Age 08-12. 4 Stars. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a lighthearted Cinderella fantasy about a sweet little poor boy… a rollicking, lighthearted fantasy, full of humor and imagination, which is a delight to read aloud.

Age 00-04. 4 Stars. Christelow takes this rhyme and illustrates it with cheery, lively colored-pencil illustrations, with a monkey mama and her five children… The book is well illustrated, cheery, and lively, and toddlers will love the rhythmic repetition. One could wish that the opening and closing of the book rhymed as well, but it’s still a fun read.

Age 04-08. 4 Stars. This is probably the second most well-known of Beatrix Potter’s wonderful rabbit stories… The cat is dangerous, the bunnies foolish and lovable, the father heroic and brave, and the warm home scene allows the reader a sigh of relief at the end.

Age 04-08. 4 Stars. A lushly detailed, wordless picture book about a boy on a field trip to the Empire State Building who is befriended by a sentient cloud…. The only potentially concerning element is that the boy sneaks onto the cloud factory property, and gets in trouble for it while the grownups running the show are shown to be a little silly. For a child with authority issues this book might help to feed a rebellious heart. Aside from this, the wonderful artwork, the masterful use of images to tell the story without words, and the strikingly original story concept makes this worth having.

Age 04-08. 3 Stars. This is the story of Libby Mitchell, a young European-American girl in Michigan during the mid-1800′s, whose best friend is Potawatomi. When other settlers become jealous the Potawatomi’s wealth, they force them to leave their ancestral lands. Because she is visiting her friend when this occurs, Libby is accidentally taken away with the tribe… Historical events are basically accurate, and the danger is exciting without being overwhelming to younger readers. The Mitchell family, particularly Libby’s father, evidence strong interfamily relationships and genuine friendship with the Potawatomi family. This would make a nice addition to a home library, or at least a good supplement for a history lesson.