ALA Children's Book Recordings

Henkes, Kevin (1996).  Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse.  New York, New York:  Greenwillow

            Books.  Performed by Laura Hamilton. 16:22 mins.  Live Oak Media.  2001.

Lilly absolutely loves school.  She loves everything about it especially her teacher, Mr. Springer. One day, Lilly brings her new purple plastic purse to school to show everyone.  Inside she also has shiny quarters and amazing movie star sunglasses.  She cannot wait to show everyone.  In fact, she continues to disrupt the class until Mr. Springer says he will keep the purse in his desk until the end of the day.  Lilly is crushed and makes a mean picture about him and puts it in his school bag.  Mr. Springer gives her back the purse at the end of the day with a kind note.  Lilly is horrified!  She feels so bad and tells her family.  Together, they devise a good apology plan.  The next day, Mr. Springer forgives Lilly readily and life is good again. The endearing, detailed pictures will draw the reader in as they delight to Lilly’s antics at school and home.  This recording of Kevin Henkes’ much-loved book is an engaging rendition.  Laura Hamilton does a nice job of becoming Lilly for us as well as Mr. Springer and other minor characters.  The sound effects and short music segments complements the story perfectly and does not overwhelm it.  Children will enjoy this reading as a bedtime story or in the car.  It would also be enjoyed as a listening center in a classroom.  The message of this book is a great one.  You can make a big mistake but tomorrow is another day and you can make it right.  This is a good message for all of us!

ALA Notable Children’s Book


Booklist Editors’ Choice


Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon


Horn Book Fanfare


Publishers Weekly Best Book


School Library Journal Best Book


New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing


IRA Children’s Choice


American Booksellers Book of the Year Award


American Booksellers Association “Pick of the Lists”


Children’s Literature Choice List


California Great Reads Award


Zena Sutherland Award (Chicago, IL)

Willems, Mo (2004).  Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!  New York, New York:  Hyperion

            Books for Children.   Narrated by Mo Willems and Jon Scieszka.  Weston Woods Studios,

            Inc., 2009.

The bus driver needs to leave for a little bit and asks the reader to be sure that the pigeon does not drive the bus.  Of course, the pigeon tries everything possible to get the reader to say yes.  However, we as the readers, stand firm.  The bus driver congratulates us at the end and the pigeon now has his eye on a fire truck.  This simply drawn book pulls the reader in through both the illustration and the text.  In this recording, the book is playfully narrated by the author; with help from Jon Scieszka.  The fun instrumental parts invites the audience response and children certainly will!  The third track is Mo Willems talking about how he came up with this idea and how he approaches writing.  He said that he draws simply like a 5 year old in hopes that a child will copy him and then branch off with their work.  Both the read aloud and the interview are highly engaging and both children and adults will enjoy them very much.

This book has won:

2004 Caldecott Honor Book

New York Times Bestseller

2004 ALA Notable Book

School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

Booklist Best Book of the Year

Child Magazine Best Book of the Year

The recording has also won:

AudioFile Earphones Award

Agra Deedy, Carmen (1994).  The Library Dragon.  Atlanta, Georgia:  Peachtree Publishers.

            Narrated by the author.  Peachtree Compact Disc Audio.  2012.

Sunrise Elementary is in desperate need of a librarian.  Miss Lotta Scales is hired to guard the library.  She takes her job very seriously.  No one is allowed to touch the new books she has bought for the library.  The library becomes a place to be dreaded.  No one knows what to do!  One day, Molly Brickmeyer accidentally enters the library.  She was looking for her glasses and could not see much without them.  A book drops into her lap and she begins to read aloud.  Children hear this and gather around.  Even Miss Scales cannot help but listen.  She is shocked to see children so comfortable here in the library.  Miss Scales takes the book and begins to read aloud herself.  As she reads, her scales begin to fall off and Molly climbs into her lap.  The transformation is almost complete.  Children begin to love the library.  But, a little bit of a dragon remains to “guard the books!”   The book’s illustrations by Michael White will hold the readers’ interest.  They are large and flowing and capture the mood on each page.  Miss Lotta Scales, being a dragon, dominates the illustrations but you can also sense the other character’s emotions in their faces. In addition, there are many small details to be enjoyed on each page such as little signs on her desk or on the walls.  Children will enjoy discovering them. While it would be a great read aloud to a class, I can see an individual child or a pair really enjoying the chance to study the small details in each picture.  The author narrates the recording of this book.  There is no music or sound effects.  It is very simply done but effective.

This book has won:

Numerous state awards