Picture Book Review: Sometimes Cake by Edwina Wyatt, illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie (1/4/2022)

Quick Booktalk 

Audrey and Lion are two friends who find reasons to celebrate - sometimes with cake - even when it's not their birthdays. 

About the Illustrations

Most of the pictures in this book portray the two main characters interacting with one another against a cream background. Both Audrey and Lion have eyes that are just dots, a style that is very prevalent but not my most favorite. The overall style does remind me a bit of Helen Oxenbury's work in that the illustrations are somewhat soft and subdued and create a gentle atmosphere. This is a quiet book about celebrating everyday moments, and the pictures reflect that. 

Story Time Possibilities

The text is concise and includes a lot of dialogue, which makes it really fun to read aloud. Some of the pictures' details wouldn't translate well to those sitting at the back of a large group, but I do story time for 15-ish kids at a time in my own basement and it will be fine for that environment. Since the story is not about birthdays, it can work for any theme related to celebrations, cake, dessert, and/or friendship. I think I'm going to pair it with Phoebe Dupree is Coming to Tea for a story time about celebrations. 

Readers Advisory

I found this to be a delightful read, somewhat reminiscent of Hooray for Amanda and her Alligator by Mo Willems, but with less snark and more affection between the characters. It's such a cheerful and cozy little book and I can't wait to read it aloud! 

Disclosure 

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

Picture Book Review: Ready for the Spotlight by Jaime Kim (2021)

Quick Booktalk

Tessie loves ballet, but she often finds herself in the shadow of her big sister, Maya. When she is cast as a bumblebee for the upcoming recital instead of landing the lead, she is devastated, but she soon learns that she has a talent that sets her apart from her sister and the rest of their class.

About the Illustrations

The characters on every page of this book are depicted with wonderfully animated facial expressions that make it very clear to the reader at first glance how each one is feeling. The dancing sequences also have a wonderful sense of movement and physicality that captures each sister's talent and style. The pink and yellow color scheme gives the book a vibrant, cheerful mood that matches the overall tone of the story.

Story Time Possibilities

This is a good story time choice. The pictures are bold and colorful, there is just the right amount of text on each page for a preschool or kindergarten audience, and there are a bunch of theme options, including dance, movement, sisters, feelings, and being true to oneself.

Readers Advisory

I have four girls, and this book perfectly captures how their sibling rivalry often plays out. I was reminded a little bit of Big Red Lollipop by Ruhksana Khan, which also deals with some issues between sisters. I think girls with sisters close in age will definitely relate to this book. 

Disclosure

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

Picture Book Review: Castle Gesundheit by Mark Fearing (2021)

Quick Booktalk 

The residents of the village of Handkerchief have done their best to ignore the constant sneezing that comes from Castle Gesundheit, but a young girl named Fiona finally decides it's time to get to the bottom of it and see if it can be stopped.

About the Illustrations 

The pictures in this book have a style that is typically found in graphic novels, with cartoonish figures  and many speech bubbles. There is also accompanying prose on each page. The illustrator uses facial expressions and action scenes to keep the reader's attention and to further the humorous plot in a visually amusing way. The backdrops of the castle and the village are also rendered in appealing vibrant colors, with fun details that bring to life both settings.

Story Time Possibilities

I struggle to read books aloud when they have a lot of speech bubbles, mostly because it is hard to signal to the audience which character is speaking. If I were to attempt it, it would be with an elementary school audience, both because they are more likely to understand the format, and because I think the humor is targeted toward that age. This is a great book around which to build a themed story time because it works with so many good ones: colds and sneezing, sleep disturbances, castles, cats, royalty, etc. 

Readers Advisory

There are a lot of good read-alikes for this book: Bob, Not Bob by Audrey Vernick and Liz Garton Scanlon, There's a Dinosaur on the Thirteenth Floor by Wade Bradford, Maple and Willow's Christmas Tree by Lori Nichols, Over at the Castle by Boni Ashburn, Princess Hyacinth by Florence Parry Heide, and many more. It's a fun story about a topic many kids can relate to (allergies) and the problem is solved by the child character, which always feels satisfying to kids. 

Disclosure 

I received a physical copy of Castle Gesundheit from Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review.

Picture Book Review: Trees by Tony Johnston, illustrated by Tiffany Bozic (2021)

Quick Booktalk 

Colorful, naturalistic illustrations and concise lines of poetic text celebrate trees and all they provide to our world.

About the Illustrations 

The pictures, which show trees from a variety of vantage points, are really well done. They fill each two-page spread, and they really capture the details of bark, leaves, branches, and flowers. There are some people in some of the images, and I don't like those illustrations as well as I like the ones involving just nature. Somehow the mood of the text seems to be disturbed when there are people on the page. I do love the endpapers, which, at the beginning, show a series of shoots growing from seeds, and which, at the end, show a decaying tree on the forest floor. I also love the pictures showing the view looking up into a tree. 

Story Time Possibilities

Because of its visual appeal, I might try this book in story time with certain audiences. It's a quiet one, so I'd definitely want to pair it with some books or songs that promote movement and participation, but with preschoolers I think a quiet book like this can be used to spark good discussions, especially since most kids will have had some experience with a tree no matter where they live. 

Readers Advisory 

Trees is an attractive picture book that celebrates the natural world. It would be a great addition to a preschool or early elementary program or curriculum focused on trees, plants, nature, etc. Though the text is more poetic than scientific, there are still some good jumping-off points for discussion and exploration of roots, leaves, animal habitats, and other connected topics. 

Disclosure

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