Baghead
Jarrett Krosoczka
Dragonfly Books
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child friendly read ... recommended ... 4 stars

"On Wednesday morning, Josh had a notion. Josh having an idea is not anything new. But this time,it is a notion not like any he has had before. It is a very BIG notion. A very BROWN notion. A very BIG, BROWN, BAG notion..."

While in his bedroom Josh cut holes in a big paper bag. The holes are for his eyes and mouth, he puts the bag over his head and sets out down the stairs for breakfast. His family was a tad surprised.

After breakfast and still wearing his paper bag, Josh leaves for a busy day working at school and taking part in his soccer practice. The adults in his life, parents, teacher, the bus driver, and especially his soccer coach are less than satisfied when they see Josh and bag covered head.

All day he hears, 'You can't eat breakfast with a paper bag on your head!' 'You crazy kid! You can't go to school like that!' 'How do you plan to play like that?' and so it goes.

On the other hand, and to the astonishment of the adults, Josh has a pretty successful day. He eats breakfast with little difficulty, gives his book report, in fact he even scores three goals during his soccer game.

At last during dinner, his little sister asks the question all have been wondering: 'Why are you wearing a bag, Josh?'

My resident critics eyed the cover of "Baghead" with interest. As a teacher of many years' experience; one look at the cover and I was certain what we were going to learn about the boy in the bag.

Jarrett Krosoczka's uncomplicated, amiably entertaining account connects with children from the outset. I like the vivid, expressive illustrations. Individual sketches delivered in broad, layered brush strokes accompany short sentences presented in a childlike script.

Using various colors and font styles set to accompany the current page intrigues children as they follow the narrative. Curiosity piqued by the cover, carries into the reading.

We have now read the tale several times, and it is chosen by little people for free time reading or for taking into a DEAR office for reading during our Drop Everything and Read time.

Fifteen first graders exclaimed in one voice, 'I knew it,' when Josh answered his sister's question. Because I tried to cut my own hair. Next morning his sister comes up with a very COOL idea per my resident critics. She has a mega hold gel plan and it works just fine. Josh looks pretty cool and happy too with his spiky hair standing up.

I knew we needed this book for our classroom library the moment I saw the cover, so far this year two of our students have come to school with new hair cuts, not of their own making, but worrisome to them none the less as they contemplated life with the new 'do.

One boy didn't want to go against our school no hat rule, on the other hand, his buzz had him very upset. The little girl in the pretty new blunt cut felt shy to remove her 'hoodie'.

We are learning empathy in our first grade. It didn't take long as fourteen classmates praised and exclaimed over how nice the new do looks before the hoodie or the hat disappeared into a back pack.

Writer Krosoczka has provided an excellent tool for classroom use. Every teacher I know or have ever known has had students come to school wanting to disappear into the cupboard, or wishing they had a paper bag in which to hide. "Baghead" is going to be one of the books I read on the first day of school from now until I no longer am teaching. It will be joining, Stand Back Said The Elephant, I'm Going to Sneeze , which I have used for years to prepare children for the inevitable sneeze, which rattles the windows, and is part and parcel of Mrs. M.

"Baghead" received 30 thumbs up from Osage County first grade, Mrs. Martin's class. The book is a good choice for the home, classroom, school and public library list. It is a nice addition to children's pleasure reading collection. Happy to recommend.

Giddy Up Cowgirl
Jarrett Krosoczka
Viking Juvenile

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Child HAPPY READ ... recommended ... 4 stars

Mama tells her daughter to Giddy Up. With so much to do it is going to be a busy day. Mama's little gap toothed Cowgirl is single-minded in her efforts to be helpful. A high-spirited little girl who makes up with a super big imagination what she lacks in prowess; Cowgirl tends to have problems now and then. With her 10-pint hat set firmly in place, and filled with enthusiasm she and her plush armadillo are always ready to help.

So, she sings to make up for the broken car radio, locates Mama's missing wallet, she is entrusted with the grocery list at the store, and wants to help by mailing mom's letters. When she needs help she asks a biker dude for aid, she joins in filling the shopping basket and offers to help carry the bags of groceries, she helps take dirty clothes into the cleaner's for Mama and she hurries to open the car door for Mama.

A down cast little Cowgirl is deflated when she drops the clothes needing cleaning, realizes she forgot she must never speak to strangers, loses the list to a gust of wind and then puts all the wrong stuff in the basket, and drops the envelopes all over the sidewalk.

Mama restores confidence in her dejected assistant: Your momma loves you because you always try.

Cowgirl talks the talk with lots of lingo such as Saddle up, Ol' Jim and Yippeee Yi Yeeee. Yippee Yi Yo She is truly a cowgirl.

My resident critics settled in for reading on the rug with expectant expressions brightening their faces. The cover of "Giddy Up Cowgirl" caught the attention of fourteen little people immediately

Declarations of Yee Haw and Tarnation soon had the kids giggling with delight as I read.

Mercer Mayer's Little Critter and his exuberant trying to help Mama came to mind immediately while reading "Giddy Up Cowgirl". The kids agree both Little Critter and Cowgirl are a whole lot like me, sometimes I drop things too.

I liked the opportunity for discussion offered as I closed the book at the end of the reading; the kids talked about some of their own mishaps, and we talked about why little people might have problems now and then and that Mamas do continue to love them in spite of it all.

The kids agree; it is good to keep trying and not give up. Because we get better at doing stuff, if we keep trying.

"Giddy Up Cowgirl" is quickly becoming a class favorite in Mrs. M's room, Osage County, Oklahoma. The book is chosen for free time reading and for taking to read during DEAR time as we Drop Everything And Read.

Author/Illustrator Krosoczka's images used to exemplify what was taking place in the narrative receive twenty eight thumbs up. The kids expressed interest in how he had created his illustrations. They like the textured appearance using dark and light colors.

I do tend to like more low key illustrations, however I too like the images used by Author/Illustrator Krosoczk; while they are full of color and activity and fun, they do not overwhelm the narrative or the children as they follow the tale being read.

Writer Krosoczka has done a first-rate job in portraying situations that both children and adults will understand, relate to and find amusing. The bubbly heroine with her colorful lingo, enthusiasm and predictable childhood upsets is a treat.

Child pleasing vocabulary, a narrative peppered with cowgirl drawl and illustrations that add humor and tenderness to the tale have been used to create a nice addition to the classroom library. "Giddy Up Cowgirl" is a good choice for the personal reading shelf of little people, as well as the classroom, school and public library catalog. Happy to recommend.

Annie Was Warned
Jarrett Krosoczka
Knopf Books for Young Readers
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Child centered read ... recommended ... 4 stars

Annie was told not to go out to the creepy old Montgomery mansion. EVERYONE knows there is something about that old house. But, c'mon now, she WAS born on Halloween, wasn't she. Annie is not afraid of creepy old places, and she isn't scared of haunted places. Or creepy old houses full of bats and spiders. BESIDES ALL THAT, her friend did dare her to go.

So, on Halloween night, of course, Annie sneaks out and heads for the dark and foreboding manse. Ooops, what was that at the back of her neck? And, was that a bat flying by? Empty, dark streets and howling wind can cause even the bravest girl to have a little feeling of the jitters, even if she was born on Halloween.Oh no, she hears whispers as she climbs the stairs leading to the front door. Trembling a little she stops for a minute, and then she opens the door.

My resident critics, fifteen first graders, hurried to the rug for reading time. Thirty bright eyes found the cover of "Annie Was Warned" compelling. Six year olds tend to enjoy spooky and icky, creepy and scary.

Writer Krosoczka offers a good straight on narrative just right for reading aloud. Vocabulary is just spooky enough to appeal to my resident critics. Short and snappy text is suitably spine-chilling. With each turn of the page a new, thrilling moment is encountered.

Spooky illustrations set against a black background, portray this spirited little girl's daunting expedition along the dark, empty street in the howling wind. The full double-page paintings are shown using multi-directional strokes, are accomplished with murky shades forming great spooky shadows; together they produce a ghostly Halloween night atmosphere. They gave us something to talk about for consideration when we do our art work.

Writer/Illustrator Krosoczka uses his talent to create slighting intimidating houses and glaring street lights which seem to almost engulf the trepidatious Annie. From the monstrous, creepy manse with its entry stairway appearing to ascend forever upward to the cobwebby, negative print hand-lettering set on dark ground which grows larger whenever frightening questions are asked, Krosoczka builds the suspense.

The last page folds out, offering an unsuspected surprise. Writer Krosczka's "Annie Was Warned" is a suitably scary tale meant to be enjoyed any time and especially at Halloween.

My resident critics and I enjoyed the reading. "Annie Was Warned" gave us discussion starters about listening to rumors, and 'everybody knows' type statements. It gave us the chance to talk about seeking answers and trying to find out what is really happening, perhaps there is a friend just beyond the moment we are in who is just waiting for us. We talked about why Annie felt so afraid, the children were able to verbalize that her fears had as much to do with her own preconceptions as with either the hour or the 'forbidding' night. We discussed how letting others do our thinking may prevent us making our own good choices, may cause us to think in error, and may cause us to miss the chance for meeting a new friend. We discussed how gossip and rumor may hurt, be in error and is just plain not the best as opposed to perhaps seeking answers, letting our own choices guide us and doing thinking for ourselves.

"Annie Was Warned" is a book we continue to enjoy despite Halloween been long behind us this school year. Happy to recommend. "Annie Was Warned" is a read to for the 4 – 8 set, for the older readers in part because the first reading may be frightening, it is a read with help for the 7-8s and a read alone for the 9-10s. The book is a good choice for the personal reading shelf of children and for the home, school, classroom and public library list.