Picture Book Review: The Big Book of Outdoors by Tim Hopgood (3/29/2022)

Quick Booktalk 

This brightly-colored volume is a collection of facts, poems, and illustrations celebrating the great outdoors.

About the Illustrations

Tim Hopgood uses his signature style to bring various aspects of nature to life. Some of his artwork is more abstract and impressionistic; other pages feature more technically correct representations of plant and animal life. Every page is bursting with color and full of interesting textual and visual details to pore over. 

Story Time Possibilities

This isn't really a book to be read in one sitting, but certainly a page or two could be used in a story time or classroom to introduce a concept. The pictures certainly lend themselves well to being shown to an audience.

Readers Advisory

This book is divided into four seasonal sections, which makes it a handy book to use in a homeschool or brick-and-mortar school setting. Some of the items included are not necessarily unique to the season in which they are placed, but it is helpful to have seemingly disparate items organized in some way. In terms of content this book reminds me a lot of Outside Your Window: A First Book of Nature by Nicola Davies. I think it is most appealing to the 4-to-7-year-old age group, though my art-loving 8-year-old also seems interested.

Disclosure

I received a finished review copy of The Big Book of Outdoors from Candlewick Studio in exchange for an honest review.

Picture Book Review: I'll Go and Come Back by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated by Sara Palacios (3/29/2022)

Quick Booktalk 

Jyoti, who lives in America, travels to visit her grandmother in India. When the visit ends, it's hard to say goodbye, so her grandmother teaches her the words that Tamil-speaking people use instead of goodbye, which translate as "I'll go and come back." 

About the Illustrations 

The pictures mostly depict Jyoti and her grandmother against a white background. Only a couple of scenes - in the airport, and on the street in India - take up a full spread. It would have been nice to see more of the differences between Jyoti's home and her grandmother's turn up in the pictures. There is a warmth and cheerfulness to each of the figures in the pictures that really highlight the loving relationship between grandmother and granddaughter. Their connection to each other is something all readers can relate to, and it helps give this story set within a specific culture universal appeal as well. 

Story Time Possibilities

The obvious story time theme for this book would be grandparents, but it would also work for things like travel, "around the world," India, Mother's Day, and/or a hello and goodbye theme. Some of the pictures are a bit tiny and might be hard to see, but for most average-sized story time audiences they should be fine.

Readers Advisory

Sara Palacios also illustrated My Day with the Panye by Tami Charles and A Song of Frutas by Margarita Engle, and it would be fun to read these titles together and discuss the different cultures depicted. I think it would also pair nicely with I Really Want to See You Grandma by Taro Gomi. 

Disclosure

I received a finished review copy of I'll Go and Come Back from Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review. 

Picture Book Review: Slug in Love by Rachel Bright, illustrated by Nadia Shireen (12/14/2021)

Quick Booktalk

Doug the slug has a hard time finding someone to hug him. 

About the Illustrations 

The illustrations really carry this book. All the humor, color, and personality this book has to offer are found in the pictures and really nowhere else. Brightly colored blobs and geometric shapes against a white background form the bodies of Doug and the other characters he meets, as well as flowers, grass, and other bits of nature that serve as the setting. 

Story Time Possiblities

The clunky rhyming in this book will keep it out of my story times. There is so much rhyme for rhyme's sake - Doug, hug, slug, snug,  bug - and yet the author also rhymes all of these words with "love." It feels sloppy and uncomfortable to read aloud. 

Readers Advisory

Overall, this book just gave me a weird vibe. Kids don't generally relate to stories about falling in love, or about the loneliness of not being able to find someone to love, so the subject matter feels like a weird choice. The ending also feels very tacked on and unsatisfying. 

Disclosure 

I received a finished review copy of Slug in Love from Paula Wiseman Books in exchange for an honest review.

Picture Book Review: I'm a Neutrino: Tiny Particles in a Big Universe by Dr. Eve M. Vavagiaki, illustrated by Ilze Lemesis (3/22/2022)

Quick Booktalk 

In first-person rhyming text a neutrino introduces itself and its role in the universe.

About the Illustrations

The illustrations are really eye-catching, and they do a nice job of highlighting the mysterious nature of neutrinos as well as the work of the scientists who study them. 

Story Time Possibilities

The rhyme in this book is really rough to read aloud. Rhyme is too cutesy for an informational book to beign with; to have the rhyme feel so awkward is an even bigger disappointment. I'm not sure I'd read a book about neutrinos at story time in any case, but I definitely would not read this one. 

Readers Advisory

If you really need a book about the neutrino, the information in this one does seem sound despite the poorly executed attempt at poetry. After reading Ada and the Galaxies by Alan Lightman, published by MIT Kids Press in 2021, I had extremely high hopes for this book. Since these are the only two books out so far from this imprint, I can only hope that future titles will be more like the first book and less like this second one. 

Disclosure

I received a finished review copy of I'm a Neutrino from MIT Kids Press/Candlewick in exchange for an honest review. 

Picture Book Review: John's Turn by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Kate Berube (2/24/2022)

 

Quick Booktalk 

John is a boy who dances ballet. He is a bit shy about performing his talent in front of his classmates, but he finds the courage and it pays off.

About the Illustrations

Kids who dance or enjoy watching dancing will like the portrayal of dance moves in this book. The diverse faces and facial expressions of the kids in John's school are also fun and appealing.

Story Time Possibilities

This book is not a story time book for me. Maybe a book like this - about a boy learning it's okay to dance ballet - wouldn't have been out of place when I was in elementary school, but it's just ridiculous to think that kids in 2022 don't realize there are men involved in ballet. Anyone who has seen The Nutcracker knows ballet is not just for girls. I am planning a dance-themed story time, and I had high hopes for this one based on the cover, but alas, it's too preachy about a topic on which no one needs a sermon in this day and age. 

Readers Advisory

For Mac Barnett, this seems like a departure. His books are usually more quirky or funny than this one is, and I don't recall ever feeling preached to by any of his past titles. The combination of an extremely straightforward, almost boring narrative and a completely unnecessary Very Special Lesson are sending this book straight to the donation pile.

Disclosure 

I received a finished copy of John's Turn from Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review.

Picture Book Review: Hat Cat by Troy Wilson, illustrated by Eve Coy (2/22/2022)

Quick Booktalk 

An elderly man who lives alone is feeding the squirrels when a cat crawls into his hat and becomes his new friend, sticking around even when the man disappears for a little while. 

About the Illustrations 

The cool, light colors in this book give it a gentle, spring-time feel. The man's affectionate looks at the cat beautifully portray the joy the animal brings to his life. By contrast, when the man seems to be missing, the cat's face and posture help emphasize the cat's feelings of uncertain sadness. 

Story Time Possibilities

This is such a sweet story, not just about a man and his cat, but also about neighbors who step up to care for the cat during the man's apparent time of illness. It would be a great addition to a story time about pets, friendship, hats, or cats. 

Readers Advisory

This book gave me strong Mr. Putter and Tabby vibes, but with a touch more sentimentality. No one dies in the book, but really sensitive kids might worry about that and get upset, so it's probably a good idea to be aware of that. I really like the way this book respects the dignity of older people and allows the man to return to his own home rather than taking the cliche route and relegating him to a nursing home. For that reason, I'm keeping it for our home library. 

Disclosure 

I received a finished review copy of Hat Cat in exchange for an honest review.

Picture Book Review: Somewhere by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Armando Marino (2/22/2022)

Quick Booktalk

A young girl and her dad walk to the park, where she is given the freedom to explore independently and discover somewhere new. 

About the Illustrations

The pictures in this book depict nature as colorful and inviting and as a result, the little girl's foray to "somewhere" feels like a great cheerful adventure. The images of the girl with her dad are also very warm and sweet, depicting a strong loving relationship. 

Story Time Possibilities

I like this book for story time because it doesn't have many words per page and the illustrations are very eye-catching and engaging. It would be good for a father/daughter theme, or for themes such as nature, adventures, independence, trying new things, etc.

Readers Advisory

I love that this book depicts a child being allowed to explore without an adult being directly with her. This free-range approach to parenting is rare in my world, but it's what I aspire to with my kids, and I so appreciate having a book that celebrates kids' capabilities and doesn't try to scare them into staying home with unlikely what-ifs. 

Disclosure 

I received a finished copy of Somewhere from Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review.

Easy Reader Review: Earth by Marion Dane Bauer, illustrated by John Wallace (12/14/2021)

Quick Booktalk

This level one Ready-to-Read book introduces basic facts about our planet's axis, rotation, natural history and inhabitants. 

About the Illusrrations

The cheerful illustrations appear to be done in pen and watercolor. They provide strong context for the concepts covered by the text and they make the book visually appealing for developing readers. 

Story Time Possibilities

This is a good basic introduction to planet Earth for preschool and early elementary audiences. Though it's primarily intended to be read by a new reader who can sound out words, the clear writing style and bright illustrations would make it a nice nonfiction addition to a story time as well as a good classroom read-aloud. 

Readers Advisory

Parents who wish to avoid political content and/or confusing messages that attribute human life to something other than God will want to know that the back inside flap of this book includes information about climate change and that the text identifies human beings as children of the Earth. I feel pretty confident that a quick conversation with my beginning reader will be enough to help her read this book with the appropriate understanding, and I plan to give it to her.

Disclosure 

I received a finished review copy of Earth from Simon Spotlight in exchange for an honest review.

Picture Book Review: Behold Our Magical Garden: Poems Fresh From a School Garden by Allan Wolf, illustrated by Daniel Duncan (3/8/22)

Quick Booktalk 

A teacher and a group of diverse students narrate poems celebrating the garden they have created at their school. 

About the Illustrations

The pictures are a mix of fanciful drawings of plants with faces and insects with human features, more naturalistic drawings of the plants and animals in the garden, and scenes featuring cartoonish kids tending to the garden. The illustrations set a very informal and fun tone for the book. 

Story Time Possibilities

While this book is too long to read aloud in its entirety at most story times, the individual poems stand alone well enough that it would be possible to choose a handful of selections to add to a story time plan. The pictures are a bit detailed to be seen at a distance, but the poems can mostly be enjoyed audibly without losing any of the meaning. There is a poem called "Water Lines" that is written for two voices that would be fun to try with school-age kids. 

Reader's Advisory

This is a book that is probably best suited to elementary school classrooms. It's set in a school and focuses not just on the school garden, but in the back matter, on poetry forms. It strikes me as the kind of thing would lend itself to poetry assignments and reports about plants. We happen to be studying plants in our homeschool right now, so my plan is to make it available for pleasure reading, especially to my six-year-old who loves to compose her own poetry. 

Disclosure

I received a finished copy of Behold Our Magical Garden from Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review.

Board Book Review: You're My Little Unicorn and You're My Little Dragon by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Summer Macon (2/1/2022)

Quick Booktalk

Each of these two books likens a sweet toddler to a unicorn or a dragon by showing behaviors that the child shares with the mythical creature.

About the Illustrations 

The pictures in these books are brightly colored and cheerful. Rounded figures are placed against solid-colored backgrounds in a way that makes the illustrations feel clean and uncluttered. The left-hand side of each page depicts the mythical creature's activities, and the right depicts the child. 

Story Time Possibilities

These would be fun for a story time for babies or toddlers. Since the book is written from the point of view of a parent or caretaker, it would be a good choice for a story time where every adult/child pair has a copy of the book in hand. The repeated refrain of "just like you" in the text of both books also lends itself to some very simple audience participation. When I worked in the library, I sometimes did story times on the same theme for all of my age groups. These would have been great options for baby and toddler story time in the weeks when I did fairy tales and imagination with my preschool groups. 

Reader's Advisory

These are gentle little reads that are good to share at bedtime. I'm planning to give them to my twins, who have already learned about unicorns from their big sisters and will undoubtedly be interested in dragons as well. They will also recognize the toddlers' activities as things they do in their own lives and I expect those to present opportunities for them to practice vocabulary they already know and pick up some new words related to familiar situations. My little readers are just about two, but I think kids from ages 6 months to about 2 1/2 will enjoy these books. 

Disclosure

I received review copies of You're My Little Dragon and You're My Little Unicorn from Little Simon in exchange for an honest review.

Board Book Review: One Busy Bunny by Robie Rogge, illustrated by August Ro (2/22/2022)

Quick Booktalk

This board book shaped like a rabbit tells of an Easter bunny who delivers eggs to animals in a variety of habitats.

About the Illustrations 

The pictures in this book are infused with light and the animals have eyes that are just slightly exaggerated to make them look cute. The result is a very gentle and comforting mood. The pages are very short and wide, so the illustrations feel a bit cramped, but for reading one-on-one with a child they should be easy enough to see and understand.

Story Time Possibilities

Though the rhyming text in this book is pleasant to read aloud and flows well, the format of the books make it a poor choice for a group story time. I will most likely have my big kids read it to my toddler twins during Easter week.

 

Reader's Advisory

Everything about the outside of this book feels pretty sturdy except for the little fabric-covered cardboard clasp that keeps it closed. I expect that to be ripped off the first time a toddler touches it. The inside pages, too, are thin enough that even if they're not ripped completely out of the book, they will be bent pretty quickly. Some of my kids were careful enough as toddlers to allow a book like this to last a few years, but my current toddlers will definitely destroy it within days. 

Disclosure

I received a review copy of One Busy Bunny from Little Simon in exchange for an honest review.  

Board Book Review: Baby Bug by Wednesday Kirwan (1/11/2022)

Quick Booktalk

A little baby with wings emerges from under a leaf and begins to explore her world.

About the Illustrations

The muted colors of the pictures give them a feeling of Spring freshness that really complements the garden setting. Thick black lines outline the figures and flowers on each page, making everything stand out really well against the white background in a way that appeals to infants. The scrawling font appears a bit sloppy, but it is pretty easy to read since it so large. The baby is drawn in such a way that her movements feel realistic. 

Story Time Possibilities

This book is not a story time book for me because it includes a page where the baby passes gas. I don't read books to my own kids with that kind of stuff in them, and I don't really think my friends whose kids come to my story times really want me to encourage anymore bathroom talk than is already going on in their own houses. 

Reader's Advisory 

Other than the toilet humor, I thought the book was really sweet. I especially love the page where the baby is playing with a pill bug, and the text reads, "Holy moly, roly poly." I think that kind of rhyming language is just perfect for a book like this, The only other thing that I'm not sure works is that at the end of the book it's revealed that all the bug stuff was just the daydream of a human baby. That kind of reveal at the end is going to be totally lost on the intended audience for the book, and it's too much of a cliche to be amusing to parents. 

Disclosure

I received a review copy of Baby Bug from Little Simon in exchange for an honest review.

Picture Book Review: Mermaid Dance by Matthew van Fleet, illustrated by Mara van Fleet (1/18/2022)

Quick Booktalk

In this thick book filled with pull-tabs, a school of merkids learns to dance from the sea creatures it meets.

About the Illustrations 

The pictures in this book are very colorful and sweet, and the characters are a diverse cast of boys and girls of varying skin colors, but the real appeal is in the moveable parts that are activated by pull tabs. Each page as well as the front cover shows a sea creature moving whichever part of its body inspires the merkids' dance moves. For the seahorse, it's the tail; for the narwhal, it's the horn, etc. The tabs and the pages to which the movable parts are fastened are really thick and sturdy, which is what makes the book so bulky. 

Story Time Possibilities

This book seems like it will be really fun in story time, but I'm a little concerned about being able to support its weight and move the tabs at the same time. My story time audience includes my own kids, and I often call on them to help me do things, so for me, it might just be a matter of roping my eight-year-old into holding the book. In other settings, I'd be less inclined to want to invite the kids to pull the tabs just because it opens up a potential logistics nightmare where not everyone gets a turn and there are hurt feelings. I also feel like one rough kid could potentially destroy the whole book. I'm pretty determined to try it in my story time, but your mileage may vary. Potential themes include dancing, sea creatures, the ocean, and, of course, mermaids. 

Reader's Advisory

Though this book is technically a board book, I wouldn't hand it to either of my toddlers, both of whom are supremely rough on books. It's better suited to a four- or five-year-old who understands how to be careful with books and who will be interested in acting out the movements along with the merkids. My friends and I have several four-and-five-year-olds among our kids right now, and I can already tell they are going to love this book. 

Disclosure 

I received a review copy of Mermaid Dance from Paula Wiseman Books in exchange for an honest review.

Board Book Review: Five Little Leprechauns by Jeffrey Burton, illustrated by Tommy Doyle (2/8/2022)

Quick Booktalk

This is a leprechaun-themed rewrite of Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed.

About the Illustrations

The pictures are very commercial-looking, cartoonish illustrations of three leprechaun boys, two leprechaun girls, their mother, their doctor, and the various locations where they hide. Rainbows, gold, and clover provide the St. Patrick's Day atmosphere.

Story Time Possibilities

I wanted to read this book at story time right before St. Patrick's Day, but unfortunately the rhyme scheme makes it impossible to read aloud well. In the original Five Little Monkeys, the final two lines of each verse rhyme: "Mama called the doctor, and the doctor said, no more monkeys jumping on the bed." This book keeps the word "said" in that same spot, but makes no attempts to rhyme anything with it. The result is very awkward and unpleasant-sounding text. (My eight-year-old tried reading it aloud, and she was not impressed.)

Reader's Advisory

My twins are so hard on board books that I'm probably going to give this to them and let them tear it to shreds in the hopes it might prevent a book I like better from biting the dust quite so soon. I really don't want to read it to them, however, because the rhyme scheme bothers me so much. I do think it will be fun to just talk about the illustrations, though. I do want them to learn the word leprechaun. 

Disclosure

I received a review copy of Five Little Leprechauns from Little Simon in exchange for an honest review.