Vera Rosenberry

I loved this book! It is a great story for someone who thinks they are not loved or cared for and looking for something better, until they realize they have better at home. The illustrations could have been a lot better I thought they were a little childish and rough. Vera Rosenberry was the author and illustrator; I think maybe she should have chosen an illustrator to make the book come to life because the words in the book are great. Vera comes home with her report card and no one seems to care like Norman's mom cared for his report card. When Vera got home everyone was busy doing something in the house and she didn't get the reaction that she was expecting, so she packed her bags and ran to the woods. She made a little house and the called herself a forest child, until she got hungry and then she came home. She noticed everyone was looking and searching for her. She eventually she said why she ran away and everyone was upset because they were happy they were just busy at the time to celebrate with her. Her mom told her we love to see you do well, but when you do well you do well for yourself not anyone else. They then took her out to eat pizza and she was happy again. I loved the message from the mother!! You do well for yourself not anyone else. I think that is a great way to look at the situation because you should always want to do better for yourself and learn as much as you can for your own knowledge.… (more)

Vera is going to the dentist for the first time. She wears and does all of her favorite things before going to make herself feel better, but still finds herself running away before the dentist even knows what happened. This story is a funny narrative and helps take the fear and anxiety out of going to the dentist for the first time. Reading this story answers questions and helps children know what to expect when going to the dentist for the first time and does so in a way that they understand and can relate to. It is a cute book that I feel would help eliminate a lot of negative feelings children would experience when going to the dentist.… (more)

Really I couldn't even finish this one. My kid asked me, "Mama why didn't you read all the words?" and I had to respond: "Because this book was making me crazy." Setting aside the heteronormative large family, the gender-typical clothes (women are wearing skirts) and professional roles (dad "stays home" from work so mom can take the other kids to the dentist's office; the dentist is an old white man and the technician is a young black woman) -- honestly what made me crazy was the utterly flat "Jane saw a rabbit"-writing. The sole relief is when the little girl gets up and runs out of the dentist's office, but this too is told in such a flat style that I just couldn't bear to read it aloud to my three-year-old.… (more)

This is a good book that talks about children being able to overcome their fears. Vera does not want to go to the dentist because it's her first time and she doesn't know what to expect. She wears her favorite cowboy skirt because it makes her feel brave. When she is called to be seen, she heads to the back and everything is okay until she hears the loud noise from the cleaning machine. She jumps out the chair and runs away after some reassurance she isn't afraid anymore. This book can help show readers that you can overcome your fears.… (more)