Read, Write, Repeat.

Most of the kids who review books for this blog really like talking with me about the books they’ve just read.

But today’s guest reviewer, Will, might win the prize for being the most excited.

He started talking to me about Herve Tullet’s Press Here (Chronicle, 2011) before we’d even sat down.

“This is a neat book,” he told me as we walked down the hall. “It has, like, actions.”

It does, indeed.

At first, the book looks deceptively simple. It’s white with dots. But, as Will shows, that’s more than enough to engage a reader. Readers press, shake, clap and push their way through the book. After each action, they turn the page and see what the dots have done.

And it holds up to multiple readings. Will read the book to me, and even though he’d done it all before, he was happy to do it again.

So pause here.

And then, read what else Will had to say about this book.

Our reviewer: Will

Age: 7

Things I like to do: Art and video games. Sometimes, I play with my brother.

This book was about: It’s funny. It’s sort of an activity book. It isn’t boring. You can do it over and over again. I liked that the book seemed like it was talking to you. In that way, it reminded me of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

The best part was: It reminds me of dancing. Especially when you had to push really hard and shake the book. My favorite part was the clapping.

I smiled when: It says to try it again at the end of the book. I said, “Maybe.”

I was surprised when: The pages went black and the dots got so big.

Three words that best describe this book are: “Funny.” “Active.” “Surprising.”

My favorite line or phrase in the book is: “That’s enough.”

Other kids reading this book should watch for: The funny sentences. The surprising things that happen. The dots can really do stuff.

You should read this book because: You don’t know what’s going to happen next. It’s a seriously good book.

Thanks, Will.

If you’d like to see the book in action, watch this book trailer.

You also can read this interview with Herve Tullet.

Meet Austin.

He’s a boy with a book. And the book is called The Gentleman Bug (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2010) by Julian Hector.

The book is about a quiet, refined, small-town bug who loves reading. When a beautiful lady bug comes to town, she doesn’t seem to notice the gentleman bug. So he tries to spiff up his style to gain her attention.

Of course, things go horribly wrong. But then, they both discover that they have a love of books in common. And that’s all it takes for their friendship to be sealed.

Austin says it’s important for people to be gentlemanly toward each other. He says he is a gentleman because, “I help people. When other people make fun of them, I stick up for them.”

Austin also says that it’s important for people to be themselves and not to try and change just so they fit in better with others.

Here’s what else he had to say about this book:

Our reviewer: Austin

Age: 8

Things I like to do: Lift weights, read, play basketball and skateboard.

This book was about: A bug who was a gentleman and liked to read. Everyone made fun of him, but he didn’t care. Nothing could bother him when he was reading. Then he met a lady bug. She liked to read too, but didn’t tell him. Then, they read together every time they met.

The best part was when: The gentleman bug and the lady bug met.

I smiled when: The gentleman bug was all dressed up and looking in the mirror.

I was worried when: The gentleman bug bumped into someone else at the restaurant and everything spilled all over.

I was surprised when: The lady bug arrived.

This book taught me: To read and really not care what other people might say. I should say, “I don’t care what you think. This is me and nobody can change me.”

Three words to describe this book are: “The.” “Gentleman.” “Bug.”

My favorite picture in the book was: The last page where they are reading books together.

Other kids reading this book should watch for: How to be a gentleman.

You should read this book because: It’s a nice book. And you can learn a lot from it.

Thanks, Austin!

Julian Hector wrote the text and drew the illustrations for this book. Want to learn more about him? You can:

• Visit his website.
• Read this interview about he got the idea for The Gentleman Bug.
• Read his blog.
• Review this biography.
• Check out this kid review of another book he illustrated.

Official disclaimer:

Oh, by the way, I won this nifty book in a giveaway sponsored by Mike Jung, a book blogger whose own book – Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities – comes out later this year from Arthur A. Levine Books. Once it’s released you really should get a copy. I’m just saying.

What does it mean to be a good person?

That’s the question considered in Estie the Mensch (Random House, 2011) a picture book written by Jane Kohuth and illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger.

Estie is a shy girl who is much more comfortable hanging out with animals than humans and enjoys nothing more than pretending to be everything from a dog to a monkey to a fly. Most of the time, her family enjoys her antics, but sometimes, when they’ve had enough, they say, “Estie, be a mensch.”

“Mensch” is a Yiddish term that means to be human. But not just any human, rather, a person of integrity and honor.

Estie isn’t sure exactly how to do this. Until a day at the zoo. After amusing a friend by imitating everything from a snake to an ostrich, Estie discovers that, in some situations, acting like a kind human being is the best thing to do.

Holly says she trioes to be a mensch in the ballet and hip-hop dance classes she takes. Not only does she try to be friendly to her classmates, she also walks like a lady.

Holly also shared her other thoughts about the book. Take it away, Holly!

Our reviewer: Holly

Age: 8

Things I like to do: Dance, swim and play with my dogs — Mystic and Pepper.

This book was about: A little girl named Estie who liked animals and acted like them. Her parents always told her to, “Be a mensch,”  or to behave like a lady. She went to the zoo with her grandma and her grandma’s friend and a boy named Petie. She acted like the animals there and made Petie laugh. Then Petie dropped his ice cream and Estie scooped some off her cone to give to him.

The best part was when: When Estie acted like all the animals in the zoo. But she really couldn’t stretch her neck as far as an ostrich does.

I smiled when: She gave part of her ice-cream to Petie.

I was worried when: Petie dropped his ice cream. I thought he would be upset and just sit and cry, but Estie helped him.

This book taught me: Not to be afraid of animals. To love the animals you love. Oh, and to share.

Three words that best describe this book are: “Fun.” “Creative.” “Adventurous.”

My favorite line or phrase in the book: “Estie, be a mensch.” Her mom and dad said it all the time.

Other kids reading this book should watch for: What they can do to be nice to animals and to your friends.

You should read this book because: It teaches you some words in a different language. You can learn more about sharing and animals.

Thanks, Holly!

If you’d like to know more about author Jane Kohuth, you can visit her webpage , read this interview or read this other interview.

If you’d like to know more about illustrator Rosanne Litzinger, you can read her biography.

Here are some other reviews of Estie:

• Picture Book Reviews.
• The Picnic Basket.
• Cracking the Cover.