Books for Young Readers: Tip and Tucker-Paw Painters, Lulu & Rocky in Indianapolis and a Giveaway

 Congratulations to Jana Leah who won the ARC of Just Between Sam and Me from last week's blog.

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Tip and Tucker--Paw Painters

Tip and Tucker first appeared on my blog last year when they were on a Road Trip. Written by Ann Ingalls and Sue Lowell Gallion and illustrated by Andre Ceolin, this series for readers in K-1 features the adventures of two classroom hamsters, Tip and Tucker. 

Tucker is adventuresome, Tip is a bit shy--but put the two of them together and they are fast friends! 

When Mr. Lopez announces that it is Art Week, his students and hamsters are interested. What will they create with marbles and boxes?

Tip and Tucker soon find out that marbles can create paintings and boxes can become a rocket.  When the students leave for recess, hamster exploration begins!

Pretty soon Tip and Tucker's rocket tips over and the hamsters escape. They discover the paint and mayhem ensues.

The students come back to find interesting artwork all over their classroom. Tip and Tucker are cleaned up and put back into their cage for a nap. When they wake up, they discover that they are artists too!

LULU & ROCKY IN INDIANAPOLIS

Lulu & Rocky in Indianapolis is the second book in this series I have reviewed. Here's the first one: Lulu & Rocky in Milwaukee. The series is written by Barbara Joosse and illustrated by Renee Graef. 

Lulu and Rocky greet one another, jump into a hot rod car, and then drive by a museum with a dinosaur crashing through the walls!

They explore the Children's Museum of Indianapolis and then go to Sports Legends.

The pair tour the Eiteljorg Museum and ride a clip-clop stagecoach.

Lulu and Rocky eat cookies that look just like them at the Illinois Street Food Emporium, read books at Kids Ink, and finally get to the "brickyard"--the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where Lulu catches racecar fever!

Their last stop is Monument Circle where "Miss Victory" holds a golden light to welcome everyone. 

The pair "wave goodbye to Indianapolis, and Indianapolis waves back."

This book is complete with a traveler's guide to the highlights of the city. This is the third book in the series and next up is Lulu & Rocky in Rocky Mountain National Park.

GIVEAWAY

Since one of my granddaughters is just learning to read, Tip and Tucker landed on her bookshelf. I am giving away Lulu and Rocky. To enter, please leave a comment by October 23 (with your email address if you are new to my blog). 

Lulu & Rocky in MILWAUKEE: A Grandmother/Grandson Review and Giveaway

Congratulations to Jo Lynn Worden who won Robert Bateman: The Boy Who Painted Nature and to Linda Phillips who won The Elephant Whisperer. Both grandmothers plan to share these books with their grandchildren. I love it!

With the publication of Lulu and Rocky in MILWAUKEE, Sleeping Bear Press introduces a new series of books, Our City Adventures. (Click here for Sleeping Bear Press comprehensive catalog). Author Barbara Joosse and illustrator Renee Graef will be featuring Detroit in their next book in the series. 

REVIEW

In this entertaining travel guide for kids, Lulu and her cousin Rocky explore the city of Milwaukee. 

Their adventure begins with a ferry trip across Lake Michigan and then settling into the historic Pfister Hotel. 

After working up an appetite, they eat fried cheese curds in the Historic Third Ward. They take selfies at the Bronze Fonz, visit the North Point Lighthouse and Discovery World, and for dinner they visit the Lakefront Brewery. Although they're not shown drinking in the illustration, this might be a questionable location to include in a picture book for young children. Along those lines, Pufferson, Lulu's penguin companion, is pictured drinking beer at lunch. 

The next day they're busy exploring the lakefront.

The pair are inspired at the Milwaukee Art Museum and see a brise soleil on the roof that inspires Lulu's painting of herself riding in the clouds. 

At the end of their trip they wave to Milwaukee. 

The book concludes with a list of places that were included in the book and other places to visit. The series sounds like they'll be great books to use as a K-2nd grade resource.

I read this book with my 8-year-old grandson, Mason. Here are his thoughts:

GIVEAWAY

Leave me a comment by December 17 if you would like to be entered in this giveaway. This would make a nice present for the midwesterner in your life! As usual, please leave your email address if you are new to my blog and US addresses only.