28. Barnacle is Bored

Barnacle is Bored. Jonathan Fenske. 2016. Scholastic. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: I am bored. Bored. Bored. BORED. Every day is the same. The tide comes IN. I am wet and cold. The tide goes OUT. I am dry and hot. 

Premise/plot: Barnacle is BORED. Barnacle is full of complaints. Nothing suits. Until...Barnacle realizes something important about life...

My thoughts: I liked this one. I did. I may not have loved, loved, loved it. But I solidly liked it. It is an ocean-themed book about attitude and perspective, about gratitude. Barnacle is not grateful...at all. But by the end of the story, something has changed...for the better.

The first time I read this one, I wasn't overly impressed with the illustrations. They didn't do much for me. Dare I say they bored me?! But after the second or third time around I had come to appreciate them. I found the illustrations could be quite expressive. I love the grinning look of relief on Barnacle when he's NOT eaten.

I appreciate the fact that this is a book that allows for a lot of expression in the reading. I think it's a great choice to share with little ones. They may just ask for it again and again and again and again.

ETA: Barnacle is Bored is one of my FAVORITE books to read aloud. I think it allows for great expression. I adore this one. 

© 2024 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Let's Play, Crabby!

Let's Play, Crabby! (Crabby #2) Jonathan Fenske. 2019. Scholastic. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Today is just another day at the beach.

Premise/plot: Jonathan Fenske has a new early reader series starring Crabby and his friends. The first book in the series was Hello, Crabby! The second book is Let's Play, Crabby! In this one, Plankton persists in wanting to play with Crabby. As persistent as Plankton is in their friendship, Crabby is resistant. The first chapter, "The Guess," has them playing GUESS WHO. The second, "The Game" has them playing Simon Says--I mean Crabby Says. The third, "The Other Game" has them playing Hide and Seek. The fourth, "The Other Other Game" has them playing TAG.

My thoughts: BARNACLE IS BORED is one of my favorite, favorite, favorite stories to read aloud. I just love it. I enjoyed Plankton is Pushy. I would definitely recommend this series of books. I liked both Hello, Crabby! and Let's Play, Crabby! I believe other books are soon to be published in this series. Of course, I will read them all. I would love to see Barnacle make a special appearance in the next book. He was sadly missing from Let's Play, Crabby.

© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Hello, Crabby!

Hello, Crabby! (Book #1) Jonathan Fenske. 2019. Scholastic. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: Today is just another day at the beach.

Premise/plot: Hello, Crabby! is a new early reader series by Jonathan Fenske. There are several stories in this one: "The Beach" (which guest stars BARNACLE from Barnacle is Bored), "The Crabby Crab," "The Joke," and "The Cake." (The last three guest star PLANKTON from Plankton is Pushy.) The stories are delightfully silly. For example, in "The Beach," Barnacle is trying to warn his friend that a WAVE is coming. Crabby thinks that Barnacle is wanting him to wave at him. Needless to say CRABBY gets hit by the wave. It shouldn't come as a surprise that Plankton pushes his way into THREE stories while poor Barnacle is only in one.

My thoughts: BARNACLE IS BORED is one of my favorite, favorite, favorite stories to read aloud. I just love it. I enjoyed Plankton is Pushy. So I was THRILLED when I realized that Hello, Crabby! is by Jonathan Fenske. I would definitely recommend this early reader.



© 2019 Becky Laney of Young Readers

Nonfiction Monday: Down, Down, Down

Down, Down, Down: A Journey To The Bottom of the Sea. By Steve Jenkins. 2009. [May 2009]. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 40 pages.

Can a book take you on a journey? This one can. (If you let it that is.) It will take you places where very few have gone. Jenkins takes readers on a journey into the depths--the dark depths--of the ocean.

Each spread offers readers information in an appealing and easily accessible way.

Glowing in the Dark

Nine of every ten animals live beneath the sunlit layer of the ocean are bioluminescent (by-oh-loo-muh-nes-uhnt) - they can produce their own light. Animals use bioluminescence to lure prey, confuse or startle attackers, or make themselves difficult to see. Animals also use light to attract a mate or send messages to one another. Because the ocean is so large and so many animals live here, bioluminescence is the most common form of animal communication on earth. Only the slightest glimmer of sunlight reaches this depth, and only animals with extraordinary sensitive eyes can detect it.

What an amazing book this is. The thing is if you'd asked me before I started it how interested I was in the ocean, in finding out more about ocean life, I would say not all that much. But reading this one, well, it made me interested, it made me curious. I'm so glad I read this one!

© Becky Laney of Young Readers