The Little Butterfly That Could by Ross Burach

From Goodreads, 

"WHAT IF I CAN'T?

“Will elicit plenty of giggles." -- Kirkus Reviews

Which way to the flowers?

That way. 200 miles.

How am I supposed to travel that far?!

You fly.

Can I take a plane?

No.

Then I'll never make it!

This comical companion to Ross Burach's The Very Impatient Caterpillar pays loving homage to every child's struggle to persist through challenges while also delivering a lighthearted lesson on butterfly migration. Remember, if at first you don't succeed, fly, fly again!"

Goodreads - The Little Butterfly That Could

This is the final picture book that I received from Scholastic.  I have mixed emotions being done with the picture books.  I love picture books because they are simple and usually pack an important message in the few pages they have.  They also have beautiful illustrations that complement and strengthen the story.  But I am also really excited to jump back into chapter books.  They usually have a deeper message and more connectable characters than picture books.  Plus they take a little more time to devour and are books that I can put in my classroom library. 

The Little Butterfly That Could is the story of a butterfly that gets lost.  He is trying to fly to find the flowers with a group of migrating butterflies when he gets lost in the clouds.  He asks a whale for help, but the butterfly keeps saying that he will never make it.  But the whale keeps encouraging him until the butterfly works up the courage to make the 200-mile trek to find the other butterflies. 

This book resembles the story of the little engine that could.  But this is the story of the butterfly that could.  This is apparently a follow-up book to the book The Very Impatient Caterpillar.  I thought the butterfly in this book was extremely annoying.  He was whiny and exhibited a little bit of anxiety.  The butterfly had a constant fear of making the trek because he didn't think he could do it.  But the whale was overly encouraging and was able to convince the butterfly that he could do it.  The whale was by far my favorite just because he was so positive and honest.  This book was left open so that there could be another book following, but honestly, I don't think another needs to follow.  The book has fitting illustrations.  The whale seems calm, cool, and collected, but the butterfly is a hodgepodge of colors and seems chaotic just like the butterfly actually is.  I think this book could definitely be used in a classroom to talk about having grit and perseverance.  I think kids would also enjoy it if the book was read so each of the characters has a different voice.  

I don't think this is a book I can use in my classroom.  It would really fit best in an elementary classroom.  It has an important message about continuing on even when things get tough.  I give this 3 stars.  It wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible. 

My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World by Malcolm Mitchell

From Goodreads, 

"From Super Bowl champion and literacy crusader Malcolm Mitchell comes an exciting new story that shows even reluctant readers that there is a book out there for everyone!

Meet Henley, an all-around good kid, who hates to read. When he's supposed to be reading, he would rather do anything else. But one day, he gets the scariest homework assignment in the world: find your favorite book to share with the class tomorrow.

What's a kid to do? How can Henley find a story that speaks to everything inside of him?

Malcolm Mitchell, bestselling author of The Magician's Hat, pulls from his own literary triumph to deliver another hilarious and empowering picture book for readers of all abilities. Through his advocacy and his books, Malcolm imparts the important message that every story has the potential to become a favorite."

Goodreads - My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World

Just one more book until I've finished the picture books in the Scholastic book box.  I've enjoyed being an insider even if I did receive some books that I won't use in my classroom.  This one is definitely one of my favorites that I was lucky enough to receive. 

My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World is the story of a boy named Henley who struggles to read.  He gets nervous when it's his turn to read, but he does like to read and look at the pictures.  One day his teacher gives him a homework assignment to bring his favorite book to school the next day to share with the class.  The only problem is that Henley doesn't know what his favorite book is.  Henley sets out on a quest to find his favorite book in the whole wide world. 

I love that this book is written by a sports star and that Mitchell struggled with reading.  The beginning gives a brief background of Malcolm's life.  It never says that he has dyslexia, but it is definitely implied that he has dyslexia which impacted his reading.  I would honestly love for there to be a book of him or even Henley talking about how he struggled with reading, found out he had dyslexia, and the process of learning to read with this.  But this book puts it out there that if you can't find your path or favorite of something, you can just make your own.  I also love that this is a book within a book.  The book that Henley talks about in the book is the book that we are all reading.  It's just a fun little tidbit that doesn't make us wonder what his favorite book was about because we are reading it!  The illustrations in this book were super simple but super adorable.  I loved that the colors were bright and vivid and that the pages were glossy paper.  

This book is really cute.  I think that kids might connect with this book because they too struggle with reading.  But some may also read this book because it is written by a famous football player.  I give this book 5 stars!

Ravi's Roar by Tom Percival

From Goodreads, 

"This engaging book in the Big Bright Feelings series is a clever take on temper tantrums.

Ravi never minded being the smallest in his family. Until one day, his short arms can't reach the monkey bars, he can't find anyone during hide-and-seek, AND he's too little to ride the big slide. Ravi is so mad--so furious--that he can't control his temper anymore . . .

. . . and he becomes a ferocious, roaring TIGER!

Being a tiger is great. Tigers can do anything they want! But who wants to play with a growling, wild tiger who won't share or behave? Ravi is about to discover something very important about voicing his feelings.

The Big Bright Feelings picture books provide kid-friendly entry points into emotional intelligence topics--from being true to yourself, to worrying, to anger management, to making friends. These topics can be difficult to talk about. But these books act as sensitive and reassuring springboards for conversations about mental and emotional health, positive self-image, building self-confidence, and managing feelings."

Goodreads - Ravi's Roar

We are nearing the end of the picture books that came in my Scholastic book box.  There are only 2 more after this one.  That being said, this book focuses on anger and how a kid can deal with it. 

Ravi's Roar is the story of a boy named Ravi.  Ravi is too small and always misses out on things because he is so small.  Page by page he gets angrier and angrier until he turns into a tiger.  Once Ravi is a tiger everyone gives him what he wants and he gets to do all things he couldn't when he was just a boy.  Will Ravi learn his lesson and learn to control his anger? 

This book really sent some mixed messages.  The book is about a boy who gets angry and he turns into a tiger.  At this point, there were two messages I got and they were very mixed.  One was that as a kid if you throw a fit you will get what you want.  Ravi gets angry, turns into the tiger, and gets what he wants because everyone is scared of him.  The other message was that as a kid you need to learn how to control your anger or else no one will want to play with you.  These messages are very contradicting of each other.  This book implies that you can manipulate people to get what you want if you just get angry.  I don't know how kids would take this book and the message in this.  Maybe as an adult, I'm reading too far into the message of this book. 

I did not like this book.  I didn't like the message in this book as it had mixed messages.  I give this 1 star.  It would fit best in an elementary classroom, but I think an adult should definitely talk to the students about anger and managing it. 

The Couch Potato by Jory John

From Goodreads, 

"The Couch Potato has everything he needs within reach of his sunken couch cushion. But when the electricity goes out, Couch Potato is forced to peel himself away from the comforts of his living room and venture outside. And when he does, he realizes fresh air and sunshine could be just the things he needs..."

Goodreads - The Couch Potato

I'm still reading and reviewing the books that Scholastic sent me.  I actually read this book to a class of 6th graders when I received my book box.  I laughed my entire way through the book and kept making mental notes of all the amazing ways I could use this in my classroom. 

The Couch Potato is the story of a couch potato who doesn't want to ever leave his couch.  He has all the coolest gadgets to ensure he doesn't have to get up to get anything or do anything.  But one day the electricity goes out and the couch potato must get up and DO something.  Will he be a couch potato forever? 

The figurative language in this book is insane.  While I was reading it aloud I was cracking up with all the puns that were in the story and even in the illustrations.  This book is packed with puns, alliteration, and personification.  The puns were all potato-related and every single one was absolutely hilarious.  This would be a fun book to kick off a figurative language unit or to use to teach puns in particular.  This book also packs a pretty positive message for kids today.  We all need to get away from electronics and get outside.  Kids are so glued to their phones or computers or the television that they don't know how to play outside and have fun like a normal kid.  Being a "couch potato" can have a negative impact on relationships with others, our health, and our mental state.  At the end of the book, it even comments that it's okay to be a couch potato but to not do it every day.  

The only negative thing I have to say about this book is that there are pages and illustrations that you need to see to really understand the joke or that it is talking about different items.  On one page the couch potato is referencing the different electronic devices that he has, but he never says the name.  He says things like, "See? I have this. And this. And this. And one of those...." This continues as there are pictures on the page that go along with the story.  It's just one of those things that you need to see so it makes sense as it is being read.  

I really enjoyed this book and plan to use it next year during my figurative language unit.  I hope my students enjoy the puns as much as I did!  I give this 5 stars.