The Very Little Princess: Rose’s Story
by Marion Dane Bauer

Publisher’s Note: In a classic storyteller's voice, Newbery Honor recipient Marion Dane Bauer tells a tale of friendship, family, and fitting in that recalls The Doll People, Rumer Godden, and Hitty, Her First Hundred Years.

Rose is a wild child. She doesn't care what her mother or teacher or schoolmates say—she does what she wants. When she finds a delicate china doll in the attic, she takes it. Then the doll comes to life in her hand. She's loud, obnoxious, selfishly bossy, and claims that she's a princess and Rose is her servant. But she's also tiny and fragile. She needs Rose to keep her safe. And maybe Rose needs Princess Regina, too.

Overall Review:  The Very Little Princess: Rose’s Story is the sweetest little princess story!  What little girl doesn’t secretly wish she is a princess…or wish that her dolls are real and can talk to her!  Of course, Rose doesn’t actually wish that—this little princess isn’t a sweet and loving doll come to life to help Rose!  Instead, ‘Princess Regina’ is all thorns and prickles, but Rose loves her!  They have all sorts of sweet adventures together such as dancing in the moonlight, exploring the woods, and even window shopping!  There are times when Rose and the princess don’t see eye to eye (well, often, actually) and there are times when Rose becomes forgetful and leaves the princess lying in different places all alone, but they are always reunited.  Rose learns some wonderful lessons along the way, and even at the end of this story, we know it’s not really The End!  This story is sweet and the pictures are lovely.  It’s perfect for any little girl who loves stories about talking dolls and princesses.  Overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars!

Content Review:

PROFANITY: A few very mild instances

VIOLENCE: None

SEXUAL CONTENT: None

MATURE THEMES: None

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 9+

There is some slightly crude language: a character talks about her behind being sore after a long car ride (and is ashamed after she says the word), and a character says she has a ‘dog turd’ in her pocket.  There is also some name calling—a character is upset at two others who are mean to her, so she calls them ‘Dumb’ and ‘Meanie’.  Also, a character is woken up and it says there followed ‘a string of what were obviously meant to be swear words’ (even though no actual words were mentioned).  One character is grumpy and bossy much of the time.

There is no violence, no sexual content, and no mature themes.  This is a lovely story to read aloud with your ‘princess’ or to hand to a young reader.

The Very Little Princess: Rose’s Story is recommended as a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 9+!

Step Into Reading
Reading On Your Own:  Step 3


Publisher's Note:  Step 3 (Reading on Your Own) is for children who are ready to read independently. Step 3 titles have stories with easy-to-follow plots and engaging characters.  Is your child tackling new words?  Does your child like to read on his or her own?  It's time for Step 3. 


Overall Review:  These Step 3 readers are perfect for young, independent readers as well as older readers who need some independent practice.  These original stories are perfectly written for children--in age-appropriateness, vocabulary choice, and overall storyline.  Although they are centered around high-frequency words, the stories gently push readers into more difficult vocabulary.  The stories also have a very polished, mature feel, which older readers who need positive reading experiences will appreciate.  Parents and teachers often search to find interesting books that appeal to emerging readers (as most books for ages 4-8 are either over-simplified or are too mature in content), and can depend on Step 3 Readers to be a great fit for their children.   

In addition, Step 3 Readers offer children a great transition from sight-word based books to real chapter books.  Each book is around 40 pages, which gives them a chapter-book feel, but keeps the stories short enough that children can both comprehend what they are reading and finish the story in a single sitting. 

Wonderful additions to personal or school libraries, these unique titles are both entertaining and educational.  On a side note, if you ever find yourself trying to find a great teacher appreciation gift, the books in this series would make any teacher smile and would be a valuable classroom resource.   

Step 3: Reading On Your Own Readers are recommended for all ages.  Use these titles as read-alouds for very young children, for readers who have mastered 1st-2nd grade sight words and are ready to transition to chapter books, and also for older readers in 3-5 grade who need reading support but don't want to read "little kid" books.  
Overall Rating for this series is 5 out of 5 stars!

Little Lucy
Step Into Reading: Step 3

Publisher's Note:  Learn to read with Ilene Cooper's adorable beagle puppy, Lucy!  Lucy likes to run. She likes to bark. She likes to chew and howl. But when Bobby and his family take her to a lake, she finds out there's one thing she doesn't like—the water!

Sleeping Bootsie
Step Into Reading: Step 3

Publisher's Note:  Scat! Scram! Stay out! That's all Bootsie the stray cat hears when she tries to find a place she can call home. But then she meets Meg, a laundry maid at the nearby castle, who knows that a pet is exactly what the royal family needs. Everyone agrees, except one spiteful fairy. Bootsie falls under her spell and into a deep, deep sleep. Will Meg figure out how to break the magical spell? The engaging characters and easy-to-follow plot makes this furry fairy tale just right for children who are starting to read on their own.

Check Out More Fantastic Step 3 Readers!
Click on a cover for more details

This review was written by Melissa
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Random House Books for Young Readersfor a review

The Trouble With Being A Horse
by Emily Edwards

Publisher's Note:  The main character, Olivia, is an eleven-year-old girl who loves horses and finds her greatest happiness with them. The rest of her life is not so great: her family mostly ignores her and don't really understand her, and she's a bit of a social outcast. She feels unhappy a lot of the time, as many young girls can feel, and in a low moment of unhappiness she unwittingly wishes to become a horse, as she thinks this will solve a lot of her problems. Olivia is shocked, to say the least, when she is actually turned into a horse. Thrust into the unprecedented situation of being a girl in a horse's body, Olivia is unsure of what to do. She feels strongly that she should keep her unusual state a secret, and joins a group of wild ponies, but is forced to seek help after sustaining a bear attack. Luckily, she winds up at a good stable, and meets Jenny, the daughter of the man who runs the centre, and together they form an unbeatable team in the show ring. But when Olivia can't resist showing off how much she knows, she puts her secret and friendship with Jenny in jeopardy. Olivia must decide whether she wants to remain as a horse or return to her life as an ordinary girl, and in the process is taken on a journey of self-discovery. 

 
Overall Review:  The Trouble With Being a Horse is a cute story, especially for young readers who love horses and anything to do with them.  Olivia loves horses and being with them, but feels out of place everywhere else.  She wishes to be a horse to escape her troubles, and is shocked to wake up and find her wish granted.  The main character Olivia's feelings of not belonging, being misunderstood by her family, and uncertainties with friends will certainly strike a chord with girls at the preteen age. Edwards' story flows along a fairly familiar path, hearkening back to the classic tale of Black Beauty with it's exploration of good masters, bad masters, and even a barn fire--though the horse having a human viewpoint adds a new flavor.  The tale is told mainly through the eyes of Olivia but it does switch to other characters at points, and the jumps between are a little confusing.  Also the issues of the missing girl Olivia, and then the subsequent missing horse "Princess" are a bit glossed over, but that may be appropriate for the target age group.  Overall, a pleasant and light read.  Overall Rating is 3.5 out of 5 stars.
 

Content Review:
 
VIOLENC: Two mild instances
 
PROFANITY: Several mild instances
 
SEXUAL CONTENT: None
 
MATURE THEMES: None
 
RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 9+
 
The Trouble With Being a Horse was a clean read.  The instances of violence involved one character being wounded by an uncontrollable horse, and the aforementioned barn fire in which a character was unconscious and taken in an ambulance, though with little injury.  There was little detail of injuries and the focus continued to be on the story.  The instances of profanity were solely the taking of the Lord's name in vain, which happened several times.  There was no sexual content whatesoever, and mature theme of the drama of a missing child were so glossed over that it was nonexistent.   The Trouble With Being a Horse book is a clean read for ages 9+.

This review was written by Kristen
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by The Cadence Group for a review

The Buddy Files (Series)
by Dori Hillestad Butler

Publisher's Note:  "My name is King. I am a dog. I am also a detective."  King has a very big mystery to solve. His family is missing, and he's been put in the P-O-U-N-D. Why doesn't his beloved human (Kayla) come to get him? When King is adopted by Connor and his mom, things get more confusing. The new family calls him Buddy!

And just as Connor and Buddy start to get acquainted, Connor disappears! Buddy (aka King) has big problems to solve, but with some help from his friend Mouse (a very large dog) and the mysterious cat with no name, he shows what a smart, brave dog can do.  Mystery fans and dog lovers will be swept up in Dori Hillestad Butler's funny, satisfying story... and left eager for Buddy's next adventure.


Overall Review:  Get ready to sit down with your children and experience fun and adventure with the new Buddy Files series by Dori Butler!  Buddy is a lovable, smart K-9 detective that will appeal to young readers and parents alike.  From the case of the missing boy, to mixed-up pups, to the case of the fire alarm, Buddy uses the most important doggy detective tools to solve his mysteries:  a great sense of smell, loyal friends, and quick thinking.  Butler must have a gaggle of first-graders stashed in her office somewhere that she used as humor consultants, as her child-friendly humor is spot-on and engaging.  It’s a guarantee that children will have giggle fits over Buddy’s never-ending list of favorite foods, smile at the concept that dogs can communicate in their own “language” (which, unfortunately for Buddy, humans cannot speak), and enjoy Buddy’s kaleidoscope of doggie friends.  The only element of this series that could have been better focused was the fact that Buddy is involved in multiple mysteries in each book—with various “lists of clues” becoming confusing in a few instances.  Overall this is a great series for younger readers, both as read-alouds and independent reads.  Just be sure to read them in order, as they build on one another and because each has a great lead-in for the next book that will have children anxious to find out what’s going to happen!  Overall Rating is 4 out of 5 stars.


Content Review: (for the entire 5-book series)

PROFANITY:  none

SEXUAL CONTENT: none

VIOLENCE: A few very mild instances

MATUER THEMES: Very Mild

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP:  9+

There is absolutely no profanity or sexual content in this series. 

For violence, everything is very mild, with no detail or description.  There is an instance where a boy is missing, and a parent very mildly alludes to the fact that “something bad” may have happened to the boy.  Buddy then worries several times that the boy may be hurt or that “something bad” may have happened.  In another book, it is mentioned that a tornado went through a town.  The description of the aftermath is very mild, but does include a family living in a trailer because their home has been destroyed.  Mostly, there is the fear that Buddy feels when he hears of the tornado, wondering if his family is hurt or “that word”--which phrase is used in the place of “dead” or “killed”.  Buddy simply states that his “family is not ‘that word’”.   The last instance is that there was a fire at the elementary school several years go, and a girl died in the fire, and the students believe that her ghost is haunting the school—as it is written here is as deep as this ever goes, simply stated.  Buddy does investigate to find out if the girl’s ghost is in the school, but gets sidetracked by another mystery and as of the 5th book, we don’t know if there’s ghost in the school.

Mature themes are very mild, and mostly consist of topics that parents may want to discuss with their children.  First, a boy runs away from home, trying to get back to his old house.   Parents, police, and Buddy are all concerned that a man may have kidnapped him, and there is discussion of not getting into cars with strangers.  One suspect in the disappearance of the boy is a strange man who was driving through the neighborhood earlier, and is confronted and asked if he was involved in the disappearance of the child.  Second, throughout the entire series, Buddy is looking for his original family, who seem to have abandoned him.  Buddy wonders where his family is, if they are ok, and why they would have left him all alone.  Third, there is a tornado that destroys a lot of homes in a town.  Buddy is worried that his family and others may have been injured, or ‘that word’ (killed) by the tornado.  Fourth, the families in the stories are dealing with divorce and military deployment.  It's very child-appropriate, but these topics are briefly discussed.  Last, in one book, a new boy in school is wanting to be accepted and so he pulls the fire alarm to prove that he is cool.  The boys who he is trying to impress lock him in  a closet in the school.  Approached very mildly, with no descriptions or actual violence, we simply find the boy in the close and we know that it is the boys who did it.  

This series is recommended for ages 9+, and will be most enjoyed by the 9-12 age group.  If you plan to read this book out loud, then ages 4+ will definitely be interested.  Overall, The Buddy Files is recommended for ages 9+ as a Squeaky Clean Read. 

Here are all the great books in The Buddy Series:
(click to buy!)

This review was written by Melissa
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
These books were sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by lbert Whitman & Company for a review

My Father’s Dragon
by Ruth Stiles Gannett

Publisher's Note:  My Father's Dragon is a children's novel by Ruth Stiles Gannett about a young boy, Elmer Elevator, who runs away to Wild Island to rescue a baby dragon. Both a Newbery Honor Book and an ALA Notable Book, it is the first book of a trilogy whose other titles are Elmer and the Dragon and The Dragons of Blueland. It was made into an anime film titled, Elmer's Adventures: My Father's Dragon. The narrative mode is unusual, in that the narrator refers to the protagonist only as "my father", giving the impression that this is a true story that happened long ago. The illustrations within the book are black and white done with a grease crayon on a grained paper, done by Ruth Chrisman Gannett. The story was cited as a runner-up for the Newbery Medal in 1949 and was an ALA Notable Book. It was also nominated for the Ambassador Book Award in 1948. In the story, we meet some tigers, a rhinoceros, a lion, and a gorilla all leading to the baby dragon. There is also a river, an island, and a bridge.

Overall Review:  What a sweet, clever, and absolutely charming little tale!  I smiled through the whole adventure of little Elmer Elevator trying to save the poor baby dragon from the mean animals of Wild Island!  It was such a different telling, as the narrator referred to Elmer as ‘my father’, so it was as if it were being told in the eyes of a child.  There were pictures throughout the story as well, and they were such a treat!  I laughed out loud with every encounter Elmer had with the animals of the jungle!  He was most definitely prepared to meet his foes as he searched for the baby dragon! 

Who knew that chewing gum, magnifying glasses, lollipops, rubber bands, hair ribbons, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and potato sacks would be indispensible in the jungle?  Every animal he found was in trouble, and as he offered to help them, they immediately turned their anger away and were so excited at the treasures he offered!  For example, there was the poor lion who had gotten his mane all tangled and snagged in the blackberry bushes.  He was worried because his mother was coming to visit him, and if she saw him in that state, she would cut off his allowance!  Luckily, Elmer had a brush and some hair ribbons in his backpack, so he showed the lion how to carefully brush all the tangles out and braid his hair, then tied it up with colorful ribbons!  The lion was so excited!  Now surely his mother wouldn’t cut off his allowance!!  It was so hilarious!  Every encounter was just as funny!

I can see why this is a treasured story even now; the writing is so easy to understand and on the perfect level for a young reader—full of excitement and adventure and adversity, but not enough to overwhelm.  I will most certainly be passing this one on to my children to read on their own—and will probably enjoy reading it aloud as well!  Overall rating is 5 out of 5 stars!

Content Review:

PROFANITY: None

VIOLENCE: Very Mild

SEXUAL CONTENT: None

MATURE THEMES: Mild

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 9+

There is no profanity or sexual content whatsoever in this little book.  The violence is very mild, and consists of a mother spanking her boy for disobeying her, and talk of animals bullying a dragon.  The themes are also mild: Dealing with bullies and unkind people/creatures and running away from home.  My Father’s Dragon is perfect for young readers and as a read aloud for all ages!  It is a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 9+!

This review was written by Emily
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Yearling  for a review

Like Jake and Me
by Mavis Jukes

Publisher’s Note:  In this Newbery Honor-winning story from 1984, a new family builds a relationship as a stepfather and stepson celebrate their differences and take heart in their similarities.  Alex feels that he does not have much in common with his stepfather Jake until a fuzzy spider brings them together.

Overall Review:  Like Jake and Me is a fabulous example of a book that says a lot with very few words.  Little Alex is trying to help his step-father, Jake, but is usually brushed off with that age-old phrase, “Maybe another time.”  Then comes a moment in time when Alex helps Jake—in this instance, Alex realizes that even a grown man and a ‘real’ cowboy can have fears that seem just as simple as his own, and Jake realizes that Alex is a person, too.  We see a very sweet bonding moment between a boy and a man who are trying to form a new family.  It is very perceptive for such a short book, and deserves multiple readings to discover the many layers.  For a child, it’s a fun story of a boy helping a man find a spider.  For an adult, it’s a touching reminder of those moments where we learn from and grow closer to our children.  Overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Content Review:

PROFANITY: None

VIOLENCE: None

SEXUAL CONTENT: None

MATURE THEMES: Very Mild

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 9+

This sweet little book has no profanity, no violence, and no sexual content.  One character undresses piece by piece searching for a poisonous spider, and there is a picture, but there are strategically placed hats and shadows, so nothing is seen; it is rather humorous.  The themes are very mild and include overcoming your fears, and realizing that whether adult or child, we are not all that different on the inside.  Like Jake and Me is written for very young readers, and is most definitely a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 9+!

This review was written by Emily
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Yearling  for a review

James and the Giant Peach
by Roald Dahl

Publisher's Note:  When James Henry Trotter accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree, strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it's as big as a house. Then James discovers a secret entranceway into the fruit, and when he crawls inside, he meets a bunch of marvelous oversized friends—Old-Green-Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybug, Miss Spider, and more.

After years of feeling like an outsider in the house of his despicable Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, James has finally found a place where he belongs. With a snip of the stem, the peach starts rolling away, and the exciting adventure begins!


Overall Review:  I’m sure I’ve said this before, but no one can tell a kids’ story like Roald Dahl.  Where did he come up with these ideas?  James is such a sad little boy and you feel so sorry for him.  Then comes that magical moment when he drops the bag full of magical something-or-others and from then on, there’s nothing more to feel sorry about!  All of the giant insects have such individual personalities; some are grouchy, some are peppy, some are just plain crazy!  The adventures they have are so imaginative and fun for children (of all ages!) such as floating away on a giant peach carried by hundreds of seagulls, dodging angry cloud people, smashing into newly painted rainbows, and being speared by the Empire State Building!  Where will they end up?  This journey is one in a million!  Overall rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars!

Content Review:

PROFANITY: A few mild instances

VIOLENCE: A few mild instances

SEXUAL CONTENT: None

MATURE THEMES: Mild

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 9+

Roald Dahl is really for all ages.  There were a few words I had to skip over when I read this aloud to my children, as one character throws in a few ‘colorful metaphors’ once in awhile.  As far as violence, they are attacked by sharks (no one dies) and cloud people.  Two characters die—they’re crushed.  A character tells of family members being killed.  As far as themes go, there is dealing with sadness and loss, dealing with harsh living conditions and circumstances, and overcoming those to be better.  James and the Giant Peach is a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 9+.

Lost in Lexicon
by Pendred Noyce

Publisher's Note:  "If this is an adventure, we should just plunge in..."  When thirteen-year-old cousins Ivan and Daphne go on a treasure hunt in the rain one summer day, they never expect to stumble into a whole new world where words and numbers run wild.

After the cousins outwit a plague of punctuation, grateful villagers beg them to find Lexicon's missing children, who have been enticed away by dancing lights in the sky. Trekking between villages in search of clues, the cousins encounter a talking thesaurus, a fog of forgetting, the Mistress of Metaphor, a panel of poets, feuding parts of speech, and the illogical mathematicians of Irrationality. When a careless Mathemystical reflects them across the border into the ominous Land of Night, their peril deepens. Kidnapped, imprisoned, and mesmerized—with time running out—will Ivan and Daphne find a way to solve the mystery of the lights in the sky and restore the lost children of Lexicon to their homes?  Lost in Lexicon will whisk children away into an interactive and magical world of learning.
 
Overall Review:  “Well, now that we’re 13, our entertainment needs are more sophisticated.” Aunt Adelaide crossed her arms.  “I must say I find that tragic.”
 
And thus begins Pendred Noyce’s Lost in Lexicon.  Thirteen year-old cousins Ivan and Daphne travel through a barn window to another world and begin an adventure—an adventure patterned on the formulaic fantasy that is found in dozens of other children’s novels.  Although the template is well-worn, the unabashed inclusion of literary terms (iambic tetrameter, anyone?) and math (complete with diagrams) is distinctive.   Many young readers will prefer their fiction straight-up and undiluted, but then, Noyce’s entire premise is to challenge that thinking head-on.  Noyce attempts to not only introduce active engagement of math and language concepts, but to editorialize on the mindless visual and video entertainment that consumes many children.   This results in some gear-shifting at the book’s half-way point, resulting in less language and math puzzles and more emphasis on the societal commentary.   One of the most effective elements Noyce introduces is a gentle lama-like creature, a thesaurus, which subtly expands the vocabulary of the characters.  Lost in Lexicon receives high marks for bold, unapologetic, undisguised inclusion of math and language in a fantasy narrative, which is truly unique and fills a niche for educators. 

Although the narrative and the characters merit a rating in the 3.5 star range, I am awarding the book a 4 star rating because it brings something original to the table.   Overall  Rating is 4 out of 5 stars.

 
Content Review:

ViIOLENCE:  a few mild instances

PROFANITY:  none

SEXUAL CONTENT:  none

MATURE THEMES:  none

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP:   9+

Violence included a kidnapping; a child being hit over the head with a stick by another child; report of a child with a broken arm; description of a character playing a war-type video game; an old man being tackled.  Mature Themes included challenging stereotypes, thinking, questioning, learning, and some societal commentary on the pervasive world of electronics that immerses our current culture.  Lost in Lexicon is a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 9+.

This review was written by Cindy M.
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Scarletta Press for a review

The Misadventures of Phillip Isaac Penn
by Donna L. Peterson

Publisher's Note:  Everybody calls Phillip Isaac Penn, Pip. And usually they yell it at the top of their lungs. Sure he might forget to close the classroom mice's cage door, or leave his mother's hair dryer in bathtub (hey, it's unplugged), and he might even make it so that Liar Lizzy gets caught, but that doesn't make him bad. It's just not easy being a kid.


Overall Review:  Have you ever wondered why there's always that one kid that gets into so much trouble? I know I sure have and Pip will tell you all about it in The Misadventures of Phillip Isaac Penn by Donna L. Peterson. Each chapter is a story in it's own as Pip (aka Phillip Isaac Penn) goes about his daily routine, somehow managing to always get into trouble. Pip is so sick of hearing his own name, especially when people yell it. You'll step into a week of his life and understand why he gets into so much trouble. He's the one that gets bullied around and somehow he winds up getting the detention. His mom, dad and even sister are always telling him what he can and can't do and don't even take time to listen to him. Every day has a new adventure, I mean how was Pip supposed to know not to put the blow dryer in the bathtub to get the glue off, “it's unplugged... knowing that would make mom a lot happier. It's not easy being a kid.” Pip even tries to take matters into his own hands once when the teacher doesn't believe that the new kid stole his shiny silver dollar. I had such a good laugh and couldn't help reading pieces out loud to my family. This book is definitely recommended to any child and will quickly become a favorite to read out loud.  Overall rating 5 out of 5 stars!


Content Review:

VIOLENCE: None

PROFANITY: None

SEXUAL CONTENT: None

MATURE THEME: None

RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP: 9+

For the content found in The Misadventures of PIP, there are times when he thinks about tripping another character. Pip does seem to argue but he quickly understands that arguing will only get him in more trouble. Characters bully Pip a couple times at school, there is always a resolution though. Kids that are well-behaved will understand a little better why those that misbehave do so. Those kids that misbehave may be able to relate with Pip. All in all there really are no issues with content in this book, you and your children will get a good kick out this read. The Misadventure of Phillip Isaac Penn is a Squeaky Clean Read for ages 9+.

This review was written by Misty
A Squeaky Clean Reads Book Reviewer
This book was sent to Squeaky Clean Reads by Cedar Fort Inc. for a review