Review - Phoebe and Her Unicorn in the Magic Storm

Phoebe and Her Unicorn in The Magic Storm (Heavenly Nostrils #6)
by Dana Simpson
Date: 2017
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 160
Format: e-book
Source: library

Phoebe and Marigold decide to investigate a powerful storm that is wreaking havoc with the electricity in their town. The adults think it’s just winter weather, but Phoebe and Marigold soon discover that all is not what it seems to be, and that the storm may have a magical cause. To solve the case, they team up with Max, who is desperate for the electricity to return so he can play video games, and frenemy Dakota, who is aided by her goblin minions. Together, they must get to the bottom of the mystery and save the town from the magic storm.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I hate to say it, but... that was pretty awful.

Gone are most of the clever quips. Instead, we have a childish storyline about a power outage and a group of preteens running around with magical creatures. I might've enjoyed this book when I was under ten, but after reading the first five books in the series--which were comic collections with astute observations and challenging language, unlike this dumbed-down graphic novel--I was expecting something way more advanced. The first five comics collections can be enjoyed by all ages. This book is going to turn off a lot of the older fans of the series.

I wasn't that impressed with Today I'll Be a Unicorn, a picture book based on these characters. It seemed like it was simply taking advantage of the popularity of the characters. Phoebe and Her Unicorn in The Magic Storm seems like an all-out cash grab.

It looks like some of the subsequent books go back to the comic format. I hope that's the case and that I can simply wipe this boring, juvenile graphic novel from my memory.

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall Rating: 2 out of 5 ladybugs

Review - Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton (Little People, BIG DREAMS)
by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara
illustrated by Daria Solak
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 critically acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Dolly Parton, the singer-songwriter and businesswoman.

Little Dolly grew up in Tennessee in a family "as poor as dirt." She started performing at an early age, singing on local radio and television. After graduating high school, she moved to Nashville to pursue her singing dreams. Her managers wanted her to sing pop, but she followed her heart to sing and write country songs. Her heart was right—Dolly became a musical superstar, but she never forgot where she came from. She now uses her wealth to give back to people, children, and animals in need. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the singer's life.

(synopsis from NetGalley; see it on Goodreads)

At this point, I think if one of these books had amazing illustrations, it would look totally out of place in the series!

That aside, I quite enjoyed this biographical picture book about Dolly Parton. It talks about her career, starting as a child, and her move to Nashville, her solo career, and her business endeavours. I hadn't heard of the Imagination Library, so I was pleased to learn that little factoid in reading the book.

The illustrations are probably the weakest part of this one. They're very rough, streaky, and not all that engaging. The red spots on everyone's cheeks remind me of pepperoni slices! There's a little butterfly that appears on every page, and I assume it has some significance, but nothing is mentioned in the text.

This isn't the best book in the series that I've read so far, but it's one of the better ones, despite the lacklustre illustrations.

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

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Review - Princesses Wear Pants

Princesses Wear Pants (Princesses Wear Pants #1)
by Savannah Guthrie & Allison Oppenheim
illustrated by Eva Byrne
Date: 2017
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

From NBC’s TODAY coanchor Savannah Guthrie and educator Allison Oppenheim comes an empowering fairy tale with a twist.

In the tradition of Not All Princesses Dress in Pink and Princess in Black, Princesses Wear Pants follows the unflappable Princess Penelope Pineapple, who knows how to get the job done while staying true to herself. Princess Penelope lives in a beautiful palace with a closet full of beautiful dresses. But being a princess is much, much more than beauty. In fact, every morning Princess Penelope runs right past her frilly dresses to choose from her beloved collection of pants!

What she wears each day depends on which job she has to do. Will she command the royal air force sporting her sequined flight suit? Will she find her zen in her yoga pants and favorite tee? Or, will she work in the kingdom’s vegetable garden with pocketed overalls for all of her tools?

Unfortunately for Princess Penelope, not everyone in the Pineapple Kingdom thinks pants are always appropriate princess attire. When the grand Lady Busyboots demands that Princess Penelope must wear a gown to the annual Pineapple Ball, the young royal finds a clever way to express herself. Penelope’s courage (and style choices) result in her saving the day!

In their debut children’s picture book, Savannah Guthrie and Allison Oppenheim team up for a savvy and imaginative story that celebrates fashion and girl power. Perfect for fans of Nickelodeon’s Nella the Princess Knight, Princesses Wear Pants challenges gender stereotypes in the name of individuality, showing girls it’s not how they look but what they do that matters.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book has a decent message which is, unfortunately, repeatedly undermined by the text.

Penny is a princess with brown eyes, pink cheeks, and pigtails. The only thing more admired than her hair, according to the text, is her collection of tiaras and dresses. This is a girl who can paint, sing, and dance; do yoga; tend her garden to feed those in need; and fly an airplane in the Pineapple Air Command to protect her country. And she's admired most for... her collection of tiaras and dresses. What message are we trying to send here?

Next, there's the idea that pants are utilitarian only. Apparently, you can't be beautiful or pretty in a pair of pants. Penny is told by a snooty old woman that pants have no place on a lady. Penny isn't happy about that, but does she challenge it? No. She wears one of her gowns to the ball.

The climax of the story occurs when the royal cat falls into the moat. Apparently, only people in pants can do something like save a cat from drowning, but Penny's brother and father (all the men, really) just stand around and do nothing. Penny whips off her dress to reveal... No, not pants. You'd think it would be pants, wouldn't you? (The book sings the virtues of pants, so this part confused me.)

After Penny rescues the cat, the snooty old woman decides that dresses can get in the way. (What? So what was the men's excuse for not saving the cat?) The text also says that princesses should be allowed to wear whatever they like. This could've been taken further, I think. Everybody should be allowed to wear whatever they like. Maybe Penny's brother would've rather worn one of the dresses from her collection instead of that ridiculous frilly suit!

The book is written in rhyme, but the meter is really clunky. Overall, I'm having trouble with a book that purports to smash gender stereotypes but instead kind of reinforces them. Maybe if Penny had been admired for her character instead of her closet, I might have had a more favourable opinion.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.29 out of 5

Review - Princess Baby, Night-Night

Princess Baby, Night-Night
by Karen Katz
Date: 2009
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Poor Princess Baby. It’s bedtime, but she isn’t sleepy in this adorable follow-up to the first Princess Baby book. After all, there is so much a princess baby needs to do. PJs need to be put on, toys need to be put away, the perfect book needs to be chosen, and her beloved subjects need to brush their teeth! It’s a very busy time in Princess Baby’s room. Young readers will want to climb into their own beds when our pint-sized heroine finally pulls up the covers and goes “night-night.”

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'm really not the audience for this one, but I'd hesitate to read it to young children, too. It's all about Princess Baby (I hope that's a nickname and not the poor child's actual name) and her bedtime routine. She's told by her parents to do various tasks in preparation for going to bed. But she doesn't really do any of them. She performs the tasks on her stuffed animals, and then falls asleep on the floor.

The e-book version I read is really inconsistent. The book is written entirely in dialogue. In the beginning, the parents' voices are set off by italics. But at around the 2/3 mark, that goes by the wayside. I'm not sure why (although I suspect it's just a shoddy conversion).

Some of the stuff Princess Baby does kind of grosses me out. She "brushes" her stuffed animals' teeth, seemingly with real toothpaste. All I can imagine is toothpaste caked into all that fake fur. And then her parents ask her if she's had a drink. Again, she gives a drink to her stuffed animals. (Which is probably for the best. At least now she won't be up in an hour needing to pee.)

The illustrations may appeal to small children, but I found them too simple, a bit garish, gender stereotyped, and a little creepy. (I also shudder at the fact that Princess Baby's parents left her alone with two full tubes of toothpaste. Not only does she make a mess, but the amount of fluoride there is dangerous, should she decide to eat it!)

It looks like there are parts of the illustrations that are glittery in the physical copy. Everything about this book is so stereotypically girly, though, that it's going to have a limited audience.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.33 out of 5

Review - Kiss By Kiss/Ocêtôwina: A Counting Book For Families

Kiss By Kiss/Ocêtôwina: A Counting Book For Families
by Richard Van Camp
translated by Mary Cardinal Collins
Date: 2018
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 26
Format: e-book
Source: library

One kiss, two kiss, three kiss, four! So many kisses and so many more. From bestselling author Richard Van Camp comes a delightful counting book that honors families and can be used to praise your little ones as they learn to count. Ten kisses from your sweet baby might not be enough to get you through this adorable book, so you'll just have to read it over and over!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is another of those books that has a very simple rhyming text accompanied by stock photos. While the selection of photos is good, and toddlers will probably like looking at the pictures, I have a feeling this book--as it was intended to be read--will have a fairly small audience. Each page features the English text accompanied by translations in Plains Cree. Unfortunately, aside from the numbers one through ten (and the word "kiss") at the beginning, there are no instructions on pronunciation. Non-native speakers of the Plains Cree language are going to have a really tough time. I suppose one could tease out most of the pronunciation by using the numbers at the beginning, but this would mean that whoever's reading the book would have to do a lot of preparation beforehand (and even then, they might not get it right).

So, while this would be a great book for kids who are being taught to speak Plains Cree by someone who already knows the language, it's probably going to have limited use for most other readers. Kids can look at the pictures, sure. But there are other counting books with better text out there.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.29 out of 5

Review - Histoire de Pierre Lapin

Histoire de Pierre Lapin
by Beatrix Potter
Date: 1901
Publisher: Frederick Warne & Co., Ltd.
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 94
Format: e-book
Source: Open Library

Beloved tale of Peter Rabbit's adventures in Mr. McGregor's garden.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This French version is somewhat better than the condensed English version I just read. It doesn't seem to have cut anything out. However, something is lost in translation. The charm of Potter's original words just isn't here.

I need to track down a copy of the original English version.

Premise: 3/5
Story: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.33 out of 5

Review - The Tale of Peter Rabbit

The Tale of Peter Rabbit
by Beatrix Potter
Date: 1901
Publisher: Landoll's
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 28
Format: e-book
Source: Open Library

Beloved tale of Peter Rabbit's adventures in Mr. McGregor's garden.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I read this on Open Library, not realizing it's a condensed version. Honestly... it's a picture book! Why does it need to be cut down?

The illustrations are cute and all, but there's something missing. I read this book so many times as a kid that I wanted the full experience as an adult. This is just not good enough.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Review - Peter Newell's Pictures and Rhymes

Peter Newell's Pictures and Rhymes
by Peter Newell
Date: 1903
Publisher: Harper & Brothers Publishers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 122
Format: e-book
Source: Open Library

One day, the children find a bird lying on its side with its eyes closed and no heartbeat. They are very sorry, so they decide to say good-bye. In the park, they dig a hole for the bird and cover it with warm sweet-ferns and flowers. Finally, they sing sweet songs to send the little bird on its way.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I really enjoyed The Rocket Book when I read it earlier this year, so I thought I'd see if I could find something else by Peter Newell. This is a collection of very short little poems (most are just a couple of lines) accompanied by illustrations.

The book is dated. Let's get that clear. There's a subtle undercurrent of sexism running throughout, as well as gender stereotypes. There's even one illustration where the characters are in blackface! Given that it was published in 1903, however, I can't exactly hold it to modern standards. When people know better, they do better.

Aside from the problematic verses, there are a lot that are quite amusing, and some illustrations that made me laugh a little bit. Many of the poems are rather silly, and there's little meaning behind most of them. But Newell's illustrations are fun to look at, and the poems are, for the most part, not bad.

If you're looking to include more old books to your bookshelf, you might want to check this one out. It's definitely a product of its time... but there are still a few gems that can be enjoyed by a modern audience.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Review - The Dead Bird

The Dead Bird
by Margaret Wise Brown
illustrated by Remy Charlip
Date: 1938
Publisher: Harper & Row
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 56
Format: e-book
Source: Open Library

One day, the children find a bird lying on its side with its eyes closed and no heartbeat. They are very sorry, so they decide to say good-bye. In the park, they dig a hole for the bird and cover it with warm sweet-ferns and flowers. Finally, they sing sweet songs to send the little bird on its way.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Then they cried because their
singing was so beautiful and the ferns
smelled so sweetly and the bird was dead.

Can't you tell by the cover of four kids flying a yellow kite that this is a story about a dead bird? No? Well, let me help you out. This is the story of a very dead bird. Some children find it when it's still warm, but then it gets stiff and cold so they bury it and sing and impress themselves so much with their bird funeral that they cry. Then they visit the bird until they forget about it.

I'm not sure what the point is supposed to be. Children have fairly short attention spans? (We don't really need a book to tell us that.) Dead animals are cold and their hearts don't beat? (I would hope that would be a given.) Kids should go around touching dead animals and rubbing them against their faces? (*shudder*)

This is a weird little picture book. I guess it sort of teaches very small children about death. But I hope they wouldn't extrapolate it to humans. Otherwise, poor, dead great-grandpa is going to be passed over for a game of catch.

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

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.83 out of 5

Review - Little Witches: Magic in Concord

Little Witches: Magic in Concord
by Leigh Dragoon
Date: 2019
Publisher: Oni Press
Reading level: MG
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 160
Format: e-book
Source: library

A charming and magical graphic novel adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's LITTLE WOMEN!

Jo, Beth, Amy, and Meg March are four sisters living in Concord with their parents—Father, who's tending to soldiers fighting in the Civil War, and Marmee, who teaches the girls simple but effective witchcraft. The Marches have to keep their craft quiet, as there are many in Concord who see magic in a bad light—especially after things have begun disappearing.

When Mr. Laurence, a witchfinder, moves in next door to investigate the missing objects, the girls fear for their livelihood. But he turns out to be a kind old man, and his grandson, Laurie, quickly befriends the Marches. As the cold winter blusters on, the girls continue their education, even as missing objects soon turn into missing people.

Things take a turn for the worse when Jo and Laurie try investigating on their own, and a dangerous storm takes hold of Concord. There's powerful magic at play here—stronger than anything the Marches, or even Laurie, has ever seen before. Can they hope to defeat it? Or has the magic already become too strong for them to fight against?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

The premise of this graphic novel is decent, but the execution is really uneven. (And can I just say how much I hate the cover? It wasn't until I zoomed way in that I realized Beth didn't actually have a beard.)

The March sisters are portrayed much the way they are in Alcott's original novel, with their defining characteristics. Jo's not really a writer here, though, so that's a little disappointing. Laurie is black, and how his grandfather--an escaped slave--made their fortune is a little far-fetched. (This part felt a little bit like the diversity was being forced. A more plausible explanation for the Laurence family fortune might have helped. I just have a hard time believing an escaped slave made that much money by writing his autobiography and giving a few lectures, especially when racism was still alive and well at the time the story took place.) Anyway, there are the familiar plot points of Marmee being called away, Amy's incident with the limes, and Beth's illness... but they're all touched by magic.

Concord is plagued by mysterious disappearances of people, animals, and objects. Jo gets it into her head to try to investigate these weird happenings, and the girls discover that magic is being used. So, of course, they try to stop it themselves and end up in a world of trouble.

I found the story a little difficult to follow in spots, especially in the beginning. Marmee, Beth, and Jo look a lot alike, and I often had to stop and try to figure out who was speaking. (It gets better after Marmee's called away and Jo cuts her hair.) But even then, the characters aren't always drawn consistently. Amy, for the most part, has a curl on her forehead... but it disappears on a few occasions for no real reason.

The ending is by far the biggest disappointment, however. It's almost as if the author ran out of steam and just wanted to finish. The whole storyline is wrapped up, with barely any words at all. For a graphic novel that's fairly heavy on the dialogue for most of the story, it comes across as jarring and rushed when the last ten pages have only a handful of words at all.

This is an interesting take on Little Women, and I'm not sorry I read it. It didn't quite live up to my expectations, though.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 ladybugs

Review - Jenny Learns a Lesson

Jenny Learns a Lesson
by Gyo Fujikawa
Date: 1980
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: Open Library

Jenny learns how to play with her friends without being too bossy.

(synopsis from Amazon; see it on Goodreads)

This book is very cute! The title might not be subtle (it's a sweet little story with a moral), but it's written well and illustrated beautifully in Gyo Fujikawa's signature style.

Jenny is a bossy little girl! No matter what game they're playing, she always tries to make it so that she's in charge so she can tell the others--a diverse group of three children and one dog--exactly what to do and how to do it. Whether she's the queen, the dancing instructor, or the pirate captain, she expects everybody to do as she says. Eventually, though, her friends have enough of that, and Jenny is left to ponder why her friends suddenly don't want to play with her.

Sam, Nicholas, and Mei Su are almost unrealistic in how long they put up with Jenny's bossiness. But I like that they eventually draw a line and walk away when the bossiness gets out of control. Jenny's obviously the leader of the group, and while there's nothing inherently wrong with that, she does take it too far. I like how her turnaround is shown. It's not instant, and she has to think about it a little. Eventually, she seems to realize that giving up some control might be worth it if it means her friends actually want to play with her!

The book is illustrated with alternating spreads of black-and-white and colour pictures. I seem to remember that format from some of the Fujikawa books I had as a kid. The illustrations are all really cute, though, and capture the emotions of the story well.

I don't know why a book like this should be out of print. Maybe people are put off by the overly obvious title, but they shouldn't be. Jenny Learns a Lesson has an important message to share... and plenty of adorable illustrations for readers to enjoy along the way!

Quotable moment:

Sam and Nicholas and Mei Su and Shags were tired of being told what to do.

So they left the grand duchess to have tea all by herself.

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

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.33 out of 5

Review - My Grandson Lew

My Grandson Lew
by Charlotte Zolotow
illustrated by William Pène du Bois
Date: 1974
Publisher: Harper & Row
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 30
Format: e-book
Source: Open Library

Young Lewis misses his grandfather, even though he died when Lewis was only two. Together Lew and his mother learn that remembering Grandpa together is less lonely than each remembering him alone.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I guess not all books are destined to be classics.

My Grandson Lew is a rather boring story about reminiscing. Lewis tells his mother about how his grandfather used to come into his room when he called for him. He also talks about a trip the two took to the museum when he was little. His mother is surprised he remembers. Lewis wishes his grandfather were there, but his mom informs him that the old man is dead. So they remember him together.

I'm not entirely sure that Lew understand what death is. He keeps wanting Grandpa to come back, and his mother doesn't help matters by telling him that, by remembering, he made Grandpa "come back".

Unfortunately, there's not much more story. And the illustrations are pretty forgettable. Also, it's written in an artsy fashion without quotation marks, even though pretty much the whole thing is a conversation between mother and son. I can't see this book really appealing to children. Their parents might appreciate it more.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2 out of 5

Review - Me, Toma and the Concrete Garden

Me, Toma and the Concrete Garden
by Andrew Larsen
illustrated by Anne Villeneuve
Date: 2019
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Vincent is staying with his aunt Mimi for the summer while his mom recuperates from surgery. Mimi's drab city neighborhood, complete with an empty dirt lot across the street, doesn't seem too promising. But then Vincent meets Toma, a boy who lives nearby, and things start looking up. Mimi has a mysterious box of "dirt balls" in her apartment. When she asks Vincent to get rid of them, the fun Vincent and Toma have throwing them into the lot becomes the start of a budding friendship. Then one day, they notice new shoots sprouting all over the lot. Maybe those balls weren't just made of dirt after all!

Bestselling author Andrew Larsen brings a light touch and gentle humor to this picture book story about several kinds of growth -- of the boys and their friendship, the flowers in the newly thriving lot, and the community that comes together around it. Award-winning artist Anne Villeneuve's illustrations add a visual layer to the storytelling as they show the transformation from mostly gray to vibrant color, both literally, in the blossoming garden, and figuratively, in the now engaged neighborhood. This book highlights the value of connecting to nature, even in urban areas, and the sense of community that comes from civic engagement. It's an excellent choice for character education lessons on kindness, generosity and citizenship.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a well-written story with a nice message.

Vincent is staying with his aunt Mimi for the summer. A secret admirer has given her a box of dirt balls. Not knowing what to do with them, she asks Vincent to get rid of them for her. He decides to throw them over the wall into a vacant lot, and enlists the help of another little boy, Toma, to do it. The two become friends... but the story isn't over yet. Because those dirt balls had a secret...

There's a real sense of community in these pages. The urban setting seems harsh at first, but eventually it serves as a backdrop for all sorts of wonderful things: friendship, cooperation, and a shared purpose.

I'm not sure I'm that enamoured with the illustrations. They're fine, I guess, and highlight the changes that go on in the neighbourhood toward the latter part of the book. The writing is quite strong, though, and I really enjoyed the story.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.83 out of 5

Review - Camp Tiger

Camp Tiger
by Susan Choi
illustrated by John Rocco
Date: 2019
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

Every year, a boy and his family go camping at Mountain Pond.

Usually, they see things like an eagle fishing for his dinner, a salamander with red spots on its back, and chipmunks that come to steal food while the family sits by the campfire.

But this year is different. This year, the boy is going into first grade, and his mother is encouraging him to do things on his own, just like his older brother. And the most different thing of all . . . this year, a tiger comes to the woods.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'm not sure if I even fully "get" this book. But I kind of love it.

A little boy goes camping with his family (dad, mom, and older brother). As they prepare to set up camp, a tiger walks out of the woods. As if that's not unusual enough, the tiger starts to talk! He asks the family if they have an extra tent, because all he has is a cave and he's kind of cold. The family does, in fact, have an extra tent, so the tiger proceeds to spend the rest of the trip with the family, joining them for canoeing, fishing, and hiking.

There's some sort of message about growing up and becoming independent, but I'm not sure if the tiger is supposed to represent something beyond that, or if he's just a fanciful element in the story. In any case, the perfectly rendered illustrations won me over and quashed what few doubts I might've had about the narrative. Yes, it's a bit weird and I'm not sure if kids will be able to glean any hidden meaning from the text (if there even is one), but this is such a beautiful book to look at that they'll probably be mesmerized by the pictures. The ones of the tiger diving to catch fish and the stargazing scene with the canoe are breathtakingly beautiful.

This book was a pleasant surprise. I picked it up on a whim from the library, and I'm glad I did!

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 5/5

Overall: 4.67 out of 5

Review - Sleepy Time

Sleepy Time
by Gyo Fujikawa
Date: 1975
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 18
Format: e-book
Source: Open Library

As night approaches, sleepy children prepare for bed. Also shows how different animals sleep.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I haven't read a Gyo Fujikawa title in decades! I know I had a few of her books when I was little. I don't recall this one, though. It's really cute, a simple bedtime book that shows adorable children getting ready for bed. It also shows how a few animals sleep.

I can see this being a bedtime favourite for winding down after a long day. The pictures are relaxing to look at, and the text isn't too overwhelming.

Overall, this is a lovely bedtime book for young children.

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 - A Man Called Raven

A Man Called Raven
by Richard Van Camp
illustrated by George Littlechild
Date: 1997
Publisher: Children's Book Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

A mysterious man tells two Indian brothers why they must not hurt the ravens that pester them.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I don't know. Something about this story just rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it's because the resolution is facile and unrealistic. Maybe it's because I don't like the illustrations. In any case, I'm struggling to find much that I like about this one.

The book starts out with an appalling display of animal cruelty by two little boys. They're beating a raven with broken hockey sticks, and the poor thing can't get away because they've broken its wing. I'm sorry, but I doubt telling a couple of budding psychopaths a story is going to alter the trajectory of their lives. Because that's what happens: a man suddenly shows up and gets the boys to take him to their house, where he smokes and drinks coffee and tells the boys a story about a man who got turned into a raven after abusing ravens.

Like I said, I find it difficult to believe that kids who are already that callous and have that little empathy would be swayed from committing further acts of animal cruelty. At the very least, they have terrible problem-solving skills. (Their excuse for beating up the bird is because it gets into their garbage. Hello?! Bird-proof your garbage cans. It's not that hard.)

The illustrations aren't to my taste, but your mileage may vary. I'm not a fan of the rough, colourful style on display here.

Overall, this was kind of a disappointment. I've enjoyed some of Richard Van Camp's other books, but those have been for much younger readers. A Man Called Raven is probably aimed at older children, although I don't know if I'd want to give it to any child because of the bad example the two boys set. (We never really find out if the boys change their ways. They say they understand, but... then again, they lied about beating the bird when they were caught. So I don't know if I'd trust them.)

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.17 out of 5

Review - Sir Kevin of Devon

Sir Kevin of Devon
by Adelaide Holl
illustrated by Leonard Weisgard
Date: 1963
Publisher: Lothrop, Lee and Shepard
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 36
Format: e-book
Source: Open Library

The rhyming story of a young lad Kevin (not quite 11) who dreams of being a knight and his chase after a clanking dragon that terrorizes the land.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This out-of-print book is sort of a gem. Its bouncy rhythm reminds me of Dr. Seuss, but without all the nonsensical words.

This is the story of Kevin (not quite eleven) who longs to be a knight. He gets his chance when a monster starts terrorizing the countryside and all the other knights chickens flee. But Kevin is brave, and so the king gets him all kitted out with a suit of armour and sends him out to battle the monster. Kevin soon learns, though, that the monster isn't quite what it seems.

The illustrations are all done in shades of black, grey, and orange. They look like they're from the '60s (and they are!) but they work well with the subject matter.

There are some fun books out there that are no longer in print. Sir Kevin of Devon is one of them. If you get a chance, I'd recommend taking a look.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.57 out of 5

Review - Max's Box

Max's Box
by Brian Wray
illustrated by Shiloh Penfield
Date: 2019
Publisher: Schiffer Kids
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Max's parents give him a very special gift: a tiny, magical box that will hold everything, from his toys to his feelings. Max learns, however, that feelings can't be put away as easily as toys. Each negative emotion he feels—anger, embarrassment, sadness, loneliness—gets added to the box, which grows and grows. Eventually it is so large that it keeps him from doing what he loves, like riding his bike and climbing trees. With some help from his friends and family, Max is able to turn the box into something beautiful and let it go. A parents' guide explains how well-intentioned adults often encourage children, especially young boys, to ignore and “put away” their feelings instead of learning to fully live with them. This simple but powerful story not only teaches children how to “control” their emotions but discourages suppressing them, the illustrations becoming more colorful and vibrant as Max moves out from his box’s shadow.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book is just plain confusing. I get what the author is trying to do here (I think), but the writing fails the message.

Max's parents give him a box and tell him that everything will go inside it. All his toys. Everything. Max eventually learns that his emotions go into the box, too. The problem is, whenever something gets put into the box, the box grows. Soon, Max can't do anything anymore because he's weighed down by this giant, heavy box that he has to take everywhere.

The confusing part for me is because his parents tell him that everything goes in the box... and yet, it appears to be only the negative emotions that get stored and weigh him down. So maybe the author could've said that only negative stuff goes in the box... but then, that doesn't explain why all his toys are in there. (Everything is in there, remember?) So I'm really struggling to understand this part of the story.

I'm also struggling to understand why only Max appears to have one of these boxes. It makes his parents seem kind of cruel and abusive, giving him this box without letting him know how to use it so that it doesn't end up being a ball and chain that he has to drag around. (It's even worse because his father eventually tells him it's okay to let his feelings go once they've done their job. Gee, thanks, Dad! Could you not have pointed that out before the box got too big to even be hauled around by the family car?)

There are a number of grammatical issues in the text, and the illustrations feel really uneven to me. (The first one of his parents kind of took me by surprise. His dad's eyes are simply vertical lines, while his mom's eyes are fully detailed round orbs, complete with eyelashes!) I like the way Max is the only bit of colour for most of the book (his shirt is blue), until the last few pages when more colour creeps in as everyone helps him lighten his load of feelings.

I'm afraid I can't really recommend this one, though. It's supposedly aimed at helping kids deal with their emotions, because emotions can be confusing. Well, this book is confusing. I'm still wondering why Max is the only one who has one of these boxes, why it only holds negative emotions and toys, and why his parents gave it to him without warning him about the consequences of stuffing his negative emotions in a box. That seems like a pretty twisted mind game.

Thank you to NetGalley and Schiffer Kids for providing a digital ARC.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.17 out of 5

Review - The Guinea Pig ABC

The Guinea Pig ABC
by Kate Duke
Date: 1983
Publisher: Dutton Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: Open Library

Each letter of the alphabet is illustrated by a word which applies to pictured guinea pigs.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I think there's probably an alphabet book for every theme under the sun! This one covers guinea pigs, and highlights the 26 letters of the English alphabet with cute, cuddly cavies.

The selection of words is quite nice, and each illustration provides a basic definition of the word in question. Q, X, and Z are always tricky when it comes to alphabet books, and this book falls back on the oft-used "Zzzzzzzzz" for the last letter. (The X page is even more of a stretch, but the accompanying illustration is so cute that I'll give it a pass. Besides, even though the word doesn't start with X, the X is highlighted so that it's easy to see the letter.)

I don't think I've come across Kate Duke's illustrations before, but her guinea pigs here are adorable. This is a pretty strong alphabet book that adults will probably enjoy perusing as much as kids.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.67 out of 5

Review - A Church for All

A Church for All
by Gayle E. Pitman
illustrated by Laure Fournier
Date: 2018
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

This simple, lyrical story celebrates a Sunday morning at an inclusive church that embraces all people regardless of age, class, race, gender identity, and sexual orientation. All are welcome at the church for all!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

The premise of this book is good. The execution, not so much. Sure, it celebrates diversity, but only certain kinds. With the line "weak and healthy" (as a comparison of opposites), it becomes an ableist text. Disabled people aren't weak. Honestly. You don't write a book celebrating certain marginalized communities by insulting other marginalized communities.

I just can't get past that bit. Teaching children that people who aren't healthy (and that could mean someone with a mental illness, a chronic illness, or even just a cold) are weak doesn't seem like something a picture book should be doing.

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

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.43 out of 5

Review - The True Adventures of Esther the Wonder Pig

The True Adventures of Esther the Wonder Pig
by Steve Jenkins, Derek Walter & Caprice Crane
illustrated by Cori Doerrfeld
Date: 2018
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book biography
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

The true story of social media sensation Esther the Wonder Pig and her two dads that inspired the New York Times bestselling memoir for adults is now available in a picture book with adorable illustrations and a message of love.

When Steve and Derek adopted a mini pig named Esther, they had no idea that she would turn out to be not-so-mini after all. When her new family saw just how big and wonderful Esther really was, they fell in love--and their lives changed forever. Esther would soon grow too large for her bed, and their small apartment. She got into everything, including her neighbor's tasty garden. So the whole family moved from a small apartment to a big farm, where Esther and her animal friends could fit happily (and get into a little less mischief). Eventually, that farm would become the Happily Esther After animal sanctuary, home to rescued animals of all kinds.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a cute little... well, biography, I guess. It's about Esther the Wonder Pig. It tells the story of her piglethood and growing up with her two dads. She's a beloved member of the family, even though she won't stop growing! Soon, Steve and Derek are forced to relocate to accommodate their rather large "daughter", and in so doing, they open a farm sanctuary so they can help more animals.

It's a cute story, highlighted by Cori Doerrfeld's adorable illustrations. There's even a little blurb at the back about Steve, Derek, and Esther, and a few photos of the pig herself.

The True Adventures of Esther the Wonder Pig would be a great book for animal lovers, or for anyone who enjoys real-life stories about humans trying to make a difference for the animals they love.

Quotable moment:

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

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5