Charlotte and the Rock by Stephen W. Martin & Illus by Samantha Cotterill

This is one of those books that I had to read because... well, cute red plaid and a beret. AND she has a rock? With a matching beret?! Why? I needed to find out. 

Stuffed rabbits are disappointing pets.

Pet hopes and dreams!

And pet hopes and dreams crushed. 

The rock wasn't a very satisfactory pet, but it had it's good points.

I love the ridiculousness of this book!

Further disappointments.

But you can do anything if you set your mind to it! Including enjoying a pet rock! 

I want their blankets.

But all those pet hopes and dreams were about to come true...

Much to the surprise of her family!

I didn't tell you want Dennis the rock turned into! Aren't I being restrained and mysterious?! 

Ha!

Frank and Lucky Get Schooled by Lynne Rae Perkins

This was another book on the NY Times list of school books. I love this book. SO much. It is about a boy named Frank and his dog, Lucky. 

It is about the relationship between a kid and his dog, but more than that, it is a book about being curious about the world. About seeing things to learn every which way you look. 

This is a great book for showing kids how interconnected school subjects and life are. 

Lynne Rae Perkins dedicates this 

For true friends and scholars of all species

On a day when Frank could not win for losing, he got Lucky. 

And one day when Lucky was lost and found, he got Frank.

They set out to learn about each other.

They went to schools, but also learned a lot by being together. Lucky helped Frank with botany when he came back full of beggar's lice and burdock.

Science experiements (from when Lucky learned about skunks) and the resulting astronomy class when they were banished from the house.

Lucky was a great listener. Even when Frank wasn't reading aloud. 

Math questions come into things. How many more dog treats should Lucky recieve if there are two more people in the living room? 

Geography and learning about places. 

And the whole wide world with Lucky was the subject Frank liked best.

Bear and Bunny by Daniel Pinkwater & Illus by Will Hillenbrand

This is a book about two good friends. 

Aren't they adorable?

Bear in his snug, minimalistic cave.

Bear thinks bunny is a small bear and bunny thinks bear is a large bunny. 

Sometimes our illusions help our friendships along.

I love them being interested in each other.

Any book that features Monarch caterpillars and milkweed in a prominent way is pretty awesome!

Sleeping friends.

But their idyllic world is rocked by a question...

"Should we have a pet?"

"If we had a pet, it would be smaller, and not as clever as we are. It would need us to take care of it."

The bear thought for a while.

Then he asked, "Could a pinecone be a pet?"

The question of caterpillars comes up, but is found wanting.

So they sleep on it.

These two are the friendliest friends!

Then they find a kittie--up in a tree. That says, "CROAK!"

But Bunny is pretty sure it is a kitten.

"What do kitties eat?"

"Strawberries."

Their wisdom is astounding.

And just like that, they have a pet to take care of!

Herbert the Lion by Clare Turlay Newberry

This book first caught my eye because it is a little oversize. And then it held my eye with the cute two color illustrations. 

Supposedly, Clare Turlay Newberry longed for a lion as a child, so when she grew up, she made a little girl, Sally, who got her wish. It was marvelous having a lion, but then things got a little complicated. On first glance, it seemed like it might be a little stilted and too 1930's for kids today, but reading it through, it is a funny, silly book that kids will thoroughly enjoy.  

Life was lonesome for Sally. 

But then Herbert came into her life.

I love this cosmopolitan mother bringing home a baby lion.

Aren't these pictures sweet?  

Herbert grew into a healthy, big lion.

Very big. And friendly.

A little too friendly.

Finally, people stopped coming to see Sally. 

Her parents tried to substitute a little kitten for Herbert, but... it couldn't really compare. 

Herbert wasn't any more pleased about the separation than Sally. So he took matters into his own hands.  

Sally was overjoyed to be reunited with Herbert 

And finally, her parents figure out a way to let these two friends be together.

10 Minutes to Bedtime by Peggy Rathman

This book is incredibly fun. My kids have loved it for years. The words are mere backdrops to the illustrations. The fabulous illustrations. There is so much to look at on each page!

Peggy Rathman is also the author/illustrator of Officer Buckle and Gloria (1996 Caldecott Medal Winner) and Goodnight Gorilla, both of which are referenced in the pictures. Like a sleeping Officer Buckle and Gloria on top of the computer.

And isn't a hamster using a computer adorable?

The basic gist of the story is an oblivious father counting down the minutes to bedtime to his son. Somehow he is completely unaware of a large herd of hamsters coming to their house for the 10 Minute Bedtime Tour.

The hamster tourists arrive at 1 Hoppin Place and the tour begins. 

The boy is naturally delighted!

Let's talk about the boy's hair here. And his fuzzy green slippers. Aren't both super? I love his straight up hair. 

The hamster tourist taking a picture of an ant!! 

Everything is an event with an entourage of hamsters.

Have  you noticed that annoying little hamster that is always trying to kick something at the head of the tour director? Bratty little rich kid on vacation. 

The boy settles the hamsters down for a good story. Just as headlights can be seen approaching the house. 

And a large contingent of hamsters comes in for a quick tour. How cool is that double decker hamster bus? And that Quaker Oat bus? 

Did you notice the zookeeper from Goodnight Gorilla in the background? I love little details like that!

The boy gets back to what he was doing, but with a much larger audience. 

With only three minutes to go, the hamsters decide book reading is way too tame and head off for more exotic locales.

Such as the bathroom.

The kids love this little potty training hamster.

A hamster beach! SO much awesomeness going on!

Oopsie!

Hurry, hurry!

They all head back to his room for some more shenanigans. The poor boy is getting sleepier and sleepier. But the hamsters are clearly too self involved to notice.

This can be yelled as loud as you please. Which delights Gilbert (6 yr.) to no end.

And with that, they pull their act together and head out. 

Taking a few souvenirs with them--toilet paper and fuzzy green slippers. 

A goodnight kiss from Daddy. 

Some of the hamsters decided to take up residence. So they settle in for the night, knitting, reading, pasting pictures in their scrapbook.... I love the tour director, who you can just see the back of over here on the right with the soccer ball caught in his megaphone. Ha! He showed you, annoying little kicker hamster!