught me: Before you say something, you should think about it first. It might not be what you really want to say.

Other kids reading this book should watch for: When Flora brushes a shred of rainbow off her clothes.

You should read this book because: It teaches you that just because you think you want something, you might not really want it.

Thanks, Kelsie!

Kelsie doesn’t have a younger brother, but she has an older sister. And she wasn’t completely positive her older sister would save her if the wind decided to blow her away.

If you’d like to learn more about author Jeanne Birdsall, who is best known for her series of books about the Penderwick sisters, visit her website. Or, read this interview.

If you’d like to learn more about illustrator Matt Phelan, visit his website and blog. Or, read this kid review of another one of his many books — Two of a Kind.

Sometimes, it takes just the right book to charm a reluctant reader.

My cat, Vince, has written reviews a time or two for my blog. (You can read his literary observations here and here.)

But lately, he’s been pointedly ignoring all the books in our house, even yawning loudly when I show him options I think he might enjoy.

So when Raj the Bookstore Tiger, a 2011 release from Charlesbridge Press, arrived in the mail, I smiled at the cat on the cover, but didn’t rush to show it to Vince.

But later that day, the following review appeared in my drafts folder. Vince feigned ignorance, but I wasn’t fooled. He’d left paw prints all over the keyboard.

Take it away, Vince …

Some cats have all the luck.

They not only have a nice home and people who give them tuna on demand, they’re also mistaken for jungle cats. I’ve always fancied I resemble a puma. Unfortunately, no one else seems to see it.

This book is about a cat named Raj. And, get this. Everyone at the bookstore he hangs out at thinks he’s a tiger.

So, as you can imagine, he pretty much has the run of the place. He can bask in the front window. He can sit in whoever’s lap he wants at storytime. And, when he stalks through the store, people squeal, “Look at the tiger!”

Then, another cat arrives and spoils Raj’s fun. He’s white, so no one has ever thought he’s a tiger.

Plus, his name is Snowball. Any cat worth his kibble knows Snowball is at the top of the list of mortifying cat names right under “Fluffy” and “Snookums.”

Anyway, Snowball doesn’t think Raj is king of the jungle. He tells him he’s just a regular old kitty with delusions of grandeur. Then, he takes over all of Raj’s favorite bookstore spots.

This sends Raj into hiding. But, fortunately, while he’s under a chair, he hears a famous poem about a tiger. I’ve never met the William Blake guy who wrote it, but it’s obvious he knew something about the respect and reverence cats deserve.

After hearing the poem, Raj gets his cat-titude back and is the center of attention when a visiting author shows a video featuring tigers in the wild. Poor Snowball is scared of the video until Raj shows him a book with pictures of a rare white tiger.

Then, together, they stalk off to rule the bookstore.

After reading this book, I might have to pay more attention to the other books scattered around this place. Maybe I’ll find a photo of a puma that looks like me.

Thanks, Vince! It’s great to have you back on the blog.

Raj the Bookstore Tiger is written by Kathleen T. Pelley and illustrated by Paige Keiser.

You can visit Kathleen’s website. Or, you can see a video of her reading the book.

And, you can see more of Paige’s artwork on this site.

Today’s reviewer is a bit of a blanket expert, as you can see in the photo to the right and the one near the bottom of this post.

That makes her a good choice to review Mary Ann Rodman’s latest picture book Camp K-9 (Peachtree, 2011) about Roxie, a dog with a favorite blanket.

Roxie likes to sniff her blanket. And, sometimes, Sonia does the same thing. She says it makes her feel better.

So cuddle up with something cozy, and hear her take on this warm and fuzzy tale.

Our reviewer: Sonia

Age: 8

Things I like to do: Color, watch TV, listen to my iPod, read books and sleep.

This book was about: A doggy named Roxie. She goes to Camp K-9, and she has a secret in her backpack. She meets a new girl, Pearl, and thinks she would be a good friend. But then she thinks you have to tell friends secrets, and Roxie doesn’t want to tell her secret – that she has a blanket – because Pearl might laugh at her.

The best part was when: Roxie goes in the cabin and sees Lucy, and Lucy has a blanket. Roxie laughs at her, but then she shows Lucy her blanket. No one laughs and everyone pulls out their own blankets that they’ve hidden.

I smiled when: Pearl and Roxie held hands and went to the pool together.

I was worried when: Pearl’s favorite dessert got knocked to the floor. It was pork pudding and liver snacks.

I was surprised when: Lucy was being all mean.

This book taught me: To be nice to your friends and not to laugh at people.

Three words that best describe this book are: “Camp.” “K-9.” “Roxie.”

My favorite line or phrase in this book is: “‘Sorry,’ says Lucy. But I know she’s not.”

Other kids reading this book should watch for: All the different blankets. And when Lucy jumps out from behind a tree and scares the other dogs.

You should read this book because: It’s about cute dogs, and I like dogs.

Thanks, Sonia.

If you’d like to learn more about Mary Ann Rodman (who also wrote the wonderful picture book A Tree for Emmy reviewed here) visit her website. Or, read this interview at Becky’s Book Reviews.

Mary Ann also is one of six authors who blog about writing and teaching writing at Teaching Authors.

To learn more about illustrator Nancy Hayashi, read this biography.

Thanks to Peachtree Publishers for providing a copy of this book for Sonia’s review.

Last summer, I broke two toes. This made walking difficult, so I wore an ugly velcro shoe and hobbled around on crutches for a week or so.

How did I break my toes, you ask? Well, as much as I’d like to say I was doing something noble —  like rushing to push a small child out of the way of an oncoming car – I wasn’t. 

I wasn’t even doing something exciting — like learning to dance the rhumba.

Instead, I was folding laundry. When I stood up to put it away, I cut a corner too close and slammed my toes into the wooden leg of our sofa.

Believe me, when I had to tell this tale to everyone who saw me on crutches I wished I had a long and crazy story to share instead.

Mo Willems’ latest early reader I Broke My Trunk (Hyperion, 2011) tells the long and crazy story about how Gerald broke his trunk. And while rhinos, hippos and pianos are involved, there’s no laundry in sight.

Let’s hear more from today’s guest reviewer:

Our reviewer:  Brett

 Age:  5

 Things I like:  Basketball, drawing, swimming and baseball.

 This book was about: A long, crazy story.

 The best part was when:  Gerald was sweating.

 I laughed when:  I saw Hippo’s sister.

 I was worried when:  Piggie fell.

 I was surprised when:  Gerald could hold a piano.

 This book taught me:  It taught me about breaking noses.

 Three words that best describe this book are:  “Crazy.” “Funny.” “Whoop.”

 My favorite line or phrase in this book is:  “There is more to my story …”

Other kids reading this book should watch for:  Two hippos and a rhinoceros.

You should read this book because:  You might want to know how he breaks his nose.

 Thanks, Brett!

You can see what over reviewers though about this book on these blogs:

Young Readers

Sweet on Books

Or, if you’d like to learn more about Mo Willems, you can visit his website or read his blog. There’s also a nifty video interview with Mo over on Reading Rockets.