Review - Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History
by Vashti Harrison
Date: 2017
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 97
Format: e-book
Source: library

This beautifully illustrated New York Times bestseller introduces readers of all ages to 40 women who changed the world.

An important book for all ages, Little Leaders educates and inspires as it relates true stories of forty trailblazing black women in American history. Illuminating text paired with irresistible illustrations bring to life both iconic and lesser-known female figures of Black history such as abolitionist Sojourner Truth, pilot Bessie Coleman, chemist Alice Ball, politician Shirley Chisholm, mathematician Katherine Johnson, poet Maya Angelou, and filmmaker Julie Dash.

Among these biographies, readers will find heroes, role models, and everyday women who did extraordinary things - bold women whose actions and beliefs contributed to making the world better for generations of girls and women to come. Whether they were putting pen to paper, soaring through the air or speaking up for the rights of others, the women profiled in these pages were all taking a stand against a world that didn't always accept them.

The leaders in this book may be little, but they all did something big and amazing, inspiring generations to come.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

You know a picture book is heavy on the text when it takes almost a month to get through it.

However, Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History is definitely worth a look. It profiles 40 amazing women and girls who were trailblazers for the African American women who followed in their footsteps. I hadn't heard of many of the women who were featured early on in the book (e.g., Phillis Wheatley, Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Mary Bowser), even though their stories are amazing. As the book goes on, we start to see some more familiar names, and by the end, I would imagine that most people will have heard of these women (e.g., Oprah Winfrey, Florence Joyner, Dominique Dawes)... which is great, because it shows that the women making important contributions aren't always ignored or pushed into the shadows as they once were. Still, the fact that many of these names aren't household ones is kind of sad. We've got Civil War spies, scientists who developed cures for nasty diseases, psychologists who studied the impact of racial identification in children... There are just so many stories here, laid out in a series of two-page spreads; there's even a section at the back with mini biographies of a few more women that didn't get included in the book. And, like most good non-fiction titles, this book offers some suggestions for further reading, viewing, and watching.

The illustrations are cute, but will probably be viewed as a little "girly". That said, however, this is a book aimed at girls, so the pictures are likely to find wide appeal. Each spread features a picture of the woman or girl, and the text is embellished with little doodles relating to her life. (Below is Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman in the world to receive a pilot's licence... but she had to go to France to do it!)

Overall, this is a really strong non-fiction title that celebrates the contributions of black women and girls. Because of how much text there is, I'd probably recommend it to middle graders, but it could be a fun book for younger kids to read with a parent in smaller doses.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 5/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4.17 out of 5

Review - Sheep 101

Sheep 101
by Richard T. Morris
illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Date: 2018
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 49
Format: e-book
Source: library

A time-honored bedtime ritual gets a new twist in this rollicking mash-up of counting sheep and nursery rhyme characters.

One night, a boy counts sheep as he tries to fall asleep. 99. 100. 101.... Crash! Sheep 101 is stuck in the fence. Will he ever get out and get the little boy to sleep?

Meet Sheep 101 and his colorful cast of characters, like Humpty Dumpty, Blind Mouse, Little Piggy, and more!

From Richard T. Morris, author of This Is a Moose, and beloved illustrator LeUyen Pham comes a hilarious story with vibrant illustrations full of late-night hijinks that will spark every child's imagination.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Despite what the title makes it sound like, this is not the companion textbook to an agriculture class. This is a story about Sheep 101, who runs into trouble while jumping over the fence. Chaos ensues, and it seems unlikely that anyone is going to fall asleep.

The pictures surprised me. I really like them! The characters are cute. The sheep are varied. Familiar characters make an appearance, everyone from Mother Goose to LEGO. The whole story takes place on a little boy's quilt as he's getting ready for bed, so the backdrops are simple and consistent, and the whole book is heavy on relaxing tones of sleepy blue and purple.

I'm not sure if this is really a read-aloud title, since the entire narrative is character dialogue (it's almost like a graphic novel). It's more the sort of thing kids could look at by themselves. But it's quite cute, and I enjoyed reading it and found myself smiling at 101's predicament.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.83 out of 5

Review - Pete the Cat Checks Out the Library

Pete the Cat Checks Out the Library (Pete the Cat)
by James Dean
Date: 2018
Publisher: HarperFestival
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: library

New York Times bestselling author and illustrator James Dean shows us how much fun reading can be in Pete the Cat Checks Out the Library.

It's Pete the Cat's first time at the library. He gets a fun tour of library and even reads a few super cool stories while he's there.

Without even leaving the library, Pete goes on so many groovy adventures. All Pete needs is a little imagination--and of course, his library card!

A great introduction to the library from everyone's favorite groovy cat.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is my first real experience with Pete the Cat (aside from a few pages of a Christmas e-book that was so corrupted that it was unreadable). I have to say, I do not like the illustrations. It's a shame, because the story in this one isn't too bad.

Pete goes to the library for the first time. Then he sets about looking at books, both fiction and non-fiction, and imagines himself as being part of those books. This makes up the bulk of the narrative, with Pete imagining himself as various characters or real people (er... cats), having adventures or making neat discoveries or just generally being interesting. The message is one of a love for reading, and how you can be whatever you imagine when you're reading.

I found the illustrations annoying, actually. The sleepy-eyed look of the characters actually makes me think they're all looking upwards or rolling their eyes. It's hard to look at for 24 pages, when every single character is drawn like this! The rest of the illustrations are colourful but rough, and not very refined at all. I'm just not a fan.

Well, now I know what Pete the Cat is all about. Sure, reading is "groovy"... but the pictures in this series are not. I think I'll probably be giving the rest of the series a pass (but I might recommend this particular book to other readers, since the story is fine; taste in illustrations is subjective).

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Review - The Bad Guys in Mission Unpluckable

The Bad Guys in Mission Unpluckable (The Bad Guys #2)
by Aaron Blabey
Date: 2015
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Reading level: C
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 144
Format: e-book
Source: library

The Bad Guys next mission? Rescue 10,000 chickens from a high-tech cage farm. But they are up against sizzling lasers, one feisty tarantula, and their very own Mr. Snake...who's also known as "The Chicken Swallower." What could possibly go wrong?

Get ready to laugh up your lunch with the baddest bunch of do-gooders in town!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I read the first book in this series last year, and since I enjoyed it, I thought I'd continue and try the next one. It's still pretty funny, with a good plot and entertaining characters (including a tarantula that makes Mr. Shark really nervous).

In this installment, the Bad Guys decide to give PETA a run for their money and break into a chicken farm to free the 10,000 chickens that are being held there. With the help of their new friend, Legs, they disable the security systems and break into the place... all while wearing onesies (yes, even the piranha). But, of course, things don't go quite according to plan, since Mr. Snake really loves to eat meet chickens. I wasn't sure if we were in for a sad or happy ending for a while there.

But the resolution is funny, and there's a bit of a silly (in a good way) cliffhanger ending that leads into the next book in the series. These books are a fun little diversion. They're easy, quick reads that will probably have appeal for kids who want a little more of a challenge than a 32-page picture book.

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Pace: 4/5
Writing & Editing: 4/5
Illustration: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 ladybugs

Review - The Short Giraffe

The Short Giraffe
by Neil Flory
illustrated by Mark Cleary
Date: 2013
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: library

Geri is the shortest giraffe in the herd, which causes all kinds of problems when Boba the baboon tries to take a photo. Can Geri stretch up tall enough to be in the picture? Or are the other giraffes looking at things from the wrong perspective? A very sweet story for preschoolers about difference and acceptance.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book for very young readers tells the story of a very short giraffe who can't quite get his head into the frame to take a herd picture. The other giraffes try all sorts of things to raise him up--from stilts to helium to springs--but he's just too short. It isn't until a smart caterpillar makes a suggestion that the giraffes finally manage to take a really great photo.

The pictures are simple, but cute and colourful. I like the facial expressions on the giraffes.

This is a basic story, but it shows good problem-solving skills. I'd probably recommend this to preschool kids, as it probably won't hold as much appeal for older readers.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Review - Maggie's Chopsticks

Maggie's Chopsticks
by Alan Woo
illustrated by Isabelle Malenfant
Date: 2012
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Poor Maggie struggles to master her chopsticks — it seems nearly everyone around the dinner table has something to say about the “right” way to hold them! But when Father reminds her not to worry about everyone else, Maggie finally gets a grip on an important lesson.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I didn't like this one. The illustrations are probably the best part of it. The story... Well, I don't like the way it was written, for one thing. It's done as free verse (not rhyming) so each line has the first letter capitalized. I don't know if this style of writing is really going to appeal to kids. (It gets quite flowery in places, too, but if this is aimed at children who are just learning how to use utensils, the language might be a bit beyond them.)

And I hated most of the characters. Maggie's family is just so mean! Give the poor kid a break. She's doing her best. It rings kind of hollow at the end when her father tells her not to worry about what other people think... because everyone from her mother and grandmother to her siblings has been getting on her case about using her chopsticks "wrong"! Talk about a contradictory message.

Kids might like looking at the illustrations in this one, but the text is kind of sad and confusing.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 2 out of 5

Review - Job Wanted

Job Wanted
by Teresa Bateman
illustrated by Chris Sheban
Date: 2015
Publisher: Holiday House
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

An old farm dog proves he can learn plenty of new tricks in this perfect read-aloud.

A sorry-looking hound plods up to a farmer to ask for a job. "Dogs just eat and don't give anything back," the farmer gripes. Most animals would be on their way, but this dog dreams up a plucky plan. Why not try to work alongside the cows? The Farmer is thankful but unmoved. Still undeterred, Dog tries to convince the farmer that he could be a good stand-in for a horse and a chicken. It isn't until Dog shines in a role that only a canine could fill that the farmer is finally won over.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Here's a really cute picture book about a determined dog and his attempts to find his place in the world.

When he stumbles across a farmer, he offers his services. But the farmer thinks a dog is a useless creature, and says he has no work available. So the dog asks if the farmer's in need of a cow. The farmer says he is, but that the dog is not a cow. The dog says, "We'll see about that." And the next day, the dog helps the farmer get the milking done in jig time. The story continues in this vein until the dog eventually has to do a job that only a dog can do, and the farmer realizes his worth.

The story is cute enough, but I really enjoyed the illustrations. There's sort of a glowing quality to many of them, reminding me of the golden light of late afternoon. They're quite pretty.

This was a delightful surprise. It's a well-written story with an appealing protagonist, and a happy ending (of course). I recommend this one!

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 5/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4.17 out of 5

Review - David's Father

David's Father
by Robert Munsch
illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Date: 1983
Publisher: Annick Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: library

Julie learns that families come in all shapes—and sizes.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Gosh, this is an oldie. I know I read this as a kid, and I remembered that David's father was a giant, but I didn't recall much more than that. It's actually a really nice story about overcoming fear of people who are different than you.

When David's family moves into the neighbourhood, Julie sees the giant utensils and freaks out. Then she meets David, who looks like a regular boy. She finds out that his father is a giant. Reluctantly, she accepts a dinner invitation (but only after finding out they'll be having cheeseburgers and milkshakes). It turns out that David's father, even though he eats octopus and chocolate-covered bricks for dinner, is actually a pretty nice guy... and his mere presence turns out to be quite handy when the kids encounter some bullies from school.

Julie admits that David has a nice father, and even though she still thinks he's a little scary, she doesn't seem inclined to throw away her newfound friendship. I like the message of this one (and the ending is pretty funny, too).

There's a reason this one is a classic. The themes have held up quite well and are still relevant, more than 35 years after it was first published.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.83 out of 5

Review - Go, Dog. Go!

Go, Dog. Go!
by P. D. Eastman
Date: 1961
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 72
Format: e-book
Source: library

Reading goes to the dogs in this timeless Beginner Book edited by Dr. Seuss. From big dogs and little dogs to red, green, and blue dogs, dogs going up and dogs going fast... who knew dogs were so busy? And laughter will ensue at the repeated question “Do you like my hat?” Like P. D. Eastman’s classic Are You My Mother? Go, Dog. Go! has been a go-to favorite for over fifty years, leaving audiences of all breeds wagging their tails with delight.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Holy crap! Why are P. D. Eastman books so long?! (No wonder my mom always hated reading us Are You My Mother? Seventy-two pages make for a long picture book.)

There's no real story to Go, Dog. Go! It's basically just a book of colours, sizes, prepositions, etc. featuring a multitude of dogs. There's plenty to look at. There's a repeating element of two dogs meeting and one asking the other if they like their hat. The pictures are interesting, and clearly show what the dogs are doing.

I'm not sure if this is really a book for storytime, or if it's more of a book that kids will want to look at on their own. (It's long for storytime, in any case.) I have vague memories of reading this one as a kid, but they're not strong enough for me to remember whether I liked it or not! As an adult, I found it okay, but I would dread reading this one aloud. It's just a bit long. And if there were an actual story, I might like it even more.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Review - Don't Blink!

Don't Blink!
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
illustrated by David Roberts
Date: 2018
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

This interactive book may seem to be on your side, reluctant sleeper -- but it's truly a bedtime book in disguise! New from New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Amy Krouse Rosenthal and David Roberts!

Here's how it works: if you can avoid getting to the end of this book, you can avoid bedtime, simple as that. (It's a pretty sweet deal, actually.) But each time you blink, you have to turn a page. Those are just the rules. So whatever you do, DON'T BLINK!

From New York Times bestselling author and illustrator Amy Krouse Rosenthal and David Roberts comes a playful, super-duper interactive bedtime story, narrated by a cheeky stuffed owl. Kids love a challenge, and you can bet they'll do their darndest to rise to the one set out in Don't Blink!...especially when bedtime is on the line!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

So-called interactive picture books can be hit-or-miss for me. I've enjoyed some (like Don't Push the Button!), but there have been some others that just fell really flat. This one is kind of in the middle. It's not awful, but there's probably a group of people who shouldn't read the book at all: those with tics.

I've had tics since I was a child. They're very difficult to control. Sometimes, the power of suggestion is enough to set them off (which is one reason I don't like reading about people with conditions like Tourette's Syndrome). This book could be extremely frustrating for children who have a hard enough time controlling what their own body is doing. First they're encouraged to not blink, but at one point they're told to blink rapidly to get it all out (which feels like a dirty trick, but I digress). I can see this causing issues for those with tic disorders.

The book starts out with the promise that if you can make it all the way through without blinking, you don't have to go to bed. Now, as an adult we can see what the point is... but a child might not understand that they're being played. I would've ended up so frustrated trying to suppress my blinks, and ultimately would've felt like a failure for not being able to do so. Tears of frustration at bedtime is probably not the desired outcome.

For kids who don't have a problem with tics, there might be some value in this book. But I still think it could end up being frustrating, especially for little perfectionists. The aim of the book is probably going to be misunderstood by many young children, and it could lead to problems. It sounds like a good idea in theory, but I'm not sure if it would work in practice.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.33 out of 5

Review - Meddy Teddy: A Mindful Journey

Meddy Teddy: A Mindful Journey
by Apple Jordan
illustrated by Nicholas Hong
Date: 2018
Publisher: Rodale Kids
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Say namaste to Meddy Teddy, a rising star in the yogi world, in his debut picture book!

Media and social media sensation Meddy Teddy is a cuddly, yoga pant-clad, completely poseable plush bear that introduces meditation and mindfulness practices to little yogis. In this first-ever companion book, Meddy encourages readers to try yoga poses as he comes out of hibernation, greets the springtime, and teaches his forest friends how to mindfully get through a variety of situations. On each page, Meddy shows how to execute a pose, including downward-facing dog, tree pose, the Warrior, and more. The youngest yogis, and their families and friends, will rejoice as they master each one, and work up to completing the whole sequence!

Yoga and mindfulness have proven benefits for kids: they help them become aware of their own bodies, and deal with feelings like anxiety, frustration, confusion, fear, and sadness in a healthy way. Meddy Teddy is perfect for introducing kids (and grown ups) of all ages to the practice of yoga.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I've never actually heard of Meddy Teddy, but apparently he's a social media sensation! It looks like he started out as a stuffed toy that could be positioned into poses to help children learn yoga.

For a book that was likely written to sell merchandise, it's actually pretty good. Although I question how much yoga it's possible to learn from a simple picture book, the book does try. Each pose is shown and named at the bottom of the page, while Meddy is illustrated doing the pose. All of this is framed with a story about a little bear coming out of hibernation and going for a walk. He meets all his friends and helps them out, takes some time to smell the roses (actually, it's violets, but you get the idea), and just generally appreciates the beautiful spring day. It's a gentle, relaxing message, and though I'm not sure if the book can stand on its own without some adult help (or at least video help) to actually learn the yoga poses, it looks like a great introduction to yoga and mindfulness.

The illustrations are pretty cute. I was thrown by the cat on the very first page (it lives with a family of bears who have been hibernating for months; who's been feeding it?) and the selection of friends is a bit odd (they include a beaver and a cobra... which I'm not sure live in the same part of the world), but I think we can suspend disbelief here a little bit to just enjoy the story.

This book is surprisingly good. If you want to know more about Meddy Teddy, check out his website: Meddy Teddy

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.67 out of 5

Review - Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar

Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar
by Emily MacKenzie
Date: 2014
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Some rabbits dream about lettuces and carrots, others dream of flowering meadows and juicy dandelions, but Ralfy dreams only of books. In fact, he doesn't just dream about them, he wants to read them ALL THE TIME. Soon his obsession sends him spiralling into a life of crime!

A wonderfully funny story from a talented new author/illustrator.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'm baffled by the high rating this book has. The story starts out cute, but ends with a terrible message. I just can't condone books like this.

Ralfy is a rabbit who loves to read. He catalogues all of the books he's read, puts them in categories, makes lists of books to recommend, and just generally needs his own Goodreads account. I did enjoy seeing the rabbit-centric lists of books on his wall.

However, things get questionable really quickly when he starts breaking into people's houses to read their books. Soon, even that isn't enough, and he starts stealing the books. A little boy named Arthur notices when his favourite book goes missing, and soon the police are on the lookout for Ralfy.

Now, if the story had ended differently, I might've been more amenable to it. But, as it stands, there are zero consequences for Ralfy's criminal behaviour. Arthur feels sorry for him because he just loves books so much. Aside from ending up in a police lineup, Ralfy never experiences any punishment for his crimes. It appears that all is forgiven. Arthur even introduces Ralfy to the library, in what seems like a reward for bad behaviour. (Think about it... If this had been any other situation, would someone get away with breaking into people's houses and stealing their possessions? What if it were a guy breaking into women's homes and stealing their underwear because he just loved panties so much?) Loving something doesn't excuse breaking the law. I was appalled to see the message that breaking and entering and stealing were okay if you loved the thing you were stealing. In a children's book!

So, no. I would not recommend this one. It could've been a cute story if the law-breaking behaviour had been addressed. But it wasn't. Skip this one.

Premise: 1/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2 out of 5

Review - Give Me Back My Book!

Give Me Back My Book!
by Travis Foster & Ethan Long
Date: 2017
Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 56
Format: e-book
Source: library

This book is full of wonderful WORDS and beautiful PICTURES! And it's EXCITING! And it's FUNNY! It might be the BEST BOOK EVER—if we could decide whose book it is. Redd and Bloo explore the way a book is made and accidentally build a friendship, too, in this tale told only in dialogue. Travis Foster and Ethan Long offer a hilarious story about the joy of reading, which brings people together in unexpected ways, proving that each book truly belongs to... the people who love it.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one. The illustrations are the sort of simple, cartoonish pictures that don't really excite me. But I did enjoy the story about two creatures--Redd and Bloo--who fight over a book... until Bookworm steals the book from both of them. Then they have to come up with a plan to get their book back. In the process, they learn a valuable lesson. It doesn't appear to translate to any other situations, though, which is kind of funny; the book ends with the same sort of rivalry, and you just know these two are probably going to find something new to argue about tomorrow.

The illustrations are actually kind of interesting. The characters are all drawn in a simple style, but the coveted book (and other objects having to do with books) appear to be photographs. It's different, but it works here since the books really need to stand out.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this one. It would be a great book for siblings who are always arguing over something. Although, they might just fight over this book, as well...

Quotable moment:

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Review - Maria Montessori

Maria Montessori (Little People, BIG DREAMS)
by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara
illustrated by Raquel Martín
Date: 2019
Publisher: Lincoln Children's Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book non-fiction
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

New in the Little People, Big Dreams series, discover the incredible life of Maria Montessori, the pioneering teacher and researcher, in this inspiring true story of her life. Maria grew up in Italy at a time when girls didn't receive an equal education to boys. But Maria's mother was supportive of her dreams, and Maria went on to study medicine. She later became an early years expert – founding schools with her revolutionary educational theories and changing the lives of many children.

These books make the lives of these role models accessible for children, providing a powerful message to inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I don't know what happened here, but this book is pretty weak. Some of the issues may stem from it being an ARC (there's some text on one of the pages that appears pretty random, and it's placed where it's almost unreadable... and the biographical information at the back is about Muhammad Ali!), but there are some issues with the writing itself (which could be translation problems) and I really wasn't a fan of the illustrations.

While I like the idea of this series, I've only really liked one of the three books I've read in it so far. Maybe these just aren't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lincoln Children's Books for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.33 out of 5

Review - Haphaven

Haphaven
by Norm Harper
illustrated by Louie Joyce
Date: 2019
Publisher: Lion Forge
Reading level: MG
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 160
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Ever-superstitious Alex Mills will do anything to avoid a jinx. Picking up pennies, knocking on wood, collecting rabbit's feet... you name it. That is until she steps on a crack and it actually does break her mother's back. To save her mom, Alex must follow Hubbub Caskside, a trusty leprechaun, on a journey through the end of a rainbow to Haphaven, the world where all of Earth's superstitions draw their power. All she needs is a rabbit's foot to save her mom, but she soon discovers the lucky article won't be so easy to retrieve. Not only is the rabbit's foot guarded by Haphaven's most formidable creature, the Jinx, there's also a forest full of trees that knock back if you don't knock on wood, people named Penny who do not like to be picked up, and a particularly vindictive black cat who will not be crossed.

As Alex finds herself desperately searching for a way to save her mom, she learns of a mysterious connection between her family's fate and the rulers of Haphaven. With her mother's life on the line and her own fate at stake, Alex must find the strength within herself to unlock the mystery and take back control of the superstitions that have controlled her life, even if it means crossing the Black Cat once and for all.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is an okay graphic novel. I'm all for fantasy, but this one really requires the reader to suspend disbelief.

Alex Mills is extremely superstitious. She won't even celebrate her thirteenth birthday because she's worried about bad luck. After she steps on a crack and somehow gives her mother psychosomatic paralysis, she's thrust into the world of Haphaven, where all superstitions come from.

I think part of the problem I had with this one is that it looks like a young adult title. Alex is not drawn as a girl who's just turned thirteen. She looks far older. And so, as I was reading, I kept forgetting her age and then getting slammed out of the flow of the narrative by the juvenile plot elements: the talking cat and rabbit, the jinxed gun that shoots ice cream cones (among other things), Alex eating the equivalent of a Happy Meal (toy included!). The subject matter and age of the main character suggest that it's a middle grade title... but the illustrations just don't fit.

I also didn't particularly like Alex. She goes to a new world, and the first thing she does is kidnap a leprechaun. Then she snatches a rabbit. It's like she has no respect for this world at all. She thinks she knows everything, and yet, she's one of the most ignorant characters in the whole story.

The cat villain is just plain ridiculous. He might as well have been twirling his whiskers like a mustache. There's no nuance to the storyline about his takeover. Once another character contradicts his version of events, they're believed without question and the rest of the story goes from there. I would've liked to see a little more doubt. We've got two versions of events, and the one that Alex and her friends choose to believe is the one that fits with their biases. It could've been more interesting had the conflict not been so black-and-white.

I'm not having great luck with graphic novels this year. This one isn't terrible, but it wasn't what I was expecting. Younger audiences might get more out of it than I did... but only if they like the style of illustration. I think it might be hard for thirteen-year-old readers to relate to a supposed thirteen-year-old who looks like she's at least twenty.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lion Forge for providing a digital ARC.

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 2/5
Pace: 3/5
Writing & Editing: 2/5
Illustration: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall Rating: 2.5 out of 5 ladybugs

Review - Fancy Nancy: Just My Luck!

Fancy Nancy: Just My Luck! (Fancy Nancy)
by Jane O'Connor
illustrated by Ted Enik
Date: 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Learn all about luck with Fancy Nancy in New York Times bestselling team Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser's beginning reader Fancy Nancy: Just My Luck! This Level One I Can Read book is perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences. When Nancy discovers there's a whole list of what's lucky and what's not, her mind starts spinning. There are so many things to keep track of! Fans of Fancy Nancy will delight in Nancy's attempts to sort out what she really believes.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book seems to be more about superstition than about luck, but it still has an important message. After Grace (her nemesis from Fancy Nancy and the Mean Girl) tells her all about different things that can bring bad luck, Nancy exhausts herself trying to avoid anything that might be unlucky. She remembers just in time not to open her umbrella in the house, she narrowly avoids spilling salt, and she has to take a flying leap on the sidewalk to avoid stepping on a crack. She even gives the wrong answer in school so she won't have to say "thirteen"! By the end of the day, she's exhausted, and her teacher can tell that something is wrong. She tries to tell Nancy that the superstitions have no real power over her. Nancy isn't so sure. She wants to believe her teacher, but... On the way home, Nancy is forced to confront one of the superstitions, and she realizes that luck isn't always bad. What she thought was a terrible thing turns out to be a good thing!

I think I resonated with this one a little more than some of the others because I have severe OCD. Performing rituals to keep bad things from happening is exhausting. Superstitions and their accompanying rituals are a way to make us feel like we have some sort of control over our lives, but they're not always healthy... especially when they cause a lot of stress or adversely affect different areas of our lives (as is shown in this book). I like that Nancy eventually realizes that the superstitions don't hold any power, and that she's able to finally relax and see the other side of the coin (no pun intended) when it comes to luck.

This would be a great book for kids who have just been exposed to the idea of superstitions and luck and are perhaps stressing a little over the concept. It shows, in a gentle and accessible way, that superstitions only hold as much power as we give them.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Review - Circle

Circle (The Shapes Trilogy #3)
by Mac Barnett
illustrated by Jon Klassen
Date: 2019
Publisher: Walker Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Multi-award-winning, New York Times best-selling duo Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen deliver the final wry and resonant tale about Triangle, Square, and Circle.

This book is about Circle. This book is also about Circle's friends, Triangle and Square. Also it is about a rule that Circle makes, and how she has to rescue Triangle when he breaks that rule. With their usual pitch-perfect pacing and subtle, sharp wit, Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen come full circle in the third and final chapter of their clever shapes trilogy.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I think maybe I'm missing something. I didn't think this one was that great. It had me engaged right up until the end, but then it got really juvenile, the book almost screaming, "I'M A CHILDREN'S BOOK!"

Circle, Triangle, and Square play hide-and-seek. Circle has a rule that nobody's supposed to go behind her waterfall, but of course one of her friends does, which necessitates a rescue operation. They find more than they bargained for in the space behind the waterfall, and I was eagerly flipping the pages until... there just weren't any more pages. We're left with a rather unsatisfying ending.

The pictures are okay. I did like the waterfall. The shapes are basic, but they're basic shapes; there's not a lot you can do with an anthropomorphized circle, triangle, and square.

Maybe I would've gotten more out of this book if I'd read the first two in the series. It seems like it should be able to stand on its own. But I'm not sure if it really does; I'm left feeling like I missed something important.

Thank you to NetGalley and Walker Books for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.33 out of 5

Review - Can Somebody Please Scratch My Back?

Can Somebody Please Scratch My Back?
by Jory John
illustrated by Liz Climo
Date: 2018
Publisher: Dial Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 22
Format: e-book
Source: library

A hilarious take on helping others and self awareness from New York Times bestselling author Jory John and comic artist sensation Liz Climo

Persnickety Elephant has an itch--a big one--and he can't reach it! While he isn't above asking for a little help, no one is up to the task. Turtle is too lazy, Snail is too slimy, and Alligator... well, Elephant isn't sure he wants his assistance. Does Elephant have to do everything himself?

Jory John's signature deadpan humor pairs perfectly with Liz Climo's oh-so-innocent-looking animals to create a slyly ironic read-aloud that will leave kids and parents in stitches.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This was actually more amusing than I expected. Elephant has an itch that he can't scratch. He goes around to all the other animals to ask for help, but nobody ends up being very helpful... until he encounters a hedgehog.

I didn't see the ending of this one coming, and it made me smile. Though the story may be simple and repetitive, it somehow still works. The basic illustrations are clean and uncluttered, leaving plenty of room for the story to shine through.

I've had some hits and misses with Jory John's picture books. But I think this is one of the stronger ones I've read.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.17 out of 5

Review - Hack and Whack

Hack and Whack
by Francesca Simon
illustrated by Charlotte Cotterill
Date: 2017
Publisher: Faber & Faber
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Hack and Whack - two angelic looking Viking toddler twins - are on the attack! As they go marauding around their village, upsetting the apple carts, little do they know there is a force far more powerful than they: their mum! The story ends on the terrible two being plunged into a cold bath!

Gloriously funny, slapstick, fast paced action from the queen of funny.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'm sorry. Was this supposed to be funny? This is one of the most boring, pointless picture books I've read in a while. Annoying repetition ("We're Hack and Whack on the attack!"), unpleasantly busy pictures, and two insufferable protagonists make this book one to skip. There's no real plot, other than a couple of brats getting into trouble by terrorizing the village by stealing, running around with weapons, and destroying property. (They even tip over an outhouse at one point... with some poor guy inside!)

Their mom has done a crap job of raising them. They're not toddlers, despite what the synopsis says (see my point about the outhouse tipping; how would toddlers manage that?). They're just a couple of little delinquents in training, and they deserved far more punishment than a simple bath.

Ugh. I hate books that try to make bad behaviour funny.

Premise: 1/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 1/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 0/5

Overall: 1 out of 5

Review - Murmel, Murmel, Murmel

Murmel, Murmel, Murmel
by Robert Munsch
illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Date: 1982
Publisher: Annick Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Robin discovers a baby in her backyard sandbox (it can only say “Murmel, murmel, murmel ...”) and sets out on a series of adventures while trying to find it a home.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Hmm... Wariness and cynicism have kind of ruined this one for me. It was one of my favourite Munsch books when I was a kid. I didn't even have the English version; I had the French version, in which the baby said, "Gla, gla, gla." (It loses something in translation, I think.) In any case, I loved the story and thought it was pretty funny. Especially the ending. But now, reading it as an adult with an awareness of abduction and child trafficking and pornography, I just can't feel the same enthusiasm for it that I once did.

Five-year-old Robin finds a baby in a hole in her sandbox. The baby can only say, "Murmel, murmel, murmel," so it can't really help Robin in figuring out where it's supposed to be. So she goes around and asks various people--from a cat lady with seventeen cats to a workaholic with seventeen jobs--if they need a baby. Some of these encounters are a little more uncomfortable than others... especially the last two, which are a surly man who wants to know if he can sell the baby and the truck driver who eventually takes it. The truck driver basically buys the baby from Robin with a truck (which is especially ridiculous, but I always liked that part of the story when I was a kid) and I couldn't help but feel a little uneasy about the whole thing. What did he "need" the baby for? What's he really hauling around in his fleet of seventeen sixteen trucks? I'm not sure I want to know.

Some of Munsch's books have held up better than others. While Murmel, Murmel, Murmel is cute if you look at it through an innocent lens, it starts to lose some of its charm from a more cautious 21st-century point of view.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.67 out of 5

Review - Marmalade

Marmalade
by Sonja Cheal
Date: 2003
Publisher: East of the Web
Reading level: C
Book type: short story
Pages: 7
Format: e-book
Source: http://www.eastoftheweb.com/

A very lazy cat who only eats baked beans learns a valuable lesson.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is so bad, it's almost funny. Almost. But I do feel kind of bad for the author because someone allowed her to publish this and put her name on it.

To begin with, the story is stupid. It's about an anthropomorphized cat named Marmalade who eats nothing but baked beans that grow on his baked bean tree. So we've got an obligate carnivore eating nothing but legumes... Anyway, the tree, feeling neglected, runs away, and most of the story is taken up with Marmalade going for a walk and trying to find it. You can see that the author is trying really hard to make it like a children's story, incorporating repetition in the text, but it just doesn't work. The punctuation is so awful as to make the story almost unreadable in places, and I have to wonder if the author has ever read a book in her life! Has she never noticed how dialogue is punctuated?

Anyway, after the cat finds his tree crying in the park, he somehow convinces it to come home (this is told in an off-screen sort of way, so I don't know how the cat convinced the tree to return to endure some more neglect). Months later, we find out that the cat got tired of taking care of the tree, so he eats nothing but meatballs now... and chopped up the tree for firewood at some point.

What's the freaking point of this story? It tries way too hard to be a quirky children's story, and it fails miserably. East of the Web supposedly edits their stories, but I call BS on that claim in this case:

"Hello, Marmalade. What's the matter? You look angry." Dougbert asked.

"No, I haven't." replied Terrance, "Have you been feeding it plant food and fertiliser to keep it strong and healthy?"

"Um, hello tree." Marmalade said, a little awkwardly. "I've been looking for you absolutely everywhere!"

"Well, you've found me. You can go home now." Replied the tree.

Out of the park "Hello Bernard!", past the bus stop "Hello Terrance!" (Still waiting for the never-on-time-number-49), past the grocers "Hello Roger!" (Won't have to eat your baked beans - thank goodness), down the alley "Hello Dougbert" (go find another alley you nosy cat) and finally back home.

Oh, and if you're going to write a story all about baked beans, make sure you don't have any typos that read "beaked beans".

The story starts out by warning the reader not to continue if they're at all squeamish. I thought for sure there were going to be fart jokes. I mean, it's a story about a cat who eats nothing but baked beans! But, no. Apparently, we're supposed to be squeamish about a tree getting cut up for firewood. I'm afraid the only thing that made me feel sick to my stomach was the writing and punctuation.

As for the synopsis... what lesson did he learn? He killed the tree that he spent years neglecting because he was too lazy to take care of it. Unless the lesson was that cats should be eating meatballs rather than baked beans...

Give this one a pass (unless you're morbidly curious about how bad a short story can be).

Plot: 0/5
Characters: 0/5
Pace: 2/5
Writing & Editing: 0/5
Originality: 1/5

Enjoyment: 0/5

Overall Rating: 0.43 out of 5 ladybugs