The Calendar Kids
Meet January
Meet February
Meet March
Meet April
Meet May
Meet June
Meet July
Meet August:
Meet September
Meet October
Meet November
Meet December
When I first started to write a review for the The Calendar Kids series, I hadn’t read Meet November. (One would think finding 12 books by April Martin would be easy, but nope!) But right before I posted this review I read November. I think Cornbread is my favorite named friend, but I still lean towards that February groundhog for best pet.
Each story is pretty traditional about the month of their title. The month is also the name of the child telling the story as well. Therefore, in Meet May we have a young girl, named May, who is making a surprise celebration for her Mother and Grandmother, with talk of things that happen in May or about May (how it is windy, flowers grow, etc) and shows cultural differences as well. We have Mother’s Day and Cinco de Mayo celebrated in May. The format is that something happens and that month and friends will solve it (in May, it is windy so the banner blows away and while moving a table the tea pot breaks, so three friends must find a way to solve their party problems). The previous and next month in line (in May we have her friend April and June) will show up to help the current month out. There are several extras for fun with your own children and you will explore diversity with the character. 
Each book includes: (from the publisher description):
- A reversible jacket poster filled with fun facts and key words
- Fun facts about the seasons
- A kid-friendly recipe
- A creative character with a quirky pet
- Discussion questions
- Online resources for parents and educators
When I started writing my review, I had just finished Meet October, Meet July and Meet August as well as Meet May a second time. With Meet July I had a few bumps though I liked watching as they are celebrating the Fourth and mentioning how hot it is, plus thunderstorms and ways to cool off, but since the holiday is so early in the month, there is not a lot really to the story. With Meet August the character is more “fleshed out” to his personality and we have an action that most kids will relate to: the first day of school and even though August has gone before, he still has worries and a funny thing happens to him. Of course, October discusses Fall opportunities, hints at Halloween and focuses on being brave. Occasionally a non consecutive month will show up (all the months go to the same school and January has a cameo in a non consecutive month), so they are all in the same universe. I had to get February and January from the library, but most of the books I read via an online reader copy. When I read January I was sorry she didn’t like the cold. Now I understand the cold is not fun sometimes, but still it is my birthday month and I do like a good snowfall. Yet, yes, their hair issues are relatable. And in February I really felt for the poor friend groundhog (who, as I said, is probably my favorite pet friend).
You should read the images and not just the text. February and December probably have my favorite images of finding something hiding in them. Plus, things are modern in December as we celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa and also features December as a character who uses a wheelchair. Each book is just fun.
