As a digital subscriber, you’ll receive unlimited access to Horn Book web exclusives and extensive archives, as well as access to our highly searchable Guide/Reviews Database.
To access other site content, visit The Horn Book homepage.
To continue you need an active subscription to hbook.com.
Subscribe now to gain immediate access to everything hbook.com has to offer, as well as our highly searchable Guide/Reviews Database, which contains tens of thousands of short, critical reviews of books published in the United States for young people.
Thank you for registering. To have the latest stories delivered to your inbox, select as many free newsletters as you like below.
No thanks. Return to article
48 pp.
| Charlesbridge
| July, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-1-57091-633-5$12.95
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Frank W. Dormer.
Ben and his dog Aggie's fourth adventure begins with the two playing in the park. Aggie runs away, and Ben, with the same determination and care he's always shown for his pet, vows to find her. Ries's hallmarks--predictable, natural language; defined structure (with chapter-break markers)--continue here. Dormer's gray watercolor washes effectively reflect Ben's despair, while touches of bright orange signal his determination.
48 pp.
| Charlesbridge
| July, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-1-57091-635-9$12.95
(1)
K-3
Illustrated by
Frank W. Dormer.
In this third book about dog Aggie and her owner Ben, "Aggie is going to the vet to get spayed." Three chapters divide the text for newly independent readers while smart page breaks pace the story. Ries displays a keen understanding of kids, and Dormer's illustrations mirror and expand the text (e.g., a wordless multi-panel sequence reflects Ben's anxiety awaiting news from the vet).
Reviewer: Betty Carter
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2010
48 pp.
| Charlesbridge
| February, 2009
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-57091-645-8$12.95
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Frank W. Dormer.
On the first page, readers learn "Aggie is a good dog"--except she doesn't listen and has a strong mind of her own. Ben's efforts to teach her "sit" and "stay" lead to disaster until he discovers the right motivational tools: a red ball and teamwork. Lively cartoon pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations help extend the action in this satisfying easy reader.
32 pp.
| Boyds
| February, 2008
|
TradeISBN 978-1-59078-486-0$16.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Erin Eitter Kono.
After chemotherapy makes her hair fall out, a boy's mother buys a wig. The narrator's voice doesn't always ring true ("My mom's got alien blobs inside her. They're called cancer"), but the story is unsentimental about parents' vulnerability. Ultimately, the book's mood is celebratory; watercolors show mom and son whooping it up at the wig shop.
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Sue Ramá.
In this companion to Super Sam!, toddler Petey relays how his big brother, Sam, is good at fixing things--particularly the little one's messes ("Uh-oh. Sam, help? Fix the toys?"). But it's little bro who discovers how to fix their falling-down blanket-and-chair tent. The uncomplicated colored-pencil, crayon, and watercolor illustrations and the bold black typeface are childlike without being too precious.
48 pp.
| Charlesbridge
| July, 2006
|
TradeISBN 1-57091-594-6$12.95
(1)
K-3
Illustrated by
Frank W. Dormer.
When Ben goes to the pet store with Daddy, he buys a dog (Aggie), learns how a dog behaves, and finds a canine friend. The illustrations direct readers from one segment of the story to the next, and three chapters provide natural starting and stopping breaks. This valuable scaffolding contributes to a satisfying story.
Reviewer: Betty Carter
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
September, 2006
32 pp.
| Boyds
| November, 2006
|
TradeISBN 1-59078-195-3$16.95
(4)
PS
Illustrated by
Nancy Cote.
"Mrs. Fickle likes her pickles. / She plants each tiny seed. / Mrs. Fickle likes her pickles. / They're growing fast indeed." The tempo of the minimal, repetitive rhymes doesn't quite match the slower pace of the illustrations, which do most of the storytelling: bright gouache colors show Mrs. Fickle planting and canning cucumbers--and then eating her beloved pickles.
32 pp.
| Charlesbridge
| July, 2004
|
TradeISBN 1-58089-041-5$$14.95
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Sue Ramá.
A boy playing superhero meets his toughest challenge when he accidentally steps on his worshipful baby brother's finger; fortunately, it's nothing that a security blanket can't fix. Between the book's minimal text ("Run, Super Sam! / Fly, Super Sam!"), which may remind some readers of John Steptoe's Baby Says, and the loose illustrations featuring crayon, the perspective stays wonderfully childlike throughout.