In an effort to help the Kid Lit Blog hop reach 100 links, I'm throwing in a second book this go around.
Officer Buckle and Gloria is one of my personal favorite picture books and I happen to know that Stanley enjoys this book as well.
It is easy to see why this book won the Caldecott Medal in 1996. Peggy Rathmann's illustrations bring the story to life in an entertaining way. The details of the letters sent to Officer Buckle from the children of Napville elementary school are perfectly precious.
Officer Buckle is a kind police officer who takes his job of delivering the safety speech at the local elementary school extremely seriously. However, it isn't until he gains a precocious canine partner, Gloria, that he begins to truly entertain his audience. While we, as the reader, are in on the secret to his success, he does not have the slightest clue. Eventually, he discovers that Gloria has been stealing the show (what an illustration that is). It is then that he is faced with learning his most valuable lesson of all.
While Scholastic gives this fun book an interest level of grades K-2, I believe readers of all ages will enjoy this book. Even after reading it countless times, I still enjoy Officer Buckle and Gloria immensely.
With no detail ignored, Rathmann included extra safety lessons for the reader on the inside cover pages. My favorite is "Never eat mayonnaise that has been sitting in the sun."
Here are a couple of online resources with supporting activities/books to go along with Officer Buckle and Gloria.
Officer Buckle and Gloria easily get 5 out of 5 stars from me. Our family also enjoys 10 Minutes Till Bedtime and Goodnight Gorilla (also by Rathmann) for wonderful bedtime books.
Connect with the Author Online:
The Reviewer: Hi! I am a homeschooling mother to one precocious tween daughter. Most of my reading consists of preparatory reading for upcoming history, math, science, geography, literature, (you get the idea) lessons. However, sometimes I am lucky enough to fit in a book just for fun and will review these "fun" books for my dear friends, Stanley and Katrina von Cat the Master of Wisdom and Knowledge. You may call me Neighbor Girl's Mom or Cool Mom.
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