Synopses & Reviews
A little boy who doesn't fit in at camp finds out just how valuable his non-cowboy skills can be. Every child will relate to the message, the humor, and the deliciously playful illustrations. Giddyup, kids, and gallop right over to read this rootin' tootin' tale of an unlikely would-be hero. Avery's at camp, trying hard to saddle up and master his lasso, but he's just not like the other cowboys. He's allergic to the horses and can't stand the grub. But when a bully threatens all the campers, Avery proves his mettle in his own unique way. Young readers will have lots of fun with the story's lively language and wildly humorous pictures.
Review
and#160;and#8220;A simple, clever tale that promises to be a crowd-pleaser.and#8221; and#8212;
Booklistand#160;and#8220;This book will be appreciated by any child who has shared Avery's concerns about not fitting in with a group.and#8221; and#8212;School Library Journal
Review
andldquo;A little girl with a dino-sized imagination joins, and learns to get along with, other kids with their own particular styles on the first day of school. Allyand#39;s a young girl who knows what she likes: dinosaurs. In fact, her scribbly black-and-white figure is surrounded by crayoned pink spines running down her head and back to her tail, and her feet have pink claws. But will she meet any other dinos at school? andlsquo;I think youand#39;re going to make a lot of new friends,andrsquo; her mother reassures her. It takes a while for the other kidsand#39; imaginations to overcome their first-day nervousness, but slowly, their outlines also take on hues and costumes: an astronaut, three princesses, a dragon, a lion, and bespectacled Walter, who loves his new briefcase-shaped lunchbox. Recess is spent acting out these fantasies, and an end-of-the-day trip to the library just may prompt some new adventures for tomorrow. Torrey nicely tackles lots of first-day issues in this imaginative offeringandmdash;making friends, getting along, keeping an open mind, the everyday routines of kindergartenandmdash;and he does so with aplomb. Pastel backgrounds make the multiethnic figures stand out, especially their brightly colored imagined costumes. Ally is an empathetic guide for young children facing their own first days, no matter what or who they imagine themselves to be.andrdquo; andmdash;
Kirkus Reviews (STARRED)
andldquo;Ally has a dinosaur alter ego, Ally-saurus; Torrey gives the girl a dinosaur T-shirt, fountainlike pigtailsandmdash;and a pink, crayonlike tail and spikes, which reveal the depths of her obsession and imagination. At school, Ally discovers that her classmatesandrsquo; interests are just as prominent: a group of andlsquo;princessesandrsquo; (whose yellow gowns and crowns are overlaid atop their school-day outfits) are initially unfriendly, while Ally finds like-minded friends in students who love spaceships, lions, and dragons. The childrenandrsquo;s make-believe accouterments create a fun visual effect, delivering bright pops of color against Torreyandrsquo;s bandw pencil drawings while simultaneously demonstrating the way childrenandrsquo;s passions loom large in their lives.andrdquo; andmdash;Publishers Weekly (STARRED)
andldquo;Ally is an ebullient heroine, and her enthusiasm is infectious. Torreyandrsquo;s true-to-life story is matched by his pencil, watercolor, and digital media that catch all the fun (e.g., crayon marks denote Allyandrsquo;s make-believe dino spikes). The oversize format and right-on message make this a good story hour choice.andrdquo; andmdash;Booklist
Synopsis
Giddyup and gallop right over to read this rootin' tootin' tale of an unlikely cowboy. Avery's at camp, training hard with his horse and his lasso. But he's just not feeling up to the challenge. Then a bully threatens all the campersand#8212;and Avery proves his mettle in his own unique way. Kids will love the story's lively language and wildly playful pictures.
Synopsis
You can call her Ally-SAURUS! When Ally roars off to her first day at school, she hopes sheand#39;ll meet lots of other dinosaur-mad kids in class. Instead, sheand#39;s the only one chomping her food with fierce dino teeth and drawing dinosaurs on her nameplate. Even worse, a group of would-be andquot;princessesandquot; snubs her! Will Ally ever make new friends? With its humorous art, appealing heroine, and surprise ending, this fun picture book celebrates childrenand#39;s boundless imagination.
Synopsis
One day, youand#39;ll be looking out your window when something wonderful comes your wayandhellip; and you will want to keep him. and#160;
When a little boy meets a stranded alien child, the two instantly strike up a fabulous friendship. They go to school, explore the neighborhood, and have lots of fun. But at bedtime, the alien suddenly grows very, very sad. Can the boy figure out what his new buddy needs most of all? This funny, heartwarming story proves that friends and family are the most important things in the universe . . . no matter who or where you are.
Synopsis
Chiliand#39;s good, so is barbecue, but nothingand#39;s finer than FANDANGO STEW! and#160;
No money? No problem! In this sunny, funny western-style take on the famous folktale andldquo;Stone Soup,andrdquo; two penniless but wily vaqueros (cowboys) trick a whole town into cooking a giant pot of stew for everyone to share.
and#160;
David Davisand#39;s deliciously colorful language and Ben Galbraithand#39;s delightful illustrations make this picture book a tasty confection.and#160;
Synopsis
This little Mary has STYLE! In this fun take on Mother Goose, fashion-forward Mary helps some of childhoodand#39;s most beloved characters go glam. From the kid who lives in a shoe (and dons some fab footwear, too) to Jack, who breaks his crown but gets a great new one, Maryand#39;s school friends look fantastic in their finery. But are they now too well dressed for recess? Not to worryandmdash;Mary always shows her flair for what to wear!
About the Author
Tammi Sauer is the author of
Chicken Dance,
Bawk and Roll,
Cowboy Camp, and
Your Alien, which has earned starred reviews from
Publishers Weekly and
Kirkus (all Sterling). She is an active blogger (tammisauer.com) and highly involved in the childrenand#39;s writer community, in addition to being a great promoter of her own books. Tammi has worked as a teacher and library media specialist and now lives in OK with her husband and their two children.
and#160;
Vanessa Brantley-Newtonand#160;is a self-taught illustrator whose passion for childrenandrsquo;s books began when she came across Snowy Dayand#160;by Ezra Jack Keats as a child in the 1960s.and#160;Snowy Dayand#160;marked one of the first representations of black children in picture books, and seeing a character that looked like her and lived in a neighborhood like her own was a turning point in Vanessaandrsquo;s life. Vanessa hopes to inspire young readers as Keats did for her and a generation of children. She is the author and illustrator ofand#160;Let Freedom Singand#160;andand#160;Donandrsquo;t Let Auntie Mabel Bless the Table (both Blue Apple Books),and#160;and has illustrated numerous childrenandrsquo;s books includingand#160;One Love andand#160;Every Little Thing (both Chronicle), words by Bob and Cedella Marley, andand#160;Presenting Tallulah (Aladdin), written by Tori Spelling. Vanessa lives in Charlotte, NC, with her husband of 20 years, their daughter, and a very rambunctious cat named Stripes.