Scholastic sent me this title, and is also providing a prize pack for one winner from my site.

Groovy Joe Ice Cream & Dinosaurs is a wiggling, laughing, and ebullient story of contentment, friendship, and the good life.

In this story you get to explore what it is like to be outside playing your guitar like you do — and then have the Haagen Dogs ice cream truck drive by.  I mean, what are you going to do?  You’re going to get some ice cream.  That’s what.  Then you’re going to start singing because that’s what any grateful and rational being does when they have ice cream.

But tell me, what do you when you’re eating ice cream and a DINOSAUR knocks on your door and pulls out a spoon?

You share!  Then the both of you start singing about how you love your doggy ice cream and declare that, “It’s awesome to share!”

More and more dinosaurs show up and it is all fun and games until our hero, Groovy Joe, runs out of ice cream and has three dinosaurs in his living room.  What WILL our hero do? What would you do?  Can he save the day?  Can he use his wit, charm, and superb sense of resourcefulness to prevent the unthinkable?  How does this story end?

It ends well and it’s a lot of fun to read.

This may be, possibly, one of the easiest picture books I have ever read twenty contiguous times.  It has a comfortable and swinging rhythm that flows effortlessly.  It has dogs, ice cream, a squirrel wearing sunglasses, and dinosaurs — so all happy topics.  The, “It’s awesome to share!” phrase that repeats throughout the story is subliminal and pervasive in the best sense.  I’ve found both my boys actually saying this phrase while playing with friends and each other and it absolutely thrills me.

My eldest son sits down and reads this to his little brother and I think he has as much fun reading the book as my littlest one has listening to it.  The illustrations are so happy and when I showed it to him he said, “It’s like the book is having a party!”  (And he’s right!)

It’s a great book for when you want a fun, happy, and uncomplicated book about sharing, friendship, and resourcefulness.  It’s a win and as compelling as ice cream itself!  I hope you get a chance to check it out — it is a lot of fun and just an easy way to have a great and giggly time with your kiddos.

Recommended Ages 3 to 5. Orchard Books | Scholastic. August 2016. 40 pages. ISBN: 978-0545883788. Fiction.

Speaking of winning and sharing — here’s a Giveaway! of this book along with some headphones:

• Open to US Addresses Only — leave a comment below telling me your favorite ice cream flavor.  I will put all names in a randomizer, the first name at the top of the list will receive a copy of the book and a pair of headphones. I will reply to your comment to let you know if it’s you!
• Must Be 18 years or older. One comment per person.  I will share your address with the company that will be mailing you the book, but I won’t share it with anyone else unrelated to the giveaway.
• This giveaway is open between September 16, 2016 and September 23rd, 2016 by midnight — so leave your comment between now and then to enter.
• Congratulations to Jan!  Our winner.  See the results here:  http://www.randomresult.com/ticket.php?t=141201YSQKT

Where to Get it:

• [Affiliate Link]:  Amazon.com
• [Independent Bookstore]: Indiebound.org
• [Library]: Worldcat.org 

Author and Illustrator Websites:

• Eric Litwin
• Tom Lichtenheld
• You can also hear the book, sing the songs in Spanish and English, and download a free discussion guide at groovyjoestories.scholastic.com

Book Trailer:

More Reviews of this Book:

• Publishers Weekly
• The Children’s Book Review — And they’re hosting a giveaway for a free copy of the book, too.  🙂
• Kids Book Buzz (Review by Kilian, age 8!)

Where Obtained: Scholastic sent me this title, and is also providing a prize pack for one winner from my site.  Which is appreciated because it is fun to share! No other compensation was received.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

FTC Disclosures:  Some of the links in the post above are Amazon affiliate links and others are IndieBound affiliate links. If you click on the link and purchase something, I will receive an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Which goes to fund my family’s picture book habit.  It’s a vicious cycle, but we manage.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”