Ecklund-Johnson, Jennifer and Violet

Review: Wolf Song (Christmas 2007)

Wolf Song tells the story of a young girl, Nell, and her Uncle Walter embarking on a north woods adventure to howl with the wolves. The story is a refreshing change from the “big bad wolf” character typically depicted in children’s literature.

Mama’s Milk by Michael Elsohn Ross and illustrated by Ashley Wolff (Spring 2008)

Mama’s Milk is a wonderfully illustrated book about how human and animal mothers feed their young. The rhyming text reads like a sweet lullaby and tells how a variety of animal babies nurse and bond with their mothers. The colorful pictures demonstrate mothers providing nourishment and comforting their young in their natural habitats. Both wild and domestic animals are included in the book.

Children’s Book Review: Odd Velvet (Christmas 2008)

Odd Velvet is the story of a young girl named Velvet, who is a true individual. Velvet’s classmates think she is odd. Velvet brings in a milkweed pod for show and tell instead of a doll, like the other girls. She eats things like carrots and butter sandwiches for lunch. She wears hand-me-down clothes. The other children are polite to her, but they keep their distance until they begin to understand her. The more time they spend as classmates, the more the other kids realize that Velvet is interesting and fun to be around.

Review of Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners by Laurie Keller (Summer 2009)

Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners is an entertaining book about the importance of the Golden Rule. In the story, Mr. Rabbit gets worried when his new neighbors move in. He thinks he will not be able to get along with them because they are otters and he doesn’t know anything about otters.