Scalpels, Stitches + Scars: A History of Surgery by John Townsend

This kid's book is filled with awesome, gruesome pictures!  There's a ton of fascinating information too.  Did you know that barbers used to perform minor surgeries?  They'd have bloody bandages that they'd hang outside to dry and the wind would twirl them around.  That's why the symbol for barbershop is that red and white post.  South American Indians would use ant jaws as stitches!  They'd then pinch the ants' bodies off.  And did you know that in the Middle Ages knights would be in the saddle for too long and an abscess would grow on their rectums?  Crazy stuff . . .

 

Bats at the Beach by by Brian Lies

I liked Bats at the Library more, but I'm biased :o)  This is another of Lies's rhyming picture books.  My favorite picture is of the marshmallows the bats are roasting--they come with cricket legs sticking out. 

 

Mr. Gumpy's Motor Car by John Burningham

Mr. Gumpy piles loads of animals and 2 kids in his old school convertible for a car ride.  They all get stuck in the mud but no one wants to get out and push.  Finally they all help push the car out of the mudhole and go home.  My favorite picture is of the author on the back flap of the book.  He seems be calmly saying, "You better like my book, or I'll kill you." 

 

Rolie Polie Olie by William Joyce

The illustrations in this book look computer generated.  This book is about a robot family and how they spend their day.  My favorite picture is of a young robot brushing his teeth and recharging his head :o)  The simple story is very imaginative and lots of fun.

 

Anne Was Warned by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

This book reminded me of Wolf's Coming by Joe Kulka.  Anne was born on Halloween and she is dared by her brother to visit a haunted house.  All these spooky things happen to her along the way but none of them scare her.  When she gets to the house, there's a great big surprise waiting for her.

 

Rolling Along with Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Cindy Meyers

This is just like the regular story, except the baby bear is in a wheel chair.  The three bears take the baby to physical therapy and that's when Goldilocks breaks in.  At the end of the book, Goldilocks and the Baby Bear are great friends.